Comic Book Overkill

Nerd rant alert...

I have a fear that by the end of this post most of you will be shouting hypocrisy, and more than a few of you will be calling for blood.

Why? well because I'm going to be discussing an issue I have with the veritable pile up of comic book media visiting screens soon. Because that is what the genre is becoming - a pile up - and very soon I fear it is going to be a car crash.

There are just too many superhero related films, TV shows, tie-in merchandise and video games coming out in the near (and worryingly distant future). In this year we will have:

• Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man and Fantastic Four in films, 
• Gotham, Flash, Marvel's Agents of Shield, Marvel's Agent Carter, Arrow and Marvel's Daredevil on TV.
• and relatively less in video games with just Batman: Arkham Knight (although the lack of games is probably due to the shocking history of superhero games.

That is quite a lot hitting our screens, but 2015 is relatively quiet in comparison to the upcoming years. Take just next year for instance. 2016 will feature eight cinematic films and the amount of TV shows is set to increase too. This amount is going to be the standard amount from next year until at least 2020.

Oh, and these only reflect the two major comic book publishers, DC and Marvel's, intellectual property. There are many more lesser known comic book tie-ins coming.

Now I am someone who enjoys comics, so I should love these films right? 

Well yes I do, and you can read my opinion on the latest Avengers here. 

But I can't help feeling that the market is becoming over saturated and the franchises will soon sink. Even I'm getting fed up of seeing superheros plastered on everything, so surely the average non-nerd is too. At the very least people will be getting confused as to whom fights with whom and why certain heroes aren't appearing in certain franchises.

Film fatigued can effect fans and casual watchers alike.

And this fatigue can harm how  the fans feel towards a film. I had this feeling as I went into Avengers: Age of Ultron. The Avengers franchise has the had the threat of the villain Thanos hanging over it since Avengers Assemble, and with every addition the end game has been hinted at more and more. However the payoff for this will not come until Avengers Infinity War Pt. 2, which is scheduled for release in 2019.

Thanos is hardly a threat when he has to sit in that throne for another eight films.

Don't get me wrong I enjoyed Avengers: Age of Ultron, and definitely the Guardians of the Galaxy, but I still went in feeling that it could be nothing more than filler with an end goal far out of sight. You could argue that it is my own fault for reading everything and everything I find, that I have spoilt it for myself. But whether I know about it or not doesn't change the fact that there are so many films coming out.

And for those who are only casual fans the amount of films must be confusing. Without doing the reading that I mentioned above it will be hard to know what films tie into what. This confusion only gets worse when we consider the two Quicksilvers that are hitting the screens. 

If your an avid fan or not it won't be long before people tire of superheroes. At which point this fad will end as it does with all popular culture. The problem is that by over-saturating the screens the studios are bursting the fad sooner, bringing on their own demise. At the rate they are going at now I worry if anyone will be interested by the time that Avengers: Infinity wars pt. 2 releases, let alone the scheduled films for the 2020s.


Comic timeline photo from Outerplaces, Hypocrite meme from quickmeme, Thanos image from Screenrant.

Five Little Known Facts About Nintendo

As a student of Creative Writing at the University of Winchester, I have been spoilt for choice in choosing my topics for assignments. The nature of the degree has meant that whilst the format of the assignments/essays has been stipulated, the topic or genre hasn't.

One of my final assessments for my degree is a twelve panel exhibition for a module known as Writing for Display. This module has been all about writing for the general public. Thankfully, due to my part-time job as a freelance copywriter I have a good knowledge of how to write engaging and informative texts for a range of readers. The topic of the exhibition has been left up to us, with our tutor suggesting a subject that will interest us to make research enjoyable.

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise to regular readers that I picked to write about Nintendo, a company close to my heart. As I did research for the exhibition I found myself learning somethings that I had not realised. I thought I would share some of these with you today, along with other facts I knew, but find interesting.

Nintendo has been around for a long time.

Nintendo was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi. At this time there wern't any HD TVs on the market, and therefore no need for video games consoles. But people still wanted to be entertained and Nintendo were happy to oblige. The company began life manufacturing Hanafuda cards, which are traditional Japanese cards to play a game similar to Solitaire. It is a game where players must match up cards with the same suits.Nintendo continued making playing cards right up until 1963 when they branched out into games, food, hotels and even taxi services. During this time they became the first Japanese company to produce plastic playing cards on an industrial scale. It wasn't until 1970 that Nintendo started experimenting with electronic entertainment.

Nintendo make traditional Hnafuda cards too.

The Origins of Mario.  

I knew some things about Mario's origins. The fact that he first appeared as the playable character 'Jumpman' in the arcade game Donkey Kong is common knowledge. But what I didn't know was that originally Shigeru Miyamoto (one of Nintendo's most influential designers) had wanted to make a game based upon the character Popeye. When Nintendo couldn't acquire the character license they re-skinned the game. Mario was originally Popeye, Princess Pauline was originally Olive Oil and Donkey was meant to be Bruto. As someone who isn't a fan of Popeye I must say that I am pleased that a license couldn't be agreed upon.

