Newspaper Page Text
VARIETY & LISTINGS
The Red & Black | Thursday, June 8, 2006 | 7
More titles coming to Xbox 360
Triggers on .
underside
Wireless controller,
range of 30 feet
Analog stick
PC compatible
o
— 03 ^ ^
D-pad
Guide Button
alog stick
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY WAITES LASETER | The Red & Black
By MILES MOFFIT
mmoffit@randb.com
Editor’s Note: Last month, the
corporate behemoths of gam
ing gathered for their annual
E3 conference in Los Angeles
and, as always, reigning con
sole kings Microsoft, Sony
and Nintendo dominated the
show with revelations about
their latest hardware.
Sadly, while a reporter for
The Red & Black couldn’t be
there in person, this week’s
paper is kicking off the first
in a three-part series cover
ing next-gen consoles.
Unlike its competitors,
Microsoft didn’t have any
major unreleased hardware
or new controllers to tout at
E3. Instead, its main focus
was clearly on upcoming
Xbox 360 titles and plans for
their popular Xbox LIVE
service.
“Unreal” developer Cliff
Bleszinski opened the soft
ware giant’s press conference
with an impressive demon
stration of the highly antici
pated “Gears of War,” which
is currently slated for a holi
day release in North America.
The game’s third person
gunplay appeared fluid and
fast-paced with what
appeared to be an innovative
take on the action-shooter
genre that offered smooth
interaction with complex
environments.
It’s safe to say that the 360
is banking heavily on this
title since many consumers
remain underwhelmed by the
system’s launch titles. In
addition, the market, in gen
eral, yearns for new franchis
es to dethrone a long-running
and very pesky sequels trend.
This point was reinforced
by Microsoft’s Peter Moore,
introduced by Bleszinski as
“the zen master of gaming,”
and appropriately so, as he is
more or less the face of all
things gaming at Microsoft.
One of his presentation’s
slides touted “Ghost Recon:
Advanced Warfighter,” “The
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion”
and “Fight Night: Round 3”
as the most popular titles,
and sequels to established
franchises none of which
were in the 360’s launch line
up.
Perhaps the system’s defi
ciency in “knock-out” sellers
can be explained by its
intense focus on other areas
in addition to the games.
As mentioned earlier,
Microsoft places a great deal
of emphasis on LIVE, their
console's online system.
“Connecting your console
to Xbox LIVE is as vital as
connecting your computer to
the Internet,” Moore said.
When comparing all three
major consoles, LIVE is per
haps the biggest way in
which the 360 stands out,
even though Moore called it
“just an appetizer for the
main course.”
Speaking somewhat shyly
in his first appearance ever at
E3, Microsoft Chairman Bill
Gates bragged that LIVE will
have six million subscribers
by next E3.
Capitalizing on this
growth, Gates announced
LIVE Anywhere, which is a
Windows Vista and cell
phone-integrated service
that will transform LIVE into
a single, worldwide and all
purpose online community.
This, they said, is one of their
ways of appealing to the
“non-gamer” market.
Moore also made a brief
announcement about the
HD-DVD player for the Xbox
360.
For those who aren’t
aware, there's a new format
war (like VHS vs. Beta) going
on — HD-DVD vs. Sony Blu
Ray.
The tension between the
two sides was evident when
Moore had to encourage the
audience to applaud his
announcement that the 360’s
HD-DVD player will be avail
able this holiday season.
However, Moore’s presen
tation still conveyed a power
ful sense of momentum for
360 owners.
According to Moore, con
sumers will have 160 titles to
choose from when the holi
days roll around. He referred
to this as “the second gener
ation of next generation
games.”
For those who complained
that some early 360 titles
barely took advantage of the
system's hardware, if at all,
Moore reassured the audi
ence that those developers
still working on games are
now in their second full year
of work.
Demonstrating the fruits
of this labor was a montage
of greatly anticipated game
titles whose top titles includ
ed “Gears of War,” the
ground-breaking action-
adventure title “Too Human,”
2007’s iterations of “Madden”
and “NCAA,” expansive GTA
disciple “Saint's Row,” a 360
version of “F.E.A.R.” and of
course, Sega classic “Sonic
the Hedgehog.”
For the 360’s part of the
presentation, however, only
three other games got special
face time alongside “Gears of
War.”
The most unusual of the
titles is “Viva Pinata,” a fami
ly and kid-friendly title in
which you create an entire
world, sharing content with
other players for colorful
pinatas to live in.
