The Official Blog

Whoa Checks In - Mid May

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:42:06 -0400

Hey everybody!

I’m back, sharing with you my amazing and supreme thoughts on what’s going on in the world of entertainment and technology.

SONY XPERIA S

I recently picked up a Sony Xperia S from the Sony Store at the Eaton Centre in Toronto. After playing with the phone pretty extensively I must say it may be the first Android phone I’ve liked. The set up for the PlayStation Store was a little overly complicated. I’m not too sure why you have to do any steps to install it when the Rogers Apps are all ready to go. Weird. But anyways, I bought the phone for the PlayStation integration. I think Sony would have a real winner with the geek crowd if they released a little adapter for owners to plug in their PS controller in the phone. Why would you do such a thing when you can play it on the TV? Really I can’t think of a reason, all I know is I’d find it cool so that’s all.

I was told that Ice Cream Sandwich updates will come in a few weeks which should add to the refinement of the phone. If it makes a drastic change, I think the phone will be a real winner. I can’t think of the last time I thought that with a Sony phone... ever.

A LITTLE BIT ZOMBIE

I have to plug this movie since I referenced it in a past article. Canada-wide screenings are taking this place and if you have some free time and want to laugh hysterically, go see it. A full listing can be found here:

http://www.alittlebitzombie.com/open-access/albz-canada-wide-screening-tickets

BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK 2.0

Everyone that knows me, knows I love Apple products. My entire life is pretty much Apple. iPhone, iPad, Apple TVs, Macbook Pro, etc. My brother on the other hand uses all things BlackBerry. Recently he gave me his Playbook to mess around with.

Problem #1: I didn’t know how to get to the home screen. Why would you design a product that people who haven’t used it before, can’t understand how to get home. Sure once you’re told it makes a bit of sense, but c’mon here people, if I can’t do the most simplistic thing ever, how can you sell me on the product?

PS: You slide your finger from the Blackberry logo into the middle of the screen. Duh.

Problem #2: No native BBM client. So you have this super cool piece of software but you don’t include it on the Playbook? Bridge to my BlackBerry? What if I don’t have one? That’s the problem. RIM could have sold Playbooks to a lot of people who have friends on BBM but don’t want to use a BlackBerry. Count me in that list. But by not having a native client, this thing is useless for BBM.

Problem #3: It feels cheap. Sturdy. But cheap. I just doesn’t have the refinement, smoothness and elegance of an iPad. I feel this is something that also plagues the Kindle Fire. It’s like driving a Chevy Cruz vs. a Mercedes E-class. Sure they may do a lot of the same things, but one just feels much better.

Problem #4: Apps. I’m not really going to share how RIM should tackle this problem because I’m pretty sure they know it exists. But they just don’t offer the amount of apps available on the iPad or even any Android device.

Overall, I didn’t find it horrible, but I just think they have a longs way to go before RIM can compete with the iPad.

Suggestions, comments, feedback? Email me at whoa@throwbackcorp.com

And remember, the opinions and views expressed in this blog and/or commentaries are solely of the individuals and are not the views of Throwback Entertainment, its parent, affiliate, or subsidiary companies.

Whoa Checks In - Mid April

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 03:05:37 -0400

Hey everybody!

I’m back, sharing with you my amazing and supreme thoughts on what’s going on in the world of entertainment and technology.

This week has been a little low key for myself but I did manage to get out, explore and enjoy a few things.

TORONTO COMIC-CON

I’m not sure if its happened in years past in Toronto but this was my first Comic book convention in almost 15 years. It felt great being back and was absolutely amazing how the demographics have changed. I’m pretty sure that females outnumbered males by almost a 2:1 margin. Might have something to do with the whole heart throb vampire phenomenon taking place. 13 year old me probably wouldn’t be so embarrassed to attend comic book conventions in this day and age.

BIG BANG THEORY

In many ways I feel that Big Bang Theory has done an equally well job of romanticizing the whole ‘geek-culture’. The show is incredibly well done and despite portraying that subculture over the top, they do a great job showing that ‘geeks’ are great people despite our higher intelligence.

I feel that Big Bang Theory might be one of the best shows on television, or their constant references to Star Trek has clouded my judgement.

WRATH OF THE TITANS

Speaking of being a geek, my geek-out for the Titans movies continued when I saw the latest instalment. Many people didn’t like the movie and I couldn’t help but notice quite a bit of God of War influences in the film, but I really did enjoy it. Spoiler Alert: Although I was a little surprised that Zeus was killed off. I guess it makes sense, but with no more gods, where can the series really go? Time to read up on my mythology and come up with my own ideas!

Next week I’ll be sure to touch on the ever important subject of Zombies and how you should protect yourself in case the Zombie Apocalypse comes to be.

Suggestions, comments, feedback? Email me at whoa@throwbackcorp.com

And remember, the opinions and views expressed in this blog and/or commentaries are solely of the individuals and are not the views of Throwback Entertainment, its parent, affiliate, or subsidiary companies.

Whoa is back

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 22:55:27 -0400

I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t updated this page in quite a while. I can go on and on about how I’ve been busy, or this or that. But the good news is that I’m back to doing this again full-time so I’ll be here to discuss the latest happenings at Throwback, the interactive entertainment industry and pretty much entertainment in general.

I spent the last couple of days trying to decide what to write about first. So much has changed in the past few weeks, let alone the past while. But first thing is first.

MOBILE WARS

This weekend marked (what I consider) to be the first thrown punch by Microsoft and Nokia in the North American market. The Nokia Lumia 900 launch. I’ve had some time to play with the Nokia 800, which does not feature the front-facing camera, the LTE connection, and has a smaller overall screen. But coming from the iPhone world, colour me impressed. Microsoft has done a great job with the latest version of Windows Phone, it’s quick, snappy and gives the user a dramatically different feel over the other handsets in the market. Nokia designed a great looking phone to go with it and the combination might have quite a few new users join their camp. I’ll mark it as a HIT

Now it’s time for the respective MISS.

