If this blog could walk

Then it would probably grow a beard and look a little bit like me, without a beard... err.

The last time I was here (before I got sick again) I was again about to start reviewing more. Then I realized I hated my reviews. I wrote one or two (One on the movie Super 8 that'd I seen at the end of summer) but realize I need a fresh look. To get one I would have to give up some of my story time and, well, I like my story more.

Speaking of which, I am moving forward on the publication. While I never expected a third full rewrite... it happens. As I've said in the past, it fills in the wobbly parts, cements the good (hopefully), and offers a little bit more to a conclusive meaning. All in all, the third rewrite is head and shoulders above the second draft and miles beyond the lackluster suckfest that was posted so very long ago here. Granted that will be soon erased and I hope everyone enjoys it.

So... I guess that's it for now. Don't look for any major updates for a bit; Thanksgiving and such. I'm a little fuzzy on when I'll get acceptance or denial from Amazon. Worst comes to worst, if nothing else, come back at the end/beginning of the year. The blog should have something newsworthy by then.

Fingers crossed.

(Happy Turkey Day everyone)

-Rossini

I'm a terrible liar

    Or at the very least: an inept one.

Ignoring this past week (summer's last flu), I thought I could leave it alone. Be happy with what is was and not be angry by what it wasn't. The truth? That is something somewhere stuck in the middle.

When I last posted, and I do apologize for the absence, I spoke of a third revisit not happening. And now? Well I'm not sure. See I hated saying that I wouldn't run through the columns once more because it sounded like I didn't want to; that, possibly, I didn't care enough.

Again, the truth is far different then what I thought or even made it out to be. I wanted something of a third rewrite that was paragraph based IE take, prod, and rewrite a few sentences here and there. Not rewrite every sentence again.

After that post I thought about the work as a whole. The beginning sections (1-3) had only been rewritten once and then only done so a year previous. Why does this matter? Well I feel that from inception to where I am now, I've grown some both in knowledge and style. I've done some legwork. Some brain work. Hell I'm perusing the basics just to get better.

But what does this all mean overall? Will I ever write and publish a story or will I flail about whilst I only speak of betterment and not ever show it?

I'm still fully behind publishing A Vacant World as soon as possible. But as I've recently learned, there are flaws that can be fixed. They won't take as long as this whole trial has. And, well, I've already sort of started.

I rewrote those early sections again. Fixed some nagging issues and fulfilled what I wanted. Now to do this with the other ten or so misaligned sections....

In the meantime, and I don't expect this all to take too long, I will begin again to work on reviews. I know they aren't as interesting or sometimes are repeating, but I don't want to leave the blog empty. No matter how ironic that may be.



- Rossini

Soon, I promise, I will take one last good stab at this. Reviews starting next week.

Chronicling the past

Let's get caught up with our own.

I began work on a little short story codenamed "Traveling through a vacant Oasis" in June 2010. On the fifteenth day of that month I began something that would grow larger and larger for more then a year. On May 21st, 2011, I officially announced my completion of the first draft of what would now become "A Vacant World".

Then for three long months I did something I thought would be nigh impossible. I rewrote the entire damn thing. From page one, the prologue, to page 124 (still not official), I worked on it a handful of hours each day. Each week I clocked anywhere from 10-20 hours and that was only the official time keepers. Anything in between, the brilliant (subjective word) breakthroughs I had when eating or taking a shower were the blood and the matter.

And now, August 19th, 2011 I've come full circle. I am tidying the sheets and correcting the spelling/grammatical mishaps. I am purging the useless. I am finishing my story.

I know the journey has been long. I know it has been full of what ifs and whatever/whenever updates. I've tried to fulfill a promise not only to myself but to my readers. I think, in some small possible way, I have done so.

I am posting this still without date. That I know is impossible to think. And I know it is impossible to want such an explanation. But I can tell you this without lie or dissatisfaction. I will not be rewriting this for a third time. I got what I wanted. It won't be perfect but it will be better then what I had originally.

So I ask, please be patient just a little longer. I have it almost there ready to go and I will begin to post the ending and set up the publication. As always I will try to bridge the information as it becomes real.

- Rossini

 [Date - TBD - but I'm still shooting for an august release. It may not be possible but I'm trying.]

It's been two weeks and (almost) two days

And I'm still not here it appears. I've had some minor setbacks. Some tiny battles and frustrations to contend with. I'm working wearily but hard on delivering a better product. I even had my first taste of of reaction and it wasn't terrible. Still have some lingering issues but I'm hoping a final run through/pass nets the hideous and the adverb.

The other reason I've been so quiet? Outside of time's infernal grasp I've been quite literally fighting some new infection. Nothing major or unsettling, just demoralizing.

I was going to post a review instead of this but I'm not quite looking to change mindsets right this minute, and well, I needed to update the blog/readers to where and what is going on. I will start getting back to reviewing thing soon.

As for release information. I'm fixing some issues (as mentioned) and having another possible person read it. I'd like to make sure I don't let slip any silly mistakes. I know nothing is perfect but I should have another opinion by week's end. Hopefully it's a bit better this time around.

[Just a FYI. I'd love to release this thing any day. As soon as it seems finished or is close enough I will do so. I promise it will be very soon.]

As always thanks for reading,

Rossini

Not missing

While I've been back a bit longer then what appeared, I am officially back in written word form. There is a ton to blog about, review, etc, but this update is merely a formal progress update. When I last broached the subject I was nearing completion within the grasp of three segment rewrites and an epilogue. As it stands those numbers remain the same but the words have drastically changed.

While this is not accurate to the letter due to cuts, chops, rewrites, etc, but I am within the final three pages of my rewrite. Epilogue still remains...

Even so I want to forecast publishing the work very soon. Updates will follow.

In between that time I am having it "looked over/Edited" by a "non professional" but very intelligent individual. I believe that will take place this weekend or next. I know all this squeezes every time frame I've ever posted and I do apologize for that. I really should've been more aware of my ability and the time investment.

As for reviews, I have a couple in mind but I also may just do an actual compilation/short list.

-Rossini 

Taking a short break from the blog (July 19-26)

Only for a week while I get my affairs in order. Taking some time for my birthday and other sad celebrations. I reckon I won't be home very much anyways.

When I last posted I mentioned a conclusion. It is still a work in progress. I'll admit the seven page/about 2000 page rewrite I did on Thursday spurred on a lot of positivity. It didn't all carry over into the weekend but I did get a segment and a half finished. I'll speak more on this in the coming week.

Till then, adieus Vacant World. I'll see ya in a week.

-Rossini

Almost finished (A-V-W Story)

I apologize that I may have went movie crazy recently. Never was my intention just trying to keep the blog updated. Since that doesn't really appear to always matter or help anything I figure I'll at least drop another pertinent update (IE story relevant) and go from there.


Rather then offer any more percentages I will now just say this. I'm literally THREE rewritten segments and a epilogue away from finishing what should be the total overhaul. Granted I know there are a couple mistakes I must rectify but all in due time. I feel that one good weekend (such as this one coming) and I'll have it wrapped up.


I also realize that trying to maintain this blog may be self defeating towards this project. I'm seriously feeling the need to possibly drop it for a couple days/week in order to finish this work and then come back with the good news. I've not yet decided if that is what I will ultimately do but it is possible and probably warranted.


Also I know I dropped the ball with my 999 game review. That is absolutely unacceptable and I apologize for that. I really haven't went back to finish the "good" ending thus why I didn't feel like I was ready to flesh out an opinion. But it is just that. An opinion. And its a damn fine game. I recommend it to everyone, even dogs if they could play/comprehend the material.


Thanks for hanging in there. I hope the wait was worth it and will look forward to after this weekend, I WILL have a solid date of TOTAL COMPLETION/PUBLISHING. I'm actually looking forward to all the hate I'll receive over this one. I'm very reluctant to believe it any good. But at least I rest easy knowing its better today then it was yesterday and for that, we're all thankful.


