Tag Archives: Horror

My Story “Working Retail” Published Today by BuzzyMag!

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Well, today’s a good day, folks. A very good day.

My first professional short story hit the shelves (virtually, at least) over at Buzzymag.com. I thought you folks might like to give it a gander.

“Working Retail” is a horror-comedy story, and I think that I’ve handled the whole zombie apocalypse thing in a pretty unique way.

So if you want to find out what student loans, HDTVs, and zombies all have in common, then head on over to BuzzyMag and read “Working Retail” in all its glory.

And just in case that isn’t enough, here’s a quick teaser so you can see all the inherent awesomeness in the story:

“Working Retail” by B.J. Keeton

I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard a grunt. I stood up from straightening the endcap of blank DVDs, and put on my best smile. If I had learned nothing else from nearly four years of working at MediaTown, it was that I never sold a single laptop, flat-screen TV, or Elton John boxed-set if I didn’t greet everyone who wanted my attention with a smile.

Sometimes it was all I could do to make the smile touch my eyes, but it still counted as a smile. That day, I was in a pretty good mood. I was getting paid at the end of my shift, and for the first time in my life, I was going to be able to pay something off. Two somethings, actually. I had made some stupid decisions since I had graduated college, the worst of which involved living off a high-interest credit card and buying a new car a month after graduating. In my defense, I had been promised a cushy programming job at a tech firm in the fall, and I thought as long as I could live through the summer, I’d be okay. But that was the summer of the outbreak, and while I–and my accrued debt–lived through the summer, the firm didn’t. On top of regular living expenses–rent, utilities, gas, and so on–those decisions made money a little tight in my neck of the woods.

But that week’s paycheck was going to make the final payment on the credit card, which was going to finally get me off my signature “Dollar Menu and Bologna Diet.” I would still have enough money to throw at getting the car paid off, too.

So it wasn’t even a fake smile I put on when I had to stop stacking DVD-Rs.

“Hi there!” I said as I pushed myself from the floor. “What can I do for–Holy Mother of God!”

Good right? Make sure you head on over to BuzzyMag to read the complete story.

[Guest Post] 5 Greatest MMOs of 2012

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Today’s guest post was written by Evan Fischer, a contributing writer for Sonic Games 365–where you can find the best arcade, puzzle, and RPG games on the web.

If you’ve grown bored with some of the overstuffed MMOs that seem to offer only minute variations on popular themes (Evil wizard holds kingdom hostage! Aliens invade the earth! An apocalypse turns us all into battle-ready soldiers!) then you’re no doubt looking forward to some of the incredible new MMOs being released 2012. While not a comprehensive list, here are just a few that should give you something a little more than the average fare.

Firefall

Expansive open-world environment – check. Futuristic battle zone setting – check. First- and third-person shooter features – check. And it’s free?

Holy crap.

So, this asteroid basically hits the earth, setting off the “Nine Year Winter” (brrrr). Some governments fall to pieces while other nations make alliances, and a new element called crystite is discovered (providing unlimited power, which is a real bonus during asteroid-induced winter). Also, wormholes are created, but they have this unfortunate side effect of creating energy storms that ravage the earth, leaving it largely inhospitable, darn the luck. So the story is a little like a spit-balling exercise that never got pared down. But with lots of groups and classes to choose from (fighter, engineer, medic, etc.), plenty of loot to be captured, and extensive PvP environments, Firefall is one MMO to try this year (and keep in mind, the demo will air at RTX July 7).

TERA

This action/adventure MMO out of Korea is an epic fantasy game of the sword-and-sorcery variety (dragons, magic – all the snacky-treats of the fantasy genre). But thanks to the Unreal Engine, the graphics are breathtaking, and the manual targeting feature gives the game some unexpected oomph that will likely appeal to the hardcore gaming crowd (since it’s relatively rare in the PC world).

Guild Wars 2

Although this game won’t debut until August, it’s already getting a lot of buzz; it’s basically the choose-your-own-adventure version of the MMO world. The success of the first Guild Wars apparently gave developer ArenaNet a desire to take it to the next level, and their plan is certainly audacious. Every choice users make, from character attributes to the weapons they draw, will affect the outcome of individual events and the progression of the game as a whole. If their plan works, this game could just take MMOs to the next level.

