My laptop was out of commission for the latter half of September due to the mother board going bad, which made doing work at the Save Point a little inconvenient since I had to mooch a computer off of them every time I went down to put a character on their wall.
But, character transference is complete, the Save Point is open, and I've been giving colour to the characters bit by bit as I have the time to go downtown. I wish I did have more time, but I do work, and have my class, and they're understanding and don't seem to mind when I randomly pop in for a couple of hours and paint. I'm probably going to drop by there today, as well, since I do have the day off from work, and I have the rest of the day to do some homework.
Speaking of homework, I'm enjoying my 3d modeling class in spite of the fact that it's highly frustrating working with a new program. I've never worked in 3d, so the assignments are all very informative and challenging, but there have been a few points where I've wanted to smash something...which takes a lot for me. I've told people that I have the patience of a rock, so when something sets me off, it's something big.
So! Final Fantasy 14 came out, which means I've been on my desktop a lot more. I love the game in a different way than I did 11, and I'm honestly confused by the horrible reviews some websites have been given. My only conclusion is that they're very biased and already have an MMO that they play, or they don't enjoy learning, exploring, and not having everything simply handed to them. Personally, I'm very into the story behind it, and I have fun completing quests. To each their own, I suppose. I've never played other MMOs so I can't honestly compare it to anything, but I think it's being judged to harshly based on other games. People complain that it's not like 11 when, in my opinion, it shouldn't have to be. 11 is still up and running, and people are still playing it. Also, Square doesn't have the experience of making social games; the Final Fantasy series has been nothing but single player RPGs, as has a vast majority of their other titles (look to the Digital Devil Saga, Persona, and Dragon Quest games). 14 is flawed, but it is new. 11 had several years to get to where it is, and it's just foolish to expect 14 to be perfect from the get-go. I'm taking it for what it is, and having a good time.
The new Castlevania has also been able to steal a good amount of my time. It doesn't play like any other Castlevania game, but it still keeps the feel of it. With the 3d ones on the PS2, there was something...lacking. With Lords of Shadow, it all just feels right, and it seems like it's a good direction for the series. The monster design is some of the best I've seen in a game, the voice-acting is spot on, the story is intriguing, the levels are not only gorgeous, but well-designed.
The next few months and going to break me since Fist of the North Star and the new Fallout, Fable, and Assassin's Creed games all come out within a few weeks of each other. Little Big Planet 2 has been moved to released next year, though, and Gears 3 has been pushed back even further (not real happy about that, but there's naught to be done).
In non-game related news, the next installment of Sky Doll is in the works. Barbucci's art has been more of a recent inspiration of mine, and I bought the Sky Doll graphic novel several months back, not knowing that the story had been put on hold and the book unfinished. The ending was very unresolved and left me with so many questions, so I was happy to read in Barbucci's blog that they're working on more.
Also, I'm visiting a castle next week! Ian and I are searching for wedding locations, and we were thinking that a castle would be most awesome. I'm sure I'll have stuff to post about that.
2010-10-14
2010-09-09
September '10.1
I've been so caught up in my current projects that I've neglected to update the month of August.
Well, first of all, I'm helping out an old classmate who's opening his own business in town. When I heard that he was opening up a gaming cafe downtown, I half-jokingly asked him if he needed anyone to do some graphics for him. He ended up mentioning characters all over the walls inside, and I ended up saying I could do that, and here I am, creating images of video game-looking characters and monsters and painting them inside a local business. I'm having a great time designing all of them and spending time transferring them onto the walls; it's such a great experience, and I can't thank them enough for allowing me to do this.
In case anyone's curious, they're called Save Point, and while there's nothing to speak of on their web site, their Facebook page is loaded with pre-opening pictures and information.
In other news, I finished colouring my chibi picture a while back, and have since moved on to a few other things. I bought a magazine full of tutorials on digital painting and plan to utilize said tutorials once I get my laptop back up and running (currently having issues with booting). But, we bought an amazing gaming computer capable of running Final Fantasy XIV at optimal settings, so I'm looking forward to the game even more. In fact, I plan on having no life after it releases.
Speaking of game releases, this fall is going to kill me. Not only does the next Fable come out, but there's the new Fallout, the sequel to Little Big Planet, a new Castlevania...and of all of those, I want the collector's editions, which means I'll be poor. Thanks be to Epic for not releasing Gears 3 until April next year (though, honestly, I'm dying to play it).
But I have plenty of things on my plate right now. School is going well, and I've been writing more of my Aislin comic and Arden Rain short-story. I picked up Star For Command for my DS and fell in love with the series all over again. But seriously, am I the only one who doesn't like the fact that they scrapped Fara Phoenix all those years ago? I also got to play a little bit of 3D Dot Game Heroes, which is pretty much an ode to the Zelda games, if not a complete rip-off that's well done. I also finally downloaded the extra levels to Resident Evil 5 and am disappointed at the lack of zombies in the mansion...but it was great to play as Jill and Chris. Still have yet to play the second DLC level with Josh and Jill, but I plan on getting to that soon.
