Frank was a train driver for The City. It was a good job, even if it didn’t pay well. It beat slinging burgers. It beat just about any job he could get Outside. And Frank’s options were very limited.
The crash had been, an accident. But after getting his ‘time to think,’ he understood that accidents weren’t just products of random chance, but bad decisions. One bad decision had cause so much suffering. At least in The City, he could still drive a train. He eased her into Commercial Station.
The woman stepped from the platform just ahead of him.
The City: 010: Frank
October 10, 2014
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The City: 009: Sandra
October 9, 2014
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The City’s lifeblood was the Metro. From the Underground to the L-Trains. Elites might be able to afford cars and drivers, but Citizens and and Daytrippers alike had to ride transit. They ran from every corner of The City. Sandra had taken one from her shoebox apartment to her Midas Corp Office every day. Until they unjustly fired her. But what could she do? Midas was a power unto themselves here. She was despondent. Until he appeared. He gave her the key and told her how to fight back. His smile was so understanding. Today, the trains would stop.
Hugh Likes Video Games: Super Smash Bros
October 8, 2014
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Developer: Bandai Namco Games
Nintendo 3DS
Smash Bros. is one of those love it or hate it gaming franchises. Its pick-up-and-play style and four player vs. mode have always made it as much a party game as a serious fighter, and nostalgia has always been baked in. As a fan of Nintendo games, and a much more casual player of fighting games, it is right in my wheelhouse.
Nintendo has certainly delivered another helping for the 3DS, with a huge roster of characters and a slew of new gameplay modes, many of which focus on customization.
In addition to playing with a customizable set of Miis, Players can also tweak any of the characters making them hit harder or move faster, or upgrading special attacks. This gives more traditional fighting and wrestling game fans a chance to balance out a character just the way they want, and build them to fight their friends. But it can be turned off at the flick of a button, which ensures players who aren’t willing to spend a lot of time can still sit down and play.
All-Star Mode, a special battle royale mode where characters are fought in the order they were published, and Smash Run, in which players build up a character by collecting power ups, then fight one on one, are quick and fun diversions. Classic mode also returns, this time with branching paths that let you choose your opponent.
Nintendo seems to have wrung every drop of power they could out of the 3DS, with a huge roster of characters, and a collection of new and returning stages that look great. But the 3DS does present some limitations. The loose analog stick on the original 3DS makes movement a bit muddy and tough to control. The game has trouble differentiating inputs, particularly between up and side attacks. The screen resolution is also a bit lacking, with tiny figures occasionally lost amid the clutter.
If you are a Nintendo fan, you likely already have this one. It is a worthy successor to previous installments, and the sheer variety of gameplay modes and characters ensures there’s something for everybody. Smash Bros is available from Nintendo, Amazon, or your local games shop.
By the way, my Friend Code is 5327-0999-1447.
The City: 008: Norm
October 8, 2014
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Twenty floors below, the Personal Banking Center was opening its doors. People preferred to do their banking in The City. Midas was very proud of the fact that they had never been robbed since they were open. Or so City Records would have you believe.
There’s a first time for everything, Norm thought, adjusting his glasses and hat in a chromed pillar. He waited around the lobby for a cubicle drone, and made a careful catalog of entrances, exits, cameras, and visible security measures. It could be done. He tried not to smirk during the mortgage consultation. It wasn’t easy.
The City: 007: Emily
October 7, 2014
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The City was the center of the world, and Emily sat on the throne. At least, that is how she considered her desk at Midas Bank. The City, and by extension Midas, had become the world’s clearing house. Every day, billions of Dollars, Euros, Yen, Yuan, Pounds, and every other trading currency flowed through her gates, were converted to credits, passed through a few more hands, and left again. She logged the transactions and sped the bundles on their way. She didn’t know much about international finance law, but that wasn’t her department. She was certain everything was completely legal.
The City: 006: The Buyer
October 6, 2014
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Augustus watched the other man over their glasses. He was still smiling that damned Guy Fawkes grin. He’d never seen it falter, no matter how hard he negotiated. And he was just as good. A world champion poker player. And now the game was over. “So now that you’ve got my stake, what will you do with it?”
He set down his glass. “My backers think like you do. The City is an efficient way of concentrating capital. But I see it as so much more than that. There is so much potential here. I’m going to do wonderful things.”
The City: 005: Laura
October 3, 2014
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Laura was the owner at a very exclusive night club. She had a long, lucrative night, but it was morning now. The dance floor was empty, the chairs had been placed on the tables, and the the rest of the staff had gone home. She should be home, too. But you can get anything at any time in The City. Especially if you’re Augustus Sizemore. So she opened up and brought them a bottle of champagne. She poured herself for the CEO and his guest. She marveled at how prettily it sparkled in the new day’s sunlight. They clinked glasses.
The City: 004: Bob
October 2, 2014
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Bob knew every turn and corner in The City. He could get from The Heights to The Bay inside of ten minutes, in any weather, at any time of day. He’d been a driver for Midas Corp. for five years, and he’d been Augustus Sizemore’s chauffeur for two. Before that, he’d been a Daytripping Gearhead. Once he was the king of the underground street racing circuit. But everybody has to grow up and get a real job sometime. The doors opened and two men got in. One was his boss, the other, he did not know. Bob started the engine.
The City: 003: Gina
October 1, 2014
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Gina watched the jumper on the exterior cameras. Her chute was a cheap model, without any stabilizers. You could get one of those for the credits you’d find lying in the street. The kid was a Daytripper, not a Citizen like her. And she didn’t know how strong the crosswinds blew up here. They buzzed for her in the conference room. They must have finally finished. She wished the kid happy landings, and went in. The signed contract lay on the table. The mysterious gentleman looked happy, but her boss just looked tired. She took it, and left the room.
Hugh Likes Podcasts: Hidden Harbor Mysteries
September 30, 2014
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Produced by Bryan Lincoln
Written by Jay Smith
hiddenharbormysteries.com
“Hidden Harbor Mysteries” is a lost 1930’s radio drama that never existed. Dreamed up by HG World creator Jay Smith, and brought to live by Fullcast podcast-producting powerhouse Bryan Lincoln, the podcast recreates the feel of a radio show with an astounding level of verisimilitude, and touch of weirdness.
Supposedly recorded in 1936, and set in a vision of post-World War II America locked in a hot war with the Soviet Union, Hidden Harbor Mysteries is a pulp serial in the tradition of “The Shadow.” The series stars Veronica Giguerre as “The Femme Phantom,” a crime-fighting socialite with as yet mysterious powers, and features an array of talented podcasters and voice actors including Dave Robbison, Rish Outfield, and Renee Chambliss. With three episodes released as of this review, it is classic pulpy fun, with a few clever nods to the genre.
I will admit that I haven’t listened to Smith’s other projects, but this one has me hooked. The writing is sharp and sly, mixing a modern sensibility with period style. The delivery is also top notch, with great performances by Veronica and Dave in particular. But the real hook here is the presentation. Smith’s writing, the cast’s performances, and Producer Bryan Lincoln’s masterful skills with audio editing software recreate the experience of tuning in to a 1936 broadcast with 2014 technology. It is challenging enough for a fullcast producer to create the illusion that the actors are in the same room. Bryan has managed to do one better, bringing a live on-air both from eighty years ago back to life. This illusion is further sold by the stylish intros and outros, complete with cigarette ads touting doctor recommendations.
Hidden Harbor Mysteries is a classic pulp adventure for the modern podcast listener. Check it out at their website, or subscribe in iTunes.
