Buzz Magazine: May 9, 2013

Champaign-Urbana’s community magazine FREE

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Zelda Music

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Armored Gopher

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Movie Adaptations

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VOL11 NO18

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may 9, 2013

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days in a week

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vo l i t i o n

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drinking

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365 to do

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live act i o n

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crossword

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calendar

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Iron man 3

You're going to wish you had cheat codes to get through this boss

Your guide to this week's events in CU

Our review of summer's first blockbuster

on readbuzz.com Arts & Entertainment: Check out our extensive coverage of local gaming stores! community:

Tired of working out in the weight room? Check out David Robertson’s new column on the merits of Total Body Resistance Exercise.

Food & Drink: Head to readbuzz.com and get in the Mother’s Day mood by learning about Korean traditions passed from one mother to another Movies & TV:

Check out the remainder of our Ebertfest coverage and a new Hidden Gems column by Syd Slobodnik!

THE217.COM 2 buzz May 9-15, 2013

music: We’ve got reviews of the latest album releases, including Mikal Cronin, Deerhunter and She & Him.

I’m no longer quite as enamored by video games as I once was. I pale in comparison to my roommate, Chee, who dominates pretty much every round of every game we play head-to-head. But while the amount of time I dedicate to them has dwindled over the years, video games have been a hobby of mine and many of my friends for as long as I can remember. In fact, some of my earliest memories involve my father and me sneaking into the basement late at night (probably around 8-9 p.m., but back then it felt dangerous) to play the universally beloved Super Mario World on the old Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Dad also taught me how to shoot, virtually (of course), using the Super Scope.

But when Dad wasn’t around, my brother and I would spend hours tearing each other apart playing Mortal Kombat II. Despite the numerous sequels released since, MK II remains the best Mortal Kombat in my eyes. The color-swapped ninjas wear catcher’s shin pads. Pixelated blood pours from the characters by the buckets. It’s crappy by even the standards of the early ‘90s, and yet its ridiculousness holds a certain charm. If I have quarters, I play at least one round in arcade mode each time I go to Murphy’s.

My Xbox 360 broke last summer, and I have yet to get it fixed. The idea for this issue actually came about when I went downtown to Live Action Games, to ask how much it would cost to repair it. Now that school’s out, I think it’s time to finally let them work their magic. With a functioning Xbox and time on my hands, I can finally beat all those games that I left unfinished, like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. No more running over pedestrians and stealing their wallets, or shooting birds out of the air to sell their feathers! I'm gonna actually complete the missions!

I can finally beat Batman: Arkham City, if I don’t get sidetracked by effortlessly beating up small-time crooks in the back alleys of Gotham.

Even if I never get my Xbox fixed, I can still play all the classics on N64 with my roommates.

The shared nostalgia of an inebriated round of Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros. ensures that even dated games never lose their charm or replay value. That nostalgia overwhelms any customer who heads to Live Action Games, Exile on Main Street or even Gamestop, looking for either treasures from the past or the more immersive experiences offered by modern console games.

But guess what? The gaming issue focuses on more than videogames! Tabletop games, card games, drinking games, we’ve covered it all in this issue of buzz. So keep reading! There’s something for all types of gamers in the following pages.

Welcome to Good Burger, home of the good burger. Can I take your order?

HEADS UP!

character select Tyler Schmidt

Assistant Art Director

Maddie Rehayem

Music Editor

Strength: -4 Taco eating: 7 TV watching: 9 Board games: 10 Sarcasm: 17

Mother's day

by Nicki Halenza Sunday, May 12, marks the day when everyone will show extra appreciation for that special lady in their lives — their moms. The perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day and devote some quality time to her is by attending one of CU’s local events, or by giving her a homemade gift.

One way to start the day is by taking your mom bird watching at Busey Woods and Crystal Lake Park in Urbana. During the one and a half hour event, you can get in touch with nature while learning the special techniques required for bird watching. You could also try the “Throw Your Momma on the Train” event on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12, at the Monticello Railway Museum. The event entails a ride on a vintage train that leaves at various times throughout the day. Mothers get a free ride when coming with their children.

In terms of what to give your mom, save a few dollars and bring out your crafty side by making a photo album or a memory box. A simple way to outshine all of your siblings is by making a photo album filled with fun pictures of you and your mom from over the years. Decorate the front cover by writing down a meaningful message. For the memory box, take a shoe box or jewelry box and decorate the outside with colors, cut-outs and designs. Then print pictures, write down quotes or put in other little meaningful trinkets for you and mommy dearest.

Tyler entered the world in a cave in the middle of nowhere with dice in his left hand, a bass in the right and a comic in his heart. Not much is known of his previous life, but some say he hailed from the land of cornfields and avoided all forms of social activity. These days he uses his height and powerful shins as his main weapons, kicking villains down to an even smaller size. In lieu of common protagonist tropes, Tyler in fact has several weaknesses, including an addiction to spicy food with an inability to handle it, apathy, a general lack of 'zazz, self-deprication and self-confidence issues and an inability to grow age-appropriate facial hair.

Jamila Tyler

Movies & TV Editor

Pollen resistance: -10,000 Height: 8 Procrastination: 7 Strength: -2 Film knowledge: 10 Jamila was born and raised on the mean streets of the south side of Chicago. It was there where she began her quest to amass a cinematic knowledge greater than anyone before her. She has many weaknesses, including ghosts, heights, rollercoasters and hay fever. However, she makes up for her lack of strength with agility and the ability to run in high heels. Her common enemies are bad plot structure and shallowly written female characters.

Evan lyman

buzz staff

Cover Design Tyler Schmidt Editor in Chief Evan Lyman Managing Editor Dan Durley Art Director Dane Georges Assistant Art Director: Tyler Schmidt Copy Chief Thomas Thoren Photography Editor Animah Boakye Image Editor Dan Durley Photographers Megan Swiertz, Liz Brinckerhoff Designers YooJin Hong, Chelsea Choi Music Editor Maddie Rehayem Food & Drink Editor Carrie McMenamin Movies & tv Editor Jamila Tyler Arts & entertainment Editor Andrea Baumgartner Community Editor Karolina Zapal CU Calendar Dawn Longfellow Copy Editors Neal Christensen, Karl Schroeder student sales manager Nick Langlois CLASSIFIED SALES MANAGER Deb Sosnowski AD DIRECTOR Travis Truitt Publisher Lilyan J. Levant

TALK TO BUZZ On the Web www.readbuzz.com Email buzz@readbuzz.com Write 512 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820 CALL 217.337.3801

We reserve the right to edit submissions. buzz will not publish a letter without the verbal consent of the writer prior to publication date. buzz Magazine is a student-run publication of Illini Media Company and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students. © Illini Media Company 2013

Editor-in-Chief

Tenacity: 10 White boy hops: 8 Durability: -10 Hip-hop knowledge: 10,000 Swag: 9,656 Evan dropped out of high school to attend the School of Hard Knocks on the clean streets of the northern Chicago suburbs. Literally, he took too many hard knocks to the head playing sports. He gets frequent headaches and is highly susceptible to concussions. He makes up for this spaciness with agility and incessant, pointless arguing. His trash talk and ability to look angry or distraught often ward off both competitors and allies. He keeps a beat in the back of his head at all times from which he never deviates, and learned the art of breakdancefighting from the oft-quoted Ben Stiller film, Zoolander. His flashy gym shoes allow him to jump higher, run faster and kick more ass than his opponents.

