Friday, September 29, 2017
NCAA Bribery
It's not a surprise the NCAA is a corrupt group. What they view as good and bad is a joke at times and you wonder how they an be inconsistent. This will probably be something that is talked about from now until April next year. A handful of assistant coaches and an Adidas executive have been charged with corruption and a couple other charges such as fraud. This is a federal thing as the FBI is involved and questions will have to be answered.
Out of the teams involved include Louisville, who have just fired Rick Pitino, the college basketball coach. That team was in serious trouble for their sex scandal. This could kill their program. Other teams include Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State and Southern California. Basically, what Adidas wanted to do as the articles are reporting is getting kids to take money for deals and go to a specific college and help the basketball team win.
This is in a long line of incidents throughout college sports, whether good intentions or not. The NCAA can keep putting in sanctions and what not, but it's not going to stop. I think this is going to be a really bad black eye and it's going to hurt college basketball, both guys and girls. Something has to change. What needs to be done, I don't know. If the FBI and the feds want to enforce stuff, they are going to have to look at everything. From the higher ups in the NCAA organization to the teams, they need to be very thorough. Sports have been such a bigger deal in the last 30 to 40 years. Television has impacted it. Sponsors want in on the pie like Wendy's and Dr. Pepper. Money attracts a lot of things.
Unfortunately, college sports has become a corporate product. CBS, Turner Sports, and ESPN are riding on some of the same teams to stay excited for. Although the teams involved in this bribery scandal are not teams you think of for college basketball, it could leave others wondering if teams like Kentucky, Duke, and Oregon have done any of the stuff the accused are being accused of. The NCAA has a long way to go to fix its image.
Out of the teams involved include Louisville, who have just fired Rick Pitino, the college basketball coach. That team was in serious trouble for their sex scandal. This could kill their program. Other teams include Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State and Southern California. Basically, what Adidas wanted to do as the articles are reporting is getting kids to take money for deals and go to a specific college and help the basketball team win.
This is in a long line of incidents throughout college sports, whether good intentions or not. The NCAA can keep putting in sanctions and what not, but it's not going to stop. I think this is going to be a really bad black eye and it's going to hurt college basketball, both guys and girls. Something has to change. What needs to be done, I don't know. If the FBI and the feds want to enforce stuff, they are going to have to look at everything. From the higher ups in the NCAA organization to the teams, they need to be very thorough. Sports have been such a bigger deal in the last 30 to 40 years. Television has impacted it. Sponsors want in on the pie like Wendy's and Dr. Pepper. Money attracts a lot of things.
Unfortunately, college sports has become a corporate product. CBS, Turner Sports, and ESPN are riding on some of the same teams to stay excited for. Although the teams involved in this bribery scandal are not teams you think of for college basketball, it could leave others wondering if teams like Kentucky, Duke, and Oregon have done any of the stuff the accused are being accused of. The NCAA has a long way to go to fix its image.
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Lego Panic?
Although Lego has had only two films before their Ninjago movie, it could be a cause for concern regarding future projects at Warner Brothers. While there was no doubt the newest Kingsman movie would be the top grossing for this past weekend, there was the thought that Ninjago would be close to 30 million or over it. That was not the case, as it only got 21 million domestically and an additional 10 mil internationally.
The Lego Movie was a big hit for the start of 2014. It put up big numbers with 250 plus million domestically. Critics loved it. There was more to it than just being a block film with a reliance on the license. Warner Brothers took a chance and it paid off. While there was love for The Lego Batman Movie, it's numbers were a bit weaker throughout the world, making just over 300 million overall and 175 mil in the U.S. With the way Ninjago performed, it may not even reach 100 million domestically.
I could see some people not going for Batman because of the way it's looked in Lego compared to something like the ultra serious Chris Nolan movies or the direct to video releases. Especially for ones who like comic books, they could be unimpressed. For Ninjago, this is a product from its own company, which has been producing toy lines of it for the past six years. Hell, a TV show has been on the air the last six years as well. To be fair, the last episodes were back in May. With that being said, however, kids can get tired of some of the same products.
Maybe it was poor timing. I doubt anyone was expecting It to dominate for this month of September and still have strong legs against these latest newcomers. Is it cause for panic, though? A little bit. There could be a glimmer of hope with The Lego Movie 2 hitting theaters in February 2019. A bit of time off between these two could be beneficial. Until then, it's a matter of what catches on and doesn't. If nothing changes in a few years, whatever projects could be scrapped. There could also be oversaturation. How much more stuff can Warner Brothers do with Lego before low numbers cause them to worry? It goes beyond the films.
I would think with all these horror movies coming out, Ninjago could be a counteract to that and other adult oriented films. Could it hold on, though? I doubt it. Critics aren't exactly pleased with it.
It could have the same numbers as Captain Underpants domestically, but with a possibly stronger international number due to the appeal of Lego. It's all up in the air with what happens next.
The Lego Movie was a big hit for the start of 2014. It put up big numbers with 250 plus million domestically. Critics loved it. There was more to it than just being a block film with a reliance on the license. Warner Brothers took a chance and it paid off. While there was love for The Lego Batman Movie, it's numbers were a bit weaker throughout the world, making just over 300 million overall and 175 mil in the U.S. With the way Ninjago performed, it may not even reach 100 million domestically.
I could see some people not going for Batman because of the way it's looked in Lego compared to something like the ultra serious Chris Nolan movies or the direct to video releases. Especially for ones who like comic books, they could be unimpressed. For Ninjago, this is a product from its own company, which has been producing toy lines of it for the past six years. Hell, a TV show has been on the air the last six years as well. To be fair, the last episodes were back in May. With that being said, however, kids can get tired of some of the same products.
Maybe it was poor timing. I doubt anyone was expecting It to dominate for this month of September and still have strong legs against these latest newcomers. Is it cause for panic, though? A little bit. There could be a glimmer of hope with The Lego Movie 2 hitting theaters in February 2019. A bit of time off between these two could be beneficial. Until then, it's a matter of what catches on and doesn't. If nothing changes in a few years, whatever projects could be scrapped. There could also be oversaturation. How much more stuff can Warner Brothers do with Lego before low numbers cause them to worry? It goes beyond the films.