-Rossini


 (Minor side note. I feel that my Genetic review post may have come off strongly one way or another. I'm sort of afraid that the opening paragraph may affect or have affected viewership. Understand the review clears up those words pretty quickly so for anyone who hasn't read it and thought I gushed, read it. I didn't. As for those who felt I was too harsh. I didn't feel it. I truly didn't. I enjoyed it but I didn't feel it like some folks. Again just a matter of opinion and I felt compelled to express those thoughts.) 

The Genetic Review

      Occasionally there are certain movies/books/games/albums/etc that radically change the playing field. When one finds these holy relics they tend to cling to said object of creativity and never let go. Well the same can be said of another type of story. Such a story that legend of its name is only famous to those that dwell within its shadow. And those who don't strike it down as an infamous pile of crap. As such reviewing Cult movies can be treading upon thin line.

Repo! The Genetic Opera is (supposedly) such a tale. Not quite sublime, not quite terrible. It stands between. And here I feel it is best observed.

The Premise is simple. An epidemic of organ failure arises in the not so distant future. A company, GeneCo, singlehandedly cures this plight by developing and offering replacement organs. However there is a catch. If you default on your contract they'll send out a Repo-man who will recover GeneCo's property one cut at a time.

       Both stylized in a cross between "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Blade-Runner" with a dash of "Saw" ultimately results in a mesh of glorified cleaved intestines and rock opera. The visualization itself is dramatic and deliberately morose. While I wouldn't quite call it unique in scope or picture (think any old sci-fi movie and then mix in some old world thought/sights) it does prove to be a great contrast different then the modern mainstream. And most importantly these scenes of a dismal future work great within the context of the movie.

Being a musical (Rock Opera) as it is, dialog is at a premium. Obviously the story and presentation is mostly drawn through song but at other times Narration can be provided by a single character or through what looks to be a comic book.

     Thankfully most of the music in the movie is quite good offering memorable lyrics that will easily outlive the movie's one hour forty minute run time. But there is one down side. While the songs do provide much needed levity to situations they also tend to drag depending on the actor/actress. For example, I personally found some performances (Paul Sorvino, as GeneCo's unscrupulous president, sounded like he was sing-talking at times, Bill Moseley, as one of his two scheming sons, was just so-so) to be lifeless and/or boring such as the case when Alexa Vega (Shilo) does her youth revolt solo.

I'd say eighty to ninety percent of the music was worth hearing. Sarah Brightman (Blind Mag) and Anthony Head (Nathan/Repo-man) steal most of the spotlight. The Grave Robber (Terrance Zdunch) does his thing adding narration and catchy tunes along the way. Even Paris Hilton doesn't totally **** up her role, albeit the small vain role that it is.

      Still, I feel the truth behind this opera's curtains that compiles most of the movie's presentation (be it narration, song, look, story, etc) is neither as original (as presumed by followers) nor is it as fulfilling as believed to be. Too much of the screen time feels like exposition, too many of the characters feel flat or useless and (although certainly intended) one dimensional with absolutely non existent growth. Furthermore I felt hard pressed to be actually interested in any one character enough to care about their future. Yes I felt bad for Nathan and his daughter Shilo but certainly never to the degree that the conclusion would have you tearing hair out in suspense. Which, among other notable things I forgot to mention, the story is fairly predictable.

       In the end I feel as if from the very onset I was trying to see something in Repo! that simply was either not there or I didn't grasp the lens to fully see it. Still, I do strongly feel that everyone interested in alternate tales or movies in general should see this film. It does provide an enjoyable tale of love, hate and revenge amongst other more obvious things. I should however warn anyone whose stomach is queasy around the sight of blood that this one has scenes of "intense gore". Not necessarily on par with your B rated slasher or craptastic Saw seven hundred and forty two but fairly heavy gore nevertheless. Prepare accordingly.

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3/5 stars (Above average)(Recommended)
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There will be no updates today (July 12th)

    Shortly after the posting yesterday my house lost power. Its since been down till about now and I've just not the energy or time to bother trying to fix a half broken review. It will sit in drafts until tomorrow. I apologize for this inconvenience but thankfully there is always tomorrow to look forward to.

And yes I did continue editing on the story during the outage. It was done with pen and pencil on lined sheet paper. Very relaxing method indeed. No electronic distractions. Course word processors are much easier to use thus why we love them.

Thanks for dropping by and I'm sorry about the mishap. See you tomorrow,

-Rossini

Tiny update (July 11th)

Nothing special to post yet. Just an update on the work for now. After a great weekend I'm nearing about 85% completion. Will keep informed as we move into the week ahead. Will post another review either later today or tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Thanks,
-Rossini

Ninja Assassination (review)

         I remember as a kid that I'd trot though the shadows with the best of them. Silent was I as I snuck between my prey's vision. Only did I ever get caught once as I lunged forward with the grace of a cat. But (sub)urban fatalities can only pose so much interest. I wanted to be the best thus I would need to hunt the best.

When I'd gotten older I found that tricks I once thought paramount were no longer. Ideas I loved no longer held company inside my head. And Ninjas were just a fading memory. A rising balloon set against the blue backdrop. Distant it ever became as the sun engulfed its sight.

         Ninja Assassin is no more then a child's delight. A whimsical fantasy brought to the big screen by a well versed director (James McTeigue) of the arts. But before we dissect the movie let us forbid one ever distant thought from creeping back up upon us. Ninja Assassin is no Shakespeare.

The story is entirely superficial. It merely guides us along and fits into place as needed. There are no -gasp!- moments of shocking revelation. No twist ending. No analogies or fluff. There are ninjas, their actions to and against, and some intermission/prelude where pointless side characters talk amongst themselves while the real meat hides inside the shadows. Waiting.

Think Transformers (as the contrast) except with less Shia Lapuke and more ninjas.


        What happens, how it happens, why it happens, all truly pointless in the eyes of destruction. And believe you me these ninjas destroy with vengeance. The main character, Raizo, played by pop artist "Rain" (see his other work for comparison such as Chan-Wook Park's "I'm a cyborg, but that's OK") has all the right tools (literally) to dismantle foes with ease. Being orphaned as a wee child, adopted by a family of strict assassins and then outcast just as quickly, Raizo wages a one man (/ninja) war against the clan that bore him.

As I said, it works and you ain't here to see no story telling perfection.

                  You're here for the fight. Nothing else. And needless to say what a fight Raizo puts on. From the expected ninja assassinations (such as the one in the early going. Step into shadow/blade comes out, etc) to the outdoor chase scenes, to the warehouse cluster****. The choreography is flawless alongside the swift cameras/special effects. Visually the movie stands out fairly well.

I said earlier this movie is like a "child's delight" but make no mistake this is no children's movie. The gore is constant (well... except the hiatus the movie takes right after the beginning) and brutal. Folks get sliced and diced in many differing angles and leave four, five, maybe six buckets of blood for every tiny gash.

Which walks me back into my final point. While the film is gory (there is no denying that) most is portrayed with almost comical amounts of ketchup that is at best somewhat silly looking CGI. Think Three Hundred and then multiple the silliness. I mean the actual content is wince worthy but the blood is simply outrageous. (Read: this is not a complaint or a bad thing. Merely an observation)

                  Ultimately Ninja Assassination completes what it sets out to do. It has its illogical or magical attributes (literally). And the story is about as well groomed as a Michael Bay flick but it all works out in the end. You enter for entertainment of blood and leave satisfied. Don't expect the Matrix because -o.m.g. The Wachowski name! -  this is not. And to another point, stop gushing to the point of no returns. Speed Racer was a good movie also bearing such a banner but it simply was overlooked (like McTeigue) because some people simply cannot get past themselves. Hell V for Vendetta was another (actually helmed by McTeigue) that was well captured on screen (although the book still remained better me thinks).

But I digress. If you search for anything else (then explicitly stated), don't bother, disregard this review and go back to your original programming.
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3/5 Stars
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Thank you and goodnight,
-Rossini

I'm positively fickle

       When it comes down to my writing. Up in the morning, up at night. I'm a little coo coo for cocoa puffs if you catch my drift. See, everyday that I awake and tussle open my eyelids, is another day that I remind myself that I am here. Err let me explain that one again.

