Gamr Drivl: "Red Dead Prohibition"

After writing my last video game-related entry, about How I'd Reboot "Freedom Fighters," I realized this would be a good platform for me to post similar ideas that bounce around in my head. Because, in case you haven't noticed, my brain likes to think creatively about a variety of subjects, all usually in the interest of finding good potential for storytelling.

So, here's another idea that's been riding around in my brain meats for a couple of years, that first came along while I was chatting at work with a colleague. We got to talking about a follow-up to Rockstar Games' 2010 acclaimed Western-themed sandbox game Red Dead Redemption, itself a spiritual follow-up to 2004's Red Dead Revolver. The Western gunslinging revenge story Revolver was something of a cult classic, but Redemption-- which followed the path of John Marston as he set out to take down his erstwhile outlaw partners at the behest of some corrupt government lawmen. Redemption's sprawling landscape took players through deserts, plains, forests, and mountains, while in the background there was the definite impression that the era of the "Wild West" was drawing to a close.

The ideas I set out below may seem slightly less relevant now that Red Dead Redemption 2, a prequel to Redemption, has been confirmed as dropping at some point in 2018, but hell, there are still ideas here that could be utilized for future entries in the franchise. Below the break, I'll talk about some basic story notions and gameplay mechanics that could be incorporated if Rockstar decides to do another follow-up at some point down the line.

Destiny 2: Condemnation

Notes from Jay: A brief little bit of writing. What might be going through the mind of the Guardian (the player-character) from Destiny 2, after their encounter with the overpowering Dominus Ghaul, the new villain. Inspired by the "Our Darkest Hour" trailer for Destiny 2 from Bungie. Ficlet below the break.

Gamr Drivl: How I'd Reboot "Freedom Fighters"

So Freedom Fighters was a video game made by IO Interactive (the same developers that made Hitman 2) that came out back in 2003 that should've gotten more love than it did. It was a third-person shooter set in an alternate history modern day, where Soviet Russia won the arms race and dropped the first atom bomb on Berlin, and so they became the more dominant power in the world. And then in the present day, they launch an invasion of the United States and occupy the country. You play as an average Joe turned resistance leader that fights against the occupation. It's like Red Dawn, except set in New York City. You had to make use of cover to avoid enemy fire, and use a squadron of up to 12 NPC fighters to flank the enemy and defend positions. It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty good, and never got the sequel it deserved.

When the Homefront games came out, some people were calling them a spiritual successor, but this was only because they dealt with "alternate history where enemy nation is the dominant superpower and occupies America." The first Homefront game was just a relatively bland FPS game that never really clicked to me, and Homefront: The Revolution was a hot mess of ideas that I couldn't even bring myself to finish.

So, let's see how I'd reboot Freedom Fighters.

Destiny bit - A Taken Kell

You are a Kell. The hand that guides your House. The sword that smites your enemies. The shield that protects your kin from the Whirlwind. But your life is pain and paranoia. They claw and slash at you, they plot and scheme against you.

You have been taken.

Let your hand rest. Sheathe your sword. Set down your shield. Their claws cannot reach you. Their machinations hold no power.

What do you draw your determination from? What drives you to rule? 

Your people were once strong and powerful. You commanded kingdoms and empires. You want to reclaim this glory. But your people have become few and conflicted. Others seek to usurp your throne and steal your dreams. Weakness plagues your people's hearts. 

If weakness infects them, you must take it from them. 

There is a knife for you. It is shaped like [feed me your pain]. 

Take up the knife. Drink its edge. Take your new shape.

Wrestl Drivl: Re-Booking Tim Donst, Eddie Kingston, and the Chikara Grand Championship

In my last installment of this periodic series, I re-booked a Wrestlemania match between Dean Ambrose and Brock Lesnar. I've debated since then about what my next installment should be about. Re-book a specific match, or a gimmick concept, or even expound on how I would change up the pay-per-view structure.

I've re-thought things a bit, and this idea just came to mind. One of my favorite indie wrestling companies is Chikara Pro, based out of Philadelphia. What makes Chikara unique is its approach to long-term storytelling, very unlike most other wrestling companies. Not everyone agrees with some of the storytelling decisions that are made, and I'll admit to being one of them.

Today, I'll be taking a look at Eddie Kingston vs Tim Donst from Chikara's 2012 season finale, and its aftermath.

Destiny: The Black Hole of Calcutta - Part 2 - The House of Gears

Note from Jay: Go back and read part one of this series.

Summary: A three-Guardian fireteam goes into the ruins of Calcutta, following an energy signal.

Destiny: The Black Hole of Calcutta - Part 1 - A Crazy Plan

"Remind me again why we came to Calcutta?" Rega-7 demanded as she hunkered behind the overturned cargo truck. Plasma rounds splashed off the rusted hulk as the Walker's rotary cannon fired. Eliksni chatter barked around them, and she ducked lower as Shock rounds spiraled over her head.

"Unknown energy signal was detected here," Wahei's tone was bright, heedless of the Walker's rotary cannon swiveling in her direction. As plasma chewed through the ceramacrete K-rail, she Blinked to another piece of cover, a similarly rusted hulk of an air-car. "And there's a lot of artifacts to be found here. Master Rahool and Ikora are both eager to get anything we can recover here. Two behind you," she added, as an afterthought.

Rega swiveled around and raised her hand cannon, snapping off two quick shots, and two Dregs fell back. "Did either of them mention that Fallen are swarming all over the damned place?" She flung an incendiary grenade into the hole after them, and heard howling from within before flames shot out along with the whump of the explosion.

Wahei tilted her head, and Rega knew the Awoken's lips were pursing in thought behind her helmet. Please don't get distracted by the language, the Hunter thought to herself, and sure enough, Wahei's tone was thoughtful. "Do Eliksni swarm, per se? The ruins of Calcutta are, indeed, teeming with them, but swarming is a verb better suited to describe the Hive--"

"Not the time, Wahei!" Rega shouted as her Hawkmoon barked three more times.