The internet (and what passes for the local media in Duluth) have been highly critical of the men’s Olympic performance, and have singled out John Shuster in particular. The “John Shuster sucks” meme is just another sad example of how the anonymity of the internet encourages bullies. The labels applied to Shuster are inaccurate, but fortunately they won’t stick. Anyone remember Star Wars Kid? Keyboard Cat? Sarah Palin?
I thought not. The internet phenomena of today will be forgotten tomorrow. Meanwhile, John Shuster will still be curling competitively, winning some games and losing others. The facts are that he is young, he’s a really good curler, and despite a statement made in frustration to the contrary, he does not “hate this stupid game”.
For a more detailed account of Shuster’s history and future, please read the post on the MonkeySee blog by Linda Holmes, “Being John Shuster“. It is a great story.
According to the New York Times, the gilded dipshits who were so busy driving our economy into a ditch a couple years ago have taken a shine to our favorite sport. Is this good for capitalism, or bad for curling?
I don’t think anyone who has ever, you know, actually curled, would call it a “slow-poke game”. This is journalism, apparently. Well done Eric Dash! But for real examples of curling stories that are both slapdash and mean spirited, its tough to beat the Duluth News Tribune.
Dadoo Games released “Curling 2010″ for the XBox360 this week– the full version is available for the amazing price of $3.00! It is downloaded through the XBox Live service directly from your game console, or through your web browser by following this link. The amount of bang for your buck is tremendous. You can see screenshots from the game here, and videos here.
I’ve spent a bit of time with Curling 2010 since its release, and I can confidently say this is the best curling video game available for any console system today. Rather than make a winter sports compilation, this game is focused solely on curling, and it is clear that Dadoo thoroughly understands curling. In the basic match game, the standard competition rules, including the free guard rule, are in effect (although the number of ends per game, number of stones per end, Canadian versus international free guard rule, etc. are all changeable parameters– in fact you can set up a game with up to four teams, and four stone colors!).
The setting is an outdoor curling sheet, set in a valley surrounded by snow covered spruce. There are no cartoon characters or avatars to control; you basically act as skip and set a hovering broom to set the aiming point. You also set the weight with the left and right triggers, and turn with the X and B buttons. Once you have everything set to your satisfaction, press the A button to release the stone. Sweeping is accomplished by alternating left and right trigger buttons as the rock glides down the sheet.
(Click the “more. . .” link below for the rest of the review.)
John Shuster, Jason Smith, Jeff Isaacson, and John Benton gave Germany’s Andy Kapp a few headscratchers, but came up short in the end. Shooting percentages were almost identical, but Team USA needed to steal two in the tenth end for a tie and the Germans were having none of it.
Shuster and his team take on Norway tonight. (Yes, Norway– the ones with the pants.) In the first draw Norway had surprisingly narrow loss to Canada in an extra end. Good curling, and Go Team USA!
Marge and Homer take up curling: “It’s got bowling for me, and sweeping for you!” Now, where can I get a Springfield Curling shirt?
UPDATE: Fox doesn’t like the Simpsons clips on YouTube, so I’m trying to embed from Hulu. To watch the official version of the Simpsons’ “Boy Meets Curl”, follow this link to FoxTV.
Live from the 1pm saturday draw of the Duluth International Bonspiel. On sheet 8, Seppo Sormunnen battles Sheriff Ross Littman to stay in the A bracket.
Its been a while since I got the first inkling that someone was working on a serious curling simulation for the XBox360. The project by Dadoo Games, now called “Curling 2010″, has matured into a great looking curling game. The game is currently in play testing, and will soon be available for download through the Xbox Live service for the unbelievably reasonable price of $5.
For this you get the ability to play against a computer or friends at home or over the internet. If the video above is representative of the graphics and rock physics in the actual game, it will be awesome. I especially like the design choice to trade cheesy cartoon characters and pseudo-stadium settings typical of most console curling games for the more serene outdoor setting. I am eagerly awaiting the release of this game!
