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gaiabros · 6 years ago

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Short on time? Head on over to our ELECTROWEEN Mixes page where we have created an archive for all of our ELECTROWEEN productions. There you will find our latest 2019 mixes to stream and download. If you like what we’ve been creating, please subscribe to GAIA BROS to receive news and announcements about forthcoming projects and articles.

You read that right, ladies and gents. 2019 marks the decisive end to a decade of Halloween-inspired, pop culture infused music productions, which have been in production since the series’ humble beginnings back in Fall 2009. Right off the bat, you may have a question or two popping up. Why is ELECTROWEEN ending on its decade milestone 2019 mix? Will there be more EDM mixes coming in the future?

Grab a beer and find a cozy seat, then come back and join us for the details. Story time, kids!

Setting The Stage: First Mention of the Series’ End

Before jumping into ELECTROWEEN 2019 details, I need to spend a little time establishing some relevant details from a year ago.

Last Fall, shortly after we had released ELECTROWEEN 2018, I flew down to San Diego to visit Matt and his girlfriend Jessica for the weekend of Halloween. We saw the Halloween movie reboot, carved up some pumpkins, dropped by Tatsu Ramen in L.A. for some delicious bowls of noodles, and drove up to Universal Studios Hollywood for their Halloween Horror Nights (in particular, to check out the Stranger Things attraction). We had a wonderful time together.

Pumpkin carvings by Scott, Matt and Jessica

It was during this visit when I announced to Matt that 2019 would mark the final year for the ELECTROWEEN series, ending a solid run of releases spanning our 20s to our early 30s. It has become a cherished tradition… something we’ve always looked forward to with the start of each new calendar year. ELECTROWEEN is Halloween for us, and a token of our years of friendship and love for the arts, electronic dance music, cult video games and films. In short, it is the summation of everything we love, and have come to love. This was bittersweet to talk about, but in the end it’s for the right reasons.

The rationale behind this decision is, for the most part, straight-forward. Since jump starting my DJ hobby back in 2006, I have released over 30 studio production mixes, manned two radio shows ([OuteR HeaveN] and PLURALITY at WSNC Radio), and performed countless live DJ sets at house parties, bars and private events.

In many ways, I’ve exhausted myself from the art form and feel a burning need to start creating my own music, rather than curating the works of others as I’ve done for the majority of my adult years. But also, life has happened, too.

Other Happenings That Have Influenced This Decision

During the same weekend I visited Matt last October, I simultaneously released my second album, Gravitational Waves, for my chillsynth project Gravity Mission. The album took three years to envision, create and release (collaborating remotely for the entire process) after a six year dry spell from our initial 2012 debut Before The Spoken Word. I came to realize the creative process was deeply rewarding and allowed me to evolve artistically in ways I had not previously imagined. In a real sense, it showed me that the barriers to creating music only exist in my head, and that changing course at any time is entirely possible.

Gravity Mission’s Gravitational Waves album (released October 26, 2018)

Lastly, life changes have been a considerable factor, often left out of the picture here on GAIA BROS. Having moved eight times since the release of my initial 2009 mix, I’ve been feeling the need to get more serious about putting down roots, connecting to a single place and getting acquainted with my local community. After my wife and I bought our first home in 2017, I started switching gears and pursuing other interests, including gardening, foraging, craft beer, table top gaming, GM’ing and traveling. It’s been a wonderful past few years, but a lot to handle. Thus I’ve had to make some tough decisions and learn to be more realistic with my time commitments.

“Tell Us About ELECTROWEEN 2019 Already, Please!”

Whew! Thanks for hanging in here for the entire reason why you’re reading this post! Let’s jump right into ELECTROWEEN 2019 — its inception, influences and more.

As the crown jewel in this decade long saga, ELECTROWEEN 2019 needed to be fantastically epic in a way that other mixes couldn’t be. It needed flair, funk and spirit on all levels. But most importantly, it absolutely HAD to be a fun reminder of why we started doing this whole thing in the first place. Returning full circle to our beginnings was key.

Where it all began: ELECTROWEEN 2009 (released October 16, 2009)

I began by looking back on our early mixes and questioning why we fell in love with the concept of merging EDM tracks and jack-o’-lantern heads together. We were creating something different, something bold — a novel form of expression that did not yet exist in the world. Several tracks started to stand out, and they were always the ones that jacked our bodies in ways unlike anything else. That’s when the realization struck: our final mixes for the ELECTROWEEN series needed to be celebratory and sentimental, using tracks with massive swing and vibe that pulse with uplifting energy and emotion.

This led to months of heavy Spotify rotations and research, ultimately pointing to the spiritual successor of the 70s: Nu Disco! A long time fan of Daft Punk, their French house discography was a great starting place for finding similar artists and classics. What originally felt like a monumental undertaking quickly became a super synthesized formula for hot disco beats and flashing synths, and the energy continued to pick up from there!

