May 18, 2010

Best. Edition. Ever.


Take a look below at the Limited Collector's Edition of Alan Wake I picked up five hours ago at midnight.  I say without hesitation that this edition is quite possibly the best bang for $80 in video games today.


Pictured above from left to right is the official soundtrack; The Alan Wake Files, a dossier of sorts compiling all the pertinent information related to the mystery (which I'll be reading after beating the game, of course); a "Bonus Disc," of which I know nothing; the full length game packaged more like a film or TV DVD; and last, a fuzzy, hardcover box to store everything in (the picture does it no justice), sporting Alan Wake's "autograph."  Also included are codes for a shirt for your avatar, a theme, and the first DLC, all of which come with every new copy bought and/or preordered.  Eighty bucks never felt so good.

Add to the whole presentation a sleekness that looks totally professional and serious and this edition shines above the majority in the industry, beaten in my eyes only by The Orange Box for value (but definitely not for box art).

Does the game itself deliver as much as its packaging?  You'll have to read my eventual review to find out!

May 10, 2010

Machinima Asks, "WTBF?"


"WTF is WTBF?" you might ask.

WTBF stands for "What the Bright Falls," Machinima's analytical question to what the heck is going on in Alan Wake's prequel, "Bright Falls."  I'm such a nerd for meticulous crap like this!  These guys are really good, asking logical questions and pointing out important details and clues most people would miss (like the opening credits; there's so much there!).  What a crazy town Bright Falls is.  If I ever go, I'm bringing these guys.

If you've seen the first three episodes then check out the two WTBF videos below.  If you haven't, where have you been, and watch them first before these.

*Disclaimer - The first video drops an F-Bomb*



Bright Falls, Episode 3 - "Lights Out"


"Bright Falls," the prequel to the psychological-action-thriller Alan Wake continues to notch up the weird-factor nob.  If you haven't watched the first two episodes, click to this post or scroll below.  The town of Bright Falls is ... well, let's just say somethin' ain't right there.  Along the lines of ironically named places like television's Happy Town or BioShock's Rapture, Bright Falls boasts a misleading sense of security of small town living with big secrets.  Deer, diners and motels ... nothing is as it seems.

The game comes out in just over a week and I'm hoping my local GameStop will have a midnight release (I mean they have to with a handful of major games releasing that Tuesday:  Alan Wake, Red Dead Redemption, Split/Second, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and, um, Trauma Team).  Watch the videos and get psyched for an engaging, story-centered game!