Made this Blue Jay for a Christmas gift.

     After a hellish schedule and some super nasty pink eye compounded with a sinus infection, I got my Christmas stuff out (mostly) and will continue working on next year's cards.  Here's a Blue Jay I made with colored pencils and framed for someone as a gift.  I'm including the pic without the frame to give a little bit more detail.

The Following - This show looks surprisingly good.

     I can't be the only one that thinks this show looks quite good.  The Following stars Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy, a former FBI agent who is after serial killer Joe Carroll played by James Purefoy.

     Purefoy's Poe-obsessed professor turned serial killer was put away for murdering 14 people almost a decade earlier by Kevin Bacon.  Well, Purefoy escapes and Bacon is brought back to help capture him again.  During Purefoy's time in prison, he somehow managed to amass a large cult following.
     Now that Joe Carroll is out he has a plan to force Ryan Hardy into being a hero in his "story."
The story is to be a form of living art where his cultish followers are out doing his bidding through various means of widespread killing and insanity.

     Personally I think Purefoy is what'll keep this show going.  He was wonderful in Rome, Camelot, A knight's Tale and I love his small role in John Carter of Mars.  (Slightly off topic, I'm quite curious to see how he did in Robert E. Howard's "Solomon Kane") 

     Typical to modern television I'm seeing the suspense filled episodic formula already, much like the plethora of crime procedure shows currently airing constantly on pretty much every station available.  I hope they can keep the psychological horror ramped up- offset the structure.  Keep it interesting, make each of the Followers someone distinct and individualized.  Each member of the Following needs to be unpredictable in their own way, while still under Joe Carroll's influence.  Of course meeting a weekly creep could also dampen things if it does become predictable- so they should put extra effort into making the episodes unique.   

     Pehaps with these guys can learn from shows like American Horror Story that they need to make it worth our time.  If they do, we'll be their following.

     It premieres Monday, Jan. 21 at 8c on FOX.

Borderlands 2: Sir Hammerlock's DLC to arrive Jan 15, 2013

     Gearbox has fficially announced the release date for the next DLC- Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt- January 15, 2013.  This has been noted on many sites, I saw it on the Gaige, Mister Torgue and now Sir Hammerlock's ECHOcasts on Twitter.  There are also phone ringtones featuring Hammerlock quotes (in addition to Torgue and Claptrap ones) available on the official Borderlands 2 site.

A tweet from a gentleman

     With some game play videos already out we can now see it takes place in a swampy area called Aegrus.  Sir Hammerlock has invited you out for a good old gentlemanly hunting trip, but along the way Professor Nakayama interferes and would really like you to become his arch nemesis.  This "Hyperion Scourge" apparently poisoned the Atlus CEO and is pissed that you haven't heard of him before.  He essentially pesters you into action by constantly ECHOing you while you're on the hunt.  He went and crashed his ship here and locked himself out of it.  Nakayama thinks Handsome Jack was the coolest person ever and has plans to clone him to restart his reign on Pandora.  And maybe he can become as cool as Jack in the process. 

The Hyperion Scourge

     So far, I'm liking the DLC.  I see the Drifters are back, saw new enemies (various Savages, Boroks and Scaylions), an awesome new vehicle (Fan boats) with 3 weapon types, and a couple new raid bosses- Voracidous the Stalker Seraph Guardian and Dexidous the Drifter.  One thing in particular I liked is the Witch Doctors.  They can heal or level up their allies as well a firing off varied attacks such as slag, fire and a crippling attack that dramatically slows your movement.

     While there still is no raise in level cap I am sure many people will complain, but I personally will complete the DLC and work on boosting my Badass Rank in the mean time.  Considering I have 3 level 50's(Zer0, Maya, Axton), a 33(Salvador), and a 25 (Gaige), it'll give me a bit more time to get the lower level Gunzerker and Mechromancer up to 50. 

     Gamespot has the first half hour of gameplay up with commentary:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/borderlands-2-sir-hammerlocks-big-game-hunt-dlc-revealed-6401825

The Phantom Pain: Metal Gear Stealth Marketing

     Just watched the trailer for The Phantom Pain. 
     This has  Metal Gear written all over it.  A new game company, Moby Dick Studio, turns up out of the blue, and a few members of team Konami had shirts sporting this on them at the Spike VGAs.  Not to mention the lead man's name is "Joakim Mogren" which contains an anagram of Kojima, and his next project "Ogre" in it.  I would guess this game is definitely a new Metal Gear on that alone.  Possibly even what the FOX game engine was designed for.
     After that fact, pretty much everything else about the trailer is steeped in Metal Gear-ness under the guise of Viral marketing.


