I’m an easy guy to charm, but MacGuffin’s Curse by award-winning Australian game company Brawsome is bound to make even the grimmest, most hardcore werewolf fan crack a smile. It’s a “top-down action puzzling and character-based story adventure”, which is really just a gaming PR way of saying “crack for game nerds who like words” (and in this case, werewolves). From the game’s IndieDB page:

When fugitive magician Lucas MacGuffin bungles a museum robbery, he finds himself:
(a) magically bound to an ancient amulet;
(b) up against a city in full high-tech security lockdown; and
(c) suddenly dealing with the worst body hair problems he’s ever had.

As a human, Lucas is agile and cunning. Wolf Lucas would rather smash anything in his way.  Only by transforming between the two forms and cleverly utilising both sets of skills will he stand any chance of lifting his curse.

Brawsome’s previous game, Jolly Rover, won much acclaim (and  ”Best Australian Game” at the 2010 Freeplay Awards) in part for its clever writing, so I’m not surprised that this new game has a title that’s basically an ouroboros of storytelling delight. Here’s a few screenshots, showing Lucas in both shapes, gameplay and cutscene-style:

I love the hand-drawn artwork, and the animation has got some satisfying flourishes. I’m definitely going to pick this up when it comes out (April 19th on Steam, for OS X and Windows, and there’s an iPad version in the works). You can follow the game’s development on its site, its Facebook page, or on Twitter via @brawsome.

“MacGuffin’s” curse. Pfffft. Awesome.

Unlike vampirism, which in the Elder Scrolls series is often not worth the power it grants due to the serious drawbacks and the difficulty in curing the condition, being a werewolf in Skyrim really doesn’t give you a hard time. You can transform at will (once per in-game day) and are never forced to do so, nor do you have to transform at a particular time or with certain regularity. The werewolf figure model is pretty great — although if I’m being picky I’d say the head is a bit too large — and the animation is superb.

Be warned: minor spoilers follow. But also a video of a werewolf fighting a dragon.

I was given the opportunity to become a werewolf fairly early on in an optional (but worthwhile) questline, and of course I jumped at the chance. First, the advantages: You become immune to disease even in your normal form, and you gain a once-a-day ability to transform. When in werewolf form, you are shifted to a third-person perspective (and the transformation sequence is pretty sweet), during which you have a large amount of health — which you can restore by feeding on dead enemies, also extending your transformation time — and do tremendous damage with your claws. You also move at great speed and can drop to all fours for an even faster sprint.

The disadvantages: Don’t let people see you transform. It’s a no brainer not to turn into a werewolf in the middle of the town square, so it’s best to use the ability when you absolutely, positively have to kill every motherf**cker in the room. You also can’t get a bonus for resting, but it’s a minor boost at best and it’s not a great loss. While in werewolf form, you’re unable to use any kind of items, nor can you pick things up or interact with anything in a way that doesn’t involve clawing its face off. It’s also suggested in the associated questline — which largely involves killing werewolf hunters with extreme prejudice, a worthwhile pursuit — that the soul of a werewolf doesn’t go to Sovnheim (the game-world’s equivalent of Valhalla, more or less) after death, but instead to the Hunting Grounds of the daedra lord Hircine, to chase prey for eternity.

Check out this video featuring the transformation, and a werewolf fighting a dragon. A werewolf fighting a dragon.

Game of the year, all years. Top image credit: Dovahwolf by tatsu-wolfie, via DeviantArt.

From what I’ve seen of the game being played, you can transform into a werewolf once per day at will, and can run on all fours, stand up, attack people with claws, do finishers where you shove people to the ground and maul them, eat bodies to prolong your transformation (its on a fairly lengthy timer), and there are quests associated with werewolves including a faction of werewolf hunters.

Skyrim comes out next week – until then, enjoy this screenshot sent in by reader Simon:

That is an awesome-looking werewolf.

From the teaser trailer below, it seems to hit most of the generic fantasy buttons, with one notable exception: it’s got werewolves in it. Werewolves that you can play, and fight people with, and go around being awesome. We assume. Not many details have been released on the game, but if nothing else they can put together some pretty CGI.

Can you think of any reasons to not purchase, own and wear this new Dog Soldiers t-shirt from horror apparel champs Fright Rags? No? Neither can I. Get it now for $19.95 and do it soon, because Fright Rags shirts have a habit of selling out fast.

The regular price is $48.00 US, but as of this post the bikini set is on sale for $30.00, and sizes run from XS to 2XL. If you are a lady of any shape or size and you are reading this web site, I have a suggestion: buy this bikini, get in touch with others who have done the same, and form an official opposition to the Swedish Bikini Werewolf Destruction Unit.

