Magrat Garlick is one of my favourite characters in all of fiction. Anytime the chance to talk about her is presented it's leaped at like a hungry frog. She's one of those slight supporting characters who fits the Discworld mythos perfectly by being neither cut out for a Witch or Queen but somehow is compelled to be useful by her rebellious fragility. Unlike Nanny Ogg, who oozes the most common common, or Granny Weatherwax who finds rules to be considered and remade rather than followed or broken, Magrat is a beautiful reflection on the shattered examples of traditional folktales.
Carpe Jugulum, literally meaning "Go for the Throat", is a book set in Lancre and involves vampires of the Magpyr family from Uberwald. They know their weaknesses and scoff at anyone thinking they are ignorant. Rather than acting on a physical superiority their mental charms ward off the witches initially. Agnes, who made her grand introduction in the much hated Maskerade, has been revised so Perdita is now a split personality: a 'thin girl inside a fat one'. This is a great improvement.
So far this has been a breath of fresh air for me and not because Casanunda, the romantic dwarf of Discworld, is also back at long last. This also sparks the first time the Nac Mac Feegle have appeared and I've heard some very strong reviews, positive, of their involvement of Pratchett's newer books. I expect their appearance to be warmly received. In this incarnation they're just blue and wield knives and shout their own battle-cry but later they become somewhat Scottish.
The book is interesting to a fault it happens to be between a collection of forgettable chapters in the Discworld series. If you like the Witches then this is a must. If you like Discworld then it may be worth the try. But if you've never heard of Discworld then it's best to avoid this. Far too many established ideas to freshen up interest or new ones to become established later formulate within this book it's more of an experimental way-point. This is a book of observation: you look to it to see if Pratchett hands the torch of importance from the Witches to the Nac Mac Feegle.
Oh yes: there is a priest called Mightily Oats. De's less importan' t'an a Troll.
Eric 'Leotaku' Hoang is a digital artist, a painter, and a designer of sprites and games, from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Nearing 10 years, with over 1000 pictures under his belt, the modest deviantART veteran's reputation precedes the thousands of eyes which have gazed upon his work. Not bad for someone who is barely in his 20s!
Having discussed with the Taku Bell Supreme for the last couple years he's also talented at being a human being. Never too proud of his work to fuel an ego, nor too sincere to refuse emotion when needed, the balance of the artist behind the art is as challenging when so many demand constantly. Indeed his transition from crayons to virtual colours are paved with steps of history. Ambitions have changed into determinations and have resulted in a style which seperates him from the average pursuer to anime/manga. In fact it's unique to approach Leotaku as both an artist and a person because you get a geniune feel of respect and amiration in his presence. He's glad to have talents to share and only hopes people enjoy it as much as I do.
Currently the bulk of his fame would be on his "DragonBall"-themed work: originally created by Akira Toriyama back in 1984. Eric has several series of his own in 'The Reaper', and 'Goden Legends', which have some merit of success in terms of formulating storytelling and narrative within a pose or a character's features in body stance and facial expressions. The variety of his OCs are what keeps him driven to greater prospects. Hoang's art has come a long way from merely 'tracing' the forms of masculine/feminine muscle structure into a full-fledged design proud of Toriyama's own. I recently spoke with the artist to parlay his thoughts on celebrating his decade of draughtsmanship:
1. First of all where does the name Leotaku originate?
"Leo" is my zodiac thingy, and "Otaku" is from when I was into anime and manga, though I'm not really into it anymore. It just would've been too much trouble to change my name in the various places I used the alias to reflect my now lack of fondness for anime and manga.
However, I have since dropped the name when I ditched my old deviantART account and started a fresh account. I'm kinda trying to distance myself from that name, where I can.
2. How long have you been an artist?
I've been into drawing ever since I was a kid (mostly from the influence of my brother), but I didn't get serious with it and actually try to learn and improve 'til around late 2002. That's when I got a scanner and was finally able to post my pictures online and get feedback from people.
3. Who would be your main inspirations?
These days, I don't particularly try to draw from other artists for style or technique "inspirations". At this point, I kinda prefer just taking what I already know or have done and experimenting freely.