As I awake I tend to overhear one very quirky line. Only it isn't me that speaks. Its a voice inside my head filtered through that of a character I once created a very long time ago. He speaks to me at times but only when I am alone. His dry, unrefined dialog creeps out like that of a robot.

"Welcome back"

         For a brief moment that is all I hear. His voice slithers back into the shadows of my foggy mind and I slowly realize that I've awoken to a new day. I'll roll over in bed, glance at the three, sometimes four, red digits leering back at me and understand what it is I was told.

Then, out of nowhere, I begin to visualize a world not my own. A world encompassed by very ugly things. In it I begin to wonder why I am here, why I would create such a monster, and why it would haunt me day in and day out, morning through night. Was it possible that my brain had become so ruined that I'd not the clue as to what it was doing?

         In retrospect I realize that I was simply too attached to my training wheels. When I was a child I loved the idea of not falling down. I figured if I stay upright then I'll never get hurt. Never gash my knees or break an arm. Hell I'd beaten gravity. It should've been the greatest day of my life.

Now and then is so much alike. Past and present. Future and Past. Present, past and future all knead into the same doughy ball. What becomes of it I've no idea. But I can't wait to take off my training wheels. I can't wait until this story is finished; crash and burn be damned. For when I complete my task I will have released this hold. And when I do I'm bringing back an old character I once thought dead.

To him I'll say.

"Welcome back old friend"

-Rossini


[News and notes: Will update soon. Nothing too immediate to report. Possible second update later today]

My biggest gripe(s) with DLC

Okay before we begin let us please set aside our virtual axes, pitch forks and logs of fire. We aren't about to burn the house Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo has built on their respective Home Console systems. We'll ignore their bitter cousin for a moment (PC) and simply examine the main trouble I that run into with each and every game/game addon every other day.

Issue #1

Ownership. Yes the number one issue with downloading a game is actual ownership. Again we'll ignore the fact that numerous phones/tablets to date (IE Apple Iphone) get away with charging real money and in return offer you something that is not only invisible but impossible to touch.

But this is common sense. Everyone in the world knows it yet I still hear the complaint. Is it valid? Yes. Is it alterable in any way? No, probably not. So what can developers/producers do to soften the blow of our real money being eaten by a virtual monster?

Well, for starters, looser restrictions on DRM is the obvious choice. Steam has already paved the way for the digital distribution highway. But let us peer deeper into the hole and realize how they've done it.


Promise

By now, anyone who has ever downloaded, used, or even been to Steam's website has more then likely seen the most important reason they've succeeded on the PC market. Physical computer games are not coveted as is their offspring the console games. And with rampant pirating, torrents, and other means of theft, owning a PC game in a case/box is like owning a music CD.

But still, games we own and games we rent/borrow (or possibly steal) are never the same as our own. What Steam provides is a legitimate way for honest folks to purchase and own (to some extent) content without the worry that one day things will vanish. They do this with a very simple promise. Well actually it is a behemoth sized promise that, if anything ever occurs, could be catastrophic nightmare. Not for players, their purchased content will be safe and able to re-download for a good while. No it would ultimately turn out bad for producers/developers who use Steam to promote sales, independent work, etc etc.

So what else is there but promise when dealing with ownership?


Price

Yes the old nickel and dime scheme repackaged and shoved down our throats in every facet of life. Taxes, finance charges, etc etc. Your cost of living can be nothing short of depressing at times. However our media doesn't have to be. Physical games have been dropping in price for last the few years, most hitting between forty to fifty dollars within a week or two. Majority of stuff will now hit rock bottom within a year. The only games that don't would be more exclusive (Nintendo/Sony) or online focused (CoD).

But what I hadn't discussed above is the second principle of Steam. And that my friends is sales. Real cost reductions, not some silly thirty percent a year later shtick you'll catch on the console market. Games can go for as little as a buck during these sales and please argue that you wouldn't buy Braid for two fifty or Company of Heroes for three just because you'll never see their box art.

The truth is that aside from a promise, price is the major contributor moving forward. For example. On the PSN right now you can purchase the original Prince of Persia Sands of time trilogy for a hefty forty dollars. Or you just finger stroll yourself to Amazon search PoP and grab the set for a few dollars cheaper.

Rule one in this war should be: Virtual games should never equal or surpass the price of Physical media. Period.

While we're on the subject a major disservice has evolved at our thumbs. Content made BEFORE the game ships being cut out and delivered as DLC. And Content made AFTER the game ships being overpriced and stagnant.

We all know how the old saying goes. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

Day One DLC

I'll tackle the first one real quickly. The truth is video game creation is a business. There is no true argument that can pierce holes into the walls of theft that we experience at the hands of these major players. Day one DLC is a joke. It is a serrated stick that is jammed between our butt cheeks as we hold our collective breath and pray. Project ten dollar from EA also falls into this category because, quite frankly, I feel they've been slicing some content in favor of a war they can't hope to win.

So let us move onto more pressing issues that can and must be resolved. Add-on content pricing.

Day Two DLC Pricing (after game ships)

I've heard the argument before that a movie at the theater costs forty dollars for a family of four and that because of this, anything you can buy for fewer then forty dollars now can be instantaneously justified. This is wrong. What people do and how they do it is their own business not mine but referencing one thing and comparing price of another does not an argument make.

See, if I were to compare equal components, I'd start at the source. Compare for a moment a game you love to its add-on. Let's go out on a limb and say you paid anywhere from ten, twenty, to thirty dollars for said game. For sake of time I'll just use Splinter Cell Conviction which I purchased last year at around Christmas time for a slim ten picking.

Okay so I crack open my ten dollar game, removing the plastic and carefully withdraw the disc, and slide it into my system. I play through the campaign (in this case about 5-8 hours long) and grab a bud and sit down for some co-op frenzy. Then I notice to my delight there is down loadable content. Joy! I scream. But upon opening the menu I find only misery. For you see, my ten dollar game has ten dollar DLC.

Let us use another example real quick.

Dante's Inferno, which I also purchased around the same time for about thirteen dollars, has content on the marketplace set at three, three, and five. What you receive in said packs are, one relic/one magic, one relic/magic, an extra character/trial runs/trophies respectively. So for eleven dollars without tax (if charged) you will get two extra relics (gimmicks) two extra magic spells (gimmicks) and a new character/trial runs (somewhat gimmicky).

I paid thirteen dollars and got four, possibly more, times the content that I will receive from this said add-on content. Why? Because add-ons are unfortunately priced to move as a percentage of their big brother/sister. In this case, the sixty dollar price tag. But remember when I said that tag never stayed for very long?

The worst part about this is that for the same price of content for either game I can go purchase one, or two games (if on 50% sale) from the same store that I would purchase the add-on. And believe you me, you'll find more in Beyond Good and Evil HD then you will in that miserable Dante's content.

[Edit: I forgot to mention Online Content as I've no interest in anything for or against it. Due to their innate re-playability cost here is covered by interest. If you like it, its ridiculously good. If you don't, it sucks. Simple as that.]



Day Three Content (As the years pass)

Covering both phases I think it is necessary for me to acknowledge game content that has passed the yearly cycle but still remains the same price. I mean have you ever put in an old game and clicked the blinking button (DLC) and witnessed the albatross that is peering back at you? Would it be so difficult to reduce this content, especially older unused stuff, every so often? I bet if nothing else you'd create more sales.

I'll go one step further and vehemently suggest that this content should slowly depreciated every year  upwards to a dollar.

Price Overall

I think that the digital movement on games (actual arcade games. Not games on demand IE stuff that is both physical and digital) is fine. Five to ten dollars for an actual piece of work is great value. Fifteen dollars is a bit steep in my opinion and really should only be held as an absolute price when necessary (IE if you were delivering a mammoth sized game). Price on the actual content is a joke where its at right now. I think realistically, two to five dollars should be the most ever slapped onto such content that isn't a full blown expansion pack (See Oblivion/Dragon Age). Doing so would provide a much more receptive environment (at least in my opinion).