September Reunion in Portland, Oregon

A few weeks back, Matt flew up to Portland to celebrate the end of the ELECTROWEEN series. We GAIA BROS reunited over glorious moments of food, drink and beats at home, while foraging in the woods for Chanterelles, and driving out to the coast. Matt and I carved up our pumpkin helmets for the last time and fully embraced the defining characteristic of our early mixes.

For the first time in seven years, we embarked on a photoshoot with gold and silver capes in search of Portland’s most aesthetically gratifying street art. Some gloomy weather rolled in, but we ended up working with the rainfall to leverage its luminous quality for the end product. Below is a gallery of the final images processed from the shoot, which we have included within the download files for the 2019 mixes. Continue on after the gallery for liner notes and the final cover art designs created especially for the occasion!

VII’s Decade Celebration Mix Liner Notes

From Scott: My tenth and final mix for the ELECTROWEEN series touches on the things most sentimental to me. It is everything I have to give, and everything I could ever say, in a timeframe just short of an hour and a half. This is the longest production I’ve created to date, and looking back on it, I never wanted a single moment of it to end. The mix embodies the essence of the long and wholesome nights spent with close friends and loved ones… those irreplaceable times that will forever shine in our minds and hearts.

My 2019 mix is divided up into three seamlessly transitioning acts: a soaring and lofty Halloween introduction at-length (VG OST and Synthwave), an all night long celebration (Nu Disco), and finally a sincere and heartfelt closure, painting a pensive mood with vulnerable feelings of love, melancholy and, ultimately, acceptance.

Samples from Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night are most prevalently stitched in between tracks. I completely fell in love with this game upon its release this past summer. Matt and I have patiently waited four years for this game, as we were original backers from the April 2015 Kickstarter campaign. It’s clear that Koji Igarashi and Michiru Yamane have put their souls into this beautiful masterwork. I also drew samples from other favorites including Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Game of Thrones, and 300, which all have their own places within the narrative of this work.

Having ventured into the darkness (perhaps a little too long) in years past, I’ve found my way back to the grooves that bring the “feel good” vibes in spades. I should note here that initially I had started working on this mix back in March 2019 in order to get a head start on the final mix concept. With that said, I am extremely satisfied with the end product. The coin design illustration I created for the cover art came together effortlessly based on the passion encompassing this special time. The whole process has been cathartic on a deep level. I’m grateful for these ten years of ELECTROWEEN and will always take them with me into whatever comes next. Special thanks goes to Matt for believing in this project and being a great collaborator, my wife Lindsey for her support and encouragement, and David for listening and being a loyal fan all these years.

Loveless’ Decade Celebration Mix Liner Notes

From Matt: OHHHHH MAN! Has it been a decade already? Where did all the time fly? I was just a wee lad yesterday bumping to Scott’s mixes and now I’m a seasoned vet of the Halloween variety. Tonight I am going to see Lana Del Rey with my girlfriend which will be a great cap on the end of ELECTROWEEN. Lana’s moody and melodic music is of a bygone era. She really evokes the spirit of ELECTROWEEN (side note: thank you to Jessica, my aforementioned girlfriend, for introducing Lana to me). This year I open with an instrumental and a remix of her first big hit, Video Games. A song that reminds me of a few weekends ago when I visited Scott.

We went mushroom foraging and shot the ELECTROWEEN liner photos. We haven’t shot photos like that since 2012 and it was amazing. The rain followed us every spot we went that day, brightening up all the colors. It was a tough shoot, but well worth the results.

We also went to a retro video game bar in Portland. There, we found the Sega Genesis version of TMNT: Hyperstone Heist. I haven’t played that game since I was in grade school and it was an incredible moment to share with Scott. The song “Video Games” evokes a simpler time with a tinge of melancholy. I think I’ll always pair this experience and that song together.

ELECTROWEEN is coming to an end. As I type that, my heart hurts. When Scott and I spoke about it earlier this year, it bothered me. I wasn’t upset with the decision, but ELECTROWEEN has become an integral part of who I am. However, it is important to move on and hone our passions. You cannot be married to every creative thing you do, and ELECTROWEEN has come to a fitting end. I think Scott and I will take everything we learned over the years and make something truly magical and different in 2020.

As for my mix, this year it was more personal. I skipped many of the video game pleasantries that have made up ELECTROWEEN’s previous iterations. I tried to throw in all styles of music we’ve used in the past 10 years and kept the overall mix more funky and positive. Halloween is for mischief after all!

In 2019 Loveless (my DJ persona) is locked away in a mental institution and the key is thrown away. This, of course, is the end of ELECTROWEEN and Loveless’ fate is uncertain, but you always gotta leave the end open for a sequel. Thank you to everyone who has listened to these mixes over the years. It has been a labor of love that I wouldn’t have traded for anything else. From now until the end of time the crisp Autumn air will always feel like ELECTROWEEN to me.

Thanks For Listening and Being A Part of ELECTROWEEN!

