For Comics Vs. Games 2 to be exact, which officially kicks off at Bento Miso, tonight, 7pm!

BTW, for those of you who took down the address to Bento via the Facebook invite page, the address listed was wrong! Sorry, but we didn’t bother to check the info in the auto generated mini map.

The corrected address is 862 Richmond Street West Toronto, ON M6J 1C9 Canada. For those of you who took info directly from past Attract Mode blog posts, you’re in the clear; that info was correct.

One more thing: Bento Miso can be a little hard to find, so here’s a little help. Just go down Strachan Ave on Queen Street West (it’s right in the middle of Trinity Bellwoods Park, on the south side). Then, while on Strachan, take a left on Richmond Street West and look for the following alley, which will be to your left…

And you’re there! See you in a bit!

The post We’re Back Toronto, And Ready For Round Two appeared first on Attract Mode.

FZ: Side Z is out! It’s part 2 of a remix album based on Disasterpeace’s incredible, dynamic soundtrack for FEZ. I’m honored to have drawn the album cover artwork, inspired by the visually stunning world made by Phil Fish and the dimensional mess-with-your-head programming by Renaud Bédard. Give it a listen – it’s sooo good!

I drew the cover art with a grid-based art program called Hexels that I co-created with my friend Ken Kopecky. Here’s a hi-res version of it. By the way, FEZ is finally out on Steam! If you haven’t already seen the majesty of FEZ, watch the trailer on Polytron’s site.

The post FZ: Side Z – FEZ remix album appeared first on Attract Mode.

I’m just a few hours away from hopping on a plane, to make the trip up north to Canada, for TCAF 2013. But first, highlights from this past Friday night ‘s 4th annual No Quarter at NYU Game Center!

Long story short, the show was a rousing success. As expected, the place was insanely packed… I believe it was the strongest turn out ever in No Quarter’s four-year history. And as hoped, the Attract Mode prints were very much warmly received.

First, a few pics before show time; here we have the prints, not long after the UPS guy had dropped them off at the Game Center…

And here we have the set-up for Bennett Foddy’s 16-player version of chess…

In addition to games that were making their debut, you had a few returning favorites. Like Nidhogg, which was given it’s own room (one that would be jam-packed, wall to wall, for well over five hours straight)…

Naturally, NYC has its very own Winnitron, and of course it’s at the Game Center…

Eventually, it was 7pm, and the door were wide open. FYI: all pictures (with the exception of the Instragramed ones) are by Marion Vitus…

I’ll admit, now after the fact, that I was nervous that the artwork would be some weird curiosity that would be largely ignored. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case!

I’m happy to report that sales were quite strong. Turns out, there definitely is an audience out for finely crafted artwork that celebrates games that aren’t exactly on the tips of the tongues of your average GameStop employee…

Back in the main room; perhaps the most impressive set-up was Nik Mikros and Josh DeBonis’s Killer Queen…

A few of the talented individuals behind the prints were also present for the opening, including HamletMachine. Fun-fact: of all the artists chosen for the project, HamletMachine was the only person I absolutely had to get involved, right from the get-go. I knew her work in Starfighter (super NSFW, BTW) made her the only choice for a game like Nidhogg…

She even signed a few of the prints! Yet another reason why it really sucked if you weren’t able to make it…

HamletlMachine’s Nidhogg was a definite must have, though it definitely helped that the subject matter itself was also on-hand (and sporting a number of tweaks and enhancements, including a new dive kick move)…

And here we have Kyle Fewell with his fantastic depiction of BaraBariBall. Whereas I knew what to expect from HamletMachine, and got exactly what I wanted, was also anticipating something specific from Kyle, yet the result was totally unexpected. As well as a thousand percent better than what I had imagined…

The game’s creator was also on-hand, Noah Sasso, who happened to be the official DJ for the evening…

As noted, many games were played that night, and many minds were blown…

I’m fiercely proud with how the artwork turned out, though I’m also happy that the game creators were equally satisfied. To get the ball rolling, I asked if they had any guidance or inspiration that I could relay to the artists; Ramiro Corbetta, creator of Hokra, simply said: “Just don’t let it suck.” We both agreed that Jovo Ve’s take most definitely does not…

And finally, myself with NYU Game Center’s Charles Pratt, aka the guy who made the Attract Mode collab happen in the first place. The entire endeavor was an experiment on his part, and I believe we’re both equally delighted with the end result…

I also need to thank all the artists who did such a phenomenal job, as well with two other fine folk: Jon Kay of Fangamer, who lent a ton of assistance when it came to the production side of things, and David Murray, better known as SEIBEI, for hooking us up with pretty much the best printers in the world!

