Juggernauts and Verbal Diarrhea

Never Blow One's Own Trumpet.

Ok ok I know I should never have announced it, guess the podcast and joint post were really doomed as soon as I mentioned them. Yeah Major Sheppard and I were kind of busy during Christmas, no really we were, we spent most of our time trying to get all the stars in Modern Warfare 2's cooperative mode. Pitifully we only managed to get 3, brought me to tears at least. Can someone give me an actual scientific basis for how a Juggernaut can survive 5 mines? Seriously, its like facing Arnold Schwarzenegger on crack or something. That said the juggernaut has defiantly moved up my list of "people who you do not want to piss off". I think its the music when they appear that does it.

I'm Sorry, say what?

So not a lot has been happening here and to be frank I want to move away from talking about my life. Though before I do that I've just got to link you to my latest favorite song. That sentence doesn't do any justice to the amount of shame I'm feeling about it though. More interesting however is the little bit of anime news about a new season of Code Geass, especially considering the ending of the second which rapped up the story to a closed ending. It leaves many to speculate on whether an alternative storyline is in the works or an expansion of the main storyline as a continuation. Either way fans may expect to find out more as early as this year. On the same note, I think many of us are looking forward to the next few months, well at least those who have money, for the explosion of the most anticipated games. Personally I have high hopes for Heavy Rain and with its success I hope we find many more games putting empathises on story driven gaming.

Video Killed the Video Game

Though it has to be said that there certainly has to be a balance between the actual game play and cinematography, glares at Final Fantasy XIII. Seems like another game that has fallen into the fiery pits with a bad case of verbal diarrhea, now glares at Metal Gear Solid 4. Is it just me or is there a pattern forming here? Now don't get me wrong, I don't want to start a war, I am all up for the integration of movie scenes and scripts into gaming. Far gone are the days when the stereotypical programming did everything in the gaming production, thank god. We all know this, however gone too are the days when the video game creators or story writers direct the script. I think its now important to start hiring the pros and experts from the film industry to direct those complex scenes. This is defiantly where the Japanese Gaming Industry is failing, in the western world at least. But that said I still believe it was Metal Gear Solid 2 that revolutionized this movement with its balance of game play and movie-like-scenes. Never the less, do Square Enix really need to consider producing the Final Fantasy series abroad? Maybe I'm a hypocrite but surely they realize that Final Fantasy is as quintessentially Japanese as Cherry Blossoms (ok, I seriously couldn't think of anything else, it 5 in the morning, its the best I can do!).

Crap from the Internet.

Anyway I shall hopefully be posting again soon, but until then I leave you with the crap from the internet section. Oh, just in case the petrol I lay down eariler didn't catch fire maybe this will help; I saw Avatar and I loved it, so much so I saw it for a second time. See ya!

To commemorate Major Sheppard's and I's completion of RE5 after 1 year of playing (I asuure you people were not bad gamers).

When Country's Don't have British Health and Safety.

Deus Ex Machina and Visa Versa

The Count Down

Chaos. I think that's the word that sums up my world during the past few weeks, as everything in my new apartment has either broken or been broken by my landlord. Though in the final count down that is the end of the summer vacation, things seem to be winding down to a calm to much of my delight. And Drained, drained is the word that's probably describes how I feel at the moment. And there was no better timing than these weeks to watch the now three year old Anime series, Ergo Proxy.

Ergo Proxy: The Downfall of Man

Exaggeration. Defiantly something I am fond of and is something I use too often, but this is most certainly not needed to describe Ergo Proxy; it is without my doubt a masterpiece in literature. It is not the best Anime ever made, its certainly beautiful and highly captivating, but its not perfect. Though in a round about way, it is precisely this that poetically justifies Ergo Proxy. In a world that is a devastated by mankind's neglect, Earth is a barren and harsh environment (which pretty much described my apartment once). All that now exists however is one city, one pseudo utopia that cradles the last of "humanity" in a totalitarian and religious state. If this isn't bleak enough for you, maybe the lack of music, lack of a "protagonist" and the pessimistic outlook of man's future that is the storyline helps. If not then maybe the thoughts of your own suicide can only beat what is evoked. Though this is certainly far from a emo's whiny outlook on life. The integration of pretty much all the important works in philsophy such as Nietzsche, Plato and Kant make this the most educated Anime ever made. But dont dismay, you don't really need a degree in literature, philosophy or psychology to understand this Anime. And this is the wounder of such media as video. Instead it all can, as has, been conveyed though the music (or lack of it), the images and narrative. As is indeed the narrative is the most complex used for an Anime, it defiantly is not the best in telling a story. So much so its hard to begin to understand what is actually happening in some episodes until an episode or two after. Its hard to like, even I hated it until I realized it's importance in conveying some of the the ultimate question's in western philosophy concerning individualism and the protagonist's own confusion. Its difficult to describe in a blog post how excellent all of this is put together without making an English essay of it, suffice to say its a show to watch to not only entertain but to also educate. It is a defiant recommendation for those who want to learn more about literature, philosophy or psychology as the elements used in the Anime can be applied to any 19th or 20th Century western literature. Indeed if this was not an Anime, it could be mistaken for 19th century western literature. It has all things bleak, the emphasis being from religious texts in Catholicism and Hinduism. Yes, it even mixes both Western and Eastern philosophies well. Particularly when highlighting the conflict between individualism and collectivism that differs in the West and East. Watch Episode 1 Now. For once as well the intro music is relevant! And in English!

