Saturday, August 20, 2011

New host

We're now 100% off blogger. If you are seeing this page, please update your bookmark and head to http://www.kneelbeforepod.com

Thanks!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

An update

It has come to our attention that another podcast has started producing episodes under the name "Kneel Before Pod." This is not the return of this Kneel Before Pod. These people are in no way affiliated with us. While we left the show open for us to return, we currently don't have any new episodes in the works.

I am not sure if these guys bothered to even Google the name, but I can say they made no attempt to contact me and as far as I know, no attempt to contact Ryan.

If/when we return, everything will go through this website still. We will never change the url.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Tim Jennings Solves the Immigration Problem

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Gree-Mor: The inbred Jedi

Friend of the show Tim Jennings provides the voice for Luke Skywalker in this very funny cartoon. Check it out!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Inception: A Movie Review.


On Wednesday I saw "Inception." I have been really quiet about this fact, because frankly, I didn't want to talk about it. Did I think it was a bad movie? Not in the slightest. Did it frustrate me? Yes, yes it did. I am going to break this review into two segments. The first segment will deal with the movie itself and will have little to no spoiling. The second part will be a review of concept and will likely be spoiler heavy. I will indicate when we reach segment two. So with that said, lets begin.

As with most of Nolan's movies, it's very pretty. It will have a familiar visual tone and vocabulary if you are a fan of his previous work. When it comes to visuals, Nolan is one of my 10 favorite directors. If asked to describe his style in one word, I would have to go with "muted." In a world of Michael Bays and McGs, Nolan has a way of restraining himself when it comes to colors. Every scene seems to have a color palate, and none of them include neon pink.

The story of the movie is inspired. Unlike Avatar from last year, I don't think anyone will be able to accuse this movie of being light on story and plot. If anything, it might try to do too much. The movie at times almost felt overly complicated. Don't mistake that for being "hard to follow." I followed the movie just fine, but it just felt like the movie was trying to do too much at times. There are two completely separate missions for the main character, each almost felt like they could have been their own movie. Leaving a third movie to be made just for the main character's more personal conflicts that appear by the end of the movie. I appreciate Nolan's apparent attempt to avoid a franchise, but sometimes too much story is just too much story. It also left me wanting more character development and interactions, which felt neglected at times in favor of moving the behemoth of a plot forward. With the movie reaching just over the two hour mark, I wish Nolan would have nutted up and either made it a franchise or an honest three hour movie.

The acting is stellar. DiCaprio is powerful, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is likable despite not enough character development and Ellen Page is just a joy to watch. Even Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow from Nolan's Batman series) appears and does a great job. The only actor I really didn't connect with was Marion Cotillard. For some reason, I just didn't feel her in this movie. Any time she was on the screen, it felt like the energy was sucked from the scene. She wasn't bad. It might have just been everyone else was just so good.

This movie also hosts what I think might be one of the best fight scenes ever in a movie. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a fight where gravity is shifting. You may have seen bits of it in the trailer. Believe, it's as cool as the trailer makes it look. I personally think it's better than most, if not all, the fights shown in the Matrix movies.

At the end of the day, Inception is a well made movie and is entertaining at the very least.

Rating
4 out of 5

Segment 2

Inception is a high concept movie. Much like the work of Philip K. Dick, this movie at it's core is a study of human perception. Is the world what we make it? Is the world what it really seems? What makes our dreams any less real than the waking world around us? These are questions that are not new. People have been asking them, and similar questions, since man has first begun asking questions. So does Inception add anything to this dialog? Not in the slightest. The movie is almost all riddle and no solution.

With the movie's ambigious ending, I found myself trying to follow the movie's own rules and come to a conclusion. The problem being that the rules would only apply in the movie's "real world" setting and are void in movie making. Did Cobb and Miles just "appear" at the house or did the film maker just cut from the airport to the house to save time? Are the children appear to be the same age because they were constructs of his memory or is it just because the scenes were all shot in a single day? I don't mind that the story is left open, I mind that the details are so vague that it's hard to even draw your own solution.

