Let’s face it; Despite being in an incredibly transparent and media centric industry, Cliff Blezinski, David Jaffe, Suda 51, The Bioware Doctors, Ken Levine and countless other prolific designers continue to be rather unknown entities to a majority of gamers. Now take that state of ignorance that most gamers have for their favorite games creators’ and magnify it by about a thousand for sound designers and composers – with this being especially true for games that are over 20 years old. Besides the enthusiasts that actively seeks out the information, often times composers and sound designers are so buried in a game’s credits, or even left out altogether, that it is near impossible to give them the recognition that they rightly deserve.

When it is already commonplace to ignore most composers, it’s especially easy for US gamers to overlook the many gems that were brought to us by the Commodore 64. With hundreds of games gracing the C64 over it’s decade plus operational period, the law of large numbers comes into play dictating that among the thousands of tunes composed for the system that there are quite a few gems to behold.  Among many Commodore fans, no compositions are as highly regarded as those of Rob Hubbard.

Monty on the Run – Rob Hubbard (1985 Gremlin)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Hubbard started his career as a studio musician, but after teaching himself the basics of programming and pitching musical learning software to Gremlin, he was subsequently hired to program the music for what would become a C64 classic, ‘Thing on a Spring.’ After a few years handling composition projects for a number of British developers, Hubbard made the jump across the pond when he was hired by Electronic Arts as the first person to be devoted to sound design within the company. While at EA, Hubbard composed soundtracks for a few more years, but eventually took an administrative position within the company.

One Man & His Droid – Rob Hubbard (1985 Mastertronic)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Whether or not you have fond memories of the C64 and it’s music shouldn’t be an issue if you take a dive into Hubbard’s extensive library. There’s no doubt that some of Hubbard’s work was influenced by popular media, but what makes him truly significant is the way in which the compositions were adapted for the C64 and the furthering of chip-tune compositions to an art form. Often times chip tune is looked at in the eye of the beholder, with some people enjoying it simply for the fact that it was a significant part of their respective childhoods’, but what Hubbard did with his C64 compositions was to expound upon something that wouldn’t just be notable for it’s nostalgia, but would rely solely on their own merit of creating musical compositions within a certain toolset. Much like classical composers used very specific instrumentation when writing symphonies, sonatas, and concertos – Hubbard used the tools at his disposal, namely the C64’s three-channel sound chip to create music with much more depth then one could imagine.

Ricochet – Rob Hubbard (1988 Firebird)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Be it the flippant melodies from ‘Thing on a String,’ the sample driven theme from ‘Ricochet’ or the epically long Knucklebusters soundtrack, there is no question in my mind that Hubbard is one of the most accomplished chip-tune programmers of all time. A full catalogue of Hubbard’s work is available in the HVSC (High Voltage SID Collection) so there is no reason not to check it out: It’s Free!

The Wall of Sound Playlist

Monty On The Run
One Man & His Droid
Ricochet

Happy Monday, gamers, geeks and geek-ettes! It is time for another Lexi’s list! This week, I’ve found some creative clean-up solutions for your cave room and some gamer inspired fashions! Let’s dive in!

First up…a unique way to wrap up your cables! Enter, the Fishbone Smart Wrap.

As a gamer, I am constantly fighting a losing battle between desk/workspace and cables. These little guys are great for travel and storage, too! Wrap your headphones around one of these little guys and it becomes a compact way to manage an unruly cable situation! Made from silicon, they are designed to contain the sometimes-epic cable that is attached to your headphones or headset. Coming in a variety of colors and thickness, they can also work on other thin cables that may be cluttering your gaming space. The Fishbone Smart Wrap includes 5 fishies for your wrapping pleasure! :)

For those cold winter nights….Gauntlets of Gaming!

These handcrafted “gauntlets” will keep your hands warm while still allowing the flexibility a gamer needs to get the job done! Gaming in your basement has never been so cozy. Crafted by JenGoPop, these are an eye-catching accessory to add to your gaming-inspired ensemble!

