November Gaming Inspiration

This month's newsletter includes this article as well as Mystic Bull News and What's News in Gaming.

Certainly, Mystic Bull Games considers itself the hustler of culture. I’m not sure when my imprint gained sentience, but you might want to call someone about that. This is the non-gaming stuff that inspired us this month.

Another bad hair day.

• We lost a master of samurai cinema, and one of the greatest actors in Japan, this month. Tatsuya Nakadai appeared in over 160 films, including Seven Samurai, Ran, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, 13 Assassins and a heck of a lot more. Go grab one of his movies and watch a master at work.

• Predator: Badlands. I love when a creator has a different take on a property. I enjoyed Prey, and the same director has given us another great take on the Predator franchise. The whole thing is very gameable, of course, with some great callbacks to sword and sorcery: Dek, the Yautja protagonist is Conan through and through. We get some great Alien universe crossover. The Weyland-Yutani corporation as the inevitable antagonist, and I fully approve of mega-corps always being the bad guy.

Gaming Inspiration in Music

I spend a lot of time writing, walking, driving, and/or flying. Music helps me collate and focus. These are the artists I'm obsessed with this month.

But, I am from 1969

• Frozen Planet…1969. One of my favorite freaky jam bands has a pre-order for their latest album Echoland. They’ve released one track, with the full album due later this year. Check these guys out. I put them on when I’m writing or driving (or like this week – flying for hours and hours).

• Father of Peace. If you’re not listening to these guys, you’re probably relatively sane. Such a fun and freaky looking band out of Israel. They recently replaced their bass player, and it seems like their sound got a little harder as a result.

• That Cowgirl Sound. Western AF is a great independent true-western music producer if you’re looking to kick it shitkicker style. Sabine and Leyla McCalla gets you that heal-your-soul harmonizing cowgirl music.

• Damn. Pantydropper. Brothers Comatose and Wicked Game? Yes, please.

• Austin Music, Always. Hermanos Gutiérrez and Leon Bridges is a fantastic combination. Though I guess neither are from Austin. We tend to claim everyone that’s good.