While discussing this movie, I actually said "I'm done talking about it. They filmed it so the problem is unsolvable, so there's no point in trying to solve it." The basic principles of film making break the rules of this established world, so there is no weight to the rules. Unless a character verbally points out "I don't remember how we physically got here," there is no way to tell when the rules are being broken as a viewer. For me, that's very frustrating. I listened carefully to the dialog, noticing repeated phrases and themes such as "leap of faith." But by the end of the movie, I felt there was no reward for being attentive. All the things you notice might just be the short comings of the movie or the medium of movies themselves.

In the end I felt like I was being taunted for being a dedicated and observant viewer. I don't mind an open ending, but when you even leave the clues open... I draw the line.

Ryan, I think we have a topic...

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Tim Jennings at Comic-Con 2010

Friend of the show, and all around awesome guy, Tim Jennings went to San Diego Comic-Con 2010! What did he see? Find out in the video below!



Be sure to subscribe to Tim's Youtube channel so you see all his future videos!!!!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Tron Legacy: Easter Egg in new Comic Con trailer

It's that time of year again. Comic Con is upon us yet again and that means it's time for shit to get real. Not ones to let a Comic Con to slide by without getting some face time, Tron Legacy revealed a new trailer.





Looks pretty awesome right? Well, there might be something you missed. Remember the Disney science fiction classic The Black Hole? Did you see it in the trailer? You might have missed it. In case you did, here it is.


Now why is this so interesting? Those in the know, or at least people that listen to our show, should remember that Tron Legacy's director, Joseph Kosinski, has been attached to a remake of The Black Hole. He doesn't even have his first movie in the bag and he's already dropping nods to himself! I forgive you though Joe... I would be excited too. Tron Legacy looks like it's shaping up to be breathtaking and I can only hope this new take on The Black Hole will show everyone why I love the original so much.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Last Airbender: The Largest Conspiracy Since the Moon Landing

About two weeks ago I made a post on my personal website about how I didn't think "The Last Airbender" could possibly be as bad as the critics were saying. I compiled a list of movies with better ratings on Rotten Tomatoes' freshness meter. A list of movies that critics were more likely to agree are better than M. Night Shyamalan's latest flick. I said that it is hard for me to comprehend that a movie could be worse than "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," which happens to be my absolute zero when it comes to movies. It is impossible for movies to go any lower and everything is freezes by the time it gets there. Transformers 2 is flawed on so many fundamental levels, I find it unwatchable. I talk about it a lot, but it's one of the few times I am not exaggerating or joking around. I really loath that movie.

But this isn't a write up for Transformers, it's a write up for The Last Airbender. Like I explained, I didn't think there was any way this movie could be as bad as people said. I saw the movie today and I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong... but this is not one of those times. Was Airbender a great movie? No. Was it a wretched demon of a film that will eat your soul and then defecate in your now empty husk of a body? Not even close.

I'm not sure what movie all these critics were watching, but it wasn't the same one I saw today. I have heard rumbling for years that M. Night isn't very good at making friends. He has quite a few people that tell stories of not having a good experience with him either on the set or in an interview. That's fine. Sometimes assholes make good artist. It's a fact that has been time tested. But you can't blackball a decent movie just because you don't like the guy that made it. Especially when there have been a lot of movies that have came out recently that are worse than Airbender. This seems to me a clear cut case of "critics be hatin'." Don't take my word on it, in fact, don't take anyone's word on it. Check it out sometime and decide for yourself.

In my opinion The Last Airbender is a decent movie. The plot makes sense, the acting was at least passable most the time, the special effects had some cool moments and it was overall not hard on the eyes. There were some times when the acting fell flat or was slightly hammed up, but it didn't ruin the movie for me. The dialog wasn't artistic, but got the point across. The plot moved forward and there was never any question why characters were doing what they were doing. There was never a point where you asked yourself "Why did the Decepticons need to kidnap Sam's parents and take them to the desert?" ARGH! NO! NO MORE TRANSFORMERS!!!!

Anyways, this movie isn't going to change how we look at the cinema and the only reason people might study it in years to come is to learn about how the bias of critics can completely slag an otherwise mediocre film. I personally enjoyed it and am sad that I might not get to see how this story unfolds on the big screen.

Now, I think it's safe to say I am not the intended audience for this film. This movie is targeted towards a younger audience. My showing wasn't packed, but there were a lot more people there than I thought would be. There were quite a few younger pre-teen kids there. What did they think of the movie? Well, a couple of them were mimicking the tai-chi like moves the characters did when "bending" the elements. They really seemed to enjoy it even if Roger Ebert didn't.

