Cheap Date: May 16th
Every Wednesday, I help you decide how to best spend $30 or less on entertainment for our very nerdy Cheap Date.
You have two choices that you can follow this week. The first choice is to go over the usual $30 budget and grab Diablo III for twice that amount. Most people are choosing Diablo III this week. It is a game that many people have waited over a decade for. Then there is the second choice which will consist of just comics and a game, but you do get more bang for your buck.
Let us assume that you do not have sixty dollars and want to stay within the thirty dollar budget.
Comics – $10
This week, we have three comics that are looking to thrill you recklessly.
Locke & Key Clockworks #6 from IDW by Joe Hill with art by Gabriel Rodriguez continues to impress. This issue ends the fifth Locke & Keymini-series. We finally learn what ultimately happened to the “Keepers of the Keys” when they face off against a former friend. Stephen King should be proud of his son’s fantasy-horror series that keeps this reader wanting more.
Wonder Woman #9from DC Comics shows us Diana’s continued journey into the realm of Hades. When Brian Azzarello said he was turning the rebootedWonder Womanseries into a horror story most of the audiences were confused. But going into the ninth issue, this series keeps getting better and scarier. Also Cliff Chiang’s art has a lot to do with the book’s success.
Hardcore #1 from Image Comics combines the ideas of Image greats Robert Kirkman and Marc Silvestri. This new series has an interesting science fiction take on assassins. Imagine if assassins could jack in and take over the body of anyone to complete their assignment. Now imagine if one of those assassins is using those methods to take on all the other assassins. Very interesting cyber-punk feel to the story that I am very interested in reading.
Video Games – $20 or 1600 MSP
The XBLA version of Minecraft was released last week. Within a day, it had already broken sales records and continues to do so a week later. Yes; there are cheaper ways to play this game but there is one thing that sets this version apart, Xbox Live. Xbox Live and its friends lists make the game so much easier to work with other people. When you boot the game up, it shows who is playing and allows you to hop right in to that person’s game. That is the reason many people pay the $60 a year for Live and will pay $20 for this game. No other service now does friends lists as well as Xbox Live.
Minecraft also eats away at time. You have to mine and collect materials to build whatever your mind can imagine, all of which takes time. Last night it took me two hours to clear an area and collect the materials to build an infinity pool that will serve my future castle. I do not even want to imagine how much time it will take to build my future castle without help. Oh well, in the meantime I can hop into other people’s games and leave my mark.
Even if you are unsure about playing Minecraft, you can always download the trial version.
Assassin’s Creed 3 Gameplay Trailer
Pretty straight forward. Ubisoft released the Assassin’s Creed 3 gameplay trailer today. Here it is via joystiq.
Continue after the jump for some of my opinion. Read More…
Black Ops 2 Trailer Released (updated)
Coming a day earlier than anticipated (unless there’s more coming), Treyarch has released the first trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Check it out here via joystiq.
Now keep in mind that I enjoy these games for the story mode. I enjoyed multiplayer for a long time, but I’ve been burnt out for the last couple years. So what do I think? Well, then that definitely feels different from the setting of the previous Black Ops. The story now in the near-future where tech is all over the place. At first, I almost expected an AI story, but it turns into an “enemy controls our weapons” story. As long as the crazy perks and killstreaks are balanced, the game should be fun especially with quadrotors and quadriped droid/tanks.
(Updated)
There’s also some added info from joystiq on the story mode, and it’s looking pretty ambitious. The story will range from the 1980s to the near future of 2025, and it will also feature Alex Mason and his son, David, in their respective time periods. And most interesting, a game mechanic that allows for choices that effect the story. But it all honesty, the article had me at “David S. Goyer”. Sixty bucks down the drain this fall.
Review: The Walking Dead Episode 1
Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead just came out this week on various platforms. I played the PC version of the game using Steam. I have been a fan of Telltale Games for some time and would not miss their interpretation of a game for a favorite comic series. You can buy the game episodically (5 episodes to the game) or just plunk down the money for the entire game and wait. Either way, you’re going to spend $25 for the experience. I finished the first episode, titled “A New Day,” in a little over two hours. For five dollars, not a bad use of my time.