Legohaulic built this stunner in December 2010 as an entry in the Fairy Tale category of The Classic Castle’s CCCVIII contest, presumably from stock Lego parts. He doesn’t seem to have a web site or definitive profile anywhere, but Legohaulic’s Flickr gallery and Brickshelf gallery both show much more of his work (I love the Back to the Future DeLorean). Also on Flickr is a look at the werewolf on its own.

If instructions were available I’d be hitting up Pick a Brick right now. Nice work, Tyler!

It’s got more of a “wolfman” look than last year’s Big Bad, but that definitely works for an over-the-head latex mask that’s not likely to have the internal structural support for a decent muzzle. I’m digging the hand-laid fur and the gnarled skin texture, and those dirty fangs are great, too – dental hygiene is important, but a proper werewolf isn’t going to have much to do with floss. Some of you will undoubtedly comment that it’s a very ape-like design, but I’m seeing way more “monster” than “primate” here, and I think it’s a great sculpt (other than those massive ears, but those seem to be par for the course with masks like this). One other downer, as the title of this post suggests, is those bloodshot eyes. I’m sure they’re meant to convey monstrous rage and insanity, but to me they just make the poor guy look hung over (or like he’s just had a good cry).

Overall, I quite like this mask, and for the asking price of $59.99, I think the good points outweigh the flaws. The Horror Dome is taking pre-orders for July delivery, so if you want to get one, now’s the time!

Hat tip: Russell

Black Heart Enterprises is a group of artists, sculptors and horror/sci-fi/fantasy fans who specialize in creating “accurately detailed resin kits, busts of horror, classic science fiction and fantasy characters”. They’ve produced a number of 1:1 wall-hangers inspired by the characters and creatures that haunt those genres, and one only has to look at their gallery to see they’re serious about bringing all the care, craftsmanship and detail of fine art to the task of modeling these monsters.

Black Heart’s George Stephenson got in touch with me recently about their 1:1 life-sized scale wall-hanger of Oliver Reed from The Curse of the Werewolf, sculpted by Joe Simon. I was immediately impressed by the balance of expression and detail– I don’t think I’ve seen Leon Corledo look more dangerous!

The kit is 1:1 scale and is just under 15″ from the top of the head to the fur just below his neck. There’s no assembly involved, as it’s molded and cast in one piece, and it comes with a 2-page, full-color profile and a short essay entitled A Century of Cinematic Lycanthropy.

George was kind enough to answer a couple of questions:

Why was this particular werewolf chosen (other than Oliver Reed being awesome)?

1) It was time to add a werewolf to Black Heart’s line and Lon Chaney has been done a hundred times, some done very well, and at least a couple in 1:1 scale.  COTW is one of my two favorites of lycanthropic cinema, the other being Werewolf of London.  I considered doing the Henry Hull werewolf but I am concerned about how well WOL will sell.  I love Jack Pierce’s WOL makeup design as much as Roy Ashton’s COTW design (maybe even a bit more) but I try to be conscious of marketability and COTW has broader appeal than WOL.  We also wanted to do a kit that would appeal to the Hammer Films fans. We WILL do WOL down the road; I have to have one on my wall.

2) COTW has been done a number of times as a resin kit, and done very well by some of the best sculptors in our niche of the hobby market, two of whom I know well and have worked with on past projects when I owned GEOmetric Design.  But it had not been done as a 1:1 scale sculpture that would be widely available as a resin kit.  I believed that Joe Simon, with whom I’ve worked since our GEOmetric days, would be challenged and motivated to outdo the other sculptors and I believed he could capture the intensity and fury in Oliver Reed’s expression like no one else has.

3) Yes, Oliver Reed was awesome in the film.  I saw the film on TV as a child in the late 60s and it scared the heck out of me; no other werewolf film had ever done that.  There was a depth to the story and the characters that made it more real for me, I guess.

What sort of material did Joe Simon use for reference when he was doing the sculpt?

I scoured the www for reference photos and found a number of them that gave us most of the angles that we needed for sculpting accuracy.  But there is one famous still from the jail cell scene that was the look I wanted for our kit.  That was Joe’s guide… and he nailed it. [He] has been sculpting for about 15 years and he feels this is his best work yet.  I agree.

The kit is regularly $175.00 but has currently marked down to $140.00. If I was at all competent in the art of model painting I would snatch one of these up right away (and probably a Predator too) – Black Heart tends to produce 100 of each kit before retiring it. Go check it out, and have a look at Black Heart’s other kits too.