Andrea Baumgartner

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Spelling: -2 Ass: 1,000 Moshing: 7 Right hook: 10 Time management: 0 If she manages to make it out of her bed on any given morning, Maddie leads a daily life of music snobbery, overeating and Internet use. Don’t, however, let her outer appearance of an average college student fool you. She is an active member of the local coven of witches, donning her cloak each week to participate in routine séances and regularly exercising her powers, which include mixing potions, charming boys and riding her bike really, really fast. Of course, if you dump water on her (or hand her a history exam), she melts.

Motherliness: 10,000 Baking ability: 12,000 Kindness: 9 Staying up past midnight: -10 Drunk griping ability: 8 Andrea’s natural habitat is in the water. She finds dealing with life on the surface as a “NARP” (NonAthlete Regular Person) to be strange. She has mastered the art of treat-making and shares them with every person she meets.

Thomas Thoren

Copy Chief

Snarkiness: 9 Stealth: 10 Wingspan: 6.5 (feet) Love for coffee: 11 Excitability: -10

DAN DURLEY

Managing Editor

Beardedness: 10 Pop-punk appreciation: 7 Dental fortitude: 0 Vocal prowess: 8 Candy resistance: -10,000 Dan came from humble beginnings as a scene kid in high school who sometimes straightened his hair like Pete Wentz. Now he spends his days eating pizza and writing indie rock songs that will soon bring the world together and be sung by every man, woman and child. Not much more is known about Dan, though some say a single hair from Dan’s beard can cure all known diseases. Others say the oils produced by his beard hair provide everlasting life. Dan continues to neither confirm nor deny these rumors, further fueling the mystery that surrounds him. His weapon of choice is an electric guitar plugged into a Peavey ValveKing tube amp. His one weakness is 99-cent bags of Cherry Sours from CVS. Karolina Zapal

Community Editor

Awkwardness: 7 Polish-ness: 1,000 Writing ability: 10 Agility: 10 Soft-spokenness: 8 Karolina was born sometime in the '90s. She first drew creative inspiration from Blue’s Clues and messy rooms, and became an artist at the age of 8, when she arranged marbles in abstract patterns on her apartment floor. She completely forgets her years in junior high school, when she was a cheerleader, so she is still 17 years old at heart.

She is (somehow) on track to become a physician, although she spends most days writing poetry and playing Zoo Tycoon. Her strongest defense is awkwardness, which she unleashes at full force at any given opportunity. She uses her left brain and right brain equally, but has two left feet.

At the age of 6, Tom left a life of cowboy boots and fire ants in the Republic of Texas to live in east central Illinois. Some say he never quite gave up his lonesome lifestyle, since he is often found stumbling out of labs and libraries at sunrise, drunk from too much coffee and starving for human interaction. He will soon move to his homeland's neighbor, Louisiana (New Orleans), where he will drown himself in sweet tea and Abita.

Carrie Mcmenamin

Food & Drink Editor

Height: 8 Eyesight: -7 Empathy: 10 Chocolate resistance: 0 Cleanliness:8 Carrie was brught up on Duck Hunt, Civil War reenactments and a large dose of old fashioned rearing.

She thought she was a “sports girl” until three years in a back brace changed her agility and, ultimately, her perspective. She idolizes her older brother, posts way too many photos of her mom from the '70s and has found her dad on the TV screen at Murphy's, representing Springfield’s 7th ward. She is way too empathetic, which may or may not have earned her the crown at senior prom.

Dane Georges

Art Director

Comic knowledge: 10 Hand-eye coordination: -3 Power-burping ability: 8 Sleep deprivation: 1,000 Reddit karma: 436 Dane was a mild-mannered teenager until he found a pair of shoes — red Converse sneakers, to be exact. These were far from ordinary. The shoes gave Dane special abilities, although they didn't actually do anything at all..

May 9-15, 2013 buzz 3

SAVOY 16 IMAX

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THURSDAY MAY 9

217-355-3456

S. Neil St. (Rt. 45) at Curtis Rd. GQTI.com and on Facebook

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BARGAIN TWILIGHT D A I LY 4 : 0 0 - 6 : 0 0 P M * excludes Digital 3D & Fathom events

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TITLES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE THE WAITING ROOM MON. 5/13 5:00 & 7:00 PM

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1 X 5.417 corp note...keep this same size always

A journey 1/8th page through Zelda’s many soundtracks

By Austin Gomez

METROPOLITAN OPERA GIULIO CESARE ENCORE WED. 5/15 6:30 PM, THUR. 5/16 1:00 PM

3D THE GREAT GATSBY (PG-13) $2.50 PREMIUM PER 3D TICKET

12:25, 3:30, 6:35, 9:40

THE GREAT GATSBY (PG-13) 11:55, 12:55, 3:00, 4:00, 6:05, 7:05, 9:10, 10:10 FRI/SAT LS 12:00 PEEPLES (PG-13) 11:00, 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00 3D IRON MAN 3 (PG-13) $2.50 PREMIUM PER 3D TICKET 12:30, 1:30, 3:30, 4:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30 FRI/SAT LS 10:30 IRON MAN 3 (PG-13) 12:15, 12:45, 1:00, 1:15, 3:15, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 6:15, 6:45, 7:00, 7:15, 9:15, 9:45, 10:00, 10:15 FRI/SAT LS 11:15, 12:15 THE BIG WEDDING (R) 11:00, 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50 PAIN AND GAIN (R) 12:40, 3:30, 6:20, 9:10 FRI/SAT LS 11:55 OBLIVION (PG-13) 11:05, 1:50, 4:35, 7:20, 10:05 42 (PG-13) 11:10, 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50 THE CROODS (PG) FRI-SUN, TUE 11:35, 1:55, 4:15, 6:35, 8:50 MON 11:35, 1:55 WED 11:35, 1:55, 4:15

3D STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

(PG-13) WED. 5/15 8:00 PM 3D IRON MAN 3 (PG-13) 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 FRI/SAT LS 12:00

Illustrated by Dane Georges

Week of Friday, May 10 – Thursday, May 16, 2013 To the Wonder (R) Directed by T. Malick (TREE OF LIFE) | From a 35mm print Fri: 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 Sat: 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 Sun: 2:00, 4:30, 7:00 | Mon - Thu: 7:30 PM The Big Lebowski (R) From a 35mm print Fri & Sat: 11:59 PM | Thu: 10:00 PM Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and The Farm Midwives (NR) Mother’s Day weekend special | Q&A afterward Sat & Sun: 11:30 AM 126 W. Church St. Champaign

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4 buzz May 9-15, 2013

I

came across Ocarina of Time without knowing what I was getting my 7-year-old self into. Instead of being introduced to vibrant primary colors and the whimsical “yahoos” of Mario at the beginning of the game, my eyes were met with a dark, mysterious landscape and the frightening whimpers of a boy clad in a green hat and tunic. For the rest of the week, I was frustrated and confused, and I returned the game to Hollywood Video without getting past the first level.

