Shahryar Rizvi

Category: Fun

  • Respect my authority. I played as cop in the summer of police killings.

    This  summer, I started playing the game Arma 3, the military combat simulator for PC. One of the most popular game modes in Arma 3 is the Cops and Robbers mode called Altis Life. My experience seems more relevant now given the global attention around Michael Brown, who was killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri […]

  • John Oliver skit on a peace negotiation game World of Peacecraft

    The first season of John Oliver’ s new HBO show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is becoming a game-changing news entertainment show. John Oliver is certainly less smug, creepy and bigoted than Bill Maher, the host of a similar news entertainment show also on HBO. John Oliver’s show is also employing social media to […]

  • Facebook plans to aquire Oculus VR. The gibs will be monetized.

    Yesterday, Facebook announced its plan to acquire start up Virtual-Reality hardware developer Oculus VR for $2 billion. Last year, I wrote a short post for Dallas Observer’s Mixmaster about id software John Carmack joining Oculus VR in producing its flagship product, the Rift. I was fascinated by the dream of an immerse virtual reality environment […]

  • The Wind Rises: Art and Carnage

    I was excited to learn that The Wind Rises, Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, and possibly his last director credit, tries to deal with aviation in his signature animated grandeur. His fantastic and optimistic portrayal of flight, as seen in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Porco Rosso is probably the reason I gaze […]

  • Interview with singer Katie Stelmanis of Austra

    As the founder of  the Canadian synth-pop band Austra, Katie Stelmanis has toured with few breaks since 2011. “When I’m home, I scramble to do all the normal things people do, go the doctor, get my hair cut” Katie said from her Tornoto apartment a day before starting her current North American tour. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODyWKkDBb4U&w=560&h=315] Katie […]

  • John Carmack joins Oculus VR.

    John Carmack joins Oculus VR. A few weeks ago I posted news on id Software’s John Carmack joining Oculus VR and opening a Dallas office for Dallas Obesrver’s Mixmaster blog. Below is a video by the Verge demonstrating the Oculus with the Virtuix Omni. This is a fascinating project that may keep PC gaming relevant […]

  • Gearbox releasing updated versions of Homeworld PC games

    My lastest post as seen on Dallas Observer’s Mixmaster The Plano-based game developer behind Borderlands 2 and Aliens: Colonial Marinesannounced that they will release a high-definition refit of the classic space strategy gamesHomeworld 1 and 2. Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford and CCO Brian Martel announced their plans at Penny Arcade Expo Australia last weekend. The company bought […]

  • Interview with CHVRCHES’ Iain Cook

    This is a crosspost from my byline copy featured on DC9 at Night. The first time Iain Cook came to the States for South by Southwest with his band Chvrches, he was surprised by their first American audience’s reception. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyqemIbjcfg] “In America, people are more about dancing and singing along to our music, even […]

  • Shahryar’s Free Comic Book Day picks

    This year, Free Comic Book Day is on Saturday, May 4th. This promotional day was created to capture a wave of interest alongside newly-released superhero movies. This year’s touchstone is the film Iron Man 3. This is an opportunity to engage new readers in the rich world of comic books. This year will offer 52 […]

  • Preview: Kelly Clarkson for Dallas Observer

    This last week, my preview for Kelly Clarkson’s Friday March 1st concert appeared on Dallas Observers’s print edition.  (No link appears yet, I will upload the scanned page when available) Previously, I wrote one of my “The Problem With…” columns about Clarkson’s single “Mr. Know It All”. Ever since I wrote that, I’ve falsely boasted […]