We sincerely hope that you enjoy the ELECTROWEEN 2019 mixes while testing out some of your best moves this Halloween season. Whether this is the first mix you’ve listened to of ours or your tenth, we want to thank you for being a part of our community and keeping the spirit of Halloween alive. ELECTROWEEN has been one of the most meaningful projects of our entire lives, and it will always be here, preserved in time. The mixes will continue to be available on GAIA BROS well into the future; feel free to dive back in any time.

The era of ELECTROWEEN officially ends here, and a new one begins. What is to come, no one can know for sure…

—

I’d like to close this significant chapter of our lives with a special quote:

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman

Peace, Love, Unity and Respect — forever and always. ❤

VII (Scott Werley) and Loveless (Matt Konop)

The End of an Era: Celebrating 10 Years of ELECTROWEEN Mixes #electroween #halloween #mixes Short on time? Head on over to our ELECTROWEEN Mixes page where we have created an archive for all of our ELECTROWEEN productions.

#2019 #Celebration #ELECTROWEEN #Gaming #Halloween #Mixes #Nu Disco #Synthwave #VG OST

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gaiabros · 7 years ago

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Rain Falls In Darkness: Early Hours Confessions

I am a rogue.

However,

I want to be a better friend to everyone that I can.

Including myself.

I’m sorry for shutting you all out.

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#Friendship #Humility #Meaning #Understanding

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gaiabros · 8 years ago

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Short on time? Head on over to our ELECTROWEEN Mixes page where we have created an archive for all of our ELECTROWEEN productions. There you will find our latest 2017 mixes to stream and download. We will be adding additional mixes from other projects in the future, so please subscribe to GAIA BROS to receive forthcoming news and announcements.

Prologue: Alone In A Basement (An Origins Story)

In October 1994, somewhere in a small suburb of Detroit, I was playing by myself in my Ghostbusters tent in the drafty unfinished basement of my parents’ house. All of the lights were off, with the exception being the ceiling light near the stairs heading up to the main floor. It was almost Halloween, and my curiosity was unquenchable.

I had inside the tent with me a single battery powered cassette player and a tape that I had smuggled from my parents without raising suspicion. Being young and foolish, my inquiring mind drove me to ask but one innocent little question:

“What else is there?”

With the help of the internet, I tracked down the memory of a tent that had almost been consumed by time. What is shown below closely depicts the visual atmosphere of this personal memoire I wish to share. This I remember vividly.

Encounter With The Tape

I had managed to load my cassette player with the blood red Halloween tape my Mom used for luring brave trick or treaters to our doorsteps. This particular tape included all sorts of haunted sounds, noises and things within the realm of the supernatural. Ghosts shrieking. People screaming. Chains dragging on cement. Zombies moaning. It was truly horrifying for a seven year old boy; my brain at that age often blurred the lines between fantasy and reality. I dared myself to listen as long as my bravery lasted, which was no longer than five minutes. Spooked by my imagination recreating all of the surreal scenes around me, I ran upstairs as fast as possible, never stopping to look behind me at what was following and chasing me…

Leaving that tape to continue to play on, into the empty darkness of bare, cold concrete and musty air…

A Tale From A Dark Place, Carried

Undoubtably, this was one of the scariest experiences of my entire life. I distinctly remember the feeling of being chased by the void and my heart racing at insane speeds. The influence of that vivid moment in my early childhood left a permanent scar on my subconscious mind. Looking back, I can say that it planted an endless curiosity of the unknown — and an eagerness to come to terms with it.

“No End Darkness” — my latest mix released for ELECTROWEEN 2017 — is the most recent and honest attempt I’ve made at revisiting that frigid, dreadful basement and remembering what it was like…

Sensing the coldness of the air…

Grasping the presence of absence….

Witnessing the canvas of the void…..

Feeling hopelessly vulnerable and alone.

Twenty three years later, that tape still plays its haunted cacophony into the atmoshere within the depths of my soul.

Reconciliation

This is my personal encounter that I’ve chosen to share with the world, and by doing so, have come to confront my fears and the wholeness of life once again.

Knowing the darkness is a personal experience we must all wrestle with in some aspect of our mortal existence. However, it is through the honesty of our shared vulnerability that we discover the most promising truth of human existence:

That each of us is not alone.

“No End Darkness” Mix Liner Notes

From Scott: These are the sounds of a past golden age, paired with the technology of the present. Some of these tracks have echoed in my mind for the past 20 years and never left me. They are the video games and stories I grew up with, forever entwined in the fibers of the visionary synthwave works and gaming titles of today. This is the present in full reconciliation with the past. Everything is relevant, and nothing is forgotten.

These artists and their counterparts communicate the importance of narrative, of colossal struggle and the great lengths protagonists go to fulfill their missions. They tell of creative diligence, uninhibited imagination, and a reconnection to the core essence of humanity; that is, the capacity to endure life’s most difficult trials in dark times.