Two years later, despite my realization that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time had come to be regarded as one of the greatest modern video games of all time, I decided to try my luck instead with its sequel, Majora’s Mask. While the adventure was still pretty confusing to me, I was at least able to complete the game all the way through.

Controlling Link, the same green-garbed hero of the series, I became intrigued by collecting masks, finding treasure, battling horrific but terrifically designed monsters and playing the ocarina. It seemed strange at first, playing a musical instrument in order to manipulate the game world around me.

Where in other games I would have to drive, walk or press “A” to enter certain areas, fast traveling (as well as time traveling) was a simple six-note song away. The “Song of Time,” for instance, is one of 12 playable songs in the game.

When I grew older, I replayed both Majora’s

Mask and Ocarina of Time, hopping on the Legend of Zelda bandwagon to such an extent that I collected every game in the series. While dark and familiar themes became more appealing to me as I matured, the music of these games became attached to me in the most peculiar of ways. I began to realize that no other game music had so heavily manipulated my mood, understanding and analysis of what happens during gameplay. The music of the Zelda series wasn’t there simply to enhance the mood, but rather to enhance the connection between the player and the world he traverses.

Legendary game composer Koji Kondo created the original 8-bit jingles for many original Nintendo titles, Super Mario Bros. and Zelda included. A far cry from the distracting beeps and boops of most early video games, the “Main Theme” of the Zelda series opens with a triumphant trumpet choir and a percussive, valiant march fit for any sword-wielding adventure.

From this theme alone, Kondo breathed a fresh revitalization of tonal nostalgia with every succeeding Zelda title to date, from the “Overworld Theme” of A Link to the Past to the “Termina Overworld Theme” of Majora’s Mask.

But while the series' staple anthem is a classic, everything that makes a Zelda game’s music well balanced stems from each soundtrack’s dynamic versatility. Ocarina of Time’s bubbly “Korkiri Forest” and steel-drum tropical “Zora’s Domain” aren’t without tracks that contrast in mood.

The haunting void on dungeon pieces such as “Inside the Deku Tree” and the original “Fire Temple” (before religious groups felt that the eerie chanting resembled Islamic prayer, causing the chants to be stripped from the master recording) effectively succeeds in returning the player to a dark place where the sun sets and darkness permeates.

This is where the music truly establishes its influence on video game soundtracks. For the all the magic in the Zelda mystique, it is never left without a palpable dreariness to couple.

Whereas most games find themselves recycling a singular, overarching tone that yields to more background noise than thought-out composition, the Zelda series actively moves across genres ranging from acoustic experimentation to castanet flute sessions to robust, cinematic orchestrations. If the idea here is to strike a balance between pushing the boundaries of Zelda music while still accompanying every entry’s shift in tone, then Mr. Kondo surely has a lock on his game.

There are times, of course, when battling ReDeads, Stalfos and Ganon necessitate an epic, crusading score to encompass Link’s heroic triumphs. But Zelda’s trademark mysteriousness will always come from its minimalism, like coming across an odd man, his music box and a windmill.

Visit readbuzz.com for more of buzz's favorite video game soundtracks.

community

vintage video games

Live Action Games, a throwback game shop

by Timothy Stilling

R

emember how impossible Battle Toads was?

Or how games of Super Mario Kart got so competitive? How about the feeling of accomplishment after defeating a boss when playing a cooperative game of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time? Relive those moments today, or recreate them for a new generation at Live Action Games in downtown Champaign.

Located at 41 E. University Ave. in downtown Champaign, Live Action Games is a throwback to your old neighborhood video game shop, specializing in games of the past and hardware repairs.

It’s on the first floor of a tall brick building, a short distance from the bus station.

Owner-operator Adrian Astorina is an amiable guy and an Australian transplant, having lived in the Champaign area for some 15 years.

He’s knowledgeable on all game-related topics. He instantly builds a rapport with customers, chatting on the nuances of the original 151 Pokémon as easily as the pastiche elements of today’s platformers. A young lady came in asking for Mister Mosquito, a PS2 game from 2001 where you actually play as a mosquito.

The objective of the game is to go around biting people in order to save up enough blood to make it through the winter. Though Astorina didn’t have a copy, he and the customer joked

about the odd nature of the game. The foot traffic comes in waves.

“I mostly do repairs all day,” Astorina said. “But I like to chat people up when they come in, build an atmosphere. Lots of people come in just to shoot the shit.”

Astorina, in typical entrepreneurial spirit, started Live Action Games because he was dissatisfied with where he was at.

“It’s a funny story,” he said. “My girlfriend was like, ‘You hate your job, you hate your life. Do something about it.’ So it was an impulse that took off, you know, it was just totally random; just went for it.”

His love for video games is what drove him.

“I’ve been gaming since I was 3 years old — so 27 years. That makes me seem very old,” he said with a laugh.

Pressed for a favorite game, Astorina cited Final Fantasy Tactics for PS1, but quickly qualified it by saying, “There are too many to name.”

Inside, the store’s walls, which aren’t covered in video games, are adorned with 8-bit artwork from quintessential titles like Donkey Kong and Space Invaders. In another open space is a poster of The Periodic Table of Game Controllers, and another mapping the evolution of controls on various handheld and console systems. The walls that

are covered in video games offer a wide selection of used games for sale or trade across most gaming platforms, including NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Dreamcast, N64, Gamecube, Gameboy, GBA, PS1, PS2, PS3, Xbox and Xbox 360.

A PS1 demo station, with Spyro the Dragon running, holds a spot in the back of the store waiting for someone to kill a few minutes. The purple hero flies around the welcome screen hoping to be directed in helping free his fellow dragons.

All of the classics are there: Mortal Kombat, many iterations of the Mario franchise, Crash Bandicoot, Street Fighter, Zelda, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, Tekken, Mega Man, Chrono Trigger and Kirby. The list goes on. You name it, they’ve probably got it, or will get it at some point.

Unsurprisingly, Astorina said the most requested game he gets is Super Smash Bros. for N64.

