I have been a fond fan of theatre for some time. Throughout junior high, high school, and college I participated in whatever production was going on at school. My friends and I would eagerly travel around Orange County hitting all of the local venues showing anything of interest. While I saw a lot of them and played in a few, I never really got into musicals. All the singing and dancing just didn't feel natural. 

West Side Story, while a fine show, is probably one of the best examples of the counterintuitive nature of musical theatre. A bunch of street gangs in New York merrily prance about and sing of dedication to their fraternal order of superiority. People fall in love, people die, police officers are openly mocked. It's like Grand Theft Auto, but . . . it's a musical, and it has substance siphoned from the Bard.

Though a few exceptions exist, as a general rule I don't like musical in my theatre. Give me Fools, give me a decent rendition of the Miracle Worker, but keep your Annie outta my theatre.

What I never knew I loved was musical comedy in my video games. The end of Amped 3 was excellent. My wife and I enjoyed the campy, over-the top, deliciously random presentation. I lament the loss of Indie Built, but I hope the leaven of the Amped 3 team is leavening Take-Two Interactive and other companies. We need more games that are just plain fun!

From Berlin Hilton to pyramid marketing schemes to Evil Game, it was one big send up to all that comprises the twisted, mainstream culture. In true Robot Chicken fashion, it is drawn from many disparate influences.

The game was not merely satire but a well executed arcade snowboarding game. I am glad for the points lust because I found another excellent game I would have otherwise passed over.