Skyrim Journal 2nd Entry: "My... What big teeth you have!"

I've started a journal chronicling my escapades and shenanigans in the world of Skyrim. Last week my not so brave woodsman Rognar barely escape a vicious dragon with his life, to find solace and comfort in the little village of Riverwood before being attacked by vampires. You can catch up by reading more here.

"My... What big teeth you have!"

The first steps are always the hardest...

I made my way through the wilderness on foot, following well beaten paths and cobblestone roads that stretched between the great cities. Glancing at my map, I could see that Fort Dawnguard was a long journey into the East, across mountains and through swamps. Peering over the map down to my well warn boots, I could see that perhaps buying a horse would be the first thing I should do. This might also help me with the little problem I am having with the local wildlife that seems to enjoy attacking me...

North it was then, towards Whiterun Stables. It wasn't too long of a trek, with the sun bearing down on me, I followed a stream that led me around a mountainside until I could make out a great valley. Ahead of me nestled between mountains, was a hill on top of which rested Whiterun, a large walled city surrounded by an assortment of farms. What drew my attention however, as I made my way towards the city, was the fight taking place in one of the farmsteads.

"Fore!"

"Is... Is that a giant?!" I proclaimed perhaps a little too loudly.

The giant stopped its attack and turned towards me, its grim expression turning to anger. This thing was as tall as a pine! A solitary guard decided to attack the beast, perhaps in a vain attempt to defend my life. Stepping over the freshly pummeled body of the guard's friend, it swung its club in long slow arc and struck the guard, sending him careening past me into the forest behind us. Then it lowered its gaze upon me. I brandished my little woodcutter axe, gripping the hilt tightly. Perhaps out of fear more than anything else. It was about to charge when I heard a scream from behind it, followed by the distinct sound of arrows whizzing through the air. The beast screamed in pain as arrows struck its back. There were others! It turned towards them, swinging its club. HAHA! A distraction!

With adrenaline still coursing through my veins, I charged towards the giant, waving my axe impotently in the air. Letting out a whimpering battle cry, I struck at the beast's back and then kept swinging. My eyes closed shut waiting for the inevitable thump of a club that would send me flying off into the atmosphere. Yet, I heard the beast grumble and moan. Opening my eyes, I saw it collapse in a heap in front of me. VICTORY! I have slain the giant! Call me Rognar giant's bane! I AM MIGHTIEST OF AL-

The limp body of the giant collapsed, revealing a forest of arrows sticking out of its chest. Glancing up from the slain giant, I could see a small group of warriors lowering their bows and approach me. Slightly deflated, yet still convinced that I had at least landed the killing blow I greeted my saviors compatriots, returning my little woodcutter axe to my side. I discovered them to be warriors of the Companions, a sacred order of fighters who took on jobs, righting wrongs, killing troublesome beasts and collecting a good profit along the way. As luck would have it, my display of bravery in taking on the giant seemed the sway the opinion of at least one of them, offering me a spot in the companions if I so wished.

Knowing that my true goal was to join the Dawnguard for revenge, I bid them farewell and good tidings. I had no time for heroics, dragons or such other nonsense. My drive for adventure was purely that of vengeance for the slaying of my people in Riverwood. Coughing slightly, I made my way towards the stables. Once again someone commented on me looking rather pale or ill. Huh... Strange. Maybe I had lost all color from my face when I saw the giant for the first time? Regardless, I headed to the stable owner. Time to buy my steed!

"Looking for a horse?"

"How much?!!" I squealed. 1000 gold pieces. ONE THOUSAND. This wasn't happening...

I stepped into the shade from the bright sun, trying to rack my brain. I had only 230 in my pocket. Cutting wood wasn't really a high paying job. It was more of a community support thing. Damn... How could I make that sort of... cash. Then it dawned upon me. The companions! I could join them, rough up some people and get paid! Hell, I might as well learn some fighting skills while I'm at it as well, all the better when I join the Dawnguard. I turned back to the stable owner and leaned in real close.

"I'll be back." I muttered and walked off into Whiterun. Okay, that may have come off a bit more sinister than I had hoped. Hopefully the cost of the horse won't be doubled by the time I get back.  

