Otaku Goddess

Anti-Review: Return to Labyrinth

2011-02-11T15:48:00.000-08:00

Ah ha! I found it! I wrote this review maybe two years ago, but never got to publish it until now. I consider this book the second-worst piece of shit manga I have ever read. In fact, when Matt offered me a free copy of volume 2, I hissed at him and hid under my production assistant's desk.

True story.

Return to Labyrinth
Tokyopop
Jake T. Forbes & Chris Lie
Cover art by Kouyu Shurei

If you're a child of the 80s like me, you still think of David Bowie as a sex symbol and want to name your first born "Jareth." So here’s what I want you to do. Go to your local book store or anime shop and take Return to Labyrinth off the shelf. Admire the beautiful cover art for a while. Stroke it. Lick it if you feel compelled to do so.

Then put it back on the shelf, go home, and pop in your Labyrinth DVD instead. Cause if you're feeling nostalgic, this title isn't going to do anything for you.

Return to Labyrinth takes place about 15 years after the original film, and centers on Sarah's younger brother Toby. Toby's going through the wangsty teenager phase, but has the underappreciated luck to receive anything he wishes for. Why? Because the Goblin King Jareth has seen to it. Jareth meets with Toby in the form of an insultingly effeminate guidance counselor to scold him for his lack of gratitude.

Jareth then lures Toby into the Kingdom by having a goblin...*sigh*...steal his homework. And voila, there he is to face with the Labyrinth's many perils. If you were hoping to see Toby use his clever wit to get himself through the puzzles, don't get your hopes up. The story and character relationships have zero rational development.

My translation: "Hey, you're a faerie that stabbed me. I introduce myself. Now we're friends!"

And then...

"Oh noes! We're being chased by a lion made of water that can pass through bars! I have an idea...let's lead it through a giant pile of poo. Now run everyone! There's a gate! We're suddenly on the other side of the gate and assume that the poo-covered, water lion can't pass through the bars now, but we're not actually going to see if it even tried."

I'm not kidding.

Apparently continuity and quality checking aren't important either, demonstrated by the print errors on page 4. There's a scene where Sarah cooks what appears to be salmon and soup for Toby, then puts down eggs, bacon, and sausage in front of him. That's skill.

The characters tend to be one dimensional except for Moppet. She has potential. A human girl abandoned in the goblin city, forced to wear a mask because she believes she’s truly hideous (comparatively). The artwork desperately wants to be manga, but fails. Everything is limited to its frame. It lacks grace and background detail in a lot of cells. Had this been a full-color western-style comic rather than marketed as a "manga" this may have passed...no...wait...no. Good art can't balance out this predictable drivel.

This

2010-12-30T15:08:00.001-08:00

Nuff said.

New Creative Project

2010-12-28T10:28:00.000-08:00

I have been on a creative streak recently. As many of you know, I am teaming up with a friend to work on a manga. For now, I'm paying her for her concept art, but damn that can be expensive. Wouldn't it be nice to make a little money doing something fun on the side to help pay for it?

Several years ago, I made a cross stitch that says "Shut Your Whore Mouth." Now it sits on the mantle over my fake fireplace, but it has become quite a conversation piece. So why not make more of my favorite anime and video game quotes and sell them?

If you would like to suggest any, hit me up on on twitter at @TheAnimeGoddess and let me know. Try to keep them short. Here's the list so far:

"The cake is a lie" - Portal
"SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY..." - Cowboy Bebop
"......."
"Finish the fight" - Halo
"A real man doesn't need to see the future, he makes his own." - Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid.
"Remember that time we tried to kill you by putting you in fire and you were like NO WAY? That was great." - Portal
"But our princess is in another castle!" - Mario Bros
"The fear for blood tends to create the fear for flesh" - Silent Hill 1
"You have died of dysentery" - Oregon Trail
"Do a barrel roll!" -Starfox 64
"Take out all sons-o-bitches!" Left 4 Dead 2
"Pills Here!" - Left 4 Dead
"Over 9000!" - DragonBall
"I've learned not to underestimate the power of the human race." ~Vegeta, DragonBall
"Who the do hell do you think I am?" - Gurren Lagann
"Love and Peace!" - Trigun
"Hadoken!!" - Street Fighter
"OMG Shoes!" and "Stupid Boy" - Liam Sullivan
"What a perfect night. It's the kind of night that makes me want to suck blood" - Hellsing
"Finish Him" - Mortal Kombat
"All Your Base Are Belong to Us" - Zero Wing
"BLEEP BLOOP BLEEP"
"Game Over"
"Noooooooo!!!"

Games & Anime Don't Make You Fat

2010-10-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

(South Park: "Make Love, Not Warcraft")

Gaming doesn't make you fat. Anime doesn't make you fat. You make you fat.

For a while, I've been thinking about the unfair stereotypes placed on gamers and anime geeks that claim us to be unhealthy, overweight, and physically inactive. Sure, I could stand to lose a few pounds, but I generally live a healthy lifestyle, and I know that I'm not alone.

The other week, I was culling answers for X-Play's twitter ticker. The question was asking "How many hours a week do you play MMORPGs?" And in response, I saw several answers that read that they don't play at all because they "don't want to get fat" or are "fat enough as is."

I found this to be rather offensive. Video games and anime do not make you fat. Making poor food choices and a lack of physical activity make you fat. You are perfectly capable of having good health and geekdom. In fact, even if you don't have time for physical activity, you can still loose excess weight with healthier eating habits. I know because I've been doing it for the last three months with success.

You don't have to stand for the bias society places on you. You don't have to confine yourself to your parents' basement and eat crap just because that is how gamers are portrayed in the media. If you take responsibility for your choices, you will quickly discover that you can have both your health and your entertainment.

That and you'll live longer and have more energy to enjoy your gaming and anime.

Platformism

2010-09-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

"You suck!"
"No, you suck!"
"You both suck!"

I made up a new word!

"Platformism": To discriminate or otherwise put down another person for playing video games on a different platform than yourself.

You humans have this inherent need to find any reason to claim that you're better than someone else. I blame American culture and media which pressures men into being tough, strong, alpha males. Those kind of men win battles. Those kind of men get rich. Those kind of men get the girl in the end.

I've noticed that this craving for domination has extended to video gaming, especially in male players. Gamers will claim that they are better than someone else because they own console X while their victim owns console Y or PC Z. Guess what boys...it doesn't mean a damn thing.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And it's exactly like saying that you are better than someone else because your skin is lighter or darker or your eyes are blue instead of brown. These factors don't make you any better than anyone else. They just make you different. These are VIDEO GAMES we're talking about. Just games! They don't mean that you are smarter, tougher, more ethical, or more talented than the guy sitting next to you.

In fact, turn whatever person is near you right now and say to them, "I am a better human being than you because I play video games on (your console of choice)."

Note the confused pause, then the chuckle. It clearly expresses: "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

Some Day My Prince Will Come and Fight

2010-08-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

My mom: Your older sister is Alice. Your younger sister is Snow White. You're Mulan.
Me: Mom, I am NOT Mulan!

My mother and I have exchanged these words on more than one occasion. I never related much to Disney princesses. The closest I come to is Belle because I enjoy reading, I always try to give people a chance, and "I want much more than this provincial life." Still, it never quite fit. It wasn't ME.

Tonight I was fortunate enough to attend Crispin Freeman's Anime Mythology lecture on priestesses, mystics, and warrior women. He made very solid comparisons between what it means to be a western princess versus an eastern magical girl. I couldn't possibly do his lecture justice by going into detail, but to sum it up: Western princesses achieve happiness through marrying a man. Eastern princesses achieve happiness through self-actualization.

The lecture got me thinking about my own life, why I relate better to female anime figures, and why I am more intrigued by Japanese male characters than western ones.

Female anime characters: I crave adventure. Life can be extremely repetitive and banal to me. So I find that the stories I enjoy the most involve females who must fight against an opposing force to save the world (whichever one it may be). Sadly, there is no such adventure in this day and age as we find in stories. Still, I don't want to be the damsel in the tower to be rescued by the prince. I want to be the warrior kicking ass and taking names!

I want to be special.

Male anime characters: I have been fortunate enough to not be pressured by my family to "find a man and get married." Quite frankly, I enjoy being single and find it sad how many people are placed under this pressure. Lately, I've been saying to myself, "I would rather have a common warrior who fights by my side, than a cowardly prince who hides in his castle" in relation to a recent romantic interest who did me wrong. In Crispin's lecture, he touched on the male protagonists involved with the females' journeys as being, not princes, but "devoted protectors" who serve as much as they love. Examples he used were Tamahome from Fushigi Yuugi, Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon, Van (and I'd include Allen) from Escaflowne, Inuyasha from Inuyasha, and even Alucard from Hellsing.

And I realized that THAT is what I want from a man. I don't want castles and riches and pretty faces. What I truly desire is an equal. I want that "devoted protector" who will join me in the final battle for the world's fate. Whether we'll be on the same side...well that will be interesting to see.

AX and My First Public Lecture

2010-07-06T14:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning, I went up on stage in front of a few dozen people and gave a lecture about interacting with professionals in the anime industry.

So that happened.

Yeah, Anime Expo wasn't as awesome as I would've hoped. The lecture went fine. People laughed, then asked questions, they learned a lot...I'd call that a success. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend Saturday and Sunday which limited my time. Plus a lot of the panels started late, the food was awful, and I was in pain both days during times I was just trying to enjoy myself.

One of the truly awesome things was getting to meet a bunch of friends I'd only known online. I really felt supported doing my lecture knowing that they had shown up to support me. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to give it again (many thanks to Matt to giving me a critique) or perhaps a different lecture next time.

Sadly, the person who was going to record it didn't make it until the very end, so it wasn't taped. Maybe next time.

Anime Expo Lecture Preview!

2010-06-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

As some of you may have heard, I will be giving a lecture at the 2010 Anime Expo in Los Angeles! I'm very excited to "blah blah blah" at an audience for 40-50 minutes with NO POWERPOINT PRESENTATION! I considered one, but I don't want to stand behind a podium with a laptop. That's too dull for me. So here's some info:

When: Sunday, July 4 at 11am
Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, LACC 502 (upstairs by West Hall)

What: "Interacting with Media and the Anime Industry"

Wait...what?!: I'm dishing out the DOs and DO NOTs of dealing with industry professionals. The way you communicate with people can positively or negatively affect their desire to work with you. This talk will focus primarily on anime fans who are looking to break into the industry, have their own websites, or just want to have their voices heard. I'm going to give you an insider's perspective from both the fan and the professional side of the entertainment industry.

The lecture will be divided into six parts:

Making contacts at conventions - Tips on how to prepare to make contacts face to face
Online communications - How social media, blogs, and forums can help or harm your reputation
Reaching out to companies - Requesting materials, job hunting, and pitching
Celebrities - The little things you should know before you talk to one
The top 4 things to NEVER do - You want to piss someone off and destroy any chance of being taken seriously by the media biz? Here's how.
Q&A: With any leftover time, I will gladly answer questions regarding these topics

And yes, I will be cosplaying for the first section. Hope to see you there!

Playing With Myself

2010-05-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

(not my Shepard)

Last week, I finished my first playthrough of Mass Effect. I had the option of starting a new character and class. I decided to make a different version of my my original Commander Shepard with slightly different features, hair color, class, and personality.

And yet...I found it difficult to let go of my heroic, plain Jane, good-hearted Shepard I had just finished playing with. That got me thinking about main characters in RPGs.

I noticed after playing Knights of the Old Republic, that I had a similar feeling. Leaving behind my character from the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI was hard to do, and often times, I miss playing her. But why? Why do we have such attachments to certain video game characters?

My own theory is that in RPGs where we fully customize characters and make decisions that affect the game, those characters reflect ourselves. We, the gamers, make the choices. From my own experience, I find that I choose to play female avatars with similar physical traits to my own, and usually play the "good version" first. So after investing hours upon hours playing my personification and making my desicions, I've become quite attached to my virtual self and find it difficult to play the game again as someone who is not "me." I like this person. I relate to this character. Why? Because they are a reflection of myself. And who do we know better than our own selves?

Then I consider RPGs where the main characters are not customizable. These are characters designed by someone else. Yes, we sometimes make decisions on how to interact, like in the Persona games; yet these non-custom characters don't feel like they are a part of our consciousness. Tidus is not me. Vyse is not me. Sora is not me. Nathan Drake is not me. Starkiller is not me. Even the nameless Suikoden heroes are not me (Then again, they have almost no personality anyway). When I finish a game with characters like those, I feel satisfied, like I put down a good book, but I never find it hard to say goodbye because it is someone else's adventure.

In conclusion, I believe that we take more personal pleasure in RPGs where the main characters is a personified embodiment of ourselves. Why? Because in doing so, we gain a genuine sense of accomplishement, as though we are personally performing these home/world/galaxy-saving feats. The heroes are ourselves, and in turn, we are the heroes.

The New Weapon of War: Free Stuff...But Not

2010-05-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

The winds are changing my friends.

I always found it quite ingenious that Electronic Arts managed to find a way to make consumers want to purchase video games new instead of used. "Why is this important?" you ask. It's important because game developers and publishers don't get a dime on used game sales. Only the retailers do. This kind of sucks for those who work really hard to make games to earn a living.

EA first came up with the "Cerberus Network" idea for Bioware's Mass Effect 2, which added a one-time-use code in every box, granting them free DLC. Without the code, the DLC would cost $15. Making people think that they're saving money is always a good thing. Then they did it again with Dragon Age Origins. Yesterday, EA Sports announced plans to use the same unique code concept with all sports titles, starting with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11; but this time, players will need the code just to play online.

Ruh roh...

I'd say this is a sign of the times. EA has stumbled onto something pretty ingenious. It's not raising prices, but it's giving consumers real incentive to buy new. Do I think it's a douchebag kind of move anyway? Yup. For years, online access was included in the cost of the game. Aren't we already paying for internet service, and hell, sometimes even online gaming service (Xbox Live)? But it could be far worse. They could just charge you to play online anyway...

...which is a concept Activision has been tossing around with the Call of Duty franchise.

Will other game publishers catch on to this? Most likely. Prices on new games drop drastically after the first few months, so maybe you can just wait it out. Oh ho ho! Not so fast! Did you notice that taking advantage of the DA:O free DLC had a time limit on it? It ended April 31, so if you wanted to take advantage of free DLC, you had to buy the game new while it was still full price.

Genius. Is there a Nobel prize for this kind of thing?

Teggy's Anime and Manga Giveaway!

2010-04-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

I have reached 1000+ followers on twitter! Yippie! In celebration, I am personally holding an anime and manga giveaway because I have tons of stuff piled up, taking up space in my apartment. I want to get rid of it! I have five boxes to give away:

3 Mixed anime and manga boxes
1 yaoi/yuri manga box (You must be 18 or older to enter for this one)
1 mixed box that also includes art and drawing technique books

If you would like to enter for a chance to win some, here's what you do: Depending on which box you want, tweet one of these three messages:

I'm entering @TheAnimeGoddess's anime and manga giveaway for the mixed box!

I'm entering @TheAnimeGoddess's anime and manga giveaway for the yaoi/yuri box!

I'm entering @TheAnimeGoddess's anime and manga giveaway for the art box!

I will randomly draw the winners from all the entries. You have until Sunday, May 2nd at 11:59pm PST to enter. This contest is in no way associated with G4, Comcast Entertainment Group, it's parent company, sponsors, or affiliates. No purchase necessary. One entry per person. Void where prohibited.

Are You Stupid, Deceived, or Both?

2010-03-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Video game companies are always trying to find ways to make money. One of the greatest difficulties for the industry is giving consumers incentive to buy new games instead of saving a few dollars and buying used. Why? Because publishers and developers don't earn a dime on used games, only the retailers do.

So the fine folks at EA put their heads together and came up with a brilliant idea: Include a code with new games that grants consumers the power to download extra content for free. The code can only be used one time, so once it's been used, that's it. Therefore, when consumers purchase a used game, they won't get this code and will have to pay for the additional content. This makes a hell of a lot of sense.