Samsung Galaxy Note, or at least the people who use it. You look ridiculous. I’m sorry but it’s true. You might as well hold a Amazon Kindle Fire next to your head because it’s the only thing even close to the size of that thing.

INDEPENDENT FILMS

Last weekend I attended the Canadian Film Festival in Toronto. With work demands, I was only able to catch two films, Below Zero and A Little Bit Zombie.

QUICK REVIEW TIME

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED A Little Bit Zombie. It was incredibly well done, the story and dialogue were top notch and I laughed my ass off. I went with some friends and they too thoroughly enjoyed it. The basic story is about a guy who gets bit by a zombie mosquito and begins a transformation to being a little bit zombie, not completely. What happens afterwards is pure hilarity.

Below Zero was also an enjoyable experience but I just found the middle part of the film to drag out unnecessarily. The last twenty minutes or so were probably the best. It was a story about a writer suffering from writers block, is forced to lock himself in a freezer in the middle of nowhere, Alberta by his agent. There, he begins to write a horror movie script based on similar surroundings but as time goes on, the line between reality and fiction begin to blur.

The festival was enjoyable and I recommend it to everyone in the future. See their website for more information.

RE-VOLT

Now, I think I should discuss Re-Volt for a minute. I’m sure everyone has seen the press release announcing the sale to We-Go Interactive. It was a difficult thing for the company to execute, but We-Go had a fantastic road map for the property and planned to get it in the hands of as many people as possible around the world.

Anyways, let’s see where the future takes us now, all the best until next week. Same Bat-time, Same Bat-Channel

Like always you can reach me at whoa@throwbackcorp.com

Whoa Checks In

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:49:45 -0400

I woke up this morning thinking to myself, what would people like to hear about. I’ve been doing reviews, thoughts, and misc ramblings for a couple of articles now and I figure that will get stale soon enough.

As such, I’d like people to email me questions. Granted I won’t be able to answer everything as it relates to Throwback but if there’s something out there and you’d like to get my thoughts on it, I’d be happy to post it up. Remember, the address is whoa@throwbackcorp.com

In traditional fashion, here’s the breakdown:

RECENT DVDs

Hit:

Shoot ‘Em Up - Whoa. One time my name is appropriate for a movie. No real story here, no plot twists of note, nothing that stands out from a narrative point of view, but that doesn’t matter. This movie is just action packed. It’s pretty insane. The gun play in this title is unbelievable. It’s crazy. It didn’t do all that well in the box office, but it’s a definite rent or buy on DVD.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - Again, another title that didn’t do all that well. But when I saw Robert Downey Jr. and Michelle Monaghan (hot!) was in it, I had to watch it. It’s one of those murder mystery titles and typically I don’t like them, but this was pretty different from a stale genre. Life in Hollywood adds a bit to this story and the acting was fantastic.

American Pie: Beta House - Following a slew of some pretty horrible American Pie direct-to-DVD releases, we’re graced with Beta House. Best in Series. Yes, I’m including the originals in it. And no, it has nothing to do with the fact that a friend is in the movie. It’s a guy movie and I recommend (highly) that you do not watch this with a female (girlfriend or otherwise). They’ll get grossed out and it will diminish how much you’re laughing. But if you have a group of buddies over, you’ll instantly love the film.

Miss:

Drillbit Taylor - It had it’s moments, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t that good. It was a mediocre film but wasn’t a waste of time.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story - Huge fan of Talladega Nights, huge. So I figured I’d watch Walk Hard but I was suckered in. Suckered in bad. The curse of the spoof continue for me. Damn those spoof movies. But yet, I watched it and I regret it.

It might seem that I’m ragging on Judd Apatow (producer on both films) but I’m not. I’m a big fan of 40 year old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad and Talladega Nights. I’m also looking forward to Step Brothers, but Drillbit Taylor and Walk Hard were lacking. Sorry.

SPECIAL MENTION

Special mention to end off the column this week, if you haven’t heard, the new trailer for The Day The Earth Stood Still was released. Click here for the link to it.

Usually I’m not one for re-makes, especially of movies selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant", but I’m hyped. This looks GOOD. I can’t wait to see it.

But remember, the United States is not prepared for an asteroid strike. I mean, like how many countries would be?

Suggestions, comments, feedback? Email me at whoa@throwbackcorp.com

And remember, the opinions and views expressed in this blog and/or commentaries are solely of the individuals and are not the views of Throwback Entertainment, its parent, affiliate, or subsidiary companies.

Whoa Checks In - Early Edition

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 21:50:54 -0400

Hey everybody, your favourite moderator is here again. Some big things are happening around these parts, so it’s been a little crazy.

Speaking of crazy, it’s been less than a week since I last posted my thoughts on various forms of entertainment. This week it will be expanded and encompass another format: TV.

I’m not sure about everyone else, but HBO isn’t available up here in Canada. There are some partnerships but typically we lag behind our American neighbours when it comes to HBO series airings.

And for that reason alone, I missed out on a series that may be the best I’ve ever seen.

ENTOURAGE

For months I’ve been pestered by some friends to watch it. They all got hooked and with the three seasons on DVD, it’s pretty accessible now.

Entourage possesses that certain something. I’m not sure if it’s the lifestyle, the girls (and oh my are there some real lookers - my favourite in case you’re wondering), the parties or the business side that attracts you to the show. Ok, it’s all of that and more. But Entourage is addictive. I started to watch season 1 on a Sunday and I was done by Wednesday. By the way, don’t tell the wife I was watching Entourage, I told her I was doing work... important work... on my vacation. Double bad... I know.

Season 1 was a little slow, but it gradually got better as it went on. Jessica Alba making a guest appearance helped ensure I kept watching.

Season 2 introduced Mandy Moore and Aquaman... I was firmly planted at this point.

Season 3 introduced a new character for a few episodes and I probably enjoyed that little arc the least but once he was gone... back to the winning formula.

Billy Walsh is the greatest character on television.

For the fans of the series, I now find myself wanting to yell “Lloyd!” when something goes wrong at work. HBO should publish a daily calendar of sayings by Ari, I’d be all over that.

