"Rollercoaster Tycoon: Wonderworks," Brings the Franchise Into the Modern Age

I'm a longtime fan of the, "Rollercoaster Tycoon," games. There have been some great iterations, some bad ones, and a fantastic remix of sorts over the years. Just recently, it was announced that Springloaded, the folks behind, "Let's Build a Zoo," are making a brand new game in the franchise. It is titled, "Rollercoaster Tycoon: Wonderworks," and looks quite fun! As an article on Polygon discusses, "Players can expect a more intuitive roller coaster design tool, an, 'accurate,' physics engine, and a lot of emergent chaos. That last part is where Springloaded comes in, as the studio will bring the sense of humor it showed off in Let's Build a Zoo to the RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise. You can catch a bit of that in the game's announcement trailer, as rides break down in spectacular fashion and park goers get yeeted off the edge of the map." That rings a bell for me, as a number of my rollercoasters in the games, which I expected to be masterpieces, ended far too often with unplanned mayhem. I'll be watching the development of this with great interest--"Early Access," on PC is coming this winter, with a full release for computers and consoles some time after that.

Check out the T.A.R.D.I.S. Saint Louis Event on September 6th!

A week from tomorrow, the good folks of the Dr. Who fan club here in Saint Louis will be holding an event! The T.A.R.D.I.S. celebration of all things Doctor Who and British Sci-Fi will go from 9 AM to 2 PM at 7300 Lanesdowne Ave and will feature viewings of old and new episodes, a costume contest, props, panels, assorted vendors, and more! I will confess that I am not super knowledgeable about The Doctor, but any episodes I have ever caught I’ve enjoyed. My friend, Wayne Judge, is a member of the club and is doing a lot to assist with the event, so I’m sure it will be rad! I’m going to try and attend for sure, and with admission only $3 (and those 12 and under free), it will be an inexpensive way to have a bunch of fun!

Flashback Friday: Sympathy for Generation Z, They Will Never Experience Disney's Pleasure Island

Disney is proudly family-friendly. It doesn't do, "Adult," all that much. However, there was a period of time from 1989 through 2008 when one could visit, "Pleasure Island," in Florida. Despite the name, it wasn't particularly explicit in its pleasure. It was simply geared towards grown-ups with nice restaurants, dance clubs, a comedy club, a cigar bar, and the like. I visited Pleasure Island two nights, back in July of 2007 when I was a young rapscallion all of 19. I'd concluded my Freshman year of college, and I had gone to Florida with my mother, who was down there for a convention relating to audiology/speechpathology or such. It was on the Disney property, and family of attendees could visit the park while everyone else did convention sessions. She was at that much of the day and spent time with her family who lived in Florida in the evenings. I tagged along so that during my day I could visit all the parks, ride a bunch of rides, get autographs from the various mascots for kicks (it is humorous watching a gigantic Winnie the Pooh hand try to scrawl in a little autograph book), and on the Friday and Saturday nights we stayed at Disney, I took the bus from the hotel (The Pop Century one was cool!) to Pleasure Island. I know people say nostalgia gives us rose-tinted glasses and some things people think were great actually sucked. That said, ya'll, Pleasure Island was an awesome place.

Again, I know when we see those thinkpieces/memes/whatever by Boomers (and some GenX) about how great it was to flip through a phonebook or deal with a VCR eating a VHS tape and making a mess, we roll our eyes at how they can't appreciate the cool new stuff of today. Pleasure Island has been gone nearly 18 years, having shut down the aspects that made it, "Pleasure Island," on September 27th of 2008 (it is now The Landing and host to various all-ages-friendly shopping and food establishments). It is a bummer, as this was a really cool place in the past! Picture a city block or so worth of land, with people moving between various themed businesses, all having a fun time. Thanks to how this was still a Disney property, anyone rude/beligerent was escorted off the, "Island," and that didn't even seem to be much of an issue with most folks there being on vacation; the vibe was like one big party. 

As I was merely 19, certain clubs generally only allowed those 18-20 in on certain days. Yes, the comedy club and cigar bar were always available (I enjoyed a comedy show, but I've never been a fan of any kind of tobacco), but sometimes you want to dance! That said, on Saturday, I was admitted into the BET Soundstage club even though, that night, it was advertised for those 21 or older. I honestly think the doorman was so impressed with our five-minute or so conversation about the Wu Tang Clan and how Ol' Dirty Bastard was underrated as a lyricist that he figured I couldn't be too young. So there I was, in a two-story club with massive dancefloors for an hour or so before the club closed. It was so fun to dance, take in the atmosphere, and just marvel at how cool Pleasure Island was, with the snazzy places within it. You may agree this sounds exciting or be shrugging in disinterest; either way, you just had to be there.

