Monday, November 23, 2009

I'm Doing Science and I'm Still Alive

Yep!

So, remember that whole going insane thing I mentioned a while back in accordance with the upcoming NaNo Wrimo? Yeah, that's definitely kicked in. What can I say? I thought I could juggle it, and I can't, but that's okay because I've written a shit load! I am happy to say that the project is going so well. It is looking like yours truly will be heading across the 50,000 word finish line at the end of the month.

I thought I'd take a moment and give you a sneak preview of stuff that's coming up here at Pixels and Pies. Come December, we should be returning to our regular gastronomic gaming schedule. There will finally be that recipe for fried chicken to follow up the Dead Space review, and from then on it's much more games and food...

Like:

Dragon Age
Left4Dead 2
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Mirror's Edge
The God of War Series
Assassin's Creed 2


And that's just to name a few. Maybe there will be a play on Mabari Crunch? Or perhaps even Left4Dead Stew? We shall see!

It's really great to even just get on here and post an update. I really like P&P, and it's nice to know there's a really supportive group at its back too. I really appreciate the comments, especially the ones I got with the Salt Dough recipe!

Things are going great on this end. Me and the boy are kicking it and gearing up for Thanksgiving. He's been awesome, and a great support through this whole NaNo WriMo thing. I really owe a lot to the guy, and I'm really lucky. Love you!

I can't wait to see my family up north. It has been way too long! We've got a big Thanksgiving feast planned, and there is no doubt that the pics and recipes will find their way here eventually.

So, from all of us - okay, me :) - here at Pixels and Pies have a very Happy Thanksgiving, and if you're stuck on something to make this year check this out!!

The Autumn Bread!

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbl. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup canola oil
3 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups shredded pumpkin
(can stuff works fine too if, you know, there isn't a pumpkin lying around)
1 1/2 cups shredded apple

Preheat your oven to 325 (F)

Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.

In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, canola oil, eggs, and vanilla. Combine both mixtures and fold in the shredded pumpkin. Once the ingredients are all incorporated pour into a non-stick loaf pan.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check with a knife, it should come out clean. Cool for fifteen minutes and turn onto a cooling rack or other non-stick surface.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Dead Space

In the age of dragons, and upcoming creeds of assassins, I’m jumping back a bit once more to try out a game that has piqued my interest since last year. The trailers for it were rad, the concept was interesting, and I was definitely in the mood for a shooter. At the time, however, I had moved to North Carolina and was living on my friend‘s couch. Money made at a deli was not about to afford any kind of new game, and anyway the money I was making was being put to the apartment I am not posting this from! So, obviously no hard feelings, Life. Anyway, I forgot about this game until it showed up on the GameFly queue, and next thing I knew, I was playing it. This terrifying nugget of a game that had me on the edge of my seat, occasionally screaming things like “Mother fuckerrrr!” at the screen as I rattled the right trigger to de-limb my horrible opponents, is none other than EA’s Dead Space.

And it’s time to turn the lights off.




When Dead Space came out, the adventures of protagonist Isaac Clarke swept the score boards, and pocketed some handsome rewards for atmosphere, sound, and sound editing. The game even enjoyed a spot as Game Informer’s “Game of the Month”. And why shouldn’t it? The game really is incredible, and my anticipation has been generously rewarded.


These glow sticks are really fucking up my peripherals.

The game starts with you, Isaac Clarke, en route to the USG Ishimura, a “Planet Cracker” (guess what that can do) that has sent out a distress signal. Your ship malfunctions, crashing you into the Ishimura’s landing dock. You venture out with your crew, and are separated after a surprise attack from creatures you will come know as Necromorphs. Two of your crew survive, Zach Hammond and Kendra Daniels, and make it to safety where they lend their vocal support and direction throughout the rest of the game. And, hey, if you don’t like their advice, there’s a device in-game that projects a light filament in the direction you need to go.


Don't turn around, 'cause you'll see my arm breaking. Don't turn around, I don't want you seein' me die-yiiiie.

This navigational device is extremely helpful, especially in a ship like the Ishimura. Every detail in this ship is considered, from the dust particles circulating in the stale air, to the large deck with the translucent dome lending you a view to the drifting asteroids outside. Another touch given to the horror of this ship is that occasionally you will encounter survivors. You wouldn’t know, considering most of them kill themselves in (slitting) terrible (their own) stomach-churning (throat) ways. One particular death was actually all my fault! I lived by the “double tap” rule in this game, and one corpse double tap resulted not in a squishy sound, but more like an agonized screaming sound...

My bad.

The ship is so remarkably grotesque and delightfully deteriorated that any chance of leaving it is “remorseful sigh” inducing. The game does not suffer design exhaustion when not centered on its infected, morbid ship. I mean, check this shit out.


This is the introduction, and it's just jaw-dropping.

Gameplay is pretty sweet, though it takes some getting used to. The camera also requires some adjustment. Once over these minor hurdles - and I do emphasize minor - the game has a smooth run, and the controls become intuitive, extremely automatic. Supplying you on this death march through Ishimura are crates and stores, these hubs that are located through the level where you can change your armor, making it the second coolest service booth costume change since Superman. You will also find “Power Nodes” throughout the game that grant you access into some pretty juicy caches, as well as level your weapons, RIG (suit), and other devices at “benches”, which are cool, digital workshops.


Join the Necromorphs, where humans are just a slurp away!

