The biggest name to Nickelodeon in 1999 was Rugrats. It had a huge resurgence a couple years prior, culminating in new episodes and movies. As time went on, it stopped being king of the crop in favor of the point of this blog, SpongeBob SquarePants. I know it's a day early, but it's hard to believe that it has been on the air for 20 years. Granted, some of it is very lengthy seasons, but still.
This was one of those shows I never gave much thought on when it first came out. But not too long into 2000 or 2001 did I watch some of the episodes. It's a lighter version of Rocko's Modern Life. Fitting because of its late creator Stephen Hillenburg working on Rocko for its entire run. Nothing gimmicky other than a sponge living underwater and his group of friends and adversaries. Tons of funny moments within the first five years of its run.
For someone like me, it is an interesting feat considering most people I know are into the earlier stuff and there is a new generation that is into the newer material. I grew out of kids cartoons right around 2004-05 and that was when the tonal shift occurred. Some of the episodes looked like it came out of a Family Guy or Ren and Stimpy episode. Ones like SquidBob TentaclePants and The Splinter shows how gross they can be. One Coarse Meal is one that leans towards Family Guy territory, even with the guy that portrays Plankton writing a part of the episode. I hear the last few years have been better, but I can't say my thoughts on that because I haven't seen any of them. Sorry.
It took a while for SpongeBob to get airings due to the various Klasky-Csupo shows, Hey Arnold, and Angry Beavers being the main cartoons on Nickelodeon. As with these networks, new stuff will creep up and be the new leaders. And while Sponge still gets ratings, it is a far cry from what it was getting. My question is when will it stop? The days of cable might be finished at some point since there aren't many interested in some of these kids shows.
As of now, it is one of the great achievements of kids cartoons and of the late 90s-early 2000s. It may not be a sweet victory, but its place in entertainment is untouchable. I will talk more my favorite episode in another one soon.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Sunday, April 28, 2019
A Stream Of Competition
The go to sites for streaming is Netflix and Hulu. They have provided their share of programming that is from other companies along with material they have created themselves. There are also sites like Amazon and a few others that have jumped into this craze, but a couple more could spell disaster for them.
I'm talking about Disney and NBC. These two are set to have their own streaming services in the next year or two. Disney has a huge backlog of films and shows they can put on there. Their own stuff, Lucasfilm and Marvel. With Fox, a lot more can be added. They are sitting on thousands of well known stuff. How can it go wrong? Depends on the price and what films Disney censors. It would mean butchered versions of specific films or ones that will never see the light of day like Song of the South.
The NBC one is interesting. My main question is what they own. Mainly what they had made before Universal and Comcast. Something like Fresh Prince I don't see being on there because of Warner Brothers involvement. Having a competitor would not bode well. The same could also apply to shows Universal had on other networks that aren't NBC or Comcast affiliated. I guess unless CBS, ABC, or Fox were involved, they would go to the service next year. There are a lot of movies and shows that can make up a good lot of of the streaming. It may not be deep like Disney, but it shouldn't bore anyone, either.
I think we are heading towards a new era where individual companies are having streaming for themselves. The question lies in how much people are willing to spend and when too many ruin it for everyone.
I'm talking about Disney and NBC. These two are set to have their own streaming services in the next year or two. Disney has a huge backlog of films and shows they can put on there. Their own stuff, Lucasfilm and Marvel. With Fox, a lot more can be added. They are sitting on thousands of well known stuff. How can it go wrong? Depends on the price and what films Disney censors. It would mean butchered versions of specific films or ones that will never see the light of day like Song of the South.
The NBC one is interesting. My main question is what they own. Mainly what they had made before Universal and Comcast. Something like Fresh Prince I don't see being on there because of Warner Brothers involvement. Having a competitor would not bode well. The same could also apply to shows Universal had on other networks that aren't NBC or Comcast affiliated. I guess unless CBS, ABC, or Fox were involved, they would go to the service next year. There are a lot of movies and shows that can make up a good lot of of the streaming. It may not be deep like Disney, but it shouldn't bore anyone, either.
I think we are heading towards a new era where individual companies are having streaming for themselves. The question lies in how much people are willing to spend and when too many ruin it for everyone.
Friday, April 26, 2019
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Nintendo Out of Touch... Again
I'll start by saying I know Nintendo is within their rights to perform cease and desists. A lot of fan made projects have been shut down by them and it only shows how out of touch they are with fans and the world outside of their home in Japan. This latest thing only keeps showing the worst of what they are. A project done by a group led to a port of Super Mario Bros. for the Commodore 64.
What is a Commodore 64? It's a computer from that said company from the early 80s and lasted a very long time. As with most older systems, homebrew has become commonplace for these relics. Unreleased games, original homebrew and a few other knick knacks are what you'll see. With Mario, it was a seven year project in the making. Until Commander Keen came out in 1990 for DOS, computers struggled a lot with scrolling screens. Looking at the title screen as well, it is very faithful considering the hardware is older than the Famicom by a year or two.
