Chiptunes, rock & roll racket and nerd nostalgia fuel, interlaced with occasionally vitriolic - and sometimes even warranted - commentary on the world of gaming, past and present.
SoundStation Extended: “Audio, Video, Disco”
As a musical elitist in every sense of the term, I try and make it a point to expand my horizons and test my tastes with some of the newer, non-game related releases out there.
SoundStation Extended works as an extension of the blog, where I’ll be posting reviews, commentary, and other, mostly coherent ramblings.
This week, I have set the spotlight on the latest release by the long-silent duo Justice and their album, Audio, Video, Disco. Here’s a preview of the review:
Four years is a long time in the recording industry. In four years, The Who had gone from catchy R&B inspired singles to a dynamic and elaborate rock opera. In four years, Led Zeppelin had all but perfected their style of straight-on, blues-tinged hard rock on four albums – and Houses of the Holy. And in four years, the French house heroes of 2007 who brought us the critically lauded and incendiary masterwork “Cross” have broken their silence at long last, only to borrow shamelessly from the aforementioned artists and more in a wishy-washy collection of cuts dubbed “Audio, Video, Disco”.
Was the nearly half decade worth of waiting worth it? Find out here: http://www.last.fm/user/loli_lib/journal/2011/11/07/50smog_return_to_form_or_retro_rehash%3F_a_review_of_%E2%80%9Caudio%2C_video%2C_disco%E2%80%9D_by_justice
The Spirit Behind The Sprites: A Q&A
Anyone who’s experienced a game which has truly engaged them will likely tell you that, alongside gameplay and sound, the art style of a game also has potential to captivate the player. Thayora is a self-confessed fan of nerd culture and a long-time gamer from Toronto, Ontario, and she understands the importance of digital art in video games as well as – if not more than – the average gamer.
She is a young and enthusiastic digi-artist specializing in pixel and vector art, the former of which rings familiar with many gamers who have been lucky enough to experience the 8-bit era of the 1980s. This deceptively simple art style has appeared in countless titles since then, both classic and contemporary, and its charm shows little signs of reaching the realm of the obsolete.
I was fortunate enough to be able to sit down with Ms. Thayora, who goes by this online pseudonym in various art communities so as to protect her identity. She agreed to an interview via Skype on Thursday afternoon, and what follows are her opinions and experiences both as a pixel artist and a gamer.
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Jonas: As a fan of much of your artwork, I’ve always been particularly fond of your pixel art, which evokes feelings of nostalgia for most gamers who grew up with the NES and Super Nintendo. Tell me, how did you get into the art style?
Thayora: I’ve been on multiple pixel communities for about four years, and have seen a wide variety of styles from different pixel artists. The styles ranged from the different shading techniques, color usage and line art. I’ve experimented with these styles and eventually developed my own.
Jonas: Pixels are part of a digital art form, and not everyone may realize the amount of work that goes into creating these pieces. Could you give the readers a bit of an elaboration on what goes into your pixel art? How are these made?
Thayora: It depends on which technique is used. Either way I must stress that pixel art does take a lot of time to perfect. Generally, I start off with a “sketch” which determines the basic structure of the object. After that, I have to create the line art and make sure that the pixels are arranged at a proper order. Shading, depending on which technique is used, is a major factor in the process. I do anti-aliasing which involves using specific colors to perfectly blend the image.
Jonas: As I understand, you also work on vector art, another digital form which varies in style from pixels. Do you have a personal preference for either form? What is it that draws you to vector art?
Thayora: Vector art appeals to me because it can range from simplistic to complex. I use Flash as a very easy vectoring tool and it can deliver some amazing results. I have made simple vector art and complex ones, which involves gradients and more attention to detail. The great thing about vector art is the combination of colors and the lack of lines. I can honestly say it’s impossible for me to pick one over the other; both have their appeals.
Jonas: Pixel art is a medium which is rooted in video games, so it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t also ask which games, past or present, have drawn you in with their pixel artwork. Do any titles come to mind?
Thayora: Yes, video games really do impact me in regards to pixel art. I would have to say that the Mario series is a great influence for me. Among that series, I am absolutely fascinated by the pixel work in the Mario and Luigi RPG series; I adore AlphaDream’s amazing work with the latest Mario and Luigi game with its smooth animation.
Jonas: In the modern world of gaming, where scenery is dominated by every shade of brown in existence and character models blur the lines between fantasy and reality, games that still use such an art style stand out more than ever. Does pixel art have a place on next-generation consoles and in big-budget, triple A titles?
Thayora: I can not possibly see a generation of games without pixel art! Games with 2D graphics can have just as much charm as the top 3D games. No matter what, there will always be a game that will just “go back” to the old times of pixel art-only. There are going to be games that seem simple with its pixel art graphics yet they can deliver such an amazing gaming sensation.
Jonas: To close things off on a light note, I have to ask: what are you playing?
Thayora: I’m replaying Yume Nikki to show my friends how this game really captured me.
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Interview conducted on October 6th, 2011. Artwork used with permission and taken from http://tan00ki.tumblr.com/
Press Start: An Introduction
In the constantly evolving world of gaming, we’ve seen how just 40 years have worked to transform an entire industry of art and entertainment, and it shows no signs of letting up. From the years of the 2600 to the great video game revival with the NES, onward into the fiery console wars of the early 1990s, what began as an experiment became a phenomenon, and eventually, an entire culture of its own.
Today, with the latest technology at their fingertips, the boundaries developers encounter are determined only by their budget and their imagination. Compare this to the humble beginnings of Atari, and the advancements put into perspective become nothing short of breathtaking. While the world of gaming is still relatively young in comparison to, say, cinema, it nonetheless has formed an established library of widely accepted “classics”, hailed by critics and casuals alike.
And, not unlike film or literature, there are those who reject traditions of the past in favor of radical new directions and ideas, and those who strive to preserve the defined roots of the field, along with, in gaming’s case, its original intent.
And then there are those who are a little of both. Here’s where I come in. I go by a variety of names, depending on who you’re asking, but for the sake of this blog, call me Jonas. I had my first NES at age 5, and since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up alongside every console generation in gaming. I’ve watched as Mario and Sonic duked it out for 16-bit supremacy, then stood in bewilderment as they took their rivalry to the Olympics. I coiled in horror at the grueling difficulty of Ghost N’ Goblins on the NES, then felt a different fear entirely during my first encounter with the Ganados of Resident Evil 4.
Needless to say, my hobby has taken me on quite a journey, and I’d like to share part of that journey with you, via this blog. We’ll look at how the world of gaming has changed, and where it may be going in the near future. Expect commentary on new and upcoming releases, as well as a look back at gaming’s earlier years, all from someone who can say they’ve experienced much of the revolution first-hand.
Though what some consider to be the golden age of video games is long behind us, its lasting impact has become an integral part of pop culture, and will no doubt pave the way for countless entries to come. Press Start, press on, and preserve the dream.