Key influences for this mix include Castlevania (The new Netflix Original series released in July, created by American film producer Adi Shankar), Stranger Things Season 1 (in anticipation of Season 2 releasing October 27th!), Game of Thrones (HBO’s masterpiece, particularly season 7 here), and all of the timeless 80s/90s NES masterpieces (in particular: Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania, The Legend of Zelda, and Mega Man series). While I know these creations are not for everyone, I could not hold them in higher regards nor offer more significant recommendations for those adventurous in spirit, mind, and heart.

I should note that No End Darkness is just as much of a political statement as it is a memoir. Perhaps some of the included pieces speak to your own experiences this year; maybe none of them will. It is crucial for me to note that my objective is not to seek agreement nor acceptance from its creation. This project came out of a need to express myself and challenge the forces dictating this very moment. Now that it has been released into the wild, it may very well speak for others too, but not intentionally.

This work is dedicated to my loving parents and brother; for introducing me to the darkness at an early age, and giving me the strength to learn from it and fight it, no matter the cost. Thanks for all of your support along the way. I love you guys.

“The Nightmare Begins” Mix Liner Notes

The Nightmare Begins came into being after one of the best gaming experiences I have had. Early this year The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild released with the Nintendo Switch. Then the idea was fully formed with my viewing of American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare. From those inspirations came a steadier mix filled with atmosphere instead of the bombastic electro that came in years prior.

Zelda BoTW is a video game all about exploration. Within the land of Hyrule, there are no waypoints or map markers telling the player where to go. Every destination you must set on your own by climbing up a high area to see interesting points in the distance. Complete directionlessness is given to you, but the developers trusted they built an interesting enough world that you’d want to explore anyways. In addition, I decided to play with the pro-HUD on, which takes away the minimap and forces you to remember your surroundings and paths. Just getting lost in the world was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had in a video game. Combined with themes of loss and Zelda’s timeless charm this is a perfect combination for ELECTROWEEN.

Getting LOST was what I took away from this game. The point was to go for a jaunt in the woods and get sidetracked. Find something that sparked your interest? That something could turn out to be a cute Korok (a type of woodland spirit) or a dangerous Guardian that could down you in one hit. Whatever the consequences it was always compelling and fun. Link, the character you play as, wakes up at the beginning of the game to find his own nightmare come to fruition. As Link, you must go through this waking nightmare. I wanted to reflect this in my mix, but with a much darker and slower tone than previous years.

I first came across American Horror Story with my girlfriend, Jessica. She asked me to watch it with her, as it is one of her favorite shows, I was reluctant. Historically, I’ve not been a fan of extremely scary tv or cinema. For those not familiar, American Horror Story changes every season in what story is told and the way in which it is told. We started by watch season 5: Hotel. Other than the performance by Lady Gaga, I didn’t enjoy the show. It was watching this year, season 6: My Roanoke Nightmare that got me hooked. The first half of the season is done in the style of true stories, that is, the “real” people are recounting their horrible time at the Roanoke Manner while actors act out the scenes. The second half of the season is played out like a reality show. The entire season is thrilling, tense, and extremely graphic. The many times I wanted to cover my eyes in horror, I also wanted to dive back into the show night after night.

Yes, a theme of My Roanoke Nightmare was getting lost in the woods. Unlike Zelda, this usually played out poorly for the heroes. Both Zelda and American Horror Story were my two and only influences for this mix. Usually, I have several others, but these two pieces of media were masters of their respective areas, it only felt right to draw from them.

Inside The Nightmare Begins: Different From Years Past

The Nightmare Begins is much slower than previous ELECTROWEEN mixes. It was very difficult for me to find songs that fit into what I wanted at the beginning. I started with a list of about twenty songs I thought could work, knowing that many had to be manipulated in ways I wasn’t quite comfortable with yet. I ended up throwing about half of my original track list out and completely replacing those selections.

The first song I knew I wanted in the mix was Hot Lights by Lany. This song set the tone for what I wanted the mix to be. A plodding medley focused on the somber mood, yet something you could dance to. My usual sources of Bandcamp and Beatport were quite useless at the beginning of my search. Fortunately this year I was exposed to quite a bit of Lana Del Rey, thanks to Jessica. Three of Lana’s songs are in The Nightmare Begins since she captures such a dreamy darkness with her voice. It was a perfect match!

Most, if not all, of the song selections were slowed down between 10 to 40 bpm — even Lana Del Rey’s songs were slowed down. Two songs, Somebody Else and Starboy were fast upbeat club remixes. Both of the song tempos were reduced heavily to give the exact feeling I wanted. Personally, I thought the slowed down versions sounded amazing. Check out the originals below:

I discovered it was difficult to pick out songs because I had to listen to the songs as if they were already slowed down. I had to see if the music would sound good together in a much slower tempo. Fortunately, it worked out for the best and now you can enjoy The Nightmare Begins.

