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GR Interview: Artist Paul Robertson

 

Paul Robertson is a quiet individual who’s imagery is as powerful and iconic as any digital artist. He’s from Australia, yet might be best known for his work on the Scott Pilgrim video game. With one look at his art and then the game, it’s obvious. Robertson’s art style echoes that of games of yesteryear, yet the subject matter has both retro elements and iconography yet is filled with cyber energy and excitement. His current work at Giant Robot 2 is a series of prints in Diversions.

 

GR: Your work has a 8 bit feel. Is that too trite of a thing to say about your work? Or is it 16bit?

PR: I don’t think it’s fair to call it 8 bit or 16 bit, it seems like those terms are thrown around alot without knowing what they actually mean. I’d say I just work in pixels and usually low colour pallettes. 

GR: Can you explain the process by which you create art?

PR: When I have an idea for something I’ll sketch it down on paper, or a rough pixel sketch first. Then I’ll just gradually pixel over it, edit things here and there, and push things around until it doesn’t look terrible. I don’t think I’m a natually good drawer so I always do a lot of editing and adjusting. Pixel art is pretty accomadating for this kindof method.

GR: Is there a scene of artists or audience for your work in Australia?

PR: I have no idea. I’m not really into any artist “scenes” in australia. I think my work is mostly known online.

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ds · nintendo · pop cap · video games · zuma's revenge ·

GR Game Review: Zuma’s Revenge DS

by Robert Bruce (special guest reviewer from our close friends, Angry Bananas) Oh hai there, I’m reviewing Zuma’s Revenge. The game is Zuma’s Revenge, it’s the same game Popcap has been re-releasing onto every single console they can for the past couple of years. I guess this is the “sequal” to the original Zuma? To me, who is admittedly not a Zuma afficianado, it seems to be the same EXACT game they have been releasing on every console since… many moons ago, regardless of the title change. It’s not a bad idea, mind you. I see lot’s of profit in the Popcap buisness model. Regurgitation of a succesful game, especially a simple game of this nature that doesn’t get old with repitition, it makes a lot of sense, so I am not downing it. However, I have some problems with this particular game, and it’s iteration on the DS. The game is a typical Popcap style simple/ puzzle fun type game, with cutesie characters and jocular dialogue. Popcap games take “light/ casual” gaming to a new level, and really are one of the best, most consistently successful game makers in this category. …the frog stared suggestively… In Zuma’s Revenge, or ZR as I like to call it, you control a frog that shoots balls out of it’s mouth, toward other balls. It’s a lot like the Bust a Move puzzle mechanic, in that you must match up at least 3 balls of the same color and then they disapear. This type of thing repeats until you can clear the board of all balls. The balls are being spit out at a certain speed interval so you must quickly line up shots. There may be more than one line and areas of the line might be cut-off, forcing the frog to jump to another shooting vantage point. There are various special balls that will give you a guide, destroy other balls of the same color, etc. This type of gameplay continues ad-infinitum as with all puzzle games of this nature, with increasing speed, and pattern difficulty. There are some challenge modes, and some other modes, that help give the game some replay value and longevity. Of note, but not REALLY of note is that the theme is Hawaiin/ Samoan, Pacific Islander, fyi. Not much to say about that, so I leave that where it lies. As with all Popcap games, it’s a simple, straightforward, easy-to-pick-up as well as easy-to-put-down game. However, I don’t find this particular game to be the best Pop-Cap has to offer, and that’s really just a feeling thing. For me its just “eh…”. The other three main-line titles from Popcap are a little more engaging: Peggle; Bookworm Adventure; Plants vs. Zombies. I think each of the story-lines, as cardboard and cheesy as they are, end up being charming. The tacked on story line to Zuma’s Revenge is just not that charming, and I find the game-play, just not fun enough to addict. On the other hand it...
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3ds · abobo's big adventure · angry bananas · dustforce · Events · game night · game night 3ds nintendo 3ds · game night 9 · GR2 · la game space · Meat Bun · nintendo · nintendo 3ds · street pass · video games ·

GR2 March 24 7-10p Sat – Game Night 9 – Abobo’s Big Adventure + Dustforce

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Game Night 9 at Giant Robot 2 Game Night 9 – I-Mockery’s Abobo’s Big Adventure and Hitbox Team’s Dustforce Saturday, March 24 2012, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Giant Robot 2 2062 Sawtelle Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90025 gr2.net (310) 445-9276 In conjunction with the Attract Mode, Meat Bun apparel, Angry Bananas, and LA Game Space, Giant Robot is proud to host Game Night 9, an event that takes place at GR2 about every two months. For this eighth installment, we are featuring two games: Abobo’s Big Adventure and Hitbox Team’s Dustforce. Abobo’s Big Adventure features hardcore 8 Bit action and Dustforce is a beautiful yet challenging platform. Games are free and fun to play. Also bring your Nintendo 3DS for StreetPass action. Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based publication about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles. Game Night 9 will take place on Saturday, March 24th 2012, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. For more information about Game Night, GR2, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact: Eric Nakamura Giant Robot Owner/Publisher eric@giantrobot.com (310) 479-7311
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