Loading: Manhunt 2 Hacked, Metal Gear Solid 4 Delayed

Manhunt 2 Hacked
Manhunt 2 had some trouble earlier this year when its controversial and violent “execution” scenes were forced to be toned down, lest the game be slapped with an “Adults Only” rating, insuring it would never sell. Edits were made and Manhunt 2 was given the green light.

Despite finally seeing release earlier week, the long, hard road out of ratings-hell for Manhunt 2 has seemingly only led to more headaches, as the aforementioned scenes have been unlocked by diligent hackers.

While this instantly calls up images of “Hot Coffee,” a notorious sex sequence from Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas hidden deep within the game’s code that was discovered by hackers in 2005, the amount of effort it takes to unlock Manhunt 2 doesn’t really match up with the payoff.

First of all, this only applies to the PSP version of the game, not the PS2 or Wii, though we imagine someone will be looking for those very soon. Second of all, who cares? If you’ve seen Saw or Hostel, then you’ve seen worse than anything in Manhunt 2. And most importantly, the Russian hackers who found the “uncensored” scenes claim the operation requires a disk image of Manhunt 2, the software back-up tool UMDGen, and knowledge of file editing and coding. I’m going to guess that most of you have no idea what I just said, and thus you–and more importantly, your children’s eyes–will likely be safe from heinous digital mutilations on-screen. Though the game is rated Mature, meaning anyone under 17 shouldn’t have anything to do with it anyway.

This probably won’t stop the morally litigious from bringing some lawsuit or another against the game for scarring the world irreparably, resulting in its immediate recall, but in the meantime the Manhunt 2 roams free allowing us to continue to murdering willy nilly in the comfort of our own homes.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Delayed
Perhaps the best reason to consider owning a PlayStation 3, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, was supposed to enter our lives in early 2008. And more ready for some more Solid Snake ass-kicking we could not be.

Unfortunately, it seems that the games publisher, Konami, doesn’t think we are prepared just yet. Or rather, the game isn’t prepared, as they released the below statement:

“Konami had initially intended to release Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots this winter, and has been working on the production of the title. Konami has decided to delay the title’s release in order to make further improvements to the quality of the game and provide even greater enjoyment for more customers worldwide.”

Ugh. And the Tokyo Stock Exchange seems to echo that sentiment as the companies stock took a nearly 7% nosedive yesterday in the wake of the announcement.

MGS4 is now scheduled for the 2nd quarter of 2008.

Patrick Stuart Shills for Nintendo
Patrick Stuart has over the years walked the fine line between all things cool and geeky, having starred in Dune, X-Men, several video games, and, of course, as the unflappable Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

So it should come as no surprise that this Holiday season, Stuart will be featured in UK ads for Nintendo alongside Nicole Kidman (and a host of other people that we don’t know), playing Wii and DS games including the just announced Sight Training: Enjoy Exercising and Relaxing Your Eyes.

And yes that is a 100% real title. Game of the Year award winner? Engage!

Event: Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest

2008’s South By Southwest festival is creeping up, but before everyone begins gossiping about after-party antics and which showcase will be the craziest, it’s worthwhile to take note of a lesser-known but equally exciting event, namely, Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest.

What’s so special about this two-day event? Well, when was the last time you can say that you saw Girl Talk and Poison Idea performing at the same venue? Witchcraft (pictured above) and Diplo? Sick of It All and Of Montreal? Uh, exactly.

The second annual edition of Austin’s newest fest takes place November 3 and 4 and boasts an eclectic roster that ranges from prog-metal acts to vintage hardcore, indie-pop, and hip-hop outfits. Featuring Busdriver, Battles, Lifetime, Murder City Devils, Cat Power, Explosions in the Sky, Neurosis, Cadence Weapon, and more, this two-day extravaganza may be the event that unites all sides of the indie-sphere.

The, er, fun goes down at Waterloo Park from 1 – 10 p.m. both days. All ages are welcome.

