CyberpunkCafe

So last weekend my good buddy Tamer came down to visit and this visit happened to coincide exactly with my copy of Mario Kart Wii arriving through the post. I got a couple of shots in before he got here just to check out what was new with the latest incarnation and I have to say my initial reaction was a little subdued.

On first impression the game didn’t seem to be radically different from the Gamecube’s MK: Double Dash. The multiplayer modes have also been changed from a straight up free for all to a team based affair, robbing me of what has traditionally been my favourite gameplay mode. It isn’t entirely negative however; the game has been considerably polished since the Gamecube version and has been noticeably increased in scale. There are more tracks, including a host of retro tracks from the previous versions, more cups in the single player grand prix mode, a huge choice of karts, bikes and characters to choose from as well as heaps more to unlock and the addition of tricks and a slightly tweaking drift and boost system. The single biggest improvement though, turning what might have been a fairly average sequel into a truly fantastic one, is the addition of online content and multiplayer play. Besides being able to download time trial ghost times from the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and compare your records with others online you can also enter into competitions and best of all; Play Mario Kart ONLINE!

Online play is where Mario Kart Wii really shines - it’s always been a great multiplayer party game and with each incarnation the racing aspect of multiplayer has become better and better. Tamer and I had a few shots of the multiplayer which was fine but it wasn’t until we loaded up the wireless mode that the game really came to life. The way it works is fast and simple - it looks for people around your rating and then organises you into a group of up to 12 and then allows you to vote for which circuit you want. Obviously you can play wireless on your own but you can also play with a guest, which is what we did. While the battle mode is fun - it’s nothing on the racing. We spent the entire afternoon and a large portion of the evening racing online, hi-fiving, whooping and immensely enjoying beating down fiery Spaniards Pedro and Ramon and challenging the technical efficiency of German Karters like Hans and Speigel. When we did finally go out that evening for some drinks we came back early specifically to get in more drunken Mario Kart fun. Although the alcohol did severely impact on our driving skills it should be said.

Anyway overall verdict is a huge win - I’ve been waiting a long time for Nintendo to make a great multiplayer experience and in Mario Kart Wii they seem to have gotten the mixture right - I only hope that unlike other versions of Mario Kart this is the first one which will receive a sequel on the same hardware as the multiplayer experience can only get better as the Wii progresses.

Hot on the heels of the last 3angle films release “Trapped” comes this epic tale, (told in 2 minutes) of a young chap who is bored out of his tiny mind.

What mad japes can you expect in this caper I hear you ask? Well none to be honest its about boredom. Its shot by me cut by me scored by me and it stars um me. It was all done one boring afternoon, one boring summer back in boring 2003 on a boring webcam.

Prepare to be bored, Prepare for ‘Ennui’.

Ok after such an amazing intro I’m sure you are positively salivating over the prospect of so much meaty me-ness in one go so get your chompers round it kit and kaboodle right here

Alternatively just view it right here you lazy tripe wardens…

I just finished uploading the first 3angle films short ‘Trapped’ I’m all happy excited and well a bit demented really, but glad its finally finished.

Please sit back, relax and enjoy the internet premiere of our first short feature film, starring Catherine Cassell and  Chris Philipps. Written and Directed by Lawrence Fisher, Produced by Tom Darlington, Shot by Robin Leck, Sound by Rhys Davies and Edited and Scored by Yours Truly.

I’ve been tinkering with things and I think I’ve finally found a fairly decent solution to putting film work online - anyway here is the first 3angle Films Showreel…

Please feel free to comment. You can view it larger here

[EDIT 12:06] Please do yourself a favour and read this article from the Guardian about those utterly dire Brit Awards

Once again I am back to wax lyrical about the latest film I watched or something else nobody cares about, but then I had a thought, “Why bother, it’s not like any of it has any point”. Now I’m not being all down on myself or anything but I really had to think hard as to why I even bother with this at all. I used to always tell myself that it was cathartic, that I was gaining something by writing down my thoughts but now I’m not so sure. I’m spending time writing all these random things down in here when I could be doing something creative and productive. I’m supposed to be a filmmaker but I’ve not so much as looked at a script in months.

Is writing here taking away from what I really want to do with my time?

by Mark Haddon is an excellent read, I’d also reccomend you check out the Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger if you are doing any travelling or need a book that will suck you right in fast and hard and not let go till you have read it the buggery out of it.

I’m currently reading Phillip K Dick’s collection of short stories including Minority Report - I think that one was made into a film by some hotshot hollywood upstart. They are pretty neat but nowhere near as awe inspiring as Valis or some of his other works.

What else is new? Well I’ve been working on the website for 3angle films the company I recently started with a couple of my more talented comrades. Keep your eyes here for the release of said website later this week!

Also of late I started messing around with internet dating / friend finding websites. It’s the latest craze for me since playing poker online and I wanted to know which ones were worth fiddling with and which ones were absolute pony. You can currently find yours truly’s hopeless profiles on Faceparty.com and also meetic but you can find my profile on there for yourself… If you know any other good ones I’m up for it in the name of uh, research. Yes academic pursuits - thats my watchword.

I just watched Before Sunset and I was completely mesmerized. Having watched Before Sunrise a couple of nights previously, I have something to compare it to and I can see how far Richard Linklater has come. Now Sunrise is a good film, I’d have definately included it in any list I compiled of my favourite films, Sunset however, storms straight in as my numero uno.

Besides the form of the film (it takes place, pretty much in real-time) the dialog, photography, the acting, everything comes together to show just how much Linklater has matured as a film-maker. You can see how his influence has developed looking over his previous work with films such as Slacker and Waking Life. Its a triumphant work and you could plan no better weekend than one spent with the Before Sunrise/Sunset films basking in the glow you get at the end of each part - of course it does help if you are something of a romantic.

The films have reinvigorated me somewhat as Linklater was one of the directors who inspired me to get into this line of work in the first place. I had began to wonder if he had gone off the boil and perhaps was not living up to his early promise. Before Sunset has made everything right in the world though.

P.S. I have developed a major crush on Julie Delpy as a direct result of the final scene.