I would think with all these horror movies coming out, Ninjago could be a counteract to that and other adult oriented films. Could it hold on, though? I doubt it. Critics aren't exactly pleased with it.
It could have the same numbers as Captain Underpants domestically, but with a possibly stronger international number due to the appeal of Lego. It's all up in the air with what happens next.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Emulation or No Emulation?
When it comes down to people who just want to play video games, they are left in a dilemma. Do you want to go after some of these games? Or do you want to play them on your computer or on some service that isn't the original system? Some bite the bullet. Others may go towards the cheap route, which isn't always a bad thing.
This does fall into a gray area, which is one of the issues regarding emulation. The only thing I think that gets hurt by piracy is music and film. Everybody has MP3s and other forms of technology to listen to songs. Not everybody has a theater or if they do, they're not willing to shell out a lot of money to see something for a few hours (some places are expensive just to get a movie ticket) Regarding games, I don't think companies really care with the exception of Nintendo. They are within their rights to force sites to get rid of ROMs, but it's a losing effort. There will always be a site that will have downloads for stuff like Super Mario Bros. F-Zero, and everything in-between.
You don't have much of a choice if you go the PC route. There is DOSBox. It works very well with DOS games from 1981 through 97. Steam does allow it for the games that they have for sale. Abandonware sites have a number of games you wouldn't have thought were on computers back then. Unless you keep all your old operating systems, it's going to be tough figuring out what will work on something like a Windows 95 or XP computer. Some might work on a number of them. Others might on just one system. There is emulation for older operating systems, but it could be a bit of trouble just to get it to work.
For consoles, it's a bit of a question mark. Some strictly do emulation. Some might test a game out to see if it is worth buying. Others may not do emulation. I'm not against playing stuff on a computer, but I'm not going to give up buying games. It's not going to bother me if I were to download something like Earthbound. Unless I'm getting it at a yard sale (games can be found for cheap if you go this route), I'm not going to go out of my way to spend 200 dollars on it unless I was making thousands a week for life. Even before getting Mario Kart 64 at a yard sale, I thought 45 dollars was too much at a used game store. Sometimes, you have to realize that you're not going to get every relic.
Your mileage may vary. I don't see people giving up on playing console games via emulation. I'll be curious to see where this goes regarding the 7th generation of consoles considering things like Xbox Live, Wii Shop, and PlayStation Store. Whatever the case, it's up to you, the reader, on what you do. If you prefer emulation, good for you. If you want the physical copies, happy hunting if you can find of those hard to find games.
The Simpsons Shorts: Maggie in Peril, TV Simpsons Reviews
Shorts #46 and 47: Maggie in Peril (Two parts)
I don't get the angle of wanting to do a two part set of shorts. Whatever the case, it's executed very well. Maggie plays with a ball and her siblings are annoyed by it. Bart kicks it very far away and she goes on a skateboarding ride to get it back. It's like a cartoon in a way. There is a bit of stuff that is funny. The animation is really good for these two shorts. It's these little things that make it stand out among the Tracey Ullman era of Simpson related stuff. If you can find it online, especially with part two, give it a watch.
Scores: Both get 8 out of 10.
Short #48: TV Simpsons
If you've seen me keep commenting on these last few shorts regarding their animation, it's that good for the time. TV Simpsons saves the best for last in that category. It's excellent and has that kind of quality that some of the first season episodes had. Getting to the short, the kids lose the TV due to Homer wanting to watch a bowling tournament. He suggests flying a kite and Bart manages to get one into the antenna on the roof. Really, it shouldn't be funny, but it is. It has an Itchy and Scratchy bit. Homer is being an ass and an oaf. They nailed it down for this last short. A solid conclusion to its run on Tracey Ullman.
Score: 7 out of 10
Once again, these shorts have never seen a DVD release. Some of them have appeared on the show. Fox should try to put them out at some point. It's an important part of their early days as a network and one of the reasons they exploded on the scene in 1990. Other than that, I am taking a break from doing reviews of The Simpsons until December. I might start doing some Seinfeld reviews and maybe some game related reviews. I do hope some of you enjoyed the content. Read on with all 48 shorts.
I don't get the angle of wanting to do a two part set of shorts. Whatever the case, it's executed very well. Maggie plays with a ball and her siblings are annoyed by it. Bart kicks it very far away and she goes on a skateboarding ride to get it back. It's like a cartoon in a way. There is a bit of stuff that is funny. The animation is really good for these two shorts. It's these little things that make it stand out among the Tracey Ullman era of Simpson related stuff. If you can find it online, especially with part two, give it a watch.
Scores: Both get 8 out of 10.
Short #48: TV Simpsons
If you've seen me keep commenting on these last few shorts regarding their animation, it's that good for the time. TV Simpsons saves the best for last in that category. It's excellent and has that kind of quality that some of the first season episodes had. Getting to the short, the kids lose the TV due to Homer wanting to watch a bowling tournament. He suggests flying a kite and Bart manages to get one into the antenna on the roof. Really, it shouldn't be funny, but it is. It has an Itchy and Scratchy bit. Homer is being an ass and an oaf. They nailed it down for this last short. A solid conclusion to its run on Tracey Ullman.
Score: 7 out of 10
Once again, these shorts have never seen a DVD release. Some of them have appeared on the show. Fox should try to put them out at some point. It's an important part of their early days as a network and one of the reasons they exploded on the scene in 1990. Other than that, I am taking a break from doing reviews of The Simpsons until December. I might start doing some Seinfeld reviews and maybe some game related reviews. I do hope some of you enjoyed the content. Read on with all 48 shorts.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Toy Bankrupt Story
Add another potential store chain to the list of dead chains. Toys R Us, a brand that has been around since the late 1940s, has filed for bankruptcy. They are staying open for the holidays, so this might be the last time for some people to get their toy fix in before going somewhere else or online.
