Been a While, Eh?

Hey, Birds!

Judging from the date of this post, it's painfully obvious that I haven't been keeping up with the Coop in quite some time. Alas, becoming a full time college student has revealed to me just how horrible I am at time management. And for that, I apologize.

I will say, however, that I still would like the Coop to become a fixture on the Internet. I don't know where or when this will happen, but I will continue to work hard and educate myself until it does. In the meantime, keep checking back every now and then. Perhaps I'll finally get this scheduling thing down and actually find time to contribute!

Thanks for your understanding, Birds!

Pigeon's Scrapbook Halloween SPOOKTACULAR: Shadowman

Birds, we're back! We had a bit of trouble down here in Pigeon Country, what with all the service outages and Hurricane Sandy breathing down our necks. But that's all done and over with, so I say we get back into the swing of things and get to posting!

October 31st is here, and that means Jack-o-Lanterns, candy corn, and all the little chickadees dressed up and on the hunt for sweets and treats. And speakin' of treats, BP's got a real doozy for y'all! It's time to dust off the old scrapbook, and take a look at another of my fondest gaming memories. In keeping with the spirit of Halloween, let's turn the clock back to 1999, and step into the spooky voodoo lore of....

Released: 1999

Developer: Acclaim Teeside Studios

Publisher: Acclaim

Systems: Playstation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Windows

Front Cover

Back Cover (covers via MobyGames.com )

 Usually, when one reminisces about long defunct Acclaim Games, they're reminded of mediocre licensed property cash-ins and strippers riding around topless on BMX bikes. But, every now and then, they would manage to squeeze out something worth your time. And Shadow Man is definitely high up on that list.

 Now before we get into the game proper, Pigeon's got a little history lesson for you. The Shadowman series actually got it's start in 1992, as the flagship title from fledgling comic book publisher Valiant Comics. The original series focused on a jazz musician out of New Orleans named Jack Boniface. Jack comes into possession of supernatural powers, and ends up butting heads with the various demonic denizens of the Underworld as the Shadowman. The comic series was actually quite popular, and was outselling the likes of The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Batman, and the Justice League of America in it's prime. Wanting to break into the comics business, Acclaim purchased Valiant for $65,000,000. Wasting no time, they got to work on rebooting the Shadowman franchise under the Acclaim Comics banner, with the ulterior motive to have it make the leap from comics to video games.

 In Acclaim's universe, the Shadow Man is known as Michael LeRoi. Ten years prior to the events of the game, he flunked out of his English Literature studies at a prominent university, and had gambled himself broke. To make ends meet, he took up work as a cab driver in Chicago, all the while keeping his failures a secret from his family back in New Orleans. One night, Mike's fare was gunned down in a drive-by shooting, leaving behind a briefcase with $20,000. Sensing opportunity, Mike runs home with the cash, and proceeds to lavish his family with gifts. Of course, anyone who's ever read or seen "No Country for Old Men" knows what becomes of those who decide to run off with dirty money. Fearing for his life, Mike tracks down a Bokor (voodoo priest) and begs him for protection, which the Bokor is all to happy to provide. When the gang tracked them down and opened fire, the protection proved successful.......for Mike. The rest of his family ended up dead. 

 The price Mike paid for his protection was a hefty one. Not only did he lose his entire family, but he was now an amnesiac, forced to serve the Bokor as Zero, his personal zombie assassin. However, Fate would intervene in the form of Mother Agnetta (Nettie, for short), an old and powerful voodoo priestess. Seeking retribution against the Bokor for attacks on her associates, she leads her gang into the Bokor's sanctum and gets to stomping. In the chaos, Nettie snatches away Mike, and implants the mystical Mask of Shadows into his chest. As a result, Michael LeRoi would become the Shadow Man, supernatural voodoo warrior, and the only line of defense against the malevolent forces from Deadside. On July 31st, 1999, Michael LeRoi was poised to make his gaming debut, and Shadow Man was released on the Nintendo 64 and Windows PC's. 

 This memorable intro would set the stage for 
Michael's adventure. Tasked with preventing the Apocalypse,
Mike would traverse the lands of the living and the dead in an
attempt to put the brakes on Legion's plans for humanity.

I think the best way that I can describe Shadow Man would be as a grim and grimy Legend of Zelda clone. Those types of games were quite common in the late 90's. Exploring vast worlds, collecting various weapons and trinkets, finding secret rooms and passageways, and so on. But it would be Shadow Man's spooky voodoo atmosphere that would help separate it from the rest. Each level exuded plenty of doom and gloom. From the desolate wastes of Deadside's furthest reaches, to the twisted architecture of Legion's Asylum, and the chaos and carnage running rampant at Gardelle County Penitentiary, each level offered up plenty of dark corridors and blood stained hallways to slake your thirst for the macabre. Complimenting the on screen chaos was the equally moody sounds of Tim Haywood's soundtrack. Tim created quite an eclectic mix for the OST, with pounding tribal beats working in tandem with off kilter piano chords and gruesome sound effects. He even saw fit to include a bit of Beethoven to sweeten the pot, as the intro above demonstrates.

I have no idea what's being maimed, but it sounds freaky

as all get out. 