In the past though, there have been several influences on my work, such as Akira Toriyama, Joe Madureira, Masamune Shirow, and UDON.
I'm also fond of the work of Travis Charest, Alex Ross, Bruce Timm, and various artists online, though I don't think I've really reflected that in my own work to a notable amount.
4. Why does your art seperate itself from the norm? I notice you seem to dedicate a lot of effort to making skin look so soft on the canvas which artists tend to neglect. Gives a sense of motion.
I kinda have an individuality complex. I often (not always) like doing things that aren't as common, and avoiding things that everyone else already does. I don't want to be like everyone else, so I look for things to separate myself. This is actually one of the reasons I stopped like the anime style; it's become so painfully common that I got sick of it from over-exposure. I don't hate it, and I don't care if anyone else uses it, but I make a point not to use it myself.
I sometimes aim to do more uncommon things BECAUSE it's uncommon, such as drawing familiar characters in styles that are different from how they're usually drawn. I've already seen them in their regular style, and drawing them / seeing them in a new way would be much more interesting to me. Why would I want to look at something I've already seen countless times before when I could see something new instead?
5. Would you say Scithia is a mascot to exemplify your style and design?
If you mean style as in drawing style, then no. I tend to experiment and jump around a lot in regard to drawing style, so I rarely stay consistent between pictures for very long. I don't know if I really have any completely representative art style since I haven't really used any drawing or colouring style for an extremely long period of time (say, several years or so).
As for design though, I think she does kind of reflect my enjoyment of designing characters and making a point of doing something different with something familiar. Scithia's a grim reaper. Grim reapers are usually depicted as skeletons in black robes. I COULD'VE designed a grim reaper to be something generic like that, but where's the fun in that?
When designing characters, depending on the character or theme, I like to take the core elements of what it's supposed to be and put my own spin on it. So that's what I did when it came to designing a grim reaper character.
6. You're not just known for being an artist but also a designer of gamemaker interactive animations. Do you see yourself being an artist full-time or is there another calling in life?
There was a time when I would've loved to be an artist as my actual profession / career. Perhaps doing comic art, or more recently, I would've loved to do concept art and stuff for video games. These days though, I've kinda strayed from those dreams. I still enjoy art, but I don't think it's something I could do for someone else as my job. I generally need to be in complete control of what I draw in order to get enjoyment out of it, and complete control probably isn't what I'd have when working for someone else. Still, drawing probably would still be better than some boring office job.
As for making games, that was just a little hobby of mine. I never really saw myself doing it professionally 'cause I'm not a programmer or anything like that at all. A job related to video games would be cool, but I wouldn't be able to do the programming side of things.
7. What's Canada like to you?
Eh (uh...no pun intended), I don't think too much of it, or at least not the part where I live. These urban views get boring and ugly. I'd love to visit or live in a part of the world with more natural landscapes and less artificial structures.
8. You're known for DragonBallZ pictures. Do you fear it'll typecast what people know about your art?
Fear it? I've already experienced it. Rather than go into it again, this is already here to elaborate:
http://leo-taku.deviantart.com/journal/16002557/
9. How many lines from Caddyshack could you name?
Let's see...this...plus those lines...plus the ones near the end...carry the 3...
Zero.
10. What's your stance on erotic art? Do you prefer to be known as a 'clean' artist rather than a 'dirty' one?
Ideally, I'd like to be equally appreciated for both since I put the same amount of effort into both. That doesn't quite happen. Most people, as far as I know, only like one side of my pictures. OK, that's fine.
But what REALLY bothers me is when someone gets all pissy at my adult pictures. I'm free to do whatever the hell I want, just like people like that are free to avoid adult pictures if it's not their thing. I'm not forcing anyone to look at them, so what's their problem? Apparently, some people are too mentally deficient to know how to avoid looking at pictures that have subject matter they hate, but they have plenty of energy to be bitchy about it.
I have over 1000 pictures online, and adult pictures make up roughly 30% of those pictures. Those people don't seem to realize that the other 70% of my pictures aren't adult, and only take the time to whine about the 30% that they hate.
11. Double-Question here: If someone wanted to request art from you when would be the best times and what would be the charges?
