Pokemon Poetry Volume 2

Charmanders are red.
Squirtles are blue.
If you were a Pokemon, I'd choose you.
<3

PS-Bore

The PS4 feels like a pretty solid disappointment for me. It's just a simple upgrade from the PS3.  It's not breaking any new ground. It's not doing anything amazing. It's just Sony giving people the same thing over again but in a different shaped box with upgraded internals.  At least Microsoft is trying something with the Xbox One. They're taking a risk, trying something new and inventive. Microsoft isn't willing to rest on their laurels like Sony is and just give gamers the same recycled gaming experience for another 6-7 years.  Sony got lazy this round, and it shows. Technology needs to advance, not give us the same thing over and over again. I wish Sony would have put some more thought into their new console. Instead it's just boring.

The most relevant video to my life

The first time you play with someone who doesn't know what they're doing in a fighting game, it always goes down a little like this: there is a lot of pausing. Lots of checking movelists. Lots of negotiating returning hits to keep it balanced because they initially got hurt when they weren't ready. And lots of answering questions about what the most powerful move is. Really, the only thing that's missing from this video is having the newbie player repeat the same move over and over again, because its easy or you're just not good enough to deal with someone only doing upper punch repeatedly. Granted, of course all of happens! Why wouldn't the other person want to learn how to play the game? It's still kind of funny to poke fun at, though.

I'm not revolting against this by any means

One of my favorite Youtube artists, doing a truly (*sunglasses*) revolutionary cover of an already awesome song.

Everything is Beautiful...except Connie.

This isn't the first Attack on Titan cosplay video I've posted and God willing it won't be the last. Connie's hair though. Not sure what they were thinking.

A Light Christmas...

This was the first year I didn't ask for video games for Christmas...sad feeling. Not sure what to feel about this. I hope it isn't a sign.

A Virtual Slam Dunk

By Andrew Leif

“NBA 2K14,” which I play on Xbox 360, is the best basketball video game I’ve ever played.  This year’s version is the most realistic basketball gaming experience in the series’ history.  Last year while playing, my mother asked me if I was watching a real game, so I can’t even imagine what her reaction will be when she sees me playing this year’s edition.  Every player looks identical to how they look in real life.  They also play with the same specific motions and have the same celebrations that they perform  in real life, which makes the game even more realistic.  The “My Player” game mode is essentially identical to how it’s been the last two years. Next year there definitely needs to be an addition to this game mode.  It’s fun at first, but as you keep playing it, it gets repetitive and boring.  While the visuals of the game are incredible, it still possess some flaws.  Players still stand out of bounds when the ball is being passed to them, which is completely unrealistic.  There are far too many kick ball and goaltending violations in the video game, compared to an actual NBA game.  The announcing team of Kevin Harlan, Steve Kerr and Clark Kellogg, with Doris Burke as the sideline reporter, continues to be solid.  The only question I have, which I’ve had for the past few years is, why is Kellogg an announcer for this game? He’s a college basketball announcer and now since Gregg Anthony has replaced him, he’s just a studio analyst.  I know it’s not really a big deal, but as an avid basketball fan, it just bothers me.  The new game mode this year, “Path to Greatness featuring LeBron James,” allows you to control James’ future and either re-sign with the Heat and continue to build a dynasty or have him leave Miami and try to build a legacy elsewhere. This was a brilliant idea on the part of the 2k14 developers because James is playing at an all-time great level and this game mode will only make people more intrigued about what he decides to do with his future this summer.  The soundtrack of this game definitely attracts a larger audience, with a more Top 40 radio-feel as opposed to last year when the game was produced by Jay-Z and featured mostly classic rap songs. I like this year’s soundtrack just as much  just because I’m weird and enjoy the popular music.  Overall, NBA 2K14 is a lot of fun to play and should be purchased by every basketball fan.

Review published with permission from the author.

An Essay on Batman

   It's a foggy night, and the moon casts a ghastly glow on the air's pervasive moisture. The city's streets blaze beneath fluorescent gas signs marking popular hideaways for those who wish not to be seen. Shifty faces navigate the thick humidity, purposely avoiding one another. In this town, it was best to keep your head down. A cry rings out from a dim lit alley, but the walkers with their shifty faces choose not to listen. The call for help echoes loud, but remains unanswered by all. All except one. Descending silently from the mist comes a shadow cloaked figure. His arrival on the scene goes unnoticed. In front of him stands a wide stock man hovering over a young women. The menace in his grin reveals his intentions. Before approaching his prey, a noise behind him alerts his suspicion. He pauses and turns to see The Batman rise from his crouched position, towering above the man at full height. Batman narrows his eyes. Fear overwhelms the man, causing his knees to buckle beneath him. He has heard the rumors. He has read the stories. He knows what will happen next.