“That game never sticks around very long,” he said.

The focus of Live Action Games is definitely on old school titles, and the nostalgia for the '90s is ripe.

They also have game systems and a wide array of accessories like Dance Dance Revolution pads, steering wheels, Rock Band guitars and extra controllers. These things are nice to check out before buying them — an option not afforded by online commerce.

Astorina chooses not to have an online store because it unnecessarily complicates things.

“If we have something incredibly hard to find, I don’t want it going to someone non-local. If we have someone come in right now looking for this game, I don’t want to turn them away and say go bid for it on the website," Astorina said. "I want people to be able to come in and buy it right now.”

New inventory is coming in all the time, basically led by Astorina’s discretion. At this moment, that means themed T-shirts and action figures.

When asked if he thinks there will always be a place for used video game shops, Astorina has a positive outlook.

“I grew up playing Atari and Nintendo games and have always constantly gone back, even just for half an hour, and thought, ‘This is awesome,’” Astorina said. “If you’re a hardcore gamer, you will always want to go back and relive the memories.

In the future, people will want to go back and play Xbox 360 games.”

It has been around nine months since the opening of Live Action Games. A very successful Super Smash Bros. tournament was held in September, with the possibility of a Marvel vs. Capcom tournament sometime in the near future.

More info can be found at http://facebook.com/ LiveActionChampaign.

Interior of Live Action Games. Photo by Liz Brinckerhoff

May 9-15, 2013 buzz 5

Arts & Entertainment

gamer’s haven

Inside video game developer Volition

by Tyler Martin

Volition. Photo by Alex Mejia

T

ucked away on the third floor of a beautiful brick building sits a team of over 100 people, some punching away at keyboards, others reviewing notes and artwork. A group of eight with Playstation controllers in hand are shouting at the television in front of them as their onscreen character narrowly dodges a string of explosions.

These people create entire worlds from their collective imagination, worlds that people from all over the globe lose themselves in and become passionate about.

Located at One Main Plaza in Champaign, Volition has been a part of the community since 1996 (its predecessor, Parallax Software, was here before that), but many aren’t aware that such a high-profile video game developer sits right in the heart of downtown.

Their work includes the Saint’s Row series, Red Faction and The Punisher, a game loosely tied to the 2004 Marvel film. Their latest, Saint’s Row: The Third, has sold over two million copies worldwide.

When touring the studio and listening to some of the developers and staff speak, one thing becomes apparent: These people are passionate about their work. Dan Cermak, the general manager, spoke about their upcoming game, Saint’s Row IV, and seemed proud to be working on the game, excitedly discussing the little bits of info he was allowed to talk about.

“It’s really a great experience," Cermak said.

"It’s a lot of fun.”

Cermak distanced Volition from the kind of games your Grandma might be familiar with, like Angry Birds. He says their products are for the hardcore gaming crowd.

“I look at iOS games as a lunch break and our games as a vacation,” he said.

Saint’s Row IV is an action game in which your character, through some means that Volition hasn’t revealed yet, goes from the gang leader

6 buzz May 9-15, 2013

of previous games, to becoming President of the United States.

“As president, you are taken by aliens and put in a Matrix-like simulator where you end up with superpowers, and the game is just crazy,” Cermak said through a grin. “They said to us after Saint’s Row: The Third that you couldn’t get much more over the top, but I think it’s much more over the top, and actually much more fun.”

The game obviously doesn’t take itself seriously.

“We just focus on making this game fun,” he said.

By this, he means all the crazy ideas that come out of brainstorm sessions are given a fair shot.

Audio director Ariel Gross proposed an idea for a weapon that shoots dubstep music to take down foes and start dance parties in the streets.

“I was just listening to a dubstep track called 'Existence,' by Excision & Downlink, and this freaky voice says, ‘Initiate phase one. Power up the bass cannon!' And it occurred to me that the wobbles and stabs of bass could be used to attack people,” Gross said.

It is a long road from inception to release for a video game that involves a large team of people working long hours. Early stages involve fewer people, but they let their imaginations run wild.

Jim Torbit, a producer, said they start with a “discovery” period.

“Discovery is a blue-sky phase where we deemphasize practical limitations and concern ourselves with strategic objectives like determining a successful game vision and a player experience,” he said.

Then the team starts honing in on their vision of what they want their game to be, laying out the groundwork to move into production phase and checking the practicality of the crazier ideas.

“When there is enough momentum behind an idea, it turns into a prototype. This could be a sketch on a napkin, or a little work of interactive fiction, or even a fully functioning in-game pro-

totype," Gross said. "If we decide that it’s a worthy idea, then it will actually be implemented into the game, and then it’s tested again, then refined, then tested, refined, tested and so on, ideally until we’re satisfied with it.”

Volition is currently in the production phase for Saint’s Row IV, finalizing many of the ideas that have been floating around for months, even years.

But things don’t always go as smoothly as planned in the gaming industry, and Volition has had its share of bumps. The longtime publisher of Volition’s games, THQ, faced financial woes in the last couple of years, and filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

“It was a pretty painful year. We lost a lot of good people,” said Cermak. “We were their biggest studio.

The Saint’s Row series was their most profitable.”

THQ auctioned off all of its assets in January. Volition was then bought by Deep Silver, a branch of the European company Koch Media.

Despite this, Saint’s Row IV is barreling toward its release. It will soon go into post-production to get ready for store shelves.

Just as musicians might get sick of playing the same songs every night on tour, many game developers become tired of their own product at the end of their two- or three-year development period But Cermak said, “I have to play it every single day and I still find it incredibly fun.”

While Saint’s Row IV is only scheduled for release on current systems, Volition is always looking to the future. They are tinkering with the recently announced PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s still-under-wraps console, and other new tech such as the Oculus Rift, a headset that tracks your head movements and produces a 3D screen that takes up the player’s entire peripheral vision, effectively bringing the player into the world.

“One way to approach (the new game consoles) is to ask ourselves what kinds of things the player might expect from games in five years, and then choose a few of those things to figure out how to deliver to our players in three years," Gross said. "We might have something innovative if we can do that.”

Cermak said they have a "lab" where they let people play around and learn about these things.

But the general focus around the studio was on Saint’s Row IV. “It’s completely different in many ways than Saint’s Row: The Third.” The addition of crazy powers is a huge change, and one way Volition innovates on its formula of open-world, playercaused mayhem.

“Our motto is ‘fun over real,” said Cermak.

Saint’s Row IV will be released August 23.

Volition. Photo by Alex Mejia

My sword glows blue in the presence of fanboys

players' paradise

by John Milas

Armored Gopher Games in Urbana. Photo by Folake Osibodu

At

Armored Gopher Games in Urbana, it’s all about the social experience. “'Everybody gets to play' is the motto,” said Dave Hoover, owner and manager of the store for the last four and a half years. “We are a store that specializes in tabletop experiences,

be they board games, miniatures, collectible card games, role playing — just a place to get together, meet some people, play some games and have some fun.”