The Origins of Other Franchises.

Sticking with the theme of origins did you know that The Legend of Zelda series is based upon Shigeru Miyamoto's childhood. He grew up in rural Japan exploring the fields and caves near his home with no map or compass. This goes to explain a few things about the first Legend of Zelda, such as a lack of guidance when you begin your quest.
The main characters default name is link because he is the hero that links the games, regardless of time period. His green costume is based upon Peter Pan, a favourite childhood story of Miyamoto.

It seems that inspiration from childhood is prevalent at Nintendo, as Chain Chomp was based on a tethered dog that would jump at Shigeru. The dog, like Chain Chomp would always be stopped when he reached his tether. The Pokemon series is based upon its creator, Satoshi Tajiri's, love of collecting bugs.

Brotherly Love 

I always assumed that Mario was at least a few years older than Luigi. But I was wrong. According to Yoshi's Island they are actually twins. Both were delivered in a single bundle by a stork (sweet right?), Mario is thought to be older because he left the bundle first.

Name Game

Mario's name comes from the landlord of the warehouse that Nintendo of America used to rent. And the fictional character's full name is Mario Mario, with Luigi being Luigi Mario. Luigi's name origin is slightly less interesting. The development team wanted an Italian-sounding name that went well with Maio. Luigi was picked, also partly due to a nearby pizzeria called Mario & Luigi's.

The reason behind Yoshi's name (in the game's lore) is due to the island that they were discovered on being called Yoshi Island. Perhaps they were discovered by the same person as the Galapagos Tortoise. 

Quick-Fire Mind Blowers

And now for some smaller points that surprised me: 

When Mario breaks a block he isn't doing it with his head. Even in early games his fist is raised briefly showing that Mario isn't as foolish as I thought. 

Wario's name isn't as lazy as I thought (just Mario with an upside down M). Actually his name is Mario's name combined with the Japanese word for bad, Warui.

Lastly, in the original Super Mario Bros, the reason Bowser kidnaps Peach isn't due to love. Instead, it turns out that Peach is the only one who can undo the spell Bowser has put on the Mushroom Kingdom.

So, there you have it. Some rather interesting tidbits I have discovered about Nintendo as I build an exhibition. Once the full exhibit has been submitted I may post it on this blog.

Hanafuda image from Nintendo Wikia, Zelda image from Wikipedia, 

The New Nintendo 3DS &3DS XL: Are They Really New?

I remember when Nintendo first announced the new 3DS XL, alongside its sister the new 3DS, not to be confused with the existing 3DS XL and 3DS of course. Back then it was being referred to as the 3DS XL LL and 3DS LL respectively. A few thoughts struck me as I clasped my face in my palms. Firstly, 'that's a lot of random letters.' Followed by 'that’s a lot of 3DSs.' I realise that console makers are known for remodelling their consoles in a bid to keep a fresh appearance, but the 3DS family has become a bit ridiculous.

In the beginning we had the 3DS, launched in 2011. The 3DS XL brought us a bigger screen in 2012. I could see the logic in increasing the size, but the time gap could have been longer. For 3DS owners like myself, the announcement of an update mere months after purchasing the first felt like an insult. Then came the 2DS in 2013, and to be frank I’m still not sure why. The unique selling point of the 3DS was the 3D in many ways. It distinguished it from the original DS in more so than updated graphics, but the release of the 2DS took focus away from the 3D aspect. Also, it doesn’t close like the rest of the family, making the 2DS closely resemble Cousin Itt from the Adams Family. This then brings us to the new Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL. Do we really need them?

They offer some improvements to the past models; both have bigger screens than the 3DS, although the same size as the 3DS XL. These screens have apparently got improved 3D ability, which overcomes the original 3D problem that it limited you to looking directly at the screen. You had to have your head positioned exactly a 30cm ruler’s distance away, with your eyes pointed directly at the screen's centre, and make sure there wasn't a strong wind to tilt your gaze or you would end up with a fragmented image.

I have owned a few too many of these
 to mention without embarrassment

The new 3DS and 3DS XL are also said to have a quicker processing power than older consoles, and have been redesigned slightly in regards to button colour. As well as this, the positions of the stylus, volume slider and game cartridge is different. The buttons do look nice in a purely superficial way, but I don’t agree with the relocation of the stylus. I am a creature of comfort, therefore the stylus should be found on the top of devices or the right-hand side to avoid confusion (it doesn’t take much). Cartridge and volume slider movement doesn’t really bother me much. The start/select buttons have moved too, and actually they have improved in ease of use but not aesthetics.