Lastly, the race issue. Get over it. There were people that flipped out when a tongue in cheek campaign was started to get a black comedian casted as Peter Parker. These people were of the strong feeling that Peter Parker couldn't be black simply because he was never black before. There were many, myself included, that called those people racist. Maybe not conciously, but they were racist all the same. My answer remains the same. If you think these characters, that from totally fictional lands can only be played by actors of a certain race, you're a racist. There is quite a deal of racial diversity through out the cast and people from common regions seem to share heritage. That's enough for me.

Frankly, to my eyes, Aang doesn't even look "Asian" as some people have said. His attire does look to be influenced by some Asian cultures, but he actually looks pretty Caucasian to me. Also, he can't be Asian because there is no Asia in this fictional world.

Anyways, I give the movie a 3 out of 5. If there's nothing else to watch, you might enjoy this. If you're under the age of 15, you might really enjoy it.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Episode 69: Kneel Before Pod!: The Movie

Kneel Before Pod returns! We start the show off with a little reflection on this year's E3 and the fate of conventions like it. Then in the second part of our show we talk about adaptations. Whether it's your favorite comic book or video game, I can guarantee that there is someone out there working to make it into a TV show or a movie. Then we top it all off with a big heaping helping of Fucking News.

PUT IT IN YOUR EARS!!!

Music featured in this episode:
Devo - Fresh
Goldfrapp - Happiness





Play Episode
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or just look us up on iTunes!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Project $10 - Get over it.

Today I was reading Game Informer magazine and I happened to see the little segment they call "The Good, the Bad, the Ugly." In this they label EA's most recent sports Online Pass as ugly. They claim it is going to hurt the poor little kids that are only saving a few bucks by buying a used game. I must say, I really don't care about those "kids."

If you're not familiar with the Online Pass, it's real simple to break down. To take advantage of EA Sport's rich and ever expanding online features, you will need an online pass. This pass is included with every new copy of their sports games. If you buy it used, you can buy a pass for a one time charge of $10. Recently some people have really been getting up in arms and saying this is nothing more than an attempt by EA to price gouge.

EA claims that this move is just to help support the cost of the online services. If you've played an EA sports game lately, this might make sense to you. Every year they add more interconnectivity between their games and website. For example, in the latest Fight Night and FIFA games, I uploaded a picture of myself on the EA website. I then connected my Xbox to their online service via the in game menu, downloaded my picture and then applied it to my custom player. So in both games I had custom players that looked like me.

Another feature that is offered in FIFA is uploadable instant replays. So if I score an amazing goal, I can pause it and then upload the video to the EA website. To illustrate this feature, here is my custom player that looks like me (though you can't see his face) scoring a really cool goal.



When I was playing Fight Night, my menu would load audio updates from ESPN.com and play them as if I had a radio on in the gym. So I would get updates about other sports such as football and baseball. And I mean real life updates, not some silly pre-recorded fluff.

All of these features were made available to me for no additional cost. As long as I was connected to Xbox Live, I could access all these features. This is all well and good, but now EA is claiming that they are going to be stepping up their online game even more.

During EA's E3 presentation, they unveiled some of the details for their upcoming MMA title. To say they're ambitious is an understatement. EA is planning on more or less creating their own gaming league. In this league, gamers can cut promo videos to trash talk their opponents, participate in tournaments with real life prizes and be involved with live events. These live events will be broadcast over the internet to PCs and consoles with live commentary from real life MMA commentators. It is an unprecedented online presentation that combines the game itself and multimedia.

I see this as being a first step for a massive change in how EA presents their sports games and how players will play online. It will be risky and costly. Which now raises the issue of money. EA will have to pay for the bandwidth, the hardware and the staff to keep these online services going.

When you buy a used game, none of that money goes to the publisher. When you buy that used copy of Madden 2008 at Gamestop, all that money goes straight to Gamestop and no one else. That means someone could use EA's online services and they haven't paid a cent towards the upkeep of that service. Why should I, someone who mainly buys new games, have to pay towards the upkeep of these services while others don't?