As a kid, I never really went to a Toys R Us. The closest to where I live is 50 miles. Even then, we never really went towards it except a few times. We mostly went to places like Sears (another dead chain) when it was more than appliances. Close to my town was a Kay-Bee Toys (dead since 2009). I don't remember much of that, but we definitely got a good share of toys from there before it left around 2003/04.
Unfortunately, Toys R Us is a victim of the times. It has toys and video games. That's pretty much it. People would probably just go to a Wal-Mart or some other big chain that offers more than those two things. Combined with bad decisions, they haven't seen much success in well over a decade. Online is also a factor. Everybody now these days goes to Amazon, Ebay, etc... to get their toys and games. Multi-purpose sites and stores are easy and go to alternatives. We are in an era where, while it does suck when there is only one or two choices, we're not wasting a lot of time and gas to get something that may or may not be there.
You think about it, deals are all over these competitors, especially around Black Friday up through the New Year. They know what these customers want and will always want them to come back for future business. There is always a bargain to be had. Wait for the right time and you can feel very happy about what you bought pending regrets.
How Toys R Us managed to stay around this long, I don't know. They do still promote well and know exactly what kids want, but it's not enough. Who knows when the next big toy store goes bankrupt if there is anymore. It's a shame. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be changed unless they find a way to keep business booming though the holiday season.
As a kid, I never really went to a Toys R Us. The closest to where I live is 50 miles. Even then, we never really went towards it except a few times. We mostly went to places like Sears (another dead chain) when it was more than appliances. Close to my town was a Kay-Bee Toys (dead since 2009). I don't remember much of that, but we definitely got a good share of toys from there before it left around 2003/04.
Unfortunately, Toys R Us is a victim of the times. It has toys and video games. That's pretty much it. People would probably just go to a Wal-Mart or some other big chain that offers more than those two things. Combined with bad decisions, they haven't seen much success in well over a decade. Online is also a factor. Everybody now these days goes to Amazon, Ebay, etc... to get their toys and games. Multi-purpose sites and stores are easy and go to alternatives. We are in an era where, while it does suck when there is only one or two choices, we're not wasting a lot of time and gas to get something that may or may not be there.
You think about it, deals are all over these competitors, especially around Black Friday up through the New Year. They know what these customers want and will always want them to come back for future business. There is always a bargain to be had. Wait for the right time and you can feel very happy about what you bought pending regrets.
How Toys R Us managed to stay around this long, I don't know. They do still promote well and know exactly what kids want, but it's not enough. Who knows when the next big toy store goes bankrupt if there is anymore. It's a shame. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be changed unless they find a way to keep business booming though the holiday season.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Kid Emotions/Protecting Fans
The New York Yankees have made a name for themselves in 2017. Relying on young players in Aaron Judge and Luis Severino along with veterans like Starlin Castro and Aroldis Chapman, they are within striking distance of getting a spot in the playoffs. In the midst of their latest win against the Minnesota Twins yesterday, the victory was the least of their concerns.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Todd Frazier of the Yankees hit a foul ball that went into the stands. The reaction was utter shock as it hit someone. Both teams were in disbelief. Camera shots of Frazier and teammate Matt Holliday showed them visibly upset. Broadcaster Michael Kay said that it was possibly a young fan. He was accurate as it hit a little girl, who was taken to a local hospital. Both teams expressed concern about people getting hit and the netting to protect fans.
It definitely is an emotional thing to think about. A number of these ballplayers are married and have kids. That feeling they had hit close to home, especially for Frazier, who grew up near New York in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Whenever something happens to a kid, the question is brought up: Is he/she okay? This is going to go through their heads for a while. While not kid related, I'm thinking back to 2007 when Kevin Everett was paralyzed on a kickoff for the Buffalo Bills. Denver Broncos return man Domenik Hixon was very shaken up about it when Everett tackled him.
There has been pressing matters into protecting the fans. Netting covers to at least the dugouts. After that it's fair game. Some teams have opted for more. The Yankees were in the process of looking into it. In July, Aaron Judge hit a foul ball that resulted in a fan with a serious injury, requiring stitches. There was another incident in May as well with a kid having a head injury from a broken bat from Chris Carter. Only 10 teams have extended their netting to the foul poles, which includes the city rival Mets. Threats have been made by a councilman to force this on the Yankees, with potential voting in October on a bill.
Baseball is also concerned about if fans can watch with the netting. I don't think these teams have much choice. If this forces the Yankees to do better with protection, others might follow suit. They have to treat it like a hockey game. Fans, however, do need to keep eye on the game itself. If they're not watching, they run a high risk of getting hurt. Also, some might get seats for a reasonable price and it is near the foul line on first or third base. You can't necessarily force them into a different seat because of concerns.
Whatever they do, the Yankees have to implement this very quickly. With playoffs coming in two weeks, they are the favorite to host the one game Wild Card in the American League. The last thing anyone wants to see is a fan getting killed.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Todd Frazier of the Yankees hit a foul ball that went into the stands. The reaction was utter shock as it hit someone. Both teams were in disbelief. Camera shots of Frazier and teammate Matt Holliday showed them visibly upset. Broadcaster Michael Kay said that it was possibly a young fan. He was accurate as it hit a little girl, who was taken to a local hospital. Both teams expressed concern about people getting hit and the netting to protect fans.
It definitely is an emotional thing to think about. A number of these ballplayers are married and have kids. That feeling they had hit close to home, especially for Frazier, who grew up near New York in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Whenever something happens to a kid, the question is brought up: Is he/she okay? This is going to go through their heads for a while. While not kid related, I'm thinking back to 2007 when Kevin Everett was paralyzed on a kickoff for the Buffalo Bills. Denver Broncos return man Domenik Hixon was very shaken up about it when Everett tackled him.
There has been pressing matters into protecting the fans. Netting covers to at least the dugouts. After that it's fair game. Some teams have opted for more. The Yankees were in the process of looking into it. In July, Aaron Judge hit a foul ball that resulted in a fan with a serious injury, requiring stitches. There was another incident in May as well with a kid having a head injury from a broken bat from Chris Carter. Only 10 teams have extended their netting to the foul poles, which includes the city rival Mets. Threats have been made by a councilman to force this on the Yankees, with potential voting in October on a bill.
