Surprise Mechanics vs Awesome Storytelling

Grievance: Lootboxes and gambling mechanics are DESTROYING the gaming industry EA!

This is what bullshit looks like

Well looks like I've been justified in NEVER purchasing another gaming console or AAA game ever again. Because all these publishers care about it using me and other gamers like ATM's and then they call the people they fleece a derogatory term: "Whales". Yeah, if it ain't "dead peasant", "white trash", or some other derogatory term the powerful always view everyone else not in the club as beneath them. Every thing bad should happen to Electronic Arts and the AAA industry deserves to collapse into oblivion.

Praise: BATTLETECH!

This is so FUCKING AWESOME

Giant robots, space ship management, and a fucking amazing universe and story to play in. This turn based tactical combat game is why Hairbrained Schemes is an awesome game designer studio. SO many mechs, so many ways to build them, and so many ways to wreak the opposition even if the odds are two to one! And a revenge/reclaim the throne plot worthy of Game of Thrones (before season 8). Proud citizen of the inner sphere here. Fuck Comstar and fuck clanners!

Dark and Light

Grievance: I hate "Dark and Edgy" reboots

Oh dark and edgy...pfft

I'm really tired of this attempt to be dark, gritty, and edgy. I get enough of that in the real world, why in hell's name would I want that in my fiction? Trick question, I don't unless it is in service to the story or character. But DC, like a lot of other media companies, seems to think that if they just superficially turn down the lights and add some blood and nudity it'll make their works more 'adult'. Here's what C.S. Lewis had to say about that:

Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.

I agree Mr. Lewis, I agree 100%.

Praise: Black Panther

Wakanda Forever!

A bit old but damn it, this is an awesome film. Also here's something that I love, still dark and gritty in subject matter, but none of the bullshit of trying to be 'adult' when it is already grown up. It deals with race issues in America, the African diaspora, colonization and its brutality, Afro-futurism and the mistakes of past generations along with the triumph of the new generation to set things right! Damn that's a mouthful, but yeah that is some heavy topics to broach in a movie but not once did I see anything that turned me off from this film or even attempted to be 'adult'. Go grab it on DVD and watch it you will be entertained and it might just make you think about a few things.

Bubble UP and Dystopian fantasy

Note: I haven't posted on this blog since 2013 mostly due to work, life, and all the things that get in the way of writing. Currently it's December 24, 2017 and ALOT of things have happened.

Grievance: Banks pumping up the housing bubble...AGAIN!

Pop that American Dream Goldman Sachs!

Cause nothing says "I love you" like foreclosing on people who don't even have a mortgage on their home from your bank. That particular article has a happy ending because the bank got foreclosed on by the people they tried to victimize but imagine if those folks didn't have the time, money, or energy to resist? You think I'm joking but what about all the folks whose homes were foreclosed without any media attention? At this point home ownership, once the bastion of the middle class, is no longer affordable to newest generation of Americans. That's right boomer mom and dad your grandkids can't afford a new home because their being forced into low paying jobs by college loan debts. They will actually be financially worse off than you. And if the vast majority of Americans can't afford the new suburban McMansions guess what happens to the housing economy? If you said bubblegum crisis than give yourself a cookie!

Praise: Shadowrun Returns & Dragonfall

Never make a deal with a dragon...

Speaking of dystopian cyberpunk fantasies...HOLY CRAP its a sequel to my favorite PC game from 2013 and IT'S AWESOME. *AHEM* Sorry about that fanboy moment but yes Shadowrun: Dragonfall and its predecessor Shadowrun Returns will always have a place in my heart. Even if William Gibson, the grandfather of Cyberpunk, does not like the setting. I get it, they added traditional fantasy elements (other races, magic, and hong kong wire-fu to name a few) to an otherwise believable cyberpunk future. But that niche was already taken by other systems so the creators of Battletech had to do something different to grab players attention: and it worked! This sequel takes you eastward from the mega-sprawl of Seattle, Washington to Berlin, Germany and brother it is worth the trip. Conspiracies, both magical and mundane, hover over the return of one of the first dragons to appear in Europe. And boy did she do a number on the place, think Smaug from the Hobbit, the book not the movie btw. And guess what chummer your team of shadowrunners took a job that just placed you all squarely in her sights. But what really steals the show are the other NPC's and they are characters with their own lives and backstories. One was so tragic that I shed a few tears because of it. Go play this game and if you like what I have written down so far you will not be disappointed.

Creativity vs Commercialism

Grievance: Remakes and shameless cash grabs

The guide on how to turn a classic to garbage

They say Hollywood is out of ideas.  I say Hollywood is now dumpster diving trying to create updates to classic films and rehash the same popcorn fluff we can watch at home for less money.  And the worst thing about this is the general public is okay with this.  "I just want to watch a film and turn off my brain" or "I just want to see something explode" and who can forget the classic, "I just want to see cool special effects!" Okay I get it I watch action movies and when they try to add a 'plot' instead of going straight to the explosions it confuses the hell out of me too.  But that's just it, even the most bland action flick has something in their besides explosions and special effects: There is a story idea in there.  Nowadays all the studios want to do is rehash the same story over and over to get people to fork over their cash for the same movie they saw a year or so back, I'm looking at you Hangover 2!  Then there is the remakes like the utter piece of filth I put a picture of here.  The remake of the Day the Earth Stood Still was atrocious.  The acting was horrible, the plot made no fucking sense, and the only thing I took away from it was that yes Keanu Reeves does act like an extraterrestrial all the bloody time.

