LOST Finale: $900,000 For A 30 Sec Ad

On Sunday, May 23rd, the TV forecast looks a little cloudy with a chance of cash-money! TV By The Numbers is reporting that the series finale of LOST could rank up there with other popular TV show series finales like Friends and Seinfeld.

"The cost of a 30-second ad in the finale episode of Lost is coming in around a whopping $900,000, according to media buyers. [...] During last year's upfront, a 30-second spot for "Lost" was selling for an average of $213,563, according to Advertising Age's annual survey of ad costs in prime-time broadcast shows."

For a monumental finale of this caliber, I'm not surprised. In fact, I think that average may rise just a bit more. Jeez, just hearing about the upcoming finale makes me sad. What are we losties to do??

Monday Eargasm #8: Youngblood Brass Band - "Brooklyn"

Turn that radio off! We know you grow tired of the cookie cutter top 40 hits that's bombarded at you 23 time a day. Let us soothe your ears to something new and maybe introduce you to something entirely different, no tip required. All in a day's work for The Monday Eargasm:)

Not many good things come out of Wisconsin (cheese maybe?), but this Oregon, Wisconsin brass band definitely delivers a awesome unique sound that further evolves what brass bands are. Youngblood Brass Band is bit of New Orleans brass band, a little bit of Jazz, a healthy dose of hip hop, a flavor of funk/punk, and a whole lot of amazing. "Brooklyn" is my personal favorite from their album Center:Level: Roar and exhibits their unique style. Give it a listen and check out their website for more at YoungbloodBrassBand.com.

3D & Motion Gaming: Evolution or Gimmick?

Just last week, Sony announced the new motion controller called Playstation Move, being nick-named "Wii HD" by fans. This week, Nintendo announced that the 3D handheld system called Nintendo 3DS will feature 3D gaming without the use of special glasses to experience it. Later this year, all new 3D HD televisions will be released for consumers to gobble up. What's going on here? Are we witnessing an entertainment evolution or a shallow, short-lived gimmick? In my opinion - a little bit of both.

When the Nintendo Wii was released in 2006 and the months (and years) afterward, critics voiced their opinion about it's gimmicky motion controls and that its initial popularity will wane off. Fast forward to 2010 - The Wii is still selling out at retails everywhere and breaking records just this past holiday season. Nintendo has proved that there's a market for motion controlled gaming and a whole new market of video gamers to indoctrinate.

What Avatar did for 3D is the same thing that the Wii did for motion control - it legitimized the medium. Instead of using cheesy 3D effects like a pole sticking out of the screen, it focused on immersing the audience in the film. America agreed that it did this with flying colors. The success of 3D in Avatar is now spawning 3D everywhere from video games, theaters, and television screens.

What is the common thread between the motion control and 3D technology? Immersion. We are getting to a point where the technology is there to help us experience film, television, and video games in a whole new way. Instead of pressing a button to swing a bat, now we can actually swing our arm. Instead of watching a flat 2d screen, we can now experience more sense of perception and depth, which is closer to real life. That's the goal - to match our sense of reality with how we interact with new media.

There are many criticisms of these new development. One is that many people are still not impressed and developers are going to waste most of their time utilizing this new technology with mediocre results. My answer: well... yeah, but only at first. New technology is just that - new. Just like when a new video game system is release, first generation games will not utilize the system's full potential. Give them a few years to learn the ins and outs and then you get amazing games later on. 3D and motion control may not completely WOW us yet, but it's only a matter of time.

Another criticism is that this new technology is not geared toward hardcore gamers and we will be the ones to suffer from it. I say no way! Motion and 3D won't hurt hardcore gamers at all, because there will alway still be developers who will make games for the core gamers. For example, digital music is today's standard but vinyl records are still produced with many who think it sounds better. This evolution won't bring the end to the Grand Theft Auto's, Call of Duty's, or Legend of Zelda's. Trust me, those will still be there. Now we'll just have to share the gaming space with our mom's and their Wii Fit's. If anything, this will help the alienation of core gamers and non-core gamers.

Face it - we're in a middle of an evolution. With new technology, we have to evolve and become better. What we're seeing with 3D and motion control is just the beginning. There will be many hills and bumps in the road, but for every muddy street, there will be a beautiful sunset of a game. And when we reach that destination where we can jack ourselves completely into new worlds Matrix-style, we'll forget criticisms even existed. But for now, I'll just enjoy the ride.

Monday Eargasm #7: The Whigs - "Kill Me Carolyne"

Turn that radio off! We know you grow tired of the cookie cutter top 40 hits that's bombarded at you 23 time a day. Let us soothe your ears to something new and maybe introduce you to something entirely different, no tip required. All in a day's work for The Monday Eargasm:)

The Whigs, the biggest thing to come out of Athens, GA in awhile, just released their third album last week titled In The Dark. This week we feature their first single "Kill Me Carolyne." I had the great opportunity to work with these guys and their manager and they are some of the coolest guys ever. Catch them on the Late Show with Dave Letterman on Thursday, April 1st. Also, go to their website to download the free MP3 of "Kill Me Carolyne" and listen to two other tracks from the new album! TheWhigs.com

Top 5 Green Characters in Geek Culture

Happy St. Paddy's Day! To celebrate while you watch The Boondock Saints and drink your green beer, we here at the Cross Pad honor our top 5 green characters in geek culture. No, not those tree-hugging hippies. We're talking green machines that fill our pop culture hearts. Cheers!

