PixlBit

It’s September and that means it’s time for another retro fest, this time covering the years 2005-2009. I’ve done most of the research so far and already seen a film, rented some books, and organized my video game collection in preparation for my “weekend”, which is in the middle of the week right now. I’ll break it down by media type, since that’s how I organize my spreadsheet.

Games

2005-9 begins a new console generation. There are the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii. On handhelds there are the Nintendo DS and Sony’s PSP. Ah, before iPhone there was still hope in gaming handhelds. I actually started my handheld gaming with the DS. Well, that’s not entirely true since I used to have those Mattel Electronics LED handheld games back in the 80s.

In putting together the games list, I realized that I must’ve really played a lot of games in those years. I counted 183 games across all systems that were worth remembering for replay or ones I wanted to play but never got to.

For my retro play, I’ve stacked up the games I still own and never played before on all consoles and I will get to one console a week for the month. I’m starting with the Wii and Fortune Street, maybe on Monday since it’s a holiday and the library I work at is closed.  I’m super excited because I’ve been wanting to play this Monopoly-style game with Nintendo characters for a long time. I don’t look forward to setting up that sensor bar again though.

After that, I’ll get to PS3, and then Xbox 360. Maybe I’ll spend two weeks on one of those.

I’ll also be breaking out the DS and PSP. I have a stack of un-played games for those. I’m not sure when I’ll have time for those, but I’ll keep the system on me just in case.

Oh yea, and I looked up board games and pinball as well. Just one board game I noticed, Axis and Allies Anniversary Edition. No Pinball I could find listed on Pinball Arcade for those years.

Books and Comics

I’m tempted to read the Harry Potter books I haven’t read yet, but I’m not into it right now. I’ll pick up Rothfuss’s Name of the Wind when I finish my new Halo: Bad Blood book I’m working on. I picked up Paolini’s Eldest from a library book sale. It’s the sequel to Eragon which I read back then. I’ll get to it if there’s time. But what’s up front and center is Michael Crichton’s posthumously published Pirate Latitudes I rented from the library. This has been described like Pirates of the Caribbean but with gritty and, frankly, dark realistic details. I like a novel that has been well researched to make it as realistic as possible.

I rented a comic too. Marvel 1985. This, I think, is like Marvel 1602 but in a different time setting. I loved 1602 with it’s Marvel characters in Elizabethan England and just discovered New World America. I can’t wait to see what this one it going to be about.

I’ll add that I could go on and on with these topics. I have such a huge list of all the media I took in in these years. I’m quite amazed at how much a person can absorb over five years.

TV and Film

There was some good TV I took in but up first is the animated Star Wars Clone Wars. I watched a few episodes back then and was dismayed at how derivative it was of the movies. However, it has great voice work and amazing visuals, so I want to dig into it again and see what I can see.

In film I just watched “For Your Consideration”, a Christopher Guest mockumentary. It was ok, not as great as his other ones. I picked up some DVDs at that same library book sale: “Open Season” (I played the game), “Duece Bigalow, European Gigalo”, and “Crank” and “Crank 2”. I’m going to watch “Borat” with my girlfriend very soon. She saw it, but I never did. It was a big deal back in 2005 or so. Highest on my list though is one Wes Anderson film I haven’t seen yet, “Darjeeling Unlimited”.

Music

Finally, music. I’m creating three different mixes, one Metal, one Prog Rock, one just Rock or lighter stuff. I also call those categories: Aggressive, Complex and Accessible. These are maybe better titles since I mix genres quite a bit anyway.

Of new bands, I’m currently checking out Of Montreal. Psychedelic pop. It’s the only way I can stand Pop, if it’s at least a little weird.

I’m still researching the music. I’ve only done 2005 so far. I’m putting in selections from any video game and film music I have too. Of the game soundtracks there are: Halo 3, Destroy All Humans 1 and 2, Blue Dragon, and God Hand. There are way too many film soundtracks to mention. I’m currently trying to hunt down the Sam Raimi directed Spider-Man 1-3 film soundtracks at the local libraries.

Phew. Here’s a short list if you skipped all that text.

Fortune Street (Wii)
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
Marvel 1985
Star Wars: Clones Wars (animated TV show)
Darjeeling Unlimited
Of Montreal