Ranting and Raving about everything from Entertainment to Gadgetry. Official blog of Vinny "Gamings Nirvana" Parisi

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Random Ramblings: Who needs dogs?

 Writing is an important aspect of my life.  From one perspective, others seem to greatly appreciate it when I take the time to write them a personalized letter (for example, a birthday card.)  On the other hand, writing is a useful tool for me personally because it helps to expand on the millions of creative ideas constantly rushing through my mind at breakneck speeds.  There’s a common saying that “Everyone has at least one good story to tell,” and writing helps to discover what that story is.

Creative writing has always come naturally to me.  Specifically, I’m most interested in science-fiction and fantasy writing.  The sci-fi novel I’m currently working on began as a simple process of writing down everything I was thinking, and later organizing it into a cohesive story.  Now, after living with these characters for a number of years, working on the novel has become a 24/7 endeavor.  Ideas can spring up at any moment so I have to keep a notepad with me at all times and, as character personalities have become second nature, perceptions of how to incorporate those ideas have changed (perhaps matured is a better word.)

Another aspect of creative writing that is important is the sentimental value people intrinsically attach to the written word, possible due to it’s timelessness.  I write personalized notes whenever giving out cards for special occasions such as birthdays or holidays and the recipient always seems to cherish the words on paper more this way.  In this example, and countless others, people feel more attached to an issue when the idea is expressed in a more personal or relatable way.  This kind of appreciation can only be found in the written word, making writing one of the most important forms of communication.

A question to ask when thinking about the importance of writing is, how do we know what we know? This pertains to anything from history, to anatomy, to the universe.  The answer is, because it’s written down somewhere.  People have used writing as an instrument to record events and pass down knowledge through generations.  From important decisions about politics, religion and war, to keeping records of sports results, technological accomplishments and inventions.  Writing helps the world stay organized, and provides an essential component to growing as humans.  It is the building block people use to cement the foundation for living and expand onward and upward to greater glory. 

If it weren’t for writing, it would be impossible to share the ideas I have with the world.  In terms of science-fiction writing, it is the best way to share an entire universe with others who share a similar passion.  On a more personal level, writing helps to better convey emotion when giving someone a letter or note.  From a worldly perspective, people need writing to keep a record of everything that’s happened so they can improve upon what’s been done before.  Writing is life’s best friend, the most reliable of companions.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Short Stories: Color is in the eye of the beholder

 Color is something most people take for granted.  Everyone has a favorite color and color plays an important role in branding ideas about society.  It has become a useful tool for artists and storytellers alike.  It’s also something I personally find little value in.  Perhaps my disinterest in the importance of color is due to the fact that I see the inherent racial tensions color-branding can lead to.  Or perhaps it’s because I’m colorblind… Yeah, that’s probably the reason.

    Being colorblind is a hereditary trait, so it’s something I picked up from my grandfather.  Specifically, I’m red-green colorblind, but that’s really just a term and doesn’t begin to describe the way I actually see the world.  While it’s not a major handicap, it still leads to a number of frustrations most people would never consider.  My biggest problem with being colorblind is that I need to have someone with me whenever I go clothes shopping.  Had it not been for my mother telling me to, “Go pick something else out,” I’d have spent my young adulthood wearing purple and pink instead of blue and red.  While, admittedly, some guys can pull it off, it’s not exactly the look I’m going for.  Clothes aren’t the only shopping problem though, gift shopping for friends/family can become a decidedly awkward affair if handled improperly.  It’s one thing to get something in the wrong size, but people don’t usually expect their presents to be the wrong color.
   
    Again, my condition is nothing too severe, but it still has plenty of instances where it’s more than a nuisance.  While I can see the difference between shifting traffic lights, thankfully, it is nearly impossible for me to play a majority of board games and some video games.  One of my favorite board games is a strategic-war game called Risk.  It’s meant to be played with up to six players, but unfortunately I can only play with two other friends, otherwise the pieces blend together and look alike.  It’s hard to plan out your merciless takeover of the entire world when you can’t tell where your own soldiers are.  Video games can be equally frustrating, because for some reason the majority of game developers decided that character vitality-bars/special mini-games should be based on a red-green system; meaning I can’t always tell when my character is about to die or participate in a majority of mini-games within each game.  Whether this is intentionally done to spite me or not is an ongoing investigation.          

    In particular, another problem I have with being colorblind is having to explain to other people that I’m colorblind.  Not because I feel it’s anything to be ashamed of, I know better than that, but because people always seem to respond the same way about it.  Throughout middle school and high school, every single classmate asked me the same questions.  “You’re colorblind?  So… what color is this notebook?”  “What color is this desk?” “What color is my shirt?”  People, if I knew what color it was, I wouldn’t be freaking colorblind.  Now that I’m in college, this doesn’t happen as often, yet it still occurs more often than I’d like it to.  I understand that it’s interesting to other people, and that being colorblind is just something most can’t comprehend, but I’m not a circus animal.  I don’t exactly revel in my colorblindness, so as strange as it might seem I’m not chomping at the bit to show off just how little of the world I can visually appreciate.  Fortunately, since my condition isn’t a visual one (from the perspective of other people anyway) they often forget about it and I can get on with my life. 

    While colorblindness wasn’t exactly my superpower of choice, those were the cards I was dealt so I just live with it.  Luckily, emerging technologies have taken an interest in the relatively small number of people who suffer from the condition, and so applications are being developed to help me better distinguish between colors.  There’s a saying among tech-junkies such as myself that goes, “There’s an app for that.” It means there is at least one application that can do just about anything the mind can imagine.  Recently, an app was invented for Smartphone users that allows them to point the phone’s camera lens toward an object, and using some special techno-magic, adjusts the color on the phone’s screen so colorblind people can see what the object actually looks like.  Now if they could just find a way to implement that technology into eye glasses, the world would be a much more beautiful place to live.  Literally.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Random Ramblings: It's Finale Time! So Goodbye, Good Luck(!) and Good Riddance

Ahh the Spring Finale.  A both wonderful yet heartbreaking couple of weeks for any devoted series fan.  On one hand, audiences are treated to the final resolve of an entire seasons worth of drama and mystery.  On the other, for shows that are being renewed, it is a withdrawal-inducing "Farewell, until we meet again."  Within these next two weeks, we will see finales for a show that's only just begun, a show that's survived thanks to it's dedicated fans, and a show that's lingered for far too long.  Specifically, I'm talking about Traffic Light, Chuck, and Smallville (in that order.)

Farewell, Traffic Light, you will be missed
Traffic Light is (was, as Fox confirmed it's cancellation) a fantastic comedy starring "That guy who was pretty funny in Scott Pilgrim"  (Nelson Franklin.)  While the series managed to finish strong with some absolutely hysterical final episodes, the poor ratings were just too much to bear and Fox had already planned on canning the show halfway through its airing.  This is one I'm going to miss just because of the great cast, consistently witty dialogue, and Seinfeld-esque situational humor that made for some very entertaining television.  Goodbye, Traffic Light, I hardly knew ye.