   Batman is arguably the greatest comic superhero to ever exist, due mainly to the fact that he is not “super” within the context definition. This is not to say Batman is any less heroic. Batman (and by extension his secret identity, Bruce Wayne) is indeed extraordinary, but at the end of the day he is still a regular being without any superhuman abilities that we normally associate with the term “superhero”. Instead however, Batman's incredible powers come from his sheer force of will, stonewall determination, and unbreakable morality that he uses to deal justice to those who threaten society's sanctity. Batman represents the epitome of heroism on a mortal scale. While human mortality can be considered Batman's greatest weakness in a world filled with supervillains, it is also what makes him so unique. Batman's heroism comes from the fact that he is a singular human being fighting against mankind's moral corruptibility for what he believes is just.
   Batman dictates his actions through a code of morals that he strictly abides to. Unlike countless other men (namely Gotham City's inhabitants), Batman ensures these moral guidelines are never corrupted even when a situation demands these morals be bent to guarantee a definitive solution. Take for example, Batman's “no kill clause”. Batman believes taking life is a power man is unfit to wield and therefore does not kill, even if it means the villains he stops today will return to crime tomorrow. Is this a vicious cycle of temporal prevention? Perhaps, but Batman can not be allowed to violate his own set of rule and order, otherwise his justification for fighting crime is null and void. Hypocrisy on this level would make him no better than the criminals he seeks to defeat. This kind of inscrutable morality makes him an ideal arbiter despite being a vigilante. This remains the only degree of separation between the neuroses of Batman and his enemies. Without it, Batman would fall within the same pretext as The Joker despite their differing motives for being. In many forms of classical literature, the hero holds a virtually infallible set of moral values. The near entirety of Batman's reason for existing is his moral obligation for justice. High moral character of this kind is more than worthy of the heroic title.
   Batman is different from traditional heroes in that he was not born into greatness (being rich doesn't count), he was not chosen by a higher power, nor was he thrust into a quest for glory as a matter of circumstance. Rather, Batman is a man who independently decides to take matters into his own hands when he becomes dissatisfied with the resulting efforts of societal justice. Batman assumes the burden of Gotham City's protector on his own, without incentive of reward in any form. This is a clear example of heroic self sacrifice for the greater good. This not only backs up the claim of Batman as a morally high individual, but also shows Batman as a human of incredible resolve. Batman represents the ideal form of human ability. He is of strong self identity, his determination equates to his success, he is morally just and protects the weak, and his stoic character is comprised of traits our society strives to garner. Many heroes are figures of envy and admiration due to their superior construct but often times are difficult to identify with or project oneself onto. Batman is different in that while maintaining a level of abilities beyond that of the average human he is still rooted in realistic human accolades, notably standing against injustice, being of solid moral values, fighting for what you believe in, etc. Batman's form of heroism lies within the common man, the only difference is that Batman is powerful enough to channel that heroism in action.
   Batman is a hero in that he is a flawed character. The trauma suffered witnessing his parents death as a child formed the man that we now idolize today. Instead of letting this ordeal poison his mind with fear and sadness, Batman made this his strength and motivation for his actions. Similarity, Batman uses bats as his persona because of a personal phobia he suffered from as a boy. Batman is unique, turning the pain and hurt within his past into a power he uses to better the future. By accepting his weaknesses and using them to him benefit, his enemies are thus unable to use them against him. Among Batman's greatest abilities is his power to instill fear in his foes. Batman is only able to do this because he himself understands fear, the fear he grew up experiencing. Batman is not a perfect being, which makes his heroism more impressive in that he is able to accomplish so much as a flawed man. Batman is a hero because despite these personal flaws he still puts the needs of others before himself.

   Batman is a very unique type of hero. He is a man who faced with hardship at an early age made choices to rise above it. He used that tragedy to improve himself and the environment in which he exists. He became a morally righteous individual with clear ideals and convictions. He developed into a ideal being of justice and human ability. These are what makes a hero; these are what make Batman compelling. The morality and humanity Batman symbolizes makes him a hero in our culture, one that is identifiable and relevant to a general populous. 