Then today I came across an article about one consumer who felt deceived by the practice. He purchased a used copy of Dragon Age: Origins from GameStop to save $5; however, the cover art advertised free additional content and characters. When he got home, he discovered that the code had been used and he would have to pay another $15 to access the downloadable content.

He has since decided to file a lawsuit against GameStop for "deceptively misleading" him to purchase the game used. By saving $5, he had to spend an additional $15 to get the DLC, and thusly spent $10 more for the same material buying it used. He could not even return the game because it was past the 7-day return limit on used items.

Okay, I understand that he feels mislead. The question here though is "who to blame?" Is it really GameStop's fault that the box art advertised free DLC? Should the employees be at fault for not making the "one time use" issue clear to him?

In this case, I'd probably have to say no. Take a look at the back of the box featured on GameStop's website. It explicitly states on the left-hand side, "Includes: downloadable character and quest/A $15 Value/One-time use code available with full retail purchase. Expires April 30, 2010." It's right there, on the box. Can he blame EA then? Well not really, because despite the small print, it's plainly there.

I suppose the only way his case could possibly hold any merit is if GameStop slapped on a sticker advertising the DLC on a used box or an employee explicitly stated that he would still get the DLC for free. That's just me guessing. I'd have to actually see the box in question.

Yes, I know I keep saying that "gamers are not stupid," but anyone can misinterpret the fine print.

Wine About It!

2010-02-27T19:20:00.000-08:00

Dear Capcom,

I was playing Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth today, when I noticed that the passengers in Episode 2 were drinking grape juice out of wine glasses and wine bottles. Now, your game is rated T by the ESRB here in the States. Really now? Your games are chock full of murders, assaults, and kidnappings, yet you localized "wine" as "grape juice"?

Really now. Gamers are smarter than that. We're much more mature about such things than you think. Just because we see "wine" involved in a video game does not mean that we're going to want to go out and drink it (though I could go for some sparkling red grape juice about now...) after playing it. Teens are perfectly capable on making intelligent choices as well as separating fiction from reality. Give them a little credit.

Unless it's all just a jab at 4Kids, in which case, please disregard.

Lulz @ 1:30

You Can Haz Freedom of Speech, Just Not in Your Manga

2010-02-11T15:37:00.000-08:00

There's been some buzz in the manga industry lately revolving around a man named Christopher Handley. So who is this guy? Is he an artist? A journalist? An internet personality?

Nope. He's just an average guy who owns manga depicting children in sexually graphic situations.

Mr. Handley was charged and recently sentenced to six months in prison followed by five years probation for owning "obscene" manga. Personally, I don't approve of the depiction of underage people in sexual situations, so I don't read it. However, like many artists and authors, I believe there is a hard line between drawings and live action when it comes to pornography. One features animated, fictional characters. The other features real human beings, quite often abused or unable to comprehend what is happening.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE!

People have been up in arms over this because it sets a precedent for artwork and freedom of speech. Check out Neil Gaiman's reply to a letter he received about the case. The courts have ruled, and now you can get arrested for owning certain forms of art that do not in any way, shape, or form, portray actual, real children. So if you own loli, heck perhaps even innocent moe, there's now standing precedent that can land you in prison depending on who's feeling "righteous" (and by righteous, I mean "who says to hell with your first amendment rights for their own narrow range of vaaaaaaalues.")

The kicker? Read the bottom of the ANN article about his references and psychological profile. He's normal! Just like you and me. Most people like porn. I think it's swell as long as all parties involved in the production are consensual. Oh right, it's physically impossible for it to be non-consensual when it's ANIMATED!

Good job American justice system.

Teggy's Top Ten: Hottest Gentlemen of Anime

2010-01-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

I do love my pretty boys! After putting together my list of the top ten hottest gentlemen of video games, I figured I was obligated to do the same for anime. This list does not include manga-only characters, otherwise it would be very different. I'll save that for another time.

Allons-y!

Honorable Mention:
Roy Mustang, Fullmetal Alchemist
Roy will set your heart ablaze with a snap of his fingers.

Honorable Mention:
Alucard, Hellsing
Tati: "Yeah cause I would so totally rub up on Alucard all inappropriate like."

10th Place
Ishida Uryuu, Bleach
Remember what I said about characters who wear white? Ishida carries himself with a steely grace. You'll need to have a will of iron to keep his arrows from piercing your heart. Those sharp glasses make him look like that brainy, quiet guy you know is secretly a stallion in the bedroom.

9th Place
Ran "Aya" Fujimiya, Weiss Kreuz
"Angsty redhead voiced by Takehito Koyasu." Need I say more? Well okay, Aya is a flower shop worker by day and assassin by night. He's willing to take revenge on the mafia with just his guts and a katana. His fantastic haircut and badass jacket secure him a spot on the list. Aya may have placed higher if his show didn't suck so much.

8th Place
Lord Il Palazzo, Excel Saga
Now he may seem like a man of little action, but Il Palazzo has one fantastic quality aside from his golden eyes and long, silver hair: ambition. He wants to take over the city, and then, the world! Besides, who doesn't like a villain with a sense of humor? I even named one of my laptops after Lord Il Plazzo because it was a "huge, silver, sexy bitch."

7th Place
Shinomori Aoshi, Rurouni Kenshin
Now look, it's been a long time since I've watched Kenshin. I don't remember much about Aoshi. But when what I remember is that he's a dead sexy anti-hero who carries an "additional surprise" in his scabbard...that makes him worthy of placing on the list.

6th Place
Zagato, Magic Knight Rayearth
Yes okay, this is an image from the manga, but it was surprisingly difficult to find shots from the anime. Zagato gets his spot for being the token "tall, dark, and handsome" guy. Other appropriate adjectives include "powerful," "intricate," "devoted," and "self-sacrificing." Why? Well you'll just have to watch Rayearth to find out.

5th Place
Kurama/Yoko Kurama, YuYu Hakusho
It's two...two...two bishies in one! Everyday Kurama is intelligent, quiet, and romantic. As deadly as he is in his human form, when pushed to the edge, Kurama turns into a beast...literally. When he transforms into the silver fox Yoko Kurama, you may as well put your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye.

4th Place
Kaname & Zero, Vampire Knight
Wait...I can have my cake and eat it too? Take your pick when it comes to this pair. First there is Kaname, the pureblooded vampire aristocrat who could take whatever he wanted, but doesn't. Then there is Zero, a white-haired human who is slowly losing his mind as he transforms into a Level E vampire. Are they in love? Hell no. They both care deeply for the same girl, putting them in direct contention in an environment where peace is essential to survival. With tension this strong, one, if not both, could snap at any moment.

3rd Place
Hotohori, Fushigi Yuugi
It's good to be the king! Even so, Hotohori is more than willing to step away from his throne to fulfill his destiny as one of the seven celestial warriors of Suzaku. He deeply loves his priestess Miaka, but sets his own feelings aside so she can be with another man. His duel with Tamahome is one of the most intense and dramatic fights in anime history.

2nd Place
Allen Schezar, The Vision of Escaflowne
Any girl would trade her favorite pair of shoes to get caught in the rain with Allen. The white knight with the flowing, golden locks is one of the most swoon-worthy characters in anime. The fact that he's stuck on his dead ex, and thus unobtainable, only makes the girls want to win his heart all the more. If you're the kind of woman looking for a man to fix, Allen's your bishie.

1st Place
The gentlemen of Ohtori Academy, Revolutionary Girl Utena
With more wicked upperclassmen than you can shake a stick at, there is plenty of hot bishounen action to go around at Ohtori. If you want the romantic ladies man, your heart will flutter for Touga. If you want a man who will take control, then gamble your well-being on Saionji. If you like the mysterious type who will push you to the breaking point, Ruka will tempt you heart and soul. And if you're willing to make a deal with the devil himself, Akio will take you for the ride of your life.

Shenanigans! - Microsoft XBL 2009 Numbers

2010-01-07T09:23:00.000-08:00

This morning, I received a press release from Microsoft about Xbox 360 and Xbox Live activity for the end of 2009. Looking for bits to put in the X-Play news ticker, I came across this quote:

"During this time, Xbox LIVE saw a record peak of more than 2.2 million people using the service at the same time – up 47% over the same period last year."

47% up? That's a pretty hefty number. The time period in question ranges from 12/14/09 to 1/03/10. Roughly, you average school holiday break. Some may attribute this jump in activity to be due to the rebounding economy.

However, this number set off tiny alarms in Teggy's head. Ping! Ping! Ping! Did Microsoft think we'd all forget what happened last year?

Some of you may recall that during the same time period in 2008, Xbox Live was so overwhelmed with new members that many gamers experienced outages for upward of a full week. People bitched and threatened to sue. Then Microsoft offered a free XBLA download to disgruntled clients. The service was never completely offline. Had it been, the increase in activity would have been even higher in 2009.

Don't let this statistic fool you. Microsoft wants it to look like it's huge success when actually last year's pitfall merely left a wider gap for improvement. This happens with retailers all the time. If they're closed on a "Monday" national holiday one year, the next year when the date of that Monday is shifted, they will see a massive sales increase over the same "date" which makes the stores look good.

I'd brand it, but I've yet to find an animated GIF of the Attack of the Show "Shenanigans" graphic.

So You Decided to Get that Japanese Tattoo...

2010-01-01T22:04:00.000-08:00

(Note: Please check out the comments section of this article for more helpful advice and links from reader Brian M.)

Now that you've settled on your tattoo design, let's talk a bit about the process. But first, my disclaimer: Teggy is not a tattoo artist nor medical professional. Always consult your artist or a doctor for any medical concerns.

Finding Your Artist
You have your design planned, maybe even a picture printed. If you only have a concept, make sure to ask your potential artists if they hand draw their own work. Most do. All of them should have photos of their body of work. Inspect these books. I walked into a place and saw a crappy book, which was a real turnoff, even though I had a simple, pre-printed image.

If you can, make an appointment in advance and leave yourself plenty of time to have the work done. Advance notice to your artist gives him or her time to prepare materials.

Your artist should have a professional attitude. Remember, this person is going to be carving a permanent image into your skin. They should be treating you with respect, and you should show them the same courtesy.

Trust your gut. If you ever have a bad feeling about the artist, their work, their cleanliness, or their shop, walk away. What're they gonna do? Give you a dirty look? This is your body, after all.

Sanitation
It is law in some states that require artists to open fresh needles in front of you. Needles should always be new and sterile. If you aren't sure, ask. If you can't confirm that they're sterile, don't do it. Your artist should always be wearing gloves when working on you. The area should be clean.

When inquiring about an artist, ask them how they cover their tattoos when they're done. A paper towel and some tape is not acceptable. This is a fresh flesh wound. They should absolutely be using sterile gauze.

The Process
People fear getting a tattoo for the pain. Mostly, it feels like a vibrating needle scratching your skin. Yeah, it stings a bit, but there is far worse out there. The larger the tattoo, the longer it takes. Large tattoos may take multiple sessions. If you need a short break, just ask for one.

Some artists are chatty, others are not. If they aren't, don't chat with them. You really don't want to distract someone with a needle on your skin. Also, you need to sit very still. If you tend to flinch from touch, let your artist know before you start.

Afterward
It is customary to tip your artist. You are paying for them for their skill, so don't be a stingy jerk. Also, expect to pay cash.

Keep you tattoo covered. Change your bandage 1-2 times daily with clean hands. Between changes, clean your tattoo with water and gentle soap. I used alcohol swabs last time (but have since been told that these are too irritating and bad. Keeping the skin moisturized is key). Then coat the tattoo with a thin layer of antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. I tend to keep my tattoos covered for longer than most people, generally 3-5 days. I just find that my scratches generally heal better if I keep them covered.

Around day 3, your scarred skin will start flaking off. Be very gentle when rubbing it away. It will also get itchy about then. DON'T SCRATCH IT. You should know better.

My hairdresser put it best. "A healing tattoo feels like a bruised sunburn." This is why I say keep it covered for 3-5 days. You'll suddenly realize how much contact your skin makes while going through this process.

Touch-Ups
Your artist wants you to be happy with their work. Word-of-mouth is a good way for them to get new clients. If something isn't quite right or you're not 100% happy, wait about 2-3 weeks for your skin to fully heal, and make an appointment for a touch up. Let the shop know you're coming in for a touch up because they often do those for free which means they lose money.

So You Want a Japanese Tattoo...

2009-12-30T20:45:00.000-08:00

Ah tattoos...very personal symbols indeed. From what image to colors, to placement you use is your own. As otaku, there may be certain...Japanese tattoos that inspire you. So allow me to give you some advice on how to go about getting your perfect ink. This entry will only be about designs. I'll post another bit later on choosing an artist and the process.

First and foremost, you have to remember that tattoos are permanent. Yes, there is painful, expensive surgery to get rid of them; but why would you waste your time, money, and pain tolerance on removal when you can just take your time in thinking about what you want on your skin for the rest of your life. For now, we'll focus on three Japanese styles: art, kanji, and anime.

Art: Japanese art tattoos have a very distinct style that suits skin well. Ever notice how tattooed images can look a little...cartoony? Well Japanese style tats bend that look into a graceful art. However, there is something important to keep in mind...the Yakuza.

I was quite surprised when my friend in Kanazawa informed me that tattoos are not very well accepted in Japan. In fact, most tattoos are associated with Yakuza. You wouldn't be allowed in most hot springs without covering your ink. Even worse, you damn well better not get caught by one of these guys with a full-body Yakuza design. Take the Japanese tattoo style and make it something of your own. Don't be a poser.

Kanji: The same friend of mine has a brother who got some kanji tattooed on his neck. He thought it read "spiritual energy" but ended up actually being something more like "sexual power." The moral of this story is: always research your kanji. There are websites that will charge you to design your kanji tattoo, but if it's not something too obscure, you can easily do some internet research and save some images. Be sure to cross-reference your words. Just like in English, there are heterographs (words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings such as "roll" and "role" or "bored" and "board.") For example, the word "jishin" can mean both "earthquake" or "self-confidence" depending on how the kanji is drawn.

I got lucky with my kanji tattoo. I always knew that I wanted "unmei" on my left ankle. I happened to wander into a store where they had a calligrapher who would design the tattoos for the artists to trace on the skin. (There's a funny story here, but this is a lengthy post as is) As long as you know exactly what you want and how the kanji is supposed to look, you should be alright.

Anime: We love our anime. Some of it means more to us than others. Sometimes we find a symbol or a character we can relate to on a deep level. The most important question to ask yourself when considering an anime tattoo is "Will I be embarrassed to explain to others what this is?" If the answer is "yes," you might want to reconsider.

As some of you heard, I recently got an anime-related tattoo. I don't have a finished image yet, but I'll post it when I do. I decided to get the rose crest from the TV version of "Revolutionary Girl Utena." Why that symbol? I have my reasons. It's not just because I love the anime, but it's a series that some of my dearest friends and I bonded over. To me, it doesn't just symbolize my passion for anime, it also symbolizes the love I have for my friends.

In conclusion, think long and hard about what you want etched into your skin. Make it worth your time, money, and pain. More on the mechanics of getting a tattoo next time.

Reader Request: Red Curry Recipe

2009-12-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

If you're into anime, you've probably seen plenty of references to curry. Curry comes in a wide variety of flavors and styles. Ever since I first discovered Thai style masamun, I've been making my own. Of course, my stuff doesn't taste much like what you find in restaurants, but it's still tasty. Some of my twitter followers have been asking for my red curry recipe, or as I call it...

TEGGY'S SPICY ORANGE GOO OF DEATH!!!

Death? Really? Yes. This curry could kill several personal friends of mine with their allergies. If you have any aversion to the ingredients in this recipe, use your common sense and don't eat it.

(Serves 2)

INGREDIENTS
1 can of light coconut milk
1-2 tbsp red, green, or masamun curry paste (add to taste)
3 tbsp fish oil
2 tbsp brown sugar

1 potato - Russet baking potato or sweet potato
1-2 boneless chicken breasts

Optional: 1/2 cup of chicken or beef stock to cut the coconut milk, small handful of peanuts or cashews, bamboo shoots, lemongrass, whatever other veggies or meat/tofu you might like to add (I strongly advise against turkey)

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat conventional oven to 450 degrees for regular potatoes, 400 for sweet potatoes. Wash and pierce potato, then bake it for 1 hour. Begin the next process with 15-20 minutes left to bake.