The biggest draws for these new consoles come from the new C-stick and exchangeable faceplates. The C-stick allows for two joysticks, which comes in handy. Most gamers have become accustomed to movement and camera being controlled by separate analogue sticks, and handhelds that offered a single stick always feel a bit clunky. Directional pads can never quite live up to the precision of an analogue stick in my opinion. The C-stick is about the size of a pea and looks like it is made of a rather uncomfortable rubber substance, and I was a bit unsure of whether the new addition would be welcome. After giving it a try, however, I found it quite accommodating, responsive and all-round a nice new addition. It is very similar in appearance to the mouse nubs some laptops have sitting at the heart of their keyboards, but these have a tendency to be too responsive and often shoot the mouse off to an unknown screen edge at the lightest touch. Thankfully, the C-stick doesn’t and actually feels like you are slowly rotating a normal analogue stick despite not actually moving itself. The C-stick feels good and gave me a reason to play Monster Hunter 3, which I enjoy more now as it is easier to control. I was very impressed by this and it outshines some full controllers, and is a definite improvement on the 3DS Pro that Nintendo launched a few years ago (this was a bulky add-on that clipped to the side). 

I feel the need to mention that new shoulder buttons have also been added, but I have yet to find a use for these.

The exchangeable faceplates are a nice touch for people, like myself, who like to buy new devices when the old one begins to bore them. I look forward to the release of new designs, and the changing of plates is as simple as unscrewing two screws and unclipping the old plate. They also announced two limited editions, a Majora’s Mask edition and a Monster Hunter 4 edition. As a life-long Legend of Zelda fan I fell in love with the Majora’sMask edition on site.

I may be a nerd, but now I'm a happier nerd.

I haven’t really noticed a dramatic improvement in the 3D effect. Although, I tend to play it with the effect off unless I am watching a particularly stunning cutscene.  I have noticed that the device looks flatter and feels a bit lighter, although neither is too noticeable.

Lastly, a word on data transfer. Nintendo have issued various step-by-step guides that help to transfer data from your old device to the new. As someone who is an avid player with a lot of game-time this was essential. The process was nail-biting to say the least. As I watched a cute little animation of Pikmin moving my data, the thought that I had accidentally deleted years of my life made me feel ill (I can hear you judging me over there). Thankfully, the process went smoothly, and no data was harmed in the transfer.

If you are looking to buy the new 3DS or 3DS XL then I would say it would be worth it, but on a few conditions. One, that you do not already own a 3DS and you have been looking for a reason to buy one. Two, that you own an old 3DS and think the increased screen size of a 3DS XL is worth it (it is). But I would not advise those who already own a 3DS XL to buy the new one. The C-stick is a great addition, but I would hold out on buying one until major games are released that can't be played without it; like Xenoblade Chronicles. Unless you are like me, and can’t stand being behind in all things new and shiny.

 Size comparison image from Gomgom54, Nintendo tree from Pinterest

Fantasy Life

It appears that video game obsession with me is like waiting for a bus. You can't engage with one game deeply for a few years and then three come along in a short time; and suck all time you have for anything else. This time the game that is dragging me away from  my life is Fantasy Life on the 3DS.

Don't worry I won't be giving any spoilers away, so read ahead.

It came as no surprise to me that I became a little engrossed in Fantasy Life. The game comes from developers Level 5 who have hooked me in with little resistance on many occasions. I have been an avid fan of their Professor Layton series and last year I spent more time playing Ni No Kuni than I care to admit. There is something about the innocent cartoon-like art style that conceals deep game play and a deeper story line still.

This game is no exception, and the world is as colourful as ever. Lush green fields, luminous caverns and vibrant towns are all a pleasure to explore. There are times when I just find myself strolling around the field just because it is quite relaxing. Except when set upon by wolves, or having to sneak past the Nap Dragon; who despite always sleeping terrifies me.

Gameplay wise it is an RPG combined with a life simulator game. Imagine if Animal Crossing and Final Fantasy had a child, or if Skyrim was colourful and less adult. For those of you who those references bypassed. It is a game where you can live a peaceful town-based existence, buying a home, filling it with furniture and generally living a simple existance (Animal Crossing). But, to earn your money for this you go out adventuring, exploring dungeons and slaying beasts (Skyrim style).

Fantasy Life's main unique selling point is it's life license system. Where most games will give you a choice of the type of person you want to be: warrior, mage, farmer etc. Fantasy Life allows you to chop and change your life on a whim through exchanging your license. Your lives soon become intertwined, as a warrior you need armour so you become a blacksmith. Then you need ore for that armour, so off to mine you go. But wait, those swords also have wooden hilts, and wood chopper becomes necessary. It could be easy for you to pick two lives and then not try others, but Fantasy Life makes it rather integral, and enjoyable, to play many at once.

Not that you can't pick one life and stick to it. Yeah you may need armour, ore etc. but you can just buy them from merchants. You miss out on some great gameplay doing this though. Fantasy Life then attracts a minor annoyance with this too. When you begin a new life you need to go through a tutorial mission for that life. Which wouldn't be a problem, except they all follow the same pattern. Talk to Guild-master, go see a previous student, fulfill a certain request and then be on your merry way. After completing two or so it becomes rather repetitive. Thankfully it gives you the option to bypass these and doesn't penalise you for doing so.