Baseball is also concerned about if fans can watch with the netting. I don't think these teams have much choice. If this forces the Yankees to do better with protection, others might follow suit. They have to treat it like a hockey game. Fans, however, do need to keep eye on the game itself. If they're not watching, they run a high risk of getting hurt. Also, some might get seats for a reasonable price and it is near the foul line on first or third base. You can't necessarily force them into a different seat because of concerns.
Whatever they do, the Yankees have to implement this very quickly. With playoffs coming in two weeks, they are the favorite to host the one game Wild Card in the American League. The last thing anyone wants to see is a fan getting killed.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
MLB Needs Social Media Presence
I don't think I've ever seen a sports league be so backwards in being online than Major League Baseball. There was a time where you could watch clips that lasted a few minutes. Now, they only do 30 second clips. It's a little understandable, but this is beyond stupid. Along with being very strict, they still don't get this isn't 1996 where TV is still king and cable is still in its infancy for sports. You wonder why the other sports leagues do better on the Internet? They don't mess with fans and don't look at their wallets (NFL really depends, though). If MLB wants to do better with social media, here is what they have to do.
Get rid of the 30 second clips (somewhat)- These highlight type clips are not a bad thing if you don't want to get up and listen to Sportscenter or some local channel in the morning, but why not show the entire play? There was a time where they showed clips that lasted two to three minutes. I can't even find the 2011 clip of eight Yankees players getting hit in a span of five games. MLB should save some of the best stuff as full plays and something like a strikeout performance as 30 second clips.
Do better archiving and uploading games- A point in time this decade, MLB tried uploading games, but it was a joke. A number of games were Japanese and their own games didn't account for possibly two percent (maybe even lower) of the total of games shown since the 1940s. There are all these games they can upload and show to the public. Why do they not make the effort? Are they that money oriented that they can't give back something for free? I keep thinking about what the NFL did last year with the free games they uploaded of each team. At least for MLB, they should try to get some games real fans consider classics, not games that Ichiro Suzuki played in before joining the Seattle Mariners.
Kill Advanced Media and give teams Internet control- Here is why the NBA and NHL handle things better than baseball. They know their audiences and are less likely to get caught up in flagging videos. MLB Advanced Media will go after lots of users for videos except if they are in the stands at a game. Teams don't really have anything on their channels and their subscriber counts are still embarrassing What I mean is all the teams have is behind the scene things and press conferences. No videos of any of their highlights. MLB needs to kill off the Advanced Media brand and let the teams upload highlights and games. It would be more convenient and less of a mess when navigating for videos. Less exposure is not a good thing.
There's other reasons like making the MLB site look more stable and not slow down, but I digress. They can't keep relying on the 50 to 75 year olds who can stomach seeing the same Viagra ads for three hours. Eventually, they will all pass away. I'm not saying there isn't a new generation of people that aren't interested in baseball, but MLB should be worried. It's a step above NHL, but the NBA and NFL have grown a lot bigger on the Internet. Even with the NFL joining YouTube a few years ago, it has done things better than MLB has in the last seven to eight years.
In a nut shell, Major League Baseball has to be stop acting like dictators when it comes to social media. Instead of always being focused on money, they should start giving back to the fans. Rob Manfred should be embarrassed by how much bigger the other sports are online compared to his.
Get rid of the 30 second clips (somewhat)- These highlight type clips are not a bad thing if you don't want to get up and listen to Sportscenter or some local channel in the morning, but why not show the entire play? There was a time where they showed clips that lasted two to three minutes. I can't even find the 2011 clip of eight Yankees players getting hit in a span of five games. MLB should save some of the best stuff as full plays and something like a strikeout performance as 30 second clips.
Do better archiving and uploading games- A point in time this decade, MLB tried uploading games, but it was a joke. A number of games were Japanese and their own games didn't account for possibly two percent (maybe even lower) of the total of games shown since the 1940s. There are all these games they can upload and show to the public. Why do they not make the effort? Are they that money oriented that they can't give back something for free? I keep thinking about what the NFL did last year with the free games they uploaded of each team. At least for MLB, they should try to get some games real fans consider classics, not games that Ichiro Suzuki played in before joining the Seattle Mariners.
Kill Advanced Media and give teams Internet control- Here is why the NBA and NHL handle things better than baseball. They know their audiences and are less likely to get caught up in flagging videos. MLB Advanced Media will go after lots of users for videos except if they are in the stands at a game. Teams don't really have anything on their channels and their subscriber counts are still embarrassing What I mean is all the teams have is behind the scene things and press conferences. No videos of any of their highlights. MLB needs to kill off the Advanced Media brand and let the teams upload highlights and games. It would be more convenient and less of a mess when navigating for videos. Less exposure is not a good thing.
There's other reasons like making the MLB site look more stable and not slow down, but I digress. They can't keep relying on the 50 to 75 year olds who can stomach seeing the same Viagra ads for three hours. Eventually, they will all pass away. I'm not saying there isn't a new generation of people that aren't interested in baseball, but MLB should be worried. It's a step above NHL, but the NBA and NFL have grown a lot bigger on the Internet. Even with the NFL joining YouTube a few years ago, it has done things better than MLB has in the last seven to eight years.
In a nut shell, Major League Baseball has to be stop acting like dictators when it comes to social media. Instead of always being focused on money, they should start giving back to the fans. Rob Manfred should be embarrassed by how much bigger the other sports are online compared to his.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Switch Ports: Bethesda and Rockstar
Since 1996, Nintendo has struggled with getting third party games on their systems. Even for as big as the Wii was, it wasn't big on getting some of the bigger titles that made it to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The question on the Switch is still in the air. It has done decently since its debut in March, but the concern will be if there are games beyond the Big N that can make it to the portable/home console hybrid.
In the midst of this, Bethesda announced plans for a few of their latest titles to make it to the Switch. Doom, one of the bigger hits last year, is expected to come out late this year. Continuing into 2018, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus will be one of the new titles that will release in year 2 for the system. I think this is very important since these are titles, while not as big as other games, that can be high quality and give people a reason to feel confident in their new system. Bethesda is pretty confident. They are putting their eggs into Nintendo's basket. The last time these two series made it to any of their systems was 2002 with Doom II on the Game Boy Advance and since 1995 with Doom on the Super Nintendo.