Keep your arachnophobic friends away from your gadgets with the Spider Podium!

Designed for small devices like your mp3 player or cell phone, this device will be the ultimate travel companion. Not only can it stand on a table, it can hang from surfaces as well! Long trip ahead of you with only the backseat of the car to look forward to? Hang it from a headrest! You can even use it as tripod for your digital camera. It is now available for pre-order!

Last but not least….represent your old school roots with an Original Gamer t-shirt!

You’ve played the classics. You are intimately familiar with all of the princesses. Mario and Luigi are your homeboys. Honor the memories of games gone by with this shirt. Caution: If you think you are a “gamer” because you play Rock Band, this shirt is definitely not for you.

That’s it for this week! Catch you all next Monday with more gaming and geekery!

Find something on the web that you think belongs in this column? Share it with me! :)

<3 Lexi

Having problems finding PS3’s in stores? This is probably why…

The saga of Kratos continues in this third iteration of the main God of War series. The son of Zeus has a bone to pick with Daddy, and has gathered the titans to assault Olympus and seek his revenge. The story of God of War isn’t that important. All you need to know is that there will be gallons of blood spilled as you hack your way to the final showdown.

God of War is the epitome of the hack and slash genre. Using different combinations of melee attacks, spells and quick time events you will work your way through hordes of undead and mythical creatures. Eventually you will make your way to the Gods, which will provide awesome boss fights along the way.

If you have played either of the previous two games, then you know what you are getting into. There will be plenty of button mashing, quick time events and blood. If you are new to the series, then you should probably check out the first two games first. Luckily they have been revamped in HD and ported to the PS3 in God of War Collection. God of War perfects the formula of the previous games, but it doesn’t build on it much.

This game isn’t for the feint of heart. It packs more then enough sex, blood and gore to be worthy of its M rating. If mashing buttons while watching body parts fly everywhere is your thing, then this game is for you.

Hello and welcome to Lexi’s List, Volume 4! This week we have a modern take on Tetris, a ring that doubles as a photo projector and more! Let’s do it!

First up…the Portrait Projection Ring

This is a custom designed wedding ring for the couple pictured. If a light is shone through the clear part on the bottom of the ring, the pictures on the top side will be projected onto a wall or any other surface! The ring was inspired by a 19th century style of jewelry/trinkets called Standhopes. It is a really creative way to preserve memories and see them again and again, as often as you like! Click here for more information.

If you like beer, magnets, and LED lights, this might be the perfect room accessory for you…a Magnetic Floating Revolving 18-LED Beer Display Set!

What better way to impress your friends and prove that you are over 21, all at the same time! You simply place the beer bottle inside and it will turn clockwise or counter clockwise, lit up by the brilliant LED lights! Click on the photo for more info!

Next up…a “Punch Out” inspired t-shirt designed by TapouT!

100% cotton = 100% awesome! This tee is part of the Jens Pulver II Walkout signature series. Click the pic for more! (Thanks to Eric for the submission!)

Last on the List today….a wall decal paying homage to everyone’s favorite set of falling blocks, Tetris!

Dedicate a wall to the classic game with these custom made decals from VinylWallDesign. Check out the store for more decals, from Pac-Man to Space Invaders!

That’s it for this week, see you all next Monday with more geeky gamer goodies!

<3 Lexi

It can be argued that there is a lot riding on the success of this latest Final Fantasy game will help determine the future of Japanese RPG’s in western gaming. This generation has not been good to the genre as Japanese developers have struggled to find their place in an HD world. The days of menu driven combat and endless random battles are numbered in a world where fast faced shooters are king. Despite such obstacles,  the core Final Fantasy franchise has always seemed to break through and find its place in the west. This first iteration in the current generation looks to be no different.