Fantasy Life is an amazingly deep game. I have sunk almost fifteen hours into it already, and have barely scratched the surface. I have tried five of the twelve, or so lives. Exploration wise I have only unlocked the main town and it's adjacent field. The reason for this lack of progress is quite simply because I can't help re-exploring every area to ensure I uncover every secret; sometimes even twice.

The only downside I have found with Fantasy Life so far, apart from being a time-sponge, is that it does end up being killing small animals and harvesting natural resources. I don't exactly feel like the great guy all the towns folk are praising me as.


Fantasy Life box-art from Kotaku, Game-play image from Nintendo, Pretty field image from Hardcoregamer.

Tag I'm It: The Liebster Award

The UK Blog Awards voting opened today and my blog Geek Boy Babbles is entered under two categories: Young Person and Tech blog.
Any and all support for me in the awards is appreciated.
Well this is certainly exciting, my first blog tag on Geek Boy Babbles. I would like to thank Anna Kissed Celeste for this challenge, known as the Liebster Award. The blogger tagged as part of the award must give 11 random facts about themselves, then answer 11 questions put to them by the tagger. After that, the tagged blogger can issue 11 of their own questions to inflict, sorry, pass on to 5-11 other bloggers.
I don’t know what's up with all the 11s; perhaps they’re in season this year.

So, without further ado: 
11 Random Facts 
1. Despite having a deep hatred for football I actually have a working knowledge of the game and the teams. I can even explain to you the offside rule. This is a result of growing up in a family that was more than a little obsessed with the sport. To this day I have a distrust for everything to do with Derby, due to a family-based Nottingham Forest biased.


2. I enjoy making things and I am often crafting something or other. I recently got into Amigurumi (crocheting plush toys), but in the past have constructed props for costumes; such as my keyblade from Kingdom Hearts. Which I vow will someday be used as pert of a Sora cosplay. If you want to check out some of my stuff then check out the Crafty Projects page on this blog.


3. I consider myself as having a semi-eidetic memory (also known as photographic memory) and because of this get compared to the characters Sherlock (from BBC'S Sherlock) and L (from Death Note). Considering both of these characters are rather odd to say the least you would expect me to be insulted, actually I'm rather proud. Why semi-eidetic? well it is contested whether the condition exists. And yes I do use practices such as 'mind palaces', although I think of it more like a memory map or tree.


4. I can sing the whole of the musical episode of Scrubs (My Musical) after I watched obsessively for a few weeks.


5. I am more than a little bit geeky and consider myself to be an emo (although the age of 21 is pushing the boundaries of either). For this reason I coined the term 'gemo' to describe myself.


6. Despite random fact number two I loathe the shop Hobby Craft. The reason for this is the how expensive their prices are and working for the company for little over a year.


7. Apart from Geek Boy Babbles I run another blog: Taken To Tokyo, which is part of my university dissertation. I also used to ran Saxon Daze, where I reviewed sweets and candy. I ended Saxon Daze after a year of blogging, believe me there is only a few ways you can describe chocolate before you get bored of it.


8. I am not your stereotypical student, and since attending the University of Winchester I have actually become healthier. I haven't drunk alcohol since the second semester of my first year (partly down to too many nights of being taken home in the 'safety bus' during semester one) and go to bed usually before eleven. I don't even get to lie in as my body wakes up naturally about seven thirty!


9. Despite being rather nerdy, I loathe computers and their accessories. I can't fathom software or computer programmes and have gone through more than four printers. As a writer I much prefer pen and paper and hate how I have to use Microsoft Word for the majority of my work.


10. I don't consider myself a vegetarian, but I really dislike meat. Nothing to do with my morals I just really hate the texture, the preparation in cooking it and the taste. I much prefer vegetables and meat free products. If I do eat meat it is usually chicken, ham or cod; but they are my limits.


11. To relax whilst studying law I have found myself: reading law upside down, crocheting, baking, listening to The Muppet Movie soundtrack, eating vast amounts of carrots, throwing balled up socks at my friends, doodling, origami, walking after midnight in the rain, watching Youtube and many more things. Basically studying law can be dull, stressful, moral questioning and unpractical; although I enjoy every second of it.

It looks like I've been spotted!

And now to the questions put to me by Anna Kissed Celeste:

1. Have you taken any exciting trips anywhere you can tell us about?
   Easy one to start, eh? This summer my girlfriend Amy and I travelled to Tokyo. It was an amazing trip to a city that made me feel more at home then anywhere I have ever been. I miss it everyday, although this is both helped and hindered by my dissertation; which is a series of travel pieces based upon the trip.