The game follows Lee Everett, a man on his way to prison before the zombie apocalypse we all know is coming. He eventually finds a small girl named Clementine who he decides to protect in this new world. I am not spoiling anything here, most of this has already been revealed by Telltale. Also you might as well know that these events happen before Rick Grimes wakes up in the comic book series, or TV show if you are so inclined. Knowing that, you get to run into a few people that will play important roles in the comic book series. The characters showcased excellently. Glenn is still the hero we know he tries to be, Hershel is as straight forward as we respect him to be.
The game follows a lot of the adventure game tropes that Telltale is known for, but they decide to throw in some action with the zombies. Simply; you find items and used them to aid you in the world (try figuring out how to use a pillow in the zombie apocalypse). Then Telltale throws some interesting loopholes: decision-making. Most dialogues will have options to pick from, the kicker though is that these options are timed and can decide how others perceive you. Then there are a half-dozen big decisions to make, obvious one would be who to save during a zombie attack. To throw more tension into fighting, the game has some quick time events not to mention forcing you to align head shots during point-and-click sections. These moments can cause you to die! I know, I have died (yes, I am a terrible player to die in an adventure game).
Either way, this is a good buy. The game is fun and exciting with an interesting story. You do not have to be a fan of adventure games to enjoy this one.
Rating : 4/5
Cheap Date: April 25th
Being a nerd gets to be expensive. Comics are $3-4 usually, going to the movies are moving past the ten-dollar mark and of course video games are costing you a whooping sixty dollars plus tax. In this weekly article, I will show you what to buy on this nerdy Cheap Date.
Wednesdays are great days to make these purchasing decisions. Comic books are released today. Most physical media (video games, DVDs or CDs) have come out the day before. And in a couple of days the new movies are opening in theaters.
Now let us see what we can get this week, which I am aiming for under $30.
Comics – $9
I know it is always hard to cut down on your stack, but this is the biggest money-eater. God forbid if they actually had good weekly comics, all the time. Anyway, there are only three books you need to buy this week.
Daredevil #11 from Marvel is the conclusion to the “Omega Effect” crossover. The interaction between Daredevil, Punisher, Spider-Man and “Punishette” is beyond priceless. Spider-Man’s mouth moves all on its own.
American Vampire #26 and the New Deadwardians #2 from Vertigo. Snyder is an excellent writer and I have decided to pick up all his books up on principle, this includes American Vampire. I have yet to go wrong with Snyder (why do I feel like I just jinxed something?). Yes New Deadwardians is a another vampire book, but also another zombie book. The dichotomy of the comic set in a Victorian period had been an interesting read. It is an eight-issue run, so should be worth the time.
Movies – $10
To be honest, there are two movies you could catch this weekend. I will start with the one I pick, The Pirates! Band of Misfits. I have always been a fan of Aardman Animations and Wallace and Gromit. This movie should be a fun show for kids, big and small. Plus I am a sucker for traditional animation.
Then there is Five-Year Engagement with Jason Segel and Emily Blunt. It is hyped as part of the Bridesmaids styling. I must admit that I caught Bridesmaids much later, out of theater and really did not like it. But I like the cast and they have not let me down yet. Can not hurt that they have my latest “Hollywood girlfriend,” Alison Brie, in the movie.
Games – at least $2
The Indie Gala just went on sale and the latest Humble Bundle is still active. To those new, these indie bundles are pay-what-you-want for a couple of indie games available on the PC and sometimes Mac. You can decided where the money goes to developers, organizers or it can all go to charity! But here is the kicker, if you pay above the average then you get some extra games. Either way, you get a few games for a lot less than they retail. I really recommend playing Machinarium. It is a fun, puzzle/adventure game with a great art style.
For under thirty bucks you get three great comics, to watch a new movie in theaters and a whole bunch of games for the PC. Check it out and let me know if this was worth the money for you.
Call Yourself A Nerd 