Art and Music: The Voices of The Times

One takeaway we hope our work conveys is the reminder that no art form exists within a vacuum. Every personal creation is subject to the circumstances of the time and age from which it is crafted. In this way, these mixes give voice to an era ravaged by the evil-doing of cowardly men and women, the few seeking to fulfill personal agendas at the expense of the many. Every day has felt darker since their arrival, and the nights longer…

Right now, this Halloween season, we ask Karma to return the light to these lands again soon and conquer the darkness in which we find ourselves living. The great balance will be restored. In the meantime, we suffer through the long night together. Not just as a people, or a nation, but more so as a species that has survived hundreds of thousands of years of pain, grievances and tragedies alike.

As we continue to endure the darkness and nightmares before us and within ourselves, let us never forget the pendulum swings both ways.

Yours,

SW (VII) and MK (Loveless)

ELECTROWEEN 2017's No End Darkness and The Nightmare Begins are musical journeys into the depths of Hell itself. Short on time? Head on over to our ELECTROWEEN Mixes page where we have created an archive for all of our ELECTROWEEN productions.

#2017 #80s #Darkness #Electro Pop #ELECTROWEEN #Gaming #Halloween #Mixes #Nightmares #Rock #Synthwave #VG OST

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gaiabros · 9 years ago

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ELECTROWEEN 2016: Synthwave to the Grave

Celebrate Halloween with "ELECTROWEEN 2016: Synthwave to the Grave" #ELECTROWEEN #mixes #synthwave #darkwave

Short on time? Head on over to our brand new ELECTROWEEN Mixes page where we have created an archive for all of our ELECTROWEEN productions. There you will find our latest 2016 mixes to stream and download.We will be adding additional mixes from other projects in the future, so please subscribe to GAIA BROS to receive forthcoming news and announcements. The goal is to have everything in one…

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#2016 #80s #Darkwave #ELECTROWEEN #Halloween #Mixes #New Retro Wave #Portland #Stranger Things #Synthwave

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gaiabros · 9 years ago

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Electroween: A Retrospective of the Mix and Meaning

Electroween: A Retrospective of the Mix and Meaning #Halloween #djmix #Party #synthwave

Every year around this time Scott and I make a music mix called Electroween. Thoughout the years this mix has come to mean a lot to me. I want to share the beginnings of Electroween from my perspective.

Humble Beginnings

Scott and I met in college due to our love of music. We started off freshman year by stretching our wings as DJs at St. Norbert College Radio (WSNC at the time). However, our…

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#dark wave #electro #ELECTROWEEN #Halloween #Music #synth wave

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gaiabros · 9 years ago

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The History of ELECTROWEEN, or How I Found Myself

Scott shares "The History of ELECTROWEEN, or How I Found Myself" #halloween #mixes #lifefromdeath

Ahhhh, fall is in the air and the colors are changing before our eyes. It’s that time of year again. At our house, this equates to Trader Joe’s pumpkin pancakes, night walks with hoodies, and an unprecedented level of excitement and creativity. October is Halloween month, and that means it’s once again time for a particular annual tradition.

ELECTROWEEN.

For those of you who are scratching your…

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#Death #ELECTROWEEN 2016 #Life #Mixes #possibilities

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gaiabros · 9 years ago

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Ready those whips and equip your finest vampire hunting gear! Mondo recently announced it is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the epic Castlevania series with the release of a vinyl special edition of the original Castlevania OST, featuring some badass artwork by artist Becky Cloonan.

This 10 inch LP marks the first entry in a five part series; the others have not yet been announced but are confirmed to be on the way. What we do know is we can expect a lineup of Castlevania classics to be covered, including the most hardcore and highly regarded of all titles, Symphony of the Night. (Our souls are pulsing with the power of Crissaegrims and Firebrands right now!)

Mondo sold an initial run of copies at the 2016 Comic-Con International event in San Diego. Due to the cult-following of the series, copies are expected to go fast. Be sure to follow Mondo on Twitter to snag a copy. It’ll be up for grabs starting at 12 pm CST tomorrow, August 3rd!

For more dauntingly charming info on the 30th anniversary of the Castlevania series, head on over to the Mondo blog.

Mondo Unveils Castlevania 30th Anniversary Collection #castlevania # vinyl #swordorwhip Ready those whips and equip your finest vampire hunting gear! Mondo recently announced it is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the epic Castlevania series with the release of a vinyl special edition of the original…

#Artwork #Castlevania #Konami #Mondo #Music #Vinyl

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gaiabros · 9 years ago

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Not long ago, a little indie video game developer called Dodge Roll looked to the golden age of gaming, did its homework and created its first video game title Enter The Gungeon. This game was published by Devolver Digital (of Broforce fame) on April 6th for PS4 and PC. Ever since it entered my sphere of existence, I’ve been eating, breathing, sweating and dreaming about this game. Yes, it is that good. But I’m getting way ahead of myself!

