mbf tod@y is dead, long live mbf tod@y

Hello everybody. This is the last post to mbf tod@y. My blog has been superseded by version 0.2, which can be reached in a matter of seconds by clicking here. The upgraded version is more flexible and, hopefully, graphically more pleasant. I plan to transfer all the contents of this blog to my new one asap, so right now the new blog looks rather thin. Thank you all for visiting mbf tod@y! See you at mbf tod@y 0.2...

Ciao ragazzi. Questo e' l'ultimo aggiornamento a mbf tod@y. D'ora in poi, orientate i vostri browser verso la versione 0.2 di mbf tod@y, che potete trovare qui. Grazie a tutti per l'attenzione. Ci vediamo presto su mbf tod@y 0.2

Copenhagen rules

I'm back in Milan after a fantastic weekend in Copenhagen, where I gave a speech on SimCity at the mighty ITU, probably the hottest place on the planet for game studies. As you can read on this month's EDGE, "The IT University processes masters students through its Center for Computer Games Research, where programmes combine technical and cultural studies. From September, a new Game Education postgraduate programme, which amalgamates resources from ITU and three other local universities, will offer units that correspond to actual jobs on the game development team. However, assistant professor Troels Degn Johannson is quickly to add that the courses are education, not strictly vocational. While many graduates will find jobs in the industry, he feels it's equally important that the research they contribute to during their time at ITU can accelerate the understanding of what makes a great videogame, and applying this to new forms and concepts" (EDGE, May 2004, p. 078).
I could not agree more.

MUST PLAY: GAMERS NIGHT GROOVE PRESENTS 8-BIT SPECIAL NIGHT

For the lucky ones who live in NYC:

"This month, GNG (Gamers Nite Groove) takes you back to a simpler time, before all the 1024 bit Super-DVD Polygon Cel Shading Ultra-realistic madness overloading our TV screens today. Check out a schmorgasbord of classic titles, including Castlevania, Gradius, Zelda, Dr. Mario, and some of the most beloved series like Double Dragon, Mega Man, and Contra, plus tons more!

With ten separate screens and two full size projectors, all NES angles are sure to be covered! If you feel like taking a break from the 8-bit festivities, come check out our screening of classic video-gaming film The Wizard, starring everybody's favorite wonder boy Fred Savage. Watch as he unveils Mario 3 for the first time to an unsuspecting late 80's audience!

In keeping with the spirit of GNG, We have invited some unique and talented performers to provide us with just the right musical vibe to accompany your 8-bit flashback! Zone out to the sounds of Bubblyfish(http://www.bubblyfish.com)
and Null Sleep (http://www.8bitpeoples.com/nullsleep/) as they combine a futuristic Techno sensibility with the antiquated sounds coming out of their Gameboys-turned-instruments for something truly original, and only fitting for an event like this! Hope to see you there!"

VENUE: Tribeca Grand Hotel, NYC: 2 Avenue of The Americas
WHEN: Mon, April 26, 8pm to 12am
TICKETS: $7 at the door
NEW YORK-TOKYO: http://www.newyork-tokyo.com

Hideo Kojima on the state of Japanese game journalism

"It is shit". Metal Gear's creator is not very diplomatic when it comes to Japanese game journos. "Most Japanese reporters who come here from an interview - Kojima says in the current issue of EDGE - haven't done their homework; they haven't done their research, and you hardly consider them being intelligent creatures at all [...] I am certain that most game reporters in Japan are not really journalists, they are useless idiots". Kojima also said that "It's easy for us to compare the quality of reporters from Japan and other parts of the world when we visit E3 or ECTS, and this fact makes me hard." You can read the complete interview, "Jojima versus the Big Robots", on the May edition of either EDGE or VIDEOGIOCHI.