#NowPlaying : Red Steel 2 (Wii)

You already know what I think about the game Red Steel (if not, please read this post: #NowPlaying : Red Steel (Wii))... Lame, wack, ugly, stupid... But I recently bought Red Steel 2 for only 15 Swiss francs. Was it a mistake? Finally no...

I heard the game was ok and had almost nothing to do with the first episode. And yeah, it's definitely the case: the cell-shading and the graphics are quite good (do not forget it's a Wii game), same for the music (especially the asian themes) and the gameplay is just astonishing (O.O)! The way you use the katana is very funny and easy.


My biggest regret? Even if the gameplay is dynamic (thanks to the gun-swordfights), it doesn't prevent the game from being boring: there's no story and the actions ain't varied at all. So you always do the same things.

Too bad, but nice efforts from Ubisoft ;).

My rating: 3/5

T!

Big in Japan ^^

You know what's good when you're really motivated? You can have really good results. And that's what happened those last years with some of my artistic projects. I drew the cover of a couple of albums and they're sold almost everywhere in Japan, from the little indie shops in Nagoya to the big stores in Tokyo like HMV ^^.

If you don't believe me, just take a look ;)

ChromatikS - "À la Conquête de l'West"

Kedy - "Les Contes de la Street"

I'm still really surprised at how the Japanese like this mix between manga and G-funk. And I think that Dogg Master's next album will have the same destiny ;). Do not forget that the world can perhaps appreciate what you do, that's what I discovered those last years... ;)

I really want to thank all the motivated and talented people I work with, including ChromatikS and the Doggy Phunk Palace crew.


Peace!

T!

Tchek - "My Land" (Preview)

Friend and producer Tchek (of Emeute Infernale) is preparing a very special project: an electro-hip-hop-house-drum and bass album (o.0) called "My Land"!... It will be available for free in April 2011 on his MySpace.


I had the occasion a few days ago to listen to some tracks and to see the teasers and the video clips. I'm not into electro music at all, but the mixture of genres reminds me of Adam F's album "Kaos - The Anti-Accoustic Warfare".

Here's the first teaser, more videos coming soon!

T!

#NowPlaying : Red Steel (Wii)

Don't buy it. Don't even try it. It's a waste of time.

Shame on Ubisoft. I never really liked their games, but Red Steel is one of the worst videogame I have at home. But it looked good on paper: an FPS with a japanese vibe, a unique gameplay using the WiiMote and the Nunchuk  of the Wii... But finally the game is just laaaaaaame. The graphics are horrible (remember Goldeneye on Nintendo 64? They're the same!), the game is unplayable (very useful for a FPS), the characters are stupid, the french dubbings are ridiculous and the story's wack.


So why do I play Red Steel?... I bought and started it in 2006 (when the Wii just appeared on the market) and I did really regret it. But I hate when I leave a game behind, I have to finish it. So that's what I'm trying to do right now. Red Steel has a few funny moments, but they're far too rare. This game's total mistake.


Don't try it at home. Don't try it anywhere in fact!...


My rating: 2.5/6


T!

Don't believe that video... By the way, the player looks real dumb.

Dogg Master - "Back In Town" (Album Cover, Preview & Tracklist)

Super G-Funk producer and talkboxer Dogg Master's gonna release his next album "Back In Town" March 22. As always, all the Doggy Phunk Palace's productions have an international release (from Europe to the US and Japan) and this new record is no exception! The album features incredible collaborations with Westcoast legends such as Kurupt (Dogg Pound), MC Eiht, Butch Cassidy, Goldie Loc (Tha Eastsidaz), Soopafly and many more (o.O)!... Quite impressive isn't it? But the most impressive thing is that a certain Tuân drew the album cover ^^.

Here is the final album cover (I didn't change the tons, it's Dogg Master's choice, not mine ;)), the tracklist and also some previews of the album (including the song "Hood Relapse" with Kurupt). And don't forget to check (again?) In The Making : artwork for Dogg Master "Back In Town" ;).

March 22, remember that! Wessir! ;)

T!

"In The Making": artwork for Dogg Master "Back In Town"

Yop people! Here's another "In The Making" episode! This time, I'll show you how I created the artwork "Back In Town" for French talkboxer/producer Dogg Master. You'll find the final art at the end of this article, so come and discover some of the different steps of creation ;)!

Dogg Master and NX of Mafia Canine told me they had an idea for Dogg Master's new album cover: a car flying near a city. Alright, so first thing first, I gotta create a background. A hell of a work!...

Wow alright!... Then I have to put that strange flying car!... But at first I'll draw the characters: Dogg Master and two chicks!

 

 

And it's time to draw the car, let's put some wings too, then add the characters...

Et voilà! Here's the final result after I put the elements altogether:

In another post, I'll talk about the album, I swear! Untill then, peace out! ;)

T!