Grill chicken breasts or pan fry your protein of choice. You can also find pre-grilled chicken strips to save time. Those I just dice up and brown a little in a pan on the stove first. No oils necessary.

Pour the coconut milk into a medium saucepan, then add the curry paste, fish oil, and brown sugar (also add chicken stock and lemon grass at this point if you want them). Be cautious with your fish oil to brown sugar ratio. If you have too much fish oil, it'll taste funky. To correct, just add a little more brown sugar. If it's too sweet, add a touch more fish oil. I like to wisk the mixture to get the ingredients to blend well. The curry paste needs to be mashed up and well blended to avoid chunks of spicy pain.

Very slowly, heat up the sauce pan. Keep stirring and add in the chicken at this time. The goal is to have it at about a boil when the potatoes finish cooking. Don't let it heat too quickly or boil too long without stirring. This causes the curry to get a little too gooey and separate. You want it liquidy.

When the potatoes are done baking, remove them from the oven and cut off the skins. Then cut the insides into small, bite-sized chunks. Smaller is better when it comes to spicy...trust me. Add the potato chunks to the curry and let them simmer for about 5 minutes. Keep stirring! You can also add other veggies at this point if you desire.

Serve in small bowls with rice on the side. I like to add some peanuts once the curry is in the bowls because I store the leftovers in the fridge. If you add peanuts into the leftovers, they'll get soft when they sit till next time. If you like it that way, then all the power too ya!

To reheat, just pour the concoction back into a saucepan (usually a smaller one) and slowly reheat. It will be a bit thicker than the night before, but it should still taste the same.

Note: You can make the same recipie with green curry paste. I don't care for yellow, so I haven't tried that yet.

Caution: This stuff is wicked hot and spicy! Be very careful when handling so you don't burn yourself. And no, there is no wine that goes with curry. You'll want to drink lots of water.

Placating Pirates May Piss Off the Rest of Us

2009-12-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

(image from Joystiq)

In a recent talk with Kotaku, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitello stated that even though the company doesn't care for pirates, EA is trying to view them as a market for downloadable content. He states, "There's a sizable pirate market and a sizable second sale market and we want to try to generate revenue in that marketplace." Basically, EA thinks they can get pirates to buy DLC and still recover some of the money lost to theft.

Now hold on a second.

What does that say to consumers who legitimately purchase video games if EA is so nonchalant about piracy? It sends the message that they're willing to let it slide if some people steal from them.

So why not the rest of us? Why should we bother to pay for a video game and the DLC when EA will allow others to purchase DLC even if they don't pay for the game? That's like giving out bonus points on future purchases at retail to people who buy items as well as shoplifters. Why should theives be allowed the same perks as the law abiding citizen? That's not fair at all.

If I were in charge-- mostly cause I can be a really harsh biotch when it comes to people breaking my rules --I would do what Eidos did with Batman Arkham Asylum and add glitches that render the content unplayable unless they are legitimate copies. You wanna steal from me punk? I'll make damn sure you get no pleasure from it.

Source: Kotaku

Pokemon is the Devil!

2009-12-08T15:17:00.001-08:00

Holy crap this shit is funny.

HAWK SMASH!!!

2009-12-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

Update: The NPD group reports that Tony Hawk: Ride sold only 114,000 units. That's 9,000 united LESS than DJ Hero.

Skateboarding legend and roller coaster designer Tony Hawk is not a happy man. Sure has has millions of dollars from an empire he built on sheer talent and cunning....

...but no. Despite this, Tony is unhappy because his latest video game Tony Hawk: Ride is getting panned by critics. Someone who has been in the spotlight for years knows perfectly well that some people just aren't going to like you or your product no matter what you try. After a while, you stop taking it personally.

Not so much this time. Tony has fired back in under 140 characters by stating, "Most snarky critics had their minds set before ever seeing/playing the game. I'm proud of what we created; it's innovative, responsive & fun."

My question to Tony is, "How do you know that first sentence to be true?" Many critics who did not care for Ride enjoyed some earlier installments in the skateboarding franchise. Yes, many critics even thought the board peripheral was innovative, but unless your game executes its primary function in a satisfactory manner, then it only harms the game. Especially when the developers leave out the option to not use the board. When he questions the integrity of video game reviewers, that does nothing but make them angry.

In conclusion, it's perfectly okay for Tony to be unhappy with the criticism. That's a normal reaction. What he needs to do next is realize that if a majority of critics have negative comments, then he needs to accept that the problem is his game, learn from it, and create something better next time. Hey, if 50 Cent could do it, certainly Tony Hawk can.

Source: Tony Hawk Ride response

Rock On...and Prosper

2009-11-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

Video Game - E3 2009 - X-Play

Cosplay - Buyer Beware

2009-11-18T11:24:00.000-08:00

Everybody who knows me knows that I love shopping and cosplay. I can't sew for beans (I can fix a ripped seam or a button, but that's about it), so I'm more of a scavenger when it comes to costumes. Several years ago, I came across Cosplay Magic's ebay store, and it made me very suspicious.

They were selling costumes at $20 a pop, but charging $60 to ship from Asia to North America. Then I went to their website and found that they were selling the same costumes for $80, but offering free shipping. Red flag! First of all, it does not cost $60 to ship a simple costume from Asia to North America. $30, maybe. They were trying to make it look like a bargain, when it actually wasn't. I even contacted them to inquire as to why they did it and all they gave me was some bull that didn't actually answer my question.

Here is another example I found on ebay from a different seller:

Take a look at the price of the costume versus shipping. DO NOT TOLERATE THIS! You are being gouged for shipping to make up for the costs of having the outfit look like a bargain. It's not. You can do better if you shop around. Check your local thrift stores for parts that you can assemble and customize. I don't recommend paying full price for costume parts ever, unless you plan to use those individual pieces in your daily life.

Teggy Gets Predicty

2009-11-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

Today's X-Play twitter question asks "What do you think the biggest gaming trend in 2010?" This got me thinking. I've been writing video game news for several years now, and this is what I've observed.

2007: Game Delays - Publishers left and right started delaying their game release dates as if it was some kind of fashion trend.

2008: Downloadable Content - Developers realized that with internet-connected systems, they could feed bonus content to consumers...for a price. $5 map pack x 1 million players = $5 million.

2009: Announcing Announcements - Kojima Productions and Square Enix are the worst culprits of this. Both of them have even had countdown clocks to when they were going to make an announcement. I shake my fist on behalf of Steve Norman who originally noticed this.

So what's going to happen in 2010? I have two predictions:

The Rise and Fall of Motion Controllers - Microsoft and Sony are following Nintendo's suit of incorporating motion controls into gaming. I think next year and maybe into early 2011, we will see the peak of this. Gamers are so used to keyboards and hand-held controllers, that I doubt motion-controlled gaming will stay popular for very long. Yes, I'll say it. I think it's just going to be a fad.

The MMORPG Revolution - There are four
MMORPGs that could convert a huge portion of gamers into the genre, those being Star Trek Online, DC Universe Online, Final Fantasy XIV, and Star Wars: The Old Republic. I predict the last one will have the greatest impact. Perhaps these games will continue the revolution of making MMORPGs more socially acceptable, a feat which began with World of Warcraft.

That brings me to the fifth game I didn't even mention. Blizzard has announced that they are working on a new MMORPG as a World of Warcaft successor. There is no way in hell that it will actually launch in 2010; however, I do think they will finally announce what it is next year, most likely at Blizzcon (if not E3).

Anti-Review: B.Ichi volume 4

2009-11-05T14:46:00.000-08:00

This one isn't so much of an anti-review as it's something I can't write a complete review about for Graphic Novel Reporter. So I'm putting it here. This time, it's B.Ichi volume 4 by Atsushi Ohkubo.

What's it about? Hell if I know. I was given volume four. It's good kids with super powers fighting evil kids with super powers. Despite feeling rather clueless about the plot, even after finishing the manga, B.Ichi is worth talking about for the art alone.

Oh hey, so that's where my Orlando Bloom bookmark went...

The art is hyper modern, funky, twisted, and one of the most imaginative styles I've ever seen in manga. There is so much detail, yet very little shading, making it look two-dimensional.

Unfortunately...I haven't been able to find any online images from the manga itself. You're just going to have to go out and buy it.

DSi XLoL

2009-10-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

Didn't I tell you? You should listen to Teggy.

Nintendo has announced the DSi XL, a new handheld system in its DS line sporting 4-inch+ dual screens (approximately a 93% increase in size over current models) with DSiWare software, a larger stylus, and a camera.

What am I being all snarky about? When people asked me in the past if they should upgrade, 90% of the time, I would say no. A camera, built in web browsing, and downloadable content really wasn't enough reason to buy a new DS if you already owned one. Still, people did it anyway. My friend's choice to upgrade was my gain because I bought his DS for the trade-in price he would have gotten from GameStop.

Now gamers are posed with two questions, depending on their situation. First, if they upgraded to a DSi, should they upgrade again? Or, if they hadn't upgraded, is now the time?

To the first question, I say no. The DSi only came out last spring. DSi XL comes out next spring. A larger screen and stylus aren't really good enough reasons to pay $170+ AGAIN. A price has not been set, but you can bet it won't be any lower than the current DSi. I'm gonna estimate it'll retail for $199. Then again, that's the price of the Wii so...$179.

To the second question, I say sure IF you've been meaning to upgrade. From the DS/DS Lite models to the DSi XL you're getting the larger screens on top of DSiWare and the camera. Don't upgrade on a whim. At least you have 3-6 months to think on it first.

Everyone's concern is going to be "How will current DS and GBA titles look on the larger screens when the games were designed for smaller resolutions?" Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. I can just about guarantee that Nintendo has already thought about this detail and will make everything compatible. It's not too likely they'd shoot themselves in the foot.

Formal Apology

2009-10-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

SPOILER WARNING!
This post contains spoilers for "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic."

Dear Carth,

Look, dude, I'm like...really sorry I had to kill your kid. I tried to reason with him, I really did! He asked me to bring him evidence that the Sith were evil. I thought if I could get in with Yuthura that I could somehow break into Uthar's quarters and get something. I shouldn't have had to do that though. I mean, the WHOLE FREAKIN ACADEMY attacked me for killing Uthar, something they all ASPIRED to do!

In all fairness, Dustil attacked me first. It was completely unprovoked! Besides, you were right by my side, shooting him down with your blasters. So don't you dare say I've fallen to the dark side when you son died by YOUR own hand too.

I hope we can still be friends with benefits.

Yours,
Elena Benedict

Infinity Ward is Not Afraid of You

2009-10-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

(Note: Mr. Carl Watkins has kindly filled me in on exactly what it is that PC gamers are all upset about. I understand now that the uproar over CoD:MW2 has to do with the loss of customizable content and server performance. The point of my post below is that in my own hunble opinion [the opinions of Teggy to not necessarily reflect those of G4, Comcast Entertainment Group, its parent company, sponsors, or affiliates], is that I feel it is unfair to judge a product as something bad or doomed to fail before one really experiences it. Please also read the comments section for some excellent elaboration from some readers.)

Main Article:

I wonder about parents. I really do, especially when it comes to the behavior of their children when they grow up. The other day, the bus was running late. There was a woman at my bus stop was intermittently screaming "Bus! The Bus! The mother... fucking... BUUUUUUS!!!" because she wanted it to come. The thing was, other than the screaming, she seemed like a rather normal lady. I pondered to myself, "Didn't that lady's parents teach her that screeching to get what you want is unacceptable behavior?" Yelling for a bus at the top of her lungs didn't make it come any faster. It only annoyed the people around her.

So what does this have to do with anything?

The other day, Infinity Ward announced that they were doing away with dedicated servers for the multiplayer portion of the PC edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and replacing it with a new system called "IWNET."

(Now before I continue, allow me to preface the rest of this entry by stating that I have not played any Call of Duty game, let alone in a multiplayer mode.)

Instantly, the PC gaming community was in an uproar. There is already a petition with over 139,000 signatures asking Infinity Ward to reconsider its choice to ditch dedicated servers. "Remember that this Call of Duty was made popular by PC Gamers who have supported the series throughout. " Right! Of course! It's because of the PLAYERS that a game is a bestseller. It has nothing to do with the talented, hard working game designers, programmers, and staff creating a superior game. To hell with them. It's YOU, the CONSUMERS, who make games popular. Please keep in mind that consumers also made the Transformers movies popular.

So Infinity Ward is offering this new system, promising improved matchmaking, faster server finding, customizable rules, less cheating, and a few other nifty features; yet, gamers are in an tizzy over something... they... haven't... tried... yet.

*sigh*

Guys...come on. You're throwing a fit over something you haven't even experienced. There is no need to fear something because it's different. You might love it. This is Infinity Ward + Call of Duty we're talking about here. Infinity Ward doesn't make crap for the Call of Duty franchise. Clearly, they have thought this through, putting a lot of time and effort into creating a system to make your experience more enjoyable.

This outcry is like throwing a tantrum because you don't want your hair cut, even though you're seeing one of the top hairdressers in the world, because you're used to your hair and refuse to accept that it could possibly look better.

And if you think Infinity Ward is going to be intimidated by a petition, think again.

Teggy's First Experience With the Palm Pre

2009-10-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

All Your Images Are Not Belong To Us

2009-10-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

I legally downloaded this image from iStockphoto.com

The other day, a friend of mine asked me for help looking up specific images online. When I found out that it was for a published project, I told him that he can't just take whatever pictures he wants off the internet. He could get into big trouble for copyright infringement.

And he says to me, "No it isn't. The internet is public domain."

Um...no. Materials found on the internet are not public domain.

You may notice that I've added a disclaimer to my blog stating that most of the photos and videos on this blog are not mine. They aren't. I don't claim that they are. I suppose I could do one better and put source links under each photo. Since this blog is not for profit, I don't really run too big of a risk in getting into trouble for using images that aren't mine. When I used to write anime and manga reviews though, publishers requested that I only use their sanctioned images.

It's unlikely that anyone will give you a hard time for using images from the internet for a school project or private blog, but when you get into the professional world, you will need to either provide your own images or purchase them from a stock image source. Here are some examples of places you can legally purchase images from:

iStockphoto
Big Stock Photo
Stock Photo Expert
FotoSearch

EDIT: How appropriate that I should post this on the day that the Shepard Fairy case in fair use vs. the Associated Press is back in the news.

Teggy Liked Zombieland Too

2009-10-12T11:27:00.001-07:00

I didn't really have a burning desire to see Zombieland. I'm more into vampires than zombies, but I had heard good things about the film from friends. So when my pal Matt mentioned he was planning to see it this weekend, I told him to give me a call if he was going. After making me feel stupid for not conning the ticket kiosk into giving me the senior discount, we were on our way to a wild ride-o-fun.

Nutshell synopsis: "Columbus"(Jessie Eisenberg) is a stereotypical gamer shut-in when the first girl he comes close to having any romantic interaction with turns into a zombie. From there out, the zombie virus has spread across most of America. He's on his way to find his dysfunctional family in Ohio when he meets another survivor "Tallahassee" (Woody Harrelson). Mismatched pair on a road trip leads to much hijinks and dangerous thrills.

So why is everyone raving about this film? I can sum it up in two words "good writing." You get fleshed out (albeit anonymous) characters with development, clever dialogue, slow motion cinematography in the APPROPRIATE places, set up with payoff, and the uncertainty that there will be a happy ending. The survivors all do badass things, but their actions are still very believeable. Harrelson is absolutely charming in his role, and Bill Murray's cameo is icing on the delicious cake.

On a peronsonal note, it was so nice FOR ONCE to have an audience that wasn't annoying the fuck out of me the whole time. Matt and I made fun of the trailers (he still laughs at 2012 even though he's seen it at least three times), but shut up once the movie started. Luckily, so did everyone else. Matt has a very infectious laugh that only made the film more enjoyable. In fact, I overheard the people in front of us saying that they weren't annoyed by his rambunctious outbursts at all, in fact he made it even more fun for them. That's my Shaz!

