Worth Reading: 09/28/12

I’m hustling to put this feature together as poor Brad tries to finish the last few levels of DOOM II, an exercise one can only imagine will end in tears. Then again, I would have said that about the last Breaking Brad, and he managed to prove me wrong that time.

Watching Brad play DOOM II, though, reminds me about my family’s first PC. After we got one in house, my dad and I went to the CompUSA (that sounds right, anyway) and there just happened to be a giant demon standee for the launch of DOOM II. I’m not sure what I managed to say to convince him that buying DOOM II was a good idea, but we went home with the game and I was obsessed.

I was not, however, obsessed with playing the game correctly. If my memory’s accurate, most of that game was played with godmode on nonstop, noclip cranked to the max--and it was still a total blast. It’s too bad most games have forgotten what it’s like to hand over complete control to the player. Our desire to make sure the player feels or acts a certain way has forced us to lose something in the process. The days of cheat codes, GameSharks, and other hacks fostered a certain exploration we no longer have, and I suspect it's gone forever.

Oh, and by the way, I’ve put my list of Shocktober movies for Halloween 2012 at the bottom. Enjoy!

Hey, You Should Play These

• Demon Decimator by Pixeluslar (Browser, Free) -- www.newgrounds.com

Too many games featured here at Worth Reading fall into two categories: horror and platformers. That’s just where my personal interest have fallen lately, but I realize not everyone is as into those types of games as yours truly. I’m going to make a genuine effort to feature different types of games in the coming weeks, so if you have any suggestions or sources for new, weird games, shoot me a message. For this week, we have Demon Decimator, which is a fun puzzler that won’t cost you a dime on Newgrounds, and feels right in the spirit of hell on earth.

• Skylight by Moment Studio (PC, Mac, Browser / $2.50) -- www.momentstudio.co.nz

...then again, I can’t say I’m going to completely leave platformers behind, either. There isn’t much to Skylight, at least in the demo, but I’m fascinated by developers attempting to solve the problem of platforming making sense in first-person. It’s a testament to Skylight that I was freely jumping from space to space in moments. Mostly, though, it makes me desperately want to replay Mirror’s Edge, which is a game I should really get around to playing again.

And You Should Read This, Too

• "Reality Check: The Truth About 'Perverted' Japanese Games" by Jeremy Parish for 1UP

Giant Bomb is as guilty as any other section of the Western gaming press for painting Japanese game development with a broad brush of ignorance. For the most part, it’s because their games simply do not appeal to many of us anymore, but then stuff like Tokyo Jungle comes around and I’m reminded what attracted me to the Japanese design sensibility in the first place. I’m convinced much of Japan’s AAA development has been wildly distracted by trying to appeal to a worldwide audience, but one attribute that comes up time and time again is the overtly sexual wide of Japanese video games. I can’t claim much familiarity with it, only that I look at it with the same eyeroll as most others do. Thankfully, we have writers like Jeremy Parish around to enlighten us on what’s happening behind the veil.

If You Click It, It Will Play

I Don’t Know About This Kickstarter Thing, But These Projects Seem Pretty Cool

• I'm not much of an RTS guy, but people seem pretty stoked by this Nexus 2 campaign.
• Someday Square Enix will remake Final Fantasy VI, but this remix complication will suffice for now.
• Given the first Presidential debate is next week, a board game about politics seems apt.

Valve Just Launched Greenlight, So Here’s Some Games That Don’t Look Terrible

• Maybe this is why Valve is looking to clamp down on Steam Greenlight submissions.
• I loved the first Octodad, so I'm a firm believer in the sequel, and it's amazing subtitle.
• I'm a sucker for a platformer with a clever gimmick, and Contrast has exactly that.

And This Other Stuff, Too

• If you're looking for a sweet list of great indie games released in 2012, your prayers are answered.
• Speaking of indie games, Indie Royale has revealed its Oktoberfest lineup, and it's spectacular.
• Cable companies heavily investing in cloud gaming would be a huge move against consoles.
• Yeah, Nintendo Power is going away, but not without saying goodbye first.
• The New York Times reviews Papo & Yo, and I'm not talking about those repurposed Kotaku reviews.
• Insomniac Games releases the entire design document for a long-cancelled game.
• There are some recreations of Portal turrets, and then one made by the folks at WETA.
• Looks like Asura's Wrath 2 might be coming our way, and I'm already prepared to burst.
• Even though it didn't hit its Kickstarter goal, Beneath a Steel Sky 2 is still happening. Yes!
• Gaming legend Raph Koster weighs in on the question of wanting to become a game designer.
• Some bots from UT 2004 apparently passed the turing test, which is amazing.
• A Pokemon cartoon inspired the military to develop a gun. No, seriously.