5) Oscar the Grouch (Sesame Street)

How can we not honor our favorite ungrateful, yet educational, trash can living hobo? What's actually in that tin can, anyway? Btdubs, did you know that Oscar was originally orange in the first season on Sesame Street?

4) The Green Man (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia)

Oh, it's the lovable, randomly placed Green Man from It's Always Sunny. Thanks to the show, we've caught this mysterious character at baseball stadiums, bars, and your local frat parties. Thankfully, I'm pretty sure it wont be the last either.

3) Leo, Don, Ralph, & Mike (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

These guys count as one entity in my book. They took over lives (including my own) during the 80s-90s appearing in movies (awesome at the time), TV shows, lunchboxes, toys, comforters, and... rock & roll concerts? Yes, our favorite mutant kick-ass turtles tried tapping into their musical side for the Coming Out Of The Shells Tour (not so awesome at the time). Kudos to anyone that has seen this hilarious special:)

2) The Hulk (Marvel Comics)

HULK NO LIKE FULL SENTENCE. Yet, he's a genius doctor. This guy has away represented the anger that grows inside us, except he gets to live it out. Lucky. Seems like Hulk also enjoys a drink or 20 and tweet about it. What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than to drink and read Hulk get smashed on Twitter? Follow him @DRUNKHULK.

1) Yoda (Star Wars)

I mean, c'mon. Who did you expect? The ultimate little green bad ass is the king of geek culture. He's spanned 5 movies, countless video games and expanded universe stories, and won't be giving up his throne anytime soon. Who knew that crazy old hermit on Dagobah was once a twisting, hyper-active Jedi Knight? His battle with Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith stole the show. ...Ah, what the hell. Follow him @Yoda.

Have a fun and safe night!

Monday Eargasm #6: Cage The Elephant - "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked"

Turn that radio off! We know you grow tired of the cookie cutter top 40 hits that's bombarded at you 23 time a day. Let us soothe your ears to something new and maybe introduce you to something entirely different, no tip required. All in a day's work for The Monday Eargasm:)

This week's Eargasm features Cage the Elephant's "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" from their 2008 self-titled debut album. This single was also featured in last years popular video game Borderlands for the Xbox 360. Perfect twangy rock for your daylight saving morning!

Check out Cage the Elephant's official website!

Michael Giacchino's Inspiring Oscar Acceptance Speech

Even though the Academy Awards were given this past Sunday, Michael Giacchino's acceptance speech has stayed in my head. The amazing musical composer won the Oscar for best original score for Up and instead of going through the motions of thanking everyone, he decided to inspire this creative generation.

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"...I was nine and I asked my dad, 'Can I have your movie camera? That old, wind-up 8 millimeter camera that was in your drawer?' And he goes, 'Sure, take it.' And I took it and I started making movies with it and I started being as creative as I could, and never once in my life did my parents ever say, 'What you're doing is a waste of time.' Never. And I grew up, I had teachers, I had colleagues, I had people that I worked with all through my life who always told me what you're doing is not a waste of time. So that was normal to me that it was OK to do that. I know there are kids out there that don't have that support system so if you're out there and your listening, listen to me: If you want to be creative, get our there and do it. It's not a waste of time. Do it. OK? Thank you. Thank you."

Personally, I couldn't think of a better time to hear such inspiring and motivating advice. Thank you, Mr. Giacchino. We are listening and we will do it.

Now go finish scoring LOST as I'm sure your music is going to make me cry like a baby during the series finale. :)

Monday Eargasm #5: OK Go - "This Too Shall Pass"

Turn that radio off! We know you grow tired of the cookie cutter top 40 hits that's bombarded at you 23 time a day. Let us soothe your ears to something new and maybe introduce you to something entirely different, no tip required. All in a day's work for The Monday Eargasm:)



OK Go is a viral video making machine!! Their new video for "This Too Shall Pass" from their third studio album Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky has been gaining a ridiculous number of views which could compete with their last viral hits. It is the familiar "chain reaction" video which gets down right ridiculous towards the end. Fun and catchy tune with awe-inspiring visuals, great job OK Go!

Check out their official page at okgo.net!

Crazy Week For The Video Game Industry

DRAMA.

This was one intense week in the video games industry, which affected game developers and gamers like you and I. Former CTO Jason West and president Vince Zampella of Infinity Ward, the makers of the cash cow that is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, were fired by their employers at Activision for "insubordination." Activision, one of the most successful video game publishers in the world, is currently searching for documentation linking West and Zampella to Electronic Arts with the possible creation of a studio outside of Activision. West and Zampella shortly after filed a lawsuit against Activision for unpaid royalties from the success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and for the rights of control to the Modern Warfare 2 brand. As of now, there is nothing new to report while the two parties flex their muscles, but it would seem like both companies would want to settle this very quickly as they sit on such an important game brand.