Tips for Making Good AMVs

2009-10-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

Today I'm going to be sharing some tips on editing good anime music videos, aka "AMVs." I learned video editing back in high school and it's always been a passion of mine. I should really get into editing my own again.

Tip 1: Choose appropriate music - When it comes to music videos, you should work with music that inspires you. One thing I recommend for any AMV editor is to shorten your music. Four minutes really drags on, especially if it's a slow song. You can make a quality video in a mere two to two and a half minutes.

Tip 2: Feel the beat! - Cuts made on the downbeat or upbeat are generally more aesthetic than cuts that are made at random.

Tip 3: Setting a scene to music is not editing...it is laziness!!! - You can't lay a two minute scene from an anime over a piece of music and call it an AMV. That's not editing.

Tip 4: Tell a story - A good music video will tell a story or convey a basic theme without dialogue. You need to keep in mind that nobody gives a rat's ass if that one verse in that one Linkin Park song reminds you of your most painful breakup. Make your idea accessible. The video below is a classic AMV called "Tainted Donuts." With only a very small amount of dialogue at the beginning, it successfully tells a story about Spike from Cowboy Bebop attempting to collect a bounty on Vash from Trigun.

Tip 5: Beware of jump cuts - What is a "jump cut"? A jump cut is an edit between two similar shots without any kind of transitional shot. It's very jarring and looks amateur if you don't do it right. Ways to avoid this include cutting to something else (a cut away) or significantly closer (cut in) or further from the subject.

Tip 6: Ooh those pesky subtitles - If the audience can see subtitles in your work, then they instantly know it's a fansub. Plus, they look out of place and terrible. Cover them up with black bars if you must use them. Big BUT here....BUT...if you do use them, use them over your entire video. Changing your aspect ratio is also very awkward to watch.

All right. Those are all the tips I can think of for now. If I come up with any more, I'll edit them in.

Heroes: S4E04 - Acceptance

2009-10-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

Previously on Heroes: Nathan was having that funny, squishy feeling. Noah is emo and poor, but somehow has the time and money to fly across the country. There's a box with the fateful compass of fate. Hiro was adorably adorable, and Nikki? Er...Barbara? Which one are we on? Tracy, that's it. She "just wants her old life back."

And now...episode three...no wait, four. Sorry.

0:01 - We open with....SUSPICIOUS WATER!!!

0:02 - Is that how Tracy takes a bath? I'm reminded of Christie in the beginning of one of the Dead or Alive games. Just me?

0:03 - Hiro, "We're the last of the Nakamuras...are you saying I need to reproduce? YES!!!"

0:03 - Wow Ando types fast.

0:04 - Hiro, "I've thought of a new entry for my bucket list." *type type type* "Watch...Bucket...List."

0:07 - I want my final words to be "Ja ne!"

0:10 - Mama Patrelli is gonna shove her son's memories down your throat if she gotta!

0:11 - I have a feeling that there's going to be a random guest star....What?! BRUCE FUCKING BOXLEITNER is in this episode?! Fuck yeah!!! Dude, I'm so psychic.

0:11 - Oh snap, he's the governor...he's...um...aging. Almost didn't recognize him.

0:13 - Who's knocking on Noah's door? Could it be Claude?! No. Damn, it's just Peter.

0:14 - Wait, Claire's here? Are they all living in Georgia now? Oh, no he's just really zippy.

0:16 - Is it going to take the entire episode for Hiro to learn his lesson? There are some people you just can't save. Even The Doctor figured that out.

0:24 - Oh come ON Noah! You aren't even trying. Let's do it again. "What is your strongest point as a salesman?"

0:25 - Swoooooozie! Don't mind me, I just like saying her name. Swooooooooozie!

0:27 - And by "show myself out" I mean "go down to the mystery pool and attempt to remedy my not-amnesia."

0:28 - That's a...nice...mansion...

0:28 - See kids? Underage drinking will lead to completely unrelated accidents that will result in your death.

0:36 - Are you sure you should be taking job interview tips from Claire? It's not like she's ever held a job. Well except in that one comic book store for a whole day.

0:37 - Okay that's the SAME SHOT of Ando typing the SAME LINE...oh wait...he's supposed to be typing the same thing, isn't he? Durr.

0:40 - Still would have been funny if they fell.

0:42 - "Doshita no?" "DOSHITA NO?!" Nani yo! Baka! *POOF!* Whoops.

0:46: Seriously, Tracy looks so much hotter when she dresses like she lives in 2009 and not like Jackie O.

0:48 - Oh Noah...I never took you for someone who would spout cliched words of wisdom. You're better than that!

0:49 - Translation: I think you're Slutty McGee.

0:50 - How is it that I ended up with the crappy Wonder Twin power?

0:51 - Oh second thought, maybe I won't confess that not-murder I didn't actually commit.

0:51 - Parkma-- wait, that's not Parkman.

0:52 - "Slow Burn," where the writing is to-the-point and the Sprint product placement is loud and clear. You realize, you have to pay Ray Park to actually act, right?

0:55 - Quiet, Toad, or I'll strike you down with lightning...again. Why isn't Ray Park kicking ass? Seems like such a waste when he's not.

0:58 - Back of the head, dumbass. Well...I suppose he wouldn't know any better. Well I suppose if I didn't already know that he'd just regenerate, I'd say that was some pretty stimulating drama...but I do know, and it isn't.

0:59 - Bluh! I are Sylar da wampire! Bluh!

Previews! Peter saves the deaf lady from getting hit by a bus. Sylar is back. That actor playing the cop looks familiar. Is he that guy who always plays that cop in those movies? You know who I mean. Gretchen isn't stalking you Claire, she just has the hots for you. Girls get all stalkery when they like you. It's normal.

Closure: Why Your Ideas Are Ignored

2009-10-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

This is more of a PSA than an editorial. I have seen many people on various forums write the phrase, "I have a great idea for a show! It goes like this..." and then lay out some elaborate idea of theirs for all the world to see.

Or so I assume. If it's on the G4 forums, I won't look at it. In fact, no G4 employee will look at it. Here's why:

If you make your ideas public without getting a copyright, it could very easily be stolen by anyone. Now if someone does steal your idea, you could theoretically sue them for lots and lots of money if you can prove that you are the original owner of the intellectual property. So to cover their asses, media companies and publishers utilize the following phrase (or variation thereof):

"We do not accept unsolicited materials."

What does this mean? It means that you need to notify and get permission from the media company to send them your ideas. This way, there is a "meeting of the minds" or an agreement that acknowledges that you own your intellectual property and you are willingly to share you idea with a company. Read the fine print though, some companies (especially with contests) will claim that once you submit your concept, they can do whatever they want with it.

I wish I had known when I was 13 and trying to get my novel published. I kept getting rejection letters with that phrase, but I didn't know what "unsolicited" meant. This is why writers have agents who make the necessary phone calls and contacts to ensure that their works are submitted and protected.

"But Teggy, no one says that to me on the forums. How am I supposed to know?" Sadly, there is a bit of a Catch-22 here because an employee won't even read what you send in as soon as they realize that you are trying to pitch an idea. You are being ignored, but not because employees don't like you (well...maybe it is). It's to ensure that the company doesn't even accidentally steal your idea.

This applies to any form of media including video games, movies, TV shows, books, comics, web content, etc. If you are looking to get an idea published, do some research first. Email or call the company and ask to speak to someone to inquire about submissions. Always get this information first. Not only is it polite, but it will also protect you and your mangum opus.

Gabe Newell Sets New Standard...

2009-10-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

....for stalkers!

Sometimes I'll make jokes about how I'll go to Japan when one of my viewers flies me there. It was very easy to say this because no one of any level of celebrity (no, I don't consider myself a celebrity) would ever actually mean that.

Oh wait, Gabe Newell would.

When an Australian gamer invited Valve's Erik Johnson and co-founder Gabe Newell to his country to check out his Left 4 Dead campaign, Newell lightly said he would go if the kid payed his airfare. So this guy actually accepted the challenge and raised over $3000 from 233 donations.

So Newell owned up to his word and the pair are flying to Australia this week. However, he insisted on paying the fares himself and seeing that the money raised would be donated to Child's Play. Aww...

No! Gah! What were you thinking?! What kind of precedent does this set for the rest of us? Now if anyone raises money to fly anyone else someplace, not only will they have to say yes, but they'll have to pay for it themselves to save face.

Thank you Gabe! Thank you sooooo much for being a good-hearted, charitable, all around nice guy. Now we're all gonna hear, "But Gabe Newell did it..."

So...I WAS Going to Write Something Contructive

2009-10-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was lying in bed and had an idea for a thought-provoking blog post. The only problem was that I was in bed, trying to fall asleep. I knew I was going to forget what I had planned to write by this morning because I didn't jot it down. Sure enough, when I got out of bed, the idea was completely gone.

So instead, enjoy this very silly graph from GraphJam.com

see more Funny Graphs

Final Fantasy XIII TGS Trailer (with subtitles)

2009-10-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

Video Games | Final Fantasy XIII | TGS 09: Subtitled Japanese Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Heroes: S4E03- Ink

2009-09-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

Previously on Heroes: Stuff happened. People talked about stuff that happened and how they felt about it. Obvious cliches happened. Also, Lydia the tattooed lady is a terrible pun.

8:01 - More Sprint product placement!

8:01 - I shoot at the man within me, but I'm really just shooting a mirror with my own reflection. This isn't Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde at all anythi-- oh wait, it totally isn't.

8:05 - Worst...alarm clock...ever.

8:05 - Hecate (girl cat) totally looked up at the TV when she heard the kitty...oh and here comes Selen (boy cat). Selen is most intrigued with the kitty in the TV.

8:06 - SUSPICIOUS WATER!!!

8:07 - I thought that keychain looked a little cheap. Congrats! You're a month "sober" you big ol' LIAR.

8:08 - Matt Parkman, Jedi. Maybe if I tell Sylar he has no power over me, he'll turn into David Bowie and burst into song and sexy pants.

8:09 - I predict Parkman accidentally shoots a lamp, thinking it's Sylar...well, guess I loose my imaginary $5.

8:12 - How does Noah get back and forth to see Claire and the rest of the cast so easily?

8:13 - Why is she still sleeping in that room? Then again, she could have moved. All dorms look alike.

8:14 - Obligatory mention of "Lyle" so the producers don't have to pay the kid to show up.

8:14 - Wait, was that a DUDE coming out of the shower in Claire's bathroom?

8:16 - I know! He's pimping out poor, defenseless, stuffed bunnies. That monster!

8:19 - Oh fiddlesticks. I seemed to have broken my glowing mug of hot, brewing evil.

Commercial break - Selen decides my hand tastes delicious.

8:24 - Quick! Say something to make him pause. Good. Now say something to cover up the truth.

8:25 - Well it's either Synethesia or she's developing powers. I'm gonna take a shot in the dark here and guess it's the latter.

8:26 - Indian food! Yum. Great, now I want some.

8:27 - Noah: "Gretchen, I don't get what you're saying. Could you please make it a little more obvious?" Seriously, "I saw it on youtube" is totally the new "I have this friend" excuse.

8:28 - Knowing glaaaaaaaare.

8:28 - Oh that poor, sexually molested stuffed bunny.

8:29 - Halfway through and no Hiro this episode.

8:30 - Do kidnappers still cut out letters these days? I'd worry about fingerprints.

8:35 - Mr. Hyde is growing stronger, Doctor Parkman. Speaking of doctors, where's Suresh?

8:38 - If only I had the power to photoshop that easily.

8:42 - Cry for help. I befriended a bulimic girl my first semester of college too.

8:45 - Peter's thinking, "Uh...is that one of those secret gay handshakes?"

8:46 - That cello looking thing must be making sounds. Look at the colors!

8:47 - Is is just me, or does Emma's power strike anyone else as being incredibly useless? Aesthetic, but useless.

8:48 - Emma wait! You forgot your sandwich!

8:53 - Lady, you're lucky he even did you the courtesy of asking permission.

8:53 - Gretchen, "Can I see it?" Claire, "See what? The healing?" Gretchen, "If that's not crossing the line." Dim room, sexy music, girls lounging side by side. Is this supposed to be "college experimentation"? Puh-lease.

8:56 - Claire, what are you thinking?! You have a double all to yourself. Shove the beds together and give yourself a king-sized bed. Don't ask her to be your roomie.

8:57 - Okay, back to Matt's insanity.

8:59 - You have been marked by the fateful compass of fate!

No Brains, Then Get the Fuck Out!

2009-09-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, I see some stupid jackass who makes comments like "show me your boobs!" or "tits or get the fuck out!" or "what's this shit, she doesn't show her tits in Playboy at all?" Clearly these losers are just that...losers. Guys who are getting laid do not need to ask some random stranger with a camera to show her boobs. Go watch porn if that's what you want.

Gentlemen, there is no greater turn off than to make a comment like that. I mean, do you seriously think some chick is going to show you her boobs just because you rudely demand it? Do you do that in real life? I doubt it. Why? Cause you're so cowardly that you hide behind the anonymity of the internet. (See Penny Arcade's chart above)

That and nobody enjoys kicks to the groin.

But if you think you can hide, think again. Statements like that can get you banned from forums and chats. If you continue, it could end up being a matter for the police. Plus, everyone can see what you write, so why not just walk around with a cardboard sign over your head that reads "douchebag"? Think before you type.

Bewbs

2009-09-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. You love boobs. Boobs are great. Hell, I have two of my own! Girls with tiny waists and huge breasts are all over anime and manga. If those girls were real, they'd be suffering from severe back pain and have great difficulty finding clothes that fit properly. A Victoria's Secret shopping spree? Forget it.

The sad thing is that utilizing gratuitous camera angles with oversized breasts is the only way some producers can get you to watch their anime. In some comedy series, they're there for a laugh. Sometimes, there's the token "busty girl" like Mikoto in School Rumble. It's a joke, but it's not what defines her entire character. I get it. But when an artist uses disproportionally large boobs on multiple characters for the sake of voyeurism, it's a clear sign that their works could be lacking in substance.

Maybe it's because I'm a large breasted female already that I find that many of my favorite female characters have average to small breasts. Then again, I'm getting old and have forgotten more anime than I've watched and could be wrong. There is plenty of anime geared towards women, but you rarely see male characters drawn with oversized--

(Side note: While searching for a funny slang term for male genetalia, I discovered that there is a huge range of words from "Albus Dumbledore" to "Zabourah.")

--screw it, I'll just use "packages."

Personally, I don't find breast size at all relevant to enjoying anime, but what about you guys? Do you ever feel that anime chracters with large chests make your watching experience more aesthetic, and therefore more enjoyable?

And just FYI, real breasts don't move like this. I should know. I like I said, I own two:

I R MOVED

2009-09-23T11:44:00.001-07:00

Despite feeling pretty crappy this morning, I have finally purchased my own domain: www.otakugoddess.com. If you are still finding this page via Blogspot, you should be taken there automatically. If you can't load the domain just yet, you should be able to within the next day or so.

And if not...well...that's not my problem.

Gosh...this is my first domain. I almost feel like a new mom.

Thoughts as I Watch the Heroes Premiere (Part 2)

2009-09-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE PLOT!!!

9:00 - Clearly no one left that toy there but you, Matt. But if there is a dedicated camera angle for the toy, then it must be the foreshadowing of evil! Dun dun dun....

9:01 - Oh look, Sylar...again.

9:06 - Smoke detectors are far more annoying than that piddly thing.

9:07 - Noah can afford nice suits and ties, but can't keep his fridge stocked?

9:09 - No Hiro! Don't touch younger yourself! That creates a paradox and all these evil beasts will rip through the fabric of reality and kill everyone. Don't you watch Dr. Who? What kind of a geek are you?!

9:15 - Lighting the detective from below. Gosh, that doesn't indicate anything evil.

9:20 - Well that "butterfly effect" was obvious. Now to sit back and wait for the dire consequences.

9:21 - Hold it. Noah knows to look in the stomach with a good idea of what he's looking for even though he has no idea what it's for.

9:26 - Oh she is so cheating with that studly water boy (studly to her, not me).

9:26 - "Hey, you're tired. You haven't been sleeping properly." You haven't heard of the term "subtext"...nor have any of this episode's writers.

9:27 - I like Peter's apartment!