So, what’s next? Well, Charles and I will first need to wait till the dust completely settles before discussing future plans. But before that, there’s… Comics Vs. Games 2.

The post NYU Game Center X Attract Mode, Phase One… Mission Accomplished appeared first on Attract Mode.

Time to detail the second leg of Attract Mode’s upcoming two city/two show tour. And what’s after New York City and NYU? Why, Toronto and TCAF, to help celebrate Comics Vs. Games 2!

We went over the basics a couple weeks back, but time for some finer details. As well as a sneak peek as some of the stunning pieces that our pals have produced for this year’s Comics Vs. Games Gallery.

The above is somewhat a sequel to the runaway hit from Comics Vs. Games 1, and has Kyle Fewell combining his two greatest loves yet again: video games and cats. But what else does this year’s show have in store? Let’s see…

Natasha Allegri:

Corey Lewis:

Kris Mukai:

Zac Gorman:

Daniel Dussault:

Jovo Ve:

Asif Siddiky:

… Sorry, but you’ll have to head on over to Asif’s Tumblr to get a closer look and see who the heck is who. Or you can simply give it your best guess, over at Kotaku! Anyways, that’s just a taste; the entire rundown of participants is as follows:

Natasha Allegri, Lindsay Collins, Ashely Davis, Daniel Dussault, Jacob Ferguson, Kyle Fewell, Chris Furniss, Zac Gorman, Corey Lewis, Giannis Milonogiannis, Kris Mukai, Maré Odomo, John Pham, Aleth Romanillos, Asif Siddiky, Jacob Smiley, and Jovo Ve.

Every piece from every artist, be it a limited edition print or some other physical object, will be available for purchase for sale throughout TCAF weekend. Which kicks off with the official Comics Vs. Games 2 Opening Night Party!

Mark the date, time, and location: Thursday, May 9th at 7pm, at Comics Vs. Games’ new home, Bento Miso. The address is #100 – 862 Richmond St W, just a block or so south of Queen St W in downtown Toronto. Did I mention that there will be plenty of pizza and beer? Plus how it’s totally free? And is there a Facebook event page? But of course.

Don’t forget, the opening is just the tip of the iceberg; there’s also the Bit Bazaar the following Saturday, May 11, from noon-8pm. It’s Bento Miso’s zine fair meet arcade, and should further prove to the world that when it comes to the indie game scene, Toronto is the place to be.

The full list of exhibitors can be found here and includes CAPY, Drinkbox Studios, Spooky Squid Games, Christine Love, Emily Carroll & Damian Sommer, plus so many more. We’ll also have a table, selling a number of good from the store, along with goodies that have yet to make their presence known!

Meanwhile, at the Toronto Comics Arts Festival proper, is the Comics Vs. Games Showcase, presented by The Hand Eye Society. The games that they’re curating have been detailed here; all four will be playable at TCAF’s main location for the entire weekend, which is the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street.

Oh, and there’s actually something else that might be happening, but I’ve been asked to keep my lips sealed, at least for the time being. So stay tuned? One last thing: if you can’t make it up to Toronto, the CVG2 prints should go on sale the same weekend as the show. Fingers crossed! Again, these next couple of weeks are gonna be CRAZY.

Comics Vs. Games 2 is a Toronto Comics Arts Festival event sponsored by Bento Miso and co-organized with The Hand Eye Society and Attract Mode.

The post Two Cities, Two Shows, Part Two: Toronto & TCAF appeared first on Attract Mode.

This is it; the next two weeks are going to be, without question, some of the craziest of times for Attract Mode. As well as some of the awesomest. For those who haven’t been keeping track, we’ve got two different shows happening in two different cities, and all less than a week apart! Let’s concentrate on the first of the two, shall we?