Patrons don’t necessarily have to bring their own games, since some demos are available.

Fun times at Armored Gopher Games There are also drinks and snacks for sale, and outside food is allowed.

“We don’t want people to go hungry,” Hoover said.

Armored Gopher moved to a new location at 1508 N. Cunningham Ave. at the beginning of April, and is now about twice the size of its old space, featuring several tables for gameplay.

Hoover said they now have room for over 100 people, but have not yet hit capacity.

His experience in gaming started in childhood.

“I was bullied into gaming at the tender age of 8,” Hoover said, describing a scenario where he was forced to play Dungeons & Dragons by his friend’s teenage brother. Eventually, he no longer had to be forced and has been playing tabletop games since.

Now, he wants to share an array of games like Warhammer 40k, Magic: The Gathering and The Settlers of Catan with the community.

“We’re a store first, but we really want to be part of the gaming community overall,” Hoover said.

The store’s website features a calendar of scheduled events, but people are welcome to come in anytime during the store’s hours.

Hoover said gaming stores that allow in-store playing are now common, and ideal.

“In this day of Internet sales and whatnot, if you don’t offer some kind of gaming space, you might as well not even open,” he said. “If you open a storefront with no game space, don’t even jump in the arena; there’s no point."

Hoover explained that there is nothing electronic in the store in terms of PC games and video games. He said this is not because he doesn’t like them, but because they don’t connect people to each other. He classified his games as being social tabletop experiences.

“You are directly across the table from the person you’re playing against. You’re laughing, you’re talking, you’re cracking jokes, sharing a pizza, grabbing a soda. It’s just camaraderie," he said. "It gives you a chance to be social, get off the headset and get in-person. It’s very easy to be on a headset and be very hyper aggressive, very rude and have a very negative experience. Here it’s a little less trash talk and a little more. "Hey, let’s make friends.’"

Hoover feels that the emphasis on social gaming is important, and noted that you no longer need to leave the house to play video games, or even see movies.

“We’re very connected to each other, but always through a device,” he said, using cell phones as an example. “This takes out the device. You can shake the person’s hand, look them in the eye, smile, laugh, joke, read body language. It’s better; it’s a more human experience.”

For more information about Armored Gopher, head to its website: http://armored-gopher.com.

STREAM US ONLINE AT WPGU.COM May 9-15, 2013 buzz 7

food & drink

Games to Devour

jone sin’

by Matt Jones

“Gonna Crack”--but you’ll figure it out.

Five of the 10 best drinking games

by Melissa España and Muriel Kelleher

Photo by Megan Swiertz

E

very great party starts with a great pre-game, with drinking games being the best way to reach the perfect level of inebriation.

1. Beer Pong All you need beside beer (or hard liquor, if you want to play hard ball) is a long table, 10 red Solo Cups for each team, pingpong balls and a good partner. The game is simple. The goal is to aim at the opposing team’s cups (which are lined up as a pyramid) and try to make your ball land inside a cup. If it does, one of the team members must finish the drink. Teams take turns shooting and the game ends when someone lands a ball in the last remaining cup.

2. Flippy Cup Flippy Cup is best played with two teams of at least four or five. Team members stand next to each other on one side of the table, each with a cup in front of them. To start the game, everybody fills about 1/4 of their cup with beer or whatever drink they’re playing with. One player from each team starts the game by chugging the drink and then putting the cup upside down on the edge of the table. The goal is to flip the cup right-side-up by using only your finger. The person next to you cannot chug his drink until you flip over your cup.

The goal is for each teammate to complete the flip before the other team does.

3. Quarters To play this game, you’ll need a cup and drink for every player, an extra cup filled with beer and a few quarters. Each player needs to put their cup in the middle of the table and remember which cup belongs to them. The extra cup goes in the middle and generally contains more liquid than the rest.

Everyone sits around the table and the point of the game is to flip the quarter into a cup. If it lands in a cup, the person that it belongs to needs to finish the drink. If the quarter lands in the middle cup then everyone needs to finish his or her drink

8 buzz May 9-15, 2013

and the last person to finish also has to drink the middle cup.

4. Circle of Death This game has some variation, but you’ll need three or more players, a deck of cards, an unopened can of beer and a full cup of whatever mixed drink you’re drinking that night for each player. Shuffle the cards and fan them out into the shape of a circle around the can of beer. The object of the game is to draw a card when it’s your turn and put it under the can’s tab. Each card has a rule and because there are different ways to play, there might be some variation as to what each means. For example, usually aces are “waterfall.” When a player draws an ace, he has to chug his drink and then the next person does the same until the first person has stopped drinking. It’s best to have a printout of the rules somewhere nearby. The game ends when the person who puts his card under the beer can’s tab causes the can to pop open. The player then has to finish the drink and the game is over.

5. Bottle Hockey You’ll need one quarter and an empty beer bottle for each player. Remove everything from the table except for these things. Everybody stands at the table with their bottle directly in front of them. The game starts when one player spins the quarter in the middle of the table and calls out another player's name. That player attempts to hit the spinning quarter at another player’s bottle with a flat hand. All players are allowed to block their bottle, but only using their pointer or pinky fingers. If the player whose name was called out hits another players bottle with the quarter, that player has to drink. The player who just hit the bottle spins the quarter and the player whose bottle was hit must drink until the quarter stops spinning. Afterward, another player spins the quarter and the game repeats.

(Read the full article at readbuzz.com)

Stumped? Find the solutions in the Classifieds pages.

Across 1 They’re not as busy in May 5 Planned to rob 10 Jimmy of shoes 14 Square footage, say 15 “I want to play ___” (line from “Saw”) 16 Good thing to check Snopes. com for 17 Superman’s city 19 Like squid spray 20 Awaiting a court date 22 Slow mover 23 Astley who gets rolled 26 It’s north of Afr. 29 They’ll come before U 31 “Dexter” actor C.S. ___ 33 It may have a five-point harness 39 Comes up short 40 Subside 41 Sir Topham ___ (“Thomas the Tank Engine” manager) 42 Going way back?

45 Author referenced in “The Following” 46 Brit. reference that added “uplink” in 2013 47 Mining find 48 Nuremberg number 50 Eagle’s nest 55 Big trouble 61 Vulcan mind ___

64 Old pantyhose brand with a famous Joe Namath ad 65 Berry variety 66 Pocahontas’ husband John ___ 67 Oaxaca water 68 What the four circled answers “crack” 69 Outdo 70 Bestselling 16-bit console, briefly

Down 1 Pitches a tent 2 Get grooming 3 Insurer based in Hartford 4 Manhattan restaurateur Vincent 5 Rank on a cereal box 6 Wide-eyed 7 Bad substance for a 22-across 8 Mideastern ruler 9 South Asian 10 It’s rated with alarms 11 Pet name 12 Charter ___ (tree on Connecticut’s state quarter) 13 Acne-fighting brand 18 Fixed a squeak 21 Bohemian 24 Word used with defibrillators 25 He wrote “Endymion” and “Hyperion” 27 Grammarian’s concern 28 Overzealous

29 Nostalgia-evoking 30 Take the helm 32 Suffix after Rock or Raisin 33 Provide freebies 34 Tinseltown, in old headlines 35 “Did ___ tell you about the time...”