It does not surprise me Nintendo went after this. But that doesn't mean I can't express my view on it. And it is another really bad move by them and one that is very stupid. Is Super Mario Bros going to lose value just because it was ported to the C64? No. It is one of the most common games ever. For NES, the Game Boy Color and Advance. They hurt the retro community a lot more than they realize. Last year, it was the whole emulation site thing and to lose tons of PC, Sega, Sony, Atari and other companies systems and games on secure sites was a huge blow. Investing in Nintendo systems is very expensive.
Homebrew has been around for a very long time. Plenty of people have ported Doom to numerous machines and every day objects like ATMs. Sonic the Hedgehog has seen so many community made games over the last 20 years and fan Christian Whitehead was responsible for several approved ports and the excellent Sonic Mania. Patches are made for games that are Japan only to translate into English. One of the biggest communities is for the ill-fated Atari Jaguar, which has probably more homebrew games than the system had actual releases during its life. Most companies don't care. For Nintendo to keep doing this, it keeps showing the pig headed approach they have in understanding the Internet.
This thing would not hurt them because are Switch and 3DS owners going to care? Probably not. And it's not like Nintendo is doing anywhere good with distributing their classic games since the Wii U. This stuff is here to stay and they could embrace the support their fans have instead of shitting on them. More of the reason why to get into other consoles and PCs.
What is a Commodore 64? It's a computer from that said company from the early 80s and lasted a very long time. As with most older systems, homebrew has become commonplace for these relics. Unreleased games, original homebrew and a few other knick knacks are what you'll see. With Mario, it was a seven year project in the making. Until Commander Keen came out in 1990 for DOS, computers struggled a lot with scrolling screens. Looking at the title screen as well, it is very faithful considering the hardware is older than the Famicom by a year or two.
It does not surprise me Nintendo went after this. But that doesn't mean I can't express my view on it. And it is another really bad move by them and one that is very stupid. Is Super Mario Bros going to lose value just because it was ported to the C64? No. It is one of the most common games ever. For NES, the Game Boy Color and Advance. They hurt the retro community a lot more than they realize. Last year, it was the whole emulation site thing and to lose tons of PC, Sega, Sony, Atari and other companies systems and games on secure sites was a huge blow. Investing in Nintendo systems is very expensive.
Homebrew has been around for a very long time. Plenty of people have ported Doom to numerous machines and every day objects like ATMs. Sonic the Hedgehog has seen so many community made games over the last 20 years and fan Christian Whitehead was responsible for several approved ports and the excellent Sonic Mania. Patches are made for games that are Japan only to translate into English. One of the biggest communities is for the ill-fated Atari Jaguar, which has probably more homebrew games than the system had actual releases during its life. Most companies don't care. For Nintendo to keep doing this, it keeps showing the pig headed approach they have in understanding the Internet.
This thing would not hurt them because are Switch and 3DS owners going to care? Probably not. And it's not like Nintendo is doing anywhere good with distributing their classic games since the Wii U. This stuff is here to stay and they could embrace the support their fans have instead of shitting on them. More of the reason why to get into other consoles and PCs.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Senator Don't Deserve Healing
I got a number of friends who are nurses. A few family members, too. They work 12 to 16 hour shifts, possibly with no breaks. Checking all their patients. When they are home, they raise their families, get sleep, and repeat the same process again. The audacity of a lawmaker suggesting that nurses all around the country play cards for a long amount of time shows the lack of understanding culture in the outside world.
Although Maureen Walsh has apologized, it shows how out of touch Senators and Congress is with the working class. And I'm sure my friends and family members will understand what I'm saying. A nurse's shift is a steady one. They never know what is going to happen to the patients they have. Having a break could last just seconds before they have to go back and treat their patient. I wouldn't be surprised if they play cards, but not to the level that Walsh said. They are on their feet all the time and beyond treating people, have to deal with paperwork and a few other things as they get through the day or night.
Honestly, I'd like to see these politicians work a nursing job. Put them in the nurses shoes and see how long they last. Because I guarantee nearly all of them wouldn't last six hours and no break, either. It can apply to a lot of jobs, too, but this is the critical ones where the split second decision could mean life or death. Hospitals can get in huge trouble if someone dies and improper treatment was a reason for that.
Some professions don't get paid enough while Congress and the Senate make a lot more. Same with Hollywood. Maybe instead of caring about how Wall Street is, check out the rural places and small town villages and see how they view things. The world is a lot different when you get out of a city.