Full line-Up
Explosions in the Sky, Cat Power and the Dirty Delta Blues, New Pornographers, Of Montreal, Okkervil River, Battles, Mates of State, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness, Final Fantasy, White Denim, Brothers and Sisters, Zykos, Emma Pollock, Headlights, Cave Singers, Celebration, The Cribs, Birds of Avalon, Murder City Devils, Neurosis, The Sword, Battalion of Saints, Sick of It All, Madball, Angry Samoans, Against Me!, Lifetime, Riverboat Gamblers, Poison Idea, CH3, The Saints, Youth Brigade, Complete Control, Suntrash, Witchcraft, Saviours, Modern Life Is War, Iron Age, Viva Hate, Sinking Ships, The Heart Attacks, Girl Talk, Cadence Weapon, Busdriver, Diplo, Car Stereo Wars, Grand Buffet, DJ Jester, Prince Klassen, MGMT, MC Chris, Ocelot, Brownout!, Small Sins, Clap! Clap!

The Top US Electronic Music Schools

Oberlin College’s Technology in Music and Related Arts Dept. (TIMARA)
Oberlin, OH

One of the country’s most prestigious music schools, Oberlin College’s TIMARA program encourages students to “compose for computer, perform via multiple speakers, collaborate with highly talented musicians, dancers, actors, and artists, and develop a powerful, unique personal voice,” says Tom Lopez, Program Chair and Associate Professor of Computer Music and Digital Arts. Bob Ostertag and Cory Arcangel once roamed the school’s halls.

Today’s Guests: Morton Subotnick, Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, Olga Neuwirth, Alvin Lucier, Iannis Xenakis.

Drool-worthy Gear: A Digidesign ICON system with 32 channels of Grace mic preamps and Apogee A/D conversion; performance instruments include a Yamaha MIDI grand piano, Zeta string quartet, MalletKAT MIDI percussion, and a JazzMutant Lemur MIDI controller, plus vintage synths and equipment.

Mills College’s Center for Contemporary Music (CCM)
Oakland, CA

The granddaddy of experimental and electronic music programs, Mills College’s Center for Contemporary Music was established in 1966 when the San Francisco Tape Music Center moved to Mills College. Its first co-directors were Pauline Oliveros and Anthony Martin and its faculty has since grown to include everyone from Maggi Payne and Henry Cow’s Fred Frith (both currently on staff) to John Cage, Cecil Taylor, and Björk collaborator Zeena Parkins. Mills is also a huge draw for female composers (thanks to its all-women undergrad student body), not to mention being Joanna Newsom’s alma mater.

In the Yearbook: Christopher Willits, Gregg Kowalsky, Blectum from Blechdom, Laetitia Sonami, Steve Reich.

Drool-worthy Gear: The first Buchla 100 synthesizer and a Moog IIIP.

Evergreen State College’s Music Technology in the Expressive Arts Dept.
Olympia, WA

Started in the early ’70s, the Music Technology program at Evergreen takes a “highly integrated approach to using technology for creative ends,” says Peter Randlette, Head of Electronic Media at the school. “Our curriculum is very hands-on, and we have an excellent set of studios, which combine classical analog and current digital technologies.”

In the Yearbook: Engineer Stuart Hallerman, producer and Pell Mell member Steve Fisk, K Records’ and Dub Narcotic Sound System’s Calvin Johnson, Sub Pop’s Bruce Pavitt.

Drool-worthy Gear: 1970 Buchla analog synthesizers, API multi-track consoles.

University of Washington’s Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS)
Seattle, WA

“Our view is that art is no more self-expression than anything else people do,” offers Richard Karpen, artist and Founding Director of the University of Washington’s Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media. “Art is the process of discovery of new knowledge, the documentation of that knowledge, and most importantly, the experience of that knowledge. To accomplish this takes no less effort, expertise, and imagination than any of the sciences, and our students therefore learn to see themselves as challenged to make enduring contributions.”

Today’s Guests: Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, filmmaker Marie Jager

Drool-worthy Gear: A 12-channel spherical surround-sound listening space connected to a six-channel surround control room; a full CNC machine shop for building devices such as sensors and controllers for interactive live electronic music, video, and robotics.

UC San Diego’s Interdisciplinary Computing in the Arts Major (ICAM)
La Jolla, CA

The UCSD approach, according to co-founder Peter Otto: “We balance strong theoretical foundations with practical experience in an environment rich with musical activities of all kinds. Top-notch facilities support recording, performance, research, and development in all aspects of computer music and music technology. Our goal is to enable our students to continually retrain and update their knowledge base while integrating a high level of musical literacy with analytical skills and practical experience.”