Reminder : my video profile reached 1000+ views

Tuan Hollaback - Digital Manga Art from 21Lifestyles on Vimeo.

Hi people! I really wanted to thank everyone who viewed, liked and shared my video profile made by 21lifestyles ^^! It really counts since what I'm doing in the vid (and in general as well ^^) isn't especially spectacular: I'm just talking about who I am, what I like and what I do. That's all! Plus I always say "and all that" when I speak English, that's such an awful habit. I should get rid of it as fast as I can (>.<).


Anyway, I wanna give a special shout out to Matteo Attanasio of 21lifestyles who did an amazing work, and to K-Murdock of Neosonic Productions for the background music.

And one more time: thanks to you! I'm nothing without your support!

T!

#NowReading : "Death is my Trade" (Robert Merle)

My brother and my father have always been very big fans of the Second World War (from a historical point of view, of course). And I must admit that I'm kinda fascinated by this period in history as well. I know some stuffs about the Nazi Party and officers such as Heinrich Himmler and Joseph Goebbels. It may sound weird, but so many things happened at that time and you gotta recognize WW2 is as intriguing as crazy.

I went to Poland in December 2010 and visited the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau. These places were very impressive and terrible at the same time, especially the camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau (incredibly huge!...)... That's how I discovered the story of Rudolf Höss, the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp...

This sad visit gave me the envy to know more about this man and to read the book "Death is my Trade" written by Robert Merle. It's a fictionalized biography of Höss with a very interesting writing style. You should definitely read it...

My rating: 4/6

T!

"In The Making": artwork for Shade Sheist (2) + "Bad Enough" f/ Young Noble, Redzz & TQ (Video Clip)

I already wrote an article about the fact I was drawing for Westcoast rapper Shade Sheist (check "In The Making": artwork for Shade Sheist (1)). Well, here's the final lineart of the setting:

It was a hell of a work, but it's always a pleasure to rise on a challenge. That's how I progress, it's as simple as that. I'm not especially used to draw settings, but I'm kinda satisfied of that one.

Sheist just said "This is incredible work!", so I think I'm doing good lol!

What's next? Colors and shadows of course, let's go!

T!

Here's a little bonus: the video clip of "Bad Enough" featuring Shade Sheist, Redzz, Young Noble & TQ! And for your information, that video clip is written and co-directed by Shade Sheist himself! 

#NowWatching : Claymore (TV Serie)

As long as there are beautiful women in an anime or a manga, there's like 75% of chance I'll like it even if the scenario is non-existent (Sailor Moon?). Claymore features very nice female fighters (Miria and Galathea <3) and an excellent story. I discovered the original manga of Norihiro Yagi at first, his drawing style is quite austere and stiff but I got used to it. The anime style is more pleasant and lively.

Galathea...

In the anime, the Claymores are just gorgeous... You know what? Read the manga to discover the whole story (since the screenplay of the anime is shorter than the story of the manga) and watch the anime to see how hot the Claymores are!...


I'm quite surprised there are not many Claymore doujins... Mmmh...


My rating: 4/6


T!

The beautiful Miria

Le Rap suisse ça m'emmerde...

Colt Seavers, rédacteur en chef du site repreZent.ch, m'avait dit qu'il appréciait mes quelques "éclairs de lucidité" (notamment suite à mon interview repreZent). De fait, il m'a demandé il y a quelques jours de cela si j'étais intéressé de faire un dessin de presse histoire de clasher les "branleurs du rap suisse". Et Dieu sait s'il y en a.

Pour le dessin, je ne sais pas quand ça se fera (je suis malheureusement relativement occupé), mais mon article "Le Rap suisse ça m'emmerde" est en ligne sur le site et est à l'origine de nombreuses réactions... Il est d'ailleurs assez intéressant que des artistes comme Vincz Lee, M.A.M., Shaka, Geos (INTERIMEURS)... soient en accord avec mes propos. À méditer...

Le Rap Suisse Ca M’Emmerde | Reprezent

Il y a quelque temps, repreZent vous présentait le talentueux Tuân dans une interview dans laquelle il lançait un premier pavé dans la marre. Visiblement ça l’a fait marrer de voir les canards s’envoler tout paniqué et il en remet une couche avec ce texte en forme d’édito.

#NowPlaying : Resonance Of Fate (XBox360)

It's been such a long time (since Lost Odyssey and Persona 3 in fact) that I didn't really appreciate a Japanese role playing game. But Resonance Of Fate did change that, mad thanks to Sega and especially to tri-Ace: visually astonishing, RoF features dynamic gunfights and nice characters (especially Leanne ;)). The game reminds me a bit of Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria.


A lot of people say that RoF is really difficult but I never had any problem. Some gamers of the new generation are totally lame...


I'm at the beginning of chapter 6, I hope the scenario will quickly evolve cuz I always have the same kind of missions...


My rating: 4/6


T!

A beautiful artwork of Leanne (I didn't draw it though)