The game apparently is
Microsoft’s software stab at
the aforementioned “non
gamer” market, which has
proven difficult for some con
soles, particularly the Xbox,
to break into.
This is partially due to
Nintendo’s dominance of the
kids’ market and also of the
powerful Xbox console’s
image as the “hard-core”
gamer’s console.
Unfortunately, with the
shadow of a similar and
much more prominent game
looming over E3 — Will
Wright’s “Spore” for PC — it
was hard for the audience to
get too excited about “Viva
Pinata.”
Moore impressed the
crowd when he removed his
jacket and showed off his
newest tattoo — the signa
ture white-text Grand Theft
Auto logo followed by “IV”
inked onto on his left bicep.
It’s anyone’s guess as to
whether this one is as real as
his “Halo 2” tattoo, which he
proved completely real and
very much still decorating
the same spot on his right
arm.
While he couldn't offer any
screenshots, he did offer a
release date — Oct. 16, 2007
— and announced an exclu
sive deal with Rockstar
Games to release episodic
content for the game over
Xbox LIVE.
As if that wasn’t enough,
there was a trailer for some
game called “Halo 3” that
Gates and Moore showed off
at the end of the show.
Apparently, this was a big
deal because the crowd
seemed pretty excited about
it.
The trailer showed some
strangely familiar characters
on the screen — a feminine
A.I., some kind of space sol
dier in green armor and then
a basic vision of impending
apocalypse followed by the
words “Finish the Fight,
2007” — all accompanied by a
rather catchy musical piece.
Microsoft might be onto
something with this one.
Head Automatica
‘popagates’ rock
By PT UMPRHRESS
pumphress@randb.com
As its name suggests,
Head Automatica’s sopho
more album, “Popaganda,”
is a full-force, pop-rock
assault on the masses, and
try as you might to resist
its disco danceability, this
very well may be the catchi
est record you hear this
year.
Fronted and founded by
Glassjaw singer Daryl
Palumbo, Head Automatica
began as a side project that
allowed Palumbo to toy
around with the kind of
upbeat dance melodies,
hip-hop beats and electron-
ica sequencing riffs he
enjoyed listening to when
he wasn’t busy singing
hardcore rock tunes.
“Decadence,” Head
Automatica’s first album,
was a collaboration
between Palumbo and Dan
“The Automator”
Nakamura (of Gorillaz
fame). While the album
starts and ends strong with
frantic, disco/rock fusions
like “At The Speed of a
Yellow Bullet” and “I Shot
William H. Macy,” the mid
dle portion of the album
strays into mediocrity.
Not so with
“Popaganda,” which is a
through and through good
listen. Be warned however,
that “good” is only good if
sugar-sweet, ass-shaking,
head-bobbing power-pop
dance rock appeals to your
inner hipster diva/disco
inferno.
This is the kind of album
that people love to hate
because it’s so irresistibly
infectious, and it’s the kind
of album that miraculously
manages to appeal to
everyone from indie hip
sters seeking fresh eclectic
grooves (“Egyptian Musk”)
and the TRL tween crowd
screaming for the latest
pop chart topper
(“Graduation Day”).
Palumbo croons and
wails like a rubber-tongued
game show host, belting
out cocky, vindictive lyrics
with dramatic inflection.
His vocal stylings and
writing talent are at their
best on tracks like the
crunchy, doo wop slow-
dancer “Scandalous,” the
lounge lizard rocker
“Cannibal Girl” and the
Cars-ish power-pop anthem
“Lying Through Your
Teeth.”
Head Automatica’s cur
rent members, besides
Palumbo, were originally
just a touring band for the
first album.
Now, locked into a per
manent roster,
“Popaganda” marks the
band’s maturation into a
cohesive band.
Though straying from its
hip-hop and techno lean
ings of yesteryear, Head
Automatica’s latest offering
to the masses is just as
easy to dance to and twice
as irresistible.
With musical styles rang
ing from doo wop to blues
and power pop-rock to the
Casbah-rocking Arabic
disco of “Nowhere Fast,”
Head Automatica is taking
a huge step forward, talent-
wise, from “Decadence”
with this album.
If dance rock and elec
tric power pop aren’t your
cup of tea, then beware,
because “Popaganda” has a
subversive way of changing
people’s minds.
THURSDAY
>- Cosmic Charlie
Georgia Theatre. 10 p.m. $7
>- Commander Chameleon
40 Watt Club. 9 p.m. $5
>- Tim Brantley, Jone Pringle, Georgia
Tasty World (downstairs).