9:28 - Hold it again. Noah can tell that key belongs to a safe deposit box to a specific bank downtown...how?

9:32 - Ooh, whoever did the blood makeup there, nice work!

9:37 - Slow-mo, blurry fight scenes are NOT exciting.

9:38 - See this compass, Peter? This is called a "literal plot device." Wait, why are there scratches on your face. You can heal yourself. Forget that plot device?

9:40 - I could listen to Gretchen talk all day. I like her because she also annoys Claire...but she's a little twisted.

9:46 - Yay! Back to Japan.

9:48 - Sprint product placement.

9:48 - Matt: "I'm good. It's under control," which means he's about to crack and something will go terribly wrong.

9:50 - This scene makes me want to order in Thai curry. Then again, most anything makes me want to order in Thai curry.

9:51 - Oh look, Noah's seriously wounded...again.

9:51 - Damn there are a lot of commercial breaks.

9:52 - Really short breaks though.

9:54 - If that exchange of eye contact is any indication that Noah and Tracy are going to become more than just "business associates" I just might throw up.

9:57 - Ew.

9:58 - Oh, like she wasn't going to find out within the next two episodes anyway!

9:59 - Are those supposed to be Claire, Sylar, and Peter? I can't tell.

And...previews.

Thoughts as I Watch the Heroes Premiere (Part 1)

2009-09-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

8:02 - UCLA! Either that or it's my high school. I'd know that building anywhere.

8:02 - Nice eye makeup dude...looks like your manscara is running.

8:03 - I love Claire's room mate because she annoys the crap out of Claire. She also has really neat, dark eyes.

8:07 - Hiro and Ando...the only reason to keep watching this show. Kawaii!

8:09 - Why doesn't Peter just FLY?!?!

8:14 - Nngh! Nnnnnnyyyyggghhhhh!!!

8:16 - I think I'll knit.

8:16 - I'm Peter! I'm full of self-loathing and like to whine and overcompensate. Whaaa!

8:16 - Wait, did he just say Houlahans?! Is this scene in Chicago?

8:19 - Exposition. Move on please...ye gods it's getting worse! Who wrote this?

8:20 - Okay the water in the car is original.

8:26 - SUSPICIOUS WATER!!!

8:27 - Dammit, I know I've seen that girl...Cinderella Story? Must IMDB. Yup, I'm right. She was also the younger Sheffiled daughter in The Nanny.

8:29 - I may be tired of Sylar being the big bad, but it's still nice seeing Zachary Quinto.

8:31 - Oh god more exposition! "You can't just say what you feel. That makes me feel angry!" -- Robot Devil, Futurama

8:34 - Jump cut!

8:41 - The tattooed lady! Neato. Makes me want more tattoos.

8:46 - Yay! That was a pleasant surprise.

8:48 - Also yay! Never liked that character. Wait, is that Ray Park? Win.

8:49 - Ali Larter looks hot. I'm a fan of the power suit.

8:53 - She's not actually hitting any notes!

8:55 - In Soviet Russia, time freezes you!

8:56 - Knew he was gonna say something like that. I could practically write this show...

8:59 - I have the perfect term for this guy: "Antihiro." Get it!? Waka! Waka!

9:00 - Well shit. So much for that.

Okay, time for bed. Gotta be a responsible adult and write video game news in the morning. Life is so hard. I'll write up the rest tomorrow.

Dungeon Delving

2009-09-21T15:54:00.000-07:00

Last night, my buddy Matt and I attended a show called Dungeon Master in Hollywood. The show is a cross between fantasy/comedy live theater and live action roleplaying (LARPing). Some scenes are scripted and some are not. Professional actors play the "NPCs" (non-player characters as we call them) who provide a certain amount of plot.

Here's where things get interesting. Dungeon Master takes interactive theater to the next level by allowing audience members to create characters, dress up in costumes, and join in on the quest! For the participants, there is no script. They, as the party, must figure out how to get past various obstacles and onslaughts of evil creatures. To cast spells, the party members have to call out rhyming couplets that will either be approved or shot down by the Dungeon Master (read: Dude up in the light booth).

Matt and I both got called down to play. In our party we had a faaabulous wizard in a sparkly robe, a pirate, a ninja (who was so stealthy that we often forgot was there), and a zombie shaman. Matt was an old-timey gangster, and I was a cat girl. I didn't talk. I only meowed. It was a good excuse to not have to really pay attention or have to think up rhyming couplets to cast spells. Besides, I was a cat. Cat's so do anything except bat at things, sniff everyone, lick themselves, and randomly go to sleep. Before you ask, yes, I did lick myself several times.

Dungeon Master is a blast. Check your self-consciousness at the door, kick back, and have a good time. Admission is $10 at the door, but you can get $2 off if you go in costume. I will definitely be going back. I already have a few more character ideas!

Check out Dungeon Master in its "Guardian of the Flame" episode:

Ben Scores a Yahtzee

2009-09-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Ben "Yahtzee" Crowshaw's video game reviews for some time now. I even have a personally autographed napkin at my desk at work. I admittedly have fallen a little behind in recent weeks, so today I played catch up. Lo, I came across what is quite possibly the most brilliantly written video game review I have ever seen. Enjoy!

Who Defines "Otaku"? Short Answer: Not You

2009-09-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

Long answer below:

This evening, I received a comment from Mr. Daryl Surat of Anime World Order, a gentleman who considers himself an avid "otaku" in the fullest sense of his own definition of the word. So much so that I now much place the word in quotes for the rest of this article.

Your advice is good. Your advice is sound. It should be listened to and followed. But I think the fundamental, irreconcilable difference I have with your line of thinking is that you believe "otaku" is synonymous with "geek," "nerd," or "dork" (which themselves are unique terms, the generally agreed-upon "rule of thumb" definitions of which are listed here, among several other places that'll mostly say the same thing) and I do not. In light of this, the goal you're actually looking to achieve in these three "Making Your Mark" posts is to make "dorks" (and yes, "otaku") into "nerds" and "geeks." It's a worthwhile pursuit and I encourage it. But "otaku" is another beast, even in the USA.

"Otaku" is of course a loanword, and as with all loanwords the definition we'd use here isn't quite what it denotes in its original form. But using a Japanese word to describe something in a different language than Japanese--in our case, English--is a statement that "this is a uniquely Japanese product or concept," even if the word didn't originally carry that significance in its original language. You probably agree with me on that part. But where we diverge, based on what you said in the A3K podcast and written both here and at Graphic Novel Reporter, is that you appear to then conclude that "otaku" therefore means "geek or nerd with a predilection towards Japanese popular culture." It’s a commonly-reached conclusion, indeed, and not entirely inaccurate. But I feel that definition is incomplete and subsequently misleading/counterproductive, for it leaves out something critical.

In the interest of relative brevity, the critical difference between fan/geek/nerd/dork and "otaku" ultimately comes down to the tagline used for FUNimation's US release of Fullmetal Alchemist: "What are you willing to sacrifice?" That is to say: for the sake of your hobby (emphasis on the singular), would you abandon love? Would you cast away friendship? Eschew your own personal care? Given the choice between attending your best friend's wedding and attending your 5th anime convention for the year, would you choose the con? And would you do all of these things and others just like it without a second thought? That's a level of dedication which quite frankly, surpasses nerd-dom. That is a commitment level worthy of a new word entirely, and I say "otaku" is it.

(At this point, I should note that if anyone reading this has such dedication, please buy Otaku USA magazine because my articles are AWESOME.)

The Madarame, Ogiue, and Konata type characters are idealized caricatures of otaku, but perhaps the purest example of the otaku spirit is Shou Tucker, the Sewing Life Alchemist. For his response to the question "what are you willing to sacrifice?" is "everything."

People probably shouldn't be sacrificing everything for the sake of hobby pursuits. They should probably be doing things in moderation. Maybe it's not so good to be that committed. The literal translation of "otaku" typically given involves the adjective "obsessed," which isn't exactly the most desirable of traits. But take solace, for even at an anime convention with tens of thousands of people, such as this weekend's Anime Weekend Atlanta there are very few "otaku" per my definition. A Japanese person may think they're surrounded by otaku, what with all the costumes (and make poor business decisions as a result). But these are fairly balanced folks by comparison.

I understand you can't permit yourself to agree with me in this regard. You are, after all, using "Otaku Goddess" as a nickname; to relent on this matter would mean you'd need to change your name, and GeekGoddess and NerdGoddess are both taken domains. But if someone who wears cat ears and goes to an anime convention with their boyfriend or girlfriend is an "otaku"...

…then what word is left for people like me?

I'm pausing The Biggest Loser premiere to respond to this. But before I get into it, I would like to clarify your first assumption about me. I do not consider "otaku" to be synonymous with "geek" or "nerd." I, personally, associate the word with fandom for Japanese pop culture. I may consider a metallurgy wiz with a pocket protector and big dorky glasses a "nerd;" but to me, again personally, there's nothing "otaku" about it. I just described my own father. He is not "otaku," by my definition. The purpose of my post is to help human beings become better human beings. Yes, my audience tends to be geeks, nerds, dorks, otaku, whatever. It's for everyone and anyone who wants to read it. Why limit my audience?

Okay, on with the response.

First of all, Daryl, thank you for taking the time to listen to the podcast and read my blog in order to hear me out and share your well thought-out response. You have a very specific and certainly reasonable definition of the word "otaku" which closer reflects that of the Japanese definition, but here's the thing:

It's not your decision to make. Nor is it mine.

"Otaku" is one of those words that is still open to interpretation. As I mentioned in the podcast, a phone is a phone, a television is a television, and a chair is a chair. These are considered facts because anyone can physically prove it. "Otaku" has yet to be officially defined. It's not in the Mirriam-Webster dictionary (yes, I checked), and it is currently open to debate. You linked to that article on the definitions of "geek," "nerd," and "dork" but those were "generally agreed upon." So now you have to ask yourself if your definition of the word "otaku" is "generally agreed upon." If not, does that mean your opinion has any less weight? If so, does it give your opinion more?

I think I may know why do you feel the need to be defensive about it though. You strike me as someone who is very protective of his independence, a trait I share. I will do things for the sake of being different from others (like joining my high school football team one summer even though I didn't even like football). And by broadening the meaning of "otaku," you start to lose the sense of entitlement.

Respectfully, sir, get over it.

You asked how can you define yourself if you can't use the word "otaku." Oh, but Daryl you can! You absolutely can have power in the word! Calling a general anime fan does, in no way, make you any less of the the proud man you are. You can compare it to the legalization of gay marriage. Some claim that if homosexual weddings become legalized that they will somehow cheapen their own marriages. That is a load of bullshit used as an excuse because they feel the need to place different people below themselves socially. That's exactly what you are trying to do to me, and I'm not going to stand for it.

Only I define myself and I choose to use the word "otaku" as one of many words when I do.

Making Your Mark: Part 3 of 3

2009-09-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

For those of you who actually listened to the latest Anime 3000 podcast, you likely heard my closing statement about how we otaku need to better represent ourselves through our appearance, speech, and writing. Since I've already elaborated on the first two, let's move on to the final part of my editorial: writing.

Part Three: I'll Take "The Penis Mightier," Alex

(Anyone else notice the grammatical error in that picture?)

There aren't too many people left in this world who have never been on a forum. Heck, my dad is nearly 70 and even he's on them. The one thing that truly appalled him though was the way people write. Quite frankly, there is nothing I find more frustrating than trying to translate some poorly written rant. So here are some tips to make you a better writer. Or for some of you, a better arguer.

1) Practice makes perfect. You should have a grasp of the English language by the sixth grade well enough to know that complete sentences generally require a subject and a predicate. There is no excuse not to be able to handle them. Periods are your friend. Psychologists say that the human brain has difficulty retaining its short term memory of information over a certain length (a good argument for the 7-digit phone number). When you break up your thoughts with appropriate punctuation, it makes it easier for others to comprehend and remember what you write.

2) Edit before (or after) you post. Fortunately, most forums have a handy dandy "edit" button. I use them often. Now if I actually paused to reread my writings before hitting "post" I might not have to use it so much. You may not have this luxury in a live chat, but it only takes a few seconds to read what you just typed before hitting "enter" to send it. Typing mistakes happen. I'm horrible with those in live chat. Still, it's your responsibility to make sure your ideas come across clearly.

3) Don't assume to know something you don't. One of my biggest pet peeves are writers who assume they know how the entertainment industry works, but really don't. Get your facts straight. Link to a source. My martial arts teacher always told us that admitting that you don't know something carries far more integrity than pulling an answer out of your ass.

4) Long lists suck. On many anime forums, I see lots of threads that say "What are your top five ____?" Responders then go on to post twenty-plus answers! They asked you for your top five, not your top twenty usually because they need to narrow down a decision. Nobody wants to read your stupid, long list. It only makes you look like a know-it-all douchebag with no focus. You know how people always tell you to keep your cover letter and resume short when seeking work? Same concept. People don't actually want to take the time to slog through something longwinded. (*eyes the length of this post*)

5) Name calling gets you nowhere...unless you do it right. There is no reason to get nasty when arguing with someone. There are plenty of funny, smart, and sassy ways to insult a poster if you take the time to think. Just saying, "Lulz noob" doesn't make you look any more intelligent or worthy of attention than the original poster.

In conclusion, other readers will take you more seriously if you practice writing with some patience. I find that I barely have to write two sentences in a forum post, but others will respect my opinion because I present myself as an intelligent human being (they don't need to know I'm a vampire). Take the time to use proper punctuation and spelling with solid messages, and you will find that the way others respond to you will change for the better.

Oh man, I really hope there aren't any typos in this post. >.<

Thank You!

2009-09-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

This is a very special and very silly reward to all of you for helping me reach 500+ followers on Twitter. I appreciate that each of you take the time to read what I have to say...well, except the spam bots.
Fuck them.

So without further ado...the Baka song:

Bite Me

2009-09-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from blogging about anime, manga, video games, and geekdom to discuss something that used to be geek-friendly, but has now gone mainstream.

Oh yes...The Vampire Diaries starts tonight!

Honestly, I'm not all that excited for the show itself. The thing is, the original trilogy is what got me into fiction writing when I was in sixth grade. L.J. Smith has always been one of my favorite authors. These books came out in the early 1990s and fell to obscurity for a while. They were re-released a few years ago, then re-re-released when Twilight became all the rage. Then, earlier this year, Smith released a fifth book that retells the story from Damon's point of view. I hear it kind of sucks, but I haven't read it yet. I'm still stuck on Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Chosen.

I don't have to say this...but I will: The Vampire Diaries is FAR SUPERIOR to Twilight.

I can't figure out how they plan to expand the story beyond the novels to make it into a TV series. The thing is that the first three books have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Most likely, it will use the same premise, remove anything even remotely similar to the books (like Bonnie being black, Elena being a brunette and having a brother, and um...where's Meredith?), and attempt to be like Twilight as much as possible. Gag me. At least they still use the crow reference...and I think the lapis lazuli rings. I'll be crushed if it isn't lapis they use.

Still, I'll watch it anyway to show my support. I highly encourage all of you to take some time to read the first three books. They're very enjoyable and a pretty fast read. If I ever had twin boys, I'd totally name them Stefan and Damon.

Making Your Mark: Part 2 of 3

2009-09-09T20:02:00.001-07:00

Continuing my three-part editorial on the way we otaku present ourselves to others, I'd like to take a little time to discuss speech...something I'm not all that great at myself. Fortunately, my terrible habit of mumbling can be overcome with some conscious effort. Get your spongy brains ready!

Part Two: Do You Understand the Words That Are Coming Out of My Mouth?

Let's move on to speech. The words you say and the way you say them can make all the difference between being a "cool person" and a "rabid fanboy."

Imagine saying the phrase, "I'm a big fan of your work" to David Hayter (writer, and the voice of Solid Snake). Are you saying it in a very excited, elevated volume? Or are you saying it in a calm, controlled voice? Now place yourself in David's shoes and imagine someone saying that to you in both of those tones. Does one version make you want to cringe? Try saying it in a mirror or in a video to yourself. The way we address people shows our respect, or lack thereof, for them.

