Okay, so I'm a day late on the blogging. Vacation took a lot out of me, but it was absolutely fantastic, so it's worth it. Anyway, got to see the Doctor Who season finale just a day or two ago, and...
~WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD~
Okay, you still with me? Fantastic. Let's talk about "The Big Bang"...
First off, it strikes me just how much different it is to other finales of the revival. There's no big change in the TARDIS team at the end, for one. That's right, we have our same team of three jetting off into time and space for the Christmas special... yes, three. I'll get to that in a bit.
Also, while there is a bit of a reset button, it actually works because it makes sense in the context of the season. Bits and pieces from throughout all twelve previous episodes were included in some way, or contributed to part of the finale. Oh, and the arc doesn't end. We never find out who the Big Bad is, and the reason as to why the TARDIS exploded, and why on the day of Amy's wedding, is still unclear. So next season we'll be getting a continued plot, which actually seems as though it'll work better in the long run. Basically, Moffat streamlined and improved the formula from the RTD years, with his own touches added. For example, no real big, epic battle. A Dalek is in it, and it's mostly incidental to the plot. It's a lot more plot-and-character-driven than running off the Rule of Cool, which worked in the past but would naturally get stale for some...
Now, I have to talk, absolutely must talk about, it would be unforgivable if I didn't talk about... Rory Williams. That's right, the Boy Who Waited. So he was revived as an Auton with Rory's memories but still all the love and devotion to Amy. So just to make sure she'll be safe for two thousand years in the Pandorica, he guards her for all that time, taking the slow path while the Doctor zips forward in time. He totally succeeds (not at staying out of trouble, though), even dragging the Pandorica out of a fire. Oh, and did I mention since he's made of plastic, any damage he takes can't heal? And he's really weak to fire because he's plastic? And yet he still succeeds- not to mention stays sane, which the Doctor implied would likely not be the case. And while Human Rory is back at the end, he's still got the memories of Auton Rory, which means all that awesomeness and love in him. Let's face it, he's a contender for best companion ever. I am so glad he's back... Arthur Darvill needs to be there full-time for Season 32, and it looks like he will be. A married couple traveling with the Doctor! Brilliant!
We also got some River Song coolness (a Dalek begged for mercy when it found out who she was), adorable young Amy, and the Doctor wearing a fez. Even if only briefly. And Amy gets her parents back! Her dad's name is Augustus! I will name a Pokemon that one day, mark my words. The continuity nods, by the way... great stuff. "From now on, Amelia, I am leaving the kissing duties to the new Mr. Pond!" "Wait, no, that's not how it works." "Yeah, it is." "...yeah, it is." The fact that Rory doesn't seem to mind so much is icing on the cake.
Really, just the last fifteen or so minutes. The Doctor going back through time, his story to young Amelia and subsequent sacrifice, then Amy's wedding and realization of the Doctor, his epic reappearance in a suit with tails (not a tux, bad things happen when the Doctor wears a tux), hilariously bad dancing (like the Doctor is someone's dad, WHICH HE IS!), River's unwillingness to give a straight answer, the "goodbye!" scene, and hopefully the tease that the Christmas special will involved an escaped Egyptian goddess on the Orient Express IN SPACE!
Am I gushing about it? Yeah, I am. Do I have a good reason to? Duuuuuuuuhhhh. Of course I do. It's Doctor Who, the best idea in the history of forever. Of course it's brilliant.
So, one excellent season down, and it looks like we can only go up from here. Like I said one hundred posts ago...
GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
100
So if I'm correct, this is my hundredth blog post! Hooray, I guess! Not that it means anything, really, but hey, I've stuck with it this long. Here's to an unspecified number more...
Yesterday I didn't post, we took a break from pretty much everything and got some rest after exploring Mackinac Island a little. Incidentally, some places around the area are spelled Mackinac while some are spelled Mackinaw, but they're always pronounced with the "aw" ending. THE MORE YOU KNOW.
The Doctor Who finale is today, but I can't see it yet. I really want to, though, so I am doing my best to avoid spoilers at all costs. I hate being spoiled, it ruins the emotional involvement if you know what's going to happen. Plus, the Matt Smith series has been great so far and I really want to keep the steam going for my own sake...
I type tonight from the house of a friend of my mom's, who lives in Kalamazoo. My computer can't connect to the Internet so she graciously let me borrow hers. This keyboard is a bit different so if you see any errors blame it on that, OK? It's a very nice house though, very large too, so I get my own room! Wahoo!
Pokemon Black and White come out in Japan in September. Holy cow. I dunno if that means they'll be not long after in English. I certainly hope so. Wouldn't it be nice to get them before I go to London? Then again, I'd hardly have the time to play them... oh well, we'll get there when we get there. Which is really the only option, I suppose. That's the only time you can get there, after all. So... yeah.
While I still have feelings very deeply for the girl who's been causing me so much trouble, I have to admit that I've developed a crush on another girl from college. It's funny, because I don't actually know her in person. Somehow I was browsing Facebook, and she's friends with several of my friends, and we have some interests in common and she's really cute and... oy. I dunno if I'm trying to increase my chances for success or failure here. I've always been of the opinion Murphy's Law should be renamed for me.
I need to sleep in for once. Tomorrow we head home so I can then, but since my grandmother is house-sitting (and cat-sitting) I dread being stuck in the Bed That's Way Too Small For Me. Look, I don't want to complain, but why does Grandma have to sleep in my bed again when the parental units have a bigger one...?
I like the house here in Kalamazoo, though. We need to visit again. Hopefully sooner than in seventeen years next time.
Haven't talked to people much in the last week. Too much traveling, too much time spent on other stuff. Downloaded a bunch of music off iTunes last night after going through some Doctor Who fan videos on YouTube. Left my connector cable at home, of course. I really gotta start planning things better. Like Batman. He's a great planner.