RECENT MOVIES

Due to the size of this posting, I’ll update the movies later in the week.

Speaking of later on... The Dark Knight is almost here... counting down the days, trust me.

RECENT DVDs

Hit:

Justice League: A New Frontier - A direct-to-dvd release by Warner Bros. I really enjoyed it, especially on Blu Ray. Those Warner Bros. guys have always done a good job with animated superhero properties since the original Batman. Although not as good as Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, it’s still very good.

National Treasure 2 - Big fan of the first, the second wasn’t as good, but it didn’t disappoint. Got it on Blu Ray and the transfer was great. It could have used some more bonus features, but solid title and release.

Stargate - Believe it or not, I didn’t see Stargate until this week. Shocking, I know. I don’t know why that is, but I guess I just forgot to see it. Anyways, I grabbed the Blu Ray version (Notice a trend recently? I’ll touch on that in a minute) and I really enjoyed it. I can see how/why it spawned so many spin-offs. It’s a great concept that opens up the universe, literally.

Miss:

Companies not doing digital copies. Lion’s Gate and Fox are leading in an area that I feel every company needs to go. The one thing that was stopping me from adopting Blu Ray completely was the lack of a digital copy. I own an Apple TV and I store my collection on my computer. It allows me to transfer it to my iPod and stream over the network. I don’t need to get up and look for the disc, it’s all there for me, at all times.

Blu Ray stopped me from doing that. What Lion’s Gate (with Rambo) and Fox (all releases going forward) are doing with the digital copies was a godsend for me. It allows me to watch movies in high definition goodness, while getting the convenience and flexibility of DVD. I’m begging all studios to follow suit and help me enter the next-generation.

This week’s Throwback film:

I don’t know if this film can be considered a throwback or a classic like Rocky (last week), but I think it’s worthy of mention.

Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko is a strange and weird movie but I like strange and weird. I recently picked up the Director’s Cut (yes, I know fans of the movie say to get the original) but it was the only copy in stock.

Donnie Darko reminds me of a property I’ve been working on here at Throwback for a couple of years. It’s out there. It breaks the mold of what’s considered typical and brings in an aspect that makes you wonder, what? You need to pay attention due to the sheer amount of abstract material, but it’s a fresh breath of clean air.

To steal an old saying: Here’s to the crazy ones. I’m a huge fan of psychological thrillers and if you are too, I’d recommend a watch.

RECENT GAMES

Time for some more rapid fire reviews. Following last week’s Rocky mention, I’ve played some classic Boxing games.

Fight Night Round 3 (360) - An old game, but I kick butt in it. Block, left hook, right hook, repeat. Always works.

Rocky (Sega Master System) - One of the first games I owned. I remember the days I spent playing it in my youth. It was funny playing it once more.

Ready 2 Rumble (Dreamcast) - This wasn’t my original copy as I had to get it replaced after the system launched (bad press according to what I was told) but it’s still a great game. It’s funny playing the dude with the ‘fro and kicking some butt. Quick game, totally enjoyed it.

Unreal Tournament 3 (PS3) - I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Unreal Tournament games, I always found myself on the iD side of things, but UT3 is pretty good.

Calling All Cars (PSN) - Fun game, worth a try.

That’s it for this entry. I hope I didn’t bore you to death.

Suggestions, comments, feedback? Email me at whoa@throwbackcorp.com

And remember, the opinions and views expressed in this blog and/or commentaries are solely of the individuals and are not the views of Throwback Entertainment, its parent, affiliate, or subsidiary companies.

Whoa Checks In

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 20:41:44 -0400

Hey everybody, your favourite moderator is here sharing his thoughts on the entertainment industry so far this summer. Yes, this update is brought to you by Whoa. Why am I writing on the blog? Shouldn’t I be on the board talking to all of you instead? Yeah, I should but c’mon, let me share the limelight here! Geez...

So, yeah, this summer has been loaded with some great movies and I figured, ‘Hey, maybe a perspective from a gamer would be appreciated!’ so here’s my shot...

Iron Man

Iron Man has been THE hit of the summer so far, having grossed over $560 million worldwide. I’m sure most of you have seen the film, but in case you haven’t... go. It is a must watch. I’ve been a fan of the comic book films, but this is easily the best one from the Marvel camp so far. From beginning to end, the story just grabbed you and held your attention. Robert Downey Jr. was the greatest casting decision imaginable. It’s the kind of performance that can re-shape his professional career. And the suit... wow... great job with that.

The Incredible Hulk

I remember watching the film released a few years ago. While interesting and a unique take on how to portray a comic book series, it felt like something was missing. Jennifer Connelly was a great casting decision as Betty Ross and I’ll maintain that she should have been in the re-boot instead of Liv Tyler. However, The Incredible Hulk nailed it. They understood the tortured nature of Bruce Banner; the fight to rid himself of the monster within, the forced exile and traveling the world. And action... finally some battle sequences. Granted CGI has come a long way since The Hulk in 2003, but destroying military vehicles does not have the same impact as a slug fest between two monsters capable of destroying entire cities. In my opinion, The Incredible Hulk has taken it’s place where the Hulk belongs. Top-five Marvel movie of all time.

Next update will feature Kung Fu Panda and Wanted. Now here I sit waiting for The Dark Knight and a chance to see both Hancock and Wall-E.

Some recent viewings I’ve recently enjoyed on DVD...

Hit:

Jumper - Open the gates. I’m sure this pick may cause some discussion but I thoroughly enjoyed Jumper. I thought it was well done, interesting and unique. Many movie-goers will likely disagree with me, but this was a gamer movie, much like 300 was.

Startup.com - A documentary detailing the rise and fall of govworks.com. Very well done. Try to find a copy, you won’t be disappointed.

Fool’s Gold - I wasn’t expecting much, but Fool’s Gold provided an interesting pop corn experience. I enjoyed the film despite the recent trend of buried treasure movies. It didn’t hurt things that Kate Hudson was in the movie. Big fan here.