Praise: Crafting a good story the first time around

How to update a classic into something more

And yet someone manages to get it right.  Why?  Because they have a good solid story first and then they make a movie out of it.  They don't use special effects as the be all, catch all of the flick; It enhances the story, gives it a little flavor, just enough to suspend your disbelief.  The above film is a sequel to a popular animated TV series in Japan that was released worldwide.  It was a smash hit and fans loved it.  Not because it retold the same story but because it updated it, choose a different theme, had characters with flaws not caricatures, wonderful special effects that didn't steal the show and most important of all a DAMN GOOD STORY!  Seriously go rent this video if you can, it's freaking awesome.  Now I understand why Hollywood wouldn't make this type of flick; the producers want sure bets, but if you don't push the boundaries your industry stagnates.  And stagnation just makes you stink.

Shortsightedness and Succession

Grievance: Cartoon Network putting good shows on "hiatus"

They say all good things must come to an end but what if they never got the chance to finish at their own pace?  I know that making a good show takes time, money, and talent.  But it seems to me that the two shows above definitely had the talent, given how each series had its distinctive are style, voice acting, music, and storytelling that kept viewers coming back to see more.   The creators took the time to either 1) create a vibrant universe for their showpiece in the case of Sym-bionic titan or 2) Reboot a fan favorite from an earlier era with a more nuanced and deeper depth than it's first incarnation such as the case of the 2011 Thundercats.  It couldn't have been from lack of popularity as both shows were doing well in the ratings.  So what is left?  The tie in toys and other products were not selling well?  But really in this economy when the middle class families are tightening their belts or worse falling into poverty, do these media corporations expect people to shell out the cash when they must spend it on food, clothing or shelter?  And therein lies the problem.  These big companies want to make a profit immediately with their toys or have such high ratings that they can charge advertisers insane amounts of money however, the game has changed.  Without a prosperous middle class with disposable income there isn't enough money to be made, which freaks the networks out, which leads to more cancelled shows that while costly provide entertainment and joy to many a viewer.  Sad but true.

Praise: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Say hello to an old friend given new life

With that said there is still something awesome about seeing an old series be given new life and nowhere is that more awe inspiring than in gaming, when it is done right of course.  And the case for this is the above game: Made as a successor to a late 80's early 90's tactical/strategy game with horror elements known as X-COM UFO DEFENSE here in the states, XCOM ENEMY UNKNOWN truly delivers a similar feel but with more then enough differences to be its own game.  This is a true successor in every definition of the word.  Developer Firaxis has captured the essence of the old game and added new depth to it.  No surprise really as Firaxis is being directed by the legendary Sid Meier, creator of the Civilization series of strategy games.  This game is awesome for everyone who loves this genre and it can be customized for the casual to the hardcore gamer.  The ending (no spoilers) also leaves room to a sequel, should Firaxis decide to make one.  Overall this game is what happens when publishers give a creation studio money, talent, and most importantly time to create a good piece of entertainment.  Take note Cartoon Network execs.

Greed and MLP: FiM

Grievance: Greed is good

Hypocrisy thy name is Wall Street

Wrong, not only wrong, but bold faced lie perpetuated by greedy individuals and amoral organizations to obtain more POWER.  Because that is all they care about, that is the bottom line. The individual is nothing to them, a speck in the 'unwashed' masses of humanity.  But the minute their in trouble, they cry like little grubby spoiled brats asking for mommy to fix their mistakes.  No more, no more bailouts, no more socialism for wall street while main street gets the bill, no more exemptions from laws because your "too big".  If your organization fails then do us all the courtesy of closing your business so something new and better can take your place, if not then fuck you!  Also if you won't pay your taxes fairly, I'm looking at you GE, then run run little bastards cause we'll be coming for you!

Praise: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Occupy Wall St. just got 20% cooler

To all that is good, why do I like this show?  It could be because it was originally well written, had characters instead of caricatures, and most importantly of all the community are some of the most loving and tolerant humans I have the pleasure of knowing.  That or the fan created stuff is freaking amazing at times.  This show may have been originally pitched for little girls but the wonderful Mrs. Lauren Faust has transformed it into something greater: A wonderfully written story with nuanced characters that happen to be equine instead of humanoid.  Naturally people responded positively to it, and why shouldn't they?  A good story has no gender preference, the best characters are ones we identify with and sympathize, and being taken seriously rather than being treated like fools is how most of us human beings, including fans, yes we are human too, hope to be treated.  So to all the fans and those who have yet to watch it out there: Be excellent to one another, Excelsior!

Robo-service and Skyrim

Grievance: Automated customer service

Why is it every time I try to get in contact with customer service I get the automated representative?  I know companies need to tighten their belts in this economy but they could do that by reducing their executives pay and use all that saved money to actually hire a team of customer service representatives.  You know actual people you can talk to that understand you have a genuine problem that needs fixing ASAP instead of getting the dungeon crawl, phone style, every time they call your help line.

Praise: Skyrim

Dear lord why can I not put this game down?  Why do I loss so much time to it and not notice it?  Because it's a damn great game:  The scenery, the action, the music, the majesty of an epic struggle against a fully grown dragon, and all the plot twists and stories in between!  Bethesda games has a tradition of quirky but compelling sand box games that let the player just loss themselves in their fully fleshed out worlds.  Now if we could just combine that with the awesome characterization from Bioware and we'd have an epic experience for the ages!