Actually, of late my favorite superhero is starting to be Green Lantern. The whole "emotional spectrum" thing they introduced was a great idea. If you can make the rainbow cool, that's a darn clever concept in my book.
So, nothing else of too much interest to say, and I'm tired as it is. That's the hundredth installment for you all, turn the lights out when the party's done, thanks. See you next time.
Yesterday I didn't post, we took a break from pretty much everything and got some rest after exploring Mackinac Island a little. Incidentally, some places around the area are spelled Mackinac while some are spelled Mackinaw, but they're always pronounced with the "aw" ending. THE MORE YOU KNOW.
The Doctor Who finale is today, but I can't see it yet. I really want to, though, so I am doing my best to avoid spoilers at all costs. I hate being spoiled, it ruins the emotional involvement if you know what's going to happen. Plus, the Matt Smith series has been great so far and I really want to keep the steam going for my own sake...
I type tonight from the house of a friend of my mom's, who lives in Kalamazoo. My computer can't connect to the Internet so she graciously let me borrow hers. This keyboard is a bit different so if you see any errors blame it on that, OK? It's a very nice house though, very large too, so I get my own room! Wahoo!
Pokemon Black and White come out in Japan in September. Holy cow. I dunno if that means they'll be not long after in English. I certainly hope so. Wouldn't it be nice to get them before I go to London? Then again, I'd hardly have the time to play them... oh well, we'll get there when we get there. Which is really the only option, I suppose. That's the only time you can get there, after all. So... yeah.
While I still have feelings very deeply for the girl who's been causing me so much trouble, I have to admit that I've developed a crush on another girl from college. It's funny, because I don't actually know her in person. Somehow I was browsing Facebook, and she's friends with several of my friends, and we have some interests in common and she's really cute and... oy. I dunno if I'm trying to increase my chances for success or failure here. I've always been of the opinion Murphy's Law should be renamed for me.
I need to sleep in for once. Tomorrow we head home so I can then, but since my grandmother is house-sitting (and cat-sitting) I dread being stuck in the Bed That's Way Too Small For Me. Look, I don't want to complain, but why does Grandma have to sleep in my bed again when the parental units have a bigger one...?
I like the house here in Kalamazoo, though. We need to visit again. Hopefully sooner than in seventeen years next time.
Haven't talked to people much in the last week. Too much traveling, too much time spent on other stuff. Downloaded a bunch of music off iTunes last night after going through some Doctor Who fan videos on YouTube. Left my connector cable at home, of course. I really gotta start planning things better. Like Batman. He's a great planner.
Actually, of late my favorite superhero is starting to be Green Lantern. The whole "emotional spectrum" thing they introduced was a great idea. If you can make the rainbow cool, that's a darn clever concept in my book.
So, nothing else of too much interest to say, and I'm tired as it is. That's the hundredth installment for you all, turn the lights out when the party's done, thanks. See you next time.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
ROMA ROMA-MAAAA, CANADIANS SAY EH
Actually, that's not so true. Two days that I've been there and I've heard it about twice, so I have no idea where the stereotype comes from. I saw a mug about it in a tourist center, though, so I suppose they kinda embrace it.
That's right, in case you hadn't heard, I'm in Canada. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, to be precise. Sault is pronounced "soo," incidentally. It's French. Anyway, I would just like to say... I LOVE THIS COUNTRY. Maybe it's just the novelty of being in somewhere that's not the United States, but it's been a blast, even in just this one town. This town's also part of Michigan, separated by a river. If you ever end up in the Michigan half, find the restaurant "Karl's Cuisine." It's a little family-owned-and-operated business on a street corner, but they have some of the best food I've ever eaten. I recommend the cheesecake.
So far, though, our experience with Canadian cuisine... is mostly fast food. McDonald's isn't much different (the fries aren't nearly as oversalted, though) and Subway is still excellent, though they lack the spicy mustard I so love. Regular mustard's a decent substitute. Temporarily.
We went to this large mall, about 110 stores, which is where we've been eating, mostly (okay, so we started with dinner last night, still counts), and among the things you'd expect- bookstore, video games, movie/CD store, etc.- we found a bulk store. As you might guess, it sells foodstuff in bulk. Lots and lots of it. Especially candy. Chocolate-covered coffee beans, sprinkles in every rainbow color plus black and white (wait, is this a Blackest Night reference...?), and some chocolate ones, graham crackers, Smarties which happen to be called the far superior name of Rockets in Canada, every kind of sugar imaginable, and EDIBLE BALL BEARINGS. Well, OK, they're silver ball things, but I am certain they're the things from that one Doctor Who episode. Didn't see any jelly babies, though, do they even sell those anymore?
Today was mostly taken up by a very long train ride across the Canadian wilderness to Mount Agawa. We left around, oh, 7:30ish our time, and got back around 5:45. Yeah. That wasn't all train ride, of course, we got a couple hours or so for a picnic and walking the trails, which was nice but extremely exhausting. Unfortunately, despite extensive Pokemon playing on my part (three gyms in one day, seriously) it was a very boring ride, and the whole passenger group was made up of middle-aged and older people.
Well, not entirely. There was a young couple whose picture I took for them, some kid in a stocking cap who kept running around the train, a couple little kids, and one rather pretty girl who was roughly my age and I never talked to. *sigh* My parents, I have realized, tend to stifle me. I'm much more open and comfortable around other people when they're not there. It doesn't help that they were dragging me up and down hills and steps I had little interest in climbing when I'd like to go and talk to this girl. Look, I'm not gonna pretend that I think something interesting might have happened, but it would have been better than nothing, right? Instead, I got stuck in shyness mode lock and will never know her name, where she's from, any of that. I could have at least made a new friend. Maybe even a foreign one! Who knows what might have occurred? Well, nobody, and we never will. That makes me sad, I guess. Disappointed, at the absolute least.