Whiterun was a large sprawling city. Well, as sprawling as one could be, being walled in and on top of a hill. I made my way to Jorvaskr, the hall of the companions and pledged myself to their aid. After a brief fist fight where I pummeled one of the companions into submissions (A lot of tavern fights in Riverwood.) I fixed a sword and returned a shield before being tasked with my first quest! A bear was harassing a local farm, I was to go and kill it, bringing peace and prosperity back to their farmstead.

The Companions. Making heroism sexy. Also killing lots of bears. 

I decided to rest after my long day. I took lodging at the nearby Horse and Mare tavern, and laid my head down on the pillow. Drifting off, I was suddenly accosted by red flashes and a strange thirst in the evening... Wait... WAIT...

My mind started to race. I had been feeling this way for a few days now. Feeling rather ill, looking pale, yet by night time the feeling had usually faded. Especially today when the sun... was so bright? Oh dear god...

I shot up out of bed, a cold sweat forming on my brow. The vampire attack. I had been struck by one of them, but didn't pay any mind... By the gods, I was turning into a vampire! The very thing I had sworn to destroy! What foul joke had the gods played on me?! 

I tried to steady my nerves, touching the tips of my teeth with my tongue to see if they were sharp. Nothing yet. Or was there? Oh man... Okay... I could figure this out. These companions seemed like open folk. I'm sure I could stay among them as my affliction progressed. But the Dawnguard would never allow me to enter... Not anymore. I had to find a cure. A way to rid myself of this... Evil. For my Vengeance!

The following day, I took off early before anyone woke up. I would handle this quest quickly, get my money and continue in hopes of finding my cure. I made my way to the farmstead where the bear had decided to barricade itself inside the house. Ignoring what the farmers said, I kicked down the door and waylaid the bear, striking at the animal with my new companion sword. It was short work, and a small payment. I knew then that I would have to make due with my predicament until I had accrued enough money to buy my steed.This would be my life for the next few weeks... Well it was, until I turned into a werewolf.

Skyrim Journal 1st Entry: The Story Thus Far...

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, released in 2011, is a game almost unlike any other. Developed by Bethesda Game Studios, it is an action RPG continuation of their popular Elder Scroll series. Lauded for its dense, living and breathing environment, one truly feels that they have entered a real fantasy world. People mill about, doing their business, animals roam the wilderness, sometimes hunting, sometimes attacking a poor soul too naive to realize that a cave bear does not want to be petted (thats Far Cry: Primal). 

So... I've decided to do something a bit different. For a while at least, I'm going to journal my adventures in the game. I'll try and be as narratively concise as I can, but also I am going to be as accurate in documenting my gameplay as I can. You could consider it as a journal written by the character if you prefer. Anyway, this first entry will bring you up to speed with what I have done so far, and I'll probably skim a lot. So this will be spoiler heavy, but also skip a lot of plot elements etc. So if you want to live your own Skyrim adventure, you won't be totally spoiled by what I'm writing here. 

Why am I doing this? Well, mainly a writing exercise for myself. Keeping a journal for 31 days or longer. So I thought to myself, why not about my adventures in a game? It makes for far more interesting events, considering that I'll be evading warlocks and getting my ass handed to me by giants. Compared to say, getting a cup of coffee and finding out that it is cold and lamenting over the weather. So... Here we go!

The Story Thus Far...

My name is Rognar and I'm a slave... As far as I can tell, I am a Nord from these lands of Skyrim, which resides in the norther wastes of Tamriel the great continent. It also seems like I have no memory of my prior life. I found myself being taken on a horse drawn cart to a small outpost called Helgen and I was not alone. Alongside me were fellow northmen, one with a bound mouth, a couple of warriors and weak little man who could not stop talking. Maybe I was being carted off into a Gulag or some sort of work camp for what I had done? What did I do?

"Oh..." I declared when I saw the first head get lopped off by an executioner after we were offloaded into the courtyard. 

To my great surprise, this was not a prisoner transfer after all, but a god damned execution and my turn was next. I tried my best to discover an exit strategy, but my hands were tied and the earlier warrior died with such grace that I could not dare die a coward. Hmm... Coward, maybe I was one before I got my amnesia? Was I a deserter? I'm pretty buff for a normal person, and one doesn't really get this big working at a farm. Yes, my final thoughts as I laid my head down on the block were of my huge biceps. Well, this is a short lived game I thought as the executioner raised his axe.