So in the end, EA is saying it's fine to buy a used game. Feel free to play the variety of single player modes while we don't get a cent for it, but we draw the line. The line being they will not provide a maintained service to someone that hasn't even given them $10. It seems more than fair to me.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

No new episode this week.

Sorry folks, there will be no new episode of KBP this weekend. Frankly, both of us are very busy this weekend. This is compounded by the fact that Ryan is having some issues with his internet. Between the two things it just looks like this week isn't meant to be. The good news is that this gives you more time to give us your feedback!

Next week we will be tackling movie adaptations. So let us know how you feel about them! In general do you like them or hate them? Do you like them to be as close to the source material as possible? What are some examples of good ones? How about bad ones? What source material seems to adapt better (i.e. Books, Comics, Video Games)?

As always you can email us, call us or tweet. Just hit the contact link up at the top of the page!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Mortal Kommentary!

This week we're not recording an actual episode. To make up for this, we offer your Mortal Kombat: The Commentary. Mortal Kombat is available on Netflix if you don't happen to own a copy of this classic video game movie.

Next week, we'll be talking about movie adaptations. Comic books, video games, books and TV shows are all being turned into movies. Is nothing sacred? We'll be talking about why we love adaptations so much and why we get so crazy over them. So let us know how you feel. Do you like adaptations? Are you a rabid fan boy that foams at the mouth when "they" get your favorite franchise wrong? What do you think makes a good adaptation? Give us your feedback! Email us, show@kneelbeforepod.com, or click here for more contact options!







Play Episode
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or just look us up on iTunes!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Android Karenina – A Book Review

As a reader of this website, or listener of the podcast, please raise your hand if you’ve read Leo Tolstoy’s classic Anna Karenina (and no, following that link doesn’t count). I’m going to assume that no one raised their hand, and I’m not surprised. I haven’t read it either. A soap opera, with a bunch of hard to pronounce names, based in 19th Century Russia? No thanks. I’m sorry, Mr. Tolstoy, but I prefer my soap operas to have midgets and demons.

Enter Ben H. Winters, who co-wrote Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters with Jane Austen. Mr. Winters had the brilliant idea to rerelease Anna Karenina for a new (much cooler) generation. Take everything that made the novel a beloved classic, and mix in two healthy doses of Steampunk and robots. Quirk Classics, the Masters of Our Public Domain, jumped on this idea, and catapulted Mr. Tolstoy into superstardom (possibly back into superstardom, records are unclear).

Android Karenina, the novel that breaks all the rules (but not those very important three!), is the fourth title which re-envisions classics of literature with a patently geeky bent. Following hot on the heels of Zombies and Sea Monsters, the addition of robots to the arsenal completes the Geek Trifecta.

Need more of a reason to check out Android Karenina*? How about a picture of some swanky dude making time with a robot chick…

android_cover_small

*Not so fast, Sparky. As with my review of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, Quirk Classics is letting me clue you in on another fantastic contest! Here’s the deal: Click on this link –> RIGHT HERE <- and tell them about Kneel Before Pod. As before, registration is required, but it’s a small price to pay for this awesome prize pack you will have a chance at winning (prize pack worth nearly $100…that’s a lot of money, children)!

  • Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith
  • How to Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith
  • Dracula’s Heir: An Interactive Mystery by Sam Stall
  • Extreme Encounters by Greg Emmanuel
  • How to Tell if Your Boyfriend is The Antichrist by Patricia Carlin
  • An Android Karenina Poster
  • And More!
**Special Bonus! The Official Release Trailer!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Episode 68: Kneel Before Ed: Episode II: The Ed Strikes Back

This episode is what is left from our recording with Ed from Voice of the Republic. This episode we finally get to the meat and potatoes of the show. We discuss Lost, Star Wars and a bunch of other things!

PUT IT IN YOUR EARS!!!

Music featured in this episode:
Drive Shaft - You All Everybody
The Supervillains - Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

Episode Links:
Here is the picture album we discuss with Ed regarding the Tokyo Halloween Decadance
Here is Japanese rockstar ROLLY singing a couple selections from Rocky Horror Picture Show.







Play Episode
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or just look us up on iTunes!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Episode 67: Kneel Before Ed... PART 1!