2. Where would you love to visit the most?
   At one time this would have been easy to answer: Tokyo. But since I have been there it would probably now fall to Oslo in Norway. I studied it once and fell in love with its name, the society and Scandinavia in general.


3. What is your favourite social media platform? I will admit to being less than proficient with computers and almost equally as bad at keeping in touch with people. Overall, I find myself most at ease with Twitter (@JoshFrancis93); I hate Facebook with a passion.


4. How long have you been blogging for?
   I have been blogging in some form or another for just under two years now. My current blog Geek Boy Babbles is still pretty new and under half a year old.


5. What can we expect to find in your blog?
On my blog, Geek Boy Babbles, you can expect all kinds of nerdy posts. Mostly reviews or news on the latest books, film and games. But sometimes I post the odd rant or opinion piece too.

6. Can you describe to us a memorable dream you've had?
   I am terrible at remembering my dreams and those I do recall probably shouldn't be mentioned.


7. What is your ideal career path?
   Ideally I would like a career in freelance writing, that is my most grounded aspiration. My dream job would to someday be a stand-up comic, as I love to make people laugh. I believe laughter is one of the most human things to do, especially uncontrollable giggle fits.


8. If you had a talk show, what would you name it?
   I think I would stick with the name of my blog. It really encapsulates what you get with me: a talkative nerdy guy.


9. What is your favourite film of the moment and why?
   I am still in love with Joss Whedon's Serenity, not just because of the film and lets face it space-western is always awesome. But because of the community it created amongst the fans and the way it saw the light of day after the show, Firefly, was cancelled.


10. Can you tell us about an artist who's music meant a lot to you?
    Probably one of the most recent influential artist on me is Mat Devine and the band Kill Hannah. They were introduced to me by my girlfriend before we began dating, and was the soundtrack that built up my courage to ask her out.


11.  It will be my 1st Blogiversary in December, what do you recommend should be done to celebrate?
    A massive cake with your face and HTML tag on it. The live tweet eating it and perhaps even get a twitter party hangout going. Whatever you do congratulations, have fun and keep on being an awesome blogger.

If you want to find out more about the geek behind the babbling check out this post here and my about me page.










My Questions

1. Where do you see your blog in: (a) one year, (b) three years and (c) five years time?


2. Who most influenced you to blog?


3. What are your favourite blog posts to read and write?


4. What is TV show could you watch indefinitely?


5. Do you enjoy gaming? If so what is your best loved game/series?


6. Have you got any crafty hobbies?


7. When did you last just completely fall flat-out asleep?


8. What is the best live event you have been to?


9. Where was your first memorable holiday to?


10. What shop do you always have time to lunch in?


11. How do you connect with your audience?

That marks the end of my tag post. Those I pass this challenge on to shall be notified by Twitter. Good luck to those chosen few.

I would also like to end by saying that Monday 10th November is when the public voting opens on the UK Blog Awards 2014. Geek Boy Babbles has been nominated for Young Person and Technology blog.

A full list of candidates can be found here.

DLC Done Right

One of the best innovations the last generations of consoles brought to gaming was DLC. DLC, or downloadable content, is content games developer create for the game after it has been released. This gives the opportunity for the games to expand beyond their original limits in ways that were not afforded to them before. In theory it is a great development in gaming, but as any politician can tell you, theories are open to abuse.

Unfortunately, it didn't take long for this abuse to occur either. The worst examples came in the form of on-disc DLC, which was content provided on the game, but locked until a pass was bought online. Capcom have become known for deploying this 'business strategy', which seeks to squeeze as much money out of the consumer as possible; they even tried to defend their action. Their defence is that by locking away content they can extend the life of the game. Giving gamers gameplay to look forward to way after release. I agree with the idea in theory, but it doesn't explain why the gamer needs to pay for these passes. After all haven't we already bought the disk and everything that is included on it?



Gamers are wise to the tactics.

DLC also gives publishers another benefit as well as being able to charge additional fees after purchase. By promising that DLC will follow they can coax the gamer into keeping the games and not trading them in. This was just another tool in publishers long standing battle against second-hand sale of games. I can see why publishers loathe second-hand games, they see none of the money that stores get from the sale of used games. But, I think a better incentive to buying a game new would be to stop increasing the price when they hit the shelves. It is no wonder that gamers will purchase a used game when the alternative, new games, come at a hefty price tag that is only seeming to increase.





However, I personally am a fan of DLC; or rather a fan of the concept. If done correctly it can breathe life into a game to keep it from going stale. A recent example of this is Mario Kart 8. Nintendo have announced two DLC packs (something quite new for a Nintendo game) that will be released later this year and early next. The packs will incluede new racers, vehicles and tracks for the game with the theme of other franchises. The first pack will include Link from Legend of Zelda and the second will have content inspired by Animal Crossing. Since the original game only had Mario characters the DLC expands the original game beyond what many, myself included, expected. Added to this is the staggering of it's release Mario Kart 8 arrived late May 2014, which means when the first DLC lands it will have been out for a while. Long enough to have allowed people to have played the game thoroughly, and if they are like me, they are eagerly anticipate a reason to hit the tarmac once more.