Thankfully, the game plays as good as it looked and sounded for the time. Like the adventure games that came before it, Mike has plenty of weapons and tactics to employ against adversaries on both planes of existence. In the living world, Mike relies his arsenal of pistols and assault rifles to beat back the demonic horde. Once he crosses over to Deadside and becomes Shadow Man, he makes use of various voodoo artifacts and abilities to immolate and eviscerate the wicked, and navigate the more perilous paths found in the land of the dead. Various collection quests are also included to help boost Mike's powers and stats. One interesting bit about the game was that Mike was able to wield two of his weapons akimbo, which allowed for some crazy combinations of firepower.

 Another thing that stands out for me were the characters and creatures. On top of the now standard zombies and evil birds, Mike would also do battle with pig men, armed with meat hooks and rifles. He'd also lock horns with two headed abominations, magic wielding voodoo goddesses, and towering hulks of flesh and metal. But the most memorable adversaries were the five serial killers under Legion's employ. Most of these men were heavily inspired by the likes of Hannibal Lecter and the Son of Sam. Heck, they even saw fit to have Mike go toe to toe with a demonically reborn Jack the Ripper. Equally as memorable were Mike's partners in crime. Nettie would always offer up cryptic clues and voodoo wisdom in her Louisiana church,  while a drunken Irish skull snake...thing by the name of Jaunty would enlighten Shadow Man about the trials and tribulations to be found in Deadside.

He also wears a top hat. Classy bloke. 

 Shadow Man would share in the same success as his comic book, with the game becoming a sales success, and finding homes on the Playstation and Dreamcast. This success would earn Mike 'n pals a return trip on the Playstation 2, as Acclaim released Shadow Man 2econd Coming in 2002. But, that will be a story for another time. For now, why not find yourself a decent emulator, click a couple of links, and spend your Halloween evening in Deadside with Shadow Man. Or any other evening, for that matter. 

Ric Flair Fridays: Naitch in Tag Team Action.

Whether you like it, or you don't, learn to love it! Because it's the best thing going every Friday at the Coop. All the ability! All the looks! Sixteen times the World Champion! It's Ric Flair Fridays! WOOOOOOO!

Flap those wings, birds, because the weekend is here! And what would weekends at the Coop be without a little bit of limosene riding, jet flying, kiss stealing, wheeling and dealing? Why, it would be a weekend without Flair! 

This week, we've got a little nugget from Naitch's days in the former World Wrestling Federation. During 1992, Flair would become embroiled in a feud with "Macho Man" Randy Savage. And what a feud it was. From controversial title matches, to Flair's doctored photos of himself and Miss Elizabeth having an affair, tensions were reaching a critical boiling point. And at the Survivor Series in Richfield, Ohio, all that built up aggression was about to boil over.

Randy Savage had originally planned to tackle Flair and his partner, Razor Ramon, with the aid of the Ultimate Warrior. However, the Warrior had already departed the WWF for Parts Unknown, and Savage was seemingly left to fend for himself against the combined might of Flair, Ramon, Bobby Heenan, and Mr. Perfect. But Savage was no fool. It didn't take him long to find the perfect replacement for Warrior Man.

Enjoy the show! (thanks to SkiHippy for the video upload!)

Ric Flair Fridays: Ric Flair vs .....RIC FLAIR?

Whether you like it, or you don't, learn to love it! Because it's the best thing going every Friday at the Coop. All the ability! All the looks! Sixteen times the World Champion! It's Ric Flair Fridays! WOOOOOOO!

The weekend is here, birds! And when it's Friday in Pigeon Country, it's Flair. Let's see what ol' Ric's got for us this week.

 WHOA! Now wait just a minute. Who is this handsome, Nubian stranger? And why on God's green earth is he making a mockery out of  the Nature Boy? What in the hell is happening here, wrestling fans? Has the world gone mad? 

 Eh, not really. Actually, what we have here are a couple of promo segments from TNA Impact (circa 2010) between Naitch and current Ring of Honor competitor Jay Lethal. Many folks who watch TNA best remember Lethal for his gimmick as "Black Machismo", in which he dressed up as and impersonated "Macho Man" Randy Savage. During this time, Lethal had come into possession of Ric Flair's coveted Hall of Fame ring, and decided to pay homage to the Nature Boy the only way he knew how.

Needless to say, Flair was less than appreciative of the gesture. This lack of respect on the part of Lethal would end up putting him in the cross hairs of both Flair, and his new stable of wrestlers he called "Fortune". 

Many thanks goes out to the official TNA Wrestling Youtube page for the videos. Enjoy the wackiness, birds. And enjoy your weekend! 

Wallace's Quest

Hiya, birds!

Today I want to help out a good friend of mine, and spread the word about Wallace.

Ya see, Wallace here is in pretty bad shape. Now all us birds here in Pigeon Country don't know where the poor fella came from. But we do know that he was found roaming along our dusty back roads, and from the looks of it...he could really use some ol' fashioned T.L.C. right 'bout now.

And I think all you birds are just the ones to give it to him.

So while he's layin' up in the local vet's ICU, why not pay a visit to his official web site, and see what kind of help or support you can offer up? Wallace would be mighty grateful to you if you did. And so would we.

Thanks for your time, birds. I'll see y'all real soon!