The gadgets in this game are pretty sweet. I did not get a chance to use all of them, mainly because I tried to run through half of the game with just my initial gun. What? It was sweet. I was happy just relying on that. Okay, some people have mastered the art of only utilizing their plasma cutter - as it’s called - but my main weapons of choice in the game went on to also include the line gun (a wide beam of concentrated energy), a pulse rifle, and a force gun (much like a shotgun). You also have at your disposal a stasis engine, which can slow down your enemies or other obstructions such as a quickly-shutting malfunctioning door, or a spinning ventilation fan that can slice you in half. Also in this nest of technological pr0n is a kinesis module, which is basically like the gravity gun from Half Life 2. You pick shit up, you throw shit around, and it’s especially great when sensitive explosives (aka ammo-savers) are around.


When you are cooking with high heat be sure the heat is being directed at your food, and that you wear protective pot holders on your hands, and top of the line RIGs on your body.

You need every round you can get, because once you’re out you have only your stompin’ foot and pistol whippin’ (making Isaac ‘OG of the Month’ in my opinion). Where there is a primal satisfaction to bringing down a Necromorph with your bare fucking hands - see? - it’s definitely not easy, and opens you up to getting assaulted by any other given strain of Necromorph. The Necromorphs are creepy, and assault you with long limbs, and in some case razor-tipped tentacles, and in other instances a powerful, pointed tail. It’s easy to draw the zombie comparison to these creatures, but the game will violently and swiftly punish you for headshots. They are gruesome, disturbing, and in this respect they are perfectly designed foes. My favorite creatures were the Necromorph babies, which crawled around on all fours, sprouted tentacles, and could take you down with some acid spit, or by suffocating you.


Babies demand time, attention, and most importantly - floor spikes if you can ever rip their greedy tentacles from around your neck.

By the way, if you pick this game up, let yourself get killed once and a while. The developers put a lot of time into these grizzly ends, mainly to elicit the kind of giggles you tittered when you first played Mortal Kombat.

For example.


Send this to your local Joe Lieberman to induce brick shitting!

While we’re on the topic of allusions, I have to admit I think the Half Life fans would really dig this game. There is total player immersion, as in Isaac does not react vocally save for gasping for air in the vacuum of space and grunting with effort as he dispatches Necromorphs. This really lets you relate to the character. I always saw Gordon Freeman as a Rorschach test of video games, where his actions, performance, and mere existence are interpretted and lived by the players themselves in an altogether semi-conscious, semi-unconscious way. In this respect, Isaac is no different. The kinesis module is - whether intentional or not - a sophisticated nod to the famous Gravity Gun, much the same way I felt the wrench in BioShock was a nod to the crowbar. The cut scenes are all in game, the atmosphere is so tangible, and survival is your bread and butter.

Replayability 1
Design 2
Story 1
Sound 2
Gameplay & Mechanics 2
Score: 8 out of 10



Sure the controls take a minute, so does the camera, and the story is a bit hazy, but in no time the gameplay is intuitive, and the story can be looked up later when you aren‘t trying to save your ass. The replay value is there, especially if you stay tuned after the credits. What can I say? “Impossible” mode is pretty tempting, considering all the goodies you get. For fans of shooters, sci-fi horror, and… aw hell, games, I recommend this without a second doubt.

Coming up! The dish inspired by the game - Fried Chicken!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Chicken in 40 Cloves

This dish was so much fun. The garlic assault also felt strangely appropriate as a Halloween meal this year. This dish is awesome, because not only do you get juicy, fall-off-the-bone chicken, you also get a jar's worth of garlic oil. Yum!



Chicken in 40 Cloves
1 Chicken, divided
(8 pieces; 2 thighs, 2 breasts, 2 wings, 2 legs)
40 cloves garlic, peeled
10 Sprigs of Thyme
Kosher Salt (about 2 Tbl.)
Ground Pepper (also about 2 Tbl.)
2 Tbl. & 1/2 Cup of Olive Oil
(try to avoid that E.V.O.O. that Rachael Rae likes so much... no relation)
2 Tbl. Lemon Juice (optional)

My mom taught me a great trick when it comes to seasoning. Whenever she makes brisket at home, she will toss the meat in a plastic bag with flour, paprika, salt, and pepper. It's a great way to get an even coat that also saves you time, and mess

So, get your chicken parts, put them in plastic bag. Season with salt and pepper, and then toss with olive oil. Make sure you keep the bag shut, or you know, chicken juice and olive oil will fly!

Heat a pan over medium heat. You want to get a deep pan that can also withstand that heat of the oven for some time. That reminds me! Preheat your oven to 350 (F).



Sear all the chicken pieces, and then remove from the heat. Add the 1/2 Cup of Olive Oil, garlic cloves, and sprigs of thyme.



(PSST! For another layer of flavor, add 2 Tbl. of lemon juice!)

Covering and slide the pan into the oven to cook for 1 1/2 hours. Once the time is up, remove and let sit for 10 minutes.

Preserve that excellent oil by canning or bottling it. Another tip I have is to use the bigger pieces of garlic when picking your 40 cloves from the bulb. The smaller cloves are much more potent than the big ones, which provide a subtler flavor. The garlic, at this point, is so soft and tender that you can literally spread it like butter on a piece of bread. You can also brush pieces of bread with the oil and bake at 350(F) for 10-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. I also topped a few pieces with fresh mozzarella cheese - very yummy!



Still working through Dead Space, which should have a review up some time this week. Have a good one!