Strange Wilderness - “Attacks by salmon on bears are much more rare”, and with that line a new catch phrase was born. Strange Wilderness had some lulls, but the funny moments made up for that. I’d definitely recommend a watch.

Miss:

Meet the Spartans - For a comedy, I didn’t find it that funny at all. The recent spoof movies have been pretty poor compared to the original Scary Movie. Time to move on and come up with originals people, please stop the spoofs. Don’t get me started on Superhero Movie.

This week’s Throwback film:

I don’t remember how it happened but it did. I found myself enthralled in a classic series that I need to mention.

Rocky.

Yes, that Rocky. I was in Best Buy and I saw the original Rocky on Blu Ray. It was nicely priced and I figured I why not, so I bought it. Rocky is a classic, but what should have been a one-off watch, turned into a week of bed time watches. Once I finished watching it, I had to get the rest on DVD, up to that point, I only had it on VHS. There was no chance that I would avoid it any longer. Rocky to Rocky IV is just fantastic.

I’ve told people in the past that Rocky is responsible for the demise of boxing. When I mention that, people usually look at me all confused and naturally “isn’t Rocky a boxing movie?” But hear me out... Rocky provided something no real fight could... emotional connection with the fighter. And there’s no clutch, grab, break. Fights are fights. Today boxing fights are a test in patience, it doesn’t provide excitement in the here and now.

We as consumers want entertainment on demand. Waiting five minutes or even twenty to see a punchfest is what we want, but cannot get. I think for this reason alone is why Ultimate Fighting is so popular. You throw the combatants in the octagon and they fight. No delay, no avoiding things. Yes, boxing has taken a hit in the credibility ring, but that isn’t the reason for it’s decline in mindshare.

Recent Games

Time for some rapid fire reviews of some games I recently played.

Alone in the Dark - Pass... please.

The Incredible Hulk - 2003 version was much better.

Iron Man - The Camera... oh god, the camera... Pass.

Lego Indiana Jones - Very good, but not as good as the Star Wars versions.

Metal Gear Solid 4 - Fantastic. No complaints, a must have.

Mario Kart Wii - Lots of fun.

Wii Fit - Stop criticizing me when I don’t use it for a few days! Geez, give me a break.

Suggestions, comments, feedback? Email me at whoa@throwbackcorp.com

And remember, the opinions and views expressed in this blog and/or commentaries are solely of the individuals and are not the views of Throwback Entertainment, its parent, affiliate, or subsidiary companies.

Interview with Chris Bennett

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:18:42 -0400

Hey, hey, hey! T.I. here again… I just got a funny interview with Chris Bennet, Throwback’s legal counsel. For a lawyer, he’s pretty normal... And he was pretty truthful… Weird, huh?

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: Q'onoS, but I got tired of all the bickering and fighting, so I moved to Vancouver and became a lawyer.

Q: What did you want to do when you were growing up?

A: I wanted to be a physicist. I even took first year science at university, but it turns out you need to be good at calculus to be a physicist. I’m not, so I’m not.

Q: What’s your favorite pastime?

A: Triathlons. I suck at them too, but you don’t need to be good at calculus to do them.

Q: Of all the game consoles out there, which do you like the best? And what’s your favorite game of all time and why?
 A: The Wii because it’s fun to play with my kids. The answer to the second question is lame, but my favourite game was Solar Realms Elite. It was a turn-based BBS strategy game that a buddy and I used to play a lot. There were no graphics, but the whole world-domination thing was a real blast.

Q: What video game would you like to see as a live-action movie? And why? 
A: Katamari Demacy. Come on, that’d be funny.

Q: Heard that you were an avid Star Trek fan, which is your favorite Star Trek series?

A: The Next Generation

Q: What do you think is the appeal of Star Trek?
 A: I’m not really sure. The movies really aren’t that spectacular, but for some reason if another one is released, I’ll always go watch it.

I like the fact that the TV shows often dealt with topical issues in a thoughtful way (I particularly liked the one on discrimination where two races were identical, except the faces of the people in one race were white on the left and black on the right, and the faces of the others were black on the left and white on the right. It clearly demonstrated the stupidity of racism.)

I suspect the real draws are the characters and the familiarity with the plots. I suppose it’s really just a sci fi soap opera.

Q: If you could be any character in the Star Trek universe, who would it be and why?
 A: Q, because omnipotence rocks.

Q: Rank your captains from favorite to least favorite: Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer. Please give reasons.
 A: 1. Picard because he’s smart, ethical, and honourable. And he has a cool accent.
2. Kirk because Shatner is Canadian; he did a hilarious version of the song Common People; and his World of Warcraft ad was awesome (“My name is William Shatner. And I’m a SHAMAN”). He has a cool accent too, eh?
3. Janeway because she’s tough, decisive and loyal.
4. Sisko because he reminds me of Morpheus.
5. Archer.

Q: I know that Trekkies can be very weird… cite your strangest experience dealing with a Trekkie.

A: Actually, I don’t have one. I don’t know any real Trekkies and I’m not really one either. That said, I still think the Enterprise could waste and Imperial Star Destroyer any day, notwithstanding this clearly flawed memo to the contrary: http://www.davis.ca/publication/The-End-of-the-Star-Wars-Star-Trek-Debate.pdf

Serious Questions:

Q: What will your role be at Throwback Entertainment?

A: Video game, technology and Intellectual Property Counsel.

Q: How do you think you can help Throwback Entertainment?
 A: By helping to identify, protect and commercialize Throwback’s IP; by helping Throwback negotiate fair, readable and reasonable contracts, and by convincing Tom to develop a game about video game lawyers. I want to be an action superhero.

Q: I know this is a very broad question, but what is the big difference between Canadian law and U.S. law? Please give examples to back-up your answer. 
A: What is this, a law school exam? Some kind of essay-writing contest? Free legal advice? OK, well it’s too late to stop now I suppose. One big difference is that Americans like suing each other a lot more, and their juries like awarding huge damages.

McDonald’s hot coffee. $2.86 million. Enough said.

