Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White


Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

All content by Nathan Proctor

Industry’s competitive side brings new game technologies to spotlight

Nathan Proctor April 18, 2013

Though a far cry from the sporting world Americans are familiar with, an onset of new technologies and burgeoning communities may soon thrust e-sports directly into the public spotlight. Whether the more...

Bioshock Infinite has quality gaming experience, ‘overwhelming’ story line

Nathan Proctor April 8, 2013

Mechanics, genre and even medium aside, the advances and storytelling of Bioshock Infinite make it a must-have experience first and game second for anyone invested in the industry. Though its gameplay,...

Micro-transactions make free mobile market games profitable

Nathan Proctor March 14, 2013

The birth of free-to-play games has expanded the mobile market and brought gems like “League of Legends” to the forefront of PC gaming, but it’s come with a price: micro-transactions. Downloadable...

Sony comes out swinging and hits homerun with approaching PS4 launch

Nathan Proctor February 28, 2013

Box or no box, the PS4 (thus far) proposes to be everything gamers and the industry have been waiting for. Console announcements are typically dull affairs, revealing only what catches the eyes of mainstream...

Console gaming’s next generation coming out with launch of new hardware

Nathan Proctor February 14, 2013

It’s about time. Deep into a console cycle where hardware is being stretched beyond its limitations, software has stagnated, and Nintendo has released two of their own consoles (no, the WiiU is not...

Middle ground video games lose footing in weak economy

Nathan Proctor January 24, 2013

Production quality has never determined entertainment value in entertainment. In reality, the majority of my favorite games from my childhood and our current generation were flawed, broken or otherwise...

UA grad program offers book art studies

UA grad program offers book art studies

Nathan Proctor January 15, 2013

On a campus buried in books of all manners, sizes and contents, books of all kinds are often given little notice beyond the heft of their price tags and the importance of their highlighted text. The University...

Gaming expands boundaries, explores artistic expression with humor, horror

Nathan Proctor January 10, 2013

Much modern media maintains a legacy of providing impactful experiences for their audiences. Film, literature, music and other forms of entertainment have long been emotionally affecting and potentially...

Evening of Art & Blues to help culture grow

Nathan Proctor December 6, 2012

The Alabama Blues Project is hosting its sixth annual Evening of Art & Blues Saturday night from 5 to 11 at Hotel Capstone to raise money and awareness for its after-school and summer programs. “It’s...

Blitz Build allows students to create recycled art

Nathan Proctor December 3, 2012

Local folk-artist Charlie Lucas, or the “Tin Man,” led a “Blitz Build” in the lobby of The University of Alabama’s Alabama Institute for Manufacturing Excellence, coordinated by Creative Campus,...

Wii U marks the end of a generation, start of another

Nathan Proctor November 29, 2012

This is the way the generation ends. Not with a bang but a whimper. Plagued by misinformation, technical hiccups and an inability to recapture the groundswell of support for the Wii, the Wii U stumbled...

High definition remakes prey on nostalgia; bad but successfully attract new audiences

Nathan Proctor November 20, 2012

Nostalgia is powerful but deceiving. Whether of an older generation misty-eyed over memories of Asteroids and Rally-X or a college student with a soft spot for Mario and a blue hedgehog, gamers and their...

Social media pops up in classes

Nathan Proctor November 20, 2012

Social media has quickly cemented itself in the day-to-day, hour-to-hour, and often minute-to-minute lives of college students. However, on The University of Alabama campus, it’s used for more than mindless...

SCE offers higher level of passion

Nathan Proctor November 16, 2012

There’s something special about game day in the SEC. The pageantry, tradition and, recently, dominance of Southern football pulses through stadiums across the conference each fall. Each program has its...

Colleges now offer major in fermentation

Colleges now offer major in fermentation

Nathan Proctor November 12, 2012

Objectively beer and science don’t seem to be compatible - especially on a college campus. However, the two are more closely related than some may realize. Variations of fermentation science have begun...

Halo 4 returns to series’ roots; introduces new enemies, world, creatures

Nathan Proctor November 8, 2012

I am that dissenting (maybe hipster) voice proclaiming, “I liked them before they changed.” I don’t want to be. I cringe at every note that feels out of place and new unexpected influence, because...