36 California-based semiconductor company founded in 1981 (hidden in FALSIFY) 37 Follower 38 That boat 43 Film ___ 44 Immature, like some meat 49 One of the Munsters 51 Watson and Thompson 52 Take to the throne 53 Problem 54 You are, in the Yucatan 56 River through Catalonia 57 “___ Flux” (futuristic MTV cartoon) 58 Carnegie or Chihuly 59 ___ Berry (Jones Soda flavor) 60 Sch. near the US-Mexico border 61 It’s un-PC 62 Earth Day prefix 63 Wee boy

movies & TV

Controlled adaptations

A look at video games in film

By Buzz Movies & TV Staff

T

he video game industry grew from its humble roots as a niche hobby for nerds into a billion dollar industry enjoyed by hundreds of millions across the world. Hollywood, seeing the potential dollar signs, has tried many times to cash in on the exponential growth of the industry. Adaptations of video games have been attempted since the early 1990s with varying amounts of success. No video game adaptation has reached above 40 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The largest grossing video game adaptation only made around $300 million, a relatively paltry amount for a summer blockbuster.

Something about video game adaptations has Hollywood struggling. We took a look at three video

Used with permission from Allied Film Makers

game films to see where Hollywood went right and (more often) where it went wrong.

Super Mario Brothers An article about video game films would not be complete without a special mention to the one that started them all. A critical and financial failure, Super Mario Brothers is widely regarded as a huge mistake.

It suffers from some major early '90s weirdness.

Made in 1993, the film is about two Italian American brothers Mario (Bob Hoskins) and Luigi (John Leguizamo) living in Brooklyn. Luigi falls in love with an orphaned NYU student named Daisy (Samantha Mathis) who is kidnapped and taken into an alternate dimension where the world is ruled by humans

who evolved from dinosaurs. The two brothers must save Daisy from King Koopa (Dennis Hopper). The idea to turn the brightly colored and fun Super Mario Bros. games into a dystopian cyberpunk nightmare is an odd one indeed. The movie is by no means a good one. Super Mario Brothers has been regularly called the worst video game movie of all time. Even the special effects were bad for its time. However, the sheer oddity that permeates the film elevates it to the “so bad, it’s good” category. You most likely will not enjoy the film, but Super Mario Brothers is definitely something everyone should experience at least once. ­—Jamila Tyler Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Watching the 2001 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider film feels like watching a live-action video game. This, of course, is due to the fact that the film is based off the videogame series, beginning with the Tomb Raider game made for the Sega Saturn in 1996. Although the movie doesn’t follow any direct storylines from the game, it is based off their protagonist. Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) is a confident, intelligent, combatready female archeologist. She also often happens to be in suggestive clothing, but that, alas, is also true to the games. If Lara Croft is a mixture of James Bond — ironic as the film also stars Daniel Craig — and Indiana Jones, she succeeds in both seeking old

mystic relics and firing a gun, but her film lacks the sharp dialogue or plot lines of her male counterparts.

No, Tomb Raider is interesting only in that it really does look like the video game. Lara swings on vines, jumps onto ledges, explores old tombs and fights the stone monsters that are animated to move and look like a video game beastie. Overall, it’s a nice nod to the games, but not much more. —Amanda Toledo Wreck-It Ralph Even for a non-gamer like me, Wreck-It Ralph is still a delightful manifestation of what happens when we turn off the electronics. Anybody else remember thinking as a kid that our elementary teachers simply lived at school after we all left for the day? Wreck-It Ralph follows that sentiment but with beloved video game characters. Pac-Man himself appears in Ralph’s therapy group and sympathizes with him. Then there’s the short and sweet Fix-It Felix (voiced by Jack McBrayer) and his unrelenting devotion to power-maven Sergeant Calhoun (voiced

by Jane Lynch). Jane Lynch has a razor-sharp voice, which makes the unlikely pair even more loveable.

Wreck-It Ralph visualizes all these great character dynamics in ways we only could’ve imagined. In addition, there are winks in the film that refer to the arcade greats for gamers to catch, so it’s truly a movie for all. —Stephany Guerrero

Wanted U of I Student Interested in a Career in Advertising Sales • Must be in ChampaignUrbana over the summer.

• Must be able to commit 3 hours/day Mon-Fri • Commission based pay structure • Email ssm@illinimedia.com for application materials

?

May 9-15, 2013 buzz 9

calendar

may 9 - 15, 2013

Submit your event to the calendar: Online: Click "Submit Your Event" at the217.com • E-mail: send your notice to calendar@the217.com • Fax: 337-8328, addressed to the217 calendar Snail mail: send printed materials via U.S. Mail to: the217 calendar, Illini Media, 512 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820

thursday 9

Live music & karaoke Industry Night

The New Rural Route 3 Radio Maria Art & other exhibits Rosebowl Tavern 10 p.m.

From Protest to Peace 8 p.m.

Miscellaneous Spurlock Museum Late Night with DJ 9 a.m.

University YMCA’s Belly Dump & Run Classes Workshops Radio Maria, 10 p.m. University YMCA & Lectures 9 a. m.

Miscellaneous Vegetarian Indian Friendshop Bookstore Delicacies: University YMCA’s Champaign Public Ragda Patties Dump & Run Library, 1 p.m.

Common Ground University YMCA Food Co-op 9 a. m.

6 p.m. monday 13

Family Friendly Babies Love Books Champaign Public Library 10:30 a.m.

Family Engineering Nights Orpheum Children’s Science Museum 4 p.m.

Movies & theater Next to Normal Station Theater 8 p.m.

saturday 11

Dale Watson and the Lonestars Rosebowl Tavern 8 p.m.

Chillax with DJ Belly and Matt Harsh Radio Maria 10 p.m.

Miscellaneous University YMCA’s Dump & Run University YMCA 9 a. m.

Cosmopolitan Club at the University of Illinois University YMCA 7 p.m.

Movies & theater Next to Normal Station Theater 8 p.m.

friday 10 Art & other exhibits

Community Cinema: “The Revolutionary Optimists” Champaign Public Library 6 p.m.

Pairing Smackdown!