The Secret World

Fantasy runs rife in the wide world of MMOs, but this gorgeous game embraces the weird in a different way. Set in modern day (rather than a magical past or apocalyptic future),The Secret World nonetheless offers a touch of the fantastic through the unveiling of the fact that myths, legends, and folklore are all true. Secret societies are out there (you’ll be joining one, too!), there really are hidden cities at the center of the earth, and brain-hungry zombies could be invading the Hamptons as we speak. With an emphasis on character creation and storytelling (and a lack of levels), this isn’t your average MMO.

But that’s what makes it fun.

Diablo III

As MMO video games go, this one may be one of the most anticipated in recent memory; hard-core fans of the franchise have been holding their breath (and slowly turning blue) for the last twelve years, when Diablo II came out. In fact, so many people were eager to get their hands on this game that it reportedly broke pre-sale records and sold more copies within the first 24 hours of hitting store shelves than any other PC game to date.

You might not think that your typical hack-and-slash game would be worth all the hubbub, but this franchise is anything but typical, with stellar storylines, tactical action gameplay, fully-formed, destructible, 3D environments, and of course, the multi-player functionality that first made the Diablo franchise so popular. Sadly, this game is not free (though there is no subscription fee); however, most players will agree that it’s worth every penny.

Did we miss your favorite MMO of 2012? Let us know about it in the comments!

One-shot RPGs for Gaming Groups in Flux

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Recently, my regular D&D group has been meeting very irregularly. A combination of factors conspired to create this situation–among them the release of the D&D Next playtest (very well-received with our group) and some changing work schedules for some of us. Two of our players now arrive much later than we’d like to optimally start, which has led some of us to question if a system besides Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition might be better suited to our current situation, a system which would allow players to kind of “drop in” during the game.

While we may or may not actually change systems, my group’s discussion of doing so made me think about what some great RPG systems for our situation would be. When a consistent narrative is not possible because of the current situation with your normal players, your group usually decides to do one of two things: run some “one-shot” adventures for a few weeks until normalcy can be resumed, or run a system where players dropping in at random points is not harmful to the game’s proceedings.

In my opinion, D&D 4E in particular suffers when players jump in and out, as the challenge presented by the enemies is dependant on a particular number of players. What happens is that if your DM builds an encounter for five people but you only have three, the DM has to either make changes on the fly to the encounter or else risk presenting the group with a possibly-fatal challenge. While this may not bother some DMs too badly, when you combine it with the lack of a coherent narrative, it often ends up being a dealbreaker.

It is for me, at least.

That said, if your normal tabletop RPG group can’t make it, but you still want to roll some dice, here are your options as I see them.

Gamma World (7th Edition)

Gamma World is a great fit for a one-shot adventure or even a drop-in game.

With those unfamiliar with the concept, Gamma World 7E uses Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition rules for the framework of the game system. This makes it a great fit for a D&D group that’s just having an off-week: no rules explanation is required.

The setting is a post-apocalyptic Earth where pretty much everything that can exist, does. Your character’s powers are randomly chosen for you, and you are then burdened with the task of somehow explaining your character. You also get starter equipment of your choosing. For example, my last character in Gamma World was a Wheeled Reanimated, which I decided was the spiritual embodiment of the song “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne trying desperately to find his nemesis Tipper Gore.

In addition, the system is far more lethal than D&D 4E (there is almost no healing), making it both entertaining and not a big deal should your character meet an untimely demise at the hands of a Vorpal Chainsaw-wielding mutant chicken. I’m sure your next character (Pyrokinetic…Plant?!?!) will fare better… or it will be fried by laser-wielding robots.

For your DM, there are several published adventures available. In the event that you go through all those, the setting itself is flexible enough to accommodate basically any post-apocalyptic storyline you could come up with. Mad Max, Fallout and Borderlands await!

Marvel Heroic Roleplaying

In case you’ve missed it, I’m a big fan of Marvel Heroic Roleplaying. And recently, a new Civil War event that was recently released, which is perfectly suited to to groups with a drop-in playstyle.