>- Adam Klein
Caledonia Lounge. 10 p.m.
>- Mad Tea Party
Flicker. 8:30 p.m.
>- Of Mirth and Matter
Wild Wing Cafe.
>- Robinella
Melting Point. Doors at 6 p.m. $10 adv.
ticket + $1 conv. Fee
>- Battle of the Bands: Dark Horse,
Red, Carla La Fever, The Rays
Last Call. 9 p.m.
(bands can call 353-8869 to sign up)
FRIDAY
>- Fiasco with WILX and Polyester
Pimpstrap
Georgia Theatre. Show starts at 9 p.m.
$5
>- The Pendletons w/ Freezetag
40 Watt. Doors at 10 p.m. $5
>- Last November, Merge Left,
Morning State
Tasty World (downstairs).
>- Gemini Fest
Tasty World (upstairs).
>- Gut Shot and Thirsty
Caledonia Lounge. Doors at 10 p.m.
>- Sweet Tooth Simpleton and Druid
City
Flicker. 8:30 p.m.
>- Sounds of Silence
Wild Wing Cafe.
> Strawberry Flats
Melting Point. 8:30 p.m. $8 adv. ticket +
$1.50 conv. fee.
>- Brantley Gilbert, Hollman Autry
Band
Last Call. 10 p.m.
> Athens Creative Theatre
“Bless Me Father...Penance With a
Punch-Line”
Quinn Hall at Memorial Park 7:30
All Seats: $6
SATURDAY
>- Corey Smith with Jon Black
Georgia Theatre. 10 p.m. SOLD OUT
> Don Chambers with GOAT, Bang
Bang Bang and The Rick Brantley
Revival
40 Watt. 10p.m. $7
>- Quien Es Bien!
Caledonia Lounge. Doors at 10 p.m.
> The New Sound of Numbers
Flicker. 8:30 p.m.
>- The Empties
Wild Wing Cafe.
>- Remember Golieth with Swank
Sinatra and Whiskey Shit Vomit
Nuci Space. 9:30 p.m.
>- Salsa
Tasty World (upstairs).
> Athens Creative Theatre
“Bless Me Father...Penance With a
Punch-Line”
Quinn Hall at Memorial Park 7:30
All Seats: $6
► Bikini Contest ($150 prize)
Last Call. All Night.
MONDAY
>- Moses Mayfield and 3 Ring Circus
Tasty World (downstairs).
> Neil Fountain’s Babylon Mining
Corp.
Flicker. 8:30 p.m.
> AthFest Sampler with Ralph
Roddebery, Nate Nelson, The
Campbell Sisters, and Bob Hay & the
Jolly Beggars.
Loco’s Courtyard (Harris St.). 8 p.m.
Free.
>- Texas Hold Em
DT’s Down Under.
TUESDAY
>- Beck
Georgia Theatre. 9 p.m. SOLD OUT
► The Whigs w/The Sammies and Dr.
Dog
Tasty World (downstairs).
>- Christopher Henderson
90.5 WUOG Live In The Lobby (Memorial
Hall). 8 p.m.
>- Open Mic Night
DT’s Down Under.
WEDNESDAY
>- Beck
Georgia Theatre. 9 p.m. SOLD OUT
>-1 See Hawks In LA and Tony
Gilkyson
Flicker. 8:30 p.m.
>- Milligan Acoustic
Wild Wing Cafe. 9 p.m.
>- The Waterstone Band, Totality,
Gravel Undertone
Tasty World (downstairs).
MOVIES
(All times for 6/9-6/15)
► GTC BEECHWOOD 11 (www.geor-
giatheatrecompany.com or 546-1011)
($7.50/adults, $5.50/matinee before 6
p.m.)
Break-Up, The (PG-13) 1:45,4:30,
7:25, 9:50
Cars (G) 12:00, 1:30,2:45,4:15,5:30,
7:00, 8:15, 9:45
Da Vinci Code, The (PG-13) 12:00,
3:15,6:30,9:40
Omen, The (R) 2:00, 4:40, 7:20, 9:55
Over the Hedge (PG) 12:15,2:30,
5:00, 7:30, 9:30
Poseidon (PG-13) 12:35,2:55,5:15,
7:35, 9:55
Prairie Home Companion (PG-13)
2:10, 4:35, 7:15,10:00
RV (PG) 12:25,2:45,5:05,7:25,9:50
X-Men: The Last Stand (PG-13)
12:30,1:30, 3:00, 4:15, 5:45,7:10, 8:30,
9:45
► CARMIKE 12 CINEMAS (354-0016)
($7.50/adults, $5.50/matinee before 6
p.m.)