Chinese language takes hold on US college campuses

Chinese language takes hold on US college campuses

Nathan Proctor November 6, 2012

While presidential candidates squabble over if China is a “currency manipulator,” one point is settled: Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world- and it’s growing. “I look...

Center to devote 1,500 square feet of space to University

Nathan Proctor October 29, 2012

Once a focal point in the heart of Tuscaloosa, the Allen Jemison building has been closer to demolition than prominence as of late. However, the Tuscaloosa Arts Council and their supporters believe the...

Most video games follow one a few formulas, which, for the new medium, is not inherently bad

Nathan Proctor October 25, 2012

There’s a fine line between stealing an idea and borrowing one. Those within the games industry frequently walk this line, not in the spirit of malice or laziness, but by following the medium’s novel...

On-campus museum offers always-changing exhibits

On-campus museum offers always-changing exhibits

Nathan Proctor October 18, 2012

The monumental stature of The University of Alabama’s towering structures assign a historical and museum-like quality to many campus buildings. Often lost in this shuffle of brick and mortar is the Alabama...

Red Mountain Park offers zip line tours

Nathan Proctor October 15, 2012

Parks are often associated with long walks, playful pets and perhaps some sightseeing. One park in Birmingham is challenging this notion with their recent addition, zip line tours. Birmingham’s Red...

Kickstarter allows developers additional avenue to create, succeed

Nathan Proctor October 11, 2012

Kickstarter, an online international funding platform for a variety of creative projects, has recently seen a burst of growth from one particular interest group: gamers. Trading pre-orders or incentives...

Tuscaloosa Miracle League benefits players, parents

Tuscaloosa Miracle League benefits players, parents

Nathan Proctor October 9, 2012

Base-clearing home runs, spectacular bobbled catches and a healthy dose of baseball superstition provided for a traditional afternoon of baseball Saturday, Oct. 6. Less ordinary was the opportunity provided...

Native band returns to Birmingham

Native band returns to Birmingham

Nathan Proctor October 1, 2012

Tuscaloosa’s Gideon returned from a string of national tours Friday and performed at The Forge in Birmingham alongside a mix of hardcore bands, including New Jersey’s The Mongoloids, Florida’s Coldhearted,...

Air Force ROTC students mix military lifestyle with classes

Nathan Proctor September 27, 2012

Seen in uniform marching or executing military exercises, it can be forgotten that the cadets of the Air Force ROTC are university students. Adversely, in the classroom and campus life, Air Force ROTC...

Sports video games deserve respect

Nathan Proctor September 20, 2012

Mainstream sports games catch a lot of flak. They’re often classified as mainstream, money-grubbing, over-serialized, over-saturated yearly roster updates for “bro” gamers. Now, the trendy business...

UA junior publishes collection of short stories on Amazon

Nathan Proctor September 9, 2012

In this age of e-books and e-commerce, achieving your dreams comes one step closer to reality for amateur authors.Lauren Alexander, a junior majoring in English, published her first work, “Breathe: An...

The secret to indie game success: simplicity

Nathan Proctor September 6, 2012

As outlets such as “Steam” and “Desura” on PCs and their more limited siblings on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network have allowed the indie gaming scene to grow exponentially in the past few years,...

Pole N Play offers ‘sexy fitness,’ something new

Pole N Play offers ‘sexy fitness,’ something new

Nathan Proctor September 3, 2012

Tucked into a second floor suite on University Boulevard, the hardwood floors, flanked by two elongated murals of mirrors, resemble that of a ballet studio. Five metallic poles, however, reveal the studio’s...

14th annual Sidewalk Film Festival set to return to Birmingham

Nathan Proctor August 21, 2012

For one weekend each year, Birmingham is treated to the flair, artistry and personal touch of indie filmmaking. The Alabama Moving Image Association’s 2012 Sidewalk Film Festival will overtake Birmingham’s...

Local artists pick up wounded family

Local artists pick up wounded family

Nathan Proctor April 27, 2012

David Bayode and his two boys, Dontydrick and Devaris, lost their wife and mother, Jennifer, their Crescent Lane home and trucks from a 15-year old ice cream business. All suffered from serious injuries....