Metacritic pls

 And here it is, birds. The game that the Internet loves to hate, at the moment. And believe me, there's plenty of game to be had here. It'll take a while to get through it, but rest assured that ol' Pigeon will give his side of the story. No snark. No cynicism. Just humble honesty. That's the Pigeon Promise.

Ric Flair Fridays: Affairs of the Heart

Whether you like it, or you don't, learn to love it! Because it's the best thing going every Friday at the Coop. All the ability! All the looks! Sixteen times the World Champion! It's Ric Flair Fridays! WOOOOOOO!

T.G.I.F. my avian amigos! The weekend is officially upon us, and that means our great friend Richard Fleihr is stopping by for another visit. And boy howdy, he's got a real heart stopper to share with us today. Literally.

In December of 1998, the feud between Naitch and WCW/NWO president Eric Bischoff was reaching a boiling point. Bischoff had taken to the ring to deliver yet another biting piece of commentary towards the Nature Boy, and you know damn well he was going to have none of that. Like a rocket, Naitch came charging out from behind the curtain and led Bischoff on a merry chase that would make any member of the Looney Tunes troupe beam with pride. Eventually, Ric's tenacity frightens away this self-proclaimed "trained killer" , and the crowd is now his to command. Ric wastes no time in addressing the frenzied mob of fans in a way that only he can.

 But then, suddenly, things take a turn for the worse.

 Was it real? Was it worked? Only you can decide.

(thanks to wcwwrestling49 for the clip)

Coop Conundrums

Hello, birds! Nothing special tonight, really. I'm just thinking out loud. Back patting, that sort of thing.

I'm actually enjoying blogging quite a bit. Granted, I'm nowhere near the level of quality of a lot of stuff that's out there, but at least I'm doing it. And who knows? Maybe with enough time and effort, I can really make something out of it.

Anyway, I'm still working on ideas for content, as well as ideas for a general layout 'theme'. Everyone loves reviews, and I'd certainly like to do more of them. However, I'm a bit concerned that I won't be concise or accurate enough to give a respectable opinion. Also, I'd certainly like to shine the spotlight on some of the more obscure games that many folks have never really heard about. Like the Kenji Eno thing, for example.

That's it, for now. Sorry for all the rambling. If you've been reading along so far, allow me to thank you for stopping by. If you have anything you'd like to suggest, any criticisms, ideas, or whatever, please don't hesitate to drop a line and let me know. Dialog between the blogger and his/her audience is always important!

Till next time, my feather friends!

B.P.

Coop Scoops: Dead or Alive 5

 

 

 

Released: 2012

Developer: Team Ninja

Publisher: Tecmo

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3

 

Coop Scoops are the silly term I'll be using for reviews of the latest and greatest (or not so greatest) vidja games that I get the chance to play. My intent is to keep them relatively brief, but informative. Hopefully, I'll succeed in this endeavor. But if not, feel free to let me know!

 

Ever since it's inception in 1996, Tecmo's Dead or Alive series has garnered equal amounts of fame and infamy. While many folks equate the name with bikini babes and ridiculous bouncing breasts, those that look beyond all the Xtreme Beach Volleyball nonsense remember it for it's beautiful interactive backdrops,  and it's simple fighting system that made it feel less like a game, and more like a Jet Li film. Now, seven years after it's appearance as an Xbox 360 launch title, and coming off a stint on the Nintendo 3DS, Tecmo's troupe of ninjas, assassins, and brawlers take to the arena once more in Dead or Alive 5. And while it's admittedly not the best fighting game you'll play, it's certainly the best DOA experience to come out of Team Ninja's dojo in quite some time.

 

If you've ever played a DOA game, then you are familiar with it's rock/paper/scissors approach to fighting via it's counter system. A couple of quick button presses are all it takes to turn the tide of a match in your favor. That is, until your opponent presses the same buttons and puts you back on the defensive. It's those hectic back-and-forth mind games that have helped DOA endure over the years, and it's back with a vengeance in DOA5. This time around, and to the game's benefit, Team Ninja have implemented new features and tweaks to the engine to help make it a bit more competitive. For starters, the damage output of counters have been reduced across the board, and the recovery times for whiffed counters have been increased. Also, Team Ninja have implemented true sidestepping (ala Tekken), and a new status effect known as the Critical Burst. While stunned fighters in a DOA game could simply counter their way out of trouble, the Critical Burst leaves them vulnerable to a punishing combo, or the massively damaging Power Blow technique.

 

The Power Blow technique in action. Yes, the arenas
are as vibrant and wild as ever (image via push.start.co.uk)

 Power Blows are DOA's new way to interact with the environment. Activated in a way similar to SNK games such as Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting, these powerful attacks are capable of sending your opponent flying into moving trains, electrical boxes, and other hazards, and can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Together, these tweaks and additions result in matches that put more emphasis on player ability, instead of simply getting lucky with button mashing and counter guesses.

 

DOA cover girl Kasumi shows off her before and after
pics. The improved character models are readily apparent.
(image via justpushstart.com)

And speaking of the environment, DOA5's visuals are a real sight to behold. The arenas are quite detailed, and feature lots of little touches that really make them come to life. Even more impressive are the brand new character models. Team Ninja have finally decided to do away with the glassy eyed Barbie dolls they've been using since DOA2. In their place are characters that are much more expressive and...well, human that what you're used to seeing.