And things as they were, I didn't even get into the whole Capcom DRM/DLC policy/Paying for useless things like costumes/avatars/clothing for avatars/hats for avatars/and of course, naturally I leapfrogged around paying for benefits (PSN) and the ability to play online (XBL). Those are things that are best kept to the individuals who believe in them. Conversely, I can always come back and rant about such services at a later date.

Just a quick rundown of the services:

Xbox live: Microsoft's digital system can be, at times, what we expect when we speak of strict, almost dictatorship like use of their content. What began with funny money evolved into user restrictions. Granted you can re-download anything as long as they host the servers and you can reclaim property over your content downloaded to different consoles once a year. And everything is tied to your login so migration isn't too troublesome. But things that once were on the marketplace eventually can and will disappear as legal battles, licenses expire, etc, create bubbles in the network. Add in financial pressure and even PC freebies get turned into a pot of points (money) and you soon realize why this growing age is a daunting one.

However Microsoft's network is the most reliable, fastest, and most intertwined (website usage/etc) thus making it very powerful and overall a very good service.


PlayStation Network: Ignoring glaring security issues, the PSN has the most flexible use of content out of the big three. With up to five systems able to register a single account, people have (add or subtract bias opinion regarding the matter) abused such a system for their own gain. But it is the right step forward regardless the opinion as it offers a customer more control over their console/multiple consoles. Whereas MS forces me to keep my gamer profile on a memory stick if I ever want to travel. Plus I can use real currency!

Nintendo Virtual Console/WiiWare: is a joke. Seriously let us just skip past this mess and continue on. No? Well...

Overpriced content? Check.
Sales? Never.
Login tethered to Console. Good luck migrating.
Memory? It was very little till they allowed us usage of a memory card. Now its "ok".
Payment? Well unlike PSN's real currency and MS's funny money, Big N opted for an easy to understand point system. That's a plus I guess.

Final thoughts:

I guess my point is that online content unlike physical content must be more ready to move, not sit there and grow stagnant waiting for a random sale. If any store acted as such they'd be permanently closed for business upon opening. But as I said. Folks are buying these things. They fuel everything with their most prized voice.

Their money.

-Rossini

/.Hopefully I covered everything I intended to./

*Content edited: Snide remarks about Politics/NFL Labor issues/Laws and regulations.
Reason: No reason given.

Sucker Punched

        

          From the movie's onset we open with a song, a montage where the "main character" Baby doll is thrust into one unfortunate circumstance after another ultimately leading her to a mental institute by decree of a murder charge. Once there, things seemingly go from bad to worse as her abusive caretaker (step father) supersedes any right to her freedom and upon his wishes, will use this newly found prison to his discretion. Facing an end of life as she knows it, Baby Doll is given just five days to escape.


Most of the plot isn't quite entirely original. Think something similar to Pan's Labyrinth, Coralline, or Alice in wonderland where the characters would create/find alternate realities where they themselves could rule and oversee their future as something of wonder rather then the incarceration they've been emplaced within. But interestingly enough this doesn't really turn out to be the case right away as she correlates the horrors of the mental ward as a vile brothel. A brothel she has neither entire control over her actions nor the captors/captured. Or does she?

    Whereas most of those tales who've proceeded have had their two alternating worlds (A main and fantasy reality), Sucker punch manages to pull one more out of the hat. Another subconscious dream world that unlike the main two is one hundred percent imagination. To enter such a world she must first perform an exotic dance which captivates and thereby stuns a room full of detainees, the club's personal, and other onlookers. What follows is both real and figurative. To overcome the oppressiveness forthwith she must discover and use a power within herself. A power that will set her and four accompanying girls free.

    But to achieve such a lofty feat Baby Doll and friends will need five things. A map, a knife, fire, a key, and a fifth unknown, veiled as a "deep sacrifice".   

    The movie will often question freedom, escapism, and reality. Perhaps not as well or as clear as certain films (Inception comes to mind for clarity sake at the very least.). It often reserves itself to fulfilling both a thought provoking response and a fetish for action/women in suggestive wear. But I truly think that observing the movie in such a way (as a fetish) is missing the point and quite frankly the reason reviews have suffered and opinions vary. It is a very polarizing movie. A love it/hate it affair.

Sucker Punch's visual repertoire draws life from many references before it. You have your kung-Fu, sci-fi, steam-punk and manga to name a few. And quite frankly visuals are reason enough to see the movie. While not able to carry it from beginning to end (as I expect so many would assume) the range of the movie's distinct dreamscape offer most viewers a vantage point they may tend to avoid.

     Sucker Punch is a film about a great many things. While the movie is a dramatic charmer, at its nestled heart it tries to live up to its assumed action status. It never coasts directly on either. As such it can often be vexing to some, gratuitous to others as it deals with skimpy skirts and tons of (seemingly) nonsensical action/set pieces, or even an endearing tale of true conviction for freedom of the shackles of reality. Its not perfect. The acting is good but never steps out and the character development is low (but not necessary). But the visuals are spectacular. Easily on par or better then any Zack Snyder film to date. And if you let the story swim around in your head, you'll find it much more rewarding then what appears at first glance.
----------------------------
4/5 Stars
----------------------------

 Happy Independence day! And/or Happy Monday!

Not quite the message that I had hoped to delivery

When I awoke today I still had such a burning image of where I'd ****ed up. It was like a compulsion, a nagging pain that kept stabbing me in the chest. Never did it want me to forget.

But some time has passed. And I can't revel in its glorious misery any longer. I must somehow ignore it for the time being.

I did actually allow myself to pull a (insert well known someone here) and post something out of emotion. Yes I mostly felt what I'd posted last night (technically earlier this morning). Thankfully the depression that so heavily bore down upon me is not contagious and doesn't appear thus far to be fatal.

Bad joke, my bad. Anyways I know I had deliberately or lazily forgotten an update post about the percent of editing last week so here it is.

Ignoring the horrible week I've had (who could've seen me saying that) and a couple wasted days... I can say that I'm nearing seventy percent completion. Granted I am stumbling a little more then I thought I'd be. But after that whole spiel... Well that's par for the course my dear boy!

So yeah. That is pretty much it for these somewhat useless conjoined posts. I wanted to offer you so much more this week but well.... Let's not get into it.

Enjoy your fourth everyone (and to those who don't live in America, enjoy your weekend anyways) I'll be back more then likely as time permits over the vacation with something. Hopefully.

- Rossini

I've heard them say

"Write what you know"

I've always written with a bashful pride. Never fully exploring where I am, what I am doing, what I want or need to be doing. I'm just like a watch. My act keeps spinning around and around and around without deterrence. It is sad when you come to really think about it. How predictable tomorrow will be when I wake. How much anger I must clench between my teeth and sadness I must weep.

But that is what I've done to myself. Not to anyone else have I hurt so drastically as myself. What was I supposed to do I wonder? Should I have simply obeyed? Not misbehave? Could I really pull a trick and become how I act in both worlds?

Sadness and anger has been all I've ever used. A word that I may misconstrue. After all what was it that I suffered to feel so compelled to shell my outer walls so thoroughly.

I feel the ditch that I've dug closing around me. I'll claw for eternity. But now I've lost my hope. Something has died inside of me. Something I'd been born with. Something I can no longer cling to apparently.

I can't help but feel ashamed for my blinded stupidity. Its been years since its inception and yet now at its final growth I am deflated. Depressed that I'd failed to stop such lunacy in its tracks. This - I suppose - is what I've done. My faith may linger and collapse but I will continue on apparently. Even if I keep walking into a wall.

Tis my sad revelation that failure is so ever apparent when the sun is down. I need something to boost my spirits. Anything at this point will help. But I can't seem to find the will to wish for it. If wishes were to be trusted to begin with.

The saddest thing of all is that I simply don't know.

I can't honestly remember why I originally believed. My words now feel so hollow. So disgusting and wasteful. Its truly a wonder that my words ever meant anything. Interesting thing is to me, now, I feel lost without them. Like a cub whose mother was extracted for meat and fur. I can't help but question my everything.

And the answer that is delivered is ever so original.

