My Media Scrapbook: 2012

On 10/23/2020 at 12:32 PM by KnightDriver

Only a hundred years until the events of Rush's 2112 album. I can't wait.

TV: Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy

Noel Fielding is one of the stars of my favorite TV show, The Mighty Boosh. He did this show after that with some of the same players. I love the surreal costumes and stage sets, the absurdist skits and dadaesque songs and performances. I also love all the references to artists, musicians, and pop culture icons. There is a lot of stop-motion animation too. It's just some off-the-wall creative fun.

Film: Iron Sky

This is a so-bad-it's-good type of movie. The acting is terrible and the story laughable, but the special effects are surprisingly good. It reminds me of the Wolfenstein: New Order game in terms of its detail and design, but it's much more like those Sharknado films in its silliness and campy acting. I was surprised to learn there is a sequel and even a threequel. They all have just stunning special effects worthy of a Star Wars film, but they're all based on totally nutzo conspiracy theories, hence their inherent silliness. I love that comedy/scifi mix when ever I find it.

Games: Minecraft on Xbox 360

This is the year I discovered Minecraft some three years after it appeared on PCs. I very reluctantly tried a demo when it appeared on Xbox Live. I thought the graphics were too simplistic and unappealing. But once I started playing, that was the beginning of many, many hours of fun. I played solo but also with my regular gaming buddy. I mostly played Survival mode and never did much with creative mode. I loved the challenge of surviving the wilderness and mobs, building a virtual life for myself from the materials I could find. I've beaten the main quest of the game and ventured to the End City and raided its treasures. I return every time new content is added and get every achievement. I've been playing Minecraft Dungeons lately, but I can't wait for more content for the main game.

Music: "Bug Hunt (Noisia remix)" by Skrillex

This is my favorite track from the Wreck-It Ralph soundtrack heard here as it was used in the movie. The whole soundtrack isn't bad either.

Book: Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan

I'm reading this now. It's about Edward Curtis and his photography of the Native Americans as they existed at the turn of the 20th century. I've always loved his photographs but wondered how true they were to the times and the people. I'm finding out now.

What did you like in the media in 2012?

Matt Snee Staff Writer

10/24/2020 at 05:14 AM

I dig these photo books you talk about. I add them to my Amazon list.

KnightDriver

10/24/2020 at 09:53 PM

I got it from the library and am reading it now, but it doesn't have a lot of photos in it. I imagine the original Curtis book with the 200 some prints is out there in an affordable edition. I might look that up.

10/24/2020 at 10:06 PM

Here's one I found.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/3791354213/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_R1nLFb1BS1Q3E?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

10/24/2020 at 10:42 PM

Good one. I should try and see if my library has it. Great companion to the one I'm reading.

Cary Woodham

10/24/2020 at 07:52 AM

My GOTY for 2012 was Theatrhythm Final Fantasy for 3DS. It was a music game featuring songs from the FF franchise. It was really good. It spawned a sequel and a Japan only arcade game that I was lucky enough to play at Round 1. In November, Square is making a spinoff music game of sorts with Kingdom Hearts.

2012 was also the year the Wii U came out. Even though it bombed, I really liked the Wii U. I only got another new console that generation once the Wii U had 'died' and I found a PS4 on a Black Friday sale a couple of years after it released.

10/24/2020 at 09:56 PM

I saw Theatrhythm at Round 1 too. I didn't play it though. It seemed pretty cool.

I got a Wii-U only a few years ago. I just hooked it up again at home and have Tank! Tank! Tank! ready to go. I saw the arcade version of that at Round 1 too, but the seat was too small for me - made for kids.

10/25/2020 at 07:59 AM

Tank! Tank! Tank! is a really fun silly goofy tank game. Just imagine if they combined Namco's other tank game Tokyo Wars with Power Rangers or Godzilla or something like that. But yeah, the arcade cabinet for it is oddly shaped.

10/27/2020 at 06:13 PM

When I played it last time, I immediately thought of the Earth Defense Force series, except here you are just in a tank.

10/25/2020 at 01:46 PM

Oh yeah, I caught my dad watching Iron Sky one day. I think he was kind of perplexed.

10/27/2020 at 06:16 PM

It scares me a little bit now. That extreme right-wing forces can take over again, is not so far fetched as I imagined it back then.

SanAndreas

10/25/2020 at 08:44 PM

Wreck-It Ralph was great. Much better than the sequel.

Gamingwise, 2012 was the year of Xenoblade Chronicles. Xenogears was one of my favorite PS1 games, but Xenosaga wasn't good. Xenoblade Chronicles was not only a worthy follow-up for the original, it surpassed it. One of my favorite 7th gen games.

10/27/2020 at 06:17 PM

I noticed a 3DS version of that the other day. How?

10/29/2020 at 06:13 AM

It was made for the more powerful New 3DS.

10/29/2020 at 03:14 PM

I was looking for one of those the other week but Gamestop doesn't have any right now because they're not taking in anything and everything else went to their warehouses for cleaning, I was told. I'll get one eventually though. I miss it, and I want the better one with the bigger processor.

PixlBit