It reminds me of the idea of parallel universes- one simple decision can change the course of history for dozens of people, and that's a conservative answer. Depending on what you might do, you could meet an entirely different set of people, choose a different career, marry someone else, have entirely different kids, live to a different age... even a simple decision like going right or left could lead to a whole other world with an entirely alien version of you. Not a space alien, I should specify. Well, probably not a space alien.
If I can find the alternate universe where I'm a total Casanova who can get any woman I want with a snap of my fingers, I will rip through reality itself to get there and force that version of me to swap places for a couple weeks. FOR SCIENCE!
Okay, nah, I didn't think you'd believe that. I'm nineteen and still single, I have a libido the size of Belgium, okay?!
That's right, in case you hadn't heard, I'm in Canada. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, to be precise. Sault is pronounced "soo," incidentally. It's French. Anyway, I would just like to say... I LOVE THIS COUNTRY. Maybe it's just the novelty of being in somewhere that's not the United States, but it's been a blast, even in just this one town. This town's also part of Michigan, separated by a river. If you ever end up in the Michigan half, find the restaurant "Karl's Cuisine." It's a little family-owned-and-operated business on a street corner, but they have some of the best food I've ever eaten. I recommend the cheesecake.
So far, though, our experience with Canadian cuisine... is mostly fast food. McDonald's isn't much different (the fries aren't nearly as oversalted, though) and Subway is still excellent, though they lack the spicy mustard I so love. Regular mustard's a decent substitute. Temporarily.
We went to this large mall, about 110 stores, which is where we've been eating, mostly (okay, so we started with dinner last night, still counts), and among the things you'd expect- bookstore, video games, movie/CD store, etc.- we found a bulk store. As you might guess, it sells foodstuff in bulk. Lots and lots of it. Especially candy. Chocolate-covered coffee beans, sprinkles in every rainbow color plus black and white (wait, is this a Blackest Night reference...?), and some chocolate ones, graham crackers, Smarties which happen to be called the far superior name of Rockets in Canada, every kind of sugar imaginable, and EDIBLE BALL BEARINGS. Well, OK, they're silver ball things, but I am certain they're the things from that one Doctor Who episode. Didn't see any jelly babies, though, do they even sell those anymore?
Today was mostly taken up by a very long train ride across the Canadian wilderness to Mount Agawa. We left around, oh, 7:30ish our time, and got back around 5:45. Yeah. That wasn't all train ride, of course, we got a couple hours or so for a picnic and walking the trails, which was nice but extremely exhausting. Unfortunately, despite extensive Pokemon playing on my part (three gyms in one day, seriously) it was a very boring ride, and the whole passenger group was made up of middle-aged and older people.
Well, not entirely. There was a young couple whose picture I took for them, some kid in a stocking cap who kept running around the train, a couple little kids, and one rather pretty girl who was roughly my age and I never talked to. *sigh* My parents, I have realized, tend to stifle me. I'm much more open and comfortable around other people when they're not there. It doesn't help that they were dragging me up and down hills and steps I had little interest in climbing when I'd like to go and talk to this girl. Look, I'm not gonna pretend that I think something interesting might have happened, but it would have been better than nothing, right? Instead, I got stuck in shyness mode lock and will never know her name, where she's from, any of that. I could have at least made a new friend. Maybe even a foreign one! Who knows what might have occurred? Well, nobody, and we never will. That makes me sad, I guess. Disappointed, at the absolute least.
It reminds me of the idea of parallel universes- one simple decision can change the course of history for dozens of people, and that's a conservative answer. Depending on what you might do, you could meet an entirely different set of people, choose a different career, marry someone else, have entirely different kids, live to a different age... even a simple decision like going right or left could lead to a whole other world with an entirely alien version of you. Not a space alien, I should specify. Well, probably not a space alien.
If I can find the alternate universe where I'm a total Casanova who can get any woman I want with a snap of my fingers, I will rip through reality itself to get there and force that version of me to swap places for a couple weeks. FOR SCIENCE!
Okay, nah, I didn't think you'd believe that. I'm nineteen and still single, I have a libido the size of Belgium, okay?!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Wish you were here
I almost added "because I wish I wasn't" but... A, not how I feel, B, some things are too cynical even for me.
Not to mention it's a very nice vacation thus far.
Yes, I write to you from Michigan. Sault Ste. Marie, to be specific. Yesterday we made it to Iron Mountain (awesome name, I know) and now we're not even in the same time zone. Lots of driving, as you can guess, and lots of wilderness. Trees, all over the place. Broken up by some rocks. Oh, and water, lots of water after a certain point. I've seen two of the Great Lakes just today (Michigan and Superior, if you're curious).
Not a whole lot else to say on that front... to be fair, we're just getting started, so I'll have more to discuss later. The weather's been beautiful, though. And I had a random depressive spell at one point today. Apparently seeing happy couples of my approximate age magnifies my loneliness issues, who knew?
Playing SoulSilver has been a boon so far, a wonderful distraction and an actual challenge, since... well, one of my Pokemon has evolved. And that's my starter. Right now I have Croconaw, Growlithe, Tyrogue, Aipom, Sunkern, and Farfetch'd, and I'm working on the fourth gym. I had a Beedrill for a while for filler until I got the later guys, but its nature was one that lowered Attack, which is sorta vital... so now he's on the Pokewalker. I also had a Kangaskhan I got from the Pokewalker (long before Beedrill went there) for a longer period, and frankly she was excellent, being a go-to for any tough situation. She was half the reason Whitney was ridiculously easy for me, and I hope to use one full-time one day. I had to box her, though, once I got my full planned team, and she was sorta stealing experience.