Because I had been forsaken by a plight so foul that only a man's mind could create it. Failed so many things that I just wanted to crawl back beneath the covers for a few more hours. Perhaps so that in the day that I wake I will have been forgotten.

Some Mini Movie reviews inbound

So there are a couple movies I've watched recently that were worth noting.

First and foremost was:

    The Green Hornet (not lantern) starring Seth Rogen as himself (sarcasm), Jay Chou as Bruce L... I mean Kaito (aka the only character that is almost always likable in the film) and Cameron Diaz as the love interest that felt more like a name grab then a fully fleshed out human being.

Christoph Waltz from such infamy as "the bad guy from Inglorious Bastards" reprises his menacing although often more comical then frightening role here as Chudnofsky. And finally Tom Wilkinson and James Franco make more or less what resembles as "cameos" for the movie. Wilkinson, who plays the Hornet's father in the movie, James Reid and Franco, manning the silly selection as Danny Crystal Clear.

Casting aside, I enjoyed the movie. I went in with a lackluster and somewhat cynical attitude and came out pleasantly surprised/content.

- On the casting Front -

         While Diaz (as Lenore Case) was either a poor choice or a lazy one considering her screen time and usage. Rogen was a complete fail if you wanted the sixties Hornet. He just isn't much of an action star or at the very least isn't very competent at being believably and almost always plays the same role. I understand the great "Irony" in his role but I still felt slightly jarred by his performance.

   France and Wilkinson were supposedly in the move but considering how wasted and under utilized (just like Diaz) they were you'd be hard pressed to argue their presence. Unfortunately I'd like to toss Christoph Waltz's performance into this grouping too as his almost too funny to be taken serious villain felt too similar to the incompetent Green Hornet. Coincidentally however he exudes the only intelligence on the side of "villainy".

   Jay Chou clearly steals the movie from the onset of the commercials. His character essentially encompasses everything that the Green Hornet intends to do. And by doing so he is almost babysitting a full grown man whilst being shot at by a crew of very pissed off mobsters. 

   Funny thing is the major malfunction of this move is not even specifically the cast. It is the name. Granted had this been a movie with any other name no one would've reacted to it so acerbically. And in this very specific case that would have been a good thing because quite honestly once you tear away the whole iconic resemblance it becomes just another generic movie. Neither a good movie nor a terrible one. It would just be another comedy/superhero movie. Instead its a black sheep of Green Hornets everywhere.

- On the overall mood -

           Most of the movie tends to be repeating one note a lot like Seth Rogen's comedy. It does provide a few laughs throughout and the interaction between Kaito and Reid is generally lighthearted or fun enough to enjoy the oddball pairing. Unfortunately not even this can be said for the entire movie as an illogical three way love triangle forms out of nowhere between Kaito, Lenore Case, and Reid causing the two "superheroes" to be "superdolts".

  And then you have the action of which most is handled with a car or more specifically The Black Beauty. A lot of these scenes are bottled up towards the end of the movie and tend to be a great contrast different then the rest of the movie's slower or less intense moments. In the end what you have here is a story that lacks honest to god logic found between folks put into dangerous scenarios so don't expect a "Batman/Ironman/Green Lantern/Superman/Thor/etc" type of superhero. Neither should you expect a serious "Kickass/Watchmen/Defendor/etc" type of representation here.

  These superheroes are torn between whether they want to be a comedy or if they want to seriously fight crime. Thus they are more like their counterparts which spawned them IE the Batman television show.  (although I do know that technically Lone Ranger spawned them originally, this movie felt a little more asinine and less serious which was the point I was trying to make.)

- The Overall -

         So characters, science, nostalgia and plot aside the movie can be at times a fun mindless joyride that has many potholes. While I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wasn't already somehow interested; for those diehard and less hard Seth Rogen fans or fans of sort of pointless and unmemorable movies and somewhat cheesy popcorn flicks, eat your heart out.

I think the only thing they got right here without a doubt is the Car, Kaito, and the outfits. Those three things were almost perfect (to me).

(2 stars of 5: A good enough movie most of the time but far from worth recommending and once its all over with you're more then likely to forget even watching it.)

-Rossini

(Just a side note; this is a mini review, a self contained thought that more or less won't leave this blog. I will periodically review movies throughout the year as I see them in no particular order.)

(Also, I haven't finished my 999 review yet. Sorry.)

I'll admit

This really wasn't how I expected to handle this blog. While presented with humble beginnings and wacky nonsensical gibberish about communicating with cats or what have you, now I find some of the nonsense distracting and a strain to do.

I've never been much of a "funny man" outside of the typical sarcastic or ironic remarks I am no comedian. Why I ever try I'll never know.

But I do apologize if some of my less then respectable side has to mesh with a sense of necessity to post something, anything.

Worse off, I thought I could write a story and post sections of it every other day. That was a big mistake. Something we're still feeling I'm afraid to say. And while granted it was a fun experiment I killed it off once the pressure and need for better more literate ranges were required to delivery in words what my mind held.

I know I hate these kind of posts too. I've made several of them over the year the blog has been around. It is never easy (at least for me) to explain what I feel is the right thing to do and what I feel compelled to do. That is most certainly why my readers receive either this, a review, or that gibberish we mentioned earlier.

Anyways I know I went five days without a post again. I had nothing to say. Nothing I wanted to say anyways.

But I may as well take this time to inform everyone what my intentions are in the coming weeks.

My plan moving forward here is to begin posting the last half (or whatever we call it) section of the original story, A Vacant World. Before I do that I'm sure you'll wish to hear where the editing is at.

Well I won't give you a percentage this time (only because I really didn't calculate it yet) I will say that I've began recently working on the unforeseen but aforementioned work. Something I'm sure will take many of you by surprise. Why you may ask did it take me a month to just begin working on editing something everyone is waiting for?

The answer is both simple and unfortunate. Quite honestly, I broke the unedited version (the blog version). Not intentionally but it just happened to work out that way. When I post the ending some of it may be new, odd, out of place, and or merely fractured without a seam to connect it.

Those would all be very good ways to describe the early work something I will refer to as Draft One. Draft One is readable and to some extent understandable. But it is lacking much detail and the aforementioned time I didn't really give it when it was required.

Which leads me to why I was so hesitant to jump editing from page one to page fifty. Truthfully I've known that the story was missing certain key elements that I planted but never fertilized. With my insisting on going back to "fix it" I figured now (a year late and a dollar short) I could retrofit everything all at once and hopefully congeal the entire project to where I originally thought/wanted/needed it to be.

I've actually mentioned this before so I do apologize for the repeat.

With the new enchantments and band aids I could now begin to tie certain loose strings, missing strings, or altogether torn strings together. Thus my reasoning for the convoluted means to and end regarding the editing process. It was extremely useful believe me.

Unto the most important news regarding this matter and hopefully the last time I will have to speak of it till it is finished and off my shoulders.

My (new) time frame jumped ever so slightly into the future. I know I sorta dropped the ball there but we're looking at a Mid July release now. Should be almost guaranteed accurate but if for some case it isn't exact it won't be far off. I'm almost ninety nine percent sure I will deliver it in July.

As for the "special edition" aka the redraft aka Draft Two?

I will be publishing that through Amazon more then likely sometime following the release of the story on this blog. I will update price/time in a future update but for now I haven't exchanged any plans yet. I'd like everyone to read it as it was not only a laboring pain but a more fleshed out vision. So don't expect it to cost more then a pittance or so (in case I'm not clearly thinking or writing right now read this: It won't cost much).

I hope everyone reading this, or reading some of this understands how hard I've tried to balance both worlds. I'm not asking for pity as this was a fun task, it was also nerve wrecking once I realized what I was doing. And I hope my time investment won't be an utter failure to those most loyal followers. It is my wish that this story can attract more folks and allow me to bring another (but less time consuming) story to the world soon.

As always, I thank you for reading;

-Rossini

Story Progress update Jun 20th

Editing went well over the past week/weekend. There was only one minor setback (which was my mistake initially to begin with). For some silly reason my off site copy was missing an entire segment. While the segment was only two or three pages I hadn't really taken into account these rogue pages. Thankfully I caught the error before it caused me any problems.