Confused Snake...    ??? 

      A confused(drugged?) man wakes in a hospital and things go bad quite swiftly from there.  He's been in a coma from a car accident and another person is waiting for him.  The other person, other than the bandages, looks to be in good health.  It looks as if the place is under attack.  The focal character appears to have bodily scarring and a missing left forearm.       His initial inability to walk gives us a wonderful crawling movement that is EXACTLY like the typical crawl of soldiers with the title Snake.  That fabulous mullet and bandage over the eye, a Hideo Kojima staple, is very indicative of a Snake.  Could this be a clone in VR training of some sort, or a Snake we already know? 

     With the assault on the hospital we see many being dragged away or killed.  Are these people here for killing the protagonist, or here on a rescue mission? 
     There are many dream-like occurrences.  Feathers falling, a man on fire, a unicorn, and a giant flying whale, and a floating human.  Many of the military types have gas masks so could this all be hallucination?  This whole advertisement is one giant dream sequence.
     Then at the end there is a hovering person above beyond the gunman.  He looks awfully similar to Psycho Mantis.  Or the Sorrow, depending on the time period.  It looks like a lot of the stuff is a bit aged.  The lady speaking at the end has a Russian accent, so... could this be a game during the formation of Foxhound?  It would be unbelievably awesome if it were a complete remake of Metal Gear Solid, but it would be highly doubtful.  Personally I would like a game playing as The Joy.  A female lead protagonist in an awesome period piece era.

Is this Psycho Mantis?

    Even the end announcement has some hidden words above the The Phantom Pain.  This has got to be a ploy or a teaser campaign for the Metal Gear: Ground Zeroes.  Clearly the main person is a Snake, whether it's a Ground Zeroes teaser or another Metal Gear game will have to be determined.
     Regardless of what the final name of this title ends up as, I will be purchasing it.

Borderlands 2: *SPOILERS* Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt DLC

     Links to spoiler info are midway down the post.
     Well, I'm seriously looking forward to more Borderlands 2.  With the next DLC being Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt, I figure it'll be a hunting slaughter fest focussed on creatures.  Maybe a Pandora island infused with Jurassic Park references and the Island of Dr. Moreau. (See Axton pic)
     Many think that there will only be 4 DLCs, but I believe there'll be more.  It would equal much more money for Gearbox.  More playable characters as well.  If there is more than 4, the short DLC play lengths and the lack of raise in level cap will be more tolerable.

     Really, we've needed more giant beasts to slay for a while.  Where's the new Skagzilla, or a herd of Rakk Hives, I wouldn't mind a 3rd Mothrakk.  Perhaps a new Crawmerax?  With all of Hyperion's experimenting, some of their scientists and engineers had to have created something in the Wildlife Preserves.  Where's all the mega Stalkers?  The Drifters have yet to return as well.  We could definitely use another nonhuman Invincible.
     On the chance this is a Jakobs focussed place (like the first Borderland's Zombie Island of Dr. Ned) and maybe Jurassic Park-ish we could get to see some animals from long ago from the Pandora landscape.  Essentially dinosaurs running amok.  Prehistoric ancestors of Bullymongs, or Jurassic Bonerfarts if you will. 

     Here's 2 links with some decent *SPOILER* info:

http://orcz.com/Borderlands_2:_Sir_Hammerlocks_Big_Game_Hunt?Spoilers=true

http://www.reddit.com/r/Borderlands2/comments/14trix/the_inside_scoop_on_the_upcoming_dlc_spoilers/

     And here's a quick snippet of info someone posted on the Borderlands forums:
     After today's patch if you look at the files in the new folder "Sage" on the PC you can see much of what the DLC will be like if you are used to reading those types of files.
Without giving too much away there seems to be a new vehicle, at least 18 missions (it reads like most of these are 2-3 part missions and side missions might be extra), lots of new animal-type enemies that aren't just re-skins, New Seraph Items/Vendor.
This is speculative, but there are either several new Raid Bosses OR the new Raid Boss has 3-5 different enemies as a part of it.

Also I have a very good feeling Scarlett will be back in this DLC. This is NOT in the files, but there is something that kind of hints to something coming back from DLC1. Again I'm just guessing that Scarlett is back.
     -From a fellow named "ImmaCriminal."