Back to my Arden Rain story...I've actually been meaning to post the first chapter onto my Deviant Art page to get some feedback and see if I'm heading in the right direction with it. I'm fairly satisfied with how it's turning out, personally, and I'm finding that the more I write, the more I enjoy it. For me, it's like purging the left side of my brain, while drawing purges the right half. I liken it to exercising, and do it until I can't do it anymore. I've been carrying a notebook with me like I used to, and have been going over it while riding the bus, taking lunch breaks at work, etc.
What I would love to do is devote all of my time to Aislin and her story, though. I was up far too late the other night with a power outage, going over my old scripts from a few years back by candle-light, remembering what I had written, what I wanted to keep, what I wanted to add...I could easily let that world consume me. I've spent so long creating it, sustaining it, building on to it. I know it must sound a little silly, but it's such a large part of me and I feel like I've not been giving it the attention it wants. Essentially it's written, and has been for years. I've been working on a revised version for the last couple of years, trying to properly divide it up into the ten books it was meant to be, and don't even get me started on the character designs. I think I'm finally happy with my current drawing skills and writing abilities, but...
I didn't mean for that to turn into a rant. I suppose that I've just had that flame rekindled and I'm in need of returning to that story.
Who knows? Perhaps the next time I update, I'll have done more with it.
Well, first of all, I'm helping out an old classmate who's opening his own business in town. When I heard that he was opening up a gaming cafe downtown, I half-jokingly asked him if he needed anyone to do some graphics for him. He ended up mentioning characters all over the walls inside, and I ended up saying I could do that, and here I am, creating images of video game-looking characters and monsters and painting them inside a local business. I'm having a great time designing all of them and spending time transferring them onto the walls; it's such a great experience, and I can't thank them enough for allowing me to do this.
In case anyone's curious, they're called Save Point, and while there's nothing to speak of on their web site, their Facebook page is loaded with pre-opening pictures and information.
In other news, I finished colouring my chibi picture a while back, and have since moved on to a few other things. I bought a magazine full of tutorials on digital painting and plan to utilize said tutorials once I get my laptop back up and running (currently having issues with booting). But, we bought an amazing gaming computer capable of running Final Fantasy XIV at optimal settings, so I'm looking forward to the game even more. In fact, I plan on having no life after it releases.
Speaking of game releases, this fall is going to kill me. Not only does the next Fable come out, but there's the new Fallout, the sequel to Little Big Planet, a new Castlevania...and of all of those, I want the collector's editions, which means I'll be poor. Thanks be to Epic for not releasing Gears 3 until April next year (though, honestly, I'm dying to play it).
But I have plenty of things on my plate right now. School is going well, and I've been writing more of my Aislin comic and Arden Rain short-story. I picked up Star For Command for my DS and fell in love with the series all over again. But seriously, am I the only one who doesn't like the fact that they scrapped Fara Phoenix all those years ago? I also got to play a little bit of 3D Dot Game Heroes, which is pretty much an ode to the Zelda games, if not a complete rip-off that's well done. I also finally downloaded the extra levels to Resident Evil 5 and am disappointed at the lack of zombies in the mansion...but it was great to play as Jill and Chris. Still have yet to play the second DLC level with Josh and Jill, but I plan on getting to that soon.
Back to my Arden Rain story...I've actually been meaning to post the first chapter onto my Deviant Art page to get some feedback and see if I'm heading in the right direction with it. I'm fairly satisfied with how it's turning out, personally, and I'm finding that the more I write, the more I enjoy it. For me, it's like purging the left side of my brain, while drawing purges the right half. I liken it to exercising, and do it until I can't do it anymore. I've been carrying a notebook with me like I used to, and have been going over it while riding the bus, taking lunch breaks at work, etc.
What I would love to do is devote all of my time to Aislin and her story, though. I was up far too late the other night with a power outage, going over my old scripts from a few years back by candle-light, remembering what I had written, what I wanted to keep, what I wanted to add...I could easily let that world consume me. I've spent so long creating it, sustaining it, building on to it. I know it must sound a little silly, but it's such a large part of me and I feel like I've not been giving it the attention it wants. Essentially it's written, and has been for years. I've been working on a revised version for the last couple of years, trying to properly divide it up into the ten books it was meant to be, and don't even get me started on the character designs. I think I'm finally happy with my current drawing skills and writing abilities, but...
I didn't mean for that to turn into a rant. I suppose that I've just had that flame rekindled and I'm in need of returning to that story.
Who knows? Perhaps the next time I update, I'll have done more with it.
2010-07-18
July '10.1
Ah, I skipped a month again, it seems.