Q: Tom mentioned you file patents in second life: Very briefly, can you explain what that is in a nutshell?

A: Actually, Tom is full of crap. Good guy, but completely full of it.

Davis LLP has an office in Second Life (the first Canadian law firm to do so, and one of only a handful in the world). We’re mostly there to just check it out and tell people about ourselves. It’s been a fun experiment, and it’s a great way of showing that we’re different from the other stuffy law firms out there. Well, that, and we have a video game law group too.

Q: Are there any lawyers, Canadian or otherwise, that inspires/inspired you? What was it about them that inspired you?
 A: Perry Mason. He had a tough time losing.

And actually, because you asked, I should say that I’m kind of like Perry Mason: I’ve been to court once and I won. Sure, it was an uncontested chambers application that a monkey could have won, but I’m still batting 1000. After that one I gave up the court work and stuck with the contract drafting and negotiation, and the IP prosecution. Mostly so I wouldn’t spoil the record.

Q: You need not names here, but conversely, what is the most bitter experience you’ve had dealing with an opposing lawyer?
 A: I haven’t had any really bitter experiences with other lawyers. The vast majority of lawyers I’ve dealt with have been collegial and respectful. We sometimes end up digging in our heels for our clients, but that no excuse for being a jackass. To quote a classic Ratt song: “what comes around goes around…”. (To be fair, Ratt didn’t come up with that quote, but they pulled it off the best.)

Q: For wanna-be’s lawyers out there, what advice would you give?
 A: Learn how to write. It’s the single most-important skill that helped me in school and in my professional life. Also, watch a lot of Star Trek and listen to a lot of Ratt. You’ll be sure to succeed.

Interview with Thomas Maduri

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 22:17:28 -0400

Hey, hey, hey! T.I. just pulled a miracle… I just got a way cool interview with the one and only… the King of the Hill… the Big Kahuna… the Big Cheese… the CEO of Throwback Entertainment, Tom Maduri. And he was awfully accommodating…

I met with Tom at some microbrewery in downtown Toronto after one of his co-ed soccer league games. Just recently named Captain of his team, Tom nursed his favorite beer, Steamwhistle, as we had an engaging conversation.

Q: Maybe this isn’t it the best way to start out an interview, but I didn’t realize that Canadians played soccer. How come you didn’t choose hockey instead?

A: Simple, I cannot stop on skates, but I can skate stop on skis. Figure that one out. Come to think of it, I do not do well with water sports at all… my swimming skills resemble that of a rock.

Q: So I hear that you’re a true workaholic. What else do you do for fun?

A: Right now, I am learning how to play golf. The sound of my club is usually drowned out by me yelling “FORE” followed by various swear words in numerous languages. The only thing I like about golf is the five hours of uninterrupted time with friends, family and colleagues that I don’t spend too much time with anymore.

Q: Very cool. The last time I tried golf was on a kiddie’s miniature golf course. Now let’s get down to the meat and potatoes. What made you decide to acquire the Acclaim library and start Throwback Entertainment?

A: In the 80s and 90s, as a consumer, Acclaim’s name was everywhere - it seemed like everything digital had an Acclaim logo on it. They had some kick ass properties, and it seemed like all the big licenses. Also, let’s not forget that at one point Acclaim was larger than Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Take Two, Eidos (all of which used Acclaim for their reach into retail). So when Acclaim went into bankruptcy protection, it was an easy decision to jump in. Now, the process to complete the transaction was not easy but looking back, it was a great experience for all involved.

Given our core belief is that Immersive Entertainment is the future – acquiring the library gives us a great starting point. Now, we are taking the next step from interactive entertainment into a new realm – embracing and empowering.

Q: What makes Throwback different from any other game publisher? How do you plan to approach your business strategy differently?

A: Ground up, we are built differently; we do not need licenses to please our shareholders quarterly needs and avoid disappointment. Instead, our focus is on quality. As a customer myself, I have a very long memory when disappointed with an experience. We cannot expect differently from our customers.

Without getting into too many boring details - our intention is to have ‘conversations with our customers’ without the large marketing campaigns (just shock and awe). Expect intelligent strategies out of us to capture the entire experience.

Q: Of all the Acclaim titles, which are you most excited about developing and why?

A: Re-Volt! Just last year, I was on a family vacation in Disney World. I noticed Re-Volt! in the arcade at the hotel… it was great. The experience of only needing 30 seconds to understand how to play and the rest of the 29 minutes 30 seconds was just fun.

Q: If you had a chance to hire a live-action director for a Throwback developed videogame , who would it be?

A: Without hesitation – Mike Myers. Gotta love the Canadian boys.

Q: For over 10 years, you have been known as an executive who has been involved in corporate restructuring, turnarounds and project recoveries. Obviously, this is a totally different arena for you, right? What are your own expectations for Throwback Entertainment?

A: This is very different but very similar – Throwback is a clean slate – we have assembled the best team imaginable, we have great IPs in the pipe and our strategy is defined around the future. Now, this exercise hasn’t been easy, but with the right people, any thing is possible. We will continue to move forward.

Q: You mentioned at one point there are six traits of an effective leader. 1. Make others feel important; 2. Promote a vision; 3. Follow the golden rule; 4. Admit mistakes; 5. Criticize others only in private; 6. Stay close to the action. They’re all pretty crucial, but what do you think is the most important one of the bunch and why?

A: Do I have to pick just one? Fine, it is “Admit mistakes” – nothing makes me more satisfied then saying I was wrong or goofed on something. It means my team is so damn good, I have to show up every day with my A-Game just to keep up with them… I love it!

Q: Who are some of your inspirations when it comes to business?

A: I always seem to reference what Sir Richard Branson of Virgin has done during his career. Creating value for his shareholders, a culture in his company that affords his people to challenge ‘norms’ and the personality he has created that defines his company.

The other inspiration is Bono– not your typical business inspiration – when you look at his accomplishments from creating a global sensation with U2 to his humanitarian efforts. He is one cool gentlemen.