So barring anymore loose strings I'm now sitting pretty at about the halfway mark. I think that because some of the newer writing (stuff never published) is more polished this next fifty percent will go much quicker. The only thing I'll have to do next then is just fix some marked errors and we should be ready to go soon.

Being honest for a moment, I'm pretty happy thus far with the new script. I think it really ties some of the more obscure and abrupt segments closer together. Alongside many new or improved details I think this transformation from short to short blog breaks to a little more novelization has done the story a world of justice. Granted that is just my opinion. The work overall will more then likely be far from perfect but I do have some confidence that everyone will enjoy it to some extent.

- Rossini

(As to where the 999 review is: Coming soon. This was game is a pita due to so many endings and I don't want to review it till I've seen them all. Hopefully I'll deliver it this week!)

I feel bad for Vancouver

I'm no British Columbia resident but I do feel for them on this of the many somber days ahead.

Their NHL Canucks team dropped the ball (puck) last night in grand disappointing fashion. After what appeared to be a dominating open to the series a couple weeks back slowly devolved into a nightmare for Vancouver on the road. Allowing some seventeen goals Luongo was back at home for game seven waiting for his chance to finally put everything to rest.

But it didn't happen. The Bruins stormed the zones and crushed Van with a relentless physical assault. With Tim Thomas guarding the net behind them and a wall of would be superheroes Boston now will hoist championship flags since 72.

But one thing lingers in my mind. Why does Vancouver or more importantly Luongo shrink in big games? I mean we just got done with the whole Lebron fiasco and now one of the most notorious (that I know of) choke artist in the NHL does it again. This time in game SEVEN of the final game of the year.

But I will not harp on the man. He tried. They all tried. And while I am far from a Canucks fan I must feel something, some sort of empathy to watch a city so full of energy and ready to celebrate after a seemingly eternity to be turned away yet again. It happened in 94 and now it happens in 2011.

It is simply amazing that the president cup's winner and all around favorite to win will go into the off season one game away but so full of questions and doubt especially at the Goalie position.

And because of their unfortunate play some handful of drunken idiotic fans will further disgrace their fall with what can only be described as heartless, juvenile, and in poor sportsmanship. Losing sucks but trashing the city because of a loss no matter the size is down right unacceptable. Destroying public property, looting, and causing general mayhem over a GAME is most assuredly the most stupid thing you can possible do. And for this I hope those rioters get their just due reward.

While I will never root for you Canada (I mean from a hockey standpoint, otherwise good looking out) and you may have you're own private quarrels amongst yourself that I don't quite understand, I do quite get what you may be feeling today, hell the year for that matter. So chin up Nucks, as they say in Chicago, LA, NY (when they don't win) or anywhere when things look the bleakest...

There's always next year.

-Rossini

(Course the pessimist would include [To choke] at the end.)

P.S. Congrats Boston, you earned it. Just saying in case I went too Van Van and forgot to give credit where credit is due. Oh and thanks for an entertaining series.

Life sucks

And everyday I wake up wishing I was paid millions to prance around in designer clothes advertising (INSERT RANDOM PRODUCT HERE) with my genetically perfect body. Shit why was I born to such poor lottery?

Fuel to the fire I am like the coal and decomposed,
Worthless to those that rose
From the depths of the great oppression
I am nothing but a succession
A chain link in a very long winding drive
From here to there I am part of this hive

But my masters proclaim
I am but of no fame
I am worthless trash
For I am without cash

And I play only one game
That is of life which is spectacularly lame
You've drawn my hate that much is clear
What you've said and done will be held dear
Of which thus far has been naught
This whiny baby cheat has been caught

So much for life
It is succinct and rife

With men so cocky as you

I am no poet. If one comes by and reads this understand I did this only because I was bored and not with any structural grace. For that matter I have no grace.

By now everyone in America has heard the words utterly by the great King.

 "All the people that were rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day, they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today. They have the same personal problems they had today. I’m going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want to do with me and my family and be happy with that. They can get a few days or a few months or whatever the case may be on being happy about not only myself, but the Miami Heat not accomplishing their goal. But they have to get back to the real world at some point.”   - Lebron James

Just like how I responded to the Meddenhall nonsense a while back I do so now to you Lebron James (and it hurts me not to use a nickname).

Here is the skinny my friend. Imagine for a moment you were not you. Imagine a lottery (not the NBA one) where each pick and strand would grant you different elements and attributes. Imagine for a moment you didn't receive the winning pick at birth and you were nothing more then a "loser lower class peasant". Now imagine if a man of great wealth told you,

"Stop churning the coal you fool! I am of warm enough lest my money be dripped through these infernal outlets"

And on command you do as demanded. Shut down the coal line and let those that receive their blessing freeze without heat. But you see this is fair. One man may demand more heat. Another may less. So on and so forth.

To offer every person individual amounts why you'd be bankrupt. And then who'd supply the heat?

I will tell you. No one.

                                                               Melodramatic much?

James, you brought this fire upon yourself. Every man, woman, and child could see the trebuchets loading their ammunition. You did nothing NOTHING to deflect or avoid their trajectory. And once they hit like a cannonball tearing down the mighty walls of your self proclaimed kingdom you cry foul.

First you quit in Ohio. Then you, your friends, your agent, your family all quit logic when you held a press conference for your impending "Decision". Right afterwards the three of you dingbats figure it a good idea to have a championship celebration before setting a foot on the same floor together.

And now you've failed TWICE to down the wings of your haters and you have the arrogance to actually think you have any right to argue? Your chance was lost on the court. That was your opportunity. You failed. Shut up.

I'm not a petty muskrat. I do not question your decision to leave Cleveland as I am no Ohio resident. I don't even like basketball. Actually I kinda hate it. But nothing brings me more joy then to watch your comeuppance served upon a wreckage where a throne once sat. You are not a "superstar". You are not even human. You are a disgrace. A sociopath with no forethought, afterthought, and absolutely no empathy.

And while I leave no doubt that you will eventually win a title I question if you deserve one. After all, all the showboating, mocking, and general disrespect you show your "fans" with such ill tweets it makes me wonder why you even bother. Why life sucks doesn't it?

You said so yourself. You just made sure to mention how happy you were with yours. Well then I can feign life too. See its great. Everything is great. The sun, the moon, the stars, ALL GREAT!

Have a nice summer Lebron. A nice long summer full of deflections and lack of comprehension to the yet another shit storm you've unleashed. A hornet nest buzzing from top to bottom filled with assholes just gnawing at the bit to show you much life really sucks.

Good luck next year my friend. I hope for your sake you win one before the little gnats get you first.

Unapologetic and loving it,

- Rossini


P.S. I'm fine where I'm at James. Thanks for asking.

P.P.S I've stopped being stupid and reopened my feeds. While I hope everyone still enjoys my blog, feeds will be just as good I suppose. Thank you and good night.

Just dropping this update here (story update)

With certain things behind us for now I wanted to again update everyone on how the editing process thus far has gone. While never perfect and it has been quite time consuming, I've brought myself to finish up to segment five this past week. I have about five more to go (ignoring the fact that those five are a handful pages longer) so I wouldn't quite say I'm at 50% yet. Truthfully I'm thinking somewhere hovering in or around thirty right now.

I'm hoping to have more info for you next week, possibly even a date, possibly, but until then as always thanks for reading and enjoy your weekend.

And don't read too far into some of my posting. I'm a bit of an irony and honestly that is where I'm best at.

-Rossini

e3 '11 (continued and finished)

       Typically in the past I've disliked Sony's press conferences. It would feel as if they'd come unto stage, dance around to the music and applause and then unveil their grand old narcissistic personality while showing numbers that destroy the other consoles and quickly up the ante with plans of world domination. Then the PS3 came out flat as a day old soda and they were knocked down a peg until a comedian pulled their asses out of the fire and all of a sudden everyone's happy. Of course then a fleet of hackers jacked their systems stealing millions upon millions of account information...

       So I guess after all that you too would be humbled enough for me to sit through an entire conference without throwing up.