I don't do free pictures anymore because too many people don't have the gratitude to say a simple "thanks" after I do something for them. They just disappear once they get what they want. So fuck them. I only do commissions now, in regard to drawing for someone else. I'm pretty much free to do one at any time, but I unfortunately don't have an easy method of payment, such as Paypal.
I've had to resort to alternate methods of payment, such as requesting that they get some stuff for me from online stores or something. Price-wise, I'm pretty flexible and let the person give me an offer. Two people have agreed to such methods, though it's not like I get many commission requests in the first place. Most people expect me to do something for free. Uh...NO.
12. What's planned for the future?
World domination! This place needs some serious cleaning up.
13. Cats or Dogs?
Either one.
14. Chocolate or Chips?
I don't especially like either one.
15. Is there anything you'd like to address to your fans?
Thanks for the support! All five of you. I appreciate it.
I don't think I have many real fans.
16. Finally, where can people find you on the world wide web?
My deviantART page has all my non-adult work and a little adult work.
http://eric-3.deviantart.com/
My WWOEC page has all my adult work.
http://leotaku.wwoec.com/
I have a personal site as well, which, at this time, is the only place where all my Game Maker games are, but I don't know how much longer that site will be up for. Whatever the case, it's not being updated anymore.
http://leotaku.avalanchestudios.net/
Hope this helps, Dan.
Sure does Eric. Thanks for your time. May the next ten years show a new peak in your work and a far higher state of happiness than what we are enjoying now. I look forward to those times. In the meantime I hope I can be a fan to ALL of his art, rather than just some, which in itself will be quite the journey.
Until then take care Eric! ^___^
(All pictures used with Permission and Copyright to Leotaku 1999-2008, All Rights Reserved. 'Leotaku' is a TM of Eric Hoang).
Rincewind is a rather tried and true formula: half-Monty Phyton, half-Tolkien, and half-way over the horizon. The wizzard fronts this tale where the savage lands of ecks ecks ecks ecks. There he is: riding Scrappy the talking Kangaroo. Unsuprisingly he's running away (or holding onto something running away which would prime an idea to book the entire life of his feet's blisters...I bet it would take forever to explain where he got all of them).
Meanwhile the Unseen University is having a bit of trouble with their Librarian turning into all manner of objects from a hot water bottle to a chair. This has led the Heads to go on the hunt for Rincewind which lightly covers them going off to their own remote island and, well, ignoring the bigger picture.
Also the Luggage is somewhat hungry for miners and the day has already been saved except it hasn't and this book has nothing to do with Australia but has plenty to do with bushrats and crazy people who probably drink enough beer to make them sane.
Personally I think this book is rubbish but I'm being prickly of late...I'd call my own vox account rubbish if it wasn't for the fact it's a reflection of the occupant.
Don't assume it's a bad book: the writing is still as sound as the others. The witty humor isn't lost it's just the explorations and dramatic revelations are duller than a polished table with a crumb hanging on at the corner because it's got lodged in and I can't get it out and this post is not doing me any favors.
Gee I sound miserable! Well maybe it's cause I watched the Color of Magic film some weeks ago and found a lot of the big plots and habits here (like Rincewind going back for his hat) or who the Librarian is to be rather...spoilt. It's dented the effect of this read. It feels like an afterthought to bigger ideas...like the residue you get sometimes when you carve a masterpiece you collect the remaining parts and try to mould it into something secondary. This is how Book 22 feels: good, because it's a cousin to great books with Rincewind in like the 1st and 2nd (and 17th) but a pale imitation to meet their standards which have become oh so high.
Still, if you go barmy for cultural references from Crocodile Dundee and Mad Max, enjoy water holes, chases, water holes, bathrooms, women with a lot of kitchen manners, water holes, unhealthy discussions about the weather, and water holes, then this book is for you.
Just don't throw around the word 'mild' too often when reading.
This post contains little personality and much fact. Be prepared to be bored. zzzzz...
Actually I feel Vox is not like other viral diaries, ala blogs, and as such treat it with a sense of greater knowledge...as if the people who commute here are more enlightened on good deals and decisions. Onwards!
Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day Nintendo. From the research of Dr. Kawashima I've been inducing these tests, between regular games, and education, to better my intelligence.