Incidentally, I have great names for my team members. See if you can get the references for them (some of them don't necessarily make sense and are just cool):
*Croconaw: Kamina
*Growlithe: Fenris
*Tyrogue: Stark
*Aipom: Dastan
*Sunkern: Horatio
*Farfetch'd: Miyamoto
I can't wait to draw the comic for this and give these guys personalities, even if it is comedic. Kamina and Miyamoto have very clear characters in my head, the others... kinda vary. Beedrill and Kangaskhan were there for a while so they'll probably get some development as well. Maybe even that traded Machop you get for a Drowzee... always planning to do...
What can I say? Gaming is good for my brain.
Tomorrow there will be a boat ride, and that's all I know for now. Insert obligatory Lonely Island reference here.
Not to mention it's a very nice vacation thus far.
Yes, I write to you from Michigan. Sault Ste. Marie, to be specific. Yesterday we made it to Iron Mountain (awesome name, I know) and now we're not even in the same time zone. Lots of driving, as you can guess, and lots of wilderness. Trees, all over the place. Broken up by some rocks. Oh, and water, lots of water after a certain point. I've seen two of the Great Lakes just today (Michigan and Superior, if you're curious).
Not a whole lot else to say on that front... to be fair, we're just getting started, so I'll have more to discuss later. The weather's been beautiful, though. And I had a random depressive spell at one point today. Apparently seeing happy couples of my approximate age magnifies my loneliness issues, who knew?
Playing SoulSilver has been a boon so far, a wonderful distraction and an actual challenge, since... well, one of my Pokemon has evolved. And that's my starter. Right now I have Croconaw, Growlithe, Tyrogue, Aipom, Sunkern, and Farfetch'd, and I'm working on the fourth gym. I had a Beedrill for a while for filler until I got the later guys, but its nature was one that lowered Attack, which is sorta vital... so now he's on the Pokewalker. I also had a Kangaskhan I got from the Pokewalker (long before Beedrill went there) for a longer period, and frankly she was excellent, being a go-to for any tough situation. She was half the reason Whitney was ridiculously easy for me, and I hope to use one full-time one day. I had to box her, though, once I got my full planned team, and she was sorta stealing experience.
Incidentally, I have great names for my team members. See if you can get the references for them (some of them don't necessarily make sense and are just cool):
*Croconaw: Kamina
*Growlithe: Fenris
*Tyrogue: Stark
*Aipom: Dastan
*Sunkern: Horatio
*Farfetch'd: Miyamoto
I can't wait to draw the comic for this and give these guys personalities, even if it is comedic. Kamina and Miyamoto have very clear characters in my head, the others... kinda vary. Beedrill and Kangaskhan were there for a while so they'll probably get some development as well. Maybe even that traded Machop you get for a Drowzee... always planning to do...
What can I say? Gaming is good for my brain.
Tomorrow there will be a boat ride, and that's all I know for now. Insert obligatory Lonely Island reference here.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Pose as a team 'cause CRAP JUST GOT REAL
...you know, the stuff I say would sound so much cooler if I was the swearing type. Oh well.
Anyway, yes, been working on my future Pokemon comic, my drawings have gotten increasingly better. Last night, in particular, I got some good practice in. Our electricity went off due to the weather, and it didn't come back until after midnight. So we turned on the flashlights and sat in my parents' room, mostly. Dad read, Mom finished packing, and I continued drawing. I got a good start on Totodile and greatly improved my Aipom. That monkey looks freaky when you don't draw it quite correctly.
By the way, I was at Wal-Mart today, and decided to flip through the HeartGold/SoulSilver guide, and realized I can't get a Tyrogue (to evolve into Hitmonchan) ingame until beating the eighth gym. So, there's another egg to trade... on the plus side, I'll now have something to completely own Whitney with.
Doctor Who's newest episode (the first half of the finale) was pretty good. All the callbacks and enemies appearing were great, and the end... yeah, now that's how you do a cliffhanger. The discovery of exactly what's in the Pandorica... I don't think anybody quite saw that coming. At least not the way it turned out... I also love one part where the Doctor shouts down about a million starships with quite possibly the best boast about his sheer awesomeness ever. Sometimes I get the urge to punch the Matt Smith haters in the face.
The next episode will have a lot of explaining to do. I mean, we don't even know who the villain is yet. That's pretty rare, to be halfway through and have no clue who the big bad of the season could be. Ahh, and to think that this time next week I'll probably be in Canada.
Vacation tomorrow? Yes please. I'll see you guys somewhere that isn't Iowa.
Anyway, yes, been working on my future Pokemon comic, my drawings have gotten increasingly better. Last night, in particular, I got some good practice in. Our electricity went off due to the weather, and it didn't come back until after midnight. So we turned on the flashlights and sat in my parents' room, mostly. Dad read, Mom finished packing, and I continued drawing. I got a good start on Totodile and greatly improved my Aipom. That monkey looks freaky when you don't draw it quite correctly.
By the way, I was at Wal-Mart today, and decided to flip through the HeartGold/SoulSilver guide, and realized I can't get a Tyrogue (to evolve into Hitmonchan) ingame until beating the eighth gym. So, there's another egg to trade... on the plus side, I'll now have something to completely own Whitney with.
Doctor Who's newest episode (the first half of the finale) was pretty good. All the callbacks and enemies appearing were great, and the end... yeah, now that's how you do a cliffhanger. The discovery of exactly what's in the Pandorica... I don't think anybody quite saw that coming. At least not the way it turned out... I also love one part where the Doctor shouts down about a million starships with quite possibly the best boast about his sheer awesomeness ever. Sometimes I get the urge to punch the Matt Smith haters in the face.