FFXIII gives you the control of 6 unlikely heroes, brought together by fate as a war breaks out between the worlds of Pulse and Cocoon. Sounds pretty standard for a Final Fantasy game, but that isn’t necessarily bad. You can be sure that the story will draw you in and tug at your heartstrings. The downside is that the game is more linear then something you would see in a Bioware game. Depending on how you like your RPGs this could be disappointing, but the good news is that you won’t be bogged down by side quests and the story continues to progress.

While a solid adventure can be taken for granted, the combat system may cause some to worry. While combat first appears to be nothing more but a cascade of menu driven options, it still appears to keep you engaged. Rather then manually controlling the actions of your entire party, your focus stays with one character. You must manage the other two be selecting which role they are to fill, such as medic or commando. Changing your party’s roles while managing your main character will keep combat interesting  without getting too tedious.

It is about time we see a Final Fantasy game this generation. Re-releases and spin offs have flooded PSN and handhelds for far too long. If you enjoy JRPGs, then this is probably the one to get. If you have a choice between the PS3 and the 360 versions of the game, stick to the PS3. The 360 version is compressed on three DVDs and runs at 576p versus the PS3’s native 720p. Regardless of your console of choice, Final Fantasy XIII is sure to be an adventure that you won’t soon forget.

Check out our Final Fantasy XIII vitals here.

Every time a game is announced by a Japanese developer there is always a bit of uncertainty as to whether the game will make it to the United States or Europe. Localization is not a cheap prospect and developers need to be sure that they will be able to recuperate the associated costs with bringing the game to a new territory. So here are a few games that I would love to see come to the United States and my thoughts on if it will actually happen.

Ninokuni- The Another World

What: For the unknowing, Ni No Kuni (The Another World) is the upcoming and highly anticipated Nintendo DS collaboration between Studio Ghibli and Level 5. Ni No Kuni was first announced in the pages of Japanese video game magazine Famitsu over two years ago and it has been on my radar ever since. The thought of a game that encapsulates the unparalleled story telling and whimsical nature of Studio Ghibli projects with the accomplished folks at Level 5 should be enough to get any gamer with a DS excited.

Chance: With the game still having a somewhat nebulous release date in Japan (It was pushed from late last year to an indeterminate Spring 2010 date), it could be over a year before US gamers are able to get their hands on the title. With Ni No Kuni being the first DS title to use the 512mb cartridge due to the sheer size of the cinematics and music used throughout the game, any potential publisher (Nintendo included) may have reservations about localizing a game that is going to be relatively expensive to manufacture with little promise of strong sales. ‘Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea,’ the first Studio Ghibli film to receive wide theatrical release in the United States, was a relative box office disappointment, illustrating that the Ghibli name won’t guarantee strong sales in the US like it will in Japan. Honestly I would be surprised if we didn’t get Ni No Kuni in the US, but it may be a bit of a wait, as I don’t see it being released anytime before 2011.

7^th Dragon

What: Luminous Arc developer Imageepoch’s attempt at a more traditional RPG from Kazuya Niinou (Etrian Odyssey Series) and Reiko Kodama (Phantasy Star, Skies of Arcadia). The game presents itself as a mash up of Dragon Quest style exploration with a battle system similar to that of Etrian Odyssey.

Chance: The game was relatively well received and managed steady sales when it debuted in Japan a year ago, but 7^th Dragon has yet to be announced for any other territories. With the DS becoming the defacto RPG system for Japanese development studios, it’s surprising that the title continues to be a Japan only release. Not all hope is lost as Imageepoch’s last title, Sands of Destruction, just came out after a 16 month delay from it’s Japanese release.

Zangeki no REGINLEIV

What: A Nintendo-published Mature title from Sandlot (Best known in America for it’s Earth Defense Force series). I think that first sentence says it all… A Mature title from Nintendo. With a game that also includes 4 player online Co-Op and Wii-Motion Plus support it seems like a no-brainer for Western release. Added to the above facts is that much like New Super Mario Brothers Wii, Zangeki comes in a kick-ass black Wii case.