The Results are, as follows, somewhat impressive:
Brain Age Check -
Word Memory = 22 (Might be exploited so I'd reduce the highest to 18, based on a prior result).
Stroop Test = 57.11 sec. (Notorious for refusing to foreground 'Blue', and sometimes 'Black', unless in a silent room).
Speed Counting = 46 sec. (This one is hard to prove, due to slurring, but is of strong opinion to be correct).
Connect Maze = 31 sec.
Number Cruncher = 47 sec.
Calculations x20 = 13.36 sec. (One result on here, 13.40, is 2nd highest. I remember this one had a sum of 7x5 which would result to acknowledge the 35 and instead kept writing 37. This cost me a second so I would remark it is possible for attaining 12 seconds...also keep in mind certain sequences of sums have been documented).
Overall the Last 3 tests usually end up pushing to the Low 20s region, Stroop and Speed Counting in the Mid 20s to Low 30s, and Word Memory in the Low 30s to Low 40s. Overall this relates my brain around the high 20s when randomising. Without Word Memory I usually get into the 20-25 region. I am 21.
Training List -
Calculations x20 = *JET* (See above)
Calculations x100 = *CAR* 1 min 42 seconds. (Hard Mode. Roughly 20 seconds to do 20 sums, 5 times, so it's universally accepted prolonged exposure to sums wears the mental bursts required to calculate).
Reading Aloud = *JET* 10.3 Syllables/sec.
Low to High = *JET* 56 Points (Funnily enough I just got this result yesterday).
Syllable Count = *ROCKET* 15 sec. (Highly exploited...I would say 42 seconds is my true highest).
Head Count = *ROCKET* 5/5 (Hard Mode).
Triangle Math = *CAR* 55 sec. (Hard Mode. Semi-exploited as it's a real pain to do the subtractions).
Time Lapse = *ROCKET* 22 sec. (Exploited. I would not hazard an estimated real time beyond a minute).
Voice Calculation = *JET* 1 min. 8.20 sec. (Again has problems picking up 'Two' and 'Eight' unless in a silent room).
The first 3 tests have always been completed every day for the last 3 months. All the others except Voice Calcaulation have at least 2 months of results in them (I jump a day on them since March). Voice Calculation tends to irritate me so I avoid it as long as every 2 weeks or 3 weeks. I'd say there is no more than 15-20 results on it.
This puts my average Pre-Frontal Cortex medium comfortably at JET speed. I would guess if one could attain 1 minute 39 seconds or lower in Calculations x100 it would be a TRAIN (as Calculations x20's TRAIN speed is 19 seconds or lower).
Because I also have Sudoku in this I've also managed to complete the entire Easy Catagory. Not so with harder puzzles but I'm on it at 36%.
I hope this replaces the IQ system in the future. The entire test run, nowadays, will not consume more than 30 minutes of a person's time: more than enough time to relax and reflect on the hour, let alone the day filled with another 12 (on average). Programs like this actually test an accurate, non-biased, figure of the Three Rs. Furthermore it helps children stimulate their functions to figure out basic problems via repetition. Big problems tend to be best tackled via breaking down into lots of small ones and iterative stages only quantify the success and communal nature of its results.
Thanks for the program Nintendo and thanks again Dr. Kawashima! I'll try reporting back another 3 months for any more improvements.
Hopefully the next post will be with images...maybe I'll get around to reading the next Discworld book at last...
Bus changing magic! Yet still got in on time. Go feet! (8:30-9:00)
Watched Sexy Beast. Slight overtones of profanity, can rub off a person, but strong acting roles. It's a little weak in the character development of everyone besides Gal, or how he's retired, but we're meant to assume most of this...it's almost like a sequel to a never made film. It has the feeling of continuity. The action is very oral, great use of location environments, and generally worth commenting about. Creative. (9:15-11:30).
Ran through a newspaper with a friend. Circumstances made it a much more exciting situation. Especially when she was locked in a room and the comedy which ensued. Meanwhile I worked on a Shot List for a Flash-based Animation about transitioning between Video clips which would make sense in the context of intermissions...think the History Boy's level of documenting their journey via a similar type of animation. Finally got the times for the assignment changed to the 17th and not 10th. Means we got an extra week. Score! (11:30-13:00).