Today’s Guests: Ravi Shankar, Steve Reich, Alvin Curran, Paul Dresher, Diamanda Galas, and videogame-music great George Sanger.

Drool-worthy Gear: Vintage Buchla, Arp, and Moog synthesizers; vintage and state-of-the-art mics and recording gear; 24-channel spatial audio lab; digital cinema auditorium with permanently installed 22.2 audio.

Arp In Light

Multi-instrumentalist Alexis Georgopolous reportedly left post-punk hypno-groove merchants Tussle under less than amicable circumstances after the group’s Telescope Mind. However, if the fallout from that unfortunate split is his Arp project, maybe it’s for the best. In Light, Georgopolous’ radiant solo debut, is his righteous stab at Terry Riley-esque minimalism and the kosmische musik that made Germany the coolest place on earth in the ’70s. That a young musician from San Francisco made this record in 2007 doesn’t diminish its abundant, profound pleasures. Arp’s no-overdub/analog-gear approach to electronic music and his solemn devotion to less-is-more composition ensure that In Light emits a sun-dappled warmth, evoking an eternal dawn of optimism, especially on “St Tropez” (with shades of Cluster’s Sowiesoso) and “The Rising Sun.” Elsewhere, a throbbing, hypnotic intensity prevails, as each wave of Arp’s subtly tweaked analog-keyboard textures burrow into you like a deep-tissue massage.

Muscles “Sweaty”

Not unlike a majority of the artists on the Modular roster, Melbourne-based electro-popper Muscles has had no trouble turning out 18 and over dance parties around the world. The one-man songwriter’s newest singe is all the proof in the world. Featuring Cut Copy-esque synths and “Peace, Love, Ecstacy” vocal chants, “Sweaty” is a surefire cure for the “it’s not summer anymore” blues.

Muscles – Sweaty

Andrew Weatherall Sci.Fi.Lo.Fi Volume 1: Andrew Weatherall

Andrew Weatherall, the man who put half the hyphens into rock music, has decided to take ’em all out. Weatherall is the man responsible for putting house and rock together; for faxing post-punk back to itself with remixes of Primal Scream, New Order, and My Bloody Valentine. But, as proven by the past few Two Lone Swordsmen releases, Weatherall is obsessed with rock ’n’ roll in its original state. His kick-off for Soma’s Sci.Fi.Lo.Fi DJ-mix series, documenting top jocks’ favorite “organic” sounds, has every kind of “rock” you could ask for, sans hyphen–from Gene Vincent to The Fall, Killing Joke to the brilliant Pacific Northwest R&B unknowns Joe Boot & the Fabulous Winds.

Underworld Oblivion with Bells

Karl Hyde and Rick Smith’s first full-length as Underworld since 2003’s A Hundred Days Off is the best piece of work they’ve made since Darren Emerson left the band. And I dare to say, it’s as good as Dubnobasswithmyheadman. If nothing else it shows a concept coming gloriously full-circle–musically, visually, and emotionally. Hyde whispers, “Keep it simple,” but stocks the album with “Bruce Lee” and “Cowgirl” sound-alikes, twinkling leftfield techno, and even ambient. And what’s great on it’s own, like first single “Crocodile,” is stunning in this package. Yeah, we’re still getting an earful about postmodern societal inertia, but as something to jam to when you’re staring out of that office window, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Zimbabwe Legit House of Stone

If you’ve been searching milkcrates for signs of Zimbabwe Legit ever since the Afro-rap duo was remixed by DJ Shadow, look no further. Akim Funk Buddha and Dumi Right are back, with a guestlist that works well with House of Stone’s true-school vibe: YZ, Vast Aire, Chubb Rock, Prince Po, Asheru, Skillz, Mike G, and others all take part. Yet since ZL first appeared, African hip-hop has become a phenomenon in and of itself. So it’s a bit disappointing that the group’s native cultural influences have been toned down; only one track, “All Over the Map,” connects the duo with their motherland MC peers. Still, House of Stone should hit with tracksuiters and fat-lace heads.

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