Luigi's deathstare should put the fear into bad DLC developers.

Not only does staggering release give people an excuse to delve back into a game they love, if they need more reason then enjoyment alone. But it also means the game isn't confusing at release. A game series I love is Mass Effect, but the third installment arrived with additional levels and characters already available. It left me slightly confused as to in what order I was supposed to play the game in. Did I download these extras first, or play the game and risk missing their mission start points if they took place during the main campaign.

DLC when used effectively can be a force for good. It breathes new life and potential into a game. Unfortunately at present I believe that there is more cases of misues than not.

But enough of my opinions. I want to hear yours. Rant, rave and recommend in the comments, I will always reply.



Luigi image from SuperLuigiBros, DLC chart from IGN comments.

Hyper Japan Cosplay: Ni No Kuni

So after much deliberation and a few helpful suggestions I have decided what to cosplay as for Hyper Japan.

It didn't take much persuading to choose Oliver from Ni No Kuni. I became obsessed with the game earlier this year, completing in a single week (with around 75 hours playtime). I loved the character Oliver and empathized with his quest throughout.

Not sure if I'm quite as innocent and naive as him, but I shall try my best. I even went out stick hunting for my starter wand.

In the end the others were either too easy, uninteresting to me personally or too hard in the short amount of time I gave myself. To the person who suggested Gygas from Earthbound, I'm sorry I disappointed you. But swirling fog of doom or machine alien are beyond me.

My costume all laid out for tomorrows early start.

I promise to update with pictures of Hyper Japan, and of course me as Oliver.

Let me know what you guys think below in the comments section.


Oliver image from theparanoidgamer.

What a gamer wants.

Like many gamers, I have an ever-increasing list of announcements that I want (read as need). Surprisingly, none of these is for the elusive Half Life 3; I have yet to complete Half Life 2. Also, I personally think the good people of Valve aren't quite sure what number follows two.

I thought I would post a list about what I want to see in the near future. You may not want another fan-boy wish list, but I'm going to give them to you anyway.

If by the end of this post you find yourself agreeing/disagreeing or discovering your own wishes, then please leave them in the comment section and we can banter about them there.

1. Minecraft for Wii U.                                                                                                          Just think how well the Wii U's tablet controller would lend itself to Minecraft, or for that matter Terraria. No more fiddling in inventory screens, just drag and drop, the thing touchscreens were made for.                                                                                             I'd even take a 3DS port of the pocket edition. Come on people of Nintendo and Mojang, get together; there's money to be made in this one.                                                                                    
2. Japan's Hyrule Warriors limited editions.                                                                            If you don't know about the Hyrule Warriors Treasure Box set then check out this link. I am rather envious of this limited edition, and very tempted to import it. I especially love the scarf and Tri-force alarm clock. Western special sets have yet to be announced, so I'm still holding out for a similar version to reach our shores.                                                                       
   
3. More respect for the Wii U.                                                                                               I won't rant about this one too much, for now. However, I could and have written many posts about the wasted potential of the Wii U. What annoys me isn't just the gamers who don't give it the time it deserves, developers too always seem very reluctant to give it a chance. The most recent example of this is Ubisoft, withholding a Wii U game that is ready to ship (link).                                                                                                                    
4. The end of console exclusives.                                                                                           Surely, I'm not the only one who is sick and tired of being pulled in all directions, just to play games. Why should we have to choose between missing out on exclusives, or spending money on buying multiple consoles? I know that the simple answer is to buy a PC, where the majority of games end up. But, for someone not tech savvy, PC gaming seems like a minefield.                                                                                                                          

   

   It looks cool but,
   can it play Crysis?

5. The cost.                                                                                                                          Number four leads nicely onto this one. It doesn't matter what console you pick, gaming is getting too expensive. Just a few years ago, a new release would cost about £39.99, that would only be a few days before there was some promotion making it affordable. But now, games release at around £45, and seem to hold that value. Games companies wonder why gamers buy pre-owned, it's because they are pricing themselves out of the market.

That's a few wants off my chest. I bet the moment I hit publish I will think of a dozen more.

For now, however I want to hear yours. Share them in the comments. I will reply and discuss them all, no matter how insane.

Rage image from the christian nerd, Tri-force alarm from nerdreactor, PC image from techspot.

Have You Seen This Book?

Okay readers, I have a challenge for you. One that I don't hold out much hope for you solving.

Basically, there is a book from my childhood that I vaguely remember, but do not know the title or author. So, I am going to put a list of details below. If you think you know the book, let me know in the comments.