Also helped same person with their Critical Evaluation. Always gives a sense of joy to empower people. (13:00-14:00)
Our Guest Speaker, by the man of James Jordan, enlightened us with some amazing technological breakthroughs. To even scope the sheer brilliance here are some of the links we were provided to watch. Here are a few links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiS-W9aeG0s - Jefferson Han's Multi-Touch screen sensitivity creative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h-RhyopUmc - Reactable: a musical instrument with a multi-user interface.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-gTobCJHs - Nokia's Morph prototype promotion for nanotechnology.
Needless to say it changes how much perception I had for technology, belittling my ignorance, putting it in its place! But what's good is the enjoyment to know we're going to experience, in our lifetimes, further upgrades. Fantastic. (14:00-15:15)
Our Summer Project gets assigned. What does the colour Green mean to people? Well it's out of 3 choices, others being Blue and Orange, but ultimately Green seemed to have the biggest level of interest. Then we had to commit our audience. Out of the two strongest choices, Army and Environmental, we went Environmental.
Now let's progress at this bit by bit. (15:30-17:00)
After sending over the Shot Lists online, via Scanner, I was engorged to finally play SUPER SMASH BROS BRAWL!!! It's the 3rd iteration of beat-em-up fun. It's a great relief throughout what has turned out to be a great day. Eventually I did get a win thanks to ROB the Robot. He's my main choice now. Go ROB! (17:00-20:00).
And if the day couldn't be any more satisfying, a good friend of mine has been working diligently on a piece for me and has entered both the vital stages of implementation. Can't say what it is, secret you see, but it's a personal delight. Thanks a lot! I think this day, ending with YouTube Poop, and Mystery Science Theatre 3000 has cemented a great experience (20:00-21:00).
I'm so happy.
The 2007 Best Game: Bioshock
Blending Survival Horror and First Person Shooter into a sunken dystopia entropy known as Rapture, you embark on perhaps one of the most advanced storylines, compelling narratives, and overall flexibility of functionality, ever to be witnessed in either genre.
There's something highly fetching about an unknown purpose, a sense of excitement and anxiety, a sense of adapting the senses and adjusting to the beautiful compositions of colour, light, dark, and emitters of value. Whilst this promotes excessive use of the violent environment, in more ways possible to state, there is underlying influences from Myst, Deus Ex, and Fallout of this barren colossus of puzzles and people who you are both stranger and danger. It's as much of a visual experience as is a interactive one.
The premise is you are a survivor of a plane crash who manages to clamber onto a lighthouse and, by some miracle, descend into the creation of Andrew Ryan: an ideological cityscape with twisted consequences. By some force, as you'll be revealed in depth, Rapture is uncontrollable and in a state of chaos. Navigating around this 'Atlantis Nightmare' will also embed elements of role-playing games, collecting items, and acclimating resources, to further prolong your life and gain better awareness.
The graphics are grand and gorgeous: everything works to pace the 50s culture and dabble in 'rusted' technology as fresh as any other common FPS. The big difference here is your role in the game isn't being some protagonist so much as a questioning enigma where you are confronted to decide whether the 'Little Sisters', products of Ryan's civilisation, and their guardians the 'Big Daddies' (both adorn the boxcover), to be friend or foe.
Developers 2K, housing Irrational employees, sowed this instant classic back in 1999 via System Shock 2 (even the names are similar). 8 years on and the predecessor, recognised as a success, but nothing truly phenomenal, can now relate to their new incarnation which competed and beaten the likes of established franchises from the top gamemakers of our generation.
Bioshock
is the killer application for Xbox360 much like Halo was for the Xbox. Using raw weapons, plasmids (items which mutate your wrist into magical functions. Some are elemental, like lightning or fire, whilst others can detach the flesh to become insects), and the hacking of security, you'll conquer this game in no time. Gaming has never been so fun!
The 2007 Runner-Up: Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy is the runner-up for 2007. Once again Nintendo prove their hold on entertainment is far-reaching and long-lasting. Kudos!
I'm off to do some Macromedia Flash/Photoshop on Jack Vettriano.