 

While not as feature filled as other fighting games, DOA5 still offers up a good chunk of content. Taking a cue from the recent Mortal Kombat reboot, the Story Mode serves as a tutorial, in which players learn the basics of the game while witnessing the events of the fifth Dead or Alive tournament unfold. Set two years after the destruction of DOATEC's Tri Tower headquarters, Helena Douglas has called together the world's best and brightest martial artists to trade blows and barbs inside the squared circle. Fan favorites such as Kasumi, Ayane, Ninja Gaiden's Ryu Hayabusa, and Jann Lee make their triumphant return, and are joined by newcomers Rig (a taekwondo expert) and Mila (an MMA ground 'n pounder). Team Ninja has also jumped on the guest character bandwagon, as Akira, Sarah, and Pai from Sega's Virtua Fighter series join in on all the fun.

 

Hitomi and Ryu Hayabusa duke it out, and get dirty
in the process. (image via grimmgames.com)

 Rounding out the feature set are standard Versus, Time Attack, Tag Battle, and Survival modes. A more robust Training mode. A Spectator mode, in which players can snap photos of the action (or load up on panty shots.) And, of course, local and online multiplayer, which benefits from improved netcode. Tecmo have even thrown in Facebook integration, so you can let all your friends know how much ass you've been kicking.

 

 You're probably thinking "Man, this sounds pretty good...but there's gotta be something wrong with it! C'mon, Pigeon, what's the deal?" Well, the only 'major' fault I can find with the product is that it's a bit lacking in terms of features or customization when compared to some of the more recent fighting games out there. Sure, there's a fair bit of costumes and swimsuits for you to unlock, but the inability to customize your character is a bit of a letdown. And while I think Tecmo have made tremendous strides in making DOA5 a more competition worthy title, there's bound to be some folks that will still find it to be too simplistic for their tastes. The Fighting Game Community can be understandably picky in that regard.

 

 However, if you are willing to look beyond the limited feature set, the casual friendly mechanics, and it's sketchy past, you'll find plenty to enjoy here. Dead or Alive 5 is easily Tecmo's best brawler to date, and will offer up many hours of over the top fighting fun for gamers of any skill level.

 

 

Pigeon Says:





A PLAY IT! rating indicates a game that, while certainly playable and enjoyable for some, may contain a couple of glaring flaws or gameplay features that could dissuade you from shelling out full price for a copy. As such, I recommend you 'try before you buy'.



Pigeon's Eye in the Sky: NEPA BlogCon

Look at that squirrel, man. Such a proud, majestic creature. We of the avian community have always held our Sciuridaen brothers and sisters in high regard. As such, we can understand why the folks behind the inaugural North Eastern Pennsylvania Blogger's Convention would want them to act as the official mascot. Much like the squirrel, the organizers and presenters that were present for the big day were gifted with an excellent sense of vision. And today, I'd like to share a tiny bit of that vision with all of you.

The NEPA Blogcon was the brain child of these lovely ladies right here. Leslie Stewart, Karla Porter, Mandy Boyle, and Michelle Davies are talented, successful women in their own right. But one day, the four of them decided to form like Voltron and create an event that would serve to educate, celebrate, and inspire all of us little creatures that make up the local blogosphere. Oh, and what an event it was, birds. Glorious, like the rays of the sun that glisten off the dew covered fields outside the Coop. How I basked in it's warmth....

<clears throat> Uh...excuse me. Had a bit of a moment there.

 Anyway, BlogCon. It was a real good time, guys. Very entertaining and informative. Internet sensation Gala Darling kicked things off with a motivating keynote that encouraged us to 'be ourselves' when we're out there blogging our little hearts out. After that, it was one knockout panel after another, with prominent speakers both local and national offering up sage wisdom for all of us to partake. From Kris Jones' inspiring tips on how to squeeze big bucks out of your blog, to Lauren O'Nizzle's entertaining look into building a better blog community, to Kuhcoon's insight in to making social media work for your business...the list goes on. Blogcon offered something for everyone, regardless of skill or tenure. And they also offered up tasty viddles throughout the day! Mmm-MMM! Those turkey sammiches and delicious desserts from Whiskey Bacon really did BP's tummy good. And speaking of tummies, we were also treated to some fabulously geeky belly dancing, courtesy of the gals from Antipode. And to top it all off, an after party with lots of free pizza and socializing. That's a day well spent in my books, birds!

 I'd like to extend a warm Pigeon Coop thanks to all the folks that made BlogCon the experience it was. As for the rest o' ya's, I humbly suggest that you search out similar events in your neck of the woods if you have even a passing interest in creating an Internet presence for yourself. Or, perhaps you can take inspiration from the Fearsome Foursome and create your own blogging event! And for all you critters in these neck of the woods, please make an effort to come out to the next NEPA BlogCon. I promise you won't regret it!

Ric Flair Fridays: A Feud in the Making

Whether you like it, or you don't, learn to love it! Because it's the best thing going every Friday at the Coop. All the ability! All the looks! Sixteen times the World Champion! It's Ric Flair Fridays! WOOOOOOO!