One of the most difficult parts of speaking is speaking clearly. At least for me, it is. Have you ever walked by a homeless person when they ask you for money and they mumble? You only sort of know what they're asking, but it doesn't exactly leave you with a sense of charity. The same goes with speaking to anyone else. Speaking clearly and at an appropriate volume...does...uh...something good. I dunno where I'm going this this. Enough of that bullshit. You know what I'm getting at.

Next up, manners: The words "please" and "thank you" can get you far in life. Use them. They might not get you everywhere though. Know when to graciously accept "no" for an answer. Sometimes that director or voice actor doesn't want to be bombarded by hordes of people, but they don't have a choice. Say your piece, say thank you, and GTFO. When in a conversation, be sure to let others finish their thoughts before beginning yours. No one wants to debate you on which soul reaper from Bleach is the best if all you do is cut them off and speak in snippy tones. No one will respect you for handling arguments that way.

Be careful with jokes too. Something you might think is funny can be really offensive or unprofessional. I once stupidly made a comment about giving subordinates "a tongue lashing, and not the good kind," in a job interview. Big mistake. I felt like a moron.

Try recording yourself giving a speech on whatever topic you want. Can you hear yourself clearly? Do you speak slowly enough and enunciate so everyone can understand you? Do you let your emotions get the better of you when they shouldn't? Just being more aware in how you speak can drastically improve how others perceive your intelligence.

Making Your Mark: Part 1 of 3

2009-09-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

When Sean Russell of Anime 3000 asked me to speak on a panel about otaku life and what is means to be one in both Japanese and American culture, it got me thinking about some ideas that I feel are important to share with my fellow geeks. So this is the first part of a three-part editorial on the ways we present ourselves to others.

Part One: What's on the Outside Does Matter
We'd all like to believe our parents when they tell us, "It's not what's on the outside, but what's on the inside that counts." Although I think embracing who you are is vital to gaining a feeling of self-worth, we need to be aware that the way we dress makes a drastic impact on how others perceive us.

If you see a man walking down the street and talking to himself while wearing ratty clothes with filthy nails and hair, you would most likely perceive him as a crazy homeless man. Now if you see a man walking down the street and talking to himself while wearing a pressed suit with a clean shave, you would be more likely to perceive him as a business man talking on his bluetooth. Sure, he could be utterly insane, but that's not your first impression based on the way he physically presents himself.

The same thing goes for otaku. I think it's wonderful to take joy in anime, video games, and other creative mediums; but when you let it affect your grooming, there's a problem. We all love our anime-themed t-shirts, but they're not always the appropriate thing to wear, especially on the job. If you want people to take you seriously, you need to dress the part. For example, as much as I love cosplay, every time I've gone to Anime Expo to take photos and make industry contacts, I'll toss on a blazer over whatever I'm wearing because it makes me look more professional. No one in the industry will take me seriously if I greet them in a costume and wig.

Here is a simple philosophy to live by: when you look put together, people will think you are put together in your work and life. This means buying clothes that fit properly (don't even get me started on men who wear their jeans around their asses) and suit the situation. Did you know that wearing clothes that fit properly actually make you look slimmer than clothes that are too big or too small?

"But Teggy, what if I can't afford a new wardrobe?" you ask with your eyes tearing up. I don't expect anyone to change their wardrobe overnight without Stacy and Clinton's help. You can easily dress up jeans and a t-shirt with a jacket, nice shoes (meaning not-sneakers and in good condition), a leather or metal watch, and a great pair of glasses or sunglasses. Keep in mind that when you invest in a few quality pieces, you are investing in yourself, plus those pieces will last you for a long time. Take a look at Clinton in the photo above. He's wearing jeans and a shirt, but he looks put together by adding a belt, nice shoes, and a jacket. It really is that simple.

Note: Jackets are also a great way to hide a gut. ^_~

Let's not forget the essential grooming! There is no worse way to make a first impression than having stubble or smelling badly. You guys should already know the basics of personal hygiene, but the little things can make a big difference. For one, keep your nails clean and filed. No one wants to be touched when your hands look disgusting, and that goes for handshakes. Having a clean shave and a nice scent shows a prospective friend/girlfriend/boyfriend/employer/business contact that you take yourself seriously enough to make a good impression. It also says to them, "I respect you enough to clean up for you."

I'm not going to share the full details of this story, but I once got introduced to someone in the anime industry when I first moved to L.A. to look for work. Unfortunately, I was dressed in ratty sweats and a t-shirt while on lunch from my retail job in a stock room. I looked anything but professional. There is more to this story, which I will cover in my next post; but needless to say, my lethargic attire screamed "Lazy bum!" rather than "Intelligent, hard working, professional." I managed to get him to give me his business card, but he never responded to my email when I asked about possible employment.

In conclusion, you never know when you're going to run into a new business contact at a coffee house or an anime store, and the way you physically present yourself can make world of difference in how others perceive you. Don't try to be something you're not though. Find what suits both your body and personality because when you think you look good, that will reflect in your confidence.

Anti-Review: Tale of the Waning Moon

2009-09-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

I try to read at least one manga a week...mostly because I get paid to review them. I haven't bought manga for my own pleasure in months since I get review copies from GNR. Graphic Novel Reporter is geared towards librarians and teachers looking to expand their libraries. My reviews for them tend to be more formal with plot synopses and commentary on what makes each book a worthwhile read.

Most of the works my editor sends me I can plow through and review; but every now and then, there's one that just can't be done because it's far too awful to recommend for a library. Lately, I've been receiving tons of yaoi (cripes, you review one You Higuri series and suddenly you're the yaoi queen), most of which I can write about...until I read Tale of the Waning Moon.

Nutshell version: Ryuka got dumped. He goes to the wishing hill and wishes for someone to truly love and love him in return. Enter Ixto, Spirit of the Waning Moon, who offers him his wish from anyone revealed in five cards of fate, but the candidate pool is full of males. Ryuka rejects them, but Ixto becomes interested in pursuing Ryuka for himself. Ixto casts a spell on Ryuka to force him to set out on a journey to find him...which is silly cause Ixto comes when he's called.

So why can't I recommend this one for a library? It's either Hiyouta Fujiyama has really messed up delusions that gay men rape each other all the time, or she has no respect for the opposite sex. Somehow, I doubt it's the latter. I was always the feminist type, but I'll stick up for my bros too when need be.

Tale of the Waning Moon is supposed to be about the journey to finding true love and opening up your heart, but how can that theme come through when there is so little time spent with each of the five potential love candidates, and the first two act like horny assholes who can think about nothing but sex? It stops becoming a fun read and just turns into somethng trashy. Come on! Men have more depth than that. Don't laugh, you guys do. Yes, I know men are wired to think about sex a bazillion times a day, but that doesn't mean that's all there is to your personality. This manga just becomes an insulting, indulgent fantasy after the first few pages. Pass.

So This is Why Chris Oarr Neglected Me....

2009-09-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

ADV Films Shuts Down, Parent Transfers Assets to Other Companies

A.D. Vision has announced that it is shutting down after transfering its assets to several other companies that will continue its operations. AEsir Holdings has acquired selected programming from ADV's film library along with other intellectual property. The SXION 23 (Section23 Films) home video distribution company will assume account servicing and distribution operations for AEsir's assets. Valkyrie Media Partners has acquire[sic] 100% of ADV's Anime Network television unit while Seraphim Studios has ADV's Amusement Park Media production unit.

Former ADV Films staffer Chris Oarr has notified ANN that several former staffers have been hired by SXION 23 and the other companies.

Source: Anime News Network

Last spring, back when I was voluntarily writing anime and manga reviews for g4tv.com, I had gotten in touch with ADV (Chris Oarr to be exact) about getting review copies. Things were so up in the air with ADV and he almost never responded to my emails requesting materials.

So...another anime distributor bites the dust. I suppose we all saw this coming for over a year. On the plus side, Farscape is being rereleased. Yeah, ADV owned that one too.

If you go to ADV's website now, all you get is a press release about the buyout. Everything else is gone. Gosh...I sure hope no one's purchased anything from them online for the last few weeks. That could be bad.

Teggy & Taliesin (not sitting in a tree)

2009-08-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

So a girl walks into a coffee house....

Last week, I started attending my friend Spenser's live radio show called Tales of the Extraordinary at a local cafe. At the first show, I discovered that my former editor/pal/fellow vampire Jordan was also in the cast. I went to the show tonight, and it was even better than the first. Lots of larfs and only a little British sex. At the end of the performance, the director introduced the cast. What surprised me was that I had recognized one of the names, Taliesin Jaffe.

The fangirl in me did a mental SCREEEECH! but I kept my cool. When he sat down next to me to talk to another performer, I decided that as a fellow *cough* industry professional, I should introduce myself.

He was very cool and had about the same reaction that I would have at meeting a fan (the fake, "Oh shit, I'm gonna run away now!" jump). Taliesin has worked with Jordan on a few episodes of Romeo x Juliet, and we got to talking about anime. Taliesin has directed and worked on several anime dubs including Hellsing, Read or Die TV, Ergo Proxy, 3x3 Eyes, and more. As some of you may know, Read or Die was one of the shows I edited for Anime Unleashed on G4 a couple years ago.

We swapped business cards, and I told him a little about G4 Interactive. Maybe someday I can have him on as a guest.

Teggy's Top Ten: Hottest Gentlemen of Video Games

2009-08-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of awards and lists for hot babes in video games. Heck, I was once the secret mastermind behind a mini series saluting the vixens of video games. Last night, in the blistering summer heat, I found that I just couldn't sleep. During the bout of insomnia, I decided to compose the first official "Teggy's Top Ten," starting with my picks for the hottest guys in video games.

Honorable Mention:
Dante, Devil May Cry

Honorable Mention:
Leon Kennedy, Resident Evil 4

10th Place:
Altair, Assassin's Creed
One of my favorite things to do with a cosplay is to dress in white when I'm playing a bad guy. There's just something about wearing white that freaks people out. Altair works the white, but he also has that air of mystery that makes the ladies want to find out more.

9th Place:
Siegfried Schtauffen, Soul Edge/Soul Calibur
Siegfried's reason for making the list can be summed up in just four words: "Knight in shining armor." It's not just a figure of speech.

8th Place:
Xion, Bloody RoarXion isn't widely known except among people who have played the fun, but not-so-popular Bloody Roar series. Xion is a silver haired bad boy in a great coat, and that's all I need to put him on the list.

7th Place:
Emelious, Grandia III
I love a man with ambition, and Emelious is chock full of it. He doesn't fall for the whole, "I'm obligated to love you because you're my sister" bullshit either. When you face off with him, he has four weapons in use on the battle wheel, one of which will absolutely obliterate your party if you let it go off. The giant sword, flying white dragon, and elf ears don't hurt either.

6th Place:
Link, The Legend of Zelda/Super Smash Bros.Link is my boy! He has always been my favorite character in Super Smash Bros. But I'll admit it. I have a thing for elves. However, Link never quite reached the level of hotness as Legolas which is why he rests soundly in 6th place.

5th Place:
Miles Edgeworth, Ace AttorneyI love a man for his mind, and Miles Edgeworth has a great one. The sharp, ruthless prosecutor has the cold edge that makes women swoon. You know how they say, "Women always go for the assholes"? Well this is one asshole who's worth it.

4th Place:
Belcoot, Suikoden VBelcoot is a swordsman and a freedom fighter. He has rugged good looks and was probably my favorite character to have in the party cause he kicks the shit out of everything. Some guys just work those muscles. Mmm...muscles. Belcoot might have taken 3rd if he wasn't already claimed by some innkeeper hussy. Fortunately for me, Belcoot seems oblivious to her advances.

3rd Place:
Sephiroth, Final Fantasy VIIArgh! What is it about Sephiroth that has girls going gaga?! Let's see. He wears black leather. He shows his chest. He has long, flowing, silver hair. He has shimmering green eyes. He's batshit crazy evil. He can wield a gigantic katana...and he loves his mother.

2nd Place:
Akihiko Sanada, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3I'm still trying to figure out why my heart goes pitter patter whenever I see Akihiko. Maybe it's the silver hair and the fact that he looks good in a uniform. Maybe it's because he can dodge bullets and destroy you with just his fists. He'll fearlessly take on a gun-toting robot for what he believes is right. Akihiko is the kind of guy who will lay down his life for you. Hey, chicks dig a tragic hero.

1st Place:
Balthier, Final Fantasy XIII hate Final Fantasy XII with a fiery passion. Balthier was the saving grace for that game. The self-proclaimed "leading man" is quite possibly the most interesting and fleshed out character in the Final Fantasy franchise. He has the swagger of Harrison Ford, the good looks of James Marsters, the charm of David Bowie, and the voice of Ewan McGregor. Am I worried about Fran? Nah. Their relationship is totally platonic. If he treats his best friend that well, imagine how he'll treat his "leading lady."

And now...Balthier, a Sweet-Talkin, Sugar-Coated Candy Man

Why Chicks Dig Yaoi

2009-08-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

[insert image of two hot guys making out here]

Some of you may cringe at the thought of hot guy on guy action, yet for some strange reason, yaoi is immensely popular among women. Now you're probably thinking, "Why?! What has been seen can not be unseen! Gah!!! How can girls like that stuff?!" Allow me to explain it to you.

You know how movies classified as "chick flicks" tend to be all about romance? That's because women want men to be romantic. It's in our programming. It's what we desire. Some experts say "Men can't have love without sex, and women can't have sex without love." Men are inadvertently taught that they have to suppress emotions, and romance is all about expressing emotions.

Yaoi is all about two men expressing love. Sometimes, it's about one man drawing the romantic feelings out of another who is cold and unemotional. Eventually, he succeeds and the reader is rewarded by seeing the unemotional man open up and express his passions. Seriously, it's one of woman's greatest frustrations. Trying to get a man to express emotions is like pulling teeth (unless you're the oral surgeon who did my little sister's wisdom teeth. 20 minutes!)

What else makes it attractive to women? The taboo. In Japan, homosexual relationships aren't as openly accepted as they are in America. And what's more exciting than forbidden love?

The big question is, why two men? This is the part I'm not 100% sure on. In western slash fanfiction, the idea is to have romance between two canon characters who may or may not get romantically involved. Yaoi tends to use original characters, unless its fan-created doujinshi.

Simply put, women like to get swept up in the struggle of romance. And much like how some straight men find two females engaged in sexual activity to be enticing, some straight women feel the same way about seeing two men doing the same things.

We all have our likes and dislikes when it comes to manga. If you don't like it, don't read it. So now, I'm going to go back to not reading Naruto.

The People vs. EA Sports

2009-08-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

You know, I always hated Monopoly. See, I have an older sister who loves the game, and as anyone who has ever had an older sibling will tell you...they will always take advantage of you. Since I was nearly three years younger, Carlie liked to play against me in Chess and Monopoly since she could always beat me as a kid. This instilled vile loathing for both games on my part.

But enough about my childhood traumas. I wanted to tell you about a new class action lawsuit against Electronic Arts over Madden NFL. Remember back in 2004 when EA got the exclusive rights to use NFL players for at least five years? (Which has since been extended to 2012) This basically shut out every other game developer from ever using NFL players in their games. It also left EA with a major marketing advantage.

However, due to this agreement, a lawsuit has popped up claiming that EA has used this monopoly to take advantage of consumers and gouge them for nearly $926 million. EA moved to dismiss the case, but failed. Anyone who has purchased a copy of Madden NFL from 2006 and on is eligible to join the lawsuit. Don't get your hopes up though. Even if EA loses or settles, you have to divide the settlement among however many millions of people purchased the games.

Remember how the people who won the Hot Coffee mod lawsuit against Take Two got a whopping $5-$35 refund? Whoopdie Doo.

Realistically, this suit isn't about earning a buck, it's about unfair monopolization that comes with exclusive contracts. Imagine what would happen if Activision scored contracts with Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, and EMI Group that would give Guitar Hero exclusive rights to use their songs. Harmonix and MTV would be SOL when it comes to Rock Band content. Consumers wouldn't have much choice when it comes to music games.

The same concept applies here. Gamers want the opportunity to live out their NFL dreams, but they deserve the right to play them with the game developer of their choosing.