Chance: Middling review scores and the desire to protect Nintendo’s brand image in America ultimately make a US release unlikely. With Nintendo putting a focus on Monster Hunter Tri for the Wii, as well as the lack of an announcement at their recent media summit, I am lead to believe that Nintendo has no reason to bring out a Mature rated title in a territory where the Wii still reigns supreme. I think that Zangeki represented a test (which failed) for Nintendo of Japan in an effort to reinvigorate Wii hardware and software sales in Japan.

Michigan

What: Michigan is a Survival Horror title from Grasshopper and Gouichi Suda that was released in 2004 on the Playstation 2.  Players take the control of a Cameraman that is sent to Michigan in hopes of solving some sort of mystery revolving around biological weapons. The gameplay all takes place as if viewed through a television camera and centers around documenting the anomalous happenings throughout the game.

Chance: In the US? Zero. In Europe? 100 Percent. Michigan was actually released in 2005 despite the fact that Suda had no idea until someone told him during an interview in 2008. The game wasn’t very well received in either territory, but I still have a strong desire to play it simply for the connection to Suda 51’s development history.

Sakura Taisen 5 – Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love

What: The fifth entry in the long running Sakura Taisen series finds players in an alternate version of 1920’s New York City as, much like every other Japanese role playing game, they try and stop an evil villain that is up to no good. Combat takes place in a traditional turn based role-playing style with the battles split between mechanized ground and air combat.

Chance: Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love is set for release later this month, coming to both the Wii and Playstation 2 on March 30^th. Although this is a 5 year old game, I’m excited to finally see what makes the Japanese revere the Sakura Taisen series so much. Unfortunatly the Wii version only includes the English voice track, which based on the trailers, is not a good thing. Luckily the PS2 version includes a bonus disc with the full game voiced by the Japanese cast, making it the platform I’ll likely play it on. And Hey, it’s only 30/40 dollars on the Wii and PS2 respectively, so if you have any interest in picking it up you won’t have to break the bank to do so.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is a game that I have been enchanted with from the outset. Everything from the character design to the art style seem fully realized in a way that most games, especially downloadable indie games, often lack. Alongside the game mechanics that find a man obsessed with pie breaking the time/space continuum, lies the fantastic soundtrack which not only compliments the rest of the action but also contributes greatly to the final polish of the game. I was lucky enough to get a hold of the Winterbottom’s composer, David Stanton, and find out a bit more about the soundtrack and the design philosophies of the game.

Eric: Since P.B. Winterbottom was originally conceived as a thesis project at USC, how and when (As in, how far along was the title in development when you were brought aboard) did you become involved with the project?

David: That year I was a student at USC’s Scoring for Motion Picture and Television Program (SMPTV). I didn’t know much about the interactive media department or the Game Lab but I knew I wanted to write for video games. One of our professors sent a cattle call to all of us [composers] in the program; the game makers wanted Danny Elfman meets silent film and ragtime piano. You get a lot of blanket calls for student projects while in the SMPTV, but this one was different and very cool. I liked the vision so I sat down and wrote a little demo, which became the base sound palette and direction for everything I did afterward.

Eric: Both the audio and visual direction of P.B. Winterbottom are unlike anything currently out on the market today, did the visual style dictate the musical direction you ultimately went with, or did you try other styles before finding what ended up in the game?

David: Yes, the visuals go a great deal to set the scene, style, and tone of the piece. I hadn’t seen a frame of art before I wrote the first track but from every successive level on I was given art clips and backgrounds from which to work. It struck me that the game itself is a variation on the central theme—the mechanic of being unstuck in time—and so the music likewise needed to have a strong central motif from which to branch out: Theme and Variation.

My initial demo track became the music for level one, but every successive level was scored. For example, the second level you are essential climbing a clock tower so the music is a weaving of PB’s theme and the grandfather clock sound that everyone knows. The third stage is bakery on fire so I used multiple instruments to sort of ape the Doppler effect of a fire truck in addition to the persistent sound of delicious delicious pies being burnt. I tried to capture the whimsy of every level in different ways. Not that the user will catch all the allusions, ironies, and quotes—I wouldn’t—but hopefully it all ads together to make a really immersive and fun experience.