June was rather interesting, though. I finished the special topics class and our "demo-in-progress" was submitted to the Apps for Healthy Kids contest. It's rough...very rough, to the point the it's almost unplayable. But the idea of it is there, and if more time is spent on it, then a full game could emerge and actually be enjoyable. There were a few students (myself included) that continued some work after the class itself was finished, and there's been a group created on Facebook for AIO IGDA students, as well, that I've been following to keep up on the news for our game. Voting is taking place now.
I finally got to see "Avatar" (James Cameron's, not that white-washed "Last Airbender" tripe). The visuals were indeed impressive, and overall I enjoyed the story. I've heard it compared to "Dance's with Wolves," and it did make me think of the British colonization of the Americas, but there were parts that made me think of my Aislin story that I've been writing for the last eight years, what with the mining of precious ore and whatnot.
I've also seen Miyazaki's "Ponyo." I'll go ahead and say that it's not my favourite Miyazaki movie. I wanted it to be since I love "The Little Mermaid" stories that I've read and seen throughout the years, but this...wasn't "The Little Mermaid" to me. I felt like "Ponyo" had no real climax and no real resolution, and when compared to Miyazaki's other works like "Princess Mononoke" or "Laputa," I felt that it fell a bit short near the end.
Speaking of Miyazaki, though, Studio Ghibli and Level 5 (the developing team behind Professor Layton) are teaming up to create two games, one for the PS3 and one for the DS that take place in the same world, but tell different stories. To me, they appear to be like Pokemon, with the characters using monsters and summons to fight instead of battling themselves.
And speaking of Professor Layton, I've finally beat the first game and can now safely pick up the second one (now that a third is on it's way over to the states). Boy, talk about a game that can make you feel either stupid or a genius. I have the bad habit of over-analyzing the puzzles and having the answer stare me straight in the face, or thinking "A-ha! This is easy!" only to have my solutions constantly rejected.
I've also beaten Dragon Age, but have no clue how the game ended because of a power outage. I can now either reload the finished game to continue exploring Ferelden, or load an alternate save file about an hour away from the Archdemon. One of these days soon, I'll go back and replay the battles leading up to the final fight, but right now I'm a little miffed.
I'm close to beating Assassin's Creed (something I should have done a long while back), and I've decided to pick up Luminous Arc again and finish it. I've also been exploring Hogwarts in Lego Harry Potter, something I highly recommend to fans of the books or movies, as well as anyone who enjoyed any of the other Lego games.
I'm just about ready to wet myself over the excitement that preludes the coming Final Fantasy XIV. The PC version is coming out in a couple of months, and Ian and I are already planning on getting a new desktop computer for it. Unfortunately, the PS3 version won't come out until next year so we won't be able to play together, but when we first started playing XI we didn't party together, either. I'm really looking forward to creating a character and running around in such a rich environment. I'm also thinking about registering my copy of FFXIII to try to get into the PS3 beat test of XIV...
In other news, my deviant art page hit over 7,000 views, so I submitted a chibi drawing to thank everyone who watches me. I'm almost finished with a coloured version that I'd like to get up by the end of the month. I'd also done a marker drawing for an Art Institute Online DA contest (that involved no prizes) to personify Summer, which I feel turned out nicely considering I don't work with markers as much as I'd like. There are still a lot of pictures that I'm in the middle of completing, but I picked up some extra hours at work, so I'm not sure when everything will get done. I've actually got a sketch sitting next to me, but I'm a little uninspired at the moment, so this will probably be yet another drawing that remains unfinished for years to come...
June was rather interesting, though. I finished the special topics class and our "demo-in-progress" was submitted to the Apps for Healthy Kids contest. It's rough...very rough, to the point the it's almost unplayable. But the idea of it is there, and if more time is spent on it, then a full game could emerge and actually be enjoyable. There were a few students (myself included) that continued some work after the class itself was finished, and there's been a group created on Facebook for AIO IGDA students, as well, that I've been following to keep up on the news for our game. Voting is taking place now.
I finally got to see "Avatar" (James Cameron's, not that white-washed "Last Airbender" tripe). The visuals were indeed impressive, and overall I enjoyed the story. I've heard it compared to "Dance's with Wolves," and it did make me think of the British colonization of the Americas, but there were parts that made me think of my Aislin story that I've been writing for the last eight years, what with the mining of precious ore and whatnot.
I've also seen Miyazaki's "Ponyo." I'll go ahead and say that it's not my favourite Miyazaki movie. I wanted it to be since I love "The Little Mermaid" stories that I've read and seen throughout the years, but this...wasn't "The Little Mermaid" to me. I felt like "Ponyo" had no real climax and no real resolution, and when compared to Miyazaki's other works like "Princess Mononoke" or "Laputa," I felt that it fell a bit short near the end.