For All the Wrong Reasons

Thank God I'm Pretty.

So I'm going to be Mr.Surprise here and write another post only a few days after my previous one. The occasion? None whatsoever! Though it might have something to do with the incredible boredom I have right about now. And so continuing with that theme to the next level is the one and only topic, what I've been up to. I promise I will spice it up somehow, I mean I'm sure the header above caught some attention. Right?

That's no Moon, That's Your Momma.

Strange things have been happening to me recently, amongst them all one of the strangest has been my new urge to watch Dragon Ball Z. Its weird because the last time I watched that show was when I was probably 10 and back then I wasn't particularly impressed by it either. And so when I thought I would watch the first episode of that show, not even bothering to watch the series Dragon Ball that preceded, it shocked me how much I was entertained by it. Now don't get miss leaded here, I am far from suggesting that I was more mature when I was 10 than I am now. In fact it probably takes a few years to fully appreciate the show. I mean I have never come across a show that has far surpassed the A-Team and Walker, Texas Ranger in terms of over the top quotes. I have never laughed so hard in my life from the words: "That's no storm!" or how inoffensive the back talk between rivals are. But in all honesty, I don't really know what is funnier, the over the top evil laughter or the fact that the this is ironically one of the best English dubbed Anime ever. Its probably a given that I'm liking this show for all the wrong reasons, but I have to give the show some praise. Though the weirdness doesn't end there. It just so happens that around the same time I decide to watch this show, I find out that a re-masted version of the show has just begun being aired in Japan, Dragon Ball Kai. Strange indeed. Though I must say that the re-mastered version is the original; the bad song intro was enough for me (yes for me!).

Bord Yet?

I might leave the rest of the strange happenings for another time, as I want to leave with some of the best clips in comics I found on the net so far, I guess this could be added to the crap from the Internet section?

You Got the Boomerang.
Loud Sex
An Outsiders Perspective
Use Hard...

Straight and Traditional

Straight to Business.

I was hoping to make a grand opening in this post by saying an epic comment such as, not many things blow me away. But I know by saying something like that I will not only be lying as it doesn't take make much to blow me away, such as Trueblood at the moment (figuratively and literally), but I would also be over shadowed by the epicness that is the post below. I think my co-writer has raised the bar. So instead of doing something radically different in response, I'm going back to our traditional ways and giving some Anime News and finally some music! Yes that's right, you'll be glad to know that I'm skipping the boring part that is my life and diving right into things. And you thought you got away from my music.

That thing you might call Music.

So I'm going to kill you all firstly by getting to my music, as I know as always we have all missed it. Yes, finally, and to your joy, after many months of listening to some normal music, or at least music I could be proud to say I listened to, I finally fell back to old habits when I came across a cover of a "classic" of mine, "Haruka Kanata", which people may know from the famous Japanese band Asian Kung-fu Generation. Its probably sacrilege to say this, but I'm on my way to hell anyway, the cover for me seemed an improvement (ok guys, out of all the songs Asian Kung-fu Generation have done, this is the worst sung). You can get the cover on iTunes from the new Japanese band Gothic Dolls, sadly though, I think thats the only song that they do good on (and that's saying a lot from me).

Time of Eve.

It was intended that the discussion of Time of Eve be left to the podcast, as it was mentioned in the first episode, but... we all know what happened to that (I think). Anyway, its been a while now and after many months 5 episodes have been released, all of which can be seen where else but Crunchyroll. It has to be one of those animes you just have to watch. With some of the most beautifulest combination of animation and CGI and a story that carries its own philosophical and moral debate, this is one of the best anime around at the moment. I'm not going to delve into much the storyline, but the setting is based in the near future (and despite the anime itself being hesitant as to where on Earth this story takes place, it defiantly takes place in Japan, I don't think the lovely guys in Germany use chop sticks). While its fun to make a joke about this, it certainly serves its purpose that this story could take place anywhere, with androids just having been made available to the consumer and robots already having been implemented for nothing but labor, their place in society is seen as little more than servants. However one cafe is changing all of that. The anime certainly throws a lot of question towards a future implication of the rights of artificial life and probably more so towards today's current conflict between individualism and society.