Although Maureen Walsh has apologized, it shows how out of touch Senators and Congress is with the working class. And I'm sure my friends and family members will understand what I'm saying. A nurse's shift is a steady one. They never know what is going to happen to the patients they have. Having a break could last just seconds before they have to go back and treat their patient. I wouldn't be surprised if they play cards, but not to the level that Walsh said. They are on their feet all the time and beyond treating people, have to deal with paperwork and a few other things as they get through the day or night.
Honestly, I'd like to see these politicians work a nursing job. Put them in the nurses shoes and see how long they last. Because I guarantee nearly all of them wouldn't last six hours and no break, either. It can apply to a lot of jobs, too, but this is the critical ones where the split second decision could mean life or death. Hospitals can get in huge trouble if someone dies and improper treatment was a reason for that.
Some professions don't get paid enough while Congress and the Senate make a lot more. Same with Hollywood. Maybe instead of caring about how Wall Street is, check out the rural places and small town villages and see how they view things. The world is a lot different when you get out of a city.
Monday, April 22, 2019
Next Question Don't Cut It
It's been an interesting 10 years for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Moving from Seattle was one thing. To be able to group together after a mediocre first year and have a strong core of players was another. The idea of James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook working together should have been a dream come true. But it hasn't. Harden went to Houston in 2012 and has built a strong career. Durant has been great, but the last three years with Golden State could see him win a third straight Finals. With that, it only leaves Westbrook and a Thunder team that more than likely watches the championship at home.
I do question Westbrook's character a bit. It goes way before this, but the way he acts, I wonder how he lives with the various attitudes he has. Especially with the next question antics he has been doing. Now, I understand not every player wants to talk to the media. I think a lot of it has to do with criticism if someone's game is off or if the team put in a losing effort. And social media is looking at these press conferences, too. I believe all the responses and questions all around is getting into Westbrook's head and it is getting tiring for him.
That being said, the media has to do their job. And one of the defenders is Warriors coach Steve Kerr. He has dealt with it as a coach and as a GM for Phoenix. You got to give them something. Players get sick of questions, regardless of outcomes. However, they are not always to blame. The media may want to make a story. Some can be truthful about what they talked about. Others want to sell papers and subscriptions to get people attached to a narrative. For Westbrook, it's one reporter. It's not like it's the entire group of reporters from ESPN, local news stations, NBC.
Westbrook has immense talent. If things don't change, there is no chance he wins a Finals championship, and the media will bury him with even more questions each passing year. He better get his act together and not be sour all the time.
I do question Westbrook's character a bit. It goes way before this, but the way he acts, I wonder how he lives with the various attitudes he has. Especially with the next question antics he has been doing. Now, I understand not every player wants to talk to the media. I think a lot of it has to do with criticism if someone's game is off or if the team put in a losing effort. And social media is looking at these press conferences, too. I believe all the responses and questions all around is getting into Westbrook's head and it is getting tiring for him.
That being said, the media has to do their job. And one of the defenders is Warriors coach Steve Kerr. He has dealt with it as a coach and as a GM for Phoenix. You got to give them something. Players get sick of questions, regardless of outcomes. However, they are not always to blame. The media may want to make a story. Some can be truthful about what they talked about. Others want to sell papers and subscriptions to get people attached to a narrative. For Westbrook, it's one reporter. It's not like it's the entire group of reporters from ESPN, local news stations, NBC.
Westbrook has immense talent. If things don't change, there is no chance he wins a Finals championship, and the media will bury him with even more questions each passing year. He better get his act together and not be sour all the time.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
20 Years Later: Tragedy of Columbine
While 420 is something most think of involving weed and munchies, some think of that day for something else. One of these examples unfortunately was what happened in Littleton, Colorado. Reverse the clock to 20 years ago, and two dangerous teenagers opened fired on their Columbine school, killing roughly a dozen people, injuring almost 25 and then pulling the triggers on themselves.
It was over a year after a shooting in Paducah, Kentucky. In that one, a teen killed a couple people and injured a few more because of rejection from a girl. At least, that's what I remember reading. But that kid also had mental issues. And there's a reason why he's been in jail for 21 years and will never see the outside world ever again. The same applies to this here. But it goes deeper with bullying, prescription drugs. It's a cocktail with very lethal results.
The sad thing is that this wasn't really discussed when this first happened. Scapegoats were used. And this was one of the early instances to blame something on a video game. It's not like today where people can call out the media and the idiots who use it to blame.Their main culprit was Doom. Unfortunately, this was also the rise of dumbass lawyer Jack Thompson from Florida. He was instrumental to getting lawsuits for the Paducah shooting and this, all of which were dismissed. Blame was also on music, and a couple of movies that came out in the mid 90s.
What goes wrong? A teenager does not always think straight. Some cope with downright bullying. Some with fighting, comebacks, a lot of things. Part of me wants to slap my teenager self and teach him the ways of being a better person instead of being big mouthed and getting pissed over little things that shouldn't be a big deal. We all strive to be better. Most see that as a good thing. Others not so much. It's unfortunate what happened 20 years ago.
