the game rag

photo: sean mcpharlinThe Game Rag: First off, for the uninitiated, could you explain what 'Nerdcore' means?

MC Frontalot: Nerdcore! Yes, it is having a defiant proudness about what was once a teaseworthy trait. Or, more likely, all our traits. It is likely that you and I got called nerd in elementary school and beyond.

TGR: More than likely!

MCF: And that we felt shamed, but deep down we knew that the one thing we wanted to be LESS than a pathetic nerd was one of those muttonheaded cool kids who called pathetic nerds like us "NERRD!" on the playground. There was nothing lamer than someone who put down smart kids, and who didn't get Monty Python jokes, or who didn't know Transformers from Gobots from Bandai toys from Macross Saga toys. Anyway, Nerdcore is about externalizing that smug superiority that always festered under the shame, and making rap songs about it.

TGR: Interesting! Now, according to Wikipedia, you coined the word 'Nerdcore'. Is this true?

MCF: Yes indeedy. At least in a rap setting.

TGR: I did not know that! Well, as this is the GAME rag, let's discuss video games

MCF: Yes, let us.

TGR: Now, hopping in the way-back machine, travel back to the days of a young MC, What's the first videogame you can remember loving?

MCF: I remember a family friend with an original pong hookup in the late seventies, but it was not that great since nobody would play with me. This is when I was six or seven, so it did not occur to me to wield dual paddles and develop my kung fu by myself. I had a deep fascination with everything in the arcades, and I remember liking Zaxxon and Tron a whole lot, but I can't say I really loved either of those. There was a dual-screen handheld LCD Donkey Kong thing that I had... maybe I treasured it so much because it was MINE and no other kid I knew had one. I played the crap out of that thing, but the game itself was terrible. First one I can really remember loving was my Lode Runner cartridge on C64.

TGR: Now you mentioned the arcade, there. What do you think about the decline of the arcade over the past 20 years?

MCF: Well, it is a sad blow for nostalgia hounds like me, but I can't say that I've done my part to keep it alive by actually spending money in arcades much. At least not since video cards got fancy.

TGR: I think it’s safe to say you consider yourself a nerd, but do you think of yourself as a 'Gamer'?

MCF: Oh yeah. I play compulsively; maybe obsessively. If I get interested in a game, my whole life stops until I see the end credits.

TGR: Are you a console man, or do you fancy the PC?

MCF: I’ve always been PC. And before that, C64. And before that, TRS-80 Color Computer. So my gaming platforms have always had keyboards. But when San Andreas came out I broke down and bought a PS2 on Craig's List just to play it.

TGR: Is that the only current-generation console you own?

MCF: Yep. And a PSP that I got to keep the kids busy in the tour van A few years ago when I lived in San Francisco, my housemate was a manager at EA. He always has all the current platforms around the house. I played a ton of Gamecube zelda and x-box zombie shooting games.

TGR: Now, being a PC gamer, what's your poison? Online FPS’s, MMO's?

MCF: FPS usually. Though I got deep into Civ IV and Pirates, and I've been playing KOTOR II lately.

TGR: So fans won’t find you walking around in WoW?

MCF: No WoW for me. It would ruin my life. I have to keep away from stuff like that. Also crystal meth and chocolate éclairs.

TGR: Now I'm gonna give you a chance, as a PC Gamer: School this console gamer. Tell me why I'm wrong to hold a controller instead of stroking a keyboard.

MCF: Well, point one is mouse aiming. There is no other way to shoot people competitively. I've seen people work up really excellent skills on Goldeneye and Halo but they are kneading dough underwater compared to a mouse gamer's chop socky. Point two is Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which is the best Infocom game ever. There are no other valid points. I nearly bought a PS2-style USB controller to play King Kong on the PC.

TGR: The mouse-aiming is certainly a noted win. Now on consoles for another short moment: What are your thoughts about the three big next-gen consoles? The 360, PS3 and Nintendo Wii

MCF: I really wish I still lived with my EA buddy; I'd love to play the best games on all of them and develop some kind of real opinion. Instead I'll cross my fingers and hope the PS3 is worth it. They've got a good track record.