Crap from the Internet.

Ok, so maybe I've gotten a little too serious, but let me throw some crap into the works now and lighten things up as it has been a while since I've done anything for The Crap from the Internet section. This itself is amazing in it own right seeming as I come across so many stuff while surfing the net (because it's really big you know). The one place that I find myself always checking out at the moment is Fallout 3 Nexus. If your a big fan of Fallout 3, which I'm an addict of at the moment (and having withdrawal symptoms from, just thought I would just share that with you) you'll find a lot of mods here that will improve the experience guaranteed. And because the site allows modders to upload their own works, its updated pretty much everyday. Of course quality is sometimes an issue, 9 times out of 10 I find something of real interest (ok I admit, its the only things at the moment keeping my addictions at bay without playing the game). So ending this post, I thought I would put some funny things I found and you know their going to be funny because I found them (cough). That's right they are Akamaru Certified . Well until next time folks!

She She She's A Bombshell
Mastermind 4
If you know what I mean

The One That is not the Special Post.

Time Flys By.
Well its been about a month or so since my last post, I thought it be good to show at the least that I'm alive and well. While nothing in particular has been going on here, I've noticed that time is certainly passing too quickly and in turn I've been kinda sentimental. Just to think that it will be a year in March since this blog first started, almost several months since I finished school, exactly seven since my surgery and only four since moving to University. While looking back I've played some old songs on my iTunes some of which I cant believed I even listened too! More importantly I cant believe how one of my Japanese lectures looks like Mami Kawada, laughed at that one for a while. (All I need to do now is buy her a fan to get the wind effect and we're all set... ah sorry). Anyway, but seriously, as sad as it sounds, I don't think my tastes have changed at all since 2007 (please don't judge me). Furthermore, having done a review of my bookmarks, I've stumbled upon some good old laughs, like my random favorite flash. And again I cant say my humor has changed much either. I'm still watching Naruto for since two year (oh good god it cant be that long!), meanwhile moving from Innocent Venus to Gundam00 and Code Geass. Having played Metal Gear Solid Online since I got my PS3... hmm...

More of me: Oh what Joy.
Yes... Lets swiftly move on before I bore you all with boredom (God I hate irony sometimes). To much amazement I've been studying Japanese for sometime now and I'm getting the hang of it, still loads more to learn of course, but that goes without saying. However I do have a point (believe it or not) as I'm considering writing a few things every now and then in Japanese. Obscure indeed considering that few people to none read this blog in English! But it all helps... I guess? So yeah.

Anime News:
Some news now, Naruto related of course. I'm sure some of us viewers are now aware that despite the end of dattebayo's subbing, HorribleSubs are now supplying us, well to the extent of ripping from Crunchyroll, or so I heard. I do wounder how long that will last though? So with that jinx, I think thats all for now. I will be back very soon with the last and third of the special posts, I promise, I was lazy once but I'm a changed man now. By the way, MajorSheppard isn't dead either, just has a lot of "work" apparently.

Part One: God and Revolution

Home: Its here.
Today I received an unexpected call that was beyond having a call from god himself. While I wont praise Major Shepard who called me today by implying that he is better than the all mighty himself, I will say that the news he brought of Home Open Beta Release for tomorrow was, in a few words, a godsend. Yes people, amongst the many delays that seemed to push the release date of Home until the next Ice Age, December 11th will forever be remembered as the date that Home Open Beta was released around the world. OK, so maybe I'm slightly over exaggerating, though for many PS3 fan boys out there, this has been a key date they've been waiting for. I can say in all fairness, similar to how India was once the gem in the crown of the British Empire, Home is that of the PS3's, which in it's towering glory can claim to have over any other next-gen console. (I thank you all for letting me blind you with the brightness of my holy praise of Home's coming.) Full Article Here.

Gackt, Maybe He's God?
Though bringing myself to reality, a lot has happened since the trip to Manchester in September (was it that long ago!?). From breaking my wife (i.e. Ipod, what else did you think I was implying?), moving to uni, getting a HD TV, the end of Code Geass's Second Season to finally watching Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle (I know, do not even start). But why would I bore you all with that when I know what we are all waiting to know about is what I've listened to! I can proudly say though, maybe what I've been listening to lately is not so, how should I put it, "interesting". Actually on reviewing that I'm not going to hold any promisises. So, after listening to 4 albums by Gackt I can finally say that he is truly talented (Lust for Blood ¦ Vanillia ). Ok, aside from the initial response of "Oh my god, he looks like a woman" part, this guy (let me emphasise this) is one of the few talented singers out there. Unlike most artists these days, his singing voice is all real, while his lyrics are written by himself. Its actually amazing some of the stuff he sings. I mean who would of thought that this, great translation by !SuperCat, is what Gackt was singing in that "interesting" music video for Vanilla (I certainly didnt when I posted it on Facebook, honest).