I'm a PC

I would argue that the crap games on PC are few and far between. Think of it this way: The majority of PC titles are indie games. These titles, as independents, are a labor of love and often do not see wide spread release. The incentive to make a good game and achieve recognition is what fuels these devs to create content. Money is not the primary goal, and these games are often never over ten dollars. This can largely be attested to the lack of publisher/producer interference/pressure to make a profit that the professional games industry suffers from. In the mainstream market a dev could slap on a number 2 or 3 on a popular IP and release a less than mediocre game and have it sell like crack covered pancakes. The indie market promotes new and creative properties with freedom to experiment. So while you might not be getting an epic blockbuster from an indie game, you'll at least get something new and different that the console market rarely satisfies. In my opinion, the money paid to enjoy these budget titles is well worth it, as often times you get more bang for your buck. It is highly unlikely that you'd be wasting your money and besides, you wouldn't buy these titles if you felt you couldn't afford it. Also, PC gamers are the most fickle group of gamers out there. I'm not going to list characteristics, but suffice to say PC gaming is devoid of many of the unfavorable gamertypes that plague the consoles (children and modern warfans are the first to come to mind). PC gamers are very internet savvy and communicate within a gaming community consoles have yet to reach. A bad game soon becomes known within the community and will not sell well. So, while I would say that EDUCATED console gamers are more cautious when it comes to purchasing games, I would not say that just because of the pricing of a game are PC gamers more likely to buy bad games. However, we are indeed more frivolous.  

Another Princess?

So if you haven't yet heard, Princess Rosalina will be in the new Smash Bros. Great. Fantastic. Awesome for some people. But who was out there clamoring for Roslaina? Why don't they listen to the fans and bring in the characters we want to see like Simon Belmont, Knuckles, anyone from Kingdom Hearts, or Mega Man! Oh wait they put in mega man. So apparently Nintendo thinks that fills the fan service quota for this game. I don't think so. Give me Belmont or give me an unplugged Wii U.

Bravery

This new trailer for the role-playing game Bravely Default—out for 3DS on February 7—shows off some of the game's features and side-modes, and lord I am excited to play this game. LORD.

Dual Damn-stinies

I've always had a soft spot for Phoenix Wright music and it was a thrill to hear some of the series' most iconic themes dialed up with better instrument samples and some killing drum performances. As much as I liked the new version of Phoenix's main "Objection" theme, a couple of other tracks were the ones that sealed the deal for me: Both Noriyuki Iwadare's "Core" (above) and "Synaptic Resonance," specifically. That bassline in Core kills me every time (listen on headphones). Synaptic Resonance matched with its accompanying gameplay sequences perfectly—the climactic moments when Athena, Apollo or Phoenix would retreat into their mind to flip the case on its head were some of my favorite bits in the game.

Deadman Wondering-Land

No, it's not the ghostly character from the DC Universe. This Deadman is from the Garry's Moduniverse. Modder Rush_Freak and friends spent more than 500 hours to create him (and the video). The end result is a superhero who is more heroic than most living superheroes.

Attack on Dignity

What I want every convention experience to be like. For those who have yet to see it, Attack on Titan has be exploding in popularity both here and overseas. Anyone looking for something outside the cutesy style and tones anime has recently adopted, I highly recommend giving this a try. It can seen with English subtitles on Hulu.

Artificial Infatuation

When I turned on my laptop last week for a routine internet dick-around session, the first thing I was greeted with was not the blue login screen I was accustomed to, but rather a perverted resemblance of that comforting glow which instead had thousands of red flashing pixels smeared across the screen. My reaction was not unlike that of Jeffrey Dahmer’s girlfriend opening his fridge to see dozens of severed heads.

Let me back up for a second. In the summer before my freshman year here at college, I spent exactly $1,765 purchasing my ASUS G73S from Amazon.com (not including shipping and handling). Now before you chastise me for being so irresponsible with money on what most college students use as a glorified word processor and Facebook machine, let me say computers have been my entire livelihood for entertainment and work related needs, as well as socialization in a time where high school meant anxiety attacks and disgust for others’ lack of moral conscience. But I digress.

My laptop for the past three years has provided for me anything and everything I needed from the digital landscape as quickly as the school’s bandwidth would allow: movies, music, games, cat pictures. It would not be inaccurate to say that I love it more than some blood relatives. So, to find out my beloved laptop had been inflicted with some condition of unknown origin was much like receiving news that a family member had come down with a mysterious illness.