TGR: We shall see come winter, I suppose! Now, let me ask: do you think Video Games have influenced your music?

MCF: Maybe a little. The blippy theme songs from the 8-bit era are so dear to my heart. I probably drag a little piece of that aesthetic into the song arrangements.

TGR: As a musician, what do you think about games like Electroplankton, where there's no real 'game' per se, you just create music? Should a game be a game, or an outlet for creativity?

MCF: Games can be toys. I feel fine about that. Music-making toys are a great use of the hardware, especially if it's sitting in your living room and already hooked up to your loud-ass stereo. I've never seen one of those games that generated any music I'd actually want to listen to, but they're fun anyway (usually). I liked Rez. The best game music I can think of was in SSX Tricky, how the song morphed around the action perfectly. That was slick as hell.

TGR: Now I'm gonna spring the hardball question on ya. Your song Charity Case is about music pirating... what do you think about Emulators and ROM Pirating? Is downloading a game different than downloading an MP3?

MCF: It's all the same. Anything that you can reproduce perfectly by transferring data is going to become a free commodity for wired-up smart kids. I can't really yell at people for choosing to listen to my music and concurrently choosing to not buy my music. I mean, I can yell at them, but that's just being a kind of a spoilsport. Instead I beg them for money. It seems to work okay. Game devs need to figure out a value add -- having the game actually happen on their servers is a slick move. Nobody pirates WoW accounts. The old Infocom approach was really effective, where the game box was something you wanted to collect and came stuffed with awesome funny printed materials and buttons and snippets of cloth and vials of potion and who knows what all.

TGR: Now, in a flight of fancy, if someone came to you, and asked you to design the MC Frontalot game, what would that game be like?

MCF: Well! I am going to eventually find time to code my own personal MC Frontalot text adventure, and a songfighter I know named Jeff put me in his little Flash platformer called Spacers.

TGR: In this game, would it be safe to assume that rhymes will get busted?

MCF: Oh hells yes.

TGR: Then I am officially down! Now, you just mentioned SongFight, how did you first get involved with them?

MCF: I just happened across the site one night and got hooked. It is basically the best idea for a web site ever. We talked a little about doing a live songfight thing on the BBS there, and then all of a sudden the best song fighter guys were on planes to San Francisco. Since then there have been live fight concerts every year, usually several, and the site keeps going strong.

TGR: Speaking of the Frontalot LIVE, next month you'll be appearing at the Penny Arcade Expo for the third year running. How did you first get involved with Gabe and Tycho?

MCF: Someone emailed Yellow Lasers to them and they liked it and then they posted that I was their official rapper. So I thought I should record a theme song for them. I actually met Tycho for the first time when I was in Seattle for a songfight thing, before they ever did PAX. He's quite a gentleman. Though I think he will not forgive me for edging him out at Mario Golf.

TGR: And what can people expect from PAX this year? At least your portion of it?

MCF: I'll be there with my band in full force: Gminor7 on keys, Blak Lotus on bass, The Sturgenius on drums, DJ CPU Version 2.03.1beta on the samples, and Yook guesting again on backing vocals. I will also sit around all day in the booth and sell tee shirts and hug people. But I will only hug people who buy tee shirts, because love is ruthlessly intertwined with capitalism.

TGR: And after PAX, what's next for the Front?

MCF: Second album is shaping up, slowly. Still writing material for that. Trying to find a reputable booking agent so we can get a solid second tour together. Also, I am going to become the house band on the Conan O'Brien show. As soon as Conan returns one of my emails.

TGR: Lofty goals!

MCF: I am a lofty MC.

TGR:: nd where can people find out things about MC Frontalot online? Perhaps buy a CD or a shirt? Download incredibly hot tunes, somehow?

MCF: All this and more at frontalot.com.

TGR: MC Frontalot, thank you for taking the time! Any final words to the readers?

MCF: Getting your guild onto the leaderboard is not worth carpal tunnel. Game responsibly.