Let’s check out the trailer for starters. Feast your eyes and ears on the killer visuals and polished sound. Tell me you do not want to play this game…

So, What The Hell is a Gungeon?

About this “Gungeon” game you’ve heard so much about lately. Take the concept of a dungeon crawler, then change the motif to guns and bullets. More precisely, guns shooting bullets at bullets shooting bullets at you while exploring underground dungeons. Hence, guns + dungeon = Gungeon. Yes, quite meta. But that’s part of the charm, and it will steal your heart like a newborn baby tiger. Its claws have dug dug deep into mine and won’t give it back. In just the first 30 days of its release, it’s been confirmed to have sold 400,000+ copies in the first month alone. But we’re only getting started here.

Enter The Gungeon is considered a hybrid of bullet hell (think gradius or other Japanese shoot em’ ups, often simply referred to as “shmups”) and roguelike genres. What does that mean? You’ll be facing a curtain of bullets from all directions while playing — especially during encounters with bosses — and the levels are also randomly generated, of which there are five to explore and die in. Rinse and repeat, the permadeath mechanic will string you along like a dog chasing bacon on a stick. You’ll be telling yourself “Just keep moving… just keep shooting…” and chances are, you won’t mind it in the least.

Here’s a nice comic style page illustrated by Deviant Art user Lastbeach which alone could make this game a cult classic!

Items, Guns and Secrets Galore

There’s a ridiculous number of guns and items that you can collect during your adventures through the Gungeon. Each one has its own unique personality which makes the game’s replay value go through the roof. You’ll need as many as possible to increase your odds of survival, as Gungeon is known for its difficulty and requires mastery of its patterns and fast-paced gameplay. There’s everything from wax wings to t-shirt cannons and mustaches to fish-shooting barrels. I find myself laughing out loud constantly at its zany antics.

Many secrets await the four “Gungeoneers” — the characters who shoot, dodge, and loot their way through the Gungeon in order to obtain “The Gun That Can Kill The Past” and undo the choices of their pasts that haunt them. And as many gamers know, secrets are what make great games truly exceptional. Thankfully, Gungeon delivers in spades. Remember the first time you played through Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and had your mind blown to pieces by its special ending? Well, Dodge Roll remembers, and it has added its own surprises to keep you coming back for more.

Graphics Made With Love <3

Gungeon’s graphical style is heavily influenced by heavyweight pixelated titles of time’s past, and the characters and enemies are all sprite-based. Yes, a tip of the hat to the golden era indeed. This is a personal favorite graphical style of mine and never grows old (when done right). Take the ephemeral movements and elegance of Alucard in Symphony of the Night and combine that with Link’s overhead top-down cartoonish style in The Legend of Zelda and you’ve got yourself Gungeon’s charming and slightly aloof design. It is whimsical yet dangerously intelligent, never feeling unoriginal or like a blatant copy of its predecessors. There’s a lot for other game companies to take away from here.

Check out this gallery of gameplay screenshots for a better understanding of what I’m talking about. There’s so much life and attention to detail here that I could swear I’m playing another game made by Koji Igarashi circa 1997.

Sweet Music (Like Cotton Candy For Your Ears)

The music in this game is just awesome. Like laser-gun-meets-neon-nightclub awesome. It’s the perfect blend of energy and vibrance to match the insanely colorful graphics of the game. I couldn’t imagine crawling through these enemy-laden deathtraps to any other musical soundtrack! Check out the official soundtrack created by Doseone on Bandcamp or listen below. Every time my ears are graced by its funky beats, I want to jump into the sky and fistpump the heavens.

http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=938443282/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=333333/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/

Additional Resources For Advanced Players

After playing the game for a couple of hours, you might have some questions that require answers. Thankfully, Gungeon’s fanbase has created an official Enter The Gungeon Wiki to clarify all that which you seek. From characters to guns and bosses to items, you’ll find everything you need to know in order to advance through the Gungeon’s hellish levels and kill the final boss. Secrets are also covered here, so I should point out not visiting unless you’re okay with reading potential spoilers. If you’re the type of person that likes to get involved around a niche gaming community, check out the forums at Gungeoneers and dive right in. There’s so much buzz around Gungeon that it’s hard not to get drawn into every last detail.

Live Streaming Sessions on Twitch

As an active Twitch streamer, I’ve been archiving my playthroughs on my Protomanlives Twitch channel. To join in on the intense action, follow me on Twitch or subscribe to my Twitter @protomanlives87 for live stream notifications.

Below is a short video I recorded last week of my epic fight against the third level boss Cannonbalrog. There were so many close moments in this video where I should have died, but somehow I cheated death multiple times and won. Hopefully my fellow gungeoneers will experience the same luck I had when exploring the depths of the Gungeon!

