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Show A&E Page 12 Friday, Sep. 18, 2009 A walk around the bowels of Q-Games Greetings from Japan. My name is Tim for the DSi. Additionally, fans of “PixelJunk” and I’ll be your host for this be delighted to know the Timothy will brilliant and insightful gaming main content for the upcomRussell ing “PixelJunk Monsters column. Some of you may remember Deluxe” has been recently my column from the past two completed. It will be availsemesters in which I wrote priLet’s go able later this year on UMD marily gaming reviews; howin Asia, and for download for ever, since I’m now attending the rest of the world. school overseas, my strategy Furthermore, Dylan is to focus on a more divergent An inside look at Cuthbert informed me the variety of topics dealing with “Q-Games” development for “Shooter” is gaming. So don’t expect this 85 percent complete. So hold column to go all Roger Ebert on you. your head high “PixelJunk” fans. Good That said, I recently had an opportu- times are on the way. nity to visit the developer Q-Games in One of the reasons I wanted to do this Kyoto, Japan. For those who don’t know, interview was to ask about the controverQ-Games is best known for its work on sial title of “Shooter.” After the first teaser the “PixelJunk” series available on the video was released, there was a contest PlayStation 3. in which fans could propose titles for the During the visit, I talked with numer- game. The company considered an overous employees, including President Dylan whelming number of responses and obviCuthbert, Development Manager Shouichi ously, “Shooter” was chosen. However, Tominaga, Planner Rhodri Broadbent, many fans believe the chosen title is too Planner Bear Tritkey, and Translator Duncan bland. Flett. So, after so much deliberation, why did I’d like to thank Q-Games for letting me Q-Games come up with this consensus? stop by its studio and invading its much Was it a marketing strategy? For example, occupied schedule. And I’m not just saying would an uncomplicated title appeal to a that – the employees really are working casual audience, thus potentially sell more bloody hard. copies? Their current schedule consists of develI asked Duncan Flett and Shouichi oping “PixelJunk Shooter,” which will be Tominaga these questions. Flett said marketaccessible later this year, and “DIGIDRIVE” ing was not the motivation. And Tominaga Gaming said he understands why gamers were confused, but “Shooter” ultimately reflects the game’s subject matter. Moreover, Tominaga said, “One of the hardest things to do from a development point of view is to pick a name for the game.” So the question is, will Q-Games continue to choose straightforward, one word titles in the future? Rhodi Broadbent said it’s likely, but the company isn’t going to lock down to that idea. Just like deciding game titles, Q-Games put an abundant effort into deciding game concepts. One of the company’s’ philosophies is any employee can submit game concepts. The submissions are then preceded by a formal debate over the effectiveness of the ideas. All I can say is it’s a good thing I don’t work for Q-Games, because my concepts would be far too ridiculous and absurd. For example who’s going to play “PixelJunk Paper Filing?” I enjoyed my sojourn to Q-Games. It was exciting to be in a place I had only read about before. And I look forward to many future adventures in a country where video games are such a prominent part of the culture. Next week, I’ll be attending the Tokyo Game Show. So stay tuned for juicy interviews from developers located all over the world. -tim.russell@aggiemail.usu.edu ‘Death’ Gets on the Case with new HBO comedy By ROBERT LLOYD L.A. Times HOLLY WOOD – Jonathan Ames, a Brooklynbased writer of fiction and nonfiction, has turned his long short story “Bored to Death” into an HBO situation comedy, also titled, though less aptly, “Bored to Death.” Each version revolves around a character named Jonathan Ames, a Brooklyn-based writer of fiction and nonfiction who is having a hard time finishing his second novel and is drinking too much white wine – which is his idea of drinking less alcohol – and smoking too much pot. As the series opens, his girlfriend is moving out and – sad, stymied and under the influence of a Raymond Chandler novel – he goes onto Craigslist to advertise his services as a private detective: “I’m not licensed, but maybe I’m someone who can help you.” The short story and the TV show, which pre- mieres Sunday night, share a premise, some scenes and even some dialogue, but before long they go their very separate ways. The original story is a fairly commonplace exercise in postmodern noir in which an idle gesture leads to violence and murder; the series, which is easily my favorite of the fall season, is something much better – a shaggy-dog comedy that floats on a cloud of fuzzy romantic optimism, the underlying energy of a location-shot fairy tale New York City, and the talents of its art-house leads: Jason Schwartzman, who plays Jonathan; Zach Galifianakis as cartoonist friend Ray, inspired by Dean Haspiel, the real Ames’ collaborator on the graphic novel “The Alcoholic”; and Ted Danson, who plays Jonathan’s other friend, a sybaritic, fitfully spiritual old-school magazine editor conceived as equal parts George Plimpton and Christopher Hitchens. (The character’s name is George Christopher.) Schwartzman, who is small and thin and dark, does not resemble Ames, who is tall and bald and buff (and a dozen years older). But the actor embodies the sound of the writer’s published prose, which is oddly stiff and formal, almost as if he’s afraid of doing injury to the language. Similarly, The Best Price Everyday Stu den tD isco 50 -70 unt s % OF F Jonathan is mostly a study in demureness and good manners, his dialogue marked by such figures as, “Excuse me” and “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but ...” This sympathy runs through the series, which displays a kind of respectful regard for the many varieties of human strangeness. As Jonathan stumbles along to close his cases, usually at some cost to Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com Motorcycles Motorcycles/Scooters Int ern et S ites 2001 Honda Shadow VLX 600 Looking for a fun bike? This is a 2001Honda Shadow VLX 600, 18,000 miles.aftermarket rear lights, mirrors andblue paint. Recently tuned, carburatorscleaned, new air cleaner. Loud throatyexhaust for 600. asking $2600 OBO Wouldlike to sell before October! 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We have come to the point now where even the edgier television series of premium and basic cable share identifiable traits and attitudes – the distance between “Hung” and “Breaking Bad” is not all that far. “Bored to Death” has its antecedents, to be sure – it is a bit like Martin Scorsese’s “After Hours,” filtered through the sensibility of a Whit Stillman and sprinkled with “Flight of the Conchords” – and yet it feels new, because it is so completely itself, consistently itself, a mix of romance, adventure and stoner comedy (there is a lot of pot about) that never abandons the world the rest of us can recognize. This column originally appeared in the Sept. 17 edition of the Los Angeles Times. ClassifiedAds If vital information (e-mail address, phone number) is missing from these ads, please consult the complete list at www.a-bay-usu.com Wh o the lesale pub to lic. himself (his person, pocketbook or dignity), he also tries to work out his life and love life. 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