The next episode will have a lot of explaining to do. I mean, we don't even know who the villain is yet. That's pretty rare, to be halfway through and have no clue who the big bad of the season could be. Ahh, and to think that this time next week I'll probably be in Canada.
Vacation tomorrow? Yes please. I'll see you guys somewhere that isn't Iowa.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
World of cardboard
Feeling quite good about myself today. Overconfident, maybe a bit, but I am actually getting stuff done. I'm feeling better after a quick bout of sickness, all my latest med upgrades are working fantastically, and oh yeah, I'm actually getting work done on that Pokemon comic project.
Right now, I'm taking it slowly, trying to work out the how of the comic, mainly getting back into drawing habits, and finding my own style to draw in. I've found that when I just use official art as a base, it tends to look better in the end, and yet still recognizable. I suppose it makes sense that imitating the genuine article would look worse than doing it your own way. My takes on Beedrill and Sudowoodo are my favorites, and when my mom decided to take a peek at it, chose Sunflora as hers. I'm also fond of my Farfetch'd.
I've made my current goal just learning some of the techniques I'm using, and then after I get the foundations set, start working on the guys I'll be drawing most. I still have to design how the player character avatar will look. I'm a bit excited, because a new project means I'm overflowing with new ideas for once.
Oddly enough, some are harder to draw than you think, and others easier. Hitmonchan gave me far less trouble than I thought, once I got the head shape down it was a breeze. Aipom, on the other hand... I loathe the thought of having to draw that face. Difficult stuff. Will have to practice more there...
Speaking of, I've gotten a bit ready for the actual game I'm playing. I bred off a couple of Growlithe eggs, the second being backup, and also caught a wild Farfetch'd carrying a Stick (held item that boosts its critical hit rate, for those not in the know) which I'll transfer over and give to the one I'm using rather than hunt for one for who knows how long. Even with my easier method it took a while. (hint: Compoundeyes + Frisk = Success)
I have most, if not all of my clothes packed. Now it's just toiletries and the Bag O' Awesomeness (my laptop/electronics bag) and I'll be set.
Michigan? Canada? Here I come.
Right now, I'm taking it slowly, trying to work out the how of the comic, mainly getting back into drawing habits, and finding my own style to draw in. I've found that when I just use official art as a base, it tends to look better in the end, and yet still recognizable. I suppose it makes sense that imitating the genuine article would look worse than doing it your own way. My takes on Beedrill and Sudowoodo are my favorites, and when my mom decided to take a peek at it, chose Sunflora as hers. I'm also fond of my Farfetch'd.
I've made my current goal just learning some of the techniques I'm using, and then after I get the foundations set, start working on the guys I'll be drawing most. I still have to design how the player character avatar will look. I'm a bit excited, because a new project means I'm overflowing with new ideas for once.
Oddly enough, some are harder to draw than you think, and others easier. Hitmonchan gave me far less trouble than I thought, once I got the head shape down it was a breeze. Aipom, on the other hand... I loathe the thought of having to draw that face. Difficult stuff. Will have to practice more there...
Speaking of, I've gotten a bit ready for the actual game I'm playing. I bred off a couple of Growlithe eggs, the second being backup, and also caught a wild Farfetch'd carrying a Stick (held item that boosts its critical hit rate, for those not in the know) which I'll transfer over and give to the one I'm using rather than hunt for one for who knows how long. Even with my easier method it took a while. (hint: Compoundeyes + Frisk = Success)
I have most, if not all of my clothes packed. Now it's just toiletries and the Bag O' Awesomeness (my laptop/electronics bag) and I'll be set.
Michigan? Canada? Here I come.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
TONIGHT, SOMEONE DIES
And given that the choices are down to you and me, I'd say it's not looking too good for ya, buddy.
Okay, just kidding. Though the title does segue into something I would like to talk about, and as you can guess, it's either Pokemon or Doctor Who. It's the former, this time. Today, I came across this site. I was already familiar with the concept of the Nuzlocke Challenge, having read about it on forums, but until stumbling across its Bulbapedia article today, I had no clue that it was also a popular webcomic as well, detailing the author's exploits during his self-imposed game challenge.
I won't explain the rules of the challenge here, as it's pretty simple and explained in the first comic (people do variations on it though). The series itself is a quick read, I zipped through the whole thing and all the fan comics today (which vary in length and quality, though generally the longer ones tend to be better).
So then, now that I've wasted two paragraphs explaining with what I did with about ninety minutes of my day, where does that lead us to? Well, I've got a brand-spanking-new copy of Pokemon SoulSilver just waiting to be played (I'm taking it on vacation and want a fresh start, as I have done for the last few years now). While I am not masochistic enough to do a Nuzlocke run, I was thinking... the art style is fairly simplistic. I do simple stick figure art. Logically, I could draw something like this. So, any opinions? Anybody think they might like to see me draw a comic of my game journey in the style of those comics? I'm willing to, and have ideas, as long as I knew I'd have even an audience of one.
And... yeah. That's pretty much my thoughts on the topic. I've asked a few friends and they liked it, any other comments? I might as well just take my drawing stuff with me on vacation...
That's actually all I have to say today.
Okay, just kidding. Though the title does segue into something I would like to talk about, and as you can guess, it's either Pokemon or Doctor Who. It's the former, this time. Today, I came across this site. I was already familiar with the concept of the Nuzlocke Challenge, having read about it on forums, but until stumbling across its Bulbapedia article today, I had no clue that it was also a popular webcomic as well, detailing the author's exploits during his self-imposed game challenge.
I won't explain the rules of the challenge here, as it's pretty simple and explained in the first comic (people do variations on it though). The series itself is a quick read, I zipped through the whole thing and all the fan comics today (which vary in length and quality, though generally the longer ones tend to be better).