Now on to what has most definitely become my favorite series over the past few years, Chuck.  I apologize to Bones, while I love you equally as much, you're the child I never have to worry about, your renewal is always a shoe-in.  Chuck is the child that's always in my thoughts because of the constant need to worry about its livelihood.  While the series should never have made it past the second season, according to ratings, the fans have pulled together for the past two years and made enough noise to force NBC to reconsider.  Now, as Chuck finishes its fourth season with a Finale on Monday, the fans are anxiously awaiting to hear NBC's announcement pertaining to the Lovable Intersect's fate.  Coincidentally, NBC will make said announcement on Monday, meaning we will have to wait until the day the episode airs to find out whether we're watching the Season or the Series Finale.  Chuck, I've loved you since the pilot, and you haven't disappointed me since.  I, along with what seems to be the entire world (Seriously, how is this show always in danger?) wish you Good Luck.  Hopefully, we will see you back next season, with your stunning new bride!

C'mon, Team Bartowski! We need a Season Five.  Here's to hoping.
Lastly, and those who know me knew I'd have something to say about this one, it is finally time for Smallville to end.  No extensions, no exceptions.  The 2-Hour finale airs tomorrow, Friday the 13th, at 8:00 PM EST.  In case you were wondering: Yeah, Tom Welling is finally putting on the suit, he's finally going to fly, and we're finally going to hear that classic music as we hear him announce to the world he is Superman.  I'm honestly not sure how to describe my relationship with Smallville. 

The most apt way to describe it would be to call the show a cruel mistress in a toxic relationship.  For a while everything was going great, it felt like we were happy and in love.  We could take on the world and nobody could take away our sunshine.  Then one day, tragedy struck.  What should have been a fatal accident, Smallville's planned ending after 7 seasons, ended in what at first felt like a miracle.  The show lived again and would continue for a few more years.  But I'll be honest, Smallville, after the accident you were never the same.  You just didn't feel right, it's like you crept back into my life after I'd already made peace with your death.  The continuity had to take a beating, the plots were hollow and joyless, and characters that shouldn't exist had to be written in for the sake of keeping things fresh.  To make matters worse, after awhile you just stopped caring, letting cameo appearances from other DC heroes take the spotlight while your overall story arc faded into obscurity. 

In short, this goodbye was a long time coming, and I'm finally ready to let our relationship end.  You hurt me more times than I'll ever admit, and it stings even more to know that even after extending your life far past what was intended, you're still only going to give me five minutes of "Up, up, and away" while you begin your fight for "Truth, Justice, and the American way."  I know this is what you planned all along, and after seven seasons that would have felt right.  But Smallville, you should have become Metropolis a long time ago, and Superman should have been a part of the last three seasons.  Plans change, but your crappy idea for a finale has stayed the same.  So, Smallville, to you I say Good Riddance.  I won't regret our time together, because you've become too big a part of my life, but I will regret not saying this sooner.  It's over.  It's finally over.     

Caption This: X-Men First Class, could it actually be good?

You guys know the drill, this picture is just begging to become a Gif.  But while interwebbers everywhere are deciding on how to best optimize this future meme, it's up to us to provide a clever caption.  Here's what I came up with off the top of my head:

Caption 1:
Charles Xavier:  Stop looking at me.  I can't go if you're both watching.

Caption 2:
Banshee: Umm, Charles? Is everything okay?

Charles: Quiet Sean! I'm trying to listen.

Mystique: What do you hear, Charlie?

Charles: It's tough to say.  I'm only getting bits and pieces but one thing is for sure, Raven, this baby doesn't like staying in one place.  His telepathic energy is fading in and out.

Banshee: Then what's with that look on your face?

Charles: Oh, Nothing.  I just finally know what a real girl feels like...

Mystique and Banshee:  *slowly turn toward Charles.* C'mon Charles, not in the new uniform.


On a related side-note: The film is actually shaping up to be quite good.  With a supposed running time of 140 minutes, we might actually get a well thought out and carefully crafted X-film that's worth watching.  And if all else fails, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender will totally own the roles of Professor X and Magneto.  In short, I may have to eat my words because I initially wrote this off as total garbage but the trailers have managed to convince me this is worth a view in theaters before passing judgement.  June 3rd can't come fast enough.  Hehe, see what I did there?  I apologize... that was a terrible pun, even by my Spider-Man standards. 

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Important Stuff... and Stuff: Spotlighting Technology and it's effect on the Disability Community.

By VINCENT PARISI

NEW JERSEY- Dawn Carvalho, 32, sat in her “Career Achievement” class listening to her fellow students give presentations on the post-college career they’d like to be successful in.  She often records class lectures, but on days like today her recorder dies early and she forgets the charger.  Luckily, there’s no lecture today.  The class is asked to write down some compliments and constructive criticism about the presentations.  As each of her classmates come up to the podium, she asks for their names.  When jotting down her comments she writes on the strips of torn construction paper handed out by the professor, her face leaning in just inches above the desk.

Dawn Carvahlo, 32
A School of Social Science and Human Services major, Carvalho will graduate at the end of the Spring 2011 semester with a degree in her concentrated major of Community Health.  She’s legally blind.

“I only lost my vision about ten years ago so I was still trying to be independent on whatever vision I do have left.  Now I’m realizing, stop being so ‘independent’ and take advantage of what I could get help with,” she said.
   

Carvalho is a registered student with Ramapo College’s Office of Specialized Services, the O.S.S.  Using the new and amazing technology the school provides, students like her with documented disabilities can have access to software and innovative gadgets to facilitate completing daily tasks that would otherwise prove difficult or frustrating.  There are a variety of different technologies that accommodate a wide range of both learning and physical disabilities.

Understanding the Facts

Under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Ramapo College is committed to providing individuals with disabilities equal opportunities and access.  The law guarantees that individuals who are otherwise qualified for educational programs cannot be denied access to college programs and services simply because they have a disability.

According to the U.S. census data, 18 percent of New Jersey’s population ages 5 and up have a disability.  That’s almost 1.4 million people.  Out of those estimated numbers, over 900,000 are between the ages of 16 to 64, 17 percent of the total within that age group, while more than 411,000 are over the age of 64 with the remaining 66,000 being between 5 and 15-years-old.

Missy Long, an academic advisor for the O.S.S.,  understands just how important the ADA and the Assistive Technology used on campus are.

“I assist students with helping the college provide them with what are called ‘reasonable accommodations,’ which the college legally have to provide.”  Long explains, a wheelchair user herself.  “But even beyond that the college really includes having access to people with disabilities in our mission as well, so the college is really committed to this population.”

There are over 350 students registered with the O.S.S. on campus.  Out of those, about 20 percent of the students actively use the lab.