Q: I’m totally enlightened now. Thanks for your time. It’s been great.

A: No, thank you. The pleasure has been all mine.

Current news in Entertainment

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 22:16:08 -0400

The Word - Current News in the Entertainment World
It’s only been a couple of weeks since spring started, but I wanted to talk about this year’s summer movie… This year we get Indy; Batman; Iron Man; Rick O’Connell; Carrie and her horny entourage; Agent 86; Speed Racer; and Scully and Mulder. I’m sure this will be an exciting summer season, but does anyone notice anything wrong? Of the numerous summer movies this year, a majority of them are sequels, comic-book adaptations, or original TV shows! I’ll be the first to admit that I’ll be a “sucker” to shell out $10.00 for these summer movies (well, maybe $8.50 for a Saturday matinee), but is there simply no originality in La-la Land anymore? Originality has gone out the window! It’s gone AWOL!!

I’ve seen a handful of these summer movie trailers. Although the Iron Man trailer practically tells the whole story, it looks fairly cool, what with the armor and special effects! The Dark Knight and Indiana Jones 4 trailers look great, too! But being that I veer toward darker things, my vote goes to the guy in black with the ears! Haven’t seen the X-Files trailer, and I probably won’t go see the movie. I’ve never seen an episode of the show. Nor have I seen the first movie… but I wonder if X-Files is passé now…

Now, I’ve gotta mention the Speed Racer trailer. The movie itself garnered the 9th spot of the most anticipated summer movies according to a survey by Fangdango.com. Sorry to say, I think the trailer is a definite “thumbs down!” The costumes have got to go! What’s with Racer X’s costume? And the helmet that Speed is wearing!? Argh!? It was okay for animation, but couldn’t the Wachowski Brothers have designed something better here for the live-action movie? Emile Hirsch looks like a total geek!! And let’s not forget to mention… the great Susan Sarandon! Susan Sarandon of Thelma and Louise fame? What’s an Academy Award winning actress like her doing in a movie like that… man oh man, the mighty have fallen! (Let’s hope she did this as a favor to the producers or something…)

As a kid, I watched the ORIGINAL show religiously, never ever having watched Fred Wolf’s version or the 1997 Japanese version. For many years, there were rumors that Speed would become a live-action movie with stars like Tom Cruise and Charlie Sheen attached, and I secretly hoped that the movie would never come to fruition. Yet my worst fears have come true… Yeah, I think Emile Hirsch looks like Speed, but I ain’t got much hope for the movie. (And have you seen the movie posters?! Yuck!) The trailer definitely doesn’t do much for the movie’s cause. Then again, when the first X-Men Movie trailer came out, I wanted to burst out laughing. But when I went to see the actual movie, I was actually blown away with its dramatic storyline and cool effects. Maybe, Speed will end up like that, and maybe it won’t. If it doesn’t, it could possibly mark the worst movie directed by the Wachowski Brothers… Ah, well, I guess all directors need to have at least one 1941 on their resume!! If Spielberg could survive that, then the Brothers will be a-okay…

Either way, looking at the summer movies these days, I can’t agree more with the sentiment echoed by Eric Radomski, the Creative Chief Officer of Throwback Entertainment. “Let’s leave classics alone, and create new ones!” Hey, Hollywood, are you listening?!

Current news in Entertainment

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:49:31 -0400

Okay, no more talk about No Country for Old Men although it was in the top 20 of DVDs sales the first week of release! (America, have you no taste!?) Actually, what intrigued me more was the fact that The Savage Sword of Conan #2—a reissue by Dark Horse, originally published in the 1970’s—was no. 1 on the graphic novel list. Goes to show that a great property never dies. And just imagine this… If Conan continues to sell well, maybe Hollywood (with no more original ideas anymore) will make a 3rd movie with California Governor Schwarzenegger. Hey, after all these years, if Harrison could reprise his role as Indy, why not Ah-nold? Or maybe if Ah-nold isn’t willing to do it after his term is finished in 2011, they can always get Javier Bardem to be Conan, and he can call everybody, “friendo” and use a cattle stun gun on his enemies!

Great news for women and minorities! On March 20th, the Entertainment Software Association has established a $45,000 scholarship fund to help women and minorities pursuing careers in videogame development. Full-time students at four-year colleges and universities who plan to continue their education in fields supporting video game development can apply online for a $3,000 scholarship until May 15th of this year. The ESA will award 15 scholarships for the 2008-09 academic year. I wonder if it’s too late for me to re-think my career (whatever that may be) and go back to college to receive a videogame development scholarship?! I may not be a woman, but I can try…

Here’s something shocking for you faithful Gilligan’s Island fans out there. The once-upon-a-time hot actress, Dawn Wells, 69, who played the sensually innocent Mary Ann, is now serving a six months’ probation for reckless driving in Driggs, Idaho! There’s even a rumor that the cops found some pot in her car when they stopped her! Hope it was for medicinal purposes! Man oh man!! What’s next? Barbara Eden (of I Dream of Jeannie fame) getting busted for lewd and lascivious behavior?!

This may be a bit early, but when the venerable series, ER, returns for its 15th season in the fall, it may be its last. Executive producer, David Zabel said that they may be bringing back some old characters from past seasons just to spice things up. And George Clooney’s character just may be one of ‘em! But don’t hold your breath for Anthony Edwards’ return… unless he comes back as a ghost or something!

LOOKING BACK

Fifty years ago in 1958, Tennis for Two was a game developed on an oscilloscope, which simulated a game of tennis or ping-pong. It was created by American physicist, William Higinbotham (say that 3 times really fast), and based on analog rather than digital computing. The game, a predecessor to Pong, is particularly important as it was one of the first electronic games to use a graphical display. This game was created to cure boredom for those who visited the Brookhaven National Laboratory. So, it begs the question…just why was Halo created?