Then came a strange roar. Everyone stopped and looked to the skies...

"Oh..." I muttered a second time as a dragon descended and literally lit the place up. During the fiery commotion, I managed to escape with the help of my fellow prisoners. We quickly made our way down through a cave as the outpost was destroyed above us. All I could hear were the roars of the dragon, the screams of soldiers and the crushing pounding of rubble hitting the ground. Finally, reaching sunlight we parted ways. Friendships are short, like our lives it seems, in Skyrim. 

Then, standing there, alone, in the wilderness of Skyrim, fear gripped me again. What the hell am I going to do now? One of the northmen spoke of a village he was heading to. But he was rather adamant that we split up. Screw it, I'll just follow him to his village and find myself a new life there. One of peace and quiet. Where no one or dragon will ever want to hurt me again. 

I was greeted by a small village next to a river called Riverwood. It was beautiful. A mill was quietly spinning as the river rushed underneath. A man was tending the mill, sawing some wood. I was greeted by a lovely old lady, walking about her day. There was a big gray dog happily chasing chickens, quickly followed by a child. Yes... This will make a swell home...

I spent my days chopping wood, working the mill and collecting plants. I frolicked naked around the river, went for a swim and got drunk in the tavern. I even managed to help sort out the local love triangle. Life was good. But, it seemed fate had other plans. And so did the people of Riverwood. Conversations kept on evolving into tasks people wished me to perform. I had to find a claw ornament that was stolen from the store clerk, I was asked to report of what I saw to the Jarl of the land, I kept on getting mail from people I didn't know to meet them at far of locations... The call to adventure was screaming in my ear and all I wanted to do is chop wood man! This place is awesome! I had my taste of combat when I slaughtered everyone to get the clerks ornament back. I saw far off places when I told the Jarl about the dragon attack, who promptly told me that another one was spotted and asked me to join in the fight. Yeah right! I'm just a woodcutter, man... I've had my fill of blood. Yet, this all changed when the vampires attacked.

I was making my way back to my friend's home (they had basically adopted me) back at Riverwood after a rowdy night of drinking and singing in the tavern when they attacked. It was dark outside, so I couldn't really see what was happening. All I heard was screaming, the clash of weapons and the cries of battle. I hid behind the bushes as they continued their slaughter of guards, when suddenly they attacked the nice old lady who lived down the road.

"No!" I screamed as I pulled out my woodcutter axe and charged headfirst into the fray. 

Whacking and hacking away until the last of them were dead. Almost including myself. I managed to heal myself enough and drag my bloodied body to bed and rest until I was healed. The following morning I walked outside, expecting a funeral for the old lady and the guards we lost, but it was not to be. The world of Skyrim is harsh and so life would be too to the point of disregarding human decency. Across the streets the bodies of the fallen lay where they fell. Including the lovely old lady. Right there, outside her home in an unnatural position. I did what I thought was right and dragged her body back inside. 

Stepping out, everyone else just went about their lives as if nothing had happened. Stepping over the other dead, I heard one of the guards mention the formation of what was called the Dawnguard. Vampire hunters. Yes! I thought to myself. Here was a chance for me to seek revenge on the ones who killed the lovely old lady. Here was a chance for retribution! I pressed further about the Dawnguard and was given the location of their fort. 

Fate had found its way as my days as a lowly woodcutter had come to an end. In the name of the old lady I would lay down my axe and replace it with a sword, to become one of the Dawnguard. Laying my vengeance upon all vampires, ending their scourge in Skyrim once and for all. This wasn't about adventure anymore... This was revenge!

Then as I took my first steps towards the fort, one of my fellow villagers stopped and looked at me funnily.

"You look a bit ill, are you ok?" she asked. 

Truth be told, I had felt a bit weak after the attack, but I was sure it was nothing to be worried about.

The best damn chocolate in the galaxy! (Spoiler Heavy)

(A REVIEW)

Coming out of the movie theatre, my mind was still whirling with what I had just seen. I had decided to go and watch it with a bunch of mates and once it was done, we were all hyped up like little children on Christmas eve. Star Wars is back baby, but this time it's personal! Thus, as little children would do, we quickly raided the nearby pub for our post film debrief. 