In 2006, the Nintendo DS had the proud honour of being home to one of the most unique and education-based franchises, inspired by Dr. Ryuta Kawashima's works, known as 'Brain Age'.
Truly the work of genius when the industry is under heavy criticism of degenerating our culture, and preached as an instigator to violence, this nifty piece of entertainment promotes everything a game is, was, and will always be: playable, fun, and highly interactive.
The premise of Brain Training, those few who are not amongst the 11+ million people (according to Nintendo's financial results last month), is simple: try to get a score of 20. This will be tested under Kawashima's patterned techniques known as doing simple calculations and reading literature loud and clear. The faster one is achieving these goals, the more active your brain is. Alternatively your brain is measured to a type of transport (Slowest to Fastest: Walking, Bicycle, Car, Train, Jet, and finally Spaceship).
It certainly has it's flaws in terms of exploiting certain training (Time Lapse, Speed Counting, Reading Aloud) to fix a high score but the initial premise works perfectly and many will agree it improves their confidence and mentality. I've not gone a single day since beginning and it's great to go back to and play collectively for hours.
One day schools around the world will have this tool, now evolved into a fully integrated library of information and tests, to teach the next generation who will be both gamers and students. In fact this very idea will make anyone, from all walks of life, a gamer. Such an international attraction is worthy of being classed as one of the Best Games ever designed.
During the first half of 2006 Brain Age was supreme. When talk of the Nintendo Wii, the console to gain the most impact at E3 the same year, it also needed a flagship title to emphasise it's wireless Controller abilities. Wii Sports does this and to a fairly accurate degree of ability. I've never liked Tennis so guess what: I lose on it! Whereas Baseball was a pastime of the past so naturally had some skill! Aside from the nonsense of flying Controllers slamming into screens, which rarely happens (more chance your disc will be scratched by a vicious grizzly), Wii Sports marries Brain Training very well in both mind and body. Nintendo has risen from the graphical titans of Microsoft and Sony and beaten them with pioneering grace and technical breakthroughs. All it's rivals can do is wince and copy. Not surprising: Sony's Playstation was created by Nintendo's hand anyways. Microsoft simply buy out talent.
Overall a stellar year for games. Has 2007 lived up to equal repute? The rules of entry are simple: It had to be released in 2007. Those not released in 2007, but included in the entry list, has made a critical impact this year. Some franchises, based on sequels or already awarded games, rarely get the chance to become two-time winners. The only cases would be Donkey Kong, Mario, Zelda, GTA3, Pong, and Sonic.
Before announcing the winner and runner-up should be some candidates of who may win. The choices for this year's average vary. We had some notable sequels pop out of the woodwork to carry the reputation of quality games into a modern audience. Such early 2007 titles included Pheonix Wright, World of Warcraft, and Wario Ware, making returns...God of War made a return to contender-ship, whilst S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was finally released to try it's hand. An old favourite, Command and Conquer, is back.
Nintendo, though, won't ever be denied it's fair shot. Pokemon's 4th iteration, Diamond and Pearl, continues to sell into the millions. Super Paper Mario, part of the Paper Mario franchise, is still as popular as ever. Mario Strikers is adding to the genre-competing games Nintendo market, as happened with Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. All three titles have become great franchises of their own. Metroid Prime: Corruption also is worth noting. Oh and let's not forget Super Mario Galaxy.
A surprising Dark Horse of the contest would be Tomb Raider: Anniversary, once a former game of the year.
Another surprise this year has been The Orange Box. Although it features 3 games, the one being put into entry is Portal: a runaway success with excessive design function.
Late entries include Zack and Wiki, The Simpsons game, Age of Conan, Hellgate: London, the controversial Manhunt 2, whilst Guitar Hero III and Rock Band continues the trend of rocking out. Tabula Rasa, Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, and finally Nights: Journey into Dreams.
It's a lot to consider. One of these games will be considered the best. One will be runner-up. Maybe none of them will! I highly doubt such things.
Tune in soon! You'll be pleasantly surprised by my choices...
Recently been having sleepless nights which, consequently, lead to tiresome days and one pasty face. The effort becomes drained, the nasal passages enlarge, the Pringles go into my mouth.
MM....Salt and Vinegar...