This week we're joined by Ed Siemienkowicz from the fabulous Star Wars podcast Voice of the Republic. We started recording at 7pm and didn't stop till midnight! As a result, we just have too much content. From trips to Red Lobster to talk about Lost(the original topic), we just couldn't stop talking!!!! The good news is you're going to hear it all. The bad news? You'll have to wait till next week to get the rest.

In part 1, we read your feedback, talk a lot and then finish it up with news. Next week, you will get the on topic Lost talk, some Star Wars and some other Misc stories. So strap in and get ready to Kneel Before Ed!

PUT IT IN YOUR EARS!!!

Music featured in this episode:
Geronimo Jackson - Dharma Lady





Play Episode
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Saturday, May 29, 2010

Episode announcement & super sexy music time!

This week we will have part one of our two part episode featuring Ed Siemienkowicz of Voice of the Republic. The original intent was to have a Lost wrap up show, but we just recorded way too much content. We started at 7pm and didn't finish till midnight. So now you're getting two show and the Lost talk will follow next with part 2 that will be coming next week! So prepare to put it in your ears!

Till then, enjoy long time friend of the show Jamie Douglas with his band The Powergoats playing live at Irene's Pub in downtown Ottawa!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Episode 66: The Great Spider-Man debate of '010

Carl has said it before... he doesn't like Spider-Man. Not much time has been dedicated to this fact. Now, we dedicate a whole episode to this point of dispute between the two hosts. Can Ryan sell Carl on Spider-Man? Will Carl make Peter Parker cry? Can he really do whatever a spider can??? Listen and find out. As always, there's two scoops of nerd news to finish off.

PUT IT IN YOUR EARS!!!

Music featured in this episode:
Hockey Monkey - The Zambonis
The World is New - Save Ferris


Play Episode
Direct Download: Right Click and Save
Podcast Home: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/23055
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or just look us up on iTunes!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Episode 65: Does whatever an iron can

I know, I know... we said we were going to have the great Spider-Man debate this week. We really were, we promise... but... IRONMAN 2 CAME OUT THIS WEEKEND!!!!! Don't ask how this slipped our minds. That's what happens when you make plans on the fly while recording.

Anyways, this week we talk about Ironman 2. Does it do the original proud? Does it miss the mark? Should we learn some new alloys? It's covered in this mostly spoiler free episode. So put it in your ears!!!

Music featured in this episode:
Skateaway - Dire Straits
Trou Macacq - Squirrel Nut Zippers


Play Episode
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or just look us up on iTunes!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Point / Counter Point: Spider-Man – Hero or Douchebag

Last week on Kneel Before Pod!, I posed a challenge to Carl. We'd decided to finally get to the heart of our feelings for Spider-Man, and to debate our points on the show. To go along with this aural debate, I said "Why not write something up for the ol' bliggity-blog?" Carl was in favor, because he's always in favor of me putting up content. To sweeten the deal, and because I thought it would be more interesting, I suggested that we take up the opposite side in our pieces; I'd be against Spider-Man, Carl in favor. Here, in all it's glory, is what we came up with. Enjoy!



Carl - President of the Spider-Man Fan Club

Over the years, comic characters have come and gone. Some have gone out of favor and others have gained a fan base. One character that has almost always been at the front of fandom is Spider-Man. But why has Spider-Man remained a fan favorite for so many years? The reason for Spider-Man's longevity is simply the fact that he is a lighthearted character that people can relate to and is generally a likable character.

For years, comic book superheroes were beyond the reader not only with their physical daring, but with their personal life and ideals as well. Rarely did you see Superman in a position where he was being bullied. You never saw Bruce Wayne fail to get the girl. By the time characters in comic books became heroes, they were typically paragons in every aspect of their lives.

Spider-Man was one of the first mainstream characters to show a less-than-perfect life beyond their origin story. Even after he gets his powers, Parker has what many people would see as a normal life. Problems with girls, his job, money and his family. His life is not charmed just because he becomes a super hero. In fact, his personal life suffers from his new found powers. In the real world, this could translate into "I got a promotion at work, but now my home life is suffering." It's a very human problem and many people have experienced it.

Not to mention Spider-Man and Peter Parker are always the victim to bullies, which is a situation that many comic book readers can relate to. Be it Flash in High School, or J. Jonah Jameson as he gets older, there is always someone working against him on a personal level. To many people, this is something they can relate to. Be it a boss, a family member or some jerk neighbor, readers can connect with a character that has people working to bring him down. It's an issue that hits close to home, especially to kids and teenagers.