So then, now that I've wasted two paragraphs explaining with what I did with about ninety minutes of my day, where does that lead us to? Well, I've got a brand-spanking-new copy of Pokemon SoulSilver just waiting to be played (I'm taking it on vacation and want a fresh start, as I have done for the last few years now). While I am not masochistic enough to do a Nuzlocke run, I was thinking... the art style is fairly simplistic. I do simple stick figure art. Logically, I could draw something like this. So, any opinions? Anybody think they might like to see me draw a comic of my game journey in the style of those comics? I'm willing to, and have ideas, as long as I knew I'd have even an audience of one.
And... yeah. That's pretty much my thoughts on the topic. I've asked a few friends and they liked it, any other comments? I might as well just take my drawing stuff with me on vacation...
That's actually all I have to say today.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
You are the reason we can't have nice things
Yeah, that should have been last time's title. Oh well.
So, last night was the play that we went to. Neil Simon's "Rumors," incidentally, and it was very well done. I had a good time, not just at the play, but with the other people who came along. But as for the show... the actors were fantastic and funny, the set was great, and it brought back a warm nostalgic feeling that is usually reserved for Pokemon and when I see Beanie Babies in a store.
I actually saw some at one of those "Stuff" stores the other day, incidentally, which segues us nicely into my next point. Yesterday... I found my dream jacket. Yes, for my Eleventh Doctor costume. Now, it doesn't have elbow patches, but that's currently my lowest priority. Right now the bow tie is first, and my mom should be getting on making it soon enough. Then it's the boots, and technically I'd be done unless I really want the elbow patches. Otherwise it's almost there, and I wore what I have last night. Not only did it all fit together nicely, it actually looks pretty good regardless of the whole Doctor Who bit.
And since yesterday was Saturday and I missed it, I got to wake up to "The Lodger" this morning. A good, funny episode. Left a couple questions unanswered, but I expect they'll be answered in the finale. Which, now that I mention it, is looking to be quite good in itself. It's odd to think the first series of Matt Smith's era is almost over. Heck, I may not even be in the US when it ends. That's weird. But I hope we have many more episodes starring him to come, because he's been a great Doctor.
We leave a week from today. I'm psyched. Expect posts from, well, not Iowa. Maybe pictures as well. I'll work on it.
So, last night was the play that we went to. Neil Simon's "Rumors," incidentally, and it was very well done. I had a good time, not just at the play, but with the other people who came along. But as for the show... the actors were fantastic and funny, the set was great, and it brought back a warm nostalgic feeling that is usually reserved for Pokemon and when I see Beanie Babies in a store.
I actually saw some at one of those "Stuff" stores the other day, incidentally, which segues us nicely into my next point. Yesterday... I found my dream jacket. Yes, for my Eleventh Doctor costume. Now, it doesn't have elbow patches, but that's currently my lowest priority. Right now the bow tie is first, and my mom should be getting on making it soon enough. Then it's the boots, and technically I'd be done unless I really want the elbow patches. Otherwise it's almost there, and I wore what I have last night. Not only did it all fit together nicely, it actually looks pretty good regardless of the whole Doctor Who bit.
And since yesterday was Saturday and I missed it, I got to wake up to "The Lodger" this morning. A good, funny episode. Left a couple questions unanswered, but I expect they'll be answered in the finale. Which, now that I mention it, is looking to be quite good in itself. It's odd to think the first series of Matt Smith's era is almost over. Heck, I may not even be in the US when it ends. That's weird. But I hope we have many more episodes starring him to come, because he's been a great Doctor.
We leave a week from today. I'm psyched. Expect posts from, well, not Iowa. Maybe pictures as well. I'll work on it.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Gears of... well, not war... might cause a flame war...
A group of new Pokemon were revealed today. Check out all that and more info. So yeah, fifth gen is shaping up, at least in my opinion.
Do you want to know what really gets me angry, though? Those insane "fans" who claim every new design is terrible, that the franchise is going downhill, every new thing revealed is proof that it's the end days... and still buy the games. And the ones after. And so on and so forth... why do you stay with the series if you hate it so much?! And exactly what is the rule for what looks like a Pokemon?!
We had a freaking ball with eyes in the first generation! It flipped upside-down when it evolved, and you accuse the new guys of lacking creativity? What psychedelic substances are you people on?! That gear thing is pretty darned awesome, in my opinion.
I am very happy with what we've got. Today my alarm clock went off really early for some reason (I didn't even turn it on, at least not to my memory), so I got the news pretty much as it came out.
I've started exercising some, so I can stay in shape. I was on the exercise bike for about 15-20 minutes today... it's a start. I somehow gained around ten pounds without noticing (or it becoming too physically apparent), so time to move that back down to a slightly lower BMI. Hey, geeks can care about their health, too!
Going to see a show tomorrow. More info on... Sunday, I think? And I leave for vacation a week from then. I'll have my laptop, so expect updates even then. Maybe even... FROM CANADA. Stay tuned, fearless readers.
...does anybody even read this anymore?
Do you want to know what really gets me angry, though? Those insane "fans" who claim every new design is terrible, that the franchise is going downhill, every new thing revealed is proof that it's the end days... and still buy the games. And the ones after. And so on and so forth... why do you stay with the series if you hate it so much?! And exactly what is the rule for what looks like a Pokemon?!
We had a freaking ball with eyes in the first generation! It flipped upside-down when it evolved, and you accuse the new guys of lacking creativity? What psychedelic substances are you people on?! That gear thing is pretty darned awesome, in my opinion.
I am very happy with what we've got. Today my alarm clock went off really early for some reason (I didn't even turn it on, at least not to my memory), so I got the news pretty much as it came out.
I've started exercising some, so I can stay in shape. I was on the exercise bike for about 15-20 minutes today... it's a start. I somehow gained around ten pounds without noticing (or it becoming too physically apparent), so time to move that back down to a slightly lower BMI. Hey, geeks can care about their health, too!
