Where you’ll be when you find out this news.
What’s that you say? Toronto Thumbs alumnus Shaun Hatton has done music for Drinkbox Studios’ upcoming Playstation Vita game: Mutant Blobs Attack?
The answer, ladies and gentlemen, is yes.
We’re incredibly lucky here in Toronto to have such a vibrant game development community. One of the most interesting things to come out of that was an incubation session designed to get more females into the game-making field. We here at Toronto Thumbs have covered the Difference Engine before; but one game in particular stuck out because of its unconventional medium and subject matter.
ZOMG! Check out the fretboard!
Once in a while, I feel compelled to write about a cool gadget that I found. I may or may not have said gadget in my possession which means that these types of posts are me just yammering on about something cool I found. However, I would ask that you humour me, because the interwebz is full of awesome…
When I started playing Rocksmith, I became curious about other methods of learning how to play the guitar and came upon the Fretlight. While Rocksmith relies on the tones generated (and processed by the console through the RealTone cable), the Fretlight is a little more integrated with the software. Built into the guitar is a second jack with an 8-pin plug-to-USB cable (for interfacing with the computer). The Fretlight software lights LEDs built into the neck of the guitar: single notes, chords, bends, slides – it’s all displayed on the neck and it’s freaking cool.
The software allows you to completely control the tempo of the notes, allowing you to teach yourself how to play the guitar in a slightly different way than other learning software (and games).
So, while I normally don’t like lists*, I am in the end-of-the-year spirit and am posting some of my favourite video game things from 2011. Believe me, folks: I played a lot of games this year; so I have a very wide base to choose from. This list is made up of games and things related to games – so enjoy!
This entry is not necessarily about an item so much as it is about a bunch of awesome people who craft awesome items. I’m referring to none other than the folks at UbiWorkshop.
It should come as no surprise to any of our readers that I am absolutely mad about the Assassin’s Creed franchise. I tried to put my finger on why it is that I love that series so much, and one of the most important reasons was because of the creation of the world around the main characters. There is a lot to be said about the ability to thoroughly lose yourself in a world (folks who really read Tolkien know exactly what I’m talking about).
TIFF Nexus is doing incredible things here in Toronto: It is a program that allows creators of all kinds come together and produce really special things. In the past we saw a collaboration between hardware hackers and game makers that resulted in some pretty intense projects, including a flight game piloted by your eye. Just recently however, Nexus ran an initiative that sought to bring more females into the field of new media (film, television, game-making, etc.).
Do you know what’s awesome about the gaming community? Everyone is pretty damned awesome. The devs are probably some of my favourite people to hang out with (when I get the rare chance); they are such a warm and creative bunch of people that it actually becomes tough to say goodbye at the end of time spent with them! If you have ever wanted to experience the camaraderie and fun that is associated with the artistry of gaming and play, then you really, really need to go to Gamercamp Lv3.
Held at a number of different venues, Gamercamp celebrates…well…us! With talks, workshops and entertainment, there is something for everyone! Each and every one of us that makes up the gaming community has something to share at Gamercamp.
So what are you waiting for? »
Four years ago, Shaun Hatton started this review site. His original goal was to have a site where we reviewed nothing but delicious candy; however, game reviews were much easier on our teeth. While there have been a few changes over the years, Toronto Thumbs has always been interested in providing you our take on what we play. Framed as a conversation starters, our reviews are not so much about numbers as they are about how we feel.
I wanted to thank our current staff and everyone that reads and contributes somehow for everything. Without you all, this site would really just be me talking about Assassin’s Creed and Naruto.
The title of this article may sound like a very boring dramatic film; really it’s about how I was hanging out in a bar with Yves Bordeleau, from Cyanide Studio. I’m not sure if you have heard of them, but if you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you soon will. While I am not at liberty to discuss exactly what we talked about, I would like to share a few snippets of what we talked about that have increased my excitement for the next two days at X-Summit.
Click this image to blow your mind.
In a year that has been full of awesome trailers and clips, this is surely in the top three for me. I can’t wait until this comes out next year.