Tornado victims healed by the arts

Tornado victims healed by the arts

Nathan Proctor April 27, 2012

Standing at 6’11” 320 pounds was not enough to keep John Nero grounded. As his wife clung to him, roaring winds whipped his legs up from under him, and the murky sky replaced their home’s roof as...

Student films screened at the Bama

Student films screened at the Bama

Nathan Proctor April 25, 2012

The 6th Annual Documenting Justice Film Screening sponsored by the department of telecommunications and film and the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility at the University of Alabama screened seven...

Rising fast, the Shakes hit the circuit

Rising fast, the Shakes hit the circuit

Nathan Proctor April 24, 2012

Bred out of the musically rich Muscle Shoals tradition found in Northern Alabama, a local 5-piece has launched themselves from playing small parties at Egan’s and being that band found at your local...

Chicago aims to razzle dazzle audiences

‘Chicago’ aims to ‘razzle dazzle’ audiences

Nathan Proctor April 16, 2012

The University of Alabama Theatre Department will put on their spring production, “Chicago,” over the next two weeks at the Marian Gallaway Theatre. The premiere will be held tonight at 7:30 p.m. ...

The Big Lebowski draws crowd of Dudes to Bama Theatre

‘The Big Lebowski’ draws crowd of Dudes to Bama Theatre

Nathan Proctor April 9, 2012

A scramble of bowling shirts, khaki vests and bath robes were on display in downtown Tuscaloosa Saturday evening, befitting the assortment of bowlers, Walter Sobchak’s and, of course, Dudes coming together...

‘The Dude’ hitting the screen at the Bama

Nathan Proctor April 5, 2012

“Way out west, there was this fella that I wanna tell ya about. A fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski,” Sam Elliot says during the opening scene of “The Big Lebowski.” Bo Hicks of wellthatscool.com...

PixelCon

PixelCon

Nathan Proctor April 2, 2012

Gamers, cosplayers and masses of self-proclaimed nerds flooded the Ferguson Center Saturday for the third-annual PixelCon, a gaming convention put on by UA’s ABXY Gaming Network. PixelCon Live! kicked...

PixelCon advances to level three

PixelCon advances to level three

Nathan Proctor March 29, 2012

Hosted by UA’s ABXY Gaming Network, PixelCon 2012 kicks off its slate of video game-related events on Friday night, with PixelCon Live!, a free video game music concert featuring student and alumni musicians...

Japanese artwork on display at Ferguson Center

Nathan Proctor March 26, 2012

The University of Alabama celebrated the 26th year of the Sakura Festival through an art exhibit showcasing Japanese works from Tuscaloosa’s sister city, Narashino, Japan. Shinrai, the Japanese word...

Bama Theatre sold out for tornado relief

Bama Theatre sold out for tornado relief

Nathan Proctor March 21, 2012

Approaching the one-year anniversary of the April 27 tornado, much has been done to repair, rebuild and renovate affected areas. However, according to those at wellthatscool.com, that work isn’t finished....

Silly string rave hits Rounders

Silly string rave hits Rounders

Nathan Proctor March 7, 2012

Silly string often conjures memories of childhood fun, a younger sibling’s birthday party or possibly a prank on an unsuspecting friend. Tonight however, "Skribble" aims to bring silly string out of...

Students bring backstage magic to theater

Students bring backstage magic to theater

Nathan Proctor February 28, 2012

After the final curtain has been drawn and a production is brought to its end, the actors take their bow, and the director’s vision is reviewed. However, the weeks of work creating the final on-stage...

Sophomore James Borland brings his voice to The Strip

Sophomore James Borland brings his voice to The Strip

Nathan Proctor February 16, 2012

It’s an old stereotype that any guy in college worth his salt can play the guitar. However, it is not every day that a student and his guitar become a fixture of The Strip asked to perform week after...

British farce brings mayhem to the Tuscaloosa stage

British farce brings mayhem to the Tuscaloosa stage

Nathan Proctor February 15, 2012

Theatre Tuscaloosa will perform their first rendition of “Noises Off” since 1992 at the Bean-Brown Theatre starting tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m., with six additional shows until their final performance...