     OK! Once past all those somewhat hyperbolic statements let us examine if Sony has won back my heart or is currently residing in the same doghouse as Microsoft is.


   pros:

     + Out of all the major shows I personally think Sony has the best EXCLUSIVE lineup. Where as most of Microsoft's was in between showing third party galore Sony took out the big guns.

     + The Vita is a sleek unit that may bend some knees come winter.

     + Not as much throat shoving this year (or as much as MS) as there was last year with their purple snow cones. A good thing me thinks.

cons:

     - I would be amiss if I didn't subtract Sony for rehashes and added numbers to their titles. Shit there are TWO Uncharted games coming out with much of the same engine/game play. And no I personally thought the touchscreen usage in Uncharted was a big fat fucking joke. Save for picking up weapons/reloading. The rest was just gratuitous. Granted this isn't what the tech was built for per say.

     - While the Vita is great at what it does I do now have to wonder especially in the face of two very important things if the system will warrant a purchase for someone who doesn't care a great deal about portable games.

      1. PSP to PS2 ports

      2. PSP to PS3 ports

     With so many games moving from the old system it could be a possibility that these newer major titles will be easily playable in the future on a PS3/PS4. Albeit without a touchscreen/competent gyroscope (unless the PS4 has them). Something to keep an eye on.

   - Still not sold on the Move product line. Granted it is better then the Kinect but then so is a cheeseburger.


              My biased opinions aside I thought Sony had a solid to stellar showing with minimal surprise. The Vita certainly will move product but should be interesting how well. Either way I enjoyed the conference for the most part and am looking forward to some of their games in the following months.

                               Grade: C+

AKA the new Sony of numbers. Just kidding.

The first fifteen minutes was a trip down nostalgia lane dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Zelda. All good interesting stuff except it does sorta resonate what Nintendo has been doing for years. And that is rererererereleasing the same game multiple times in multiple different outlets. Again not a bad thing but can be easily tiring after a while. And of course the trolls will eat it up...

Look, lets ignore the first forty minutes of press conference and jump right into the big thing.

For me, this is a make or break promise from Nintendo. Certainly financially things aren't that bleak but after the drought of GREAT Wii games I'm holding optimism here. It'll be a (possibly) great system that will finally douse the Wii graphics in flames where they belonged but I'm truly worried about longevity here. This thing won't be twice as powerful as a Xbox/PS3. How will that affect its grab for hardcore fans?

And most importantly what about its ludicrous controller? Is it a good idea or a bad idea for such fundamental changes for the home based console? And wasn't this the same question asked five years ago?

I don't really have any pros and cons for Nintendo's show because quite frankly it is based mostly on prospect. I don't know anything about the power/games other then they will supposedly be there. Granted I can finally comment on the 3DS quickly becoming a console worth owning overnight with a slew of good content coming. Otherwise what else is there to talk about but the prospect of what may or may not be a good thing? (Wii U) and with no release date we may as well wait till next E3 to talk about it. I mean at this point it is all speculation and rabid dreams.

              Grade: C+ (or possibly anything worse depending on the functionality of the Wii U)

So as I finish my E3 rap it is necessary for me to point over to UBISOFT for capping my thoughts perfectly with their Farcry 3 trailer.

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." -Albert Einstein

I've been in much of a funk these past days. E3 was brought to me at a depressing time and in return I tore it up like a petulant observer. There was more then my annoyed grunts and cynical expressions to found in LA. Actually in the right eyes there is much to be happy about.

But on the opposite spectrum where I currently sit, things certainly appear to be the same as they were five years ago. Can you believe that four years ago Assassin's Creed came out as a new IP and within the years we've received at least five new versions of it? Infamous 2 was just released and in two years it will be on its third. It is amazing how quick repetition can occur in the Video Game world. Soon we'll be playing Halo 6 (finish the pie) and Silent Hill 30 (arrest the oblong head).

I don't know. Now I'm just rambling like a moron; like those that I sought to separate myself from. Perhaps I am the moron.

Quite frankly all my grades are harsh. If you want pretty little things then just bump them up each two notches. I'm just sick of it right now and if you'll excuse me I need to go lie down and forgot the madness for another year.

-Rossini

e3 '11 (part 1)

Looking back a year ago... E3 was a major disappointment through and through. Granted I don't even remember everything but what I do remember blogging about was held at years end as a collective "meh". I think the only good things that came out of E3 last year was Donkey Kong and Deadspace 2. Or so I recall anyways.

So unlike many years previous I entered the 2011 trade-show with much negativity. As you may well know I am a cynical man trapped inside a optimistic body. That is to say that my actions and speech may say one thing but my mind says another thing.

But let us stop beating around the bush and enter each press conference one by and one and examine them with few words or less.

The show starts and to no ones surprise we start with the money maker. Call of fricken duty 7(254894609insert random sequel number here). Nice enough looking game. Sure I can ignore the whole destruction of infinity ward and watch this and be without comment. Yep. Two thumbs way up for you Activision. Way up there.

But I'm not really the target audience for this game now am I? I've played and enjoyed four of them thus far and they're all spectactular linear first person shooters with immense amount of glossing and followers. Make no mistake I do enjoy the series but it isn't my go to game. And while the destruction of the world I know is rather topical I do often wonder where they will go from here. How exactly do you top Call of duty 7's insane story?

I don't know but I bet next E3 we will.

And the rest barring Mass Effect 3 (AKA my new favorite video game series ever) was seemingly a Kinect info-commercial. I might be too harsh on Microsoft for lording their six year old (and even older technology) console over us for another year, two, three, possibly four more years but at the very least I expect something more from you then:

- Avatars (Wow! so lifelike! And yes I know this is more from the last few years or last year more specifically but the magnitude of anger still resonates the same)
- New XMB (OMG! Another update for the menus!)
- Kinect commercials (I can has cheezeburger?)
- Whoring big name titles like COD/Halo/Gears of War. Congratulations. You make solid games. You Export solid games. You play solid games. Trolls of internet should begin to collapse upon MS for this. It really is no different then Nintendo at this point with their nostalgia line up. But that's the power of hypocrisy and internet warfare for you. Not that online multiplayer isn't fun but sometimes things are one iota short from ridiculous.


                Grade: D+



Not finished and didn't want to cut this short but am amidst a storm and don't really wish to lose power and my train of thought at the moment. I'll have comments up for Sony/Nintendo tomorrow. Till then thanks for reading my rants.

-Rossini

Pooling the information I've absorbed over the past two days of e3. Will post opinions soon.

A recap of what occured last week

          I apologize for that week long lack of posts and two missing reviews. So a quick bulletin recap for your reading and updating pleasure. Plus an update on the ever elusive story. (bolded for ease of review if it is all you wish to find)

- So on Friday of last week I was about halfway through writing the review thinking I'd finish it easily by Sunday. Truth was that I actually hadn't totally finished the game and wanted another moment to do so before concluding my report. Naturally over the holiday I was busy with family and other lovely time consuming events and as the hours on the clock quickly peeled into days on the calendar I realized I wasn't going to make my quota. Thus I figured I'd do my best job possible, pick up the review as best I could (albeit I forgot photos) and post it this past Friday.

- Unfortunately this I was supposed to be posting a 999 (ds) review on the same day and honestly I haven't even began to write that one. Truthfully it takes me anywhere from two to three days to get a nice detailed and somewhat coherent review written. So as this being a "bonus" it will be pushed back until ASAP. Perhaps this week perhaps the week following. As soon as I know I will let you know. Quick impressions are however have me giddy and terrified. Its something special.

- Which lends me perfectly back into my L.A. Noire review for a brief moment. I found a passage to be unruly or not quite as intended. When I wrote

"Both unhurried and methodical in its delivery and presentation the game serves up a bit that will easily polarize two groups of people; those who “get it” and those that don’t."

 What I meant to say was:

"Both unhurried and methodical in its delivery and presentation the game serves up a bit that will easily polarize two groups of people; those who enjoy and relish its meticulously calculated and plodding build up, and those who simply don't"

As you can see by the example and edits to the original document I did not want to fire or throw feces at anyone for not "getting it". Like a cult classic, many things many times cannot always be enjoyed by all. I hope I didn't offend anyone with those remarks and will continue to strive forward away from this backwater or pseudo elitist mentality (not that it ever was, just perhaps came off so). P.s. It went up on Amazon the other day if you were looking for it. (Thanks!)