The Civil War event itself spans three acts during which the impact of the Superhuman Registration Act (or SHRA for short) is felt by heroes and villains alike. There’s lots of content here, and your group is unlikely to blow through it very quickly. Heroes are encouraged to pick sides and defend either the Pro- or Anti-Registration standpoint. Hero vs. Hero combat could even result! Also, a fortuitous arrival of a hero could easily happen in any comic book, so it’s easy for a newly-arrived player to jump right into the action.

Another great thing about Marvel Heroic Roleplaying is that the Doom Pool and Plot Point mechanics are largely self-regulating, meaning that the loss of a player or two will not mean a radical rebalancing of an action scene’s difficulty.

Such a feature allows for your Watcher (DM) to have a fairly solid game plan in advance, even if you’re not sure exactly how many of your players will be attending.

Finally, the superhero genre is generally quite popular of late, what with the recent release of The Amazing Spider-Man and the upcoming release of The Dark Knight Rises. It is generally accessible, and even someone who is not very familiar with it could play a more popular hero who is well-known to compensate for this.

Trail of Cthulhu (or any Survival Horror adventure, for that matter)

A survival horror game is a great idea for a one-shot adventure, and Trail of Cthulhu is an interesting and easy to learn system to select for such a game. Since characters are not generally expected to survive a survival horror adventure, the fun is in unraveling the mystery and watching the generally terrifying proceedings happen.

Trail of Cthulhu does a good job of forcing players to get into character. At creation, characters are assigned a Drive that represents their basic philosophy. Acting contrary to this Drive can cause a character to become unstable, whereas acting in favor of it can help a character cope with seriously disturbing circumstances.

Everything in Trail of Cthulhu is done using a D6, and the rules are mostly based around making small gambles on your ability to reach a target number. This simplicity means that you can skip the rules explanation and cut right to the fun–a huge asset for a group in flux or for a one-off adventure.

Finally, there is a wealth of player-created content for this system, most of which is very high quality. You aren’t in danger of running out of content here–at least not before the system drives you crazy (har har). (Beej’s Note: tee hee!)

Conclusion

Next time your group can’t meet as normal, consider one of these alternatives to your regular system! A change of pace or a break can be a really good thing for a roleplaying group, so give one of these a shot and see how you fare!

Does your roleplaying group have a “fallback” game that you play on off-nights? Let me know in the comments!

It’s In The Atmosphere

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I love to read, and that is no secret. I wouldn’t say that I have a favorite genre, but I am probably seen more reading science fiction or fantasy. I have been known to pick up a classic or two, though–I still hold that Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird are two of the best books I’ve ever read, despite that the vernacular of both is very dated. Somehow that added to their charm.

That said, some of the most fun stories I have ever read come from H. P. Lovecraft.

Lovecraft is not only famous for the Cthulhu mythos, but he is also considered the father of modern horror. Which, I think personally, is due to his amazing ability to create a unique atmosphere for each of his stories.

Atmosphere Is All Around You

Atmosphere, put simply, is the feeling you get about the environment the characters are in. A good example would be going to a haunted house. Notice there is always little to no light? How about the spooky sounds or music that plays just loud enough for you to hear, but not quite make it out? These are just pieces that add together to spookify the atmosphere.

Of course creating atmosphere at a haunted house is much easier than say, a written story. In a haunted house, you are there to feel the cool breeze that gives you chills, or to experience the (emulated) thrill of your life threatened. In a story though, the author has to use words to describe the scene to you. Luckily there is a rule of human nature that comes into play here, and I believe H. P. Lovecraft understood this rule and took it to heart with everything he wrote.

You see, the rule is, you can never portray anything better than your audience can imagine it. A good use of this rule is the comic strip Garfield Minus Garfield. While each comic gives you the idea that Jon is really a paranoid psychotic by removing Garfield in the strip, you sometimes can’t help but imagine what Garfield was really doing in the original comic. Much of the time, if you view the original comic, it may not be nearly as funny as what you had thought up.

Close Your Eyes, What Do You See?

