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.