Here's Your Official Lineup for Shocktober 2012

Every year, my wife and I try to cram in roughly 31 movies throughout October. We usually only end up making it through 20 or so, but the goal is 30, and it's fun to aspire in celebration of The Greatest Holiday. I've seen everything, which is why some stuff on here is pretty obscure. I try to strike a balance between oldies that I've either forgotten (The Shining) or somehow missed out on (The Lady in White), while also exploring the best of what other countries have to offer. I've noticed that the UK and Spain have been churning out the best horror the past few years, including Them and [rec]. If you want, here's last year's list, complete with trailers. I'll do something similar for this list soon.

This list is not in any viewing order. Enjoy as you see fit!

1. The Children
2. Pontypool
3. Kill List
4. The Loved Ones
5. Angel Heart
6. Videodrome
7. Quarantine 2
8. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Lesile Vernon
9. The Monster Squad
10. The Shining
11. Event Horizon
12. Cabin in the Woods
13. The Squad
14. Tokyo Gore Police
15. Cemetery Man
16. The Killer Condom
17. Human Centipede 2
18. Pet Sematary
19. Woman
20. The Lady in White
21. Mother's Day
22. Who Can Kill a Child?
23. Father's Day
24. Beyond the Black Rainbow
25. Grave Encounters
26. Lake Placid
27. Frontiers
28. Dead Heat
29. Pandorum
30. Paranormal Activity 4
31. Sinister

Edit: Looking forward to reading the article as always. Finally nabbed that quest!

OH SNAP!

Yeesh, just the wiki synopsis is enough to convince me to never watch Human Centipede 2.

#TEAMBRAD /

i really want to watch some more horror, and of the darker and more psychological kind rather than mainly jump scares or gorefests nowadays. The Exorcist and Blair Witch are two favorites I can recall off the top of my head. probably more asian horror? (tbh i've only seen The Eye, which i thought was pretty great if kind of a slapdash ending)

any suggestions?

CACODADS

It’s too bad most games have forgotten what it’s like to hand over complete control to the player. Our desire to make sure the player feels or acts a certain way has forced us to lose something in the process. The days of cheat codes, GameSharks, and other hacks fostered a certain exploration we no longer have, and I suspect it's gone forever. 

Thankfully, we have writers like Jeremy Parish around to enlighten us on what’s happening behind the veil.

Er, yah. About that...

Wouldn't watch Human Centipede 2 with the wife, dude. :P

I need to think about thanksgiving before hallowe'en

Behind the Mask? Fuck Yes! That movie is fantastic! It shows just how much cardio training a slasher villain has to do to stay in shape!

Screened gave Human Centipede 2 a single star

on the horror list I've only seen Cabin in the woods and The shining. Gonna bookmark this and try to watch the rest. Thanks Patrick I've been yearning for some horror movies.

Not even Pinhead would force Human Centipede 2 on his victims.

Good job at remembering October has 31 days this year, Patrick

I love these articles. Gives me some cool stuff to read and check out over the weekend. Thanks Patrick.

The article on Japanese games by Jeremy Parish was fantastic, good job recommending it Patrick.

I liked Human Centipede 2, so stupid and gross that it's good. Of course I have weird taste in movies and tend to like bad horror or stuff that's so bad its good, like for instance The Room.

overtly sexual wide

Come on, Patrick. Don't watch Human Centipede 2.

Patrick, PLEASE tell me you are only watching Quarantine 2 because you've already burned through [REC] and [REC] 2.

Quarantine and its sequel was such bullshit.

Are you watching the original Mother's Day or the remake?

And yeah, like others have said, there isn't any reason to sit through Human Centipede 2.