UA percussion instructor performs around the world

Nathan Proctor February 6, 2012

As a little girl, she didn’t want to just play violin, clarinet or piano as expected. She wanted to play everything; she wanted to be a percussionist. UA percussion instructor Beth Gottlieb’s career...

Super Bowl excitement minimal in college town

Nathan Proctor February 2, 2012

In Tuscaloosa, football is supreme. Saturday is a holy day, Bryant-Denny Stadium is sacred ground, and Paul “Bear” Bryant and Nick Saban are proclaimed saints. Even with the nearest professional football...

Moon Taxi brings a new flavor to the Strip

Moon Taxi brings a new flavor to the Strip

Nathan Proctor January 25, 2012

Self-defined as indie-jam-rock, the band Moon Taxi offers an eclectic sound tied together by throwbacks to the stylized wah-wah’s, fuzzy effects and keyboard-laden grooves dominating the 1960’s and...

March tornado benefit features local musicians

Nathan Proctor January 23, 2012

Throughout the year, Alabama natives have teamed up to put on fundraisers in order to raise money for rebuilding Tuscaloosa. The Tuscaloosa-based website wellthatscool.com joins that group of natives this...

Thanksgiving brings together UA newcomers

Nathan Proctor November 29, 2011

Drenched in the warm aroma of a home-cooked meal, the dining room offered up a plethora of turkey-day delicacies split between a seating of adults carefully filling their plates and a kids’ table featuring...

Local church offers turkey dinner

Nathan Proctor November 21, 2011

For some students at the University, going home over Thanksgiving break simply isn’t an option. With campus shut down and few dining options in Tuscaloosa on turkey day, some students may find their...

Seeking a magical victory

Seeking a magical victory

Nathan Proctor November 14, 2011

The Quad was littered with wizards of all ages and students were smeared in their nation’s colors Sunday as football took a backseat to Quidditch for an afternoon at The University of Alabama. UA’s...

Sigma Tau Delta sponsors concert, book drive

Sigma Tau Delta sponsors concert, book drive

Nathan Proctor November 3, 2011

A collegiate honors society – especially one centered on world literature – doesn’t often conjure up the same images of manic fun and festivity as its greek brethren. However, Sigma Tau Delta’s...

Finding the humanity in your Spring schedule

Nathan Proctor October 20, 2011

Part of the University’s general education requirement is that each student complete at least 12 hours of humanities, literature and fine arts courses combined. While none of the required hours must...

Finding your fine art

Nathan Proctor October 17, 2011

Most University of Alabama students, except engineering majors, are required to take at least three hours of fine arts courses to receive their degree. Courses with a fine arts designation tend to be a...

String quartet blends classic and modern sounds

String quartet blends classic and modern sounds

Nathan Proctor September 29, 2011

From afar, they’re just what you’d expect from a renowned string quartet. They don tuxedos and formal dresses. They perform Mozart and Tchaikovsky. They’ve even performed at Carnegie Hall and the...

Actors spends time in “Bear” Bryant’s shoes

Nathan Proctor September 15, 2011

Former Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant will come to life on stage this weekend in the form of “Bear Country,” a play that takes audiences through pivotal events of Bryant’s life,...

Bama Theatre keeps tradition alive downtown

Bama Theatre keeps tradition alive downtown

Nathan Proctor September 12, 2011

Downtown Tuscaloosa first greeted the Bama Theatre in 1938 with a parade featuring The Million Dollar Band and a procession of Disney mascots. Displayed proudly overhead was a banner that read “Alabama’s...

Hip-hop duo G-Side to hit campus

Hip-hop duo G-Side to hit campus

Nathan Proctor September 7, 2011

From the streets of Athens to the stages of Huntsville, they spread to the festivals of NYC and the pages of the New York Times. Now ST 2 Lettaz and Yung Clova, making up the Huntsville based hip-hop duo...

Xpress Night returns to Ferg

Xpress Night returns to Ferg

Nathan Proctor August 31, 2011

Music and laughter erupted from the Ferguson Center on Aug. 18, marking the first Xpress Night of the fall semester. A bi-monthly open mic night for UA students at the Ferguson Center Starbucks, Xpress...

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