One of the most daunting questions is what one got LAST Christmas because people wonder how deserving they are of new presents when old ones are still waiting to be used (and loved). Here's a shortlist of the things I got which I haven't used and why:
1. Kingdom Hearts (1) - Actually I have played it but not completed as I only got as far as Peter Pan's land. Part of the reason is simply the sheer annoyance of the game and how it pales to FFX (See June/July). Overall the experience has left me almost avoiding it and probably forever will.
2. Fcuk Grooming and Deodorant - Has such a long lasting capacity for a man's grooming it's no wonder people don't market this as the product to have. Or I'm just spraying too little to be smelled. Or I'm just too little. I should drown myself in these to prove which is right.
(After smelling like he's walked out of a Shiela's Wheels advert) next item!
3. Infernal Affairs DVD - DAMN! I've been putting this off way too long. Christmas Eve baby! Undoubtedly the best Spy/Hong-Kong/ film I've never seen.
4 and 5. Automatic Card Shuffler and Candy Grabber - Although these are both boxed up, it's the age old "Batteries not Included" symbolism of breaking people's hearts. See, we accept the Triple and Double A variety but 9V? Jeez you'd have to be a sadist not to include those uncommon oddities. Besides...I have hands. Makes these things seem a little...cheap? Might as well call these the scrappy presents.
(Eats another bunch of Pringles, downing them with milk)
6 and 7. Children of Mana and Bomberman DS - I want to really stock up on hand-held experiences. The whole console issue is getting on my nerves. The future of gaming is within a mobile and portable space so why not embrace it? I was also in love with Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. Expect these games to have some time on the Eve as well.
8 - 10. Phantasy Star Universe, Dragon Quest VII, and Pikmin. What can I say? Can't play every game. Or I dedicate too much time to some.
11. Guitar Hero II - Before you lynch-mob me for owning a gaming guitar and not jamming on it I've played enough to invest in having it keep in the box.
12. Twisted Metal Black - Waitaminute...this is from 2004's Christmas! GET OUT OF HERE YOU!!!
13. Unreal Tournament 2003
14. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
15. Crazy Taxi
16. The House of the Dead (wouldn't install)
17. Quake Collection
18. The Book of General Ignorance - Was already read but I like going back to it so much it's become a semi-bibilical resource. Ah the quality of some items.
19 - 23. The Historian, Bears Can't Run Downhill, Is it me or is everything shit?, Eyewitness: New York, and How to Succeed with Girls, are wild variety of connected texts to assist a New X-men story I hope to one day achieve as a fully-fledged novel and not just an overblown short story.
24. Discworld - Well it's the books. I'm on No. 21 as those following follow. It's a lot to go and it's the main reason why I haven't been broadening my reads.
25. BPRD Comics - Hellboy is a old kindle of flame and love I am wishing to get back to. Christmas Eve reads? Seems sacred to touch but why not? I thing tomorrow is looking to be a great day already!
To new readers, which I'd advise choosing an earlier read simply because of the establishment of this book's narrative and audience, it's about a lost city called Leshp rising from the sea and how Klatch, and Ankh-Morpork, claiming this for their own purposes. Commander Vimes is tasked in keeping the peace as talks to ownership commence but it all goes wrong as usual.
Interestingly private armies contrast to the real world issues involving in Iraq, such as Blackwater, and how the minority cause a major uproar.
It's obviously well-written and features colourful language, especially the scripted style known Klatchian, but it's like being at Sea World and Shamu is the only show the whole day. It feels like a safe read, where Carrot is training future villians, or the humorous discussion between Prince Khufurah and Vimes, but it wouldn't matter if Dibbler started selling special 'War on a stick', or the Librarian read up on Klatchian nursery riddles, but it DOES matter Pratchett named a character bloody Ossie!!! HOW COULD YOU I *gets dragged away*.
Overall, Jingo is Lord Selachii's little kicker to get his words across in a good way. If you like to read a good then, by Jingo, pick it up.
I'm so tired...
Blood is said to be thicker than water. In this sea of lies trust is cast as a shimmering glint among the horizon.
To be arriving back home to hear the news on BBC and Sky talking about 25 million people affected by a 'Catastrophic Security Breach' gained my interest. It certainly gave me a reason why I haven't uploaded Jingo yet.