1. Set in modern day.
2. The last event in the book/series is a retelling of Ragnarok.
3. Main character is an original character.
4. Many side characters are taken from Norse mythology.
5. Loki is key, obviously, and there is a detailed description of his imprisonment.
6. It is probably from the children's fiction area (ages 8-12).
7. I owned the book about eight years ago, and I think it had been released fairly recently.
8. May also have been the last book in a series.
9. I think there is a plot point that it is all a video game, or virtual reality (this is uncertain).
10. An earlier book in the series took inspiration from the Greek Minotaur and labyrinth myth.

That's about all I remember. It isn't Percy Jackson, Ragnarok, Rune Marks, The Gospel of Loki or American Gods; before anyone suggests those.

Please if you have an inclining drop a comment below, it's really bugging me I can't remember the book.

Hyper Japan 2014

Panic stations, Hyper Japan is just around the corner!

'What's the problem? That sounds amazing.' I hear you cry.

Well, yes it is but I have a rather pressing issue ahead of me as a result. No, I haven't forgot to order tickets and it isn't fully booked.

My problem, is what to cosplay as. I have some ideas but all of them come with their own hurdles. Dear reader I beseech your advice, but first here are some guidelines.

                                                  I Have cosplayed before as:

I'm the one on the right, I think.

• Dr. Horrible from Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog
• The Joker from the Death of the Family arc
• L from Deathnote

I don't want to repeat myself. Also as it's Hyper Japan only L really fits the theme. My girlfriend has decided to go as Ponyo, however we are not couple cosplaying. So don't suggest that please.

I have had a few ideas so far:

Me as L who hasn't done his washing.

1. Sora or Riku from KingdomHearts.                                                                                                
2. Oliver from Ni No Kuni.                                                                                                     
3. Professor Layton from the Professor Layton series.                                                               
4. Lloyd from Tales of Symphonia.                                                                                         
5. Wizardmon from Digimon.

That's all I have so far, I'll post a picture of myself below. I'm open to any and all suggests, but remember time is a constraint and money is tight.

Please suggest away in the comments below.

Dirty Little Secret

Guilty pleasures. We all have them, activities we partake in that we are embarrassed about. Not because they are sordid, but because it isn’t normal in society's eye for us to enjoy them. I thought I would take the time to admit to some of my own.

I’ve tried to think of ones that are very different from each other, one for music, film, food, TV show, video game and book. This wasn’t as easy as it sounds either; I am a rather open person and not easily shamed.

Music

See, it's official!

This one is easy, and I came up with the idea for this post whilst I listened. Taylor Swift is my guilty music pleasure. There was a time when I scoffed at those who liked her music, to me she sounded cheesy, girly and a bit too country. But now, thanks in part to a certain person, (you know who you are) I can’t help but smile when I hear her songs.

Yes, most of her songs are along the same theme, either amazing relationship or tragic break-up, but for the most part they are feel good. A big reason for the joy I get from them is due to the memories I have associated to them. So yeah, I’m a Swiftie and proud.

Film

This one was difficult; I wanted a film that I would only watch alone. At first, I thought of the Saw films as I am rather ashamed that I have seen them. But the problem is I don’t really like them, so aren’t really a pleasure.

However, I think that the Resident evil films fit the bill, specifically Resident Evil:Afterlife.  The films have terrible plots, too much gore and tear apart the rich lore that the games set down. As both a gamer and a writer, I should hate these films. Yet, I can’t help but get a little excited at the nods to the game series. The climatic fight against Wesker in Afterlife is lifted straight from the game. My love of the film is due to reminiscing the times I enjoyed playing; which means I should probably just play the games again instead.

TV Series

Some people would be embarrassed if they watched as much children’s TV shows as I do. But I’m not, I love shows like Digimon. Despite their cheesy plots and clichés, it’s nice to have something mind numbing you can just switch off and take in.

But my guilty pleasure is an anime, Welcome To The NHK. This is a show about a man who hates leaving his house. He is obsessed with video games, TV and perhaps, most embarrassingly, dating simulator games. He then meets a mysterious girl who attempts to help him.

You're classic tale of shut-in boy meets insane girl.

What I find most unsettling about the show is how much of my younger self I see in the main character. I sympathised with him throughout, and that’s why it is one of the only animes I have watched until the end. It helps that the plot stays funny and interesting, whilst dealing with complex issues such as sexuality and depression. It is compelling to watch.

Food

This one is short and sweet, quite literally. It’s baby biscuits. It started with a single innocent looking Rusk. But now it’s escalated, and I always keep a packet of baby biscotti at hand. I love them, and they come in different flavours, chocolate, banana, apple and plain. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I am besotted with biscotti.

Books

This one is pretty easy and is a combination of books. Last year I went through a phase of reading a lot of horror fiction, centred on zombies. Typically these are gore filled; and involve a lot of smashing deceased humanoids skulls in. This is why I often feel uneasy about admitting to liking zombies. It’s because it can quite easily be seen as a way of fantasising about killing our fellow man.