Jorge

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:24:10 -0400

*Language and Mature Content Warning*

Brought to you from the mind of Eric Radomski

Current news in Entertainment

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:23:52 -0400

Okay, it’s time for current news in Entertainment. Y’all know me, T.I., so let’s get started…(Man, I need a catch phrase or something…)

Okay, whose bright idea was this? Look, I’m not one to criticize, but making a video game out of Showtime’s Dexter? Where’s the integrity? Where’s the freakin’ originality? I love the live-action show—it is a very, very cool but dark show—but to make a video game seems a little forced. No? Man, I hope those people at Marc Ecko Entertainment think outside of the box and come up with something deliciously wicked for the game, but I’m not holding my breath. After all, this is Hollywood where movies like No Country for Old Men win prestigious awards, friendo… sigh…

Okay, okay, okay, so I’m obsessed with No Country for Old Men. I have recurring nightmares about the mere fact that it won the Best Picture Award. And to make matters worse, the bloody DVD is out, and once again critics are raving about it! (Hope they don’t make it into a video game…) If ya ask me, you’re better off buying American Gangster with Denzel, Russell and Ridley! Now that’s the true Best Picture for 2007 although I have to admit the theatrical version is better than the extended version. “Spoiler alert here”—the extended version feels a bit like a buddy movie at the end when Frank Lucas gets out of jail.

Talking about DVDs, Warner Bros. Animation just released Justice League: The New Frontier, the animated feature based on artist-writer Darwyn Cooke’s work published from 2003 – 2004. The story is well-written, but I sorta wish the animation production was a bit better. Some of the sequences were fantastic, but other parts were… well, a bit flat in my opinion. However, what really caught my eye was the preview of Batman: Gotham Night, a bonus segment in the DVD. It looks plenty cool and really stylized, what with the Japanese anime directors involved… I don’t think it could top Animatrix, but I think it’ll probably be one of the better original DVD features that Warner Bros. has put out in a long while. And the last superior one was Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, which was released in 2000—almost a decade ago!! The public demands quality!!! (BTW, since I’m plugging the videos here, will I be getting any freebies?)

Oh, yeah, one last thing… Go Lakers!

LOOKING BACK

27 years ago, Harrison Ford put on a fedora hat and brandished a bullwhip. And a franchise was born… Indiana Jones! And this year, finally, the fourth installment, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, is set to premiere on May 22nd. Have you seen the trailer? Looks totally awesome… It’s been way too long between sequels… Where have you been, Mr. Ford? That’s right, making crappy movies like Hollywood Homicide and Firewall! Well, it’s great to have you back in the saddle again… Let’s share a beer again soon next time at Takao, shall we? (I bet inquiring minds want to know about that last statement… I’m not kissing and telling!)

Interview with Eric Radomski

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:37:23 -0400

Hey, dudes and dudettes!! T.I. here, back again with another segment of Up-Close! This time around, I had a chance to meet the new chief creative officer of Throwback Entertainment, Eric Radomski. (And before you ask, there’s no relation to Kirk Radomski…)

Eric may be new to the gaming industry, but he’s a 20 year-plus veteran of the animation world. And man, does he have a huge following… I’m a huge fan! I love all the stuff he’s done in the past, and it’s “sweet” that he’s gonna be adding his creative touch to Throwback. The special quality that Eric can bring to the table is his versatility. Eric has produced really macabre and dark stuff like Batman and Spawn to really funny series such as the old time classic, Scooby-Doo, with a twist (but of course) and Xiaolin Showdown!

I actually caught up with him at his favorite Korean BBQ restaurant, Yang San Bak, in Los Angeles’ Koreatown… (Man, I hope I get free grub for plugging this place!) So we got down and dirty as we chowed down on some pork and beef tongue…

Q:First things first, where did you grow up?

A:In the city where the river burned, Cleveland, Ohio.

Q:Looking at your past successes, which project are you most proud of? And why?

A: Batman the Series because it helped push the art form. Oh yeah, and it launched my career.

Q:Of all the game consoles out there, which do you like the best? And what’s your favorite game of all time and why?

A: I’ve played PlayStation most of all because my sons preferred it. Favorite game without equal is the ‘Burnout’ series. Not because I smoked out in the 70’s, more because I drive in LA…So the violent car crashes are the epitome of stress relief for me.

Q:Classic iconic video game characters: Super Mario or Sonic?

A:Mario is Italian, so Sonic because we’re both Polish. At least, I think Sonic is Polish!

Q:Indiana Jones or James Bond? Which is a better IP in your opinion?

A:Indy because 007 doesn’t like to get dirty.

Q:Which classical animation character would you like to see revived as an animated series?

A:None. Leave them alone to remain Classics… Let’s create new Classics!!

Q:You have been a veteran of the animation industry for years. Now you're entering in sort of a new arena (i.e., gaming, so to speak), what new innovations do you think you can bring to this industry?
 A:These are exciting times in this ever evolving world of 'New Media'. I don't see gaming and animation as separate industries; both are extensions of the entertainment business and exist to serve as a means of escapism. I intend to continue creating out of the box, unconventionally and full of abstractions, with the desire to stumble on and contribute something very cool to an already awesome medium.

Q: Most of the times, live-action movies made from video games tend to fall short of expectation. What do you think the producers are doing wrong?

A:Gaming is interactive and Viewing is very passive. Gamers have their own individual interpretations of the characters and storylines, even the environments that they have experienced while playing the game. So any interpretation of the game will be subjective. Non Gamers will typically be unfamiliar with the unique worlds and characters created specifically for interactive game play. So unless the movie script is completely kick ass and original onto itself, not a 'shoe horned' version of the game, it can only come off as bland and confusing. I believe for a game to be successfully interpreted as a movie, a solid story with strong characters with a unique point of view must exist in the game from its inception.

Q:Any final words for your fans?

A:The pork is fantastic here at Yang San Bak. And, I’ve been looking for an opportunity like this my entire career… The gloves just came off and we intend on leaving a mark...

Interview with Ken Duer

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 08:54:20 -0500

T.I. here with yet another segment of Up-Close! This time around, I had a chance to get personal with the president, media, Ken Duer.