As previously noted, next Friday marks Attract Mode’s long-awaited return to New York City, as we take part in this year’s No Quarter, the NYU Game Center’s yearly exhibition of commissioned work from established and emerging independent developers, who have all been challenged to create games for a social, gallery setting.

It also marks the first step of the newfound NYU Game Center X Attract Mode initiative; at the very top is Mark Essen’s Nidhogg, which has been mesmerizingly depicted by the one and only Hamlet Machine. As also previously stated, five artists in total have been asked to interpret and immortalize five past No Quarter games. Here are the rest…

Noah Sasso’s BaraBariBall, by Kyle Fewell:

Ramiro Corbetta’s Hokra, by Jovo Ve:

Robin Arnott’s Deep Sea, by Steve Courtney:

Matt Parker’s Recurse, by Rachel Morris:

Prints of each will be available at the event, but in extremely limited quantities. Any that remain will be sold via the Attract Mode shop afterwards, though the likelihood of anything being left over will be slim, so try your best to make it out next Friday night!

Not only will you be able to admire all the fine art in person, the way they were intended (a few of the artists will also be present), but there’s also games to be played. The latest from Bennett Foddy, Sophie Houlden, Matthew LoPresti, Nik Mikros, and Josh DeBonis to be precise. Plus there will be plenty of beer on hand, thanks to Brooklyn Brewery, who is sponsoring the event!

The 4th Annual No Quarter exhibition will take place on Friday, May 3rd at 7pm, at the NYU Game Center. The exact location is the Tisch School of the Arts, 721 Broadway on the 9th floor, in the heart of NYU country, Manhattan.

The event is free and open to the public. Please be sure to RSVP here. BTW, here’s the obligatory Facebook event page for those who use FB to keep track of happenings.

And after that, less than one week later, is show #2, in Toronto, Canada…

The post Two Cities, Two Shows, Part One: NYC & NYU appeared first on Attract Mode.

This month’s round up of random game related imagery found on Instagram kicks off with perhaps my favorite cosplayer from PAX East 2013. Not much else to say here, other than, check the other angles…

I know it’s somewhat awkward (maybe even inappropriate) to bring up fun times had in Boston, in light of recent events. But they help to remind myself how incredible the city is, along with the people who live there. Who will all unquestionably bounce back.

K, enough real world pontificating; time for more pictures of gamer dorks, dressed to the nines (hey, PAX is all about the cosplay). Like this super stylish, and super creepy take on Phanto from Super Mario Bros 2…

And this Lucca, from Chrono Trigger, was simply the best…

As were these two dudes, as James and Gary, from Typing of the Dead…

What pleased me the most was how well represented indie gaming was. Like this Sword & Sworcery cosplayer…

Though Hotline Miami was clearly the hottest thing on that end…

Some cosplay was rather inventive, whereas others were kinda gross. And sometimes it was both…

As noted, and aside from cosplay, PAX is also about the indies; the sheer abundance of top-notch offerings was frankly mind-blowing. Best part is how pretty everything was playable. Yet some folks still chose to stand in line for over an hour to watch a non-interactive demo of Assassin’s Creed 4 all the sillier looking. Oh well, different strokes.

If I had to choose my game of the show (and it’s a tough call), I’d go with A.N.N.E.. It’s basically Cave Story meets Mega Man meets Super Metroid…

Though not all of the offerings from big publishers were bad. For example, Locco Cycle looks as amazing as ever…

PAX isn’t just a place to play cool stuff, it’s also for buying cool stuff as well. Like the aforementioned Double Fine & Capy Videogame Collection…

But you know who literally a mount of super rad things for sale? Why the Fangamer booth, of course, including some debuting Attract Mode items (and which are now finally available online)…

Across the way was the Double Fine/CAPY booth, where also had some fairly compelling goods for purchase, and not just the chance to snag Capy Fine Racing GP. You also had the Super Time Force Kookabunga tee that Nathan Vella is proudly wearing…

Immediately after PAX was GDC. Wish I could have gone, but it just wasn’t meant to be. In addition to the conference itself, there’s all the super cool after parties, with this year’s hottest ticket being the Venus Patrol/Wild Rumpus shindig. Would have loved to have seen Shaw-Han Liem, aka I Am Robot and Proud, perform live…