[iframe id=”http://player.twitch.tv/?video=v66122428″ mode=”normal” autoplay=”no”]

Time to Enter The Gungeon: Ultimate Bullet Hell #roguelike #dungeoncrawler #PS4 #PC Not long ago, a little indie video game developer called Dodge Roll looked to the golden age of gaming, did its homework and created its first video game title

#Bullet Hell #Dodge Roll #Dungeon Crawler #Enter The Gungeon #PC #PS4 #Roguelike #Steam #Twitch

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gaiabros · 9 years ago

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On February 9th, Santo Campo (featuring the lead talent behind Telltale’s The Walking Dead game series) released their first studio title Firewatch. Set in the Wyoming wilderness of 1989, Firewatch explores the unfolding circumstances of one middle-aged outdoors enthusiast named Henry.

Seeking to escape his troubled personal life, Henry takes on a firewatcher position away from society where he is guided solely by the voice of his female supervisor Delilah. Their blossoming relationship forged over walkie-talkie airwaves is soon tested by unsettling vibes.

Firewatch has earned an abundance of positive reviews on aggregator sites such as Metacritic and from industry juggernauts IGN and Kotaku. For a meager Jackson, you’ll be exploring the woods (and getting lost in them) for four hours. Various secrets and side areas add humorous touches to further develop the well-written storyline and its atmosphere. Because of these elements, replay is encouraged. However, the unique visual style and voice acting justify diving back into Henry’s intriguingly story for another playthrough.

Here’s a look at some gorgeous screenshots taken from actual gameplay footage. It’s hard not to feel mesmerized by the natural beauty within!

Picture yourself gazing at the setting sun over the distant mountains while having a listen to the official soundtrack. The melodies within present colorful glimpses of the landscapes you’ll encounter.

https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2099134065/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/

Critics have criticized Firewatch for its short length, which is a valid point but not a dealbreaker. My time spent adventuring through these lush environments — which are reminiscent of SF-based Tycho’s chillwave album covers — was well invested. It was the perfect game to live stream, as my friends cheered me on to complete it in one go. There’s plenty of beauty here that will not soon be forgotten, and a sobering sense of realism that lingers on long past the draw of the stage curtain. I walked away delighted, inspired and yearning for my next hiking getaway.

You can catch my complete playthrough of Firewatch on my newly launched Protomanlives Twitch channel or by watching the video below. For future streaming notifications, follow me on Twitter @protomanlives87.

http://player.twitch.tv/?video=v48424761

Getting Lost in the Woods of #Firewatch is a pleasure for the ages. #camposanto #thegreatoutdoors On February 9th, Santo Campo (featuring the lead talent behind Telltale's The Walking Dead game series) released their first studio title

#Adventure #Campo Santo #Firewatch #Streaming #Twitch

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gaiabros · 10 years ago

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ELECTROWEEN 2015: An Exploration of the Self

ELECTROWEEN 2015: An Exploration of The Self - Jekyll and Hyde Style! #Electroween #JekyllandHyde #Deephouse #Electrohouse

Matt and I are excited to announce that we have released our ELECTROWEEN 2015mixes to passionately celebrate the Halloween season at hand. These releases mark six years of Halloween productions for the series, which we’re pretty stoked about. After countless hours of listening, conceptualization, sampling, production work and mastering, the mixes have finally arrived just in time to get your…

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#2015 #Deep House #DJ #Electro House #ELECTROWEEN #Halloween #Hyde #Jekyll #Mixes #Progressive House

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gaiabros · 10 years ago

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The year is 1959. You are Kazuo, Akiko, Taro, Asuka, and Emi, a youthful team of five working for a local Japanese media station.

Your mission is to seek out and report on the frescos of the late Japanese artist Ichirou Mamiya which have been preserved inside the artist’s long abandoned mansion in the middle of the woods. However, upon entry the ceiling collapses and you are woefully greeted by Lady Mamiya’s hell-bent spirit and discover things have gone horribly wrong. From this critical moment you are forced to venture into the dark depths of the seemingly endless abyss.

Each of your team members possess a unique item which include a lighter, first aid kit, camera, vacuum and key to aid you on your journey in solving the riddles of Ichirou’s frescoes. You must use your wits and act with haste to find the frescoes, fight off the deadly monsters within, and escape this place of certain death — or certainly die trying.

This, my friends, is the plot to Capcom’s 1989 cult-classic NES RPG Sweet Home (Sûîto Homu) which was never released in the states by Nintendo, and for good reason. The kid-centric audience would lose their shit upon seeing the gore and violence that is commonplace in this disturbing tale. Famed for being the precursor to Capcom’s legendary Resident Evil series, it single-handedly started the survival horror genre loved by millions of fans worldwide.

The History of the English ROM

It was merely by the good grace of Gaijin Productions and Suicidal Translations that Western gamers were granted an English-translated version in 2000 via internet forums. A true-to-heart effort, the team spent well over a full year painstakingly translating the game from Japanese to English and did not skimp on any of it. The English version is exactly how the game was meant to be played in all of its nightmarish glory.