A veteran of the animation industry, Mr. Duer became prominent as an “overseas guy,” a type of producer who would troubleshoot on-going productions overseas, at Warner Bros. TV Animation. But he was way more than that. Not just an innovative guy in terms of trying to create production synergy between the Asian overseas studios in Japan, Korea and Taiwan and the main American studio, but he got things done in an efficient manner. Something not quite right with production? Something broken? Communication breaking down? “Call Mr. Duer, he’ll fix everything for you” seemed to be commonplace or the mantra of all studios.

And it was a sad, cold day for Warner Bros. Animation when he stepped down to become an independent producer in 2001. But it was a great day for independent studios because now they could hire Ken for consulting and producing, and the series would get done without a hitch.“Call Mr. Duer, he’ll fix everything for you!”

I caught up with the all-around nice guy doing some research on video gaming and comic books for Throwback in a Burbank library. We had to speak in hushed tones because the librarian was strict!!

Q:What did you want to do when you were growing up?

A:I was born in Kamakura, Japan and then shortly after, we moved to Kobe in 1964. The toilet at home was still not modern and not a flush toilet. Every couple of weeks, a tanker truck would come and suck all the human water septic tank. Man, it stunk, but I wanted to be that guy who drove the truck sucking all the @#^X&! Other kids wanted to be firemen or policemen, but I wanted to be the guy driving the toilet tank! In my teen years, I wanted to be a drummer. During college (Chapman University), I wanted to be a radio DJ. Now I have too many things I want to be……

Q:Standard question, I usually ask…list some of the projects that you are most proud of? And why?

A:Batman the Animated Series because the studios I scouted and managed overseas made a difference in the quality of the series. Batman and Superman Adventures because I experimented with Japanese studios involving them in pre-production, which resulted in higher quality and lowered production costs. Japanese directors won Emmys in 1998. I could be very wrong but those directors may be the very first Japanese ever to win an Emmy Award. Animatrix because the project was very unique and unprecedented.

Q:What live action movie would you like to see as a video game?

A:If not done already, I’d like to see The Great Escape because it’s one of my favorite movies of all time. Great characters, motivation and great premise. You can create all kinds of game plays and levels.

Q: James Cameron or Ridley Scott?

A:No offense to Mr. Cameron, but definitely Ridley Scott. Blade Runner is my favorite sci-fi of all time. It would make a great animated and game project. The genre, the story, the action and the characters are all perfect for animation.

Q: You have been a bridge between the Japanese and the Americans in regards to animation production. Tastes are very different in gaming, but what are the challenges you think you will face when it comes to Japanese gaming? Do you think you can bridge that gap successfully like you did with animation?

A: I think in any form of cross cultural or cross language entertainment, the key is to identify  their strongest and weakest areas. What are the Japanese and American developers good at? Is it the story telling? Is it the designs? Animation? Technology? Once we identify their strongest and their weakest, we can cast and customize development /production strategies in order to come up with a unique way to develop and produce the IP.   The biggest challenge is to figure out which side will be the decision makers and also to have everyone on the same page as far as taste is concerned. Just as in traditional animation, both sides are very experienced and therefore have great pride. Each side thinks it is better than the other. To solve this, we will have to decide which market we are targeting. If we identify that a certain IP's target is Japan, than the top creative should be Japanese. If U.S., then perhaps an American leader. However, the team can be a mixture from both sides.   All this sounds good but we'll see if it will actually work in the gaming industry. We proved that it works in animation and I’m very confident that it will work in the game space as well. We must take risks and be different. That’s what excites me the most.

Current news in Entertainment

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:13:55 -0500

Hey, there, you bloggers! T.I. here. It’s time for some of the latest dish in entertainment!

Let’s talk about the Oscars… Ratatouille won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature; Peter and the Wolf won for Animated Short; virtually unknown in the U.S., Marion Cotillard surprisingly won for Best Actress; Daniel Day Lewis picked up yet another Best Actor Award for his hammy performance. And the Best Picture Award went to… (drum roll, please)… No Country for Old Men!! What?! Argh! I can’t believe it!! I saw that %#$! movie, and I just don’t get it! I admit that the movie was over my head because I’m a mere simpleton, but Hollywood, have you lost your mind?! How could something with such an anemic, bizarre, confusing, flimsy, pitiful, wretched ending win the most coveted award?! (Did I mention the word, pitiful?)I mean, come on, even The Simpson Movie had a better ending, and that’s a cartoon for Pete’s sake!! If you ask me, I still say, this was definitely “No Movie for Any Men!” Still… congratulations are in order to the Coen Brothers and Scott Rudin, I guess…

At the Game Developers Conference recently held in San Francisco, noted futurist Ray Kurzweil proclaimed during his keynote address that information technology will completely drive our economy and that “games will have taken over the world” by 2020.Mr. Kurzweil, an inventor of several OCR and speech synthesis applications, went on to predict a near future with nano-technology enhanced fully immersive virtual realities and full simulations of human intelligence by 2029. Boy, if that’s the case, then there’s a good chance better movies will be produced and win Oscars!!

Steven Spielberg has officially resigned from his position as artistic advisor to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Did anybody know that he had officially taken up the job? I didn’t…

I believe that sports is one facet of entertainment, so I’m gonna talk about it here! With Pau Gasol in the pivot position, the Lakers are for real… I may still not like that guy who has a mispronounced name (Psst, it’s supposed to be pronounced like the city in Japan, Ko-béh), but I’m so thrilled about this year’s team… The Western Conference is gonna be an exciting race, what with Shaq now on the Suns and Jason Kidd coming back to the Mavericks! And don’t forget that team in the East, the Boston Celtics… maybe they’ll avenge the Patriots loss in the oh-so-important Super Bowl this year! But hey, I’m still rooting for the Lakers!

LOOKING BACK

Talk about your major upsets… 10 years ago, not only did foreign actor, Roberto Benigni beat out Tom Hanks in the Best Actor category, but Shakespeare in Love won Best Picture over Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. Too bad there wasn’t an upset this year for Best Picture… I was so rooting for you, Juno!