The Special Part: The Future of Anime and Fansubs.
So after my last annoucement about Dattebayo to soon finish subbing Naruto, with Crunchyroll to be a replacement for the latest Naruto to be found, I thought It would be a good idea to take my magnifying glass, smoking pipe and rename myself Sherlock Holmes and discover what this place was about. I did. And. It was the best thing I had done since deleting my Facebook account after posting those lyrics (joke, but I did delete my account). In short, Crunchyroll is another website that has sprung up in YouTube's fame, though unlike other such sites, Cruchyroll is a preview of a changing anime industry after the Anime Revolution. During the early 90's, before the time of broadband Internet, fans of anime looking for subbing had to receive the such in VHS format. Though fans were limited to a small selection of anime that made it through translation, not to mention depleting the little remains of their disposable income from their expense. While this situation has picked up with better variety, I assure you all the price has not. It is no wounder that fans turn to fansub groups for their supply of anime. While fansubs originally emerged from the days before broadband, it wasn't until the Internet really picked up that fansub groups revolutionized the anime world. Now many of us are use to having subs of our favorite anime a day or less after their air on TV for free. Yet the anime industry was missing out. I'm sure many of us have either read in an article or by word the problem of the TV as a declining format for watching video. But it has only been since YouTube and the progress of the Internet that a solution has arisen for companies. Instead of fighting the change ahead, many have now chosen to go along with the flow with their own view services on the internet. It is therefore no exaggeration to say that Cruchyroll or other of the like will be the main means where broadcasting and licensed publishers will present their shows or movies. By doing so the corporations eliminate the expense of distributing DVDs, allowing for faster and wider distribution of their productions and importantly putting them in direct competition with fansub groups. In other words, the corporations have setup shop next door on the high street, offering all the same services as the fansub groups, but only better in quality of subs and video. But, there is one huge difference and this is why, while fansub groups will now begin to decline, they will never die. And again the issue is the price. While technically illegal, fansubs will always offer free subs of anime, while the corporations will ask for a price. This is a pivtial difference. Though maybe its only a mater of time that this fee will be removed, where the revenue will instead be gained from advertisement. At the moment Cruchyroll offers the best of both worlds. But not only that, it combines features from those famous social sites making Crunchyroll in my eyes, probably better than Youtube. I highly recomend it to anyone to find out new anime as I have so done: Kuroshitsuji and Time of Eve.

But thats all for me until the second part of the special post.

You would think we'd died or sumthin.

Where on Earth have we been!?
You would think that this blog was dead or close to it from the lack of activity, but believe it or not its far from it. Yeah, ok, I have been slacking off, but give me some sort of break cuz I recently (within the past two months) moved to my university and settled in to what I like to call the slums. I do admit that there was alot me and sheppard wanted to do, but couldnt for some reason or other, however I do come with great news that we will be revamping a few things around here. First off I'll announce that I will be publishing a three part post over the next month dedicated all things anime. In mean time, sheppard and I will be also working on a new podcast for this blog, with its first episode to be published around xmas (exact date still to be confirmed). The podcast will model itself around the blog and should include a bit more info here and there. As sophisticated as I want to decide the podcast, we all know that it will be just as random as any other post in this blog. Plus on the bright side you will get to hear my songs in full quality, with no music videos of course! We all know we are looking forward to that!

Anime News!?
While I'm not going to make this post incredibly long, there is some news that cannot be avoided, which of course has to involve Naruto. To most fan's surprise the only comprehensive fansub group of Naruto, Dattebayo, will be halting its subbing of Naruto Shippuuden affective January 2nd 2009. The reason for the sudden announcement, as surprising as it might sound, is due to redundancy with TV Tokyo announcing to begin streaming Naruto Shippuuden English subbed one hour after it has been aired in Japan. Furthermore, Viz Media has also announced it too will be streaming free English subs of Naruto from its website Naruto.com, starting from episode one. The original article can be found here. On a personal note I know that many will find this disappointing, less so with the fact that viewers will actually have to PAY to watch Naruto, but that an era of Dattebayo subbing has come to an end.

Catch us soon.
I will be back within a week to post the first part of my three part special post (god damn thats wordy). But for now, I'll leave you with a more uplifting note.