id Software Bought by ZeniMax

Kotaku just broke the news that legendary First Person Shooter developer id Software will be purchased by ZeniMax, parent company of RPG developer Bethesda Softworks.  The merger of id Software; the company that created the likes of Doom and Wolfenstein, and Bethesda Softworks; the studio behind Fallout 3 and the Elder Scrolls games, is huge news and an amazing opportunity for both companies.

Read id Software Bought By Bethesda Parent Company, ZeniMax @ Kotaku.com

When developers of this calibre get together, gamers everywhere win.  Not only does this mean that we’ll see more games from id software more often, but it also means that Bethesda will now have access to id’s cutting-edge Tech 5 game engine and whatever future brilliance id co-founder John Carmack pulls out of his ass.  Plus, a little more first person shooter experience for Bethesda wouldn’t hurt, since Fallout 3’s shooting mechanics were utilitarian at best.

Video Game Inspired Paintings

Artist James Barnett has created a series of oil paintings based on popular video games, what he calls Fauxvism.  The paintings feature virtual locales from Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2 and Fallout 3 to name a few, amazingly interpreted in the style of Les Fauves.  Barnett navigates the game world as an artist would in nature; finding a suitable vista to paint and works from there.  Below is a sample of Barnett’s work, the classic Team Fortress 2 map 2Fort.

Barnett created the series as a response to what he saw as “3D games slavishly imitating real life“, something that games like Team Fortress 2 are now shying away from.  Personally, I would love to play a game that looked like the stuff Barnett has painted. Where are the video game Matisse and Derain art directors of our time?!

Check out James Barnett’s Offical Site to see his series of video game paintings.  Also, if you’re interested in having a favourite virtual landscape put to canvas he also takes commissions.

Fallout 3: Broken Steel DLC Launch Trailer

Broken Steel, the third downloadable content pack for Bethesda Softworks immensely popular Fallout 3 will be released on May 5th.  The nature of Fallout 3’s original ending, meant that players were not able to keep playing after the completion of the main quest, a fact that irked many.  Bethesda recognized this shortcoming and as a result Broken Steel will continue the main storyline after ending of the game as the player and the Brotherhood of Steel seek to finish off the remnants of the Enclave once and for all.  The Broken Steel DLC raises the level cap to 30 and will also feature new quests, characters, enemies, weapons and locations.

Beware: trailer may contain spoilers if you have not completed Fallout 3.

If the previous downloadable content for Fallout 3; The Pitt and Operation Anchorage, is any indication Broken Steel will be a lot of fun and add hours of gameplay.

Podcast 4: Cat’s in the Bag

In this fourth podcast, Jeff tells us about the super important summer event that’s been keeping him busy (is it X-Men Origins: Wolverine?), Will explains how Fallout is like Metal Gear, and Lucas drinks from the precious “I ♥ Jim” mug. The dorks talk about new TV shows, bemoan the shallow ethnic diversity in superhero troupes, and debate the state of computer gaming. Prepare to be informed, amused, and offended.

Download: Dork Shelf Podcast 4 (54 MB, MP3, 78:50)
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Listen:  

Programme:

• 0:00 — “Vision of Art (feat. Company Flow)” by DJ Krush
• 7:00 — On movie ratings
• 17:00 — The Pirate Bay trial and piracy
• 28:00 — EA, and the dorks do Frank Caliendo doing John Madden
• 34:30 — [Unknown Song] by The Meters
• 40:00 — The Flash is so white
• 51:30 — Will on the state of PC gaming
• 74:00 — Xbox Live’s attitude toward women
• 78:00 — “Bad Luck Blues” by DJ Nu-Mark & Pomo

Discussed:

• GTA: Chinatown Wars, Henry Hatsworth, Bionic Commando, Fallout 3 DLC, BioShock
• Parks and Recreation, Dollhouse, Minoriteam
• Batman: Battle for the Cowl, The Flash: Rebirth, Preacher
• Terminator Salvation, This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Wild Things, Taboo
• McG, John Madden, The Comedy Network, The Pirate Bay