Going to see a show tomorrow. More info on... Sunday, I think? And I leave for vacation a week from then. I'll have my laptop, so expect updates even then. Maybe even... FROM CANADA. Stay tuned, fearless readers.
...does anybody even read this anymore?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Nor am I an IHOP
I was looking at the main page and somehow misread last post's title as "I'm just a man, I'm not an IHOP." Which I'm quite glad for, honestly, IHOPs are depressing. Or maybe I've just had depressing times in IHOPs.
...their food is nice, though.
I hate Facebook chat. Nobody is ever on anymore. Certain people keep trying to chat with me when I really don't want to. It annoys me. Almost as much as Twilight annoys me, which is saying something. Speaking of, I read a list of "100 reasons why Twilight is better than Harry Potter" today, written by a Twilight fan of course, and most of them had to do with physical attractiveness of various characters/actors. Amazing how many girls these days judge solely on...
Suddenly, it becomes very clear why I am still single.
Later this week, at least I think so, I'll be going off with a group of other alums of my high school to see a professional production of a show we kinda-sorta did. Long story, but it got canceled by the school board two weeks before we had to go on and... yeah... school boards also annoy me.
I still haven't drawn anything yet. I have ideas but no motivation to do much of anything. Hey, it happens. Deal with it. I have to deal with things. Dealing with things also annoys me. Why yes, I am in a rather ticked-off mood today. Could it be nothing in my life is getting better? Could I be getting frustrated with the stupidity of so many people in the world? Maybe I have a right to get angry about things and not just bend over and take what life shoves up my-
Well. You get the point. I'm just not satisfied with anything. Nothing has gone right for me in quite some time, and I would like something good to happen in my life eventually. I hear it happens to a lot of other people. Why should they get to have all the fun?
Oh hey, one of the comic ideas I had? Going back to Twilight... imagine: a pair of fangirls fighting: "Team Edward!" "Team Jacob!" They go back and forth, then a guy walks in, trying to break them up. "Ladies, please..."
Close-up as he puts on a pair of orange pointy sunglasses.
"Team Dai-Gurren."
Zoom out to show the Dai-Gurren in all its glory terrorizing a horde of Twilight fangirls as the guy stands in an epic pose on its bow. End comic. Cheers. Applause. The Pulitzer. Women throwing themselves at me for once in my life.
...*sigh*
...their food is nice, though.
I hate Facebook chat. Nobody is ever on anymore. Certain people keep trying to chat with me when I really don't want to. It annoys me. Almost as much as Twilight annoys me, which is saying something. Speaking of, I read a list of "100 reasons why Twilight is better than Harry Potter" today, written by a Twilight fan of course, and most of them had to do with physical attractiveness of various characters/actors. Amazing how many girls these days judge solely on...
Suddenly, it becomes very clear why I am still single.
Later this week, at least I think so, I'll be going off with a group of other alums of my high school to see a professional production of a show we kinda-sorta did. Long story, but it got canceled by the school board two weeks before we had to go on and... yeah... school boards also annoy me.
I still haven't drawn anything yet. I have ideas but no motivation to do much of anything. Hey, it happens. Deal with it. I have to deal with things. Dealing with things also annoys me. Why yes, I am in a rather ticked-off mood today. Could it be nothing in my life is getting better? Could I be getting frustrated with the stupidity of so many people in the world? Maybe I have a right to get angry about things and not just bend over and take what life shoves up my-
Well. You get the point. I'm just not satisfied with anything. Nothing has gone right for me in quite some time, and I would like something good to happen in my life eventually. I hear it happens to a lot of other people. Why should they get to have all the fun?
Oh hey, one of the comic ideas I had? Going back to Twilight... imagine: a pair of fangirls fighting: "Team Edward!" "Team Jacob!" They go back and forth, then a guy walks in, trying to break them up. "Ladies, please..."
Close-up as he puts on a pair of orange pointy sunglasses.
"Team Dai-Gurren."
Zoom out to show the Dai-Gurren in all its glory terrorizing a horde of Twilight fangirls as the guy stands in an epic pose on its bow. End comic. Cheers. Applause. The Pulitzer. Women throwing themselves at me for once in my life.
...*sigh*
Monday, June 7, 2010
I'm just a man, I'm not a hero
I think I put it best when I said that life has been kicking my butt recently. Which it has been. I fell into a pretty bad funk yesterday. Next time I go in, I'm asking about changing my meds, because right now what I'm taking isn't helping... I seem to fall in and out of bad moods. Sometimes I get horribly depressed, like yesterday, and sometimes I feel like I've whipped myself up into a rage somehow. When I listen to music it can help, but my iPod has a tendency to die quickly or do other things that tick me off.
I haven't drawn anything in a long time. Tomorrow, I want to do something comic-related. Maybe that would help. It certainly used to, and I should have no short supply of ideas after the mood I've been in. Odd how pain helps creativity. Which reminds me, "Vincent and the Doctor" made me cry. That's two episodes in a row now. I'm hoping the next one is happier. Not to say the last two weren't, I would just like a more laugh-inducing story.
Chrono Trigger is still going well. I do not regret buying it at all. However, I am getting ticked off at not being able to find the blasted collectible LEGO minifigures anywhere. Seriously, even Toys R Us does not have them. If you can't trust TRU, who can you trust? And I don't want to buy them online, either. Then I risk getting five crash test dummies or something.
Maybe it's just me, but it feels like something's missing in my life. Okay, yes, there is one obvious answer, but it feels like... something else should be there as well, and heck if I know what it is. Maybe it is chocolate. Chocolate is good.
Do or die, you'll never make me, because the world will never take my heart, though you try, you'll never break me...