To keep this in mind, Bethesda has developed games for Nintendo systems going back to the NES days, but it's such a small number (only two games for NES, nothing after that until the DS) and not much was seen in the last ten years in terms of support. With these two franchises and an Elder Scrolls port on the way, it could pave the way for other companies following suit and make it more than just a first party box. It could also give the company another avenue for profit considering how much they have grown since the first Elder Scrolls game on DOS in early 1994. Could something like Fallout 4 make it to the Switch? Who knows. The possibilities are there.
Shifting gears, Rockstar is one of those companies that early on gave Nintendo support with some games on the Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Game Boy line. However, they have mostly gravitated to Sony and Microsoft systems for their big titles. There have been a few surprises like Manhunt 2 making it to the Wii, but overall, they haven't warmed up to the Big N. I doubt this will be a confident changer to bring stuff like GTA V, but it is support. Coming out in November will be their crime thriller, L.A. Noire. The 2011 game that had a lengthy development time (started in 2004) is also going to come out on PS4, and Xbox One at the same time. It is the first big title, even though a port, for a Nintendo home console since 2008 with a port of Bully, and since 09 with GTA: Chinatown Wars on the DS.
I think this speaks a lot to Rockstar looking at how well the Switch has done. Typically, they are more of going towards the PlayStation and Xbox brands. It's very evident with Red Dead, GTA, The Warriors. They've been with these two since the original PlayStation and Xbox systems. They are not going to take a huge risk, but it's still in the air on whether this will convince Rockstar will continue with support for the Switch. It is going to be a little more expensive, but not much. Forty dollars is what it will be digitally, but getting a cartridge will be 50. There hasn't been a cartridge based system since the 64 and before this, all Nintendo handhelds have been cart based. With a new developer handling the port since Team Bondi shut down in the fall of 2011, it will be very intriguing to see where this lands in terms of critical and commercial success.
Nintendo has certainly got companies coming to them. Getting games from big and small developers and publishers so far in 2017 has gotten them off to a decent start. Combined with some of the big name titles like Mario Odyssey coming out this fall, it could be the year that they recover from the dreadful era of the Wii U. They can't let their foot off the gas. If they can continue to be aggressive and fully advertise and market the Switch and games for it, it will give the world a reason to like the Big N as a home console manufacturer.
In the midst of this, Bethesda announced plans for a few of their latest titles to make it to the Switch. Doom, one of the bigger hits last year, is expected to come out late this year. Continuing into 2018, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus will be one of the new titles that will release in year 2 for the system. I think this is very important since these are titles, while not as big as other games, that can be high quality and give people a reason to feel confident in their new system. Bethesda is pretty confident. They are putting their eggs into Nintendo's basket. The last time these two series made it to any of their systems was 2002 with Doom II on the Game Boy Advance and since 1995 with Doom on the Super Nintendo.
To keep this in mind, Bethesda has developed games for Nintendo systems going back to the NES days, but it's such a small number (only two games for NES, nothing after that until the DS) and not much was seen in the last ten years in terms of support. With these two franchises and an Elder Scrolls port on the way, it could pave the way for other companies following suit and make it more than just a first party box. It could also give the company another avenue for profit considering how much they have grown since the first Elder Scrolls game on DOS in early 1994. Could something like Fallout 4 make it to the Switch? Who knows. The possibilities are there.
Shifting gears, Rockstar is one of those companies that early on gave Nintendo support with some games on the Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Game Boy line. However, they have mostly gravitated to Sony and Microsoft systems for their big titles. There have been a few surprises like Manhunt 2 making it to the Wii, but overall, they haven't warmed up to the Big N. I doubt this will be a confident changer to bring stuff like GTA V, but it is support. Coming out in November will be their crime thriller, L.A. Noire. The 2011 game that had a lengthy development time (started in 2004) is also going to come out on PS4, and Xbox One at the same time. It is the first big title, even though a port, for a Nintendo home console since 2008 with a port of Bully, and since 09 with GTA: Chinatown Wars on the DS.
I think this speaks a lot to Rockstar looking at how well the Switch has done. Typically, they are more of going towards the PlayStation and Xbox brands. It's very evident with Red Dead, GTA, The Warriors. They've been with these two since the original PlayStation and Xbox systems. They are not going to take a huge risk, but it's still in the air on whether this will convince Rockstar will continue with support for the Switch. It is going to be a little more expensive, but not much. Forty dollars is what it will be digitally, but getting a cartridge will be 50. There hasn't been a cartridge based system since the 64 and before this, all Nintendo handhelds have been cart based. With a new developer handling the port since Team Bondi shut down in the fall of 2011, it will be very intriguing to see where this lands in terms of critical and commercial success.
Nintendo has certainly got companies coming to them. Getting games from big and small developers and publishers so far in 2017 has gotten them off to a decent start. Combined with some of the big name titles like Mario Odyssey coming out this fall, it could be the year that they recover from the dreadful era of the Wii U. They can't let their foot off the gas. If they can continue to be aggressive and fully advertise and market the Switch and games for it, it will give the world a reason to like the Big N as a home console manufacturer.
The Simpsons Shorts: Bart of the Jungle, Family Therapy Reviews
Short #44: Bart of the Jungle
A creative way to piss off Homer can be through various means. In this short, the kids go through his closet to play with all his ties and act like they are in a jungle. It works pretty well. There is enough to be consistently funny. Animations are really good for this very late short. A great one to watch.
Score: 8 out of 10
Short #45: Family Therapy
This is one of those shorts that definitely has a Season 1 quality to it. The way the animation and backgrounds look, it has that look that was seen in the very first episodes they produced. (Some Enchanted Evening caused the show to be delayed from September 1989 to January 1990 with the episode airing in May) Getting into this one, the whole family is in for therapy, courtesy of Homer. Strange to think he would do that, but then again, there would be an episode in the first season with therapy.