Speaking of Miyazaki, though, Studio Ghibli and Level 5 (the developing team behind Professor Layton) are teaming up to create two games, one for the PS3 and one for the DS that take place in the same world, but tell different stories. To me, they appear to be like Pokemon, with the characters using monsters and summons to fight instead of battling themselves.
And speaking of Professor Layton, I've finally beat the first game and can now safely pick up the second one (now that a third is on it's way over to the states). Boy, talk about a game that can make you feel either stupid or a genius. I have the bad habit of over-analyzing the puzzles and having the answer stare me straight in the face, or thinking "A-ha! This is easy!" only to have my solutions constantly rejected.
I've also beaten Dragon Age, but have no clue how the game ended because of a power outage. I can now either reload the finished game to continue exploring Ferelden, or load an alternate save file about an hour away from the Archdemon. One of these days soon, I'll go back and replay the battles leading up to the final fight, but right now I'm a little miffed.
I'm close to beating Assassin's Creed (something I should have done a long while back), and I've decided to pick up Luminous Arc again and finish it. I've also been exploring Hogwarts in Lego Harry Potter, something I highly recommend to fans of the books or movies, as well as anyone who enjoyed any of the other Lego games.
I'm just about ready to wet myself over the excitement that preludes the coming Final Fantasy XIV. The PC version is coming out in a couple of months, and Ian and I are already planning on getting a new desktop computer for it. Unfortunately, the PS3 version won't come out until next year so we won't be able to play together, but when we first started playing XI we didn't party together, either. I'm really looking forward to creating a character and running around in such a rich environment. I'm also thinking about registering my copy of FFXIII to try to get into the PS3 beat test of XIV...
In other news, my deviant art page hit over 7,000 views, so I submitted a chibi drawing to thank everyone who watches me. I'm almost finished with a coloured version that I'd like to get up by the end of the month. I'd also done a marker drawing for an Art Institute Online DA contest (that involved no prizes) to personify Summer, which I feel turned out nicely considering I don't work with markers as much as I'd like. There are still a lot of pictures that I'm in the middle of completing, but I picked up some extra hours at work, so I'm not sure when everything will get done. I've actually got a sketch sitting next to me, but I'm a little uninspired at the moment, so this will probably be yet another drawing that remains unfinished for years to come...
2010-05-31
May '10.1
I do try and update about once a month primarily so I don't lose any writing skills I may have, but I seem to have skipped a couple due to the usual lack of motivation and busyness.
I played the first few hours of Final Fantasy 13. Graphically it's the best-looking game out there. There's no polygonal breakup to be seen, and there's little differences (if any at all) between cinematics and in-game graphics. The story, combat, and characters don't make this my favourite Final Fantasy game by far, but I still find it enjoyable despite some of the mediocre reviews I've read. I think it's a game that you need to decide for yourself if you truly like or not, and I don't recommend taking anyone's word one way or another on it.
I also gave Dante's Inferno a try and immediately put it down. It was too repetitious and stale, even though the design work had a lot of meaning and symbolism behind it and the music was beautiful. From what I know of the actual literature off of which this game is meant to be based, I saw very little connection. I would rather have played God of War or Assassin's Creed.
I also played and beat Heavy Rain recently. I think that this game is the epitome of compelling story-telling and it was gorgeously interactive. This, for me, is proof that games can indeed be an art form. It was as if I were watching a movie or a series of episodes and choosing what I wanted to happen; I was compelled by each of the character's and their side of the story, and most importantly, I cared what was going to happen. More games need to be as well-written as this.
There's a long list of games coming out that I'm anticipating, but I'll save said list for another day.
As far as school goes, I was accepted into a special class outside of the normal roster. I'm currently helping a team of instructors and students create an entry for the Apps for Healthy Kids contest. It's a challenge, but I am learning a lot, and it's a great honour to have been invited to take part in this. Hopefully once it's finished, I can post a link to it. (:
I played the first few hours of Final Fantasy 13. Graphically it's the best-looking game out there. There's no polygonal breakup to be seen, and there's little differences (if any at all) between cinematics and in-game graphics. The story, combat, and characters don't make this my favourite Final Fantasy game by far, but I still find it enjoyable despite some of the mediocre reviews I've read. I think it's a game that you need to decide for yourself if you truly like or not, and I don't recommend taking anyone's word one way or another on it.
I also gave Dante's Inferno a try and immediately put it down. It was too repetitious and stale, even though the design work had a lot of meaning and symbolism behind it and the music was beautiful. From what I know of the actual literature off of which this game is meant to be based, I saw very little connection. I would rather have played God of War or Assassin's Creed.
I also played and beat Heavy Rain recently. I think that this game is the epitome of compelling story-telling and it was gorgeously interactive. This, for me, is proof that games can indeed be an art form. It was as if I were watching a movie or a series of episodes and choosing what I wanted to happen; I was compelled by each of the character's and their side of the story, and most importantly, I cared what was going to happen. More games need to be as well-written as this.
