It is a tough time to be online right now. We are watching as a whole race rises up against the systematic oppression they have experienced for years. It is hard not to be upset and the urge to help is strong. If you are in Australia you may feel like helping is too hard, the distance too great. Player 2 would like to remind you all though that Australia is by no means innocent. Indigenous Australians have been victimised and silenced by ingrained systemic racism and police brutality for generations. We, as a nation, have treated them in such a bad way for so long their voice is no longer even acknowledged let alone heard. So helping starts at home. Write to your local state or federal MP. Donate or assist a charity that works with the Aboriginal community. Educate yourself about the traditional owners of the land you are now sitting on. These are just some of the small but important steps each and every one of us needs to take to make Australia and, by extension, the world a better place. Player 2 would also like to say it is important to recognise all marginalised voices in this country, from the LGQBT+ community to disabled Australians to other minority ethnic and refugee groups, and work together to make this a truly equal place to live.
Horns Up for Of Bird and Cage
A “rock/metal album completely produced as a story-driven narrative video game” is something that many of us have never dared to dream of, but that will soon become a reality. Of Bird and Cage, an upcoming game by Capricia Productions takes inspiration from Beauty and the Beast and promises a branching narrative experience closely entwined with its metal soundtrack.
It was previously announced that Kobra Paige from Kobra and the Lotus will voice the protagonist, Gitta, and it has now been revealed that Danny Worsnop, known for his role in the band Asking Alexandria, will voice her love interest Ari. He joins an already impressive cast of musicians, including Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses) Rob van der Loo (Epica), Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation), Casey Grillo (Kamelot), Rocky Grey (ex-Evanescence) and many others.
Worsnop, whose parts have already been recorded, says that he had “a lot of fun” making the game. “It’s an entirely new approach, an entirely new concept and a way to absorb the video game platform that I believe you guys are going to enjoy. There are a lot of incredible other musicians who’ve been involved in the casting, the creation, the scoring and the performance within this video game and I would just want to say thank you to all of them who’ve been involved, and thank you to everyone who has created Of Bird and Cage for having me on board.”
While there is no specific release date yet (but it is set for early 2021), the game can be wishlisted on Steam now, and will also be available on Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo Switch.