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs deals with Child Benefits, amongst other things, and follows under the Data Protection Act (1998). Their chairman, Paul Grey, has resigned after a disk was sent to the National Audit Office (NAO), via a mailing system set on low-priority and without recording, went missing. A second disk was sent, which did get to the NAO. The missing disk containing personal information from addresses, birth dates, National Insurance Numbers, Bank Details, and other data of a person's identity being sensitive, was encrypted with a password. Alistair Darling, who had to 'bite the bullet' on Northern Rock earlier on, now has to bite a cannonball of collapsed responsibility as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He assures no information has been compromised but the public would know better it doesn't matter now. It's what matters later.
The Conservative Party were open in meeting on Contingency Plans towards this event and how it escalated into such a irresponsible situation. George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, has made it aware how much of an impact the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and current Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has let this slip. Aside from damning Public ID cards once more, he added an August situation of this year mentioning about records being lost due to a overnight laptop sitting in a car. It was up to 15,000 people affected then. Gordon Brown's decision to not call an election is further viewed as cowardice as a result.
It's all alarming, from a parent's view, to which I am not. Recent reports on people giving details on blogs seems almost welcome compared to a professional organisation, related to the Government itself, being so clumsy. What's more worrying is how long this information was known, which could be as late as 10 days ago and as early as sometime mid-October.
I used this title, inspired by the 2006 IOI videogame, because it refers to cloning and wiping out a person. Sure it doesn't apply to the average innocent, but the idea of the game is to be anonymous. Not trying to suggest Child Benefits = Hitman.
There's not much else to say, mainly because of what has been recorded, but it's obvious this is a seriously worrying time for everyone. Yet, like the missing disc, people do not ask the right questions about Video Game Violence. Questions like:
1. What games depict a level of violence not already explored in other genres of media?
2. Of those games which are violent, is there options to be non-violent?
3. Can the simulation, and education, of violence cause a person to be less violent?
The answers to each of these questions are not set in riddles, like these activist anti-gamers would claim.
1. Death Race, the first violent videogame, back in 1976, was based on the Film "Death Race 2000"...Saw IV comes out, great stuff, but Manhunt 2 is banned, despite similar themes.
2. Deus Ex and Fallout, two games of notable violence, are given options to be non-violent such as avoiding confrontation, conversation, and using non-lethal force.
3. Yes. It seems ridiculous to have FPS games made as a scapegoat to a democracy who choose what is acceptable (children being killed) and what is unacceptable (virtual polygons being digitally frozen/erased).
Hitman: Blood Money, features all the elements of violence yet, in the end, it's consumer choice to purchase, play, and show levels of violence. It makes one realise not all scenarios have to be so openly fought around bloodshed and lost lives, whilst detracting from real situations like health, economy, and so on...
Plus there's a fundamental policy against making Videogames as an equally legitimate form of media as films.
It's almost embarrassing producers of games, like Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider, and Resident Evil, all absolute classics, would allow producers of films to get hold of their products and try to suggest there isn't enough narrative, enough graphical pleasing, enough visualisation, or plot, or depth, to a game so a film needs to display it. It was explainable when books went to film because a guy reading for hours won't have the patience and the 'film' version is in contrast to Wikipedia's accuracy in the sense of opinionated direction. The result is an average film at best.
What I mean is there is a serious political gap in defining a true videogame film because it seems to be rarely workable vice versa. Games based on films end up being done by people who just didn't learn enough from the original makers. Joint projects, as it's working in animated studios to release both game and film (with film getting far more media attention) is still a working concept. So games turned to films inspires a generation of film-going gamers to question why do makers have this innate desire to lose themselves in the identity of an original concept.
Which leads me full circle: Identity Theft. I don't think any representing company of the people would even think about details if they had just made everything fingerprint recognition. Those without fingers could use toes, or their eyes...just use the physical ID, not some card...it's safer to 'know you know who YOU are' rather than 'they know who YOU are'.
As for games being turned into films...please stop. Joust, Postal, all this...the games deserve better.
As an uplifting bonus, I will now present a man called Kamehameha doing a Kamehameha:
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