     By the looks of it we'll probably not see a raise in the level cap.  I don't really mind that.  But I would like to see MORE stuff to do.  Pitchford said something along the lines of these 4 DLCs would be equivalent to The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, but maybe he meant that all 4 would equal to 1 Knoxx.  Seriously, these seem way shorter than even Zombie Island.  I do like them though.  My biggest issue was the inability to beat Master Gee without the freeze.
     More uses for our over abundance of currencies would be nice, as would an expansion for our bank vault.
     Also, I want a Butt Stallion cameo.  But that would probably be saved for the MASSIVELY LIKELY future Hyperion Moonbase DLC.

     More info as I can gather it.

Borderlands 2: Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt (New DLC)

     Well as I thought with my post last night, the new patch is out and our hint for the next DLC is sort of hidden in there.  The Trophies for the next installment have appeared in some PS3 lists, and our good gentlemanly friend Sir Hammerlock is taking center stage in this next one.


Smell that ol' slappy? That's the scent of a gentlemen

     It's titled "Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt" and the trophies listed are: 

1) Face Off (Bronze)- Completed the mission: The Fall of Nakayama

2) Done that (Gold)- Completed all Hammerlocks hunt side missions.

3) Been there (Silver) - Discovered all named locations in Hammerlocks Hunt.

     There is reason to suspect this'll be released before the years ends, from some of Randy Pitchford's Tweets.  I also believe there may be more than 4 DLCs in total, and at least 1 more character coming.  This has got to be a bankroll for them, so I'd imagine they'll keep pumping things out.  Hell, I might even guess they'd sell us more bank space as a DLC content similar to the new characters.

     Anyways- as long as they keep the Hammerlock brand humor, Big Game Hunt should be at least entertaining.  I wouldn't mind hunting some Badass Adult Bonerfarts again.
     Honestly speaking, I don't mind the other 2 DLCs, but I'm really hoping they up their game on this one.  Sure there were plenty of things to do, but it didn't feel like much.  It felt like the DLCs ended too abruptly.  More so with Scarlett than Torgue.  Mr. Torgue's sort of has an ending. 
     Captain Scarlett disappears at the end of Pirate's Booty.  While Moxxi and Torgue seem to be growing into an odd couple with hints towards Moxxi putting Torgues Arena to use at the end of Campaign of Carnage.  They could be an amazingly entertaining duo, ok- they already are.
     Many people are wondering what the next Invincible will be as well.  Perhaps with a wildlife type hunt it'll be a non human like Terramorphous or Crawmerax.  There's even some people joking about the data mined info of Crystaloferous the Invincible, who was supposedly the 3rd Borderlands 2 main game raid boss.  Could just be data left from an unused idea, we won't know until the DLC hits.
     I wonder if it'll be one of the MASSIVE wormlike creatures we see bones of all over.  But, then those could just be larger versions Master Gee's worms (such as the skeleton in Gee's cave on the back wall)- or the Leviathan's tongue.  

     Maybe we'll get some more info on who/what the Seraphs are, and more on actual Eridians or some such.  Gearbox and 2K have created an immense universe here, but are lacking in explanations.  Many gamers would like to know about these things!  Come on Gearbox, you can't tease us with these story elements and never fill us in.  There's a limit to how much "mystery" people can take without getting actual information.

     The level cap will probably hit, as it did with the first game's 3rd DLC, and I really hope they increase the bank storage.  The game trailer boasts "87 Bazillion guns"...  but you can only carry 27 items.  And use a giant vault that somehow holds half as much as your backpack, and then Claptrap's secret stash of 4.  I have 7 characters.  It is horrible to have to swap things around so much.  Seriously, if modders can do it, and in the first game you could do it, why not increase it??? 
     I personally believe they should just combine the stash and vault. 

     And make use of all these damn currency types!  I have tons of Eridium, Torgue tokens and Seraph crystals and nothing worth using them for.  Let me buy a larger bank vault or something.

Borderlands 2: New PS3 Patch/Update Dec. 13! TOMORROW!!!

     It's only slightly off from the release info previously mentioned-but GOOD NEWS!!!

It's going to hit tomorrow- Dec. 13, 2012!  Thank you Gearbox!