I haven't drawn anything in a long time. Tomorrow, I want to do something comic-related. Maybe that would help. It certainly used to, and I should have no short supply of ideas after the mood I've been in. Odd how pain helps creativity. Which reminds me, "Vincent and the Doctor" made me cry. That's two episodes in a row now. I'm hoping the next one is happier. Not to say the last two weren't, I would just like a more laugh-inducing story.
Chrono Trigger is still going well. I do not regret buying it at all. However, I am getting ticked off at not being able to find the blasted collectible LEGO minifigures anywhere. Seriously, even Toys R Us does not have them. If you can't trust TRU, who can you trust? And I don't want to buy them online, either. Then I risk getting five crash test dummies or something.
Maybe it's just me, but it feels like something's missing in my life. Okay, yes, there is one obvious answer, but it feels like... something else should be there as well, and heck if I know what it is. Maybe it is chocolate. Chocolate is good.
Do or die, you'll never make me, because the world will never take my heart, though you try, you'll never break me...
Friday, June 4, 2010
Low level, high badassitude, total gaming awesomeness
So as you may have guessed from my recent posts, I've been playing the game Chrono Trigger as of late. I had heard of it in bits and pieces over the years, and when I read a Let's Play of the original SNES version (found here, and a great funny read) I decided I had to play it. I knew there was a DS remake, but hadn't gotten it the chance I get, so finding a brand-new copy was a rather lucky event for me.
And then I got Magus.
Here's the thing, for those of you who haven't played the game. Long story short, at first it seems like Magus, a powerful magician, is the villain of the story, having cursed one of your party members with the form of a frog and apparently trying to summon the planet-destroying monster Lavos. But as it turns out, he was time-shifted from his home era as a kid to OVER NINE THOUSAND years in the future where he was raised by fiends, but not before witnessing his mother's corruption and sister's death at the hands of Lavos. So his entire motivation was getting revenge on the giant spiky bugger.
So once you get most of this figured out due to the plot progressing at a very well-written pace, you can either fight and kill Magus or do what anybody with any respect for coolness would do and have him join your team. He has powerful magic and wields scythes.
Let me provide a quote for y'all:
"If history is to change, let it change! If the world is to be destroyed, so be it! If my fate is to be destroyed... I must simply laugh!! I'm coming, Lavos!"
...yeah.
The only problem is that he's a bit low-level when you get him, and while I find his stats to be otherwise good his hit points are kinda low. Presumably that'll fix itself in time, but for now... kind of a glass cannon.
Because of this game I have another valid reason to use the "time travel" tag, and that's pretty cool.
I have to admit that as cool as Magus is, though, Robo is probably my favorite character. I always get excited when I find a new weapon for him, and he has healing lasers. HEALING. LASERS. Plus most of his sprites look really cool. And his theme sounds like "Never Gonna Give You Up." No, seriously, it does, go look it up on YouTube.
No wonder this game is popular.
And then I got Magus.
Here's the thing, for those of you who haven't played the game. Long story short, at first it seems like Magus, a powerful magician, is the villain of the story, having cursed one of your party members with the form of a frog and apparently trying to summon the planet-destroying monster Lavos. But as it turns out, he was time-shifted from his home era as a kid to OVER NINE THOUSAND years in the future where he was raised by fiends, but not before witnessing his mother's corruption and sister's death at the hands of Lavos. So his entire motivation was getting revenge on the giant spiky bugger.
So once you get most of this figured out due to the plot progressing at a very well-written pace, you can either fight and kill Magus or do what anybody with any respect for coolness would do and have him join your team. He has powerful magic and wields scythes.
Let me provide a quote for y'all:
"If history is to change, let it change! If the world is to be destroyed, so be it! If my fate is to be destroyed... I must simply laugh!! I'm coming, Lavos!"
...yeah.
The only problem is that he's a bit low-level when you get him, and while I find his stats to be otherwise good his hit points are kinda low. Presumably that'll fix itself in time, but for now... kind of a glass cannon.
Because of this game I have another valid reason to use the "time travel" tag, and that's pretty cool.
I have to admit that as cool as Magus is, though, Robo is probably my favorite character. I always get excited when I find a new weapon for him, and he has healing lasers. HEALING. LASERS. Plus most of his sprites look really cool. And his theme sounds like "Never Gonna Give You Up." No, seriously, it does, go look it up on YouTube.
No wonder this game is popular.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Thank you for bein' a friend
Rue McClanhan is dead. Only one of the Golden Girls is left... it is a sad day indeed. You know, one of my speech coaches, who used to be an actor, was actually ON The Golden Girls once...
Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.
Well, not quite regularly, I missed last night due to the connection at home randomly crapping out on me. In the middle of chatting on Facebook too, which leads me to believe these things happen on purpose.
Yesterday, I felt rather badly. Today, I'm a bit better. Chrono Trigger helps a lot with that. Man, that's a good game. I just recruited the optional seventh character, and now it's really just... taking care of the rest of the game and then getting strong enough to beat Lavos.
Fortunately, vacation is in a couple weeks. Off to Canada, eh?
...something has been bothering me recently. I should probably talk to someone about it... no, not the usual thing. Something else. Something from the past that I thought was over, but...
Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.
Well, not quite regularly, I missed last night due to the connection at home randomly crapping out on me. In the middle of chatting on Facebook too, which leads me to believe these things happen on purpose.
Yesterday, I felt rather badly. Today, I'm a bit better. Chrono Trigger helps a lot with that. Man, that's a good game. I just recruited the optional seventh character, and now it's really just... taking care of the rest of the game and then getting strong enough to beat Lavos.
Fortunately, vacation is in a couple weeks. Off to Canada, eh?
...something has been bothering me recently. I should probably talk to someone about it... no, not the usual thing. Something else. Something from the past that I thought was over, but...
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