Technology in Action
To make sure the students have access to the correctly formatted and ready-to-use technology, Ramapo looks to Kevin Rutan.  The Assistive Technology Specialist for the O.S.S., Rutan spends his time in the Assistive Tech Lab, actively engaged in learning about the latest technologies to further aid students.  He also provides technical support and answers any questions about the myriad forms of optimized technology provided on campus.  The types of programs vary in functionality, such as the Zoomtext software for enlarging text on a computer screen or the popular Dragon Naturally Speaking program which allows for speech-to-text.  Among others, Rotan described a device which helps dyslexic students read.

A screenshot of Kurzweil 3000
“We have a program called Kurzweil 3000 which is mostly used for students with learning disabilities or Dyslexia or various difficulties reading,” he said.

Kurzweil has the ability to read textbooks to students and also comes with a number of useful study-skill tools pre-installed.  The technology is not just for online-only books though, students can scan textbooks and download them onto computers; the software will still be able to read the text with ease.  Students have the option to search for key words or important terms and the program will begin reading from those selected words, even highlighting words or sentences at a time if the student prefers.




A new approach in developing Assistive Technology Rutan noticed is to make the products accessible to a universal audience.  A prime example of this is the Dragon program.

“We have a program called Dragon Naturally Speaking, which basically converts speech to text,” Rutan added.  The Dragon software has a number of useful features, however.  The software adapts to each user with every use, which happens when students create specific profiles for themselves and use the program frequently. 

Learning their speech patterns and unique style of speaking makes the software more accurate when converting speech to text.  Another useful feature is the ability to set up hot-keys and shortcuts for other applications.  Students can use Dragon to browse the Web or open up other programs with simple speech commands after training the software to do so.  This is enormously helpful with activities such as note-taking and researching information.

The Latest and Greatest

One of the newest technologies to become available is a device called a Smartpen.  Rutan was available to demo the technology and list all of its most useful features.  The Smartpen is used with a special notebook containing “Dot Paper.”  Students can use the Smartpen to take notes on this paper while simultaneously using the built-in microphone to record a lecture.  Then, when students are reviewing the notes afterwards, they can simply touch the point of the pen to a word in the notebook and the recorded lecture will being playing from that designated point. 

The Smartpen can play music with this hand-drawn piano
The accompanying Smartpen computer software is also capable of transferring data. The students can plug in the Smartpen via a USB port and can transfer all the notes they’ve taken into a document viewable on the computer.

Additional features include the ability to translate words into different languages by tapping individual words written down as well as using the computer’s “search” feature to find words that were written by hand and transferred onto the screen.  Rutan even drew a small piano in the notebook and could actually use the drawing to play different keys, showing off his ability to play the Indiana Jones theme song.

The Smartpen is developed by Livescibe, and comes in a variety of memory sizes with additional accessories available.  A 2 Giga-byte (GB) Smartpen runs about $99.99, while the 4GB model retails for $149.99.  The largest size currently offered is an 8GB which is available at most electronics retailers for $200.00.  In addition, accessories include extra notepads that are relatively inexpensive; a 4-pack of single-subject notebooks can be purchased for $19.99 and replaceable ink cartridges which cost $5.99 for a 5-pack including 4 black-ink cartridges and a single red-ink cartridge.  This is another example of Assistive Technology with universal appeal, especially for writers and journalists.  

While keeping up with all this cutting-edge technology may seem expensive, Ramapo College manages to find a balance.  Most of the software is usable for years at a time before needing an upgrade, and devices such as the Smartpen are only bought in small quantities at first until the hardware proves effective.  As with anything else, the budget for the O.S.S. is far from ideal, but the school manages thanks to various grants and by prioritizing purchases of new software.

Taking the “Dis-” out of “Disabled”
Carvalho lost her vision ten years ago when her optic nerve was affected by Multiple Sclerosis.  She feels the term “Disabled” connotes a falsehood about the community at large.  She points out that many of the people she’s met, including fellow students as well as her husband who is also blind, are entirely “able.”  The fact that companies are now developing these technologies with the intention of being universally helpful, facilitating anyone’s life regardless of a disability, gives the idea substantial merit.    

“Like a television screen if the cable gets bent or twisted or something and the inside wire gets unconnected you get that fuzzy screen.  That’s what’s happening to my optic nerve,” Carvalho said, in an attempt to describe the process.
     
She uses a mix of both computer software and other physical technologies when on campus.  Inside the classroom, she relies on her tape recorder. 

“In class, that’s my notes.  Instead of writing down notes like you ‘sight-ees’ can do, I have my little voice recorder,” she jokes.
 
The tape recorder, an Olympus (I’ll find the exact model number,) transfers all of her recorded class lectures to her computer where she can then listen to them at any time.  Carvalho makes sure to notify the students in class that she uses a tape recorder, telling them that if it any time a student feels uncomfortable about the recording she is more than willing to pause it or turn it off.
When reading from a textbook or filling out a worksheet,  Carvalho relies on the Tech Lab’s CCTV.  This closed-circuit television is capable of magnifying text and projecting it through a television screen panel. 

“I refer to that as my ‘eyes’ in a sense,” she said.  “I can read my books from there.  It can go from different formats such as black-on white, to different colors like an orange-text-on-black-background, to make it easier on the eyes.”  The CCTV also has different magnification levels, capable of going all the way up to 12x zoom.

Wishful Thinking, a Look into the Future
Looking forward to the future, the Smartpens seem to be the biggest development.  With applications being built for future updates, including additional translation options and further PC software integration, this device will be the biggest advancement announced thus far. 

Conceptually, however, there are some ideas the community wished would soon become reality.  Carvalho’s friend Vivian Lerias, a senior who manages to work through a learning disability while studying to become a Social Worker, had one idea in particular.  “I wish that there were some type of tape recorders that could change the audio into text when you plug them into the computer,” Lerias said.  “If it had the ability to transfer the information to text it would be so much better.”

“Oh yeah, that would be great,”  Carvalho agreed.  “I think everybody would like that.”

Carvalho and Lerias, graduating students at Ramapo
 With developers pushing to make their products appeal to a more universal audience, the line between those who use assitive technology out of necessity and those who use it out of convenience is rapidly fading.  With some luck, this will hopefully change the way people think about the disability community.  With all the major advancements in technology allowing more people to live better lives, the term “disabled” seems a little dated, don’t you think?  

Friday, April 29, 2011

Random Ramblings: With Truth, Justice and the Adopted Kryptonian(?) Way Comes Great Responsibility... and Cake!

It's a great few months for comic book milestone achievements, with each of the two major juggernauts in the industry making a splash in the news.  DC Comics has recently released Action Comics #900 featuring Superman, while Marvel is putting the finishing touches on Ultimate Spider-Man #160 due to hit store shelves in June. 

At least he's not faking a Giant Squid attack to get the World's attention
The controversial Action Comics #900 is on everyone's mind because part of the story focuses on Superman's decision to renounce his U.S. citizenship.  A bold move for sure, but is this a political statement?  Or is it simply the natural, and frankly long time coming, character progression of an Icon who symbolizes hope for so many across the globe?  Honestly, I've always felt awkward having the Man of Steel's motto be "Truth, Justice and the American way."  I understand what it was supposed to represent back in the day during Superman's creation, but the times they are a changing.  Plus, with Superman having long since becoming a symbolic hero across countries the world over, it seems only fair that he would feel the need to show that he is a beacon of hope for all and not simply an instrument of the U.S. and their government's perception of good.  The point of Superman has always been that, even though he is an Alien from another planet, he represents the best qualities humanity has to offer; An ideal which does not belong to any country in particular.