Main Theme from ‘The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom’

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Eric: What are the specific themes or motifs that are employed in Winterbottom’s score?

David: There are two primary themes that appear throughout. First is PB’s Main theme. It’s in a minor mode but jaunty nonetheless, not unlike PB himself. The second theme is of Winterbottom’s foil throughout the game: the huge Chrononberry Pie. As these two characters are intrinsically linked, so too are their themes. The first half of the Chrononberry theme is staid and sad, but can be made appropriately menacing by dropping the octave and tripling the speed. The second piece of the theme is actually the Winterbottom motif in a major key. Like us all, deliciousness and tragedy are baked into the very crust of us. The Chrononberry Pie is the force which unsticks PB in time, but it is this very unsticking that gives PB clones enough to ultimately eat the epic pastry. It is the Insatiable Appetite meets the Unfinishable Dessert. The Odd Gentlemen are Philosophers, really.

Eric: What was the composition process like – How closely did you work with the developers, How long did the composition process last, Anything you would have liked to add or change but due to time constraints were forced to abandon?

David: The XBLA game took about a year and we worked closely throughout. Our initial idea was to have a piano only version that would be coterminous with the orchestrated track. As the player would record himself to clone, the music would have gone back and forth between the two tracks. We ultimately abandoned it for space and logistical reasons but the prototypes were very cool and I would have loved to see it work.

Launch Trailer Music from ‘The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom’

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Eric: Have you played the final build of Winterbottom-? If So, What are your thoughts on it?

David: You work on a project pouring yourself into it, and in the process lose the ability to tell if it’s good or not. I always thought that this would be a game that I would ultimately enjoy playing, but I was not prepared for just how fun I find the final product to be.

Eric: Was this kind of a one off project or would you consider doing additional video game soundtracks?

David: It would make very happy to score games for the rest of my days, but as they say, “the work is getting the work.”

Eric: Can you tell me a little about how you came to become a composer and what first got you interested in pursuing a career in music?

David: Looking back, I have always been fixated with music and games and social justice. The dream is to make a living doing them. I have found a way to merge two of the three, one day—the trifecta!!

Eric: Do you have any favorite bands or musicians (Composers are fine too) that you look to for inspiration?

David: Not having breadth or listening widely is an occupational hazard. I really try to listen with open ears and take in everything I can. But I don’t want to dodge the question, here’s who currently comes to mind: Bach, Ravel, Prokofiev, Bartok, Copland, Bernstein (both), J. Williams, J. Goldsmith, J. Powell, Elfman, the Newmans (All), Radiohead, the Beatles, Café Tacuba, Sufjan Stevens, M. Maher, Israel Houghton, Bell Biv DeVoe.

Eric: Are there any Video Game soundtracks that you find particular engaging? What do you think are the keys to making a successful video game soundtrack?

David: I think there’s a lot of good stuff out there. I’m partial to the Halo Series, God of War, Mass Effect 2, flOw! I think the second question is one of immersion. The success of the soundtrack is determined by its ability to usher the user into the overall experience, whether it be cartoony, maudlin, severe, or pie themed.

The Wall of Sound Playlist

Main Theme from ‘The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom’
Launch Trailer Music from ‘The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom’

That’s right folks, the Dammit Game of the Week is back in business and under new management! I will attempt to pick up where Samantha left off, but lord knows I have some big shoes to fill.  So where have the Dammit Games been for the last six months, you ask?  Lets just say back in August of last year after some soul searching and a GamesAreEvil staff intervention, the Dammit Game decided to go to flash game rehab.

Too bad though:  once an addict, always an addict. Fresh off celebrating six months of time-wasting dammit-game sobriety and numerous updates to the Macromedia Flash plugin, the Dammit Game decided to fire up AddictingGames.com one last time. Who knows why bad things like this happen to good gamers, but it seems that the overwhelming urge to get one last taste of the sweet nectar known as workplace negligence, was its ultimate undoing.  That is when the sickness once again took hold, and fortunately for all of us, led to a complete relapse.