Though the star of the show was Tenya Wanya Teens. I too would have caressed its multi-colored, many buttoned controller, just like Kris is doing…

Speaking of, here’s a pic that Robin Hunicke took of Keita Takahashi himself, walking around in Kaho Abe’s Ninja Shadow Warrior get-up…

Yet at the end of the day, GDC is all about hearing from those who are pushing the medium forward, in wild and unexpected ways. And not just learning about how some of the most beloved games were pieced together, but ideas for ones that have yet to happen. Like Planet and Baby; I really need to ask Vincent Diamante what the heck that’s all about…

But even better than all the pics that immediately followed GDC, from folks chilling in SF after the fact. Here’s one from Kris, who states: “We climbed up a tree and jumped in the pool. Everyone got mad.”

And here’s Robin showing Keita around town. Checking out a gigantic glockenspiels, at some local park/playground, to be exact. I’m assuming such places are like a second home to him…

Speaking of get aways, Renaud Bédard is currently in Japan, and sharing pics of his various exploits. With the highlight thus far being Space Station, the video game bar in Osaka (I actually got the meet the owner, who was at PAX East; super cool dude)…

In some ways it’s actually superior to Super Potato, the one destination all video game dorks all flock towards when visiting Japan. For starters, it serves booze! Second, check out this super rad bathroom…

John Ricciardi got what appears to be a wedding invitation, in the form of a cookie that looks like a Famicom cartridge?

If only these custom Game Boy carts that Grace are assembling were functional (though they’re damn pretty nonetheless)…

I have no idea where Nina Freeman spotted this super sweet Virtua Fighter jacket, but I certainly hope she picked it up (for my birthday)…

Speaking of Virtua, here’s mashysoup, aka one of the Fangamer’s self professed “weird twins”, putting the 32X version through it’s paces. The hardware deserves all the hate it gets, but this and a few other standouts help to justify its existence. Somewhat…

Am a big fan of CherrySlug and these recent Street Fighter and Pokemon inspired pieces are some of my favorites…

And speaking of Pokemon, darkviruzzz definitely knows how to make a Mewtwo toy looks super ominous and stuff…

Here’s a pic I’m absolutely head over heels for, from Alina V, of a Yuna (from Final Fantasy X, duh) cosplayer, walking into the woods. In search of adventure? Maybe answers to mysteries? Or just the perfect spot for a photo shoot? Probably the latter…

Though, as Zack Kotzer reminds us…

I have no idea where the following is from originally…

The same could also be said for 95% of POLSTYLE‘s pics…

So, I’m good pals with Joe Simko; he’s one of the artists at Topps who works on Garbage Pail Kids cards. Yes, they’re still being made. In fact, a brand new series just came out, and it was pointed out to me that there’s a decent amount of video game humor to be found…

I also know from Joe that all the illustrator make tons of money on the side, doing commissions. Often of stuff that would not fly with Topps’ legal department for a variety of reasons, like this example…

And now for something completely different; do you remember the Ukiyo-e Heroes Kickstarter? Well, it would appear that Chris Furniss donated…

Nick Maynard asks us all to…

Not all chiptunes cover art is a collection of pixels in some form or fashion (not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind you). Here we have Bit Shifter showing off the latest CD from Huoratron…

Lamar Abrams sez: “Defend yourself…

Speaking of Game Boys (once again), this custom all white model from Andreas Tekus is pretty darn sexy…

I love Stu Brett‘s Instagram feed, because it’s a constant reminder of which Super Famicom game I should fire up on my emulator next…

Diego Garcia states: “All is as it should be”. Could not agree more…

BTW, this was Diego’s midterm (he’s studying game design at NYU)…

Lacey Micallef demonstrates that the best jokes are often the most obvious ones…

I’m pretty sure I’ve shown off one of Joel Carroll‘s Samuses before, but I love them so much, here’s another taste…

The guy also does a bang up job rendering K K Slider as well…

Time once again to see what SWERY is up to. Oh hey, here he is with a tiny hamburger!