Shock and denial came on immediately. Confusion, fear, anger. The works. How could something like this happen? It had been so healthy not a day before. Why is this happening? It is some sick punishment brought on by the tech gods? Why me?

After a few hours of panicked attempts at rationalizing the problem and trying to fix it with different combinations of hard drive sweeps and restarting the system to no avail, I decided to take a walk to collect my thoughts. In the cool night air I solemnly trekked to my favorite thinking spot besides the lake.

There I sat, thinking. Thinking about how unfair it was that despite my years of care for that absurdly heavy chunk of plastic and metal it would all end like this. I sat, thinking some more. Time passed and my mood had yet to improve. Then I thought about how absurdly emotionally attached I was to that absurdly heavy chunk of plastic and metal. How could my heartstrings be plucked so severely by sparking machinery made in Korea? I’d like to think that I’m a pretty level-headed fellow, but seeing me in such a state over an inanimate object would beg the contrary.

However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized there were likely many more like me with a zealous attachment to a piece of technology. How many people can’t go to the bathroom without pocketing their phone, iPod, etc.? How many people do you see immediately texting if they’re not being addressed by someone else? Hell, how many people do you see texting while talking to someone else? How often do you hear someone answer another’s question with “I don’t know, Google it.”

Now imagine all those fancy tech luxuries suddenly went away or stopped working indefinitely. Code black. What would you do? Can you say with an honest degree of certainty that you wouldn’t experience a jarring feeling of loss? It really is no enlightening revelation, most of us realize how dependent we are on technology to satisfy our everyday needs.

However, just like any dependent need, once severed, withdrawal symptoms set in. Fear, anxiety, anger, panic, inability to function properly, and desperation can result from the loss of a dependent source.

The age of the smart phone has essentially made all of us drug addicts, and that drug is information and instant gratification. This is obviously problematic, especially for future generations who are being taught to rely on technology even more so than we do. What might the repercussions be? I can’t say I have a clear solution to this issue, but I feel it’s something all of should be aware of as we supplement more technology for uses in our everyday life.

After a few more breaths of fresh air, I returned to my room to face the dread sitting atop my desk. Having no other options, I slapped the matte black chassis with the swiftest wrist flick my emotionally drained body could manage. Poof. The dots were gone.

While I eventually got my “fix,” the event had me see a dark side of myself that seriously worried me. To think that anything, living or not, could hold so much control over me emotionally and mentally was something I never thought I was vulnerable to. So, let me be the first to say it: Hi, I’m Anthony and I’m a tech-oholic.

Con-Man

My favorite part of Comic Con, and any convention at that, is always the cosplay. Having a communal center where you can show your love and dedication to a character or series through cosmetic emulation is, for me, the epitome of what it means to be a fan. Seeing the creative and often complex efforts a cosplayer puts into their costume is something I can truly admire and appreciate. As a cosplayer myself, there is no truer joy than when someone compliments the accuracy or innovative of your costume. Being able to capture a character's identity and be appreciated for it the most satisfying feeling you can get as a fan. Being recognized as the character you are portraying has a cosplayer assume their identity for the duration of the con. You are no longer Anthony DeRosa, journalism student at SUNY New Paltz but rather Miles Edgeworth, ace prosecutor. For me, fulfilling these kind of escapist fantasies are what really represent how much I love a character or series. My Comic Con this year was one of the best con experiences I've ever had. Myself and four friends were swarmed with people wanting to take pictures of our Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney group cosplay. Hanging around the booth where the newest game in the franchise was being demonstrated, many con attendees thought we were being paid by the company to promote the game. While the seemingly constant barrage of similar Ace Attorney fans stopping us to take pictures interfered slightly with our ability to move around the convention center, the smiles and compliments we received more than make up for it. Comic Con: a space where you can go to nerd out with other nerds and get high fives and a sense of camaraderie from doing so.     

The Cause Behind The Play

For Mallory Alexa and Michelle Dira, being in costume is a natural state of existence.

The girls are the founders of the New Paltz Cosplay Cartel, created last semester. The idea for the club came when the creators became close friends after attending the same convention over spring break. The two wanted to create a “cosplay home” after realizing a cosplay club did not exist at the college.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Alexa, a second-year English education major and president of the club, said. “It’s a great way to form a geek community, meet new people and represent how much of a fan you are of something.”

According to Alexa, cosplay is a “culmination of art forms” incorporating photography, costuming, modeling and makeup art.