Classes Workshops Beer and Cheese vs. & Lectures Wine and Cheese Common Ground Food Writers Group Rantoul Public Library Co-op 7 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

Cooking Healthy on a Budget: Pan-Asian Native Plant Sale Lincoln Square Village Noodle Bowl Common Ground 8 a.m.

Food Co-op Live music & 6 p.m.

Groove Avenue Rosebowl Tavern 9 p.m.

90’s Daughter Fat City Bar & Grill 9 p.m.

Salsa night with DJ Juan Radio Maria 10:30 p.m.

Miscellaneous

Family Friendly Puzzle Exchange Rantoul Public Library 5 p.m.

Live music & karaoke BOOM-JAM Open Stage Boomerangs Bar and Grill 8 p.m.

Hootenanny Rosebowl Tavern 8 p.m.

Friendshop Bookstore Lounge Night Champaign Public Radio Maria, 10 p.m.

Library 1 p.m.

Rockstar Karaoke Movies & theater Mike 'N' Molly’s 10 p.m.

Next to Normal Station Theater Miscellaneous 8 p.m.

Hula Hoop Classes Parkland College sunday 12 6:30 p.m.

Family Friendly

Movies & theater Kids Cook! Ages 2-4 Common Ground Food Abe Froman Project Co-op, 2 p.m.

Mike N Molly's 8:30 p.m.

Live music & karaoke Open Mic Night Pheonix. 8 p.m.

From Protest to Peace Parrish Brothers Rosebowl Tavern Spurlock Museum 8 p.m.

9 a.m.

10 buzz May 9-15, 2013

Skincare 101: For Teens Champaign Public Library 3 p.m.

Rantoul Public Library Board Meeting Rantoul Public Library 7 p.m.

WEDNESday 15 Art & other exhibits Champaign Central HS Presents: Proof Champaign Central High School 7 p.m.

Classes Workshops & Lectures One-On-One Computer Basics Champaign Public Library 11 a.m.

Family Friendly

Live music & karaoke karaoke Krannert Uncorked Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 5 p.m.

Classes Workshops & Lectures

tuesday 14 Art & other exhibits Next to Normal Champaign Central High School 7 p.m.

THIS SUMMER...

Take a class for fun, not because it’s required.

Save money.

Transfer summer credit back to your home university.

Summer SeSSionS Star t may 20 and June 10.

Start planning your summer now at harpercollege.edu/summer

Family Friendly Toddler Tales Champaign Public Library 9:45 a.m.

Supplements 101: What is a Vitamin?

Common Ground Food Co-op, 5:30 p.m.

Family Friendly

Puzzle Exchange Ready, Set, Read!

Rantoul Public Library Champaign Public 2 p.m.

Library, 9:45 a.m.

Live music & karaoke Common Ground “The Buskin’ Justins” Story Time Common Ground with Alamo Black Food Co-op, 10:30 a.m.

The Clark Bar

7 p.m.

FriendShop BookMiscellaneous store: Tag Bag Sale Rainbow Coffeehouse Main Library, 12 p.m.

Etc. Coffee House @ Live music & karaoke Wesley Foundation 6 p.m.

Open Decks with

DJ Belly Tuesday Night Trivia Radio Maria, 10 p.m.

Jupiter’s at the Crossing Otter Just Spinning 7 p.m.

Records

Mike N Molly’s, 10 p.m.

buzz’s

Complete listing available at

THE217.COM

WEEK AHEAD

Lost Sock Memorial Day Bedrooms, washing machines and locker rooms around the globe Thursday, May 9 A few quarters I suppose, if you wash your socks at a laundromat There is probably nothing more frustrating than losing a sock. The washing machine is a perpetual battleground, a place where toe socks, tube socks, athletic socks and holiday socks all come together to fight for their continued existence, with the machine seeming to always win. Or maybe it’s your couch cushions that gobble up your helpless feet warmers, or even your smelly locker room that plots to capture as many socks as possible to add to its endless stench. Wherever and whenever a sock is lost, it’s a sad, sad day. So take a moment of silence to salute your lost socks that have trudged through the worst of conditions with you — across muddy soccer fields, dusty floors, inside smelly sneakers and God only knows what other unmentionable places... Ahem... I’m looking at you, boys... Be thankful you will probably get another pair or two for Christmas this year. — Andrea Baumgartner, Arts & Entertainment Editor

YMCA Dump and Run collections University YMCA May 9 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), May 10-11 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), May 13-17 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Free Are you moving out and don’t need your dishes? Have you outgrown your bike? Do you hate the shirt Grandma just gifted you? There is a home for all these things and you can avoid it being the dumpster. Swing by the University YMCA on 1001 S. Wright St. in Champaign and drop off your unwanted objects. Throughout the summer, the YMCA will collect these items and then sell them at the University’s Stock Pavilion in August. For more information, go to www.universityymca.org/dump_and_run/ —Carrie McMenamin, Food and Drink Editor

Next to Normal Station Theatre $10-15 May 9-11 In this contemporary musical and winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, a suburban household copes with crisis and the unpredictability of a mother’s worsening bipolar disorder. —Jamila Tyler, Movies & TV Editor

Earth Witch, Il Cattivo, Lark’s Tongue, Thundertruck Thursday, May 9, 8:30 p.m.

The Highdive $7 19+ Earth Witch, the recently formed trio featuring members of the late RVINS, as well as Enta and Dino Bravo, take on the Highdive this Thursday, May 9, with their own brand of bass-heavy sludge. Don’t miss this chance to check them out. —Maddie Rehayem, Music Editor

classifieds Place an Ad: 217 - 337 - 8337 Deadline: 2 p.m. Tuesday for the next Thursday’s edition.

Inde x Employment 000 Services 100 Merchandise 200 Transportation 300 Apartments 400 Other Housing/Rent 500 Real Estate for Sale 600 Things To Do 700 Announcements 800 Personals 900

• PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD! Report errors immediately by calling 337-8337. We cannot be responsible for more than one day’s incorrect insertion if you do not notify us of the error by 2 pm on the day of the first insertion.

• All advertising is subject to the approval of the publisher. The Daily Illini shall have the right to revise, reject or cancel, in whole or in part, any advertisement, at any time.

• All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to the City of Champaign Human Rights Ordinance and similar state and local laws, making it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement which expresses limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, color, mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, prior arrest or conviction record, source of income, or the fact that such person is a student.

• Specification in employment classifications are made only where such factors are bonafide occupational qualifications necessary for employment.

• All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, and similar state and local laws which make it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement relating to the transfer, sale, rental, or lease of any housing which expresses limitation, specifications or discrimination as to race, color, creed, class, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual oientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or the fact that such person is a student.

• This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal oppportunity basis.

employment

HELP WANTED Part time

020

Cook and Dishwasher/Delivery Part-time, evenings 5-10. Apply at Manzella's Italian Patio, Champaign.