As far as the writing goes for this one, it's consistent. It's funny. The characters all have good moments individually, and the last 30 seconds is hilarious that it feels like the show. I got nothing but good praise for this one. Very funny.
Score: 9 out of 10
It's come down to this. Next week, the final three shorts. Maggie is in danger, and the TV has signal issues.
A creative way to piss off Homer can be through various means. In this short, the kids go through his closet to play with all his ties and act like they are in a jungle. It works pretty well. There is enough to be consistently funny. Animations are really good for this very late short. A great one to watch.
Score: 8 out of 10
Short #45: Family Therapy
This is one of those shorts that definitely has a Season 1 quality to it. The way the animation and backgrounds look, it has that look that was seen in the very first episodes they produced. (Some Enchanted Evening caused the show to be delayed from September 1989 to January 1990 with the episode airing in May) Getting into this one, the whole family is in for therapy, courtesy of Homer. Strange to think he would do that, but then again, there would be an episode in the first season with therapy.
As far as the writing goes for this one, it's consistent. It's funny. The characters all have good moments individually, and the last 30 seconds is hilarious that it feels like the show. I got nothing but good praise for this one. Very funny.
Score: 9 out of 10
It's come down to this. Next week, the final three shorts. Maggie is in danger, and the TV has signal issues.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Thursday, September 14, 2017
It: Scaring Records Away
No doubt, if you have seen the advertisements, you will know that It has made its way to theaters last Friday. What was yet another film adapted from a Stephen King novel, I don't think anyone expected the numbers for it to be high. When I saw the Thursday numbers at 13 plus million, my impression was it would make 50 million and have a good weekend. Not only did it do well, but it easily outdid its competition.
For final weekend numbers, It made 123 million dollars at the box office. It is one of the biggest R-rated openings. This is also the biggest opening for any horror film, September release, and fall release, beating out recent films like Gravity and Hotel Transylvania 2. Keep in mind there was a 1990 version of the book, but that aired on ABC as a mini-series. It is also close and will beat out The Green Mile's domestic total, leaving the film as the top grossing film from any of King's novels.
In a sea of films adapted from the author's works, most of them have never been huge. Some, like the overplayed Shawshank Redemption, are still held in high regards. The Shining is still regarded as one of the best adaptations. Why did It do so well to begin its run in theaters? I put it down to people really wanting to see how this film stacks to its mini-series counterpart. Obviously, the tone looks a lot of different judging by the commercials. There is a little bit of cheese with the mini-series, especially with some of Tim Curry's lines as the clown. How close it stays true to the novel might be a factor for some people. The fact that there hasn't been adaptations of King's works the last few years since the 2013 Carrie remake helps a little bit. Really, the last ten years have seen not so many adaptations compared to what was seen throughout the 80s and 90s.
I think most people want to see a real horror film. When I mean real, I mean something that genuinely keeps you frightened for a good while. Not any of this light-hearted PG-13 crap. Studios think more about trying to get an audience than producing an authentic scare fest that can wow people. Obviously, it's not a surprise film like Paranormal Activity which got movie goers curious when it came out in 2009. However, It seems like the kind of film that could last until around November or December. Depending on the legs, it could even last beyond 2017, but that's a big pipe dream.
As always, there will be competition to best It. The next big horror film is Friend Request, coming out on the 22nd this month. However, it's going to face the next few weekends with American Assassin, mother!, and Kingsman 2 coming out in that time span. Even limited stuff like Battle of the Sexes are getting some promotion. For It, it still has time to keep chugging away and help September 2017 be a month to remember following a bad summer that hadn't been that putrid since 1993.
For final weekend numbers, It made 123 million dollars at the box office. It is one of the biggest R-rated openings. This is also the biggest opening for any horror film, September release, and fall release, beating out recent films like Gravity and Hotel Transylvania 2. Keep in mind there was a 1990 version of the book, but that aired on ABC as a mini-series. It is also close and will beat out The Green Mile's domestic total, leaving the film as the top grossing film from any of King's novels.
In a sea of films adapted from the author's works, most of them have never been huge. Some, like the overplayed Shawshank Redemption, are still held in high regards. The Shining is still regarded as one of the best adaptations. Why did It do so well to begin its run in theaters? I put it down to people really wanting to see how this film stacks to its mini-series counterpart. Obviously, the tone looks a lot of different judging by the commercials. There is a little bit of cheese with the mini-series, especially with some of Tim Curry's lines as the clown. How close it stays true to the novel might be a factor for some people. The fact that there hasn't been adaptations of King's works the last few years since the 2013 Carrie remake helps a little bit. Really, the last ten years have seen not so many adaptations compared to what was seen throughout the 80s and 90s.
I think most people want to see a real horror film. When I mean real, I mean something that genuinely keeps you frightened for a good while. Not any of this light-hearted PG-13 crap. Studios think more about trying to get an audience than producing an authentic scare fest that can wow people. Obviously, it's not a surprise film like Paranormal Activity which got movie goers curious when it came out in 2009. However, It seems like the kind of film that could last until around November or December. Depending on the legs, it could even last beyond 2017, but that's a big pipe dream.
As always, there will be competition to best It. The next big horror film is Friend Request, coming out on the 22nd this month. However, it's going to face the next few weekends with American Assassin, mother!, and Kingsman 2 coming out in that time span. Even limited stuff like Battle of the Sexes are getting some promotion. For It, it still has time to keep chugging away and help September 2017 be a month to remember following a bad summer that hadn't been that putrid since 1993.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Using Adblock
Probably the last five years, I have used Adblock. It's one of those internet tools that is used to block ads that appear on websites and videos all over the web. But do companies understand why people do this? Do they get the complete picture?
When YouTube got big around 2007 and into 08, companies wanted in on the pie. As a result, ads for various products, films, etc. became the norm. That being said, it would usually be the same commercials. For example, it seemed like all I got was the T-Mobile ads with the one girl in the pink polka dot dress. Whatever flavor of the month film was coming out seemed to get a lot of internet air time. Typically it was horror films.