The art form began with character homage at Star Trek conventions and has since taken off in popularity with the development of other fandoms and pop-culture conventions, Alexa and Dira said.

Alexa began cosplaying in 2009 after seeing cosplay videos online. With a seamstress grandmother and a makeup artist mother, Alexa said she already had the tools and experience passed down from her relatives to begin creating cosplay.

Dira, a second-year English education major, was in eighth grade when she saw her first cosplay video and began to teach herself the craft through tutorial videos online. Having gained more experience as well as instruction from Alexa, Dira now considers her cosplay worthy of “art.”

“There’s something exciting about trying to replicate a character that you love,” Dira said. “Then you find a photographer that loves what you look like, and you find a [photo] editor that would love to turn you into that character.”

While the process of accurately embodying a character requires skill, talent, collaboration and determination, it cannot begin without first finding a character, Alexa said.

“It starts with a series that you love,” Alexa said. “If it’s an anime, a video game, a comic book, you meet that character and you are able to associate with them or they resonate with you. It’s a lot about self identifying with them.”

After finding a character and going through the laborious creation of a costume, cosplayers have an opportunity to showcase their work at conventions.

Preparation for these conventions are often the most stressful experience cosplayers go through, Alexa said, as they represent the deadline when a costume must be as perfect as possible.

The convention environment itself can even be a cause of stress, particularly for female cosplayers, Dira said. Sometimes other convention-goers make unwanted sexual advances or remarks based on what they’re wearing.

Dira said she used to laugh it off and walk away. But she said after seeing a video distributed throughout the online cosplay community called “Cosplay is Not Consent,” featuring both male and female cosplayers taking a stand against unwanted comments, she will now confront a harasser, telling them what they said has made her uncomfortable and asking them not to do it again.

Dira said hearing derrogatory comments can create a feeling of vulnerability and loss of empowerment that many cosplayers feel while in costume. Her advice to anyone who experiences a verbal harassment is to report it — not only for themselves but for the community itself.

On the other hand, the two agree that cosplaying can  be an empowering experience.

“It’s something really cool to take control of your own body and present an image you might not necessarily be able to portray otherwise,” Dira said.

Comic Con Woes

Comic Con came and went, and with it so did my cash. I think I might have a problem. How can I resist the temptations the vendors display? Bright colors and joy emit from those tables like radiation waves. My answer is of the green variety. By the end of my three day stint in Manhattan I was left feeling hollow, surrounded by a sea of toys destined to ornament my desk. On the train ride home I thought about all the things I could now not afford. The first things to come to mind were pizza and cigarettes. A tear shed for the addictions left unsatisfied. Was it worth it, I questioned. I opened the deluxe sized promotional bag a sexy cat had given to me. Vinyl caste faces smiled back at me with bravado. Yup, I thought. Worth.

Poems about Pokemon Volume 1

What horror it would be
for both you and for me
to lose your first Pokemon battle

The shame on your face
can be seen from space
run back home to Mom

Prof. Oak you cry
I just want to die
Better go to a PokeCenter

Button Mashin'

"Mash to win," he joked. Staring at the screen at a genre that was so unfamiliar to me, it seemed like good advice. I was never really into fighting games; the timing, patience, and finger dexterity where all things I severely lacked. However, I was always fascinated by the players who resolved to become so skilled at them. My roommate was one such person. He had grown up with fighting games, and his mind was so mentally attuned to the technical workings of them he had a habit of mastering the basics of any new fighter within hours. Suffice to say, after he coaxed me into playing him, I knew it would be a long while before I had any chance of besting him. So, being a novice I took the only advice I was given and followed it: mash buttons to win. The unpredictable nature of my offense (I didn't even know what I was going to do next) initial threw him off, and I was able to win the first match by hopping about like an idiot and smashing attacks when his character approached mine. He laughed at my sheer dumb luck as I sat confused as to what just happened. "It's a legitimate strategy," he offered. We loaded up the next game.

The Death of Couch Multiplayer

As a kid, if I wanted to play a game with a friend one of us would have to travel to the other's respective home and share couch space as we played against one another. It was a good a social experience as any other; two people in the same room casually chatting while entertaining ourselves on one television. However, that has changed with the introduction of online play over the past decade. Now it is possible for one to sit alone at home upon turning on their computer or console, instantly be connected to friends for mulitplayer experience. Many argue that this innovation is good, having led to better connectivity and little to no logistical requirements to play with friends. I however, miss the engagement and social bonding couch gaming played in my childhood. Talking into a microphone to other disembodied voices can't replicate the social interaction created when sharing a room with someone, enjoying a shared entertainment. It wasn't until I got to college and began playing games in the same space with my roommate did I realize how much I had missed it. Something about playing a game online with others shifts the focus to the game itself and not the fun shared by the people you play with it. It's a shame that this is what we've become used to. The death of couch multiplayer may be overshadowed by the birth of online gaming, but I don't plan on forgetting what it meant to me.