I never made it to any of the other Disney Clubs, even though I would have loved to visit 8TRAX and its 70's and 80's vibe. I suppose I could've planned to return and check all the places out with ease any night I wanted once I turned 21. That said, when I turned 21 in 2009...well, Pleasure Island was no more. That isn't to say my 21st birthday lacked fun, however. I went bar-hopping with friends around Cortland and only had the slightest hangover the next day thanks to being in my youth (and nowadays I have a drink maybe every two years). Pleasure Island was a happening place back when I was able to check it out, though. Pieces of what it once was remain at, "The Landing," but much was retooled or simply demolished. As a Millennial, I was barely old enough to enjoy Pleasure Island. Now, in 2026, there are plenty of people in their 20s who can go to a club, but back then were still in diapers! Woe be to my Gen Z friends who don't realize what fun they missed!

The kids these days will never know how cool Pleasure Island was! That's a mini-tragedy almost equal to how only Millennials will ever understand the secret methods used to, "Burn," a CD. I mean, would Gen Z think Paradise Island is, "Outdated?" Younger people in their 20s are drinking a lot less, and back then, the reason many went to a club was to have a drink (or socialize/dance, but a chunk of people were mostly after some liquor). If I could magically teleport some 24-year-olds back to those Friday and Saturday nights in July of 2007, would they be into the scene or declare it, "Cringe," within moments?  It's hard to know for sure, but I only went to Pleasure Island a couple of times and thought it was great, so I imagine there are plenty of others with a great fondness for it as well! Does it make sense or is it cringe? I don't know, but as, "Futurama," put it once, "Time makes fools of us all." Still, we burned CDs, ya'll; that was wild!

Netflix Unveiled an (Official) Big Look at, "Grand Theft Auto VI," Today

It was annouced awhile ago that on August 27th, Netflix would host a special 26-minute-ish release of, "Grand Theft Auto VI," footage. It would feature actual gameplay and the like running on a PS5. Then, someone started leaking a bunch of videos under the name, "Cyberleek," whilst hyping up a new cryptocurrency. That only vaguely hurt the momentum for the reveal today, with Cyberleek just dumping a bunch of the memecoin--another cryptocurrency grift, what a shock--with the footage going live at 3PM Eastern and resulting in a lot of excited folks. Oh, and if you lack Netflix but want to see the, "Special Preview," it will hit YouTube later today (9PM Eastern).

I didn't bother watching much of the randomly, "Leaked," footage over the past couple of weeks, but did log onto Netflix at 2PM (Central Time, represent), and enjoyed what I saw of the game that Rockstar did want to showcase. I mean, it looks like GTA, as one would hope. There are fast cars, gunfire, drugs, explosions, some satirical digs at American society, and what looks to be a lot of sidequests/optional activities. There were glimpses of riding around on a pontoon boat, shooting some basketball, scuba diving, cars racing on a track, skydiving, playing tennis, and lifting weights in the gym (there is doubtlessly more). It all seems fun and insanely good-looking with some celebrity voices clearly evident even if Rockstar won't confirm them yet (I swear that was John Leguizamo and Bobby Moynihan I heard), but what actually piqued my interest had to be the quiet moments. 

I wrote some time ago in response to the first trailers that the, "Grand Theft Auto," series is not really known for subtlety or people behaving in a manner other than, "Terrible." Seeing the two main characters you'll play as--Jason and Lucia--appearing to have a relationship that is supportive, loving, and non-toxic was a bit of a shock then and remains surprisingly encouraging still. In the bits of the game Netflix/Rockstar unveiled, we witness a cute little place owned by Jason and Lucia; they talk in a thoughtful manner, do little flirty jokes, and otherwise seem to really be in love. Others and I seem to truly hope there is a way to play GTA VI where they both reach the game's conclusion alive and happy, as opposed to turning on each other or ending up like some tragic Bonnie and Clyde situation. I also appreciated a subdued scene where Jason speaks with a retired(?) criminal who tells a story from his youth about a malfunctioning carnival ride he was smart enough to leap off of while a friend who held on ended up cracking their skull and dying--the moral seems to be you need to know when to, "Get off," the ride/crime lifestyle. Between a dedicated couple and a wisdom-filled older dude, these oddly thoughtful and introspective moments illustrated to me how, "Grand Theft Auto," might just be growing up a bit with the fanbase. There's still plenty of juvenile humor and mayhem, however, because this is still GTA.