"Not A Dry Eye In The House." 'Nuff Said.
Let's now shift focus to the Marvel side of things.  The variant cover for Ultimate Spider-Man #160, better known as the Death of Spider-Man finale, has officially been unveiled.  Illustrated by Joe Quesada, if this beautifully elegant art doesn't pull at your heart strings, you're probably devoid of emotion entirely.  Obviously the picture is of Peter and Uncle Ben walking off toward what I'm going to imagine is one of Heaven's many premiere fishing spots.  While I've never been a huge fan of the Ultimate Universe, this is certainly the most respectful and powerfully meaningful way to send off everyone's favorite webbed wonder.  This is definitely one to pick up, whether you're a fan of the series or not.

Valve: Microsoft, I think we can put our differences aside, for free DLC... you monster
On an unrelated matter, as I seem to typically end these posts (hence the "Random Rambling" aspect,) Valve announced today that the first DLC for Portal 2 will be available in the summer.  More importantly, at least for my wallet anyway, they announced it will be free across all platforms.  That's right, somehow Valve managed to convince Micro$oft that they should NOT bend us over and violate our bottoms for a change.  Honestly, it's probably just because Portal is available on PS3 as well, as opposed to the Left for Dead fiasco which was an Xbox 360 exclusive in terms of consoles.  Either way, this awesome news gets the first ever "Velvet Vinny's Seal of Approval" which will only be given out for acts of extreme amazingness.  Congratulations Valve, this is most certainly a triumph for which I'll be making a note of: Huge Success!  It is proving quite difficult to overstate my satisfactio... Okay I'll stop.  Seriously though, thanks for loving your fans.  It is genuinely appreciated.  Maybe one day you could come by and have some cake.  It's so delicious and moist... Alright I'm done.       

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Breaking News: The Marvel Universe MMO is happening!

Live from an event in San Francisco, Marvel has officially released details concerning the highly anticipated Marvel Universe MMO.  While the game isn't due out until 2012 there were a few key announcements made tonight:

First, and probably most importantly, it will be Free-To-Play.  That's right, F2P.  But before you facepalm and roll your eyes, Marvel has said, "This is the first high quality, high production value F2P game like this."  Brian Bendis, speaking live on from Marvel.com in a post conference interview, has said that the game is using a new engine and new technology that will blow fans away.
The Marvel Universe MMO will feature the largest character lineup to date
At launch, the game will feature more characters then ever previously available in a Marvel title.  These characters range from the obvious: Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Spider-Man down to the questionable and strange: Squirrel Girl.  Fans will be ecstatic to know that Nova has also been announced as a playable character, with many more to be revealed throughout the year.

As of right now, the game is only being developed for PC.  Specifically, Marvel has said via Twitter that, "PC is the only platform we're announcing for the #MarvelU #MMO at this time."  I will choose to keep my fingers crossed for a console release.

The game will pull storylines from across Marvel material: Including 616 comic elements, as well as various games and animation.  There will also be additional story arcs exclusively written for the MMO.  Brian Michael Bendis is in charge of writing the story, which focuses on Doctor Doom's latest scheme for total domination. 

The Marvel MMO will allow players to choose Marvel characters and interact in a multiplayer environment to cooperatively complete events.  In addition, each character will have his own story events to complete which will give gamers the chance to craft their own continuity.

Locations have yet to be announced, but it is assumed NYC, the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier and Latveria will be available among others.  I'm personally hoping for Atlantis and Asgard to be in the game. 

Any updates announced within the next few days will be posted as they develop.  Keep it here for the latest Marvel Universe MMO news!

   

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Random Ramblings: 'Tis a lovely Voice thou doth have. Doth thee hail from Westchester?

It's almost the end of April, which means May is nearly here (obviously...) What would otherwise be a totally unforgettable time of the year, suck it Mother's Day and your Hallmark Holiday greed, this May happens to be a very exciting time for nerds.  Next Friday is the U.S. release of Thor and while a select few Australian Jerkwads have already been treated to a premiere, seething jealousy be damned, I could not be more excited to midnight matinee this bad boy.  Everything I've seen and read (considering I own a copy of the script) makes this look to be the summer blockbuster to beat.  Green Lantern better be ready for a old fashioned prize fight punch-out.  Everything from the VFX, to the dialogue and atmosphere, down to the general tone of the film all look absolutely magnificent.  I've got a good feeling about this one.
"How darest Fast Five beat thee Mighty Thor at thy own Australian Box Office"
On another note, and I can't believe I'm saying this, the latest international trailer for X-Men: First Class debuted today and it looks... incredible?  I know, I was shocked too.  How could this have happened?  All of the pieces were in place for another train wreck of a film.  Fox producing? Check. Thorough butchering of the source material? Mega-Check.  Rushed shooting schedule?  Like you wouldn't believe.  Yet, after seeing Michael Fassbender wrap a a handful of Cuban soldiers in makeshift barbed wire nets and send them tumbling down a hill, I can't help but feel giddy with anticipation.  Sure the name blasphemously claims to take ownership of the First Class mythos.  But really, when were we ever, EVER going to get the chance to see characters like Havoc, Banshee, and Darwin appear in an Live-Action film without it being a reboot?  Never.  At least this way they have some time to screw with the timeline and introduce the actual members somewhere down the line in what I'm sure will end up being a new trilogy for the franchise. 
Seriously, what's with the helmet?? Is it an antagonist, central to the plot?
James McAvoy is also looking extremely awesome as Charles Xavier and I am very excited to see how he and Erik build the X-Men legacy together, including the school and of course Cerebro.  I find it funny that the marketing team is making such an obviously big deal out of Magneto's helmet.  Sure it looks cool, but with all the focus on Fassbender in these past couple trailers I'm starting to think maybe X-Men Origins: Magneto wasn't canned after all and we're all being duped into thinking this film has something to do with any other characters.  While I'm convinced his will be the standout performance, let's please not forget to give Mystique, Emma Frost, and Beast ample time to be awesome.

Finally, going from the silver screen down to the small screen, last night was the premiere of NBC's new singing competition The Voice.  The basic premise is that four of the industry's greatest performers: Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton each pick 8 American hopefuls to personally coach.  Each week they must then eliminate the team member they feel is the least improved.  The catch is that when initially selecting their teams they must listen to the contestants sing during a blind performance, meaning the judges can't see whoever is on stage singing.  It's supposed to prove that the show really is all about "The Voice" and that looks aren't important to the process.