Allright, birds! I've got a nice treat for all you Flair fans today. Courtesy of Popculturestu at Youtube, here's a match from 1977 that pits the Nature Boy against a fresh faced rookie by the name of Ricky Steamboat for the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV Title. Anyone who loves wrasslin' knows that these two have had some of the greatest matches in the history of the sport. So it's pretty cool to be able to witness the brawl that started it all!

Enjoy, my feathered friends. WOOOOOOOOOOO!

A WARPed Retrospective: D

Welcome back, birds! It's been quite a while since we checked in with Eno-san and the WARP collective, what with all the hub and/or bub that's been surrounding the Coop as of late. But, the time has come to stop with the procrastinating. Grab on to my feathers, and let's soar into the wild blue yonder once more, as we continue on our WARPed adventure!

 So we've already discussed the birth of WARP, and I've showcased some of it's lesser known works. Now, it's time to take a gander at the heavy hitters in the lineup. If you talk to anyone who has any fond rememberance of Kenji Eno, these games are the ones that will most likely come to mind. Their the ones that helped Kenji find international acclaim, and are still considered cult classics today. While not the official title, I personally tend to refer to them as the Laura Trilogy.

 In the early 90's, the era of the Full Motion Video game was in full swing. Eno saw the potential the genre had, and sought to make his mark amongst the Night Traps and Sewer Sharks. However, instead of putting out a casting call for B-grade thespians and Hollywood has-been's, Eno tossed around the idea of using a 'virtual actress'. One you wouldn't have to feed and pay SAG royalties to, basically. So, in 1994, the crew at WARP grabbed a couple two tree Amiga computers and got to work on what would be the first game to feature their silicon leading lady, Laura.

D aka D no Shokutaku (D's Dinner Table)

Released: 1995, 96, 98

Publishers: Panasonic, Acclaim
Platforms: 3DO, Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation, Ms-DOS, Windows
 



3DO cover art (US)

3DO cover art (JP)

Acclaim Cover Art (US/EU)

Laura's first starring role would be in the 1995 production of D as Laura Harris, a mild mannered college student from San Francisco. Late one evening, Laura is shocked to learn that her father, the esteemed Dr. Richter Harris, has decided to go batshit insane and shoot up just about everyone present at the prominent Los Angeles hospital he works at. Wasting no time, she hops into her sports car and rockets towards L.A. in the hopes that she can try to talk some sense into dear old Dad. After what I'm sure was an amazing bout of negotiation with the L.A.P.D, Laura crawls underneath the yellow tape and enters the hospital. Without warning, Laura is suddenly whisked away to what appears to be a medieval era castle. With nothing but her wits and a magical compact to aid her, Laura must unravel the mysteries of this foreboding estate and get to the bottom of her father's madness before it's too late!

D's premise is very simple. The player is given two hours real time to navigate the castle, solve puzzles, and locate Richter. Much like the classic Dragon's Lair, you're simply pressing directional buttons to move Laura around, and hitting a button to make her interact with the environment or examine her inventory. If you get to a puzzle that has you stumped, Laura can consult her mystical compact for clues. However, you can only do this three times before the compact mirror shatters and becomes useless for the rest of the game.

 While dated by today's standards, D earned a great deal of attention back in the 90's for it's slick pre-rendered presentation, moody and omniprescent atmosphere, and it's somewhat gory subject matter for the time. Indeed, Kenji was concerned that the game wouldn't be published in the US as a result, and came up with a rather devious scheme to ensure it would see the light of day Stateside. During it's initial development, there was no narrative attached to the project. The story was created in secret, and most of the WARP staff wasn't even aware it existed. When everything was finished, Eno submitted this 'clean' version of the game for approval. Since he had submitted the master discs late, he would have to hand deliver the final product to the US manufacturers if he wanted it published. This was all part of Kenji's plan. While on the plane bound for America, Kenji channeled the spirit of Folger's coffee commercials, and switched out the 'clean' version with the complete copy. As a result, Kenji was able to completely bypass the censors. Clever girl.

 While D made little impact in the States (much in part to the 3DO's low user base at the time,) it was well received in Japan. So much that WARP would produce a "Director's Cut" of the game in 1998, featuring new footage, interviews, and all kinds of neat goodies. However, Acclaim took a liking to WARP's little creation, and offered to publish the game for Sony and Sega's 32-bit systems, as well as PC's running Microsoft Windows and DOS. This helped D gain more exposure in the US and Europe, and led to even more sales for Eno and his crew. However, this move would result in Eno having a huge fallout with Sony and it's Playstation brand.

 You see, while retailers were able to secure over 100,000 preorders for the Playstation port, Sony decided to give it's in-house products publishing priority. As a result, only 28,000 copies of the game actually made it into customer's hands. Eno was understantably upset at this move. That's a lot of money that was left on the table. And when you're a small company like WARP, that can really hurt you. Eno wasn't about to take that sitting down. He would have his revenge.

 What nefarious plot did Eno have in mind for the villains at SCE? And what of Laura? What new adventures would she undertake? All this will be answered next time, as the Coop grabs a gander at the second installment in the Laura Trilogy. In the meantime, here's the first part of Supergreatfriend's comprehensive D walkthrough, for those of you who want to experience the game, but don't want to deal with emulators or old, scratched discs. Until next time!

