tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63791812009-05-29T20:39:12.640-07:00a randomly updated blog about game development and the life of John FeilJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-56743154352603429902009-05-14T20:37:00.001-07:002009-05-14T20:44:47.765-07:00

So, if you haven't noticed, I've been a bit quiet lately. Mostly, I blame Facebook, where I try to post a status update every day. Did you know that status updates drink from the same creativity well as blog posts? It's true! So, if you need more vitamin Feil in your diet, befriend me on Facebook. More news: I am going to a new comic store starting next week. My current store, which is my

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-22638255213217288912009-04-21T17:25:00.000-07:002009-04-21T17:27:12.464-07:00

World piracy doubles in first quarter 2009 due to SomaliaDon't get it? Look here...

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-10832439628411873312009-02-27T16:28:00.000-08:002009-02-27T16:30:04.080-08:00

Thanks, Brett, for pointing this one out...Are violent video games adequately preparing our children for the upcoming post-apocalyptic world?

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-16705732450446149642009-02-11T19:23:00.001-08:002009-02-11T19:29:05.977-08:00

Remember these guys?I do! That's why I picked up R.E.B.E.L.S. #1 this week. Vril Dox is in fine form as he runs from a L.E.G.I.O.N. that has turned against him. Definitely the best comic of the week, though Incognito tried very hard. Check it out!

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-61857166159553745172009-02-11T19:11:00.001-08:002009-02-11T19:16:22.921-08:00

I put some political spin in the title. Did you see it?Anyway, the "European Parliament Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection: (or EPCIMCP) (or EP-CHIMP, maybe) found video games are not harmful to kids and they are not linked to violent behavior. Of course, what do they know?Yes, I'm being sarcastic. It's nice to see a governmental organization not using games as a method to

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-65319792217559177932009-01-25T20:06:00.000-08:002009-01-25T20:24:07.725-08:00

Just stretching my reviewing skills here! Maybe someone will invite me to cover a convention or something. Igor just came out on DVD this past week, and it's a mixed bag. You know how Pixar and Dreamworks 3D animated features have a sense of humor that appeals to both kids and adults? Well, Igor has that, too, except that it switches between the two, instead of blending them seamlessly. There's

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-39912460764768532602009-01-25T20:02:00.001-08:002009-01-25T20:05:43.259-08:00

This week the best comic was "Dr. Doom and the Masters of Evil". This was a "Marvel Adventures" book, but it fell in the "X-Men First Class" realm of humanizing the various members of the Masters of Evil with a humorous touch. Mysterio disguising the group as a punk band or as Stark workers on a coffee break was awesome, as were smaller touches like Chameleon asking to borrow a car. Highly

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-77573903392829160002009-01-20T13:53:00.000-08:002009-01-20T13:57:00.759-08:00

I might as well say "Good Luck" to our new president.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-38773077998050823652009-01-09T11:55:00.000-08:002009-01-09T11:58:59.470-08:00

It's like a healing potion...for your mind! Apparently, playing Tetris immediately after a stressful situation will reduce flashbacks. I nominate Alexy Pajnitov for Sainthood.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-55151475432899191952009-01-06T19:18:00.001-08:002009-01-06T19:35:46.280-08:00

Old Man Logan:For those who haven't read this past issue, it shows that Wolverine has become a pacifist because, when the villains took over, Mysterio fooled Wolverine into thinking that the XMen were actually villains instead of themselves. Wolverine, completely fooled, takes them all out. This is like a big icicle in my head and it's caused my big, fat comic geek that lives inside my head to

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-84917355371354216362008-12-14T12:01:00.000-08:002008-12-14T12:10:35.184-08:00

Yes, it's a rare installment of Best Comic! Here's what I've got this past week:Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #2: A pretty interesting book. We'll have to see where the Blue Marvel goes after this series, if they don't kill him off by the end.Ambush Bug #5: It's amazing how many shots Giffen is taking at DiDio in this series. The series is wallowing in faux bitterness.Astonishing XMEN Ghost

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-56530737012660607552008-11-09T16:30:00.000-08:002008-11-09T16:34:30.287-08:00

Sometimes, things get in the way. Here's a massive list of the comics I've been reading over the past four weeks and a one word review. Best comic of the last 4 weeks? Invincible Iron Man #7. It was more a Spider-Man issue than anything else, but it was still really, really good. Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 InterestingAstonishing X-Men #27 MehAvengers Initiative #18 DecentAvengers

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-26090549217683712672008-10-27T10:37:00.000-07:002008-10-27T10:40:16.223-07:00

52 cows were killed by a single lightning bolt in Uruguay recently. I can imagine Zeus with an XBOX controller watching them going "just one more...NO! don't move...ok, just two more and...ZAP! WAHOO!"

