Catch more Professor Geek on his YouTube channel.
The internet has brought two types of video game reviews, the amateur and the professional, into a strange area where at times some amateurs not only look professional but look more professional than the professionals. I hope you followed that sentence. A game can have a high score from review sites and a low score from the gamers, and often the gamers can’t a game so clearly terrible in the areas that matter can receive such a high collective score on Metacritic. The usual response is that journalists are being paid off with early access (not necessarily money) that people running their own YouTube channel or website like myself don’t get. There are also accusations of “shill media” because they’re owned by a parent company that also owns the game publisher, or controversies like Gamergate (because every controversy is a “gate” now, thanks Nixon Administration and the Nixon-hating press–I blame you both) where clearly the game got a higher score because someone was sleeping with somebody or because they share a sociopolitical viewpoint and agenda. Honestly that last one might not be completely wrong, but not completely right.
YouTuber Alanah Pierce used to work for IGN, which despite yesterday’s post is supposed to primarily be about video games. (They wouldn’t be the first site to abandon specialty and focus on every bit of entertainment media, like CBR or Variety, the latter apparently playing politics lately, too.) While she doesn’t work there now she did use her former position to clear the air about what really goes into a video game review, the Metacritic score, and pointing out the flaws that the fandom gets right. Note that she drops the swears a bunch of times in the video.
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For the record yes, I know there is a #0 but it’s only a timeline of events leading up to this issue and featuring the Academy version of the pre-Macross Saga stories (Return To Macross, Warriors, Academy Blues, and whatever came in from Eternity Comics, whose license and stories they continued). That’s why I’m not reviewing it.
All that firepower and the fly still got away.
Robotech II: The Sentinels book 4 #1
Academy Comics, Ltd (December, 1995)
“World Killers!”
WRITER/INKER/CO-TONER: John Waltrip
PENCILER/CO-TONER: Jason Waltrip
no letterer mentioned
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I kid, but apparently we’re getting our first robot actress. The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that “Erica”, a Japanese-built robot (of course) meant to advance artificial intelligence because they don’t watch science fiction stories that prove how bad that can be (in Japan most robots are piloted mecha anyway), has been taught to act and will be starring in an American-produced movie. Remember back in the 80s when everyone was complaining robots were stealing our jobs? I guess they’re coming for the actors now. First virtual singers, now robot actors. I wonder where it will end? Skynet, I imagine. This is why in the office pool mentioned Sunday robots are ahead on points.
(Although given some performances would we notice the difference?)
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I wish I knew why I have so much trouble getting audience participation. Heck, I had three people liking the poll for the next Chapter By Chapter book review but none of them actually voted. I didn’t even need comments, just the poll at the end of the article, and still nothing. The only one who voted was my friend Sean, which I warned you guys meant the next book was a given if he was the only one who voted. Thus it shall be.
For those of you who missed the post entirely I was trying to choose between three books for the next Chapter By Chapter. The choice would tell me more about my readership’s tastes and each of them had a good reason to be on the list. BattleTech: I Am Jade Falcon is the last piece of BattleTech media I have to review now that I finally got the cartoon done. Star Trek: Prime Directive is a classic era story I don’t even remember reading. Doctor Who: The Time Travelers is the only Doctor Who novel I have that isn’t an episode adaptation and I want to have access to the episodes, but I have wanted to do a Doctor and friends book. Well, the vote has been tallied and the overall winner by the one sole voter, the sixteenth book in the Chapter By Chapter book review series, is…
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“I’m not cleaning this up.”
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #25
Malibu Comics Entertainment (July, 1995)
“The Secret Of The Lost Orb” finale: “Gods Of War”
WRITER: Dan Mishkin
PENCILER: Leonard Kirk
INKER: John Montgomery
COLOR DESIGNER: Mike Heilemann
INTERIOR COMPUTER COLOR: Malibu
LETTERER: Ronnie Cruz
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Dan Shaheen
EDITOR: Mark Paniccia
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Free Comic Book Day usually takes place in May, but thanks to the death plague quarantine most comic shops were closed. To counter this the creator of the event has decided that the best way to get folks back in as the quarantines lift is to make the event last all summer with new offerings each week from July-September. As we get closer to each week I’ll look over to see if any of the comics are ones I want and discuss them here. If I go to pick any up I’ll review them here as well, and maybe a live review on Twitter if I get the chance.
And those of you with income, remember to buy something while you’re there. The comic store still pays for those comics they’re giving away and with the problems comic stores have had even before the shutdowns they need the money to stay in business now more than ever. I’m interested in seeing if the publishers are smart with this. Put out a sample of a comic this week for Free Comic Book Summer, then next week when they go back for more free comics have the next issue for them to buy waiting for them.