The game is clearly going to be massive, whether you just stick to the main story or try to explore every nook and cranny. I remain annoyed about certain stuff, such as the lack of a physical disc option and the mini-fiasco of it being $80 or $100 with, "Extra," features as opposed to a single version of the game. Still, I'm sure this is going to be a huge release, and there are many people excited to finally play GTA VI. I, for now, remain committed to waiting a bit longer for a possible disc release and/or an edition that includes everything without as much of a premium--like those, "Game of the Year," editions we'll see sometimes. I'm sure a lot of people are going to be up late/still awake early on November 19th, however.

In Remembrance of Tim Curry

Well, this has already been a week, hasn’t it? Yes, in incredibly upsetting news for any fans of his immense body of work, Tim Curry has died at the age of 80. To list all his amazing roles would take up a whole article in itself. I will say it astounds me that one of his most famous parts was his film debut (“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,”). Plus, his presence in, “Home Alone 2,” is a big reason I actually enjoy that movie more than the first one. Curry did a ton of voiceover work too (Nigel Thornberry was a hoot), shifting mainly into that as opposed to live-action work after a stroke in 2012 limited his mobility to a degree. Whether he was terrifying us as an evil clown ("It,") making us laugh in, “Clue,” or shockingly brutal as a con artist named Rooster in, “Annie,” Curry was an amazing talent. We have a lot of great stuff to enjoy thanks to him, and plenty of joyous memories are held by those who saw him on the stage, screen, or knew him personally. He will be missed.

This is Not a Drill, McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets Are Coming Back!

Back in September of 2020, I provided an in-depth review of McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets. I thought they were utterly delicious thanks to avoiding being too spicy, but still having some zip to them. They've been gone from the menu for some time as they were a temporary promotion, until now. Starting September 1st, McDonald's spicy nuggets will be available nationwide. This is for a limited time, just like six years ago. Therefore, if you have a hankering for spicy nuggets, you'd best make haste on the first! I've been eating a bit healthier and working on my weight, but I'll confirm I'm going to at least get a pack of ten with some sweet and sour sauce (the Mighty Hot Sauce is a bit too much for me) as soon as I can.

Dolly Parton Has Passed

Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. I know she had been facing health challenges, but it is still saddening to hear of her passing. She was loved by basically everyone, which you don't see that much, especially these days. Christians loved her as much as atheists. She helped with causes for people of color, she was an ally to LGBTQ community, she founded the Imagination Library to help with childhood literacy, and even folks who didn't normally dig country music were fans--she was simply a good person. I mean, there was so much she did without any fanfare that it sometimes took a while to learn she had helped. Disaster relief, medical research, and she was hilarious, smart, caring, and she definitely could sing. It sucks she's died, to put it bluntly. She leaves behind an amazing legacy and is going to be missed by countless people. Dolly Parton seemed to genuinely love everyone and wanted to help the World be a better place in any manner she could; she was someone to aspire to be like. I send her family and close friends healing energy during this difficult time.

The "Grave Brigade," Series is a Stupendous Blend of War Comic and Supernatural Tale, With a New Kickstarter Coming Soon

"Grave Brigade," is an indie comic that has already had successful Kickstarter campaigns for the first two issues. One of the writers, Tim Radecki (who co-writes the series with Mike Dean), reached out to ask if I were interested in reading the initial issues and checking out a preview of the third. It will have its Kickstarter campaign launching in early September, he mentioned. I always love supporting independent comic creators, so I said, "Sure." The series is an awesome World War II yarn mixed with a bunch of supernatural elements. Perhaps picture Nick Fury's Howling Brigade if they were more dysfunctional and went up against such threats as werewolves and demons--then you've got an idea of the zany fun these comics contain!

The comics have art by Debora Lancianese, and her illustrations are superb at showcasing the "Usual," explosions or gunfire as well as the surreal stuff (creepy cultists covered in blood and the like)! The first issue lays a lot of the groundwork and introduces the concept.  The second one is quite scary, with an aforementioned demon possessing someone who knows important mission info. When I delved into the upcoming third issue, I found it quite action-packed. It features the team attempting a rescue mission of Dr. Olga Frankenstein, the granddaughter of the infamous Victor Frankenstein. She has been abducted by the Nazis in an effort to force her to craft undead soldiers from fallen troops. It was my favorite issue yet, thanks to some surprise threats the team faces. If this sounds fun, you can visit the Kickstarter campaign here to make sure you're notified when it launches in the near future! There will be methods to get the earlier issues with Kickstarter as well, allowing newer readers to catch up easily. I'd highly recommend backing it to anybody who likes war comics, horror comics, or a blend of both genres!