- Finally an update on the editing. While as I mentioned not much took place last weekend, much more is done then it was last time I gave an update. I'd say roughly twenty percent is now completed with a lot of the work rapidly nearing the work not yet seen. All around good news.



              My apologies about the absent review (999) and stumbling updates. My intention for this blog was never personal or irrelevant things but to explain why, I must detail certain key elements. Things I do or don't wish to speak about are sometimes as relevant as my intentions and thus why I felt compelled to post this update. I wanted to remind and make sure everyone reading will not succumb to doubt as I certainly have failed you once already. To this I am sorry. Last year was a derailing event and it cost me readers, time spent, and otherwise disappointment. I can never promise anything but I do strongly consider myself a promise keeper. And while what I have to say won't always interest or adhere I always do try to consistently bring myself and this blog forward even if it does shine a black light on the events.

It is my responsibility to always do so as any less would be disrespectful and dishonest. I've got such high hopes (not high high high, but a mutual respect sorta hope. A dash of optimism if you will) for my future writings and present endeavors that I hope and wish many of you will follow along with me as I continue to create new and hopefully interesting things.

But time will only tell how well I do or if I fail miserably in delivering these high hopes. I just hope for the sake of my readers I do the best job I am capable as that is all I can ever ask for.

As always, thank you for continuing with me as I hope to very soon offer my first published work and look forward to penning a new tale.

-Rossini

(p.s. I also apologize for any glaring grammatical or spelling errors or missing words in this post. Its rather early and I'm rather still tired.)

Murder by starlight, a tale of Noir (LA NOIRE - NO SPOILERS)

1947, Las Angeles…

I’ve seen it all from the locales in L.A. Murder, rape, and conspiracy is nothing new. Their mouths tell me no but their behavior says otherwise. These nervous fidgets and constant struggles to sit still seem to be indicative of a liar. And I don’t really care much for liars.

For every case I build there is new evidence to be found. Some discovered in the pooling blood; others from the mouths of dirty frauds. Before any connections or assumptions can be made I must first assimilate these clues. Poke holes into these convoluted spider webs of lies and deceit tearing through the strands one at a time. Rest assured I will close the case and bring the killers to justice so help me god.

L.A. Noire is thick in atmosphere and narrative. The former being greatly seen but seldom used while that latter being watched and enjoyed but often times without control. This is not really a game but rather more a visual novel mixed with an adventure game and a dash of action/driving.

     And unlike most free roaming games – especially those indicative of a Rockstar release – there is not really much to see or do outside of the main missions and side distractions (disturbances radioed in). Which may at first be seen as backtracking instead of advancing that genre but the truth evidently is in the blood.

     Noire works best when Detective Phelps is investigating and interrogating rather then shooting and driving. Not that either are incongruous with the storyline or game-play but both are with their flaws. Shooting for example is pretty standard and mostly uneventful cover based presentation. Unlike most third person games these days this one had the audacity to confiscate the ability to swap shoulders with the camera forcing the player to enter cover to do so if necessary.

     Driving on the other hand is rather solid but notoriously humdrum (just as it can be in real life). Oddly missing is the ability or selective intelligence from the game to flicker turn signals at an intersection often leaving driving realistically a mild let-down as virtual passersby tend to air out their horns and try their best to occasionally hit or cut you off. Outside of that small annoyance I thought driving in L.A. Noire was better then found in GTA: 4. Of course one minor problem I did have was how sensitive the sticks were as a tiny nudge can send you flying into a lane three rows over.

     But onto the meat and potatoes… By now I’ll just assume anyone even remotely interested in this game will have in some capacity heard the ravings over the “real life faces”. At first the technology will be marveled at as the thirty two camera delivery creates almost perfect recreations of every wrinkle and crease drawn across the actors/actresses face but as the game progresses you see just how necessary this tool was to help convey one simple message. L.A. Noire would be absolutely inconceivable without total facial recognition.

Because so much is put onto the broad streaks of one’s marred wrinkled face playing as Det. Phelps you must decipher which gesture is a tell and which is the truth. In the beginning this may seem rather simple as most practically jump right out at you heeding neither subtlety nor realism but as the case files grow and the work becomes tougher so too does the reading of facial squints. While so much of the read is hinging upon how well you may or may not do in a specific crime scene/interrogation none will impede upon your overall progress but rather how well you ultimately perform. There are no game overs from a blown call or a missed examination. You will eventually solve an investigation no matter what. Even if you “skip” the action segments.

     Pros:

    +     Faithfully recreated 1947 LA

    +     Excellent story both delivered in small doses and in a large arc

    +     Decent amount of things to do in the city (secret cars, film reels, locations), great replay value on the cases you mess up or things you might have missed

    +     A superb cast that is both articulate and believable

    +     Investigations are simple in execution but enjoyable to explore and construct theories of whodunit.

    +     Interrogations are a well fought battle that offers its reward only to those with a skillful eye

    +     Captivating Music

     Cons:

-         Action segments can be a little dry or uninvolving often offering little more then a distraction to the main draw of the game.

-         Driving can be a pursuit of leisure or a frightening nightmare depending on your personal mood. Side note: All driving can be essentially skipped by letting your partner drive and “skipping” the action segments

-         The game peaks through its middle sections and never again truly reaches this level of greatness.

-         Generally speaking this may easily be referred to as a one and done type game for most players

     L.A. Noire sure is something. Both unhurried and methodical in its delivery and presentation the game serves up a bit that will easily polarize two groups of people;  those who enjoy and relish its meticulously calculated and plodding build up and those who simply don't. Because it is not quickened or sharp and its action is dull and diluted by many things I would never suggest anyone with a short attention span or lack of interest to go wondering through the streets of post war LA.

     If you enter expecting much more then a strict linear but tightly written narrative then you’ll certainly be disappointed. There is action in the form of car chases, foot chases, brawls, and gun fights but none are very significant and are seemingly scattered hours between. The game dwells in the basement of a locker. Clues and lies rolled up and sliced through and through. If you don’t like reading, absorbing information, and deciphering many different things in many different circumstances then you need not apply.

     As such my final review score is based on a great many things. But to offer help in deciding for those in between souls I’ve added a +/- scale for different elements and will start at a 5/10 (or 50/100). I hope it helps in your decision.

     5/10

+ 10 if you enjoy mystery and intrigue with a strong sequence of events

-         5 if you enjoy action

+ 10 if you enjoy watching and dissecting the behavior of other humans

      -    5 if you enjoy mowing down innocent civilians in cars/with guns

+ 10 if you like combing through a room with a mouse click/button press in vain of an adventure game

-         5 if you enjoy destroying a room with a grenade launcher

+ 5 if you enjoy monotonous and sometimes grueling work in your video games

-         5 if you hate (or sometimes hate) such things

+ 5 if you enjoy (the thought of) driving leisurely (or frantically) through a faithfully recreated 1947 L.A.

-         5 if you enjoy free roam games and having multiple things to do at any given time

Speaking biasedly for a moment I loved every minute of L.A. Noire. Every turn around the corner, every face and gruesome scene melded into one giant bowl of spectacular entertainment for me. It was repetitive at times. It was dragging at times. But I never found it to be boring.

My experience will not be the same as yours so my overall grade of 90/10 (4.5 Amazon Stars) will not speak directly to each and every possible patron of Team Bondi. I’d say honestly if the interest is mild then a 70-75 out of a 100 would ultimately be most in said customer’s range.

But for those truly enthralled by attention to detail and story it doesn’t get much better then L.A. Noire.

And that’s no lie.

*One minor hitch to my otherwise brilliantly bad plan is that Amazon has yet to post my review. So this is sort of a instant look. However as always, when the review does surface please toss me a thumbs up if you enjoyed it and a thumbs down if you didn't. Thanks a million,
 

-Rossini

*Minor update: it is now up on Amazon*