Oh, so one thing that’s starting to become more common is Instragramed pics of someone using the Oculus Rift, like Nathan here. I also love how everyone puts fake eyes on the thing…

And here’s Nathan with folks who walked this year, with several others…

Sticking with hands for just a tiny bit; another good pal of mine, Colleen AF Venable decided to fashion herself some Space Invaders nails…

Comics Vs. Games 2 is just around the corner, and as previously explained, the Comics Vs. Games Gallery and Bit Bazaar will both take place at Bento Miso. And not only that, but as Jennie Faber also points out, you’ll also find a growing selection of arcade machines that’s totally exclusive to the grand city of Toronto…

Finally, and as also previously noted, pieces from the show have been making the rounds (and expect to see even more in coming days and weeks), though Chris Furniss’s contributions are somewhat of a secret. But I can at least show everyone the note that came enclosed…

Hi, Chris! Hello.

The post A Final Fantasy Cosplayer Walks Into The Forest And… appeared first on Attract Mode.

Like oh so many other Metal Gear Solid fanboys out there, I’m beyond hyped for the pending release of The Phantom Pain! Despite the fact that David Hayter will not be doing the voice of Big Boss, let alone how it’s not the part 5 we’ve all wished for, i.e. the Cobra Unit infiltrating Normandy.

Still, am looking forward to all antics we’ve come to know and expect, plus love: sneaking around in cardboard boxes, taking down gigantic mecha, watching 30 minute long cut scenes, and… walking up & down ladders. An integral part of every Metal Gear experience. Hence the video above, that some denizen of Select Button lovingly crafted:

“This is a tribute to the most stalwart of sentries, colossus in whose shadow the battle of generations rages, the mirror held up to society that reflects back the ugly descent to the next lowest floor or maintenance platform (whichever comes first).”

The post Can Rungs Bloom on the Battlefield? appeared first on Attract Mode.

I’m surprised it hasn’t made a bigger splash elsewhere, so may as well pass along the following: have you heard of MITSUDA? It’s tribute mix tape that’s dedicated to the one and only Yasunori Mitsuda. You know, the composer who helped to define what JRPGs should sound like? And almost single-handedly, via his Chrono Trigger score.

MITSUDA is the brainchild of Julian Wass, who previously tapped into Xenogears for Main Attrakionz’s Cloud Skatin. Besides featuring a who’s who from the hip hop and electronic music scenes, Derek did the cover! Best part? It’s a free download, so nab your copy here. Also, special thanks to Ryan Sands for the heads up.

Anyhow, since we’re talking about music anyway, may as well pass along a few related odds and ends…

- Back to the subject of mix tapes, I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned Ventla already. He’s based in Japan and is “in the process of releasing 100 digital albums for free over the coming months or years.” Myself, Adam, and especially Asif are totally in love with the guy, and you honestly can’t go wrong any one of the 22 albums he’s released thus far.

His Tumblr is equally awesome; a few weeks back, he highlighted the soundtrack to the Famicom/NES version of Ultima 3: Exodus, which was composed Tsugutoshi Goto, who hails from the 80′s Japanese electronic scene. Here we have the arranged version of the game’s theme song, Knife of the Eye, sung by Noriko Hidaka…

Here’s another cut from the game’s arrange album. The uploader states: “I ripped this song from my old cassette tape, so sound quality is the worst.” And Ventla’s response pretty much encapsulates perfectly why I dig his taste in music and body of work as a whole: “I do love this hiss and hollowness.”

- Sticking with Japan; I’m heavily into chiptunes, as well as giant robots. And it’s not often in which the two intersect, which is why why Studio Me-Gaane is especially awesome (and you can depend upon Mecha Damashii to be the first to report on it, as is the case here).

It’s either some person in Japan, or a few couple of people, who create 8bit covers of mecha anime, mostly the classics, like Gundam, Macross, and Patlabor, as well as some contemporary staples, like Evangelion…

You’ll also find covers of non-mecha anime, like Ranma 1/2, and even some American shows, like the X-Files?