 

     We Playstation 3 users will finally be able to beat Master Gee the Invincible and have it STICK!  Pyro Caustic Pete the Ultra Invincible and Hyperius will now suffer my pent up Pandoran aggression - then I'll move to the FIXED MASTER GEE, and crush him with glee.  UNINTENTIONAL RHYMING!!! 
     We'll finally be able to get 100% completion for Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty.  Even though I've spent plenty of time waiting for the patch by enjoying Mr Torgue's Campaign of Carnage I am SOOOO pumped for this!  A return to Oasis for some good times.

     Here's the link of what the update has in store for us:
http://support.gearboxsoftware.com/entries/22127181-playstation-3-update-information

     Once again- THANK YOU GEARBOX!!!  We've been awaiting this for quite some time.

     On a side note- perhaps we'll see PS3 Trophy hints as to what the next DLC will be...
     Especially because of the new Character and DLC news previously listed.
http://joshuabarsody.blogspot.com/2012/12/borderlands-2-new-dlccharacter.html

Masters of the Universe: Like a Moss... Man

     Sometimes I'm dumb.  My best friend (http://nicholasstraight.blogspot.com/) is quite fond of Moss Man and another fellow posted something about him on Facebook.  Well, this is the first thing that came to mind. 
     Ok, pretty close.  The first thing was a Moss Man in the iconic Muhammad Ali pose, above a fallen Beast Man with the same caption.  This is all I could manage in a short time.  Maybe I'll do an airbrush of it another time.

New "Man of Steel" Superman trailer!

     Zack Snyder's new Man of Steel trailer is looking quite good!  I also see his love for giant red capes in slow motion is still intact long after 300.  Henry Cavill looks wonderful.  I know I'm going to catch sh!t for this, but thankfully they ditched the absurd red trunks. 
     Caught a couple quick glimpses of Zod, and Michael Shannon as the evil Kryptonian General is going to be great- especially after his performance in Take Shelter.
     I hope this film does for Superman what Batman Begins and Christopher Nolan did for Batman.

     At one point Kevin Costner, as Jonathan Kent, says, "You just have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be Clark. Whoever that man is, he's gonna change the world."  The music and imagery seem to be very good at leading you to wonder at the struggle of an alien adopted into our world.  He knows he will change the world, but the question he's forced to answer is how?  Those are big choices, such a great burden, to put on the shoulders of someone.  With extraordinary power, comes superhuman decision making skills.

     Because it looks as if Warner Bros. has a lock on the Youtube embedding feature, here's the link:  http://youtu.be/KVu3gS7iJu4

     Here's a Zod screen cap i took as well.

Borderlands 2: New Character Idea: Forgotten Atlus employee

I was getting ice cream!

      With Commandant Steele's opening the Vault and the withdrawn Atlas support on Pandora it seems like some things would have to be left behind, particularly, some really pissed off soldiers.     Maybe one of the Crimson Lance Royal Guard/Soldier/etc witnessed the Vault Hunters slaying the Destroyer after Steele's screw up and wanted to be a part of it. It would make sense that with the Lance attempting to take all the credit, and the real heroes being labeled as enemies, that there may have been deserters. Even more so after General Knoxx died and Atlas abandoning Pandora. Then Roland took a semi-reformed bunch and made the Crimson Raiders. The character could be someone Roland contacted or called in, maybe an old war buddy from his time with the Atlas Corp., but they arrived too late and want revenge.
      Really, think of another melee type character using a Lance Assassin. One more sword user could be pretty decent.

      Hell, they could even use the humorous "Personal Ice Cream Leave of Absence"(code 3.5.31 in the manual). Something along the lines of they went on an ice cream leave and came back to a missing military company and are just trying to find their way.

      Theoretically the skill couldn't really be ANOTHER turret, but perhaps they could deploy a Lance probe, mine, or an assault pod with back up soldiers or supplies. Or, in an extreme case, a reverse engineered Eridian weapon. I wouldn't mind an Atlas Engineer that somehow could call in a Guardian from the Eridian Promontory. Maybe they tapped into the lost technology and in a fit of revenge on their employer, due to being abandoned and left for dead, the character joined up with the Crimson Raiders.
     Whatever this Eridian tech would be, it shouldn't be a typical weapon, make it an Eridian Prototype of something that would work "like magic," think like something similar to the Siren's powers in the Borderlands universe. (More on this in the next 6th playable character potential post)
The Eridian tech could even be something salvaged by a Dahl employee, think of another Tannis type somewhere else on Pandora coming across something still working.

     The skill trees-(like the Atlas Badasses) could be divided into- Infantry, Defender, and Engineer.