The air was thick with the smell of alcohol, strange foreign music was playing through the incomprehensible chatter of the inabriated patrons. Weaving through the crowd gingerly, I found our little nook at the end of the pub, keeping my cherised beer safe from steely eyed drunks. 

I realized that the film was so enjoyable, i was suddenly living it. Sitting down, we discussed for the next four hours about Star Wars and it was awesome. Star Wars is back baby.

So, before I begin, SPOILER ALERT! DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE! Watch it, then come back here and read on. Trust me, you won't be dissapointed. 

THE PLOT

Going into the movie, I had a few suspicions on what it was going to be about, and unfortunately had a few big things be spoiled for me by shameless media idiots. Yet, the plot was completely unknown to me. So it came as a pleasent surprise. It wasn't wild or different, it actually followed a by the books Hero's Journey so much that the writer in me cringed just a little tiny bit. Good guys trying to find Luke, but so are the bad guys, unrelated teen hero gets thrown in the mix, has a call to adventure, declines, something bad happens, rises to the occasion, bad thing happens, licks his/her wounds rises again, mentor dies, finds his/inner inner strength and is victorious. With the usual tropes added of course. So basically the plot to A New Hope. Or Eragon, or Tron, or Harry Potter, or Hunger Games, or any other movie. Sure, J.J Abrams played it safe. But that is a good thing. Round one you conserve your energy, learn your opponents moves, reactions, weaknesses, a few jabs here and there, then near the end of the first bell, try for a knockout, so that it'll keep your opponent guessing.

I guess movie making is like cooking and boxing! 

(I can see a reality show in there somewhere)

You will see alot of familiar things, a lot of nostalgia and links to previous movies. But you are also propelled forward to a new strife. A new galaxy. A new Hope? Damn... I'm getting all deep here. 

THE CAST

Holy crap people, they really cast this movie well. Everyone was perfect for their roles. Rey is a great female protagonist, who takes no shit from anybody. With a mysterious past, she is still trying to look for answers and her place in the galaxy. Finn is a great lead as well. A boy who was given all the answers and discovers that they were all lies and now is lost again, finding solace in an equally lost individual. Poe HAS found his place in the galaxy and excels at it. He is cool, funny, suave and enigmatic. Han, Chewie, Leia all know what their place should be in the galaxy and are doing their best to live up to it, and once again show that they still have what it takes. Performance or otherwise. Hux is a Nazi, Phasma is also, played exceptionally well. (although Phasma should have been let out to breathe more, she was seriously under used) then comes Kylo... Whoo boy....

Kylo Ren. Perfectly played by Adam Driver, is the entitled little shit that he has to be. An emotionally wrecked person, who has almost no idea who or what he should be. He is the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia! The grandson of Darth Vader! Holy shit, how can one live up to that? So it seems like he has gone the route of the school shooter. Not in the manner that he was teased or something. Actually, we don't know. He was part of Lukes jedi training afterall. Maybe the girl he asked out to the prom rejected him to go out with a flyboy, or maybe some other jedi's gave him force wedgies because he was Luke's nephew. So you have this really sympathetic villain with anger issues that you can totally recognize. You kinda even hope that he will see the error of his ways. But then... Then he meets his dad. And that moment got me. It was heart breaking, sad, beautiful, and fueled the rest of the movie. Shit just got real. 

A word on dialogue. It was great! Snappy, funny, to the point and actually seemed real! It wasn't wooden or stunted at all. 

But most importantly, chemistry. MY GOD the chemistry. EVERYONE worked great with each other. You could see the sheer joy everyone had. Even Harrison Ford seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself. The banter was excelent. Especially between Rey and Finn. But also between Poe and Finn. It just seemed so real and solid. These people were giving it everything they got. Even the stormtroopers had some great chemistry. They weren't robots, they reacted to everything and each other. Not to mention having some great moments themselves. 

Finally, BB8. Sorry R2, your time is up. As my friend said, he is now the new Wall-E. This little spheroid bastard will be the very reason so many parents are going to be bankrupt this year. He is cute, funny, emotional and collectible! 

THE TECHNICAL BITS

This is one hell of a visual movie! You have wide expanses, beautiful vistas and insane ammounts of detail. Everything looks real, worn and lived in. What makes this movie a bit different from the prequels is its reliance to real world sets and effects. Sure there is CGI, but it looks real! There are space battles, but they are amazing not because the're is so much of it, but because there is the right ammount of it. Even when the Starkiller does it's thing, it is just shown for a bit. Not glorified.