Also this week - PS3 APOCALYPSE!!

Okay, the picture is misleading. Shoot me. Wait, don't. Just hit me real hard. Anyway, this past Sunday night, "fat PS3" owners were greeted with a trophy error screen which made them unable to play certain games even if they were offline. According to Sony, "the internal clock functionality in the PS3 units other than the slim model, recognized the year 2010 as a leap year." Sony said the problem would be fixed within 24 hours and that PS3 owners should avoid turning their systems on until the issue was resolved. Fulfilling their word, Sony fixed the glitch and said "having the internal clock date change from February 29 to March 1, we have verified that symptoms are now resolved and that users are able to use their PS3 normally."

I can only imagine the stress and yelling going on at Sony while they were fixing this issue. Even though the glitch is fixed, it raises a new issue of our hardware connectivity to other networks. Online servers going down should be expected, but what really scares me is when that problem effects my single-player experience even if I'm not online. This will definitely affect the thought of all digital formats. Should we really put all our trust in a system that has the potential to fail even when we're not connected? Is there more value in analog devices like CDs or even **gasp** cartridges?

The West is Cool Again: My Thoughts on Red Dead Redemption

Okay, so I've never been a huge western fan but after doing a little research on this game I decided that it was a must-own. Red Dead Redemption is Rockstar's (best known for the Grand Theft Auto series) take on the wild west in it's waning years, just before World War I. Choosing the time period was crucial, with it being the final years of the western frontier Rockstar can use a more diverse weapon array. But a simple selection of weapons isn't the selling point for this game, I've found several really awesome reasons you should own this game...

First, since we're talking about weapons, I might as well mention this to start. Rockstar has implemented their new Rage system in conjunction with Natural Motions' Euphoria system to create one of the most realistic gun fighting mechanics I've ever seen. Basically, the person getting shot (hopefully not you) reacts completely to the power of the shot and where he/she (again, hopefully not you) is shot. This makes for a very realistic experience when plowing down outlaws, peasants, lawmen or anyone/thing you'd like. This amazing combination of engines doesn't just make fighting more realistic. Oh no, my friend, this "reaction based" system makes for a truly unique experience in-game no matter what you're doing. Say you're on top of a building and you decide to fall off the front of it, hitting the porch cover and then the dusty road before you. That fall will most likely not look the same twice because the engine reacts in a natural flow we're all used to here in the real world. Now this will no doubt become a standard in gaming physics but for now, we must satisfy our cravings for realism with RDR.

Next on the list of reasons why RDR pwns is the look of the game. With the rate that games are coming out, everyone has to be one their toes as far as graphics goes and Rockstar has not forgotten this. RDR looks amazing, just go watch the debut trailer and look at the horses. You can see every muscle on the horses in action when you see them running along in the desert. To some of you, this may be something to overlook but for the select few that look deeply into games for unique elements, this is one of them. These graphics, along side the bold and simplistic red theme, make this game a true eye-catcher. Trust me, all you who have those big fancy HDTV's will love the scenery this game has to offer.

And now the defining element in any game (in my opinion, anyway), gameplay. RDR a gun firing mechanic called Dead Eye that might not be the most original, but definitely appropriate. Dead Eye is split into three levels (each level being accessible as more experience is gained). First, Dead Eye simply slows combat, making it easier for you to line up a shot. On the second level, "X's" appear on enemies at crucial points, allowing you to target vital areas, maximizing your effectiveness. At the third level you actually get to plant those pretty little "X's" all over whomever you choose. Multiple targets are possible. Using the third level can really make you feel like Doc Holiday when you mow down four gunslingers with four shots to the heart in less than a second. This ability is tied to a very fluid battle system that most reviewers have related to GTA IV (same as IV or better) which makes RDR a potential outseller of the latest GTA installment.

So basically, this game has everything. Shoot outs, exploration, guns, beauty, comedy (as Rockstar can only create), shoot outs, guns and more shoot outs. Any gamer looking for a fun GTA-like, open world game HAS to own this. I know May 18 (official release date) is a long time from now, but I feel very confident in Rockstar's ability to bring on the gaming magic with Red Dead Redemption. Even Adam Sessler wants to buy it.

Thanks for reading. Game on!

Monday Eargasm #4: James Morrison - The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore

Turn that radio off! We know you grow tired of the cookie cutter top 40 hits that's bombarded at you 23 time a day. Let us soothe your ears to something new and maybe introduce you to something entirely different, no tip required. All in a day's work for The Monday Eargasm:)

This week, I'm featuring the soulful sounds of James Morrison, the award winning English singer-songwriter from Rugby, Warwickshire. His song, "The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore," has to be one of the most beautiful break-up songs I've ever heard. Give it a listen and if you dig it too, check out his MySpace for more tracks.

You're welcome. :)