As far as premieres go, I thought it had a strong first episode.  The audition episodes are always fun to watch, and while a few people were turned away, I have to say the level of talent is impressive.  I don't really enjoy watching most singing competitions, that A Capella one hosted by Nick Lachey is probably the only one I'll stomach due to my choir boy background, but the chemistry between the judges was enjoyable and entertaining.  Christina and Adam have already developed a mini-rivalry, with Adam stealing away most of the contestants Christina wanted to recruit by buttering them up with compliments.  (If more than one judge wants to recruit a contestant, the contestant gets to choose who they train with.)  I'm also a big fan of Cee Lo's personality in general, he's just a funny dude.  Altogether, I'd say it's worth checking out if you need a break from Idol but still crave that singing competition fix.  It won't disappoint.             

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Random Ramblings: I've never liked Reunions, but then again they're not as bad as Sony...

Let's just get straight into the heart of this.  I'm pissed, and so is the rest of the gaming community.  No, it's not because Portal 2 isn't long enough; cause let's be honest, that game could've been a million hours long and we'd still demand more GLADOS.  It's because for the past six days now all of the personal information that makes up my online identity has been compromised, and I wasn't informed about it.
It only does apathy, because they couldn't care less about the customers.
 How could this be possible, you ask?  Well, my dearest of anonymous readers, it would seem that six days is how long it takes for one of the biggest industry leaders in the entertainment business to realize what the F**K happened to their online network.  Sony's Playstation Network, PSN, has been down since last week.  When it first happened there was absolutely no information coming out of "The Big S."  It took until this past Saturday to give gamers an arbitrary statement about how Sony had elected to shut down the PSN on it's own to investigate a possible "External intrusion." Now, six days later, Sony has given gamers everywhere the most frightening kind of news an internet user can received: There personal information has been compromised.  The list of information stolen includes
- Name
- Address (City, State, Zip)
- Country
- Email Address
- Birthdate
- Playstation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN Online ID

Aside from the obvious feelings of WTF, I'd like to ask why exactly the public wasn't informed as soon as there was any potential of personal data being compromised.  I realize it is in the best interest of Sony to not cause a PR nightmare, but not telling anyone until this late in the game doesn't really seem to be causing any less of a problem.  I don't really care whether or not it's good for profits to handle this type of situation correctly, if my information is being passed around willy-nilly to ne'er do wells I'd want to know A.S.A.P. so I can protect myself.  Honestly it begs the question, in my best AVGN impression, "What the HELL were they thinking???"  This situation could not have been more poorly handled, and it's a shame because we're talking about 70 million people who will be affected by this.  Microsoft better be paying a Sherlock Holmes level of attention to this, because this kind of crap won't fly in the future.

*Update- U.S. Senator of Connecticut Richard Blumenthal has issued a statement to Sony demanding some answers.  To which I'd like to add, "Damn Straight, Son!" 

On a totally unrelated and more lighthearted note, the Gametrailers series Video Game Reunion is getting better with each passing week.  It took until this last episode, number 10 of the first season, to actually become a show worth watching.  If you haven't heard, the basic premise is of a video game reunion panel at "E4" featuring the real-life actors who have video games based off of them (i.e. Mario, Link/Zelda, Mega Man, etc.) It is shot in the style of a reality TV show. 

VGV fully embraces it's own ridiculousness








While it got off to a rocky start, VGV's constant commitment to outdo itself with over-the-top shenanigans and substantial fanservice makes it worth the 7-10 minutes it takes to watch each episode.  I recommend checking it out if your either a gamer, or just a nerd in general.  There are of course some standout performances, Luigi, Lil' P, and Mega Man to name a few, but the overall cast slowly grows on you until you crave for more story arcs to pan out and better jokes to be delivered.  Make sure to watch April O'Neil's newscast and read the information ticker on the bottom, it is a source of guaranteed amusement.  That's all for now folks, but check back soon for my reviews of Crysis 2 and Portal 2 in addition to the usual sillyness.        

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

First Impressions: Sonic Generations

It's been about 24 hours since the first gameplay trailer for Sonic Generations debuted and I've taken some time to process and carefully consider what exactly it is Sega is offering the fans for this historic 20-year Anniversary.  While it may not be the brand new experience I was initially hoping for, what we could potentially be getting is one of the best "Thank You" presents any company in the industry has ever offered their fans.

From the trailer, two things are made perfectly clear:  1) That Generations will be a spiced-up repackaging of some of Sonic's most popular stages of all time and 2) That gamers will be given the freedom to decide how they want to enjoy the game.

For those who've been bitten by the nostalgia bug, there is the choice to play as Classic Sonic.  This means speeding through levels from a 2-D perspective as the camera pans and zooms to highlight the most cinematic moments.  These 2-D levels will be a collection franchise-favorite stages, such as the immortal Green Hill Zone, and will be given an entirely fresh coat of 3-D paint complete with lively backgrounds.  Watching Classic Sonic jump and Spin Dash his way through old-school baddies such as Crabmeat is certainly a sight for sore eyes.  While the different Zones won't be pixel-for-pixel recreations of the originals, they will certainly pay their respects to the most iconic moments of the Hedgehog's history.  What I'm most excited for is to see some 3-D stages recreated as 2-D levels for Classic Sonic.  Imagine the original Sonic Adventure's Windy Valley made to be a side-scrolling stage.  The possibilities are certainly intriguing.  What's also impressive is that the physics of the original game, which were lost in the recent Sonic 4, seem to be fully intact.  From the sense of momentum all the way down to the Genesis's trademark "Leg-pumping running animation even while in mid-air," fans of the original games are sure to be delighted.
So... is that a really short totem pole or some really tall dandelions?
 Of course, players will also have the option of playing as Modern Sonic and blast processing (see what I did there?) their way through full 3-D environments that look to play as a mix between Sonic Colors and Sonic Unleashed.  Modern Sonic will come equipped with trademark abilities such as the Homing Attack and that new Power Slide thing he does when running at high speed.  Modern Sonic will also have a charge meter that builds when defeating enemies or pulling of mid-air tricks, which are done by using both thumbsticks after hitting a speed booster, that can be used to shift into turbo.  Running at such high speeds will cause the motion blur next-gen Sonic games have become known for.   

While no other stages aside from Green Hill Zone have been announced as of yet, it's probably safe to assume there will be a nice diversity to the selections.  My only hope is that the music is great enough to belong on a compilation disc of Sonic's greatest adventures.
The wonderfully vivid backdrops are simply stunning.
One concern I have is that Sega is attempting to craft a story in which there is a sensible reason these two generations of Sonic are coming together.  I'm willing to deal with hokeyness, after all the "Blue Dude with a 'Tude" is a humanoid hedgehog capable of breaking the sound barrier on foot, but I really don't want some convoluted, cockamamie scheme to be behind the reason these two universes come together. (see: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.)  According to Sega, the story opens with Sonic "and his friends" traveling through a rift in time caused by a "mysterious power."  Everything sounds tolerable enough except for that "and his friends" bit.  As I mentioned in my editorial, I certainly hope the merry band of furries aren't all along for the ride.  At least it's been confirmed that Sonic is the ONLY playable character; so thank God for small miracles, right?  Either way, Sonic Generations will sonic boom it's way onto store shelves in time for the 2011 Holiday season and will be available for the Xbox 360 and Sony PS3.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

GN Reviews: Knights Contract- It must have looked better on paper.