There's a long list of games coming out that I'm anticipating, but I'll save said list for another day.
As far as school goes, I was accepted into a special class outside of the normal roster. I'm currently helping a team of instructors and students create an entry for the Apps for Healthy Kids contest. It's a challenge, but I am learning a lot, and it's a great honour to have been invited to take part in this. Hopefully once it's finished, I can post a link to it. (:
2010-02-15
February '10.2
It appears as though I have been screwed over by my school loan situation. Apparently, the limit of financial aid disbursement totals in past schooling...so the 30,000 from my first degree has seemingly made it impossible for me to obtain my second degree. I have reached the federal limit or 50,000-and something and must now pay for the rest of my education out of pocket, or with the assistance of private loans. I have no idea how I'm going to do this, because being a part-time cashier at GameStop isn't exactly the most lucrative of jobs, and I've already been denied a private loan without a cosigner. It seems that my only option is to find someone who's willing to cosign for me and be tied to my educational costs for the next four years.
I'm not about to quit school considering that would simply be a waste of the last two years and I desperately am wanting to be a game developer of some sort. I suppose that all I can do is truck on and try my damnedest to scrape by in the years to come.
If that's my cross to bear, so be it.
So, yesterday heralded the first day of the new lunar year. Traditionally (and similarly to January first), this day is the day to forgive old grudges and forget about any past arguments. People wish each other long life and health. According to Chinese legend, the holiday came about because villages and towns were being destroyed by a large beast on this day. It would devour their fields, their livestock, and their children. To prevent their families from being eaten, people would set plates of food outside their doors on the new year night and hope that the meal would satiate the monster. Some versions of the story say that the beast was frightened by children in red, or by household gods dressed in red, but they all agree that the monster hated that colour and loud noises, so they would light red lanterns and throw firecrackers to keep it at bay. Today, the new year is still celebrated by decorating with red and gold, banging drums, and throwing firecrackers. The celebration itself is actually 15 days long, each day having its own set of traditions. Some days are set aside for visiting family, visiting graves, or lighting candles.
And so, Ian and I have recently bought Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. The game itself is loaded with fun...I mean, it's a Capcom versus game; how could it not be? Since it's made for the Wii, though, it feels a little dumbed-down when compared to other fighters. I don't have a problem with this, and find it to be a little refreshing to pick up and not feel the need to master combo sets and move lists. It's also interesting to play as several characters that were never hugely popular in the states.
The New Super Mario Brothers for the Wii was another new purchase. Ian definitely likes the game more than I do, but then again, I'm horrible at it. I've died more times than I can count and feel inadequate as a gamer. After playing games for most of my life, I'd like to think that my hand-eye coordination is better than this game would have you think. But overall, I suppose I would categorize it as "fun" and it has helped expand the Wii collection on my shelf. There aren't many games that are good and can be played cooperatively, and my only real complaint is how easy it is to jump off of someone's head and send them to their death, even when you're not meaning to do so.
I am once again playing Dragon Age Origins. It's amazing how involved I can get when it comes to the fictional lives of the inhabitants in the world. Right now I'm trying to rid the mage's guild of demon's from the Fade to save my once-home and family and gain their alliance in facing the Darkspawn. While there, I'm also trying to get enough lyrium to enter the Fade and defeat a demon that's possessed the body of a young boy, who's the son of a great lord, who happens to have helped raise a member of my party. It's intense.
Part of me likes the game more than its space-counter-part Mass Effect; there's more interactions between myself and those in my party, and I feel like I can connect to them more and relate with them. But with Mass Effect, I feel like it was a more solid game, like I had more control in combat.
Every game has its pros and cons, though, and it doesn't help comparing one game to another. I like Dragon Age for what it is, and am anticipating the rest of the games in the series.
I'm not about to quit school considering that would simply be a waste of the last two years and I desperately am wanting to be a game developer of some sort. I suppose that all I can do is truck on and try my damnedest to scrape by in the years to come.
If that's my cross to bear, so be it.
So, yesterday heralded the first day of the new lunar year. Traditionally (and similarly to January first), this day is the day to forgive old grudges and forget about any past arguments. People wish each other long life and health. According to Chinese legend, the holiday came about because villages and towns were being destroyed by a large beast on this day. It would devour their fields, their livestock, and their children. To prevent their families from being eaten, people would set plates of food outside their doors on the new year night and hope that the meal would satiate the monster. Some versions of the story say that the beast was frightened by children in red, or by household gods dressed in red, but they all agree that the monster hated that colour and loud noises, so they would light red lanterns and throw firecrackers to keep it at bay. Today, the new year is still celebrated by decorating with red and gold, banging drums, and throwing firecrackers. The celebration itself is actually 15 days long, each day having its own set of traditions. Some days are set aside for visiting family, visiting graves, or lighting candles.
