I read an article on MiceChat recently which suggested that part of the reason Universal’s recent aggressive expansion in theme parks has been working is because fans of Universal are less particular about “thematic intrusions” or the “appropriateness of intellectual property,” than Disney fans, who are far more vocal about such things. There may or … Continue reading On the Subject of “Theme” in Theme Parks
Today, the great people at Extra Credits released their 200th episode. If you’re not familiar with these guys, PLEASE go check out their website. Their series of videos discussing all manner of topics relating to video games are not only entertaining but hugely important to our discussion of video games as an industry and as … Continue reading What Theme Park Fans Can Learn From the Success of Video Games
So many of the great effects in Disneyland are based on the idea of a reveal. Turning a corner in almost absolute darkness, hearing screams and a disembodied voice up ahead before you round the turn to see the source of the voice: a ghostly Jolly Roger above a dark archway. Emerging from the inside … Continue reading Reveals in the Haunted Mansion or: How it Took Seeing an Effect Broken to Realize That I Didn’t Like it.
This weekend is the best damn weekend for movies I’ve seen in quite a while. I’ve been talking about how this summer has been a largely disappointing movie season, but somehow they got things together in order to send off the summer with a bang. Yesterday, I told you all why you should see You’re … Continue reading PSA: Go See a Movie This Weekend
Typically, I’m against actively praising or condemning a movie without seeing it. There are plenty of movies that have looked terrible yet been surprisingly good, and plenty of “sure things” that ended up disappointing. It’s fine to decide you don’t want to see a movie based on marketing/word-of-mouth/whatever, and it’s great to have loyalty to a … Continue reading Let’s Talk about Planes
Update: I have written a more recent, more comprehensive article covering the entire Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. I recommend reading that one first. “I think it’d be rather exciting to meet a pirate.” Part 1: An Unlikely Phenomenon Pirates of the Caribbean. This is, perhaps, one of the oddest pop culture touchstones we have. … Continue reading Pirates of the Caribbean Retrospective – Part One: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The year is 2004. The long-brewing feud between at-the-time Pixar Studio head Steve Jobs and ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner has just become explosive. Pixar is actively seeking a new partnership with another company while Disney establishes a new animation division called Circle 7 Animation, a division created with the purpose of making unnecessary sequels to … Continue reading Why I Just Can’t Get Excited for Finding Dory
WARNING: The following discussion includes spoilers for both Mass Effect 3 and Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead. Choices in video games. Choice is an element that has been in games from the very beginning; it’s one of the major aspects that separates this medium from any other form of entertainment or art. Whether it’s choosing which path to … Continue reading Why Your Choices Matter Even When They Don’t Change Anything
David Daut 