Using your own computer or laptop, you can pretty much get away with not seeing ads. However, colleges and schools don't use adblock, so you'll see commercials. The last ones I saw on a college computer was the same repeated Burger King ad for french fries that were healthier (Satisfries I think was the name of the product) As time has gone on, companies and sites have gotten wiser on what people have done and counteracted with stuff that forces you to see sponsored ads. In regards to that, it's really shitty.
Look, I get sites need money from advertisements. We are in an era where DVR and streaming is big and people can skip through commercials. The way they do it, however, needs to be changed. Sites need ads that aren't going to clog computers with viruses or malware. They also need to stop shoving the same things down everyone's throats. It's annoying when one sees the same Progressive image of that idiot Flo constantly. I remember one site constantly showing a Netflix advertisement image of Shutter Island from 2010. People understand that a business needs to thrive. They would rather not see a site get clogged and slowed down because they need to promote something that will be replaced with something else in a month's span.
Luckily, Adblock can still be used on YouTube via computers. When it's all said and done, sites and advertisers have to think smarter and cater to what people want. Otherwise, more and more ways of blocking ads will still be a huge problem, (which I will still block ads) with no way to stop it.
When YouTube got big around 2007 and into 08, companies wanted in on the pie. As a result, ads for various products, films, etc. became the norm. That being said, it would usually be the same commercials. For example, it seemed like all I got was the T-Mobile ads with the one girl in the pink polka dot dress. Whatever flavor of the month film was coming out seemed to get a lot of internet air time. Typically it was horror films.
Using your own computer or laptop, you can pretty much get away with not seeing ads. However, colleges and schools don't use adblock, so you'll see commercials. The last ones I saw on a college computer was the same repeated Burger King ad for french fries that were healthier (Satisfries I think was the name of the product) As time has gone on, companies and sites have gotten wiser on what people have done and counteracted with stuff that forces you to see sponsored ads. In regards to that, it's really shitty.
Look, I get sites need money from advertisements. We are in an era where DVR and streaming is big and people can skip through commercials. The way they do it, however, needs to be changed. Sites need ads that aren't going to clog computers with viruses or malware. They also need to stop shoving the same things down everyone's throats. It's annoying when one sees the same Progressive image of that idiot Flo constantly. I remember one site constantly showing a Netflix advertisement image of Shutter Island from 2010. People understand that a business needs to thrive. They would rather not see a site get clogged and slowed down because they need to promote something that will be replaced with something else in a month's span.
Luckily, Adblock can still be used on YouTube via computers. When it's all said and done, sites and advertisers have to think smarter and cater to what people want. Otherwise, more and more ways of blocking ads will still be a huge problem, (which I will still block ads) with no way to stop it.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Scary: The 2017 Cleveland Indians
There are those records that can be traced back to who knows how long. Odds are we'll never see someone break Cal Ripken Jr's consecutive game streak, which he broke Lou Gehrig's in September 1995. The 56 game hitting streak set by Joe DiMaggio in 1941 could be broken as some batters can get 30 game hit streaks, but fail. That being said, what this Cleveland Indians team has done this past month is nothing short of spectacular.
As of this blog, the Indians have won 19 in a row dating back to August 24th. They have played 11 straight games with the start of September to now. When this season began, they looked mediocre. Some might have questioned the players that acquired like Edwin Encarnacion. Since mid-June, they have been a bigger team in the American League Central. A few hiccups here and there, but they could get back into the World Series. What is that makes them scary?
For one thing, you don't want to face pitchers Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. They will find ways to get batters out and produce lengthy outings. Both them and Trevor Bauer are a deadly trio, though Bauer has a high E.R.A. The relief in the bullpen shows some stand outs like Cody Allen and Andrew Miller. They can get those innings in case things go bad or close out to get a win. Four of the relievers have struck out 60 plus batters, so there isn't too much of a weakness in that area.
Batting has its obvious strengths and weaknesses. What team doesn't? The Indians have some power. Francisco Lindor has been on a tear with the long ball. Encarnacion has been a decent addition. His numbers aren't like what they were the last five years, but Cleveland should be happy this year. With 34 home runs, it's still good enough to guarantee wins. They can hit the ball well with Jose Ramirez, Lindor, and Carlos Santana. A problem is being healthy. Jason Kipnis and Michael Bradley have had issues being on the field. The Indians have just lost Bradley Zimmer for the rest of the season due to a broken hand in their latest game. They don't have much talent on the bench outside of Austin Jackson.
Could the Indians get cold, though? Absolutely. Look at the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have lost the last few weeks, and what could have been an easy candidate to represent the National League in the World Series is now in question. It's going to be tight for Cleveland to get home field advantage throughout the playoffs with the Houston Astros breathing down their neck. However, they could make history with their next few games. Win another one and they will tie the 2002 Oakland Athletics streak at 20. Another one can tie the 1935 Chicago Cubs with another one securing the number one streak as far as consecutive games without a tie goes. The record, tie or not, is 26 set by the 1916 New York Giants. Funny as it is, these records were around August and September of their respective years. (Update: They are second all time and their streak lost last night, September 15th)
The only team I see scaring Cleveland is the Astros. With the addition of Justin Verlander in the Lone Star State, the pitching can be even more dangerous. Don't rule out the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees as. When they are good, they can't be stopped. Cleveland can't let their foot off the gas. It's crunch time and every game matters not in the sense of division (they're going to win the Central), but as mentioned, home field advantage. Similar to the Dodgers, anything less than a World Series championship will make 2017 a big year for nothing.
The Simpsons Shorts: Bathtime, Bart's Nightmare Reviews
Short #42: Bathtime
It's hard to come up with anything to say regarding this short. Bart attempts to hide from Homer so he can avoid taking a bath. Unfortunately for him, he gets caught and is forced to bathe. That's about it without spoiling too much of it. It pulls the punches and pays off with the beginning and ending of the short. You'll get the chuckles from this one.
Score: 7 out of 10
Short #43: Bart's Nightmare
With this one, Bart has eaten a lot of cookies and has a nightmare. It features a nice little call back to The Shell Game and plays off that with a funny nightmare that the eldest Simpson child has. That's really all I can say with it. The ending is really hilarious. I haven't said much as far as the animation goes since it feels like most of the improvements came in the second season of shorts. This is about as close, if not, identical to what would be seen in the first season of the half hour show. It's a must watch short.