Hat tip: Macabri

Zagone Studios Super Action Wolf Gloves – $24.99

The best werewolf gloves you’ll find anywhere for less than $100 are an absolute steal at $25. Light, comfortable, durable, dextrous and they look great. I own two pairs of these and will probably buy another pair next year. Available from Zagone Studios.

“The Wolf Age” by James Enge – $11.56

I have a half-finished review for this in the hopper, but I can’t leave it off the list simply because I’m bad at managing my time. This is a 500-page brick of solid gold– the best fantasy novel I’ve ever read, period. Enge takes the werewolves of horror lore and builds a unique and utterly convincing society for them to inhabit. A must-read. Available from Amazon.

“Werewolves: An Illustrated Journal of Transformation” by Paul Jessup and Allyson Haller – $7.79

One word: gorgeous. This book is an illustrated journal that documents the lycanthropic infection and transformation of a teenage girl. Another amazing book which needs reviewing on this site, and which deserves a place on the most prestigious level of your bookshelf. Contains a clever and believable story, with none of the cringe-worthy teenage drama of “Ginger Snaps”, and some of the best werewolf drawings & sketches I’ve ever seen. Highly recommended! Available from Amazon.

“Werewolves on the Moon: Versus Vampires” by David Land, Matt Fillbach and Shawn Fillbach – $10.78

Every page of this graphic novel is brimming with the ludicrous energy promised by the title and cover art (three werewolves staking a vampire to the Lunar surface with an American flag). Action, wry humour and clever dialog make this a gem. Great werewolf character design, too. Available from Amazon. By the way, I’m totally Stan.

“The Wrong Night in Texas” by Josh Boulet – $10.00

Allow me to quote from my own review of this excellent graphic novel: “Joshua Boulet has captured and unapologetically celebrated everything that makes the werewolf wild, dangerous and fun.” It “genuinely horrified me. It also thrilled me with its energy, charmed me with its lovingly-crafted aesthetic and, above all, satisfied that primal part of my brain that just wants to see a vicious, monstrous werewolf tearing shit up.” If you’re mature enough to enjoy R-rated films, you’re mature enough to have your stomach punched by Josh’s savage little book. Available from Josh’s web site.

Mezco “Wolfman” Stylized Roto Figure – $25.47

What can  I say about this guy? Of all the werewolf stuff on my various home and office desks, he’s my favourite. It captures the Rick Baker wolfman design but the exaggerated proportions add a sense of playfulness that was sadly lacking from the film. Available from Amazon.

“The Werewolf’s Guide to Life: A Manual for the Newly Bitten” by Ritch Duncan and Bob Powers – $11.19

Once again, lifted from my review: “The Werewolf’s Guide to Life belongs right next to the Bible in every werewolf’s (or werewolf’s spouse’s) nightstand. Its subtitle ‘A Manual for the Newly Bitten’ accurately represents what lies between its covers: not a tepid modernization of werewolf myths peppered with pseudo-scientific explanations, but rather a no-nonsense (yet oddly humorous) instructional guide for newly-initiated werewolves.” Available from Amazon.

“It’s On Now” Werewolf vs. Unicorn T-Shirt – $18.50

Forget vampires. The real enemy? Unicorns. This shirt lets everyone know that you know the truth. It’s also designed and sold by one of the awesomest dudes around. This shirt. Available from TopatoCo.

Werewolf High Heels, Platform Heels, Flats and Clutch Wallet by Iron Fist – $24.99 to $49.99

Perfect for the fashion-conscious werewolf-lovin’ lady (or open-minded fellow) in your life. Get a bloody-fanged werewolf design on open-toed pumps, platforms, flats or a clutch wallet. All available from Amazon.

The fine fellows at Penny Arcade have opinions about most games, and the recently released Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is no exception. Tycho seems to like it, in any case. However, their Wednesday comic indicates a certain reluctance to condone Gabriel Belmont’s habit of just, like, randomly staking werewolves.

I love it that these guys include werewolves in their comics so often (relatively speaking), and that Gabe draws them differently every time.

How can you prove your love for “The Howling“? Get this t-shirt from Fright-Rags onto your body. There’s just no other way!

Hat tip: ArcLight

The government needs to know about you. Vampires and zombies, too.

In all seriousness, this is a side-project I’ve been working on for a while now, and it’s finally ready. You can register yourself as one of three supernatural creatures. You get a printable electronic registration certificate for free, or for $5 (including postage) you get the electronic certificate and a much nicer and more detailed print version in the mail. I’d be obliged if you’d check it out, and even if you don’t want the print version, take a second to register yourself as a monster. Thanks, and we now return you to a more consistent update schedule (it’s flippin’ Halloween!)