- Remember my Instagram dump right before Christmas, in which I showed a pic of chiptuner Batsly Adams with two different Sega Nomads? Well, apparently, one of them is used for just visuals. And here he is showing everyone how such a device can be used to do such a thing:

- While on the subject of visuals, I also need to give a shout out to the phenomenal chiptunes coverage that has been gracing Tiny Cartridge as of late, largely due to the efforts of Dannel Jurado. Perhaps my most favorite highlight from him is from last month, which shows off how banging the Montreal chip scene has become…

- And finally, another great place to keep abreast of game related tunes is Original Sound Version. Their most recent post asks if the following slice of smooth jazz has hints of Mega Man 2. Specifically the 1:30 mark. You be the judge…

The post A Hip Hop Tribute To Yasunori Mitsuda & A Song So Catchy You Won’t Believe It’s From Ultima 3 appeared first on Attract Mode.

The response to the Comics Vs. Games 2 reveal has been incredible. So happy to hear that everyone’s just as psyched about Attract Mode’s upcoming return to Toronto as we are! BTW, have you seen the pieces for the art show that’s been making the rounds on Tumblr? A full rundown of participants involved will be disclosed soon, but in the meanwhile, at least you all know that Jovo Ve, Corey Lewis, and Natasha Allegri are included.

Back to Toronto; that city is simply the best. Been dying to return, the very moment Comics Vs. Games 1 wrapped up (feel free to search my blog for my detailed report). Not only is everyone super friendly, but the indie game scene is on fire (as evidenced by the just released Guacamelee, which is an early game of 2013 contender in my book), plus its various other art scenes are equally hawt. Speaking of…

Just found out that Diego Bergia’s LEPOS arcade project has been updated. Was introduced to the cancelled SNES game from an alternate universe by Annie Koyama, who published the accompanying art book; last wrote about it for GameSetWatch, back when it was first looking to become a real deal, playable game. The self-professed graffiti artist/independent animator/arcade enthusiast shared the video above last week, along with the following:

Whenever I’m in New York my home base is the Lower East Side, so for this next little teaser I chose the iconic Arlene’s Grocery as a backdrop. More importantly though, this clip introduces the one and only Bronx King CES to the LEPOS arcade project. Along with REVOK and GIANT, I’ve got three legendary motherfuckers down with this. BIG shoutout to them. Thank you!

Be sure to check Bergia’s Vimeo page for additional morsels of the upcoming game.

The post It’s A Game About Graffiti That’s Less Jet Set Radio, More Metal Slug appeared first on Attract Mode.

Last year, the prestigious Toronto Comics Arts Festival asked us to take part in a first of its kind celebration of both comics and video games. And the end result was so spectacular that we’re gearing up for round two!

Comics Vs. Games 2 is an official TCAF 2013 event that will take place both onsite and off, in the same way that Comics Vs. Games 1 was for TCAF 2012. Except it’ll be even bigger and bolder, in both size and scope. There will be three primary components this time:

- The Comics Vs. Games Showcase are games hand picked by Miguel Sternberg, grand architect of Comics Vs. Games, and all sharing formal or aesthetic influences with the comics medium. Each will be playable at the Toronto Reference Library.

- The Comics Vs. Games Gallery: Presented by Attract Mode will again feature a selection of artwork from noted and celebrated cartoonists and illustrators, who have all been asked to explore the the world of video games in a medium that they know best.

Those involved are a mix of returning favorites from last year and some fresh blood that myself and Adam are thrilled to be working with; who’s who will be revealed soon. The Gallery will also be at Comics Vs. Games’ new home, Bento Miso, along with…

- The Bit Bazaar is the big new thing this year. Best described as a zine fair meets arcade, it’s where indie developers will have a chance to show off their game and sell related comics, t-shirts, toys, etc.

If you’d like to take part, you can sign up (and get more info) here. Though there’s one party that’s already confirmed: CAPY! We’ll also have a table as well, with a host of Attract Mode Shop goodies, some of which will be making their debut.

You’ll even find our good friend Mathew Kumar! Not only will he be a special guest of the Attract Mode table, but Mathew might also have something new for sale as well, something super special.

And that’s it for now; we’ll have more info soon. Till then, Toronto, get ready!

Comics vs Games 2 is a Toronto Comics Arts Festival event sponsored by Bento Miso and co-organized with The Hand Eye Society and Attract Mode.

The post Get Ready For… Comics Vs. Games 2 appeared first on Attract Mode.