So from this point forward, look for the Dammit Game of the Week to once again hold court over your Thursday afternoon.  You know deep down that you missed us!

Now to get to the evil little bastard of a game that made this all possible: Red Remover.  Developed by a mysterious flash developer that goes by the handle of Gaz, the game is a physics based puzzler, meant to tie your brain into knots.  After only three minutes of playing, I was hooked and couldn’t put the mouse down until I had cleared all forty five stages.

As the name implies, the main goal is to remove every red item from the stage.  The kicker is that these items can interact with other elements in the environment such as the all green items, which MUST remain onscreen, otherwise you instantly fail.  There are numerous other quirks to the puzzles that are explained as things progress, but all you need to play is your trusty mouse and the left click button.

Oh, and did I mention that once you complete the game, there is also a level designer?  So do your worst and try to baffle the physics geniuses of the world.  Good luck pulling yourself away, because there is enough here to keep you busy for hours on end.

Game provided courtesy of TheGameHomepage.com

Are Girls Evil? Of course not! (O.K. Mostly not) My weekly feature here at GRE will be to showcase the good, the bad, and the sometimes evil things we ladies encounter as lovers of the joystick. From our online experiences to our retail experiences, in our relationships at home to our relationships in social media circles. Sometimes we are discriminated against, sometimes we are treated as equals and sometimes it gets down right ugly. It’s my hope to give you a fresh perspective on what it means to be a girl in this big old video game world, and have some fun while we are at it.

Do you enjoy having Princess Peach as your mascot or would you love a female COG soldier in Gears instead? Are murder mysteries your portable passion or does getting down and dirty in Fireteam Bravo do it for you? For me, it’s the latter in both but does that make me Hardcore? Does loving Puzzle Quest and Solitaire make me a Casual player? Do I like these labels? Sometimes yes, Sometimes no.

I’ve been gaming most of my life starting out with a family love of TacScan on the Atari and ever since then it’s been an affair of the heart. I couldn’t stop gaming if you forced me to, and believe me my body has tried. I’ve met some of the most wonderful people online and also some of the worst. Wonderful pictures have flooded my inbox of genitalia from both sexes. It’s not just the guys being crude ladies.

So, get ready to get a glimpse into the life of a girl gamer. My trials and triumphs are yours to read. Comments (below), questions and hate mail (melissa@gamesareevil.com) are gladly accepted. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is the first major multiplayer focused shooter to hit store shelves since Modern Warfare 2 was unleashed last November. Fortunately, a multiplayer beta has given those who were most interested in the game a look of what is coming. At first glance, it looks like more of the same… but a lot more. Not only are there more game modes, but there is even more customization and destructibility than the first game. There is nothing quite like blowing up a building that gets in between you and your objective.

As far as the single player experience, you can still expect plenty of humor from Company B and their misadventures. Squad mates will still keep up some witty banter, although the overall craziness will be toned down a little from the first game. Also, the missions won’t be as open ended in an effort to add some structure. Speaking of structure, the overhauled “Destruction 2.0″ tech will improve the games trademark destructibility to the point that, given enough firepower, you can even knock down buildings. The destruction will also have an effect on a smaller scale, as any cover you hide behind can eventually be chipped away to nothing.

EA DICE has done a good job listening to participants in the BETA. Hundreds of tweaks have been made based on feedback, including a hardcore mode which gets rid of the HUD, boosts weapon damage, and allows friendly fire. Modes such as squad rush and squad deathmatch are sure to distinguish Battlefield from other first person shooters. Squad based combat, vehicles, destruction  and character classes make sure that this game includes the best of everything out there.

First person shooters are a dime a dozen these days, but Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is a well rounded game that stands above the noise. If you want something more strategic then Modern Warfare 2 but not as overwhelming as MAG, then this could be your game.