Knights Contract.  Where to begin, where to begin.  A story of immortal life, witchcraft, the ignorance of man, and humanity's seemingly only redeeming quality, compassion.  Sounds like a pretty worthwhile premise to explore through virtual interaction, doesn't it?  Well, it certainly could be one day, but that day isn't today and the game to do it certainly isn't Knights Contract.

Let's start at the beginning, when we are first introduced to Heinrich and Gretchen.  Heinrich is an immortal, and since the idea of not dying makes little sense for a video game, the developers saw fit to give us Gretchen, a companion witch who serves as a never-ending escort mission from start to finish.
This Knight must share an agent with Nic Cage.
As far as the story, it goes as follows: Heinrich was an executioner during the time of the Witch Trials and is responsible for the death of six witches, Gretchen included. The witches, although actually a force for good, are blamed for a disease called "The Black Death" which is spreading across the land.  Before she was beheaded, however, Gretchen placed a spell of immortality on the executioner because she saw the uncertainty in his eyes of not wanting to take a possibly-innocent life.  Now resurrected 100 years later, it is Gretchen's job to stop her fellow witches from exacting revenge on humanity for wrongly executing them.  Why doesn't she want revenge herself, you ask?  Because it's part of the "Witches Code" to protect people.  Yeah... that's it.  Anyway, after running into Heinrich she forms a pact with him, the knights contract, which binds him to aid her in her journey and is promised mortality in return so he can finally find peace.

From here the gameplay unfolds, although I hesitate to call it "gameplay" for two reasons.  The first being that the game is broken up into short episodes a la Bayonetta.  At the end of each episode, 20 in all, players receive a grade based on the time it takes to complete a stage, the number of kills, number of finishers, and a bonus on top for skillful combos.  One problem with this is the episodic breakdown makes the game feel chopped up due to poor decisions on where stages should end.  Most episodes end at a random spot in the stage, so the next episode begins without any plot progression, as if episodes were merely separated by loading screens of new areas.  Fragmentation is actually a major flaw with this game, and it's immediately noticeable from the very beginning.  For the first 12 chapters, every literal minute of combat will afterwards result in a cut scene so that characters can speak.  Dialogue that should just be implemented during gameplay becomes standalone, non-playable cinematics.  And it actually happens every few steps, making the vast majority of the game a dislocated mess.  Combine this with the frequent and painfully long load times, and the end result is a jarring, joyless jaunt that feels utterly unsatisfying.
Verderinde. She's one bad-ass bitch witch.
The other reason I hesitate with the term "gameplay" is because there's little fun to be had even during the action sequences.  Combat is a tricky mess, making use of almost every part of the controller for every single fight.  Heinrich will constantly have to battle horrific camera angles and useless partner A.I, all while making sure Gretchen isn't being attacked by an off-screen enemy, making combat a frustrating chore that leaves everything to be desired.  Specifically, Heinrich has a normal and strong attack with his Scythe by tapping X or Y (XB360 controls,) a Grab with B, and a Dodge/Roll by tapping A.  Then to use Gretchen's magic, the right trigger must be held to access magic again using the four face buttons.  Or, to use powerful energy draining spells, which are replenished by collecting souls (killing enemies by using combos/finishers,) the left trigger needs to be held again opening up new actions for the face buttons.  Combine all that with one thumbstick for movement and another for adjusting camera, which you'll be doing VERY often, and a left bumper for lock-on, you have yourself a control scheme that's almost as absurd as a second season of The Cape (too soon?  Of course not, that show sucked.)

To replenish Gretchen's health, since her death results in a game over, Heinrich must carry her in his arms.  How does this replenish her health?  Ha, silly reader, Knights Contract doesn't bother wasting it's time with petty explanations.  The game is too busy spouting out senseless dialogue to match it's equally unintelligible gameplay mechanics.  That's right, for all the obnoxious cut scenes and excessive dialogue, most of it is entirely skippable, which thankfully is an option with Knights Contract.

At the end of every few episodes is a boss fight against one of the witches.  For the most part, these are the easiest parts of the game so long as Heinrich is holding Gretchen the entire time until her spells recharge.  Spells, once upgraded, do enormous damage and are often game-breaking.  One spell in particular, which ensnares enemies in a floor trap, can still be used on bosses to make them vulnerable to attacks.  Of course, there's always a catch, as rings true here.  For all the unsatisfying ease of each combat section of a boss fight, there is a dreaded Quick Time Event sequence to strike a killing blow.  These QTE's are merciless and unforgiving, giving only a moment's notice before disappearing.  The penalty for failing a sequence, which thankfully stays the same upon retrying, is to replay the boss battle with your opponent at half health, and Heinrich not regaining any previously exhausted magic or health.  In a word: Unreasonable.
Bad Dialogue and Impractical Nudity? Sounds more like a Porno.
While I hate to make a review feel so decidedly one-sided, Knights Contract has little merit worth mentioning.  The graphics are substandard for this point in this console generation's life cycle, although the environments do offer some diversity; ranging from a snowy mountain to a burning town and a castle covered in hair.  (Yeah, there's a witch named Repunzel and she has long hair.  It's okay, I yelled "WTF" too.)  The game does offer a new game plus feature, allowing all the upgraded magic and collectibles previously obtained to carry over to a new difficulty, and episodes can be replayed at will.  Unfortunately, the negatives far outweigh the positives throughout the entire experience.

Knights Contract ends up being an adventure that should have been subjected to early termination.  It's incredible issues with pacing (The last eight episodes of the game take place at the end of the journey.  That's almost half the game dedicated to the ending.) and painfully frustrating gameplay make it an adventure surely worth leaving behind.  Even though the game encourages replayability with it's wealth of post-game unlockables, it's still not enough to save this tortured title.        

Friday, April 15, 2011

Editorial: "Project Cafe"- Wii 2 Could be All That and a Cup of Coffee

For those who haven't heard the latest industry scuttlebutt, rumors of Nintendo announcing a new console at E3 are beginning to mount.  The so-assumed Wii 2 (Even though the Big N has never repeated a console title since the SNES days,) or "Project Cafe" as it is codenamed, is said to be packing enough power to make fanboys everywhere collectively Sploosh.  
Kudos to IGN for the Wii 2 details, and this Banner.
 So let me recap the basics:
1) The Wii 2 is rumored to be more powerful than the PS3 and Xbox 360 (I'll believe this after I've tested it myself. Seeing it wouldn't even be enough to make me believe this claim.)  It will run at full-HD 1080p resolution.  As far as specs go, according to a Destructoid article, the system has "a custom IBM PowerPC three core CPU, and "probably" an ATI R700 series GPU with shader model 4.1 support."  Which, in fact, would make it more powerful than current-gen consoles.  Of course, like I said, I'll believe it when there's proof.