J.J. Abrams did his homework and pulled out all the stops. He controlled his lens flares and really let the scenes take center stage. 

The sound design was great too, everything sounded heavy and well oiled. Things sounded like the worked. And finally the score. It was great, yet not exceptional. Everyone has their own theme and there is some great music. But we've all heard the same things so often it really didn't seem like that much was added. To be brutally honest, William's best and most audacious Star Wars album still has to be Revenge of the Sith. That has some powerful stuff in it. 

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY? SPEAK YOU FOOL!

This movie is amazing. It's incredible. It's frikking Star Wars, man! But of course it is! I wasn't expecting this to be life changing. I was expecting it to be the best damn entertainment movie of the year, and oooh boy it is. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll kiss your fifteen bucks good bye. Then you'll do it all over again. I know I will. 

Waiting for Star Wars by Samuel Beckett

I'm pretty sure most of the people who are reading this blog (my friends by chance) are looking forward to the new Star Wars film. I know I am! I mean look at the damn trailer!

"You want this... Don't you?"

However, alongside everyone's genuine excitement hides a lingering fear. Will this be the Star Wars I am looking for? For some of us it will, perhaps even most of us. I am optimistic. But there will always be the people who will go and see the film and declare it shit. That will be a totally fair opinnion to have. (and I am only talking about the people who have actually seen the film, not the ones who declare movies crap even before they watch it.) So short answer, probably not. 

Star Wars has grown into something more than a movie franchise. It has become a culturally significant piece of mythology/awesomess. Weapons Platforms have been named after it, entire industries have been created out of it. It is important to humanity. Thus making it a topic so many people have such heated conversations about. Is it art? Is it entertainment? Did Han shoot first? WILL THE NEW STAR WARS MOVIE BE ANY GOOD? 

Which kinda leads me to my main point of this little blog entry. Art VS. Entertainment. I'll let good ol Alejandro Jodorowsky give his point of view. (while pitching for more money, but his point is sound)

He has a point. For those of you who couldn't watch it, he is basically saying that world cinema is currently oversaturated by Hollywood cinema. Empty cinema. Escapism. And he is right. No studio, theater chain want ot risk funding or showing films that cannot guarantee box office numbers. And this is very bad in the long run. Because this is making our brains fat... Okay let me explain.

ENTERTAINMENT FILMS ARE DESERT. Sugar loaded powerfluff that help you escape the world for at least a little while, but inevitably leave you feeling just as you were going in. This is all well and good. Much like having a good slice of cake after a hearty meal or that sinful piece of chocolate you have stashed away in your pocket just in case you REALLY REALLY need it (You know who you are). 

ART FILMS ARE YOUR VEGGIES. They might not taste as good as a chocolate cake to some people, but invetibly they are good for you and help you become a stronger person. And like any true food analogy, there are people who ONLY eat veggies. Or only watch ART films. You know who you are as well. And thats fine. 

Thus I think what is happening currently with audiences is this. We are consuming too much chocolate. Yes, there is the occasional "art" film that breaks out such as Tree of Life (Great film, I don't like it, but its a great film.), but to each Tree of Life, you have 20 superhero films and Hunger Game films. We as an audiene are mentally obese in the cinematic scene. We only want the sugar. We only want to see entertainment. Yet...

Will Star Wars be any good? 

Wait what?! I hear you ask. We are not giving the time and money for films that could actually enrich us, yet our expectations for Star Wars is high, because we as an audience deserve better that the prequels. Uhm... NO WE DONT. Thats like ignoring your salad, skipping to your chocolate cake and then complain to the chef that it's making your teeth fall out.

Sometimes I think we should just remeber what entertainment films are suppose to be. PURE fun and enjoyment. They aren't the films one should start digging deeper truths or meaning out of. There is a WHOLE other genre of films, OTHER TYPE of films that are made just for that. Watch a Terrence Malick film, and start the process of thinking about what life actually means. Watch a Jodorowksy film and try and decipher what the hell is going on. Those are the films you should put effort into pouring over and consider over a glass of wine. Because they expect you to.  