5 out of 5 Stars (for all three issues).

Music Mondays: Leo Waters' Song, "Smoke + Mirrors," is Quite Enjoyable

I'm always checking out new music and seeing what's trending. Sometimes I agree that an artist/song sounds good and am pleased when they start taking off and I hear their music on the radio (Dominic Fike has continued to grow on me). There are occasions I scratch my head and am amazed that something I think was awful goes on to be huge. I, clearly, prefer when something new surprises me with its quality, and Leo Waters is fresh-ish to the music scene with a great tune, "Smoke + Mirrors." It's got a nice melody, his voice floats over the beat with a relaxing smoothness, and its a bit of a love song, yet it hints at a faint annoyance that gives it a little bite. I somehow missed when it first dropped in 2023, and I really like it. I plan to listen to more of his music, as he's got newer stuff that dropped too, such as, "Stuck Like Chuck," which also has a great vibe.

Ending Summer 2026 with a Lovely ToyMan Show

The Summer of 2026 is drawing to a close, and while many of us won't miss the insane heat we had on a number of days, I know plenty of schoolkids (and some teachers!) are bummed to return to the classroom. At least we have Fall flavors to look forward to--a number of places already have busted out the pumpkin spice! Plus, this late August brought with it another ToyMan show. Just as you can always count on the heat index in the Midwest to be terrible, you can plan for a ToyMan show to be stellar fun!

I always like to get to the show earlier than later and just marvel at how much cool stuff there is before the crowd picks up and starts cutting deals. I recently told the showrunner, Chris McQuillen, how I tell folks that if they're looking for something and can't find it at ToyMan, they probably aren't looking hard enough! I he laughed and added, "Yeah, or you didn't ask the vendors! The chances are someone has what a person might want; they just might not have it at the show." Such a statement is on display at every ToyMan, with people selling everything from old toys to new, comics, Legos, Funko Pops, movies, CDs, DVDs, trading cards, movie posters, and the list goes on--this show I spied a new vendor with a ton of awesome vintage lunchboxes! Speaking of vendors, upon my arrival to the show with Clarkson in tow (he woke up early and wanted to join me), we said howdy to Spike of Lost in Space Toys and Collectibles, then made our way to the table of my friend, Tim Metzger. He had recently acquired a lot of cool modern books and I was able to buy some, "Absolute Batman," for great prices. Observe:

John Chaffee from Bigfoot Comics had brought a number of fun comics, vintage toys, and coins. Dustin and Tammy were selling comics for two bucks each, and there were some great deals to be had in their longboxes! I also had the chance to catch up with my chum, Jack Thomas, of Fortress Comics. As Clarkson and I walked about the show, we saw the fine folks from Tatertot had brought a bunch of goodies, and I was pleased to chat with Tom Milister and browse the comics he had brought. This was the first time Go Getter Gamez has been a vendor at a ToyMan Show (I've seen them at other events), and they were excited to be there! I also had the chance to meet a nice woman named Mary who sold me some 90s Image action figures for a great price; I thought maybe Clarkson and definitely Gibson would enjoy opening them up and playing with them. Indeed, as soon as Clarkson and I got home that morning, Gibson had just woken up and was eager to play with the toys. Here is a picture of that:

Before we went upstairs to see some of our friends there, we checked out Larry (of Bug's Comics) items and saw Nate Nauert as he was setting up for the show with all of his snazzy wares. Mr. Make Believe's Kiss Kollectibles was present, and 573 Collectibles had brought some comics as well as a number of other fun collectible items! Once we were upstairs, I was pleased to have a chance to talk with my friends, authors Jessica Mathews and Lindsay Hornsby, who were set up next to each other with all their fun books and items. Cayden from Tri Fox Shoppe was selling a bunch of cool apparel, and Heroes for Kids from Perryville was hard at work raising money for good causes! I snapped a picture of their table:

There was a lot of enjoyment to be had at the ToyMan show that occurred today. I asked Clarkson if he had fun going with me as well, and he affirmed with his hand gesture for, "Yes," that he did! I eagerly look forward to the next ToyMan on September 27th and already wonder what treasures I'll find next month there!