Tokyo Gore Police is crap and it goes on waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long

I love me some Killer Condom. One of the best Halloween parties I went to was a cinema showing that, Poultrygeist, and Class of Nuke 'Em High. Great time.

Pontypool is really fantastic. I would even say it's as pertinent a social critique as Night of the Living Dead was for its time. Especially when you consider that the zombie film has devolved into stuff like Zombieland, which, don't get me wrong, is a cool movie, but the quest of the main goddamn character is to find a Twinkie: the unholiest of symbols of over-consumption, the thing consumed with mindlessness, the exact thing that something like Dawn of the Dead works to eviscerate.

I would also recommend any French horror movie you can get your hands on. Sheitan, Frontiers, Martyrs are all great. And if anyone is interested, here's a spooky little short.

@patrickklepek
 Have you actually seen Cemetery Man before? If not, you're in for a real treat! Everything about that film is fantastic.
 
Also, that Portal turret is simply AWESOME.

As a horror movie junkie, October is by far my favorite month. I'm sad that there's no Suspiria on that list. Or even any Argento at all.

Which reminds me, Patrick might be one of the few people who would get what I was talking about when I compare Argento's career and the Sonic the Hedgehog series - in terms of quality over time.

Ah, Worth Reading: still the best way to enter the weekend...

@patrickklepek

I believe the caption beneath the Cyberdemon image was intended to be: "...people have made the sprites available for use on the PC."

EDIT: Also, by the way, have you seen I Saw the Devil?

RE-EDIT: Never mind, I just happened to listen to Bombcast episode 10-18-11 in which you specifically mention seeing the film.

The concept of Monster Knight seems way more interesting than Fuse's. What gives, Insomniac? Work on that instead!

A month of horror movies sounds right up my alley. I'm all in. Thanks Patrick.

That article on Japanese games was an interesting read, so thanks for posting it.

Also, while I have not seen it and have zero intentions of ever seeing it, what I have read about Human Centipede 2 suggests that it isn't so much scary as it is vile, disgusting and otherwise not fit for human viewing.

@CynicalRodent said:

Patrick, PLEASE tell me you are only watching Quarantine 2 because you've already burned through [REC] and [REC] 2.

Quarantine and its sequel was such bullshit.

JUST was going to say that same thing!

Demon Decimator is a great recommendation. Played it earlier today on Newgrounds.

Patrick, if you want a true test of your ability to HANDLE THE HORROR.. May I recommend David Lynch's Inland empire? It is obfuscating, painful, senseless and scary beyond words. I know in October it's tradition to stick to films of a certain inclination, but Inland Empire will make you feel a kind of fear you have never felt before, it gets at that vulnerable space in the depths of your soul and manipulates it for its own pleasure... It could be a good follow on from your experiences with Amnesia.

But yeah, some good stuff here this week, good shit tricky!

Pontypool was so great...at least for the first hour or so.

One of the few horror movies I've seen that genuinely unsettled me for a bit.

The Monster Squad. Patrick, you magnificent bastard.

Doom II was my first PC as well. I remember needing to double my RAM (to a total of 8 MB. Cost $170) just to play it.

I wouldn't waste your time watching Human Centipede 2, Cemetery Man (the only good part is Anna Falchi's breasts), or The Killer Condom.

NEXUS 2!

SOme of those are on instant streaming, thanks Patrik!

Lady in White made the list? Yes! That movie was filmed in my hometown and I am an extra in it!

Fuckin Videodroooooome!

One of my favorite films ever. I'll happily watch this again this month.

PONTYPOOL fucking rules.

Another great selection of articles to read. I might also try watching one those movies. lol

that was a fantastic article on Japanese games by that parish dude, it really takes home the fact that most other press sites (aside from GB, much appreciated Patrick) just continously bash japan on what is apparently a minor issue and a niche genre in japan.

like most sites are just bashing the shit out of doa because of boob bouncing. which yea its where doa got its identity, but doa is still a great accessible fighting game with a fun nonsensical story. but if you go to other outlets, you hear otherwise and then they go and bash japan.

quote from a dude in the 1up comments that pretty much summarizes it "people in general seem to sensationalize things and gravitate towards negativity first as if they're moths drawn to a burning flame."

Patrick Klepek

The new horror movie V.H.S http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2105044/ was good.

Event Horizon