Discussing the cinematic/story merrits of Star Wars is like discussing the artistic merrits of a Mcdonald's advertisement. So yeah, Star Wars isn't art. It isn't your veggies andI at least wont grow spiritually or mentally from its viewing. Simply put, it is perhaps the best damn chocolate cake in the galaxy! And I will eat the whole thing and ask for seconds, without any regrets. Because, Star Wars man. 

So lets start watching more diverse films. Lets actually put more money into art films. Be risky, go to a film festival. In many respects, those movies are cheaper to go to as well! You can't lose! Cheaper seats and a movie that might make you learn something or change you. What's so wrong with that? Diversity is a wonderful thing. Especially in entertainment. So give it a go? Make it part of your New Years resolution. Watch an art film, or a cultural film. See how you like it. Like your mama used to say, "Ya don't know if ya don't try it- Oh look an airplane!" *Shove fork into mouth.*

But I expect all of you to still go and watch Star Wars. I might be asking you to eat your veggies, but don't give up on the cake...

...Now I want cake. 

P.S. if some of you are thinking I don't like those "art" movies, cause those directors cant make awesome space shit, Jodorowsky is indirectly responsible for almost all the best scifi in Hollywood cinema. And we are not giving him any money...

TL;DR, watch more art films, because your brain is fat and needs a workout.

10 great songs written for games

Game music... Arguably some of the most endearing and annoying music to ever grace our ears. You have everything from 8 bit tunes rocking simple beats to massive orchestral scores that sweep you away into their games. Some of these themes have fallen already into legend, however these usually have all remained as melodies/ themes or tunes. Not actual songs!

In fact, it is very rare that games would even go to the lengths of making a song. Now, I know MANY games incorporate licensed songs, but very rarely do they compose their own. I actually don't know why this is, cause usually when they do, they end up being rather good! Thats why I made this list. These are all songs from games throughout the past 20 years of gaming (holy crap has it been that long?) that have had various levels of success and that I happen to quite like.


GIRL IN THE TOWER - MARK SEIBERT
(King's Quest VI - Sierra Entertainment 1992)

Back in the early 90's, adventure games were having a golden age. Sierra and Lucasarts were powerhouses, pumping out classics such as Monkey Island, Space Quest, King's Quest, Day of the Tentacle, The Dig... I could go on. And I've played them all. So as money started pouring in and CD-ROM was starting to overtake floppy disks as the desired medium for gaming, something amazing happened. VOICE acting! Yes kids, there was a time in gaming where everything was text based without a voice cast. You were lucky if you even had voice in the intro. Thus when CD's overtook floppy, there was more room to add voice dialogue. And this was huge in gaming. Basically the equivelant of hearing sound or voices in movies for the first time.

Thus along these lines some of the first songs for games started to come out, this one in particular, sticking in my mind as a WOW moment. As they added it to a voiceless floppy version of the game. Sure, the song is sappy and a love ballad that would make even the most die hard Meatloaf lover cringe. But when you first heard it in a game that was devoid of any actual voice... One could almost call it a biblical experience.

SKELETONS IN MY CLOSET - GEORGE SANGER
(The 7th Guest - Virgin Interactive 1993)

This was the game that made me really want a CD-ROM drive for my PC. It had actual actors, let alone voices! It was a strange puzzle game, filled with a creepy soundtrack and an even creepier story. A nice suprise and change of tone was at the end credits when this song started. A cool jazzy tune that tells about the game's story. Quite good production value if you ask me, and still a rarity at the time.

GONE JACKALS - LEGACY
(Full Throttle - Lucasarts 1995)

One of the rare, perfect adventure games! It had a high production value, with amazing animation and a superb voice cast! It even has Mark Hamill pulling off a proto-Joker voice as the main villain of the game. The tune itself hasn't aged very well, but when first heard, it's rock and roll roots really gave it a good groove, and it started off the game with a bang!

DUKE NUKEM THEME - MEGADETH
(Risk - Megadeth 1999)

Okay this one is a bit of an oddboy in the list. Firstly, I could not find a proper version of it on youtube, so just check it out on Spotify if you got it. Second, this is basically a cover version of the original theme of the game's main tune. Sure, it's an instrumental, theres no lyrics apart from Mustane's grunts and "yeah!"s. But still, its bloody Megadeth doing a cover of a game tune!

