Posted in: News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on October 26th, 2009
I would like to take a moment to welcome our latest sponsor here at Upcomingdiscs.
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Posted in: News and Opinions, Random Fun by Michael Durr on October 23rd, 2009
There are many movies when you are young that you just never get around to see. Perhaps your parents aren’t into that kind of movie. If it tanked at the box office, then there are probably not any friends that are going to secretly show you the film while their parents are out of the house. But often there are films that we discover in college and wonder where the heck this movie has been all my life. Such brilliance, such deep of thought, this is fantastic. For me, that movie was John Carpenter’s The Thing.

Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on October 21st, 2009
Gaming Joint Pain, The Dawg sues EA & PS3 at the top of sales? - Welcome to the column who guesses Hell did freeze over and it had nothing to do with the Eagles reuniting known as Dare to Play the Game.
Finally, this case of bronchitis has left my body. At least that is what the doctor told me when I went on Friday. By Monday, low and behold it was gone. Only one problem. It left me with a pulled muscle. Yes, I was coughing so hard, I actually pulled something on my left side and I can’t sleep on that side at all. It’s getting better slowly. It’s really odd, I never thought could actually happen. But it did and I’m paying for it.
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on October 17th, 2009
Dario Argento’s film Suspiria is a pillar in the horror film genre. Argento has crafted an aesthetically disturbing film with his use of color and violence. What separates Argento’s body of work from other directors is his disregard for the normal conventions of narrative cinema. By constantly disorienting the audience with unmotivated long shots and graphic violence, Argento never lets the viewer get comfortable.
The violence that Argento uses frequently in his career makes his films stand out. In Suspiria, the score during the credits exemplifies the agitation that the viewer will endure throughout the film. This is why Argento comes back to the score over and over again. After the first murder, the audience is now cognizant of the brutality that Argento is famous for. In the book Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento Maitland McDonagh discusses Argento’s infatuation with violence: “Argento murders and maims and splatters blood with abstract abandon, reveling in the mayhem with glorious unselfconsciousness; he is a hedonist who finds his pleasures in unacceptable places and has no compunction about letting everyone in on the fun.” What McDonagh is establishing is Argento’s awareness of the violence in his films and even though it may be construed as a crutch in the over used sense, Argento could care less. In Suspiria, each incident of violence plays an essential role in Argento’s vision. An example of this is when Sarah (Stefania Casini) is being chased throughout the dance studio and the audience gets an opportunity to see all of the lush colors and skewed camera angles that Argento uses. Once Sara has served her purpose, Argento disposes of her with a graphic zoom in of a throat being gouged open. Most directors would cut away; however, Argento zooms in and disrupts the viewer with the grotesque image. In all of Dario Argento’s works, the constant reoccurring trait is violence.
Posted in: News and Opinions, Random Fun by Michael Durr on October 16th, 2009
Scary games are kinda like that bad boyfriend or girlfriend you had in high school. You are drawn to them in the beginning, date them a few times and usually have a good time until that one captivating scenario where you are absolutely shocked out of your gourd. Then you stop seeing them but something brings you back because deep inside you actually like it. Scary games follow the same path, you keep playing and playing the game until that big scare and then you stop playing but are drawn back by that very same reason.
So, when the site owner asked me to do a special-themed video game column for the month of October, my mind immediately went to a list of scary games. But where would I start? I could simply tell you that Barbie Horse Adventures: Riding Camp is the scariest game ever and you might believe me. I mean those horses will trample you! Instead, I had to come up with a list that would not only contain some personal choices but also some universally accepted scare games that frightened even the harshest critics.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on October 14th, 2009
Expected Sales for New Super Mario, Lego Rock Band Setlist & Road Rash HD may not see light of day? - Welcome to the column whose mind is a swirling miasma of scintillating thoughts and turgid ideas known as Dare to Play the Game.
Still recovering from my cold, flu or whatever it is that has infected my holy temple of a body. I believe I am in the last stages of that sickness as I hardly cough during the day and my only problem is the night. For some reason at night, I’m not sure if my problem is being tired or what, but my caughing comes in fits and usually leaves me restless and tired the following morning.
Posted in: News and Opinions by William O'Donnell on October 11th, 2009
What is it that makes us cheer for the bad guy sometimes? Is because the villain is often the most interesting character, such as Hannibal Lecter in anything they place him in? If so, can one construct this likeability? Rob Zombie is certainly making great efforts to make his “devil’s rejects” a super team of depraved serial killers who are also marketable enough to become action figures in the real world. If this is all true so far, then to what lengths of depravity should we allow our villains to go?
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on October 7th, 2009
Natal & Fable, Venezuela bans violet games & People receiving Guitar Hero: Van Halen early? - Welcome to the column that says hello to its little friend once a winter before going into hibernation known as Dare to Play the Game.
So, I’m back…hopefully somebody out there missed me. I spent a week in Ohio, and since I’ve been back; I’ve spent one week recovering from the cold (or whatever this sucker is) I caught while I was up there. I’m still not quite over it, however I am much better. Usually I’ll wake up and my sinuses will be totally blocked, an hour or two later they usually drain. Then I’ll usually cough on and off throughout the day. However, the cough is getting less and I’m slowly getting better.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on September 23rd, 2009
Rhythm Game Saturation, Arkham Asylum goes Platinum & Best Buy looking to buy Gamestop? - Welcome to the column that puts its pants on one bad news story at a time known as Dare to Play the Game.
This week, I can safely say I might be done with two games for the time being. My hands have been firmly removed from the Peggle bottle and the only thing I did in World of Warcraft was make a bank toon on my second account for the sole purpose of transferring gold. Though I guess if I ever want to play a warlock, I now have the chance.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on September 16th, 2009
Playing Games from the Backside, Tecmo editing their Wiki & Used Game sales driving New Ones? - Welcome to the column that tried to edit its own Wiki page before they realized they weren’t important enough to have one known as Dare to Play the Game.
Another week, another column. This past week, I was happy to get in some normal gaming that didn’t involve me huddled on an airplane staring at a tiny screen and making my character turn every which way but loose. Yeap, I was back playing more Peggle. Okay, okay I laid off the Peggle for the most part, I think my initial OMG I have to clear this board/challenge/achievement phase is over and I go back to putting it on occasionally for the oh hey, I got a few minutes to kill mode.