Tuesday, August 25, 2009

It's Guild Day...for some

It's been nearly four weeks since fans of The Guild saw the music video "Do You Wanna Date My Avatar", along with a taste of the first episode of season three, at Comic-Con in San Diego.
Now, the wait is over, The Guild is poised to take over the internet with the premiere of season three. We will finally find out what happens after Codex and her Guild meet the new Big Bad, the Axis of Anarchy, while waiting for a new version of their favorite RPG game.

Oh, you do have an X-Box to download the episode, right?
What do you mean, what X-Box?
Yes, just as X-Box owners got a preview of the music video, they also get to see new episodes of The Guild first, while those who don't have to wait a week later.
It's similar to the Brits getting to see Torchwood: Children of Earth two weeks before we do.

It goes without saying that The Guild is worth waiting for, whether you're a gamer or not. The point is, the fact X-Box owners will see the show first may be a sign of the future.
It may not be long before having X-Box Live will be just like having HBO.
When the X-Box was created, it wasn't supposed to be just a video game system. It's also an entertainment center where you can get TV shows, web video and movies downloaded for your TV. Just check the X-Box Live website, and you'll be surprised how many TV shows you can download, from network shows to cable. This is what's known as a "killer ap" that is supposed to be the final factor that makes you decide to buy an X-Box.
Playstation 3, made by Sony, has a different "killer ap": you can play Blu-Ray DVDs on it. It can also download movies, but its selection of TV shows is much smaller. That is surprising because if they include web video from Crackle.com, it would get closer to the selection of X-Box Live.

So, while I am a bit disappointed Guild Day for the Not-X-Box people is September first, we'll still be waiting with antici..............................pation over the first big clash between the Axis and Codex's gang. The trailer for the new season is, well, right here at this link. Widespread embedding is not allowed right now.

Seems like there's going to be rifts o'plenty within the Guild before they finally unite to battle the Axis...and they better do that, too. That Wil Wheaton is a sneaky-looking guy (at least on the show)
My advice: keep away from spoilers, except maybe the trailer.
If you're tempted, hug your Playstation, or Wii.

UPDATE! I heard from Alan D at Whedonesque that only X-Box Gold members see the season premiere a week ahead than everyone else, but after that we all get the rest of the season at the same time.
However, if you worry about the Guild, and whether they can survive, hug your Playstation and Wii anyway.
I still stand by my belief X-Box Live could be the next HBO. It all depends on web video and when it takes over.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

It's Codex's World, and We Just Live In It

It's official..."Do You Wanna Date My Avatar" is an world-wide internet hit.
The BBC just discovered it, after the song went to number one on the UK iTunes chart.
Felicia Day, who co-wrote the song with Jed Whedon, is "filled with glee" with this new attention. However, the real point is that it's possible to make good entertainment without relying on the major media companies.
"Most people would be working with a label and going through a lot of hoops," she tells BBC News. "I think our success empowers everybody who feels like they can't get their art out there."

It also helps the video has been embedded in thousands of blogs, Twitters, Facebook pages and even Entertainment Weekly. It's one reason why after four days, it's received nearly 1.7 million hits on YouTube.
The song has been number one overall in the Amazon mp3 charts, but now it's at number two below Black-Eyed Peas. The video conquered the iTunes charts in the States for three days before being replaced by a Disney Channel charity video.

With all the attention the video is getting, people may forget that it's just a promo for the web sitcom called The Guild, about a group of RPG players who try to get along when they're not playing online. Many people will be surprised to learn the Guild isn't the next Black-Eyed Peas..at least not yet...but is a show that's making a good case for web-based shows that can hold their own against the sitcoms we get from another screen.
The world is starting to dance to the Guild's tune, and soon it will laugh along with them when season three starts next Tuesday.
For more info, plus episodes from past seasons, go to watchtheguild.com.

Monday, August 17, 2009

The Guild Goes MTV: She's a Star, and Hotter Than Reality By Far

It's been a few hours since the Guild's music video "Do You Wanna Date By Avatar" went into general release, after XBox owners got first dibs to this.
So, how has it done?
Well, the video at iTunes hit the top five in a matter of hours, and even reached #1! The mp3 at Amazon is also doing well, and should do better once iTunes releases it. Once more people know about this video, thanks to Twitter, MTV may even consider airing this video...then do it.

For the record, Felicia Day wanted to make a song that, as she said at Comic-Con, was a little like Stacey Q. Actually, it would fit into the current dance scene. She and Jed Whedon (yes, Joss' brother) co-wrote the song, by the way.
It starts with Felicia putting on her costume, and touching parts of it in provocative ways. Then we see the cast, making poses as if they were living characters in World of Warcraft or that ilk. Once Felicia starts singing, you know she's a girl who you would want in the video games of your dreams.
The lyrics aren't bad, either...

Hang with me in my MMO
So many places we can go
You'll never see my actual face
Our love, our love will be in virtual space.


You can see the rest of the lyrics at the The Guild site.

You see Clara (Robin Thorsen) munching on fruit, and Bladezz (Vincent Caso) making time with a couple of maidens. But Tink (Amy Okuda) has some great moves as one of the backup dancers. Amy has a dance background, along with her acting, but she looks great here. She's joined by Maurissa Tanchareon, who happens to be the wife of the director....Jed Whedon.

Vork (Jeff Lewis) and Zaboo (Sandeep Parikh) try to be hip when they dance, but their rapping is better. You haven't lived until you hear this....

Vork: Single white human,
Looking for group
My stats so high
Don’t be out of the loop

Zaboo: Got an uber-leet staff
That you can equip
Close your mouths ladies
This is pure nerd-nip


Then we see Felicia looking very sexy, laying on an ocean of coins. Take note, Don Draper. That's how you sleep on a bed of money.

The video ends with the crew enjoying a feast, while Felicia is showered by coins, maybe a bit too much. The last shot is the Guild, posing as a living logo of their show that will now take MTV by storm.

It's rare that music videos from the internet make it to MTV, mainly because MTV doesn't show as many videos as they should. It reserves those for the digital channels. Still, this video shows the real talent these guys have. If you think they make a great dance video together, wait until you see them battle a mean group of fellow RPG players.
Then again, that may be tougher than making a video. We shall see as the Guild goes into season three on August 25th. Learn more at Watchtheguild.com