Talking the Walk: Episode 209 “Triggerfinger”
February 20, 2012
And we roll on to week two of Season 2, Part 2 of The Walking Dead! This has spoilers.
Last week’s episode was basically a summary of Part 1 of the season, leaving my recap a recap of a recap (BRAHHHHMMMM). But it ended strong with Lori flipping her car on the interstate in search of Rick, who was busy being pinned down with Glen and Hershel in an abandoned pub after the killing of two aggressive Jersey-sounding survivors from Philly. OH! Fugetaboutit! Gabagool! Racial epithet!
The first half hour of “Triggerfinger” might be some of the finest minutes of the series thus far. It opens with Lori awakening from her car crash, pinned inside the vehicle in the middle of nowhere in the dead of night. Scary enough, right? Nay! Zombies are also trying to push themselves through the mangled car frame, jagged glass peeling back their rotting, bloody skin. NOW YOU”RE SPEAKING MY BLOODTHIRSTY NERD LANGUAGE, AMC!
*HITS INHALER* Read on…
Talking the Walk: Episode 208 “Nebraska”
February 13, 2012
People, people, people. The Walking fucking Dead.
This should go without saying, but here there be spoilers:
Season 2, part 2 is finally here and debuted last night to what I will assume are pretty impressive numbers. It seems like only yesterday that Rick and crew had been taken in by farmer Hershel Greene during their search for little Sophia, only to find out ol’ Hershel had a soft spot for walkers, keeping a barn full of them right on his property. Both Carl and Daryl got clipped by friendly fire, Andrea got busy with Shane, Glen got busy with the farmer’s daughter, a preggers Lori finally told Rick about her and Shane, Shane lost his ever-loving shit, and the crew finally found Sophia a member of Hershel’s quarantine, leaving Rick to gun her down. -phew- Lordy! Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, Dale kept his nose firmly planted in everyone else’s business and T-Dog definitely said some black guy stuff.
There. All caught up. Read on…
Kingdoms of Amalur Preview and Demo Impressions
February 7, 2012
In my days playing WoW (admittedly quite long ago) there was a commonly shared thought amongst my inner circle of gaming buddies: “This would be so great if it had a single player component.” 
Read on…
GSL 2012 Season 1: Previewing the Code S Round of 16
January 25, 2012
The introductory season of the GSL 2012 showed promise long before Sen and Jjakji kicked off Group A. A host of intriguing story lines were embedded in the round of 32. IdrA’s return from the West, Fin’s (aka FOrGG) Code S debut, a reinvigorated MC’s acsent from Code A (this time without the help of MLG), and yet another new format. With every group match now converted to a best of three, players would have a better opportunity to display longer-term strategic thinking as opposed to tactical prowess. Diversity of play style is more valuable than ever for players hoping to advance. Read on…
MLG’s Initial 2012 Format Changes, Return to Columbus
January 19, 2012
Major League Gaming, fresh off a season of explosive growth, has released an initial batch of information about upcoming format enhancements for 2012. The organization has decided to move away from its more ambitious year long format, opting instead to divide 2012 into four major seasons. A move that perhaps implies that eSports is not yet in a position where long-format seasons can really succeed. Players aren’t fiscally comfortable enough with the commitment, and audiences demand more consequential, high stakes matches.
Might as well be honest, the 2011 MLG long-form point system never really worked. The occasional appearance of high level Koreans was directly at odds with it, and the seeding at Providence was wildly inaccurate as a result.
Leenock vs Jjakji: Thoughts on the Best GSL Finals
December 10, 2011
I don’t think I need to dwell on the whole “GSL finals are lackluster” thing. It’s a tragic fact of eSports life, a mantra spoken by casters and fans alike since the second open season. One player will be strong, confident, while the other is nervous and underprepared. We can call it MVP vs MKP syndrome. So when I tuned in to GOMtv last week to catch Leenock vs Jjakji, my expectations were understandably minimal.
Leenock was a solid favorite, returning from the West with a shiny new MLG Championship trophy. Jjakji was the underdog. The guy whose only exploit was all-killing FXO in the GSTL back in July. The expected narrative had written itself. Leenock would crush him in unceremonious fashion, heft his trophy, hug his mom, and be the richest self-made 16 year old on that half of the globe.
Was I ever in for a surprise. Read on…