Zombies provide us with a motive for killing each other, they aren’t human anymore. Whilst this is true, it is a thinly disguised excuse for mass murder. For this reason, I always feel a little guilty for enjoying Max Brook’s Zombie Survival Guide. A book that at times takes itself so seriously that I fear for the author’s sanity (even if he is the great Mel Brook’s son, so insanity runs through his genes).

Video Games

At this point it is probably about time that I feel slightly guilty about something that is clearly aimed at children. Viva Piñata is a game which tasks you with keeping an allotment, that’s it, pretty simple. The nicer your patch is, the more piñata animals you attract. It’s sickly sweet, and much like shows such as Digimon it doesn’t take much thought.

Good job too, if you do delve deeper into the game you actually see some rather dark undertones. To attract certain piñatas you must offer some of your residents as food. Basically sacrificing them; quite often I have bred a friendly critter from birth just so that I can feed him to an unfriendly fox. I do feel bad about it, honest. I won’t even talk about the animal husbandry mini-game, that’s just weird.

So there you have it, my secret shames on show for all to see. Although, as someone who is quite proud to be bizarre, it was a hard list to compile. Maybe next I’ll do a list of proud moments to compensate.

But for now, I challenge you to think of your own dirty little secrets. I want to hear them, so why not do a post like mine and I’ll link you in. we can start a chain post and the world can absolve itself. If you’re not a blogger then leave them in the comments below.

Hey Mr. Fudgehog you look happy,
just wait till the Mallowolf comes for ya.

Swift ID created on big huge labs, Wesker image from Comic vine, biscotti image from Tesco, NHK image from alphacoders, Brooks photo from Washingtonlife, Fudgehog image from Spong.

Moving House

It is a widely known fact that moving is one of the most stressful experiences a human can endure. So, why have I decided to go through that trauma four times in the last year and a half?

Every year students, like myself, move out of their term time accommodation and migrate back home for the holidays. I'm sure it is easier for some than others, it factors  on many things such as:

• How much you enjoy your term home/out of term home.
• How much stuff you need to pack.
• How organised you are, not just in packing but also planning what you need due to holiday work etc.
• How well you cope with stress.

The list could go on - with many multitudes of problems. Unfortunately, I am a self confessed hoarder/compulsive shopper; which means not only do I buy anything and everything I see, but also that I can never bring myself to throwing away either. I find it very easy to attach emotional meaning to the inanimate of objects. 

This is only the tip of the nerd-shelf!

As my housemate packed his items away he asked if I wanted anything on a table in his room. He explained how otherwise, 'it's all going in the bin.' This statement knocked me; many of the items appeared handmade. Surely they held a special place in his heart? When asked if anything I wanted was important to him - 'I don't really get sentimental over things,' was his reply.

I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for those who may have given him these items, and on a weird level for the items themselves destined for the trash heap. As a result of this I acquired more random tat for my nerd shelf (now pretty much a bookcase); ironic how I curse these items as I try to pack them away. Learning from this experience, I have resolved that when it comes to unpacking later I will scrutinise everything - my local charity shops will be pleased I'm sure.

The weather afforded the perfect opportunity for garden photos.

Worse than the packing/unpacking is the limbo like state of uncertainty a short term move brings. As I put stuff into those bland brown boxes I have to think whether I may need them at any time during the break. Another one of my flaws highlighted by moving is my disorganised nature, I find it hard to plan too far ahead. So, whilst I know I will need some books for working on my dissertation at home; I haven't really prioritized properly. In the end, I threw them into a canvas bag separate from my other books. 

This transition phase feels horrible; you're ever aware your moving again in a months time, leaving you feeling rather out of place. When I get back to my hometown I realise it's temporary, so do I choose to live out of my boxes or unpack them? Do I make any plans for my time there or should I just take it as it comes? In the end my time will probably be spent desperately trying to catch up with friends, panicking over the year ahead and attempting to get some work done. Unfortunately, the outcome will probably be that none of these get achieved and I return to University feeling like I have wasted a whole month.

My great modelling skills put to good work.

One silver lining to clearing out my cupboards, is in rediscovering all the things that have fallen down the back of furniture. I love finding my forgotten treasures as they spark memories I hadn't expected to revisit that day. For instance: my Dr Horrible freeze ray, which I built for London expo 2013. As I turned it over in my hands I remembered the amazing time I had at the event when my friends and I attended. Not just of expo itself, but of staying in a hotel for the weekend, going bowling and having dinner together. In my mind the whole experience was like a very geeky stag weekend.

I also used packing as an excuse to do a photo-shoot of some of my geeky items. The weather outside seemed to agree and the sunlight made the garden a perfect location. It's little moments of joy like those that softened the blow of packing. At the end of the day, yes packing is stressful and it does suck. But it allows us to rediscover sometimes, to move on at other times and to hopefully grow. My self I hope that this move will make me more careful in what I buy and hold on to. Although we will see if my plans to lighten my clutter come to fruition soon.