Luckily, this rule isn’t only for comedy, it works great for horror, and H. P. Lovecraft truly understood this. Take a look as this excerpt from the story, Whisperer in the Darkness.

“Night was falling now, and as I recalled what Akeley had written me about those earlier nights I shuddered to think there would be no moon.”

In your mind, you can see the darkening sky as the sun went down without a moon to light the sky or the monstrous clouds formed overhead, covering all the stars. Now look back at that excerpt.

There is actually no real description of the sky.

The image in your mind is just what you formed from your own experiences with a spooky night. It takes a great deal of talent and knowledge of the human mind to know just how much to describe in a story for the audience to take it the rest of the way. This talent and knowledge is what made Lovecraft a master horror author.

Let’s look at another excerpt. This one is from the famous Call of Cthulhu.

“A pulpy, tentacled head surmounted a grotesque and scaly body with rudimentary wings; but it was the general outline of the whole which made it most shockingly frightful.”

Here we have the first description of Cthulhu that Lovecraft ever published. We all know the general concept of the monster, but look at how few details are really given. Now think about every version of Cthulhu you have seen. Or you can just do an image search on the Internet.

Sure they have the general tentacled face, and many have a sloping stature, but each interpretation is different. Some just slightly, and some by a huge difference. Each version has incorporated that particular reader’s concept of the monster, and it is that Cthulhu they have always seen when reading Lovecraft’s stories. Not yours, not mine, but their own. That one.

Even if Lovecraft gave exact specifications on how Cthulhu looked, all the way down to the exact dimensions of each tentacle, there would still be small gaps that, as readers, we would fill in with our own ideas. But he didn’t, because who wants to spend their time reading nothing but descriptions?

Instead, Lovecraft just gave us that one sentence, our first look at one of the most iconic–and most horrific–creatures in modern horror. He knew how to give just enough to make the darkest corners of our imagination come alive, and it was that ability that made him, arguably, the greatest horror author of the twentieth century.

[Guest Post] – 1980s Horror Films: Better Than You Remember?

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It may be regarded as the decade that fashion forgot but the 1980s had a remarkable array of films. Even in the horror genre, this decade provided a futile ground for innovative and groundbreaking ideas. Now, you may be thinking that the 1980s was simply a collection of ‘slasher’ films. That Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees reigned supreme in an ever-growing collection of repetitive, violent outings.

However, I like to think that there was far more than that in the field of film horror. I believe that some really great examples of the genre came from a place that dared to use a combination of imagination, special effects and even humour (black , of course) to achieve its goals.

The Fog (1980) was a nice lead into the decade with its sombre ghost story and use of the ‘less is more’ technique that John Carpenter honed with Halloween in the 70s. However, special effects had advanced quite a bit since then, with An American Werewolf in London (1981) and The Thing (1982) proving that showing everything could be just as horrific. Creepshow (1982) and Fright Night (1985) took advantage of special effects, but also blended genuine dark comedy to create unique outings that are both quite frightening in parts but tongue in cheek when appropriate.

 Similarly, Re-Animator (1985) and Return of The Living Dead (1985) took the ‘mad scientist/zombie’ horror tropes and combined them to make gory outings that also remain humourous and disgusting in equal measure.

Vampires were given an MTV-influenced injection with The Lost Boys (1987), creating monsters that were recognizable by the teen-heavy audience through their music and dress sense.

Another great example of unique horror focused on the body as a tool for pain and revulsion in a way slasher films might not have thought possible. The Fly (1986) and Hellraiser (1987) are definitely two effective examples of using the body as a jumping off point for horrific consequences.

Horror in that period might be predominately known as the era of razor gloves and hockey masks, but it also brought a few unique things along for the ride too. Just make sure you check those out before writing the 1980s off. And don’t forget the soundtracks too. 80s horror soundtracks are amongst the best.

Images courtesy of  scarymoviemania.blogspot.com and theaceblackblog.com, respectively.

Halit Bozdogan is a writer for Appliances Online during the day. He loves films and thinks 3 of the best soundtracks ever are from 80s horror: Return of the Living Dead, Fright Night, and The Lost Boys.