 (SPOILER ALERT: Yeah, D got a sequel. However, that's a tale for another time...)

Ric Flair Fridays: Flippin' Out!

Whether you like it, or you don't, learn to love it! Because it's the best thing going every Friday at the Coop. All the ability! All the looks! Sixteen times the World Champion! It's Ric Flair Fridays! WOOOOOOO!

Hey, Birds! Long time no see! Now that ol' Pigeon has got the lion's share of his workload out of the way, he can get back to Coop business. And what better way to get the ball rolling again than with another heaping helping of the Nature Boy!

Today, we're going to showcase another of TJWFilmProductions Flair tributes. Anyone who has ever watched Naitch on television is well aware of his tendency to go flying over the turnbuckle whenever he's thrown towards it. And this infamous stunt is exactly what we're going to be paying tribute to this week. So, without further ado, I present to you TJW's tribute to the "Flair Flip".

Blogging to Resume Next Week.

Yo, birds! No, I haven't forgotten about the Coop, nor have I abandoned it. I've just been really swamped with work the last couple of weeks, and it's left me little time for blogging. However, the storm is pretty much over, and I'm ready to get back to work. You'll be getting your Pigeon fix soon enough!

Also, if the fates allow it, I'll be attending the inaugural NEPA BlogCon convention on September 29th. So if you're really curious about blogging, social media, and fat, 33 year old nerds who pretend to be pigeons, then by all means come hang out with us! You can get more information at http://www.nepablogcon.com !

Ric Flair Fridays: Boxers in Baltimore

Whether you like it, or you don't, learn to love it! Because it's the best thing going every Friday at the Coop. All the ability! All the looks! Sixteen times the World Champion! It's Ric Flair Fridays! WOOOOOOO!

 It's Friday, birds! But you better not be tryin' to grab your bowl, baby. Leave the cereal in the cupboard and reach for that sequined robe, because Friday belongs to the Nature Boy!

 We're going to switch things up a little here this week, and focus on another aspect of Flair that many would argue is his best. Of course, I'm referring to his excellent work behind the microphone. Whenever Ric spoke, the world of professional wrestling would always listen. From his days with Tully, Arn, Ole, and JJ in the NWA, to his tenures in the WCW and WWE, Ric was a natural at cutting a promo. When he spoke, the world stopped and listened. He could make you love him, and he could make you hate his guts. That's the kind of showman he is.

 One of my favorite examples of Ric's mic work was during an episode of WCW Monday Nitro back in December of 1998. Ric had just wrestled with WCW figurehead turned NWO sympathizer Eric Bischoff at that year's Starcade PPV the night before. Thanks to interference from Curt Hennig, Bischoff got the upper hand against Flair and pinned him for the 3 count. Seeming dejected, and ready to call it quits, Flair makes a surprise appearance in Baltimore to address his adoring public one last time. Or perhaps....? (props to KingsofKings92 over at Youtube for sharing the vid!)

A WARPed Retrospective: Part 2

 Welcome back, birds, to part two of B.P's Kenji Eno tribute! When last we saw our hero, he had already left behind a job at one developer, and would shutter his own studio a couple of years later. Had the embers of Kenji's dreams finally died out? Pfff! Of course not. If they did, we wouldn't have a Part 2 now, would we? So gird your loins, my avian amigos, and read on about the continuing adventures of the great Kenji Eno!

Part 2: The WARPed Tour

 Ok. So Kenji did the gig at Interlink. That didn't pan out. He started up EIM. That didn't fly, either. So, what do you do when you're an aspiring game developer and you've already found yourself dissatisfied with the last two jobs you've had? What any self-respecting eccentric would do: land a consulting job with a top shelf automotive magazine. And that's exactly what Kenji Eno would do for the next two years of his life. In the end, it would prove to be a wise choice for Eno, as a business trip to San Francisco, CA would be the catalyst for Kenji's re-emergence into the gaming scene.

 The event they traveled to was none other than the 1994 Macworld Expo. Deep within the very core of the Steve Jobs computing juggernaut, Kenji would marvel at the latest advances in CD-ROM technology and digital publishing. Their next stop would be at a convention called "Be-In". Kenji would go on to describe it as a "dark, twisted version of Macworld, where the creators were high on drugs." As the aforementioned drug addicts showcased their wares and side projects, Kenji found himself impressed with the atmosphere, and was pleased to realize that a game developer could actually be considered 'cool'. Also, Eno was quite shocked to see that the developers in attendance and the event's sponsors were quite supportive of one another. The one-two punch of Macworld and Be-In would give Kenji the motivation he needed. And on the plane ride home, he confided to the president of a publisher that he was ready to give video games another go. One thing led to another, and WARP was born.

 Kenji assembled a small team to take care of the technical stuff, while Kenji himself would be tasked with planning, directing, producing, and sound design. Now all he needed was a publisher for his work. Nintendo was an option, but the high cost of licensing and manufacture at the time wasn't something he could afford. So, Kenji decided to pay the newly formed Japanese branch of Trip Hawkins' company, 3DO, a visit. He found them to be very receptive, and their fees quite reasonable. Plus, 3DO was a San Fran based company, and Kenji was still high off the indie vibes from his visits to Macworld and Be-In. A couple two-tree deals were made, and the WARP/3DO era was officially underway.