HOMEWORLD - YES
(Homeworld - Sierra Entertainment 1999)

What a massive hit of a game! A space RTS with a story line akin to Battlestar Galactica! It was huge! A success, but not even this powerhouse could save the waning sales of Sierra Entertainment, who closed doors after its release. In any case, it was sweeping, grand and emotional. Much like the song that began to play at the end of it by Yes! Yes, YES!! Progressive and cool, the song just takes you away on a journey through space and time as your heart aches to go back home. A powerful experience.

FOREVER - JEFF VAN DYCK
(Rome: Total War - Creative Assembly 2004)

Another great song from another great game! The Total War series has always been close to my heart! The concept of waging massive battles whilst controlling your nation always pulls at the dictator hiding in me. When this game came out, they decided to go for a more cinematic feel, with a massive sweeping soundtrack, general speeches and a song that truly feels like it belongs in a Ridley Scott movie. It is stirring, the vocals are haunting and it truly evokes the feeling of a woman lamenting her husband going off to war.

SNAKE EATER - CYNTHIA HARREL
(Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - Konami 2004)

The Metal Gear series of games have become synonymous with high production values, story, insanity and great gameplay. So everyone was really waiting for Metal Gear Solid 3 to come out. And boy were we not disappointed! A good fifteen minutes into the game, it suddenly stops. You see your main character fall off a bridge, shot, the bad guys escape and a nuke goes off. THEN the intro credits begin with this song. Talk about a Bond beginning! Hell, this song is better than MANY an actual Bond song... Well... As long as you ignore the lyrics about eating tree frogs that is.

STILL ALIVE - ELLEN MCLAIN
(Portal - Valve 2007)

A perfect puzzle game! What started off as a demo soon evolved into a great little game that was given along with the Orange Box. A collection of Valve games that was hugely popular. But word soon got out that the ONLY reason one should get the OB was to play Portal. No matter how short it was. It was funny, creepy and really wracked your brain! But the cherry on top of the cake (see what I did there?) was this song. IT WAS A MASSIVE online hit! Cute, sweet and sung by the main villain. If anything made a psychopathic AI endearing, it is a song about looking at the postive side of life even though you were just destroyed by your arch nemesis.

FAR AWAY - JOSE GONZALES

(Red Dead Redemption - Rockstar Entertainment 2010)

Outlaws, the Old West. Scum, Villainy, a fist full of dollars and cougar hides. This is STILL my favourite Rockstar game. Perhaps one of the best western stories ever told. It is a love story and homage to what made all those Spaghetti Westerns so great. And this tune evokes all those emotions. It is haunting and sad, harkening the end of the wild west. If there is one song you SHOULD listen to on this list, it is this song.

GET JINXED - AGNETE KJOLSRUD

(League of Legends - Riot Games 2013)

I am not a League of Legends player. I get the game, but it's not for me. But holy shit does this music video really make me want to play it! It's awesome, brash, and punkish. An ode to Tank Girl. When you want to do game marketing well, this is the way you do it!

*BONUS* 

WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN? - TROY BAKER & COURTNEE DRAPER

(Bioshock: Infinite - 2k Games 2013)

Just as an added bonus, I had to mention this song, because it plays a rather big part in the game since it counters the grimness and accentuates the sadness of the game itself. It is an amazing cover of an upbeat country song, turned into a sad hymn that will linger with you for a very long time, it won the award for best song in a game in 2013 and was performed by the two key voice actors. 

Thats it. My list for some great songs that have come out of games. Hope you enjoy it! See you all in the slipstream.

Shit, you're still writing?!

So you think to yourself, what the hell is he on about in that pretentious title of his? Well, let me enlighten you, my precious readers. This is the first post of a new blog of mine. "Writer of the Pre-Apocalypse," I hear you saying to yourself, then scoffing at the the screen. "Pretentious twit.". Yep, thats me!

The point is, I want to keep writing and a blog seems to be the best place for me to do so without filling up books no one will ever read. So let this first post be a hello to all of you and... A WARNING!!

This blog will be ramdomly filled with my various thoughts and musings. Film reviews, game reviews, lists of different things I find interesting, stories, anecdotes... You know... Blogger shit.

So, welcome! Enjoy your stay and don't mind the gremlins. They're mischievous, but they mean well.