2) The new console will be fully backwards compatible with any Wii titles.  Since the Wii was BC with Gamecube games, this makes me wonder if the Wii 2 could run GC titles as well.  Which would obviously be awesome.  Nintendo is also said to be "Considering" using Blu-Ray discs for the game.

3) The controller will be reminiscent of a Gamecube controller, complete with dual analog sticks, triggers and a D-pad.  The major upgrade though is the alleged 6-inch touch screen that will also be on the controller.  This touch screen is supposed to be fully integrated into the console experience as well as allowing full games to be streamed and played from the controller on the go.  Let me give that to you again; the CONTROLLER doubles as a portable system that can have full games streamed to it via the console.  This is either the greatest console ever conceived or the worst late-April fools joke to have ever broken my heart. (Damn you EGM, I'll never forgive you for making me think Sonic was in SSB: Melee.)

Of course, while IGN apparently has sources to confirm this info, we won't know anything for sure until Nintendo decides to whip out the big guns Cannons at E3 in June.  Suffices to say, I'm pretty stoked about the Hardcore market Nintendo is attempting to recapture with this potentially-groundbreaking new console.  The idea of this controller has really got me thinking about the shape and potential awkwardness to handle while playing console games though.  I mean, if it's supposed to be comfortable enough to use as a portable system, will it still be easy to use without looking down while playing a console game?  I assume the screen would have to be in the middle of the controller, unless it sticks out on top which I feel would be a little clunky.  At this point though, it's a mute discussion (to be having with myself,) so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.  Either way, I'm looking forward to this year's E3 with a heightened sense of anticipation like never before.  It's a good time to be a gamer.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Random Ramblings: Hush Arthur, I'm sure more MvC 3 DLC is on the way...

It seems like for every step forward game developers make, there is some contractual obligation to take two steps backwards.  Perhaps developers are coerced into some type of blood bond with those who seek to destroy the industry, and therefore have little control over the decisions they make.

If you're not yet thoroughly clueless as to what the hell I'm talking about, I congratulate you.  This week there were two announcements that I deem major enough to bare mentioning from two development powerhouses.  The first was a tweet from Capcom which claimed there would be no more support for MvC 3 as far as DLC is concerned.  This is upsetting for a number of obvious reasons, the most prevalent being the Jr.-sized roster as compared to the game's predecessor. What happened to all those rumors of Frank West and Doctor Octopus joining in on the action?

I guess it's possible that since the tweet technically said there were "no more announcements planned" that something could happen later on down the road, but this seems like the final nail in the coffin from my perspective.  Speaking of perspective, I guess I'd be less upset about the severe lack of DLC support if the game's online actually worked.  Have you tried playing a ranked match yet?  No?  Well don't worry about it, I've been trying for over a month and we still share the same record of 0-0.  I could forgive balance issues and terrible roster choices, even though I shouldn't, if I could actually enjoy the game; but Capcom seems hell bent on making MvC 3 the black sheep of the franchise family.  

In other news, Warner Bros. has registered half a dozen domain names for a Batman Hush related game.  At least I assume it's a game based on Hush given one of the domain names is "batmanhushgame.com"  There are two problems with this:  1) Arkham City isn't coming out until the Fall.  That's a helluva long ways away.  The last thing we need is for Rocksteady to start spreading themselves thin trying to over-saturate the market and capitalize on the success of the Arkham series.  Now there's no guarantee that Rocksteady is even making the game, but Hush is a pretty mature story, and considering the success WB is having with Rocksteady, it would make sense to keep them in charge of the serious-in-tone Batman games.  Which brings me to problem 2) While Hush is certainly a great comic book story arc, that does not mean it would make a great game.  The plot of the arc centers around an extremely powerful narrative, and while it certainly has the emotional aspects that make for an immersive gameplay experience, as well as a great collection of included rogues, it is much heavier on the drama than it is on the action.  Bottom line: Hush is a story I like to read but it's certainly NOT a game I'd like to play.      

But while this week may have been a bummer in terms of gaming news, at least there's still a new episode of Camelot to look forward to.  If you haven't been watching, either because you haven't heard of it or you don't have Starz, Camelot is a retelling of King Arthur's story.  While it takes a few liberties as far as faithfulness to the original stories, it is certainly entertaining and polished enough to be enjoyable regardless of your devotion to the tale.  Even though it's only 3 episodes in so far, there is plenty of drama, action and, of course, ladies with strong tendencies to disrobe in front of the camera (I could tell you that Lady Guinevere doesn't look good with her clothes off, but I'm only comfortable telling small lies.)  While I admit I'm not totally hooked and can bear to wait a few days before catching up on an episode I missed, it's definitely worth looking into; especially if you're a fan of the time period.  I love me some medieval times.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Editorial: What I want from "Sonic Generations"

So by now everyone knows about the new Sonic game coming out sometime this year for XB360 & PS3.  We also know that it will somehow incorporate elements of both Old-School and New-School Sonic games, as per the trailer showcasing two generations of the "Blue Blur" running alongside each other. 

Yet, since absolutely no details have been announced regarding gameplay, I would like to take this opportunity to express what I think the new game should play like.  In my perfect world, "Generations" will be a beautiful mash-up of Genesis-era speed-based 2-D platforming seamlessly woven into a 3-D adventure.  How would that work?  Well, there are two options, the Paper-Mario approach, where the player could choose to switch between 2-D and 3-D on the fly, which I DON'T want to happen, and there is the structured linear level designed approach, which I think would be both much more manageable and enjoyable.

Keep the old-school Logo and "SEGA" shout. You know the one I mean.
Imagine taking a tour through Sonic's storied 20-year history.  For the sake of stability, let's say the story revolved around Sonic having a near-death experience and his life is flashing before his eyes.  As the player, we would LIVE these experiences through different levels.  Since I've never had a near-death experience, I'm not precisely sure how these things work, but let's just assume the order of events doesn't necessarily have to happen chronologically.  That way, the 2-D and 3-D stages could blend together instead of simply starting at the beginning (2-D) and then transitioning to 3-D for the back half of the game.

Throughout the game we could relive classic stages, such as Green Hill Zone and Carnival Night Zone, but also be introduced to new stages (possibly "lost levels" or stages that have been cut or were unfinished from previous titles.)  For each stage, Sonic should "look" like the corresponding era from which the stage takes place. I.e. Genesis, Saturn, CD, Dreamcast, etc. While the 2-D stages should stay true to their retro-roots, they should also receive a graphical update a la Sonic 4: Episode 1.  What should NOT be updated, however, is the music for each stage. If I'm playing Green Hill Zone, I want that exact Genesis 32-bit music pumping out of my speakers.  For the new levels, they should of course create new music, but keep the sounds relative to the era.  If it's from the early 90's, it should feel like an authentic early 90's game tune.
Eyes on the Prize SEGA. This game could be "The One."
 Another important feature, one which I refuse to compromise on, is that this should be Sonic's story and his story ALONE.  That means two things: 1) Keep this a single player experience.  Sonic has always been best when experienced alone, you can't mix speed and instinctive reflexive choices with co-op, it will never work.  People don't think alike and react to situations differently.  And 2) Under NO circumstances should we see any of Sonic's pals as playable characters.  To be honest, I don't even want them in the game period.  But if Tails, Knuckles and (God forbid) Amy must make an appearance, keep it brief and keep their actions out of my control (I mean that literally, SEGA, and not in the figurative sense where you give me crappy controls...)