A Healthy Release...For Some

I saw an article recently that said playing games is healthy way to relax and that it promotes self esteem. I respectively disagree, at least personally. When I play games, especially competitive ones, the anger and frustration that boils to the surface has become something I am notoriously known for among my friends. Maybe it stems from a overly competitive nature, but when out in contest in something irrelevant like a game I become an aggressive monster. Though, thinking about it, maybe allowing those emotions to be released is a form of expression in itself. I certainly don't react that way to anything else. So, question of the day: how does playing games make you feel?

Thoughts: MGS V

Last night I saw the first nine minutes of Kojima Production's Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, this time with the English dub. In typical Kojima fashion, I was absorbed into the rainy setting almost immediately. For those who have yet to see it, prepare to enter the uncanny valley as Kojima Production's new Fox Engine produces graphics only possible with next generation consoles. Set to the song  "Here's to You" by Ennio Morricone and Joan Baez, the trailer is hauntingly juxtaposed with the visuals it presents. Hearing Kiefer Sutherland's voice come from Big Boss is still jarred to those familiar with David Hayter, but hopefully the former voice of Snake will make a return in one way or another for Ground Zeroes.

Grand Theft Auto V review

Grand Theft Auto V is the latest criminal epic in developer Rockstar's acclaimed franchise. The series returns to the fictional city of Los Santos, Rockstar's satirical take on Los Angeles last seen in 2004's GTA: San Andreas. The game follows three central protagonists introduced over the first quarter of the game: Michael, a retired bank robber who has settled down with his family, Trevor, his psychotic friend and former partner, and Franklin, a young gang thug looking to score big. Each character has a very distinct identity that is reflected in the story missions they undertake. Many of Michael's missions involve working to solve problems his (often dysfunctional) family has found themselves in; Franklin's missions have him stealing cars and making drug deals, and Trevor's missions often have him murdering an entire clan of people simply for pissing him off. On many occasions the characters meet up for missions, particularly “heists” --large scale missions in which a large amount of money is to be stolen or made. These multi-protagonist missions create a unique gameplay dynamic not typically seen in story driven third-person action games: the ability to switch characters on the fly. In one moment the player will be flying a helicopter as Trevor, and with the push of a button be sniping enemy helicopters from a rooftop as Franklin. Not only only does this keep missions exciting and fun but also allows players to experience multiple mission archetypes in a single scenario: driving, shooting, flying, etc. Players are also able to instantly switch characters while not in missions, often leading to a humorous scene that gives us a bit of insight as to what the character was doing while the player was not actively controlling them. For instance, when I first switched to Trevor after not playing him for a bit, he was drunk, in his underwear, lying on the guardrail of a suspension bridge. The sense of world immersion is so compelling I often found myself wanting to act in accordance with each respective character’s personality. Immediately after waking up on the bridge, I punched a construction worker who happened to walk by --because that’s what Trevor would do. It’s interesting that in a game that gives you so much freedom to do as you please (you can play tennis, do yoga, see a movie, go to a strip club, etc.) I consciously limited my gameplay within a character constraint. On the technical side, the game looks and plays extremely smooth, fully utilizing the graphical capabilities of both the PS3 and Xbox 360, letting both systems go out with a bang as the new console generation arrives in November with the release of the PS4 and Xbox One. With first day sales exceeding $800 million worth of copies, the hype-train has left the station and is rapidly heading toward critics’ Game of the Year Awards; deservedly so. GTA V is the epitome of the series in all its outrageous glory. The game takes a step back to its more satirical and ridiculous roots in terms of story and mission requirements compared to its notably darker predecessor GTA IV, while still maintaining the level of character depth IV established. Any GTA fan already knows that they’ll surely enjoy V, and for good reason. If you don’t have it yet, get it now. 4/4 stars.      

This blog, is the best blog, ever.

Hello, internet! This blog will be dedicated to video games and video game journalism, hosting reviews, opinions and predictions written by yours truly. So without further ado, welcome!