D-Pad Dialogue - Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

image © My Barbarian

I’m not playing it right now, but I’m thinking about playing it, and the things I have to do the next time I play it. From what I’ve seen so far, this is the most sandbox single-player RPG I have ever played. At the outset, you’re given the option of delving into the main plotline quests. As I wandered out of the first sewer dungeon, I got a severe case of A.D.D and went exploring. It’s funny how a lot of that can happen as the staggering scope of the lush, vivid landscape becomes even a bit apparent. With intent to go to the next stop in the story, I chased a deer with my bow to an uncharted environ and found some ruins and went in for a look, see. I took care of the gargoyles and skeletons inside. A group of rogues much stronger than I inhabited the next fortress I came across. I fixed them though and lead them out to an imperial soldier on patrol who disposed of them. After relieving them of their weapons (they won’t be needing them) I started multitasking side-quests in different towns and have joined the Thieves Guild. Really, it’s crazy just how much goes on in this game, and I haven’t really started the main quest yet. There have been some damn fine Xbox 360 games so far and add this one to the mix and I’m a little more on the “buy system” side of the fence now.

Illustration Friday - "Feet"

Sketchpad > Illustrator > Photoshop. Some feet. Yep, simple as that. Also kind of a shoddy, 11th hour homage to Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace's trophy-winning Twist dance. As always, click the image for a larger version. The scrawly lines show up better bigger. Now I is sleep... shoo!

Illustration Friday - "Tattoo"

Sketchpad > Digicam > Adobe Illustrator. Seriously, I couldn't think of a thing for last week's theme. This week's image was one of the first I envisioned. I just thought "simple face tattoo" and not like that lunatic on Ripley's Believe it or Not who thinks he's a tiger. More than anything this was to get a little more acquainted with Illustrator. I'm looking forward to doing more to that end.

Since I missed last week, I had meant to make this a double post. I've had a loose idea for a tribal style eagle feather tattoo that I want to design and have some biker chisel into my arm. If not a biker, I'd settle for a hot inked goth chick that has nearly pierced her face shut. Miami Ink is a good show. So yeah, a personal tattoo design is something I'd like to put a little more time into. Look for that probably around summer some time.

D-Pad Dialogue - Stacked Postponed (Again)

Toronto-born poker pro Daniel Negreanu made a video game deal for MTV game studios a while back. Stacked with Daniel Negreanu was due for an October, 2005 release. I shared enthusiastic anticipation over Xbox Live with a few players of World Championship Poker. The multiplayer poker experience with WCP was a satisfying one, but the gimmick of using a poker star and prospect of multi-table tournaments sold us on Stacked. Then in a foot-dragging manner that would do Nintendo proud, it got pushed back month after month until the recent new announced release date, April 11, 2006. Hype and then a late release in the gaming world means one a few things: It’s a hunk of shit and they’re doing their best to mask the stench, it’s at least as good as can be expected and they’re trying to improve it or lastly, developer/publisher bureaucracy. I hope the case isn’t option A, as a voice-enabled multi-table tourney is what online poker should be. Text chat games are fun and all, but you can glean more information from players with voice. I will post my review when or if this thing ever comes out.

Illustration Friday - "Tea"

Wacom Tablet > Photoshop. This one is pretty quick n dirty... in more ways than one. Also I was a little late in starting on this as I made the mistake of checking I.F.'s early submissions for Tea before sketching. My first instinct was to draw a snooty wealthy type drinking tea but there were a few submissions of that. Luckily, in these uncertain moments there is always juvenile cartoon humour.