Break-Up, The (PG-13) 12:00, 2:30,
5:00,7:30,10:00
Cars (G) 12:00,12:30, 2:20, 2:50, 4:40,
5:10,7:00, 7:30,9:30,9:50 (12:00 a.m.
on 6/9 and 6/10)
Da Vinci Code, The (PG-13) 1:00,
1:45,4:15,5:00, 7:30,9:00 (10:30 on 6/9
and 6/10)
Mission: Impossible III (PG-13) 1:00,
4:00, 7:00, 9:40
Omen, The (R) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:40,
(12:00am on 6/8, 6/9 and 6/10)
Over the Hedge (PG) 12:30,1:15,
2:30,3:15, 4:30, 5:15,7:00, 7:30,9:00,
9:30
RV (PG) 12:45,3:00,5:15,7:30,9:50
X-Men: The Last Stand (PG-13)
12:00,1:15,2:30, 4:00,5:00, 7:00,7:30,
9:30, 10:00, (11:50 on 6/9 and 6/10)
>- GEORGIA SQUARE 5 CINEMAS
(548-3426)
Benchwarmers, The (PG-13) 1:05,
3:10,5:15, 7:20,9:25
Failure to Launch (PG-13) 1:00,3:15,
5:30,7:45,10:00
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (PG) 12:45,
2:15,3:00, 4:30, 5:15,6:45, 7:30,9:00,
9:45
Shaggy Dog, The (PG) 1:15,4:15
Silent Hill (R) 7:00, 9:40
>- DRIVE IN: HIGHWAY 17 THEATRES
(213-7693)
(times for 6/9 through 6/15)
Open at 8 p.m., shows start at dark
around 8:45 p.m.
Screen 1: Over the Hedge
Screen 2: X-Men
Screen 3: Poseidon Adventure
IN ATLANTA
>- The Loft (www.theloftatl.com)
Thursday: Wolfmother. Doors at 8 p.m.
$13 adv./$15 day of.
Saturday: Jaguar Wright.
>- Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Wednesday: Clint Black. 8 p.m.
$25 adv./$27.50 day of.
>- The Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre
Wednesday: Hurra Torpedo. 8 p.m. $15
>- The Masquerade (www.masq.com)
*Door times listed
Thursday: (Hell) Felix Culpa, The Holy
Fire. 7 p.m. $8 adv.
Friday: (Heaven) PIG, Mindless Faith,
Digital Mindy. 8 p.m. $16 adv.
Friday: (Hell) Waving At Strangers, Can’t
Face The Falling. 7 p.m. $6 adv.
Saturday: (Heaven) The Stedmans,
Skakedown, The Blanks. 7 p.m. $6 adv.
Saturday: (Hell) Never Tomorrow,
Sacred Scars. 7 p.m. $6 adv.
Monday: (Hell) The Panic Division,
Strike.Fire.Fall. 7 p.m. $8 adv.
Tuesday: (Hell) Theo and The
Skyscrapers. 7 p.m. $8 adv.
Wednesday: (Heaven) Built To Last,
Glass Bottom Boat. 7 p.m. $6 adv.
>- The Tabernacle
Saturday: Arctic Monkeys. 9 p.m.
$22.50.
All listings subject to
change.
Got a listing you’d like to
see in the paper? Send full
info to PT Umphress at
pumphress @randb.com.
H|m
S lX J S Fall Preleasing
1 1 u u ends July 1st
>1© OFF
_J®lres July 1st
Less Than 1 Mile From Campus
SaOfl afiaao ooq.
3[p©(33qQ tpsKfoag
• For Leasing Information, contact Leasing
Office 706-549-1700
• For Sales Information,
contact Justin Woodall
706-202-7135
www.thelodgeofathens.com
k,' V
■ n-rs
.& ip
JL|
Ir 1 *
Features
Sated Community w/
courtesy personnel
2 Bedroom/2 Bath Units
100% Private Baths
INCREDIBLE Amenities
Sand Volleyball Courts
Oversized Pool with
Cascading Fountain
High Speed Computer Lab
State of the Art Fitness
Center
Full Court Basketball
Fully Furnished w/32" TV
Free Cable
Free Trash Control
Pets Welcome w/Conditions