And so, Ian and I have recently bought Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. The game itself is loaded with fun...I mean, it's a Capcom versus game; how could it not be? Since it's made for the Wii, though, it feels a little dumbed-down when compared to other fighters. I don't have a problem with this, and find it to be a little refreshing to pick up and not feel the need to master combo sets and move lists. It's also interesting to play as several characters that were never hugely popular in the states.
The New Super Mario Brothers for the Wii was another new purchase. Ian definitely likes the game more than I do, but then again, I'm horrible at it. I've died more times than I can count and feel inadequate as a gamer. After playing games for most of my life, I'd like to think that my hand-eye coordination is better than this game would have you think. But overall, I suppose I would categorize it as "fun" and it has helped expand the Wii collection on my shelf. There aren't many games that are good and can be played cooperatively, and my only real complaint is how easy it is to jump off of someone's head and send them to their death, even when you're not meaning to do so.
I am once again playing Dragon Age Origins. It's amazing how involved I can get when it comes to the fictional lives of the inhabitants in the world. Right now I'm trying to rid the mage's guild of demon's from the Fade to save my once-home and family and gain their alliance in facing the Darkspawn. While there, I'm also trying to get enough lyrium to enter the Fade and defeat a demon that's possessed the body of a young boy, who's the son of a great lord, who happens to have helped raise a member of my party. It's intense.
Part of me likes the game more than its space-counter-part Mass Effect; there's more interactions between myself and those in my party, and I feel like I can connect to them more and relate with them. But with Mass Effect, I feel like it was a more solid game, like I had more control in combat.
Every game has its pros and cons, though, and it doesn't help comparing one game to another. I like Dragon Age for what it is, and am anticipating the rest of the games in the series.
2010-02-03
February '10.1
Alas, I was unable to finish my Pocco cosplay in time for Ohayocon, but fear not (those who care), for I am hoping to attend Tekkoshocon in a few weeks where I plan to debut my costume. My facebook album is constantly being updated with pictures from my WIP sewing excursions, and I'd like to compile the highlights into a nice collage for Deviant Art. More on that later, though.
Ohayocon itself was a lot of fun. I was introduced to the popular Ouran High School Host Club and enjoyed that, and became interested in this whole fashion thing called Steampunk. I'm currently thinking of possible Steampunk costume ideas, but that will have to take a backseat to the Pocco cosplay. We went to an intense Pokemon vs. Digimon panel where we debated the differences in the two shows and generally had a screaming match trying to prove one another wrong. I was on the Digimon side, of course, and at the end of the panel, I talked to the couple that had organized it, and showed them my tattoo (Kari's crest of light)...which the girl took a picture of and posted online. I am amused by this.
In the last month, I was able to play a few new games. Bayonetta has proven to be much better than expected; in fact, I could hardly put the game down. This surprised me since I was expecting an everyday shooter/Devil May Cry rip-off. What I got was a fun, over-the-top game that didn't really take itself seriously. The combat is fast-paced (to the point where if you're watching someone else play, you can't keep up) but fluid, and you can purchase new move and weapons as the story progresses, which is always a plus in my book. The story is well-written and keeps you interested without bogging down gameplay, and Bayonetta herself is likable.
A Boy and His Blob is much different, and while not as spectacular, it provides its own variety of fun. The art is beautiful and the animations are nice, and the puzzles are a bit simple, but it's nice for taking some time out and just enjoying yourself.
Mad World is easily one of the most vulgar, brutal, and bloody games I've ever played. It's a nice game to take your rage out on, and not for the faint of heart. The soundtrack, commentary, and characters drop the f-bomb every step of the way, using it like a verb, noun, adjective, and whatever else. If you can get past that, throwing people into jet engines, jabbing stop-sign poles into skulls, and repeatedly lifting bodies into spike-laden walls (they censored their own trailers), then I suggest giving it a shot. The art is unique, and I've known some people that can't get the hang of an all black and white game, but I find it almost refreshing in a world that seems to only accept realistic graphics.
Most recently, though, my newest obsession has been Natsume's Book of Friends (Natsume Yuujinchou), an anime/manga that tells the story of Natsume, a high school boy able to see yokai/spirits/demons around him and how he interacts with them. I know that it sounds like any other anime within that genre, but this one stands out. It's heartwarming and moving in places, goofy at times, but well-animated with great characters. I'm hoping that it comes to the states and becomes more popular, because as it is now, there's only one manga published, and the anime is only available subbed online.
In other news, school is still progressing nicely along. I'm enjoying my current class and the way it's making me think of more technical things gameplay-wise. I'm anxious about my course that begins in a couple of weeks, though; animation is not one of my fortes, but it will be nice to learn more and hone my skills.
Anyway, I've been working on several pictures and would like to think that my Deviant Art page will not be neglected for much longer. I haven't posted anything new there for months, and I've realised just how little I've been drawing. I'd like to make up for that. But we'll see.