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-6854925400624137742008-10-22T15:18:00.000-07:002008-10-22T15:24:46.935-07:00

Well, you know what I was thinking when I read this story.However, they are talking about Gamma *Waves*, not radiation. Apparently, toddlers who showed advanced intellectual skills also exhibited a higher amount of gamma waves. I'm thinking this is how elite private schools will test your baby when you enter them into their 5-year waiting list. Also, if true for adults, expect gamma helmets at

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-86129621947902819132008-10-21T12:56:00.000-07:002008-10-21T12:58:24.413-07:00

This is way cool...

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-3417823393101720732008-10-08T19:26:00.000-07:002008-10-08T19:38:11.746-07:00

Woo! A comics update on the day I bought them! Is there anything better?Once again, a very light week with only Green Lantern, Iron Man and Ender's Game.Best comic? Green Lantern wins by a hair, though Invincible Iron Man was a close second. Green Lantern is currently making me wish that Sinestro had been allowed to develop from this story, instead of way back when. He's really much deeper and

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-21632476700115629052008-10-02T10:04:00.000-07:002008-10-02T10:14:29.484-07:00

No, not "best comic". There really wasn't one this week. It was a slim week, and I managed to escape the comic store with only three books. Justice League: The fight with Anasasi is on, but the plot is yet to be revealed. There was a possible retcon of Animal Man, but maybe there wasn't. This was a double-sized issue, but it didn't really have double-sized content.It was the best of times, it was

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-10206341745166655132008-09-30T13:05:00.000-07:002008-09-30T13:11:03.596-07:00

In Star Trek IV, Scotty trades the formula for transparent aluminum for large sheets of Plexiglas. Now, scientists have done him one better and are creating transparent sheets of carbon nanotubes that are stronger than steel. I'm thinking large hotel chains will start using these in their beach-side resorts at some point. Just a thought.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-48096734079433682402008-09-27T19:56:00.000-07:002008-09-27T20:03:06.115-07:00

ScienceDaily (Sep. 27, 2008) — Eight-year-old children have a radically different learning strategy from twelve-year-olds and adults. Eight-year-olds learn primarily from positive feedback ('Well done!'), whereas negative feedback ('Got it wrong this time') scarcely causes any alarm bells to ring. Twelve-year-olds are better able to process negative feedback, and use it to learn from their

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-62166513159971322212008-09-27T14:53:00.001-07:002008-09-27T14:57:33.862-07:00

I'm still stuck in short post land. The best comic for me this week was The Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Death Queen of California. Noir superhero martial art action. Very cool. Otherwise, the secret invasion goes on, Blue Beetle was kinda filler, and Ambush Bug was Ambush Bug.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-4576161556391188622008-09-19T20:27:00.000-07:002008-09-19T20:36:30.677-07:00

All-Star Superman #12 came out this week. I have to say this is the best thing Morrison has ever put out. Well, in my opinion, anyway. And I'm a big Morrison fan. All-Star Superman really dug down to the core of what makes Superman the ideal hero. He comes off a little too Christ-like, maybe, but the humanity that Morrison embeds in the character is so resonant, that, well, I can't really say how

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-13149456263929046392008-09-16T12:44:00.000-07:002008-09-16T12:45:50.450-07:00

Seven months of decreasing comic sales so far. Fun times for the big two.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-55497517153199484762008-09-15T07:54:00.000-07:002008-09-15T08:04:08.228-07:00

Ok, posts are getting few and far between lately. I have no excuse other than school just started and I'm getting used to a schedule that seems to include me having no free time whatsoever. :-)Comics are also losing popularity amongst my demographic. I haven't picked up a book that's really interested me almost all summer, and I'm running completely on inertia right now. I'm thinking about

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-70896804470536031492008-08-30T10:34:00.000-07:002008-08-30T10:45:16.174-07:00

Two weeks of comics this time. Unfortunately, finding time to do these posts is becoming limited. Here's the list:Ambush Bug Year None #2: Wacky, sometimes funny, sometimes not so much.Astonishing X-Men #26: Muddy and I don't like the new "Killer Cyclops". He must be a skrull.Avengers Initiative #16: The best thing about it? Skrulls on the barbecue.Blue Beetle #30: Very good, but not one of the

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379181.post-82484137238576070002008-08-22T14:50:00.000-07:002008-08-22T15:03:46.541-07:00

First off, this movie was so overhyped that it could not fail to disappoint me, which it did.I think, boiling it down, it came down to two things:1) The movie didn't make me feel like I wanted to be "Batman". It's all well and good to have a dramatic movie, but comics are all about the power fantasy. When I see Batman in this movie, it doesn't make me go "it would be so cool to *be* that guy". In

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310108261072524244noreply@blogger.com3