Score: 8 out of 10
Five more shorts to go. Next week, the kids play jungle in a unique way, and the family goes to therapy.
It's hard to come up with anything to say regarding this short. Bart attempts to hide from Homer so he can avoid taking a bath. Unfortunately for him, he gets caught and is forced to bathe. That's about it without spoiling too much of it. It pulls the punches and pays off with the beginning and ending of the short. You'll get the chuckles from this one.
Score: 7 out of 10
Short #43: Bart's Nightmare
With this one, Bart has eaten a lot of cookies and has a nightmare. It features a nice little call back to The Shell Game and plays off that with a funny nightmare that the eldest Simpson child has. That's really all I can say with it. The ending is really hilarious. I haven't said much as far as the animation goes since it feels like most of the improvements came in the second season of shorts. This is about as close, if not, identical to what would be seen in the first season of the half hour show. It's a must watch short.
Score: 8 out of 10
Five more shorts to go. Next week, the kids play jungle in a unique way, and the family goes to therapy.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Abusing Authority
I know a few friends that are nurses. One of which is a traveling one. In my own family, I have a sister and cousin who work as ones, too. This profession works very long hours in a stressful environment. I hope that they don't face the same thing that happened to Alex Wubbels back in late July where she was arrested for doing her job the right way.
Back in July at a Utah hospital, Wubbels had to deal with a cop, who demanded to see blood work of a patient who was involved in an accident earlier the day of the incident. The cop, Jeff Payne, was said to not have a warrant to get a sample. Another way in Utah is to get permission, but the patient was unconscious, so there was no way to do that. Wubbels explained to him about the policies, but Payne grew tired of it, and had her arrested.
Up until the last few days, it's just another arrest story. With the body cam video being released within the past week, it's become another case of cops over abusing their authority. The way Payne tried to grab Wubbels to arrest her comes off very aggressive and unprofessional. I'm going to go on a limb and say not every cop (and FBI for that matter) is like this. Unfortunately, there is a few that take a step too far and whether it gets them in trouble or not depends. So now in Utah, new rules have been implemented. Cops are not allowed to talk directly to nurses and being banned in certain areas. A few cops have been put on leave, but potential lawsuits could be coming from Wubbels pending what goes on with police procedure and changes if implemented.
You can't blame this nurse for following protocols and doing her job. I think there does need to be a point where the law needs to show actual warrants. People should not be afraid to ask them for warrants. Police departments (and any authority like FBI, ATF, etc...) need to be held accountable and take initiative for when one of their own goes out of line. Maybe this can serve as something to prevent other incidents like this from happening all over the United States.
We need cops to protect the world. However, there's always the few that ruin it for others. Payne will fit in that latter and could potentially be charged for his treatment of Wubbels. I just hope none of this happens to friends and family I know, or anyone that works in the medical profession.
Back in July at a Utah hospital, Wubbels had to deal with a cop, who demanded to see blood work of a patient who was involved in an accident earlier the day of the incident. The cop, Jeff Payne, was said to not have a warrant to get a sample. Another way in Utah is to get permission, but the patient was unconscious, so there was no way to do that. Wubbels explained to him about the policies, but Payne grew tired of it, and had her arrested.
Up until the last few days, it's just another arrest story. With the body cam video being released within the past week, it's become another case of cops over abusing their authority. The way Payne tried to grab Wubbels to arrest her comes off very aggressive and unprofessional. I'm going to go on a limb and say not every cop (and FBI for that matter) is like this. Unfortunately, there is a few that take a step too far and whether it gets them in trouble or not depends. So now in Utah, new rules have been implemented. Cops are not allowed to talk directly to nurses and being banned in certain areas. A few cops have been put on leave, but potential lawsuits could be coming from Wubbels pending what goes on with police procedure and changes if implemented.
You can't blame this nurse for following protocols and doing her job. I think there does need to be a point where the law needs to show actual warrants. People should not be afraid to ask them for warrants. Police departments (and any authority like FBI, ATF, etc...) need to be held accountable and take initiative for when one of their own goes out of line. Maybe this can serve as something to prevent other incidents like this from happening all over the United States.
We need cops to protect the world. However, there's always the few that ruin it for others. Payne will fit in that latter and could potentially be charged for his treatment of Wubbels. I just hope none of this happens to friends and family I know, or anyone that works in the medical profession.
The Simpsons Shorts: Shoplifting, Echo Canyon Reviews
Short #40: Shoplifting
This short has a good idea, but isn't executed well until the end. We get to see Bart be a little mischievous as he attempts to steal candy bars and gets caught by security. It's just not enough to get a minute of material out of it. That being said, the ending for it is pretty hilarious. Not one of its strongest, but not bad either.
Score: 6 out of 10
Short #41: Echo Canyon
When you take kids on a road trip or vacation, it's not always going to be exciting. Especially when parents want to see other parts of the country or world. In this short, the kids are bored at Echo Canyon. I wonder if this is a parody of the Grand Canyon. Anyway, Homer and Marge enjoy it. As far as humor goes, it's more mischief that works and the ending is funny. A good short to watch.
Score: 7 out of 10
Next week, Bart takes a bath and has a bad nightmare
This short has a good idea, but isn't executed well until the end. We get to see Bart be a little mischievous as he attempts to steal candy bars and gets caught by security. It's just not enough to get a minute of material out of it. That being said, the ending for it is pretty hilarious. Not one of its strongest, but not bad either.
Score: 6 out of 10
Short #41: Echo Canyon
When you take kids on a road trip or vacation, it's not always going to be exciting. Especially when parents want to see other parts of the country or world. In this short, the kids are bored at Echo Canyon. I wonder if this is a parody of the Grand Canyon. Anyway, Homer and Marge enjoy it. As far as humor goes, it's more mischief that works and the ending is funny. A good short to watch.
Score: 7 out of 10
Next week, Bart takes a bath and has a bad nightmare
Friday, September 1, 2017
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