Ohayocon itself was a lot of fun. I was introduced to the popular Ouran High School Host Club and enjoyed that, and became interested in this whole fashion thing called Steampunk. I'm currently thinking of possible Steampunk costume ideas, but that will have to take a backseat to the Pocco cosplay. We went to an intense Pokemon vs. Digimon panel where we debated the differences in the two shows and generally had a screaming match trying to prove one another wrong. I was on the Digimon side, of course, and at the end of the panel, I talked to the couple that had organized it, and showed them my tattoo (Kari's crest of light)...which the girl took a picture of and posted online. I am amused by this.
In the last month, I was able to play a few new games. Bayonetta has proven to be much better than expected; in fact, I could hardly put the game down. This surprised me since I was expecting an everyday shooter/Devil May Cry rip-off. What I got was a fun, over-the-top game that didn't really take itself seriously. The combat is fast-paced (to the point where if you're watching someone else play, you can't keep up) but fluid, and you can purchase new move and weapons as the story progresses, which is always a plus in my book. The story is well-written and keeps you interested without bogging down gameplay, and Bayonetta herself is likable.
A Boy and His Blob is much different, and while not as spectacular, it provides its own variety of fun. The art is beautiful and the animations are nice, and the puzzles are a bit simple, but it's nice for taking some time out and just enjoying yourself.
Mad World is easily one of the most vulgar, brutal, and bloody games I've ever played. It's a nice game to take your rage out on, and not for the faint of heart. The soundtrack, commentary, and characters drop the f-bomb every step of the way, using it like a verb, noun, adjective, and whatever else. If you can get past that, throwing people into jet engines, jabbing stop-sign poles into skulls, and repeatedly lifting bodies into spike-laden walls (they censored their own trailers), then I suggest giving it a shot. The art is unique, and I've known some people that can't get the hang of an all black and white game, but I find it almost refreshing in a world that seems to only accept realistic graphics.
Most recently, though, my newest obsession has been Natsume's Book of Friends (Natsume Yuujinchou), an anime/manga that tells the story of Natsume, a high school boy able to see yokai/spirits/demons around him and how he interacts with them. I know that it sounds like any other anime within that genre, but this one stands out. It's heartwarming and moving in places, goofy at times, but well-animated with great characters. I'm hoping that it comes to the states and becomes more popular, because as it is now, there's only one manga published, and the anime is only available subbed online.
In other news, school is still progressing nicely along. I'm enjoying my current class and the way it's making me think of more technical things gameplay-wise. I'm anxious about my course that begins in a couple of weeks, though; animation is not one of my fortes, but it will be nice to learn more and hone my skills.
Anyway, I've been working on several pictures and would like to think that my Deviant Art page will not be neglected for much longer. I haven't posted anything new there for months, and I've realised just how little I've been drawing. I'd like to make up for that. But we'll see.
2010-01-01
January '10.1
New Years is an amusing holiday to me. People are so ready to be done with one year and welcome in another without thinking that in a few months they'll be ready to forget the new one, as well. I suppose it's a time of hope, though...people like new beginnings. For me, it's a day like any other.
I stopped wasting my time with resolutions years ago after I realised that many of them were unrealistic; I'm a believer in setting goals, but I feel that they should be attainable. For example, everyone always says that they want to lose weight, or stop drinking/smoking/vicing...to actually accomplish this, I think that a tangible number works better, e.g. if someone were to say they'd like to lose 10 pounds in the next 3 months. The human brain seems to function better on such a goal, and it's measurable, so we feel that we're going somewhere with it.
I feel that goals and such are not just for the first few months of a year, but as I said, people enjoy a sense of hope, and that seems to be what January is all about.
Moving on.
Little Big Planet is an enjoyable game that everyone should buy. It's been passed up by many since it appears to be a 'kid's game,' but like every all-ages game, it has something for everyone. It plays like an updated Mario game since it's a side-scrolling run-and-jump type, but you're able to customize your character (the sack person), and better yet, you're able to create your own levels.
Dragon Age: Origins is a must-own for anyone who enjoys high fantasy stories. It reminds me of one of Bioware's older games, Jade Empire, since it doesn't play like Mass Effect (as I thought it might). It's realistic, though, in that the choices you make can't please everyone. By choosing to side with one member of your party, you risk your friendship with another, and even your origin affects how people view you. My character is looked down upon since she's an elf, and therefore less than human. Most elves in this world are slaves and servants to humans, so I get talked to in that fashion. I also chose to be a mage, and mages are the source of the evil darkspawn that plague the world. Two strikes against me.
Borderlands has proven to be a lot of fun, as well, as long as you go into the game with the right mind frame. Similar to Fallout3, it's not a run-and-gun type of shooter; the game takes some time to get into, and there are quests and missions for you to complete...you can't just run anywhere you like, shooting whatever you please. It's also more fun (in my opinion) to play with someone else.
