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.
Showing posts with label Random Ramblings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random Ramblings. Show all posts
Saturday, September 17, 2011
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.
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.)
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!
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.
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| Farewell, Traffic Light, you will be missed |
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!
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| C'mon, Team Bartowski! We need a Season Five. Here's to hoping. |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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| At least he's not faking a Giant Squid attack to get the World's attention |
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| "Not A Dry Eye In The House." 'Nuff Said. |
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| Valve: Microsoft, I think we can put our differences aside, for free DLC... you monster |
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.
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.
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.
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| "How darest Fast Five beat thee Mighty Thor at thy own Australian Box Office" |
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| Seriously, what's with the helmet?? Is it an antagonist, central to the plot? |
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.
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.
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| It only does apathy, because they couldn't care less about the customers. |
- 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.
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| 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. |
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.
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
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.
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.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Random Ramblings: L.A. Noire, HAWP, and Royal Comedy
So looking ahead at this month's release cycle for games, I realized something. There isn't a single game coming out that I'm even remotely interested in purchasing. Mortal Kombat? Not for me. The First Templar? I hate Assassin's Creed, so I doubt I'd care for a cheap imitation. Portal 2? Don't care. It's just not worth $60 to me. $20 as part of a compilation of Valve titles? You betcha. Otherwise, pass. It sucks but at the same time, it's giving me some much needed time to catch up on a few classics and take full advantage of my Gamefly membership.
I just finished the first Dead Space today, pure magnificence. I'm supposed to get Knights Contract in the mail tomorrow, so even when there aren't any games coming out I really have no right to complain. I'm still playing new games so the content is fresh. I guess I just demand too much from my industry. This year is shaping up to be one for the history books as it is, with Mass Effect 3, Uncharted 3, Elder Scrolls 5, and Arkham City all happening within a month of each other. So again, I really have no grounds for my frustration, I just find myself needing to senselessly complain.
I'll tell you what I'm most excited for, L.A. Noire. I got a first-hand look at the game at PAX East 2011 last month and words cannot express how polished and well executed this game is. If you're a fan of Film Noir, murder mysteries, or open world crime solving, than you can't miss this upcoming epic. Rockstar never ceases to amaze, and Team Bondi is doing some really incredible work here. This new "Gamescan" stuff they're using is simply mind-blowing, and gets me thinking about how this technology could potentially be combined with something like Kinect to create the ultimate immersion experience. Pretty wild stuff.
Speaking of things that exude awesomeness, the latest "Hey Ash, Watcha Playing?" aired today. As a gamer, and writer, and a part of the generation that grew up with the internet, I absolutely adore HAWP. Ash and Anthony Burch (as well as the ever-amazing Papa Burch) have created something that feels uniquely refreshing, even though in all honesty the webseries is really something any gamer could pull off. Not to diminish the quality of their series, the show is absolutely original and hysterical, but what gives it an extra bit of charm is the fact that it feels totally real. While these characters may be ridiculous and gross exaggerations at times, they still exist in the real world and understand current events and pop culture. HAWP is one of the reasons I love the internet. It proves that people could endlessly entertain each other now that most of us have the resources to create our own content.
Equally entertaining, or so I hope, is the new film "Your Highness" which released today. Honestly, I've been looking forward to the movie for so long I am beyond jaded so I know I'll enjoy the film no matter what happens. Hopefully it ends up being as good as I imagine. It has the potential and everything I've seen so far from the trailers and clips looks to be exactly what I want out of the experience. It doesn't need to take itself seriously, I just want to have a good time in one of my favorite story settings, Medieval Times. On a seemingly random yet totally related sidenote, watch Camelot if you enjoy that sort of atmosphere. It's very well done.
I think that about does it for this post, but tune in next time because I have a pretty cool project in the works. I won't spoil it here, but let's just say it involves a successor to the Dreamcast. That's right fanboys, start drooling. But close your mouth or you'll catch flies (Has that ever actually happened to anyone?)
I just finished the first Dead Space today, pure magnificence. I'm supposed to get Knights Contract in the mail tomorrow, so even when there aren't any games coming out I really have no right to complain. I'm still playing new games so the content is fresh. I guess I just demand too much from my industry. This year is shaping up to be one for the history books as it is, with Mass Effect 3, Uncharted 3, Elder Scrolls 5, and Arkham City all happening within a month of each other. So again, I really have no grounds for my frustration, I just find myself needing to senselessly complain.
I'll tell you what I'm most excited for, L.A. Noire. I got a first-hand look at the game at PAX East 2011 last month and words cannot express how polished and well executed this game is. If you're a fan of Film Noir, murder mysteries, or open world crime solving, than you can't miss this upcoming epic. Rockstar never ceases to amaze, and Team Bondi is doing some really incredible work here. This new "Gamescan" stuff they're using is simply mind-blowing, and gets me thinking about how this technology could potentially be combined with something like Kinect to create the ultimate immersion experience. Pretty wild stuff.
Speaking of things that exude awesomeness, the latest "Hey Ash, Watcha Playing?" aired today. As a gamer, and writer, and a part of the generation that grew up with the internet, I absolutely adore HAWP. Ash and Anthony Burch (as well as the ever-amazing Papa Burch) have created something that feels uniquely refreshing, even though in all honesty the webseries is really something any gamer could pull off. Not to diminish the quality of their series, the show is absolutely original and hysterical, but what gives it an extra bit of charm is the fact that it feels totally real. While these characters may be ridiculous and gross exaggerations at times, they still exist in the real world and understand current events and pop culture. HAWP is one of the reasons I love the internet. It proves that people could endlessly entertain each other now that most of us have the resources to create our own content.
Equally entertaining, or so I hope, is the new film "Your Highness" which released today. Honestly, I've been looking forward to the movie for so long I am beyond jaded so I know I'll enjoy the film no matter what happens. Hopefully it ends up being as good as I imagine. It has the potential and everything I've seen so far from the trailers and clips looks to be exactly what I want out of the experience. It doesn't need to take itself seriously, I just want to have a good time in one of my favorite story settings, Medieval Times. On a seemingly random yet totally related sidenote, watch Camelot if you enjoy that sort of atmosphere. It's very well done.
I think that about does it for this post, but tune in next time because I have a pretty cool project in the works. I won't spoil it here, but let's just say it involves a successor to the Dreamcast. That's right fanboys, start drooling. But close your mouth or you'll catch flies (Has that ever actually happened to anyone?)
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