 While WARP would end up releasing a single NES title in Japan, the forgettable Totsukegi Karakuri Megadasu!!, Trip'd (Flopon the Space Mutant in Japan) would serve as the virgin voyage of WARP in the States. And while you'd think it would have something to do with the founder of 3DO, it's actually an irreverent take on the classic puzzler Puyo Pop. It was here that Kenji would establish his quirky, off beat sense of style, featuring off the wall packaging and an instruction manual filled to the brim with complete nonsense. And pictures of the famous Mt. Fuji.

Next, WARP would tackle the legendary Chinese board game Mahjong in the Japan only release Oyaji Hunter Mahjong. WARP took the wackiness to the next level, placing the player in the role of the mighty Oyaji Hunter. You were tasked with preventing a perverted, middle aged man from having his way with an assortment of nubile young women by engaging in heated games of Mahjong. For this release, WARP would join forces with renowned Macross animator Ichiro Itano, who provided many whacked out cut scenes for the game.

Another Japan only WARP release was one of their most bizzare yet. Short WARP was a series of eight crazy mini games. And I do mean crazy. Take a look at the vid above if you don't believe me. And get this: inside every copy of the 10,000 hand numbered units produced, Kenji Eno was gracious enough to include a very special WARP condom. Yep...a condom. No dumb art books or soundtracks. Just pure protected sexual bliss. What a guy!

 Eee-yup. WARP was off to a frolicking start. And it would only get better (and crazier) from there. Next time, we'll be taking an in-depth look at the games that would make Kenji Eno a man to watch in the 90's. That's right, birds! It's the Laura Trilogy, and it'll be front and center here at the Coop. See you then!



 



A WARPed Retrospective: Part 1

 If you have been gaming for as long as I have, then the name Kenji Eno may be quite familiar to you. However, I'd be willing to wager that a lot of folks out there have never even heard of the man, or the work he has accomplished. If you fall into the latter, then you are in for quite a treat this week, as The Pigeon Coop celebrates the weird, wild, and wonderful works of one of Japan's most innovative and controversial developers.

Part 1: The Early Years



 

 Kenji was born on May 5, 1970. Video games became a big part of Kenji's life early on, as he tended to frequent local video game arcades from a young age. There, he would become enamored with Namco's Pac-Man and Taito's Space Invaders, and has often cited these two games as the inspiration for his decision to pursue a career in the industry. Kenji would also take an interest in programming and sound design, as he also had a passion for music. He would take to experimenting on his home computer, going so far as to create his own video game, Towadako Murder Case, which he had entered into a local contest and placed. At 17, he dropped out of high school and embarked on a journey throught the country. Unlike Michael Landon or Bill Bixby, however, he did not commiserate with the divine or mutate into an angry green giant. He would, however, begin to look for work in a local trade magazine. After two failed attempts at employment through a local Canon branch and a tele-sales company, Kenji would finally break into the game industry as a project planner, supervisor, and musician for a small company called Interlink.

Kenji's brief tenure at Interlink would have him overseeing the production of Ultraman Club 2: Kaettekita Ultraman Club, a Dragon Quest inspired romp where gamers would take control of Japan's legendary super-sized superhero Ultraman, as he roams the countryside to do battle with nefarious interplanetary invaders. Kenji would also serve as composer and supervisor for SD Hero Soukessen: Taose! Aku no Gundam, a crazy side scrolling crossover of the Kamen Rider, Ultraman, and Gundam universes. And finally, he would serve as the sound designer and composer for the Japan only NES port of Sega's classic arcade adventure Altered Beast.

 Eventually, Kenji would grow tired of his role at Interlink. Wanting to strike out on his own, he took his savings and formed EIM Ltd (Entertainment Imagination and Magnificence) in 1989. EIM was created as a game development contracting service, where companies would hire them out to create their software. Being the owner, Kenji would have more control over the products EIM would put out. His more notable works under the EIM label include Parallel Worlds, Panic Restaurant (which would actually make it's way stateside via Taito), and Time Zone.

 EIM would also be contracted by Sunsoft to create a Superman video game for the NES. However, due to conflicts with design, the game was cancelled. Sunsoft then asked the company to create another superhero based gamed entitled Sun Man. While the game was never officially released, a seemingly complete version would resurface on the Internet many years later.



 Kenji would also grow dissatisfied with his work at EIM. He had wanted to create entirely original experiences. And while forming EIM would initially give him that ability, the demands of his clients to include licensed characters and settings would ultimately get to him. It even got to the point where Kenji would avoid his office altogether. The thought of having to convince his staff of how great it was to create character and licensed based games, when he himself didn't enjoy making them, simply got to be too much to bear. Kenji would shutter EIM in 1992.

 What would become of Kenji's dream? Would he ever be able to create the types of gaming experiences he wanted to? The answers to this, and much more, will be revealed in part 2 of the Pigeon Coop's tribute to the one and only Kenji Eno. Till next time, birds!



Ric Flair Fridays: Flair and Sting Lock Horns at the Clash!

Whether you like it, or you don't, learn to love it! Because it's the best thing going every Friday at the Coop. All the ability! All the looks! Sixteen times the World Champion! It's Ric Flair Fridays! WHOOOOOO!