Left 4 Dead 2 is a blast. There's something sickly satisfying about cracking open a zombie's head with a crowbar. It is meant to be a multiplayer game, though, and just doesn't feel right if you're trying to traipse about on your own.
Assassin's Creed 2 is better than the first, and I loved the first. Ezio has more personality than Altair did, and the game itself is bigger and more expansive. I mean, you can buy paintings for your mansion, for crying out loud!
I've picked up several other titles including A Boy and His Blob, and Folklore, but I haven't gotten the chance to play them, and will have to write about them some other time.
As far as school goes, I completed my Digital Storytelling course recently, and you may view my final project as long as you promise to be kind to me. The original sound files were corrupted, so the I had to re-record everything in a last-minute hurry. I begin Game Design and Game Play after winter vacation has ended, but I'm not sure I'll have any artwork come out of that. After that, though, will be my next animation class, and hopefully I'll have learned enough in the first to not make a fool of myself.
My costume is still behind in schedule, and I'm planning on working diligently on it for the next few weeks, as Ohayocon is at the end of this month, and I was really looking forward to cosplaying as Pocco. Niko has so generously allowed me the use of her basement for the completion of my sword and wings since the weather isn't exactly ideal for foam and paint. I've been posting pictures of my work in progress onto my Facebook page, and I'm sure I'll put some of the highlights into one of my blog entries...perhaps I'll even do an annoying little step-by-step thing for anyone else who may ever be interesting in making a Pocco cosplay.
I stopped wasting my time with resolutions years ago after I realised that many of them were unrealistic; I'm a believer in setting goals, but I feel that they should be attainable. For example, everyone always says that they want to lose weight, or stop drinking/smoking/vicing...to actually accomplish this, I think that a tangible number works better, e.g. if someone were to say they'd like to lose 10 pounds in the next 3 months. The human brain seems to function better on such a goal, and it's measurable, so we feel that we're going somewhere with it.
I feel that goals and such are not just for the first few months of a year, but as I said, people enjoy a sense of hope, and that seems to be what January is all about.
Moving on.
Little Big Planet is an enjoyable game that everyone should buy. It's been passed up by many since it appears to be a 'kid's game,' but like every all-ages game, it has something for everyone. It plays like an updated Mario game since it's a side-scrolling run-and-jump type, but you're able to customize your character (the sack person), and better yet, you're able to create your own levels.
Dragon Age: Origins is a must-own for anyone who enjoys high fantasy stories. It reminds me of one of Bioware's older games, Jade Empire, since it doesn't play like Mass Effect (as I thought it might). It's realistic, though, in that the choices you make can't please everyone. By choosing to side with one member of your party, you risk your friendship with another, and even your origin affects how people view you. My character is looked down upon since she's an elf, and therefore less than human. Most elves in this world are slaves and servants to humans, so I get talked to in that fashion. I also chose to be a mage, and mages are the source of the evil darkspawn that plague the world. Two strikes against me.
Borderlands has proven to be a lot of fun, as well, as long as you go into the game with the right mind frame. Similar to Fallout3, it's not a run-and-gun type of shooter; the game takes some time to get into, and there are quests and missions for you to complete...you can't just run anywhere you like, shooting whatever you please. It's also more fun (in my opinion) to play with someone else.
Left 4 Dead 2 is a blast. There's something sickly satisfying about cracking open a zombie's head with a crowbar. It is meant to be a multiplayer game, though, and just doesn't feel right if you're trying to traipse about on your own.
Assassin's Creed 2 is better than the first, and I loved the first. Ezio has more personality than Altair did, and the game itself is bigger and more expansive. I mean, you can buy paintings for your mansion, for crying out loud!
I've picked up several other titles including A Boy and His Blob, and Folklore, but I haven't gotten the chance to play them, and will have to write about them some other time.
As far as school goes, I completed my Digital Storytelling course recently, and you may view my final project as long as you promise to be kind to me. The original sound files were corrupted, so the I had to re-record everything in a last-minute hurry. I begin Game Design and Game Play after winter vacation has ended, but I'm not sure I'll have any artwork come out of that. After that, though, will be my next animation class, and hopefully I'll have learned enough in the first to not make a fool of myself.
My costume is still behind in schedule, and I'm planning on working diligently on it for the next few weeks, as Ohayocon is at the end of this month, and I was really looking forward to cosplaying as Pocco. Niko has so generously allowed me the use of her basement for the completion of my sword and wings since the weather isn't exactly ideal for foam and paint. I've been posting pictures of my work in progress onto my Facebook page, and I'm sure I'll put some of the highlights into one of my blog entries...perhaps I'll even do an annoying little step-by-step thing for anyone else who may ever be interesting in making a Pocco cosplay.
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