https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcEO77xw20I

The Verge:

It’s actually more fascinating to watch the way that different fighters’ complicated Ultra moves spread out, unobscured, across the stage. If you just want to see what the martial arts style of your favorite character looks like without the game’s normal careful cutting, you can click over to YouTube, where they’re separated out with bookmarks.

I was just telling a colleague how much I wish I had learned 3D modeling and animation. This video drives my longing home.

On the topic of Street Fighter, take a few minutes to enjoy Pete Holmes’ star-studded and hilarious Street Fighter: Red Tape. Kumail Nanjiani’s Dhalsim is tremendous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7KOA_k79yo

Colin Moriarty, IGN:

Graphically, the new treatment is most impressive with Journey, but maybe that’s because I only played through a brief portion of Swan’s black-and-white intro sequence. Journey was a looker on PS3; it’s somehow even more beautiful on PlayStation 4. The lighting effects, the sand, and the way your character’s robes move and sway make for an aesthetically impressive experience. Journey truly is an incredible, emotional game, and it seems that it’s set to remain so on next-gen hardware. I’m not so sure I actually want to play it again on PS4, but that’s because I promised myself I’d only play it once through on PS3. The game resonated with me so much that I’m afraid seeing it all again would ruin that experience.

John Siracusa must be excited.

Megan Farokhmanesh of Polygon, in conversation with Nate Fox of Sucker Punch, on the inclusion of Fetch as a playable character in Infamous: First Light:

Until now, Infamous has never given a female character a leading role. This was largely because of the assumption that “we thought that the demographic of game players were dudes and they identified with dudes,” Fox said. He pointed to BioWare’s Mass Effect series; in 2011, the developer said only 18 percent of players chose to play as a woman. That number was reiterated during a PAX East panel last year.

I love the admittance of assumption. Happy to see this message being spread throughout AAA Dev teams.

Ed Catmull, excerpt from Creativity, Inc.:

For all the care you put into artistry, visual polish frequently doesn’t matter if you are getting the story right.

I have always said I’d lose it the day we lost Robin Williams. The man’s work always seemed to help me make sense of this world.

As Genie, he taught me that anything was possible. As Peter Banning, he taught me to never grow up. As John Keating, he taught me how to look from a different perspective. As Sean Maguire, he taught me the importance of companionship.

Growing up a child of divorce, I never saw my father as often as I’d liked. My father is a child at heart and I can never get enough of his company. When he wasn’t around, I was able to find his humor and guidance in the performances of Robin Williams. I will never be certain of how I made a connection between my father and Robin, but losing Robin feels a lot like losing family. 

RIP, Robin Williams. My thoughts go out to the Williams family.