This week, we return to the NWA to showcase another of Naitch's legendary matches. On March 27, 1988, TBS aired the very first Clash of the Champions. The Clash was conceived as an event that offered wrestling fans a PPV quality experience on live television. And in this particular case, it would serve as a means for Crockett to wrestle viewers away from Wrestlemania IV, the premier PPV extravaganza of the former World Wrestling Federation.

The Greensboro Coliseum would once again bear witness to the NWA's finest. Lex Luger and Barry Windham would become NWA Tag Champs over Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. Mike Rotunda and Jim Garvin exchanged blows in a "College Rules" match. And the main event would once again place Ric Flair in the spotlight, as he defended his NWA World Title against the man called Sting.

And now, I present to you the match in it's entirety, courtesy of YouTube user JimmyHartDoesNotAge. Witness the contest that shows Ric Flair at his finest, and the match that would make Sting a household name to pro wrestling fans the world over!

Ric Flair Fridays: Ric and Big Duss take care of b'ness inside the Cage!

Whether you like it, or you don't, learn to love it! Because it's the best thing going every Friday at the Coop. All the ability! All the looks! Sixteen times the World Champion! It's Ric Flair Fridays! WHOOOOOO!

This week's touch of Flair takes us back to 1986, when Flair was headlining matches for Jim Crockett's National Wrestling Alliance. July 26, at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina, The Great American Bash was in full swing. Wahoo McDaniel and Jimmy Garvin locked horns in a Indian Strap match. Magnum T.A. and Nikita Koloff came to blows in the fourth match of a best of seven series for the U.S. Title. And in the main event, The Nature Boy would step inside the Steel Cage and defend his World Heavyweight Title against the man who had it stripped away from him after claiming it at Starcade '85: The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes.

Here for your viewing pleasure is the match in it's entirety, coming to you courtesy of Youtube user xxWrestleClopediaxx,. Please make sure to turn up your speakers, as the volume is rather low due to the age of the VHS tapes that were transfered. Enjoy!

Pigeon's Scrapbook: Alisia Dragoon

Welcome to Pigeon's Scrapbook! Hidden away within this dusty tome are some of my fondest (and not-so fondest) memories of the games of generations past, as well as a few in the present. From consoles to computers, these are the games that I hold near and dear to my heart, be they great or ghastly. So take flight, birds, and let the bittersweet winds of nostalgia carry you through the quiet, empty streets of Memory Lane.

Released: 1992

Developer: Game Arts/Gainax

Platform(s): Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

NA/EU cover art

JP cover art

1992 was a pretty big year in the world of video games. Gamers all across North America were prepared to enter the next level, as Sega's CD-ROM add-on for the Genesis was released. And with it, the first glimpse of Full Motion Video entertainment. Midway's Mortal Kombat was taking video arcades by storm. And a little company by the name of id Software put PC gamers into the shoes of B.J. Blazkowicz, as they infiltrated Castle Wolfenstein in an attempt to bring about the end of the Nazi regime. And somewhere between all the hype of disc based gaming, head ripping fatalities, and first person action, a collaboration between Japanese developer Game Arts and animation juggernaut Gainax resulted in an overlooked gem of a game that stands the test of time and remains a challenging, fun filled experience: Alisia Dragoon.

 

A.D.'s narrative is simple. Players take control of the sorceress Alisia, as she traverses eight levels in an attempt to put an end to the schemes of the wicked god Baldour, and avenge the murder of her father at the hands of Baldour's archmage, Ornah. To accomplish this task, Alisia can bend the elemental forces of lightning to her will, and unleash a stream of hi-voltage destruction upon those who would do the world harm. Also, she is accompanied by four familiars, each offering a unique method of aiding the sorceress in her quest, and can be called upon at any time. Having been responsible for the creation of Alisia Dragoon's visual style, the team at Gainax present us with an interesting fantasy world that melds the standard fantasy tropes of vast forests, ancient temples, and rugged mountain ranges with sci-fi trappings. Indeed, one of the levels has Alisia exploring the ruins of a crashed space cruiser, as she contends with the rusted war machines, loose munitions, and undead crew that still linger in the holds. It's a visual style that brings to mind some of Hayao Miyazaki's earlier works, such as Naussica of the Valley of the Wind. And accompanying the action is, in my opinion, one of the best soundtracks that can be found on a Sega Genesis game. The compositions are appropriately heroic, mysterious, and tense, and fit the on screen events nicely.

 

 

Of course, graphics and sound don't hold much meaning if the game itself can't deliver. Fortunately, Alisia Dragoon is easy to control, and offers gamers a great challenge even on it's base setting. Enemies will beset you from all sides, and some boss encounters will punish you if you don't stick to the patterns. To help give you an edge, there are numerous power-ups hidden all over the various levels that will allow you to increase your maximun health, as well as strengthen your lightning magic and the familiar's abilities. And if one of the familiars kicks the bucket, you can also find a power-up to return them to life and continue the fight. 

Now I can sit here and blab on about how much I like this game. But, to be honest, I'd much rather you take the opportunity to experience it yourself and form your own opinion. There's plenty of emulators out there, and I'm certain you could snag a hard copy from an eBay or Amazon seller if you'd rather keep things legit. Either way, I definitely recommend you give Alisia Dragoon a go!