Source: Kotaku, Joystiq

That New Miyazaki Flick

2009-08-23T01:30:00.000-07:00

I went to see Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea tonight with my pal Matt after a fun evening of BlazBlue, SingStar 80s, and dinner at Panera. I don't consider myself a Miyazaki fan. Although I appreciate the artwork, it's not really my thing. And quite frankly, I've found most of his movies that I've seen to be rather dull.

As long as you're willing to suspend some disbelief (which can be difficult for me), Ponyo is alright. Keep in mind that it's a kids movie and instead forget the fact that nobody seems to even notice the devastating natural disaster happening around them...and you'll survive. Yes, even the terrible terrible theme song at the end with horribly forced English lyrics and a godawful hip hop beat is tolerable. For once, I can't blame 4Kids.

About 15 minutes into the film, I decided that I need a Ponyo plushie for my desk.
Well....maybe not.

I might have enjoyed the movie more if some asshat teenagers didn't show up 1/3 of the way through the film and chatted loudly through the rest of it. Matt even leaned forward and asked them to shut up. It worked for all of five minutes. I got fed up, so at the end, I grabbed the two obnoxious ones, told them that I placed a curse on them, and then proceeded to tell them off as to how they ruined the film for everyone else by their total lack of manners.

After we left the theater, we noticed that one of them was wearing a full body, lime green unitard. He didn't even have an explanation for it. Oddly enough, the kids seemed in awe of Matt's Gurren Lagann t-shirt that eventually one of them actually apologized to me. I forgave him, shook his hand, and we were cool.

The moral of the story is: If you aren't mature enough to be out in public yet, stay home, especially if you're dressed in a lime green unitard. Also, a Gurren Lagann t-shirt makes an excellent pacifier...apparently.

Jewelry on the Cheap

2009-08-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Normally, I advise guys not to buy jewelry for their ladies unless they are in a serious relationship. Women take jewelry gifts to mean more than you probably intend. I'm not talking engagement rings, I mean things like bracelets, earrings, necklaces and the like. You may think you're getting your girl a nice gift, but what does it really say?

Now if you are in a committed relationship where you know that you truly love your partner, then I think it's more okay to purchase jewelry. But what if you don't have the funds to get her something nice? I have a solution for you: Peora.

Peora is a website that specializes in affordable jewelry. Most of it is sterling silver, but they do have a few gold pieces. Each item has detailed listings about the stone and materials used. The only downside is that if you're buying rings, they often only come in one size. Don't let that dissuade you. Rings can easily be adjusted for a few dollars. Remember, it's always easier to make a ring smaller than larger.

Here's another neat trick, Peora has a promotional website called Silver Jewelry Club that offers FREE jewelry. You only have to pay for shipping. The catch is that there are only 4 pieces of jewelry up for 15 minutes at a time. Pieces rotate 24 hours a day, but not everything from Peora makes it on there.

PS: This is also a great place to get a Mothers' Day gift or other holiday present for a family member.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2009-08-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about convention season. That's almost over.

I'm talking about Halloween, my favorite holiday of them all! Last year, I dressed up as Integra Hellsing from Hellsing, which was really cool and all...but no one in my real life knew who I was. Most of them thought I was Elle Driver from Kill Bill. I suppose that would have been acceptable, but Elle wore the patch over her right eye and didn't wear gloves.

It's almost September, and I don't know what I want to be yet! I'm considering an Orion Starfleet cadet, but I'm open to other options. So now, I'm taking suggestions. Leave a comment with your ideas, but keep in mind that I can't sew. I'm a scavenger cosplayer.

Addendum

2009-08-19T09:27:00.001-07:00

Ooh Sony, you sneaky bastards...

According to some new reports, Sony has a dummy company name called "Sand Dollar Enterprises, Inc." that they used to file the PS3 Slim to the FCC. In addition, sources searching under the dummy name found that there is a 250GB PS3 model in the works. I can't guarantee that it exists, but it seems likely. Still, it would make a lot of sense if they hold off on announcing/releasing it till the holiday season.

The Skinny on PS3

2009-08-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

"Oh noooo! We're not dropping the price of the PlayStation 3. Guffaw! What kind of rumor and speculation is this?! We do not comment on such fiddle faddle. Pish tush! POPPYCOCK!!!"

That's my impression of a Sony Computer Entertainment executive.

So...it's official. Sony is finally cutting the price of the 80GB and 160GB PS3s by $100 to $299 and $399 respectively and introducing the PS3 Slim in the first week of September even though they repeated denied even considering such actions. (So remember everyone, this means Sony's been lying to you.)

Some of you may be cheering. Some of you may be kicking yourself for owning a fat PS3. Some of you may not give a shit. And some of you may be running out to your local game retailer tomorrow to snatch up a PS3 at the new low price.

Check yourself a moment, friend. The new PS3 Slim model will have 120GB of hard drive space for the same price as the 80GB model. Hey, um...Sony? Did you think before you chose that price point? How are you supposed to push a clunkier model with less storage space for the same price when you don't leave yourself a large window of time to sell before launching your new product? If gamers had to wait 6 months for the PS3 Slim, then maybe they'd be tempted to "buy now," but the wait is only 2-3 weeks long. Had they dropped the price last holiday season, Sony could have increased their sales significantly between then and now.

Would you buy a current generation iPhone for the same price as a next generation model? Would you buy fish that's been sitting around for a week if you could buy fresh fish at the same price? Would you buy an 27" NTSC television for the same price as a 32" HDTV? Clearly not.

I'm quite interested to see what 80GB PS3 sales are like over the next month. Perhaps I will eat my words.

Do You Wanna Date My Avatar Video

2009-08-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

For any female who has ever played any MMORPG ever...

Pick Your Poison

2009-08-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

(via Anime News Network)

Manga creator You Higuri has resumed her Cantarella series after a four-year, two-month break in the September issue of Akita Shoten's Princess Gold Magazine on Monday. The fantasy manga re-imagines the political intrigue between Cesare Borgia and other real-life historical figures in Renaissance Italy by incorporating demonic powers in the story. Higuri has not drawn a new installment since the combined July/August issue of Princess Gold shipped in June of 2005.

Go! Comi has published the first 10 volumes of the manga in North America.

Source: Comic Natalie

Could the DL-6 Incident Have Been Avoided?

2009-08-16T15:21:00.000-07:00

SPOILER WARNING: This post contains several major spoilers about Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.

Throughout Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, the game refers to an old case called "The DL-6 Incident." In chapter 4, "Turnabout Goodbyes," the mystery behind what happened in that incident comes to light. Miles Edgeworth, his father, and a bailiff were trapped in an elevator for five hours. They started to run out of air which made them all go a little crazy. The bailiff had a gun that Miles picked up and threw at him to get him to stop arguing with his dad. The gun accidentally went off and left a hole in the glass, seen here:

In the image, it appears that the bullet pierced glass. That makes me wonder: If they were running out of oxygen, and the bailiff had his gun, why didn't he shoot a hole in the glass in the first place? Would that have prevented the events that unfolded?

Ah, but we may never know....

Piracy is Bad, M'kay?

2009-08-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know. The economy sucks. Nobody has money to buy fun things anymore, but long since before gas prices skyrocketted and AIG doomed us all, we were pirating anime. I'll admit that I watch fansubs. I'm no angel. However, I think it's important for anime fans to realize the impact that piracy has on the industry.

"But Teggy, they're big companies. They have plenty of money. Who cares of big executives don't make as much money as before?" you cry! This right here is the biggest misconception. The people who suffer from the loss of sales are the little guys: the producers, the directors, the audio recorders, the production assistants, etc. They're the ones who lose their jobs first. If an anime company isn't doing as well as they used to, the first thing they do it trim down the workforce. So all the people who are just as passionate about producing anime as you are watching it get screwed first.

But do you realize that you're hurting yourself too? When a company can't push a product, they aren't going to take the risk of adding as many new titles to its collection. Let's pretend that Naruto has never aired on TV and Viz puts out the first two seasons on DVD. If a majority of fans pirate the series rather than buy it, why should Viz even bother to bring you more when they aren't earning any money from it? Another example I like to use is Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Sure it was stupid of Square Enix not to debut it as a worldwide release, but within hours of its launch in Japan, thousands of people were downloading it here in the States. Think of all the sales that SE may have lost because of that? It just might be enough that Yoichi Wada says, "You know what? This movie didn't sell well enough, so we're just not going to make any more." Wouldn't that suck?

It's vital that we, as anime fans, support the industry by "voting with our dollars" (and Nielsen boxes) so that distributors can continue to bring us the programming, merchandise, and conventions that we love. It was crushing to see Power Anime have to close its retail store, but we failed them. I'm not saying that we should outlaw and boycott fansubs, but we should support our favorite shows by buying a DVD or download now and then to say, "Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to bring us this anime."

Dear Anzu

2009-08-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

Oh Anzu...

You're such a brilliant artist. You give American authors an opportunity to make their shoujo manga tales all the more authentic looking.

But for fuck's sake, can you please stop drawing for people with such crappy writing?!

I Heart Gackt

2009-08-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

I have three celebrity crushes: James Marsters, Orlando Bloom, and Gackt Camui.

Gackt is a singer/songwriter/poet/bishounen who won me over with his music. I never had a favorite song in my life until I heard "Rain" two years ago. Within 24 hours I just knew it was the one. "Kimi Ni Aitakute" makes me all emo because it reminds me of my best friend who lives far away and only get to see 1-2 times a year. Aside from his silky voice and moving songs...he's damn sexy.

Seriously, how can you not fall in love with those baby blue contact lenses?

Gackt specializes in J-rock and visual kei style music. His songs are generally very dramatic or melodic and simplistic. I guess you could compare him to artists like Evanescence and Within Temptation, but mostly in the rock+orchestral = drama kind of way. Almost all of his works are in Japanese, but he does have a few English songs.

If it's of any help, you've mostly likely heard "Redemption" on TV in the commercials for Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus.

Emo? Must Be All That Gaming

2009-08-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Japanese psychiatrist Rika Kayama told Mainichi Daily News that her patients are experiencing more frequest feelings of loneliness because of the Nintendo DS and PSP.

"Today’s youth immerse themselves in worlds of their own right before our eyes, where they can live secluded from the rest of us. Feeding into these one person worlds, personal devices such as mobile phones and handheld game systems like the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS come on to the market one after another."

Bullshit.

Yeah, you heard me. I think this is bullshit. Yes, it is easier to separate oneself from a crowd by playing on a handheld system or playing with apps on your iphone; but that certainly doesn't mean it's the only reason for feeling disassociated from social interactions. I've felt that way since I was a child, and I don't have a phone with cool apps. I didn't even get my DS until last April.

I live in one of the largest cities in the world. At times, I have stood in the middle of a crowded bus, no phone or DS or iPod or book, and felt utterly alone. Why do I feel this way? Probably because I sometimes suffer from depression, but it also has to do with the fact that all my good friends don't live here. I've always been the type to segregate myself from crowds. It leads to social anxieties at parties.

In conclusion, Kayama-san's patients probably already have tendencies to separate themselves; but I do agree that having any kind of handheld device or even a book can facilitate the growth of social anxiety and separation. It really has to be the choice of each individual to make the effort to find healthy ways to socialize face to face.

Some of us are just wired funny.

Source

ESRB Gives Up and Plays Nice With Journalists

2009-08-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

Video game journalists are always searching for sources to break stories before anyone else, especially in the online markets. Last year, several stories broke due to leaks at the ESRB's website. Most of these leaks revealed revamps of older games, which has been pretty exciting for all. Nevertheless, that's another post.

For a while, the ESRB attempted to tighten website security in order to prevent such leaks from happening. Now it seems that they've just given up because I've been getting weekly press releases in my email with the list of new ESRB listings. See, ESRB? *pat pat* Isn't it so much better when you just play along as give us what we want? There, there...

So yeah, Dino Crisis and two Resident Evil games are coming back via PSN. There's your leaked ESRB ratings news of the week.

Five Second Failure

2009-08-09T20:55:00.001-07:00

You know the whole 5 Second Film trend going on at the moment? Last night, and a bit into today, I was watching a bunch of videos that claimed to be "5 Second Film" forms of anime.

Serious failure.

You can't call it 5 second anime if it's longer than 5 seconds. Besides, most of them aren't even funny and could work in 5 seconds if the editor was willing to try.

Then again, some are easier than others. Behold:

Please Stop With Your Pathetic Lines

2009-08-09T10:19:00.001-07:00

Several years ago, I thought to myself that I should write a geek's guide to women by a geek woman. Since I will probably never get around to it, I may as well --

*runs off to shoo the cat from clawing the window screen*

--teach them what I can in here. For now, your homework is to read this lame Yahoo article about things women want you to say to them. kthxbai

EDIT: BTW, I didn't actually read the article myself. Just say something nice to your gal now and then.

Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Ass on Your Way Out

2009-08-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

4Kids is up for sale.....

>.>

Um...........

The paidContent.org website for digital media news is reporting that the 4Kids Entertainment licensing and broadcasting company has put itself up for sale. According to the website's sources, 4Kids is discussing a "selective bidding process" with a few potential buyers. In the past, 4Kids adapted Pokémon, One Piece, Tokyo Mew Mew, Kirby: Right Back At Ya!, Sonic X, and other anime titles for the North American market. Its current properties include Yu-Gi-Oh!, Shaman King, and Dinosaur King from Japan, as well as the card-game-based Chaotic franchise from Denmark.

4Kids reported a narrower 1st quarter net loss of US$2.0 million this year, compared to US$6.4 million in the same period last year. During those same periods, its revenue dropped from US$15 million to US$10.5 million, and its market capitalization is currently below US$25 million. It ended its Saturday morning programming block on the Fox television network in December, but still maintains the CW4Kids children's television block on affiliates of The CW network. It laid off 15% of its workforce in December.

Barry Stagg, senior vice president of corporate communications for 4Kids, told ANN, "It is our policy not to comment on rumors or speculation.

Source: ANN

Yes, yes, I'm a day or two late on this.

As you all know, I love the legit anime distribution industry. I want it to succeed, but 4Kids is the kind of company that is dragging the social acceptance of anime among adults backwards. 4Kids is notorious for censorship that doesn't just take out foul language, but erases/alters objects they may find "offensive" which includes cigarettes, guns, and anything that's "too Japanese" such as rice balls being switched for sandwiches. Someone find me a photo of that and I'll post it.

Also, check out this lovely comic strip by VGCats that explains it well.

Lesson of the Day

2009-08-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Be-Papas does not = Beard Papa's

One is an anime group, the other is a brand of delicious delicious cream puffs.

Thanks Pete!

Bonus Lesson: You really should eat cream puffs day of. They kinda get mushy by the next day.

Smell Badass, Be a Hero

2009-08-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Sachs and Violens Collection is live!

Scents based on the title characters from George Pérez and Peter David's groundbreaking comic book mini-series, 'Sachs and Violens'!

Part of Marvel's Heavy Hitters line, "Sachs and Violens" was a 4 issue comic book miniseries written by Peter David with art by George Pérez. The series was published by Marvel's Epic Comics imprint from 1993 to 1994. George Pérez is one of the most popular and influential comic book artists currently working. He is best known for his work on Crisis on Infinite Earths, New Teen Titans, Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Avengers, and has most recently worked on DC's Final Crisis.

Peter David is an Eisner Award-winning Writer of Stuff, including epic runs with the Incredible Hulk, She-Hulk, Aquaman, and Spider Man.

Proceeds from every bottle sold go to the Hero Initiative, the first federally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators, writers and artists in need. Founded in late 2000 by a consortium of comic book and trade publishers including Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Wizard Entertainment, CrossGen Comics and Dynamic Forces Inc., the 501©(3) charity aims to assist comic creators with health, medical, and quality-of-life assistance.

SACHS
A sensual scent, compelling and passionate, that stays close to the skin: Roman chamomile, bourbon vanilla, and smoky vanilla bean.

VIOLENS
Rugged and understated: five sandalwoods, dusty leather, and light musk.

Help a truly worthy cause, and smell like a badass in the process! The Hero Initiative: because everyone deserves a Golden Age.

Otaku Pride!

2009-08-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

A viewer comment brought it to my attention that being deemed a fanboy/fangirl/otaku is apparently a new four-letter-word. I say people who think like that are boring, average, and have no imagination.