The third point I want to address is the inclusion of Bonus Stages.  Preferably a mix of the old-school original Sonic Stages, plus those "Collect the Blue Orbs" 3-D stages from the Sonic 3 days, and a new element to match the full powered next-generation console hardware.  The purpose of these Stages should of course be to collect Chaos Emeralds, and if the player has gathered them all by the time the game is over, add a "True Ending" to the story with a Super Sonic level + Boss Fight. (Read: Level as in let me play a freaking 3-D level as Super Sonic BEFORE having to fight a boss.  That was cool for SA and SA2, but it's not enough anymore.)  Also, once the Chaos Emeralds have been collected Stages should have the option to be replayed as Super Sonic, as tradition mandates, by collecting 50 rings and double jumping.  This INCLUDES the 3-D stages, which has never been done before.  It should happen for his 20th anniversary, it's a special occasion SEGA, so whip out the confetti cannons and make this game one for the history books by pulling out all the stops.   
"Wanna grab a Chili CheeseDog?"                         "You bet! Loser buys."

 A final point I want to address is creating an online community/atmosphere.  I know I said "No Co-op" and I stand by that, but there are a few ways to build a community online and give the game timeless replayability.  1) Online Leaderboards. No explanation required, time the stages' completion records. 2) Ghost/Shadow mode. Let players take the top leaderboard records and watch any uploaded stage completion videos.  Additionally, allow us to play a stage while a "Ghost" (the chosen leaderboard time's character) runs the stage alongside us, so gamers can physically see how the top players scored that time as well as imitate the strategies employed by practicing simultaneously.  3) Bring back the Chao Garden.  Yeah I said it, and why not?  You know those animals Dr. Robotnik/Eggman (how I LOATHE that nickname) turns into power sources for his robots?  Collect them and give them to the Chao to boost their power so players can competitively compete in online races, karate fights (improve this please!) and make up a few new challenges/mini-games as well. I said no co-op, but I think multiplayer is still important, as long as it stays far, far away from the core single-player experience.

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head.  I may update this as time goes on, turning it into an Ultimate Wishlist of sorts. For now I think all of these things are plausible if SEGA puts all their eggs into this one basket and gambles on creating the greatest Sonic experience possible.  If it needs an extra year of development, so be it, Sonic is one of the best video game characters ever created.  Bottom Line: He's worth it.     

Look Ma, I'm on T.V.!!! (Well, internet TV anyway...)

So, as you may know, I went to PAX East 2011.  At said event I attended the panel of one of my favorite internet personalities ever, Keith Apicary of Talking Classics fame.  While I did get the chance to chat with him the day before his panel, I didn't realize he actually got a shot of me while watching his panel.  To check out his entire video, click the link here

To see me laughing my ass off, go to the 6:21 mark.  I'm the goofball with the glasses to the left-center of the shot.  The word "Keith's" is literally drawn over my sweatshirt.  It really accentuates my schnoz... Thanks Keith!    

Random Ramblings: Young Justice and Why Netflix Seems to Love Hentei

I'm quickly beginning to realize the structure of blogging is quite different from other types of writing.  By that I mean, I don't have to waste anybody's time with an introduction and am free to just jump right into things.

So I just began watching the new Cartoon Network series, Young Justice, after initially watching a bit of it at this past New York Comic Con.  For the uninitiated, Young Justice centers around the sidekicks and relatives of some major members of the Justice League: Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Superboy, and Miss Martian (Eventually adding Artemis to the mix.)  The basic premise is the group of sidekicks feels they are ready to go out on their own and fight crime as a team so, under the guidance of Batman, training of Black Canary, and constant supervision of Red Tornado, the "Jr. Justice League" (as Speedy mocks it) is formed.  

As far as I can tell, the show has some minor flaws but as a series has the potential to be just as good as the other highly regard DC animations of the past.  The voice acting and animations are well polished, the action sequences are aesthetically pleasing and there are more than enough cameos from major Justice League members to keep the fanboys happy.

Where the show begins to run into some trouble is with the character personalities.  It's early in the series so these characters have room to grow, but Miss Martian is depicted as the headstrong girl who tries so hard to be a member of the boys team that she ends up screwing things up.  Cliches aside, she ends up coming off as foolish and whiney and I swear if I hear, "Duh, Megan!" (which is seemingly her catchphrase for when she's thinking out loud) in that sing-songy voice of hers one more time I might go crazy.  Superboy has some anger issues and Kid Flash (Wally) is a carbon copy of Teen Titan's Beast Boy.  Aqualad and Robin are fine.

On a side note, in the darkest corner of my mind that is allowed to enjoy sexism, I love that Miss Martian bakes the boys cookies and that Superboy is constantly losing his temper and yelling at her.  I can't wait for him to pimp slap that bitch. It's also a little silly that they're supposed to have secret identities but have no problem taking on baddies in their civilian clothes.  And that even though they share a HQ together they don't know Robin's secret identity just because "Batman told him to keep it a secret."  (He's always wearing sunglasses when not in costume.) A minor gripe but it's annoying nontheless.

On a different yet related note, I heard Netflix was going to be adding Anime to their instant stream catalog so I decided to check it out.  Well, someone needs to inform the good people at Netflix that there is a difference between Anime and softcore cartoon porn.  Personally, if I were Japanese, I'd be offended at the seeming assumption by American Incompetents that their animation is all about big-breasted women being violated by demons.  Don't believe me, look at the catalog of Anime Netflix currently offers: Rin, Sekirei, Queen's Blade, I could honestly keep going but I think you get the idea.  More than half their catalog is currently "TV-MA" rated shows that aren't getting that rating for their gratuitous gore and violence, which in our country would be perfectly acceptable (But that's a whole other social commentary for another day,) but rather for their intense sexual content.  Where are the uncut versions of things like Gundam or Dragon Ball?  Zoids?  Hell, I'd even take Sailor Moon.  It boggles my mind.

And I know I promised to reveal something about a certain "Sega fans dream come true" project, but the idea is still in the very early planning stages and I don't want to rev any engines before getting it off the ground.  Stay tuned though, because it will be an awesome endeavor if myself and the guys I'm working with can all pull it off.  

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Vinny has leveled up!

Not sure what my current geek status is, but this just came in the mail so I've definitely reached the next level.  Since I'm not really down with cosplaying at Cons (unless I find the Perfect Spider-Man Noir suit) I will now be wearing my Commander Shepard Hoodie when working the field.  Go ahead and laugh, but I'd prefer you tell me how awesome I am instead...