Lastly, he's just a likable character. While sometimes the content does get a little bleak and dark, Spider-Man almost always keeps a positive attitude. He is well known in the Marvel Universe and by readers in the real world for his witty one liners and zingers that he directs towards villains in their confrontations. Even when he is facing what might be death, you can count on Spider-man to make a joke.

So in summary, people like Spider-Man due to his fun hi-jinks, his down to earth problems and his ability to relate to younger audiences. He has been on top for years and will no doubt continue to be an all-star in the comic book universe.

Ryan - Proponent of cigar-chomping newsmen everywhere

Let me paint a picture for you:

No one at school likes you, except for the weird rich kid that doesn't fit in either. The jocks, led by a Neanderthal nicknamed, of all things, “Flash,” treats you like his personal toilet. Your parents are dead, so the only family you have in the world is your septuagenarian aunt and uncle, who insist you eat your wheat cakes every morning. Sure, you're a smart kid, but then, what else could you have going for you with this kind of hand.

One day, a freak accident occurs, and you suddenly find yourself with the proportionate strength and speed of a spider. Not only that, but you have some kind of freaky warning bell in your head that lets you know if something bad it going to happen. Of course you are going to try and capitalize on your new found powers. Living the way you do doesn't exactly make being popular an easy task. Pro wrestling; that's the ticket.

Blah blah blah, your uncle is dead. You could have done something, but you didn't get precognition from that spider bite. Now your aunt, the only thing left to you, has no one to take care of her. I know – give up your semi-lucrative career as a popular wrestler and fight crime. For free. Because “With great power comes great responsibility.”

No, Parker, with great power comes great opportunity. As The Amazing Spider-Man, you could have had everything: money, fame, women. The world could have been your oyster. Instead, you end up fighting losers who adopt animal names for their crimes.

Take a look at Batman real quick. Same basic origin, same motive, and criminals fear him. If I were in the crime business, I wouldn't worry too much about ol' Spidey. He'll knock me around a bit, string me up on a light pole, throw out a “witty” quip, and leave me to the authorities. I figure I can bounce back from that. I honestly don't know how common criminals even take Spider-Man seriously.

Parker, in addition to being an all-around douche, also has the same problems as me. Why this is, I have no idea. Money's short? You're a superhero. Can't get the girl? You're a superhero. Your alter-ego's boss thinks you're a menace? You're a freaking superhero. See? One simple alteration in Parker's life, and everything comes up roses.

Face it, Tiger...you're a douche.


What are your thoughts on the ol' Web-Head? Everybody likes throwing in their two cents, so why don't you give us yours? Twitter, email, or voicemail, we'll take them all.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Even though I hate Halo, I hate myself even more...

Over the years, I have really come down hard on Halo. I think it's only fair though. If you're going to be a franchise that people point to and say "That's the one. That's the game that innovated the genre." you better well innovate the genre. To me, the only thing the Halo franchise has achieved is bring a watered down PC experience to the home console. This really shouldn't be reason to hate a franchise that is at least half decent and it really isn't mine. The reason I hate Halo, and I have said it before, is because I fall for it every time.

Well, it's happening again. There's a cool new short film, a bunch of shiny screenshots and a wide spread beta. Being a gaming nerd, I can't help but to get a little tight in the pants over all of it. Then it happens... The tweet that will likely get the better of my common sense.


I have a very specific list of things I don't like about Halo. The generic cookie cutter combat is one of those things. There's a reason that I like games like Team Fortress, Battlefield BC2, Star Wars Battlefront and Tribes. Classes. The game allows people to play in a way that takes advantage of your natural playing style. Medics, Snipers, Engineers, Spies... They all come together in this amazing KFC Famous Bowl meal that makes for a truly satisfying experience. No race to the most powerful weapon on the map. Just a balanced game where working well together can achieve some amazing things and overcome tremendous odds. So with Halo adding classes and jetpacks, I might start running out of stuff to put on my "Why Halo is only mediocre at best" list.

If I secure a place in the Beta, I will let you kids know what I think. BTW, if I hate this game I am totally blaming Gabe...