In Japan, the term "otaku" has a much stronger meaning than in Western civilization. An otaku is someone who is obsessed with general pop culture stuff such as anime, manga, computers, video games, and idols (called "wota"). In the U.S., "otaku" tends to specifically apply to the anime and manga crowd, but for the most part, we just call them "nerds."

Many of you, along with myself, have probably been classified as a nerd or otaku at some point in your life. Hell, I've been a nerd since kindergarten. I couldn't help the fact that I had huge glasses, mousy hair, and no clue how to dress myself. Thankfully, my fashion sense has improved drastically, but that didn't really happen until I made one important life decision:

I embraced my inner geek.

It happened late into my sophomore year of college. I met this guy named Will when I approached him after class to talk about our love for swords. We've been fast friends ever since. Will introduced me to anime and got me back into Dungeons & Dragons (which I used to hate). Over the next two years, I surrounded myself with my fellow geeks. These people liked me for who I was. Even if I totally sucked at something, they would always cheer me on just for trying. I didn't need to be popular or in a particular crowd. I was with people who made me happy, and that's all that mattered.

What I'm getting at here is that you should never let anyone call you a loser or make you think that being a fanboy/fangirl/otaku is something to be ashamed of. If you keep trying to fit into someone else's mold or what society tries to make you think is cool, you're never going to be truly happy. There is no joy in pretending to be something you're not. Let it go. Surround yourself with people who like you for who you are and you will find friends for life.

The ironic part of it all? Now my geek status somehow makes me seem cool and popular to the boys. Go figure. >.>

Stop...Vader time!

2009-08-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

GTFO

2009-08-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

Dear governments of the world,

You seriously need to do more research and valid studies on the effects of violence in video games and "internet addiction" before you start calling for extreme measures. And no, I don't mean Jack Thompson, I'm talking about people with any actual credibility.

Love,
Me

Just this morning, I came across three disturbing articles about government involvement in (heavy air quote)protecting our youth(heavy air quote).

Let's start in our own schools. It's sad to see society get all overprotective about everything, but now Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is touring the U.S. in an attempt to get school officials to impose a 10-day "detox" period in which students will not be allowed to play video games or watch TV. First of all, what business does any school have in deciding what its students can and can not do at home? Secondly, what business does this ex-Army ranger have telling schools to tell its students what they can or can not do at home? Any parent will tell you that taking away something from kids forcibly will only make them want it more. Remember prohibition? (Of course you don't, you're not that old) Yeah, that worked out nicely.

Next up is China, where every day brings another restriction on gaming, the internet, and free speech. Just recently, China said it would stop electrocuting "internet addicts" as treatment, but apparently that courtesy didn't extend to beating the shit out of 16 year-old "internet addict" whose mother was assured that he would not be harmed in any way while at a treatment camp.

Germany, I'm looking at you next. In the last year or so, the German government has been cracking down on video games due to some recent outbreaks in youth violence. It's gotten to the point where game developer Crytek is fed up and threatening to leave the country, taking their profitable business with them. Crytek, the company behind FarCry and Crysis wants out because now the government is in the process of passing a law to ban all games "where the main part is to realistically play the killing of people or other cruel or un-human acts of violence against humans or manlike characters." Good for you, Crytek!

Seriously all you lawmakers, stay out of my vajayjay and out of my video games.

Source: g4tv.com, Kotaku

Left 4 Dead Discrepancy

2009-08-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

Valve has announced "Crash Course," a new downloadable content pack for the original Left 4 Dead coming next month which will include a new single-player, multiplayer, and versus mode campaign. The DLC will be free for PC players and $7 for Xbox 360 players.

SCREEEEECH!!!

Wait...what?

I've checked various sources, but no one seems to know exactly why Valve is charging for one version, but not the other. It seems rather unfair to Xbox 360 users. I'm sure Valve has a good reason for this, but I can't even fathom what it could be. I hope to be able to update this with some answers in the near future.

Sources: Joystiq, G4tv.com, Kotaku

This Man Will Make My Dreams Come True...Someday...

2009-08-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

I've been in love with Revolutionary Girl Utena since I was in college many moons ago. It's a fantastic story about a girl who wants to be a prince and her journey down a path that only grows darker and more dangerous as she progresses. During my senior year, my friends and I considered a group commission of the Ohtori Academy's duelist ring. Unfortunately, being broke college kids, there was no way we could afford $800 for the mold.

Eventually I lucked out on finding one of the official movie rings at Anime Central years ago. It just barely fit my ring finger, but being faux silver, it eventually turned brassy and the resin on top chipped.

Every now and then, I search around for a rose crest ring in hopes that someday I might find one that wasn't a cheap piece of overpriced crap from eBay. Then one day, I came across this picture:

*Ahhhhhh~* (<- heavenly choir sfx)

That image may look familiar. Yes, it's a ring by Russ Sharek of The Morpheus Company, the same kind found at the top of my blog. This ring absolutely took my breath away. I contacted Russ about what the ring was made of and how much it would cost to make another. The ring was made in 14k white and red gold...wait, red gold? How cool is that?! The "coin" is 16.5mm, which is quite large. This ring ain't for no princess, princess! If you want to wear this ring, you'd better work it!

If I had the kind of spare change to throw around to commission this gorgeous work of art, I would gladly hand it over to him along with my first born child. (Note to self: get pregnant. Or better yet, find a fiance and make this my engagement ring! That makes perfect sense to any Utena fan.)

Seriously people, you are unlikely to ever find a duelist ring replica of this quality anywhere else.

When Harry Met Bella

2009-08-03T11:04:00.001-07:00

I'm not the only blogger in the family. My awesome older sister Carlie over at Librarilly Blonde wrote a neat article with Elizabeth Burns about fanfiction. Is it a great launchpad for young writers, or is it just plain old plagerism?

Carlie and Liz take an in-depth look over at School Library Journal, so check it out, k? Find out how to protect yourself and your works from legal backlash. Check out tips for how to get your story read by more people. Learn the "dos" and "don'ts" of fanfic publishing.

When Harry Met Bella: Fanfiction is all the rage. But is it plagiarism? Or the perfect thing to encourage young writers?

Hrm...I'm trying to remember if I've done any actual fanfic in my life. I think straightforward fanfic is the one thing I haven't done. Technically, all of my roleplay in my Star Wars club could be considered fanfic since I take the basic universe and create my own characters and stories. I've written filk and remixed fannish videos, but I don't think I've ever sat down and written an original story with cannon characters.

Wow..."dos" is just a strange word.

(illustration by Charlie Powell)

They're Galka...But Not Galka

2009-08-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

SQUEE!!!

Famitsu Wave dropped the first details of Final Fantasy XIV. Here are some highlights:

The world is not called Eorza, but Haiderin. It's going to have a more modern feel, probably a la Final Fantasy VII or XIII.

The races from Square Enix's previous MMO Final Fantasy XI have all been reimagined. The race based on the Galka will look like Galkas, but not actually be Galkas. No word on if the Gria will be in the game, but I kind of hope so. I think the little horned fairies are cute. SE says they did this cause they see the original FFXI races as "actors in a role" (or some shit). Personally, I would have preferred the option to NOT to have to deal with tarutarus. Ah well, more cutsey footballs to punt.

The most interesting new point is that the game will not have experience points or a leveling system:

Jobs were the lasting appeal of Final Fantasy XI. They want to utilize that concept, but stack more on top of it. The focus will be on weapons, determining how you play, grow, and fight. They'll be expanding upon the basic job system.

Ping! I'm willing to bet money that it will be an AP system similar to the one found in Final Fantasy Tactics A2. (Sadly, I'm broke so I can't gable. Click on the ads guys!) Simply put, you equip a weapon, each with its own ability. It takes X number of AP to master that weapon's ability. You gain AP by killing mobs or completing quests, etc. Once mastered, the skill is yours to keep even after you remove the weapon. I certainly can't say 100% for certain that this will be the method, but it sure seems likely.

Another awesome bonus...Nobuo Uematsu will compose all of the game's music. Whaaa?! Sweet!

Source

Just Because You Can Blow Up a House, Doesn't Mean You Should

2009-08-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

SPOILER WARNING

Oh wait, you shouldn't bother to pay money to see this movie, so screw the spoiler warning.

I was actually a little excited to see The Collector. I like interesting booby traps and it was somehow associated with some people who did Saw IV, V, and VI. I do love the Saw movies (except III). I should have known better. Let me make this simple: In the end, they blow up the house for no apparent reason...and they don't even blow up the whole thing! Lame.

They show you all the traps in advance, and none of them felt particularly creative. At least when one guy collapsed and his head got squished in a bear trap I felt some satisfaction. You know the innocent little girl will be saved. It's quite obvious who "The Collector" is from the start...and it doesn't make a lot of sense as to why he does what he does. We don't get to look into his mind at all. Who is he? What's the point of sticking someone in a box every now and then.

Sadly, the ending clearly sets up a sequel...the problem is, I don't feel satisfied enough with the lack of knowledge about that villain that my interest isn't piqued. There's no reason to come back. I suppose it's hard to find someone who can hold his own to Jigsaw.

Perhaps my horror movie expectations are too high now because of the original Saw. Saw was more of a psychological thriller than a slasher flick like this. Saw is creative and full of interesting plot twists. I mean, it stars Cary Elwes for fuck's sake!

Games, Sex, and Magic

2009-08-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

One of the joys about playing an RPG is that you get to be somebody else, but I've noticed a particular trend in turn-based RPG video games, especially the Japanese ones: Women are usually the healers and mages.

It's pretty obvious as to why this happens. Most male humans naturally have more muscle mass than females, making them more ideal to do things like wield large weapons. That's reality, but why is it that when it comes to fantasy video games that women don't usually get to swing the big swords when men are around?

Now I certainly can not say this is the case for all video games. Right now, I'm specifically referring to turn-based roleplaying video games such as Grandia, Final Fantasy, SMT: Persona etc. This does not apply to any game where you can fully customize characters such as SMT: Digital Devil Saga or Final Fantasy III. This concept mostly applies to characters with preset classes and abilities.

The trend I see is that males in these games tend to be geared towards melee and women towards magic, especially healing. The thing that bugs me is...it's a digital experience. The laws of physics and biology need not apply!

A perfect example of this is Final Fantasy X, one of my favorite games. Yuna and Lulu are both mages who can kick some ass with summoning or magic while Rikku is a thief. But it's Tidus, Auron, and Khimari who get the big swords and spears. How about a different brand like Persona 3? Yukari and Mitsuru carry light weapons, are good mages, and both have healing abilities. Aigis doesn't count. She just shoots things and acts annoying. When it comes to the boys, four out of five of them can wield heavy weapons such as greatswords, axes, and spears.

Side note: Aigis sucks.

Personally, I really enjoy seeing a badass babe with a huge weapon in these games' sequels like Payne in FFX-2 or Metis in Persona 3 FES, The Answer...but notice how in both of these games that the main character shifts from being a male (Tidus and Main Character) to female (Yuna and Aigis)?

Again: Aigis sucks.

Grandia 3 is also a culprit, even more so with melees and mages split between the sexes. Your main party consists of two males and two females. The males are excellent at melee abilities, and the women destroy mobs with magic.

A part of me wants to stretch this argument even thinner and wonder if game makers think that men don't have the same mental capacity as women to handle magic...but that is a pretty weak argument. In a world where sexism tends to fall in favor of men (sorry, but it's does), it feels more like game makers think they're making up for something women lack.

Seriously dudes, an animated woman can do anything an animated man can do. That's why they're ANIMATED!

PS: Aigis really sucks.

Teggimaniacs!

2009-07-31T15:45:00.001-07:00

I challenged the G4 Interactive audience to write up lyrics for my unofficial (read: non-existent) fan club called Teggimaniacs. The totally awesome Mr. Paisley made me this video:

Okay, so he spelled Teggimaniacs wrong; but in all fairness, I never put it in writing.

We can haz price drop? Does it even matter?

2009-07-31T13:40:00.000-07:00

The PlayStation 3 launched in November of 2006. Nearly three years later, sales still kind of suck, and Sony has been unable to turn a profit on the device. If I recall correctly, Sony was actually losing money on PS3 sales at first because the cost to manufacture them was higher than the MSRP.

Over the years, production costs have ebbed to the point where Sony could just about break even. Then today, I saw a news post by G4tv.com's Jake Gaskill which noted that Sony CEO Nobuyuki Oneda told TVG that manufacturing costs are down by 70%. Insert mathematical guesstimation....

Assuming that TVG is correct, the current manufacturing costs are well under $100 the sale price. The raving fanbys and girls (like me) who have been waiting for a significant price cut (like me) may be quick to assume that this is a sign of a price cut.

Why a price cut might happen:

Sony needs to start turning a profit on the PS3. Sales wise, the console has been a bit of an emberassment. A price cut, especially in the fall, would likely be enough incentive to get consumers to pounce. If the number of increased sales could make up for the money lost, this would be a good move.
Major publishers including Activision and Square Enix have commented that they want Sony to get their act together, cut the price, or they may consider drastic action (dun dun duuuuuun!) such as ceasing to make games for the PS3 entirely. Think of it this way: If consumers don't own PS3s, they're not going to buy games for them. If they're not buying the games, then the publishers and developers lose money. Not making money by not making games is still better than investing in games and losing it. Some may argue that the lack of game selection is at fault for lack of sales. I suppose it is a bit of a catch-22.

Why a price cut might not happen:

Jake brought up a very good point that Sony needs to recover the losses they've suffered over the last two and a half years. By not cutting the price, every dollar difference between manufacturing cost and sales is pure profit. The wider the margin, the more Sony stands to make...if they can sell the product.
Sony CEOs have stated on multiple occasions that the company has no intention of dropping the price, no matter what publishers and analysts say (or threaten). SCEA president Jack Tretton called Activision's threat to pull out "a lot of noise."

Untill I see a press release, I assume nothing. Personally, I think that in this economy, it would be a wise choice for Sony to cut the MSRP by $75-$100 in order to stimulate interest in consumers. 2009 is a frugal year. People are much more motivated to spend a buck when they think they're saving one.

The Scents of Sachs and Violens

2009-07-31T13:02:00.001-07:00

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab releases limited edition scents based on Peter David and George Pérez’s “Sachs and Violens” Comic Book Series

Los Angeles, CA – Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (BPAL) is proud to present limited edition scents based on the groundbreaking comic book series Sachs and Violens, written by Peter David with art by George Pérez. The series is currently available in graphic novel form from DC Comics.

These two scents, based on characters J.J. Sachs and Ernie “Violens” Schulz, will debut at the Chicago Comic-Con, August 6-9, at the Hero Initiative booth. They will be available concurrently at http://www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com.

Proceeds from every bottle sold go to the Hero Initiative, the first federally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book writers and artists in need. The 501©(3) charity aims to assist comic creators with health, medical, and quality-of-life assistance.

George Pérez will be on hand at the Chicago Comic-Con, and is one of the most popular and influential comic book artists currently working. He is best known for his work on Crisis on Infinite Earths, New Teen Titans, Wonder Woman, and Avengers.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is a cult perfume house that crafts hand-blended body and household scents. They have over two decades of experience in the field, and specialize in eliciting emotional responses through perfume while creating unique scent environments that capture legends and folklore, poetry, and the stuff of dreams and nightmares.

A special kickoff party with a speed dating theme will be held Thursday night, August 6, to launch the perfume oils. For a mere $35, participants will get either Sachs or Violens perfume oil (a $25 value!), a velveteen bag, a postcard with exclusive George Pérez art, and one complimentary drink, along with the chance to meet 20 like-minded fans in a fun speed-dating event. Tickets are available at: http://qurls.com?i=47916

“My career has taken me to some amazing places, but I’ve never had a scent based on characters I’ve had a hand in creating, nor have I ever played host to a massive speed dating party,” said George Pérez. “I’m looking forward to both. It should be a great weekend in Chicago!”

Chicago Comic-Con will be held August 6 – 9th, 2009 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemount, IL. The Hero Initiative can be found at booth #1340-#1342. For more information, please go to: http://www.wizardworld.com/home-ch.html