As reproduction carts became popular in the past five years, skilled fans took to the chore of creating physical cartridge copies playable on actual NES hardware or modern day multi-consoles like the Retron5. Certain versions boast unique labels and cartridges, of which my absolute favorite would have to be Timewalk Games’ blood red version shown below. I devised a plan to sacrifice a Legend of Zelda donor cart and end up with a golden version from nesreproductions.com. It turned out to be an awesome idea when combined with a custom game case from eBay.

Timewalk Games’ Edition

Sweet Home NES Reproduction Golden Cartridge and Case

Mechanics and Gameplay

Sweet Home plays like Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior, which were (and still are) epic RPGs. However, unlike those titles, there are no safe havens to retreat to, no inns to rest in away from battle’s grasp. You rely on tonics to heal your party, which are in limited supply and need to be found. But there is good news: you can save anywhere and revert to your save at any time due to the game’s courteous use of an internal battery (a la Legend of Zelda style). Hint: save well and save often!

The halls of Ichirou’s mansion are filled with traps, puzzles, demons, and mysteries, all of which want you dead, dead, dead. You cannot travel in parties of more than three people, which means you’ll need to split up to discover new rooms, find unique weapons and hunt down clues. You do have an ability called “pray” to help you in combat, which is a kind of powerful magical spell to ward off evil. However, it should be used only when your back is against the wall as it can be depleted quickly.

I should mention here that it was Sweet Home that created the imaginative door-opening scenes so heavily borrowed by the Resident Evil series years later. When you open a locked door, you are greeted with this tense moment of anticipation.

What Lurks Behind The Door?…

As you wander around, don’t drift off too far from the core group, or you’ll surely be overwhelmed by the creatures that wander the grounds and thirst for your flesh. Stay close, manage your limited inventory skillfully, and you may just make it through this 15-20 hour masterpiece with all five of your party members still alive.

Yup, you read that right. Each member of your group can die, and if they do, they’re gone forever. There’s no phoenix downs or revival spells to be cast here. The characters’ survival is literally in your hands the entire time. It is ultimately your responsibility to see them through to brighter days.

The Sounds of the Haunted Mansion

It goes without saying that sound is crucial for setting a foreboding tone demanded by a game such as this. While certainly not melodic, Sweet Home’s score is incredibly memorable and callously atmospheric. It paints your thoughts with layers of doom and uncertainty which lurks around every corner and corridor. Different areas have different music, which helps to separate the zones of this large environment that is actually one massive abstract level.

I found the battle music to be simply awesome, and the sound effects always felt just right. The sound in Sweet Home never bores and properly stokes the player’s inner fires for survival while building waves of anxiety for the next thrilling encounter. It’s the kind of music that keeps you up at night and won’t let you sleep. Just take a listen:

Graphics That Push The Limits

The graphics in Sweet Home are also quite amazing for the time, and some of the best to be found on the NES. Everything feels extremely detailed and thought out. The palette is dark yet vibrant. The game plays top down while wandering the house and shows a first-person view when in combat. I loved the contrast that this brought to the gameplay, which always felt fresh and fast-paced. Every pixel promised and granted my impeding destruction as I sought out the answers.

The Bottom Line

Sweet Home is an absolute beast of a game that needs to be experienced by everyone. I give it a flawless 10 out of 10 and rank it as one of the best games in the NES library, and one of the best games ever made. If you are looking for something truly unique, please do yourself a favor and seek out a copy immediately. I could not recommend it more highly.

On a side note: I’m a HUGE fan of the board game Betrayal At House on The Hill by Bruce Glassco and thus it is no surprise that I have fallen in love with Sweet Home. If you haven’t played that game, check it out as well. It also includes RPG elements with awesome weapons, monsters and enemies to boot and crazy quests happening in a similar haunted house setting. Both are unforgettable in their execution.

And Don’t Forget About The Movie!

The Sweet Home game is based off of the Japanese film that came out in early 1989, almost a year before the game was released. (Yes, it IS a licensed game, believe it or not!) Capcom jumped on the opportunity and ended up making something truly timeless. Who would’ve guessed???

The film’s Promotional Movie Poster

While critics have said it is not nearly as good as the game, it is definitely worth a watch. But I highly recommend holding off and playing the game first if you can manage it because the movie gives away a lot of the best parts. IMO the game does a superior job in telling the twisted story, similar to how books are usually much better than their film counterparts.

Regardless, here’s a YouTube playlist of the Japanese movie presented in five parts with English subtitles. Kick back on your favorite sofa, invite your buddies over and bust out the popcorn because shit is about to go down.

To life and the living,

A trip into the history of the very first survival horror game released in Japan in 1989. #sweethome #scaryashell #videogames #film The year is 1959. You are Kazuo, Akiko, Taro, Asuka, and Emi, a youthful team of five working for a local Japanese media station.

#Film #Horror #Japan #Movie #NES #Survival #Sweet Home #Video

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