Summer Internship Youth focused Non-Profit, 15hrs/week, Skills developed: Marketing, Promotions, Communication, Advertising, Sales, Creativity & Teamwork.

This is an unpaid, volunteer internship. talks.mentoring@yahoo.com

services

CLEANING

130

Experienced Cleaning Lady Worked with apartments and Bromley Hall.

Call Pat (217) 352-2152.

FOR RENT

APARTMENTS Furnished

John/Healey Furnished 1 & 2 bedroom near John & Second Studios on Healey and First. $375/mo.

Available August 2012. Call 3561407

Champaign Campus/Downtown Convenient to downtown/ campus. 1,2,3 BR. Locations available starting June, July, and August. From $400.

View opportunities at www.faronproperties.com 217-352-8540

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE

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rentals

APARTMENTS

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APARTMENTS Furnished

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Deadline:

511 W. Church, C.

$705 - $745

Rates:

604 W. Stoughton, U.

$1000+

1004 S. Locust, C.

$660 - $870

Photo Sellers

30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue

Garage Sales

30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free.

Action Ads

• 20 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $20 • 10 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $10 • add a photo to an action ad, $10

502 South 5th Street, Champaign

Apartment Available May 13th!

Apartment available starting May 13th (or sooner if needed!).

Furnished one bedroom apartment in a quiet building. Rent is $666.

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Paul 630-303-0774 Johnny 630-615-1732

217-637-3945

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APARTMENTS

$430.50. 1 bed and 1 bath. Advantages include: On campus, 2 blocks from Grainger, 2 blocks from County Market, 1 block from 2 bus stops (Wright and Springfield & Sixth and White).

Contact singh64@illinois.edu or text/ call 908-230-0859

430

Unfurnished

Can't beat the location!

One block West of main quad (on Sixth St. between Chalmers and Armory). Please contact hayes3@illinois.edu for more information.

SUBLETS

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450

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every thursday

510

Furnished Houses Furnished 4 and 5 bedroom houses on campus near Stoughton and Sixth.

Fall 2013-2014 Call 356-1407

PARKING / STORAGE 570 STORE YOUR BELONGINGS FOR THE SUMMER! Own Your Own Storage & Rentals Rental Units available now 4x5, 6x7, 9x6 *Student Summer Specials* 217-384-5302 email: ownyourowninc@yahoo.com

1BR in 2 BR for $425/month. Price negotiable. Includes all utilities.

Furnished. Laundry and A/C in-unit.

Parking available. Great location on North Campus (W Gregory St & N Clark St). Close to 3 bus lines.

Please contact d.akins12@yahoo. com or (773) 860-7502.

What are you waiting for?

Extra Value 1,2 & 3 bedrooms, courtyards, carports, & on-site laundry $450-$845

440 HOUSES FOR RENT

1 bedroom in a 2 bedroom apartment for $325/mo (utilities not included). Near Busey & Green MTD stop, very close to gas stations, and a healthy walk away from downtown Urbana. Possible parking spot available.

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440 SUBLETS

Female sublease near campus. On bus route. Now until August 10th. $250 per month all included. Benorris@juno.com

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2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.

420 APARTMENTS

Luxury Locations 1-2 bedrooms, beautifully appointed, oasis, fireplaces, balconies, & garages $725-$895

Newly Remodeled 1-2 bedrooms, some w/lofts, spacious floor plans, on-site laundry, & garages $580-$840

217-352-1129

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The DailyIllini

ARTS &

ENTERTAINMENT EVERY THURSDAY

Most apt. furnished, parking available, laundry available

CHAMPAIGN'S ALTERNATIVE

WPGU

magazine

107.1 May 9-15, 2013 buzz 11

movies & TV

movie review

By Jamila Tyler The events of last year’s summer blockbuster mega-hit The Avengers still weigh heavily on Tony Stark’s mind.

“So what really happened in New York?” is the question that everyone, from pre-adolescent fanboys to overeager newscasters, wants to ask billionaire/genius/superhero Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Any mention of either “New York” or “wormhole” sends the man behind Iron Man into an anxiety filled tailspin. Like Stark, the shadow of The Avengers looms over Iron Man 3. As the first entry into Marvel’s Phase II (the second part of Marvel Studio’s attempt to create a massive cinematic universe spanning multiple films), Iron Man 3 has the task of completing the Iron Man trilogy as well as setting up the events of the next several films leading up to The Avengers sequel. And if the film is any indication, we’re in for a wild ride.

The world is once again in danger. This time not from an extraterrestrial threat, but from a terrorist obsessed with Chinese imagery called The Mandarin (Ben Kinglsey). Add a scorned scientist (Guy Pearce) and a team of explosive henchmen, and Tony Stark has more than enough to battle. Luckily for Tony, he has his long-suffering girlfriend Pepper

Iron man 3 ★★★★✩ pg-13

Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), his level headed BFF Col. James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) and his faithful bodyguard-turned-head of Stark Industries security Happy (Jon Favreau).

Iron Man 3 avoids the pitfalls that affect lesser final entries into a superhero trilogy. Writer-director Shane Black (who also directed Downey in the darkly hilarious Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) keeps the light and sardonic tone of the previous two Iron Man films while upping the quality tenfold from the thoroughly mediocre Iron Man 2. Black, with the help of Ben

Kingsley, transformed The Mandarin from his origins as a racist caricature of Evil Communist China into a brilliantly subversive take on the character.

Downey Jr. delivered an incredibly funny and nuanced performance as Tony Stark. His best moments were when he was out of the suit and struggling with his inner demons. Paltrow as Pepper Potts is definitely one of the most interesting and well-written love interests in the Marvel Universe.

It never feels as if Potts is there as the Designated Love Interest. Rather, she is a fully formed, three-

dimensional woman with needs and wants outside of being Stark’s girlfriend. The two have a chemistry that proves that a summer action movie can contain an adult relationship. Cheadle feels much more natural here as Rhodes than he was in Iron Man 2.

Iron Man 3 is not a perfect film. The third act got a little disjointed and the revelation of the ultimate motivation behind the villain was paper thin and underwhelming. Despite this, Iron Man 3 is a fitting end to the Iron Man series and an indicator that good things are coming our way from Marvel.

2013(MAY9)quArter-pg-sq-buzz

MAY

KR ANNERT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

TH MAY 9

5pm

Krannert Uncorked

// Marquee

TH MAY 16

5pm

Krannert Uncorked with The Painkillers, blues // Marquee

FR MAY 17

10am

Dance for People with Parkinson’s

// Marquee

C A L L 3 3 3 . 6 2 8 0 • 1. 8 0 0 . K C P A T I X

Corporate Power Train Team Engine

Marquee performances are supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council— a state agency which recognizes Krannert Center in its Partners in Excellence Program.

12 buzz May 9-15, 2013

40 North and Krannert Center —working together to put Champaign County’s culture on the map.