Columbine as a whole should be studied. It should be looked at from the psychological point, mental point and scapegoat point. This should be seen as how things were portrayed and how to look in deeper compared to what they did in 1999. Times have changed quite a bit.
It was over a year after a shooting in Paducah, Kentucky. In that one, a teen killed a couple people and injured a few more because of rejection from a girl. At least, that's what I remember reading. But that kid also had mental issues. And there's a reason why he's been in jail for 21 years and will never see the outside world ever again. The same applies to this here. But it goes deeper with bullying, prescription drugs. It's a cocktail with very lethal results.
The sad thing is that this wasn't really discussed when this first happened. Scapegoats were used. And this was one of the early instances to blame something on a video game. It's not like today where people can call out the media and the idiots who use it to blame.Their main culprit was Doom. Unfortunately, this was also the rise of dumbass lawyer Jack Thompson from Florida. He was instrumental to getting lawsuits for the Paducah shooting and this, all of which were dismissed. Blame was also on music, and a couple of movies that came out in the mid 90s.
What goes wrong? A teenager does not always think straight. Some cope with downright bullying. Some with fighting, comebacks, a lot of things. Part of me wants to slap my teenager self and teach him the ways of being a better person instead of being big mouthed and getting pissed over little things that shouldn't be a big deal. We all strive to be better. Most see that as a good thing. Others not so much. It's unfortunate what happened 20 years ago.
Columbine as a whole should be studied. It should be looked at from the psychological point, mental point and scapegoat point. This should be seen as how things were portrayed and how to look in deeper compared to what they did in 1999. Times have changed quite a bit.
Friday, April 19, 2019
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Shazam Movie Review
Normally, I'm not into today's modern comic book movies. They all feel the same. But Shazam caught my eye a little bit. I went in expecting a goofy over the top movie, and while it had its light moments, it was a little darker than what I anticipated. That being said, it was better than what I thought it would be. And it is also a case where you don't need 10 A-list actors and a bloated 200 million dollar budget to make a good comic book movie.
Billy Batson is a teenager who has been in foster care for a long time. His reasoning is not hard to figure out as he wants to find his mother. On the other side, there is Doctor Sivana, who experienced seeing the wizard Shazam in the 70s as a child. Shazam wants to find someone that has a pure heart and a few other things that will take over his place as a hero. Sivana has been working on trying to get to that dimension and hearing others stories about what he experienced. Escaping from bullies after fighting them, Billy finds himself in that dimension and reluctantly becomes Shazam.
After that, Billy comes to terms and tries to figure out his new powers. Along with that comes a greater responsibility, a lot of funny moments, and action that you don't think could happen. The people involved made this more in line as a dramedy. Early on, it has its serious moments and lighter toned parts through the first half. After that, it becomes more serious like and action oriented with a few sprinkles of humor here and there. As far as actors, the performances are excellent. I don't know how others will feel, but there is a Santa Claus that is very over the top, so your mileage will vary. The humor is not cringeworthy. Its action sequences are solid and the editing for those parts is excellent.
The cinematography is done well. Lighting is about as good as it gets. Special effects are not overdone and despite the 100 million dollar budget, it comes off very real. It's a fun little popcorn flick that should appeal to a lot of people. There are a couple knocks I do have to give. It is a little slow in the beginning and about 10 to 15 minutes longer than what it should have been. Otherwise, it gets point across at a good pace with no filler or side plots outside of Billy trying to find his mother. Check out Shazam in theaters. It's an example of a film where less is more in a good way.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Billy Batson is a teenager who has been in foster care for a long time. His reasoning is not hard to figure out as he wants to find his mother. On the other side, there is Doctor Sivana, who experienced seeing the wizard Shazam in the 70s as a child. Shazam wants to find someone that has a pure heart and a few other things that will take over his place as a hero. Sivana has been working on trying to get to that dimension and hearing others stories about what he experienced. Escaping from bullies after fighting them, Billy finds himself in that dimension and reluctantly becomes Shazam.
After that, Billy comes to terms and tries to figure out his new powers. Along with that comes a greater responsibility, a lot of funny moments, and action that you don't think could happen. The people involved made this more in line as a dramedy. Early on, it has its serious moments and lighter toned parts through the first half. After that, it becomes more serious like and action oriented with a few sprinkles of humor here and there. As far as actors, the performances are excellent. I don't know how others will feel, but there is a Santa Claus that is very over the top, so your mileage will vary. The humor is not cringeworthy. Its action sequences are solid and the editing for those parts is excellent.
The cinematography is done well. Lighting is about as good as it gets. Special effects are not overdone and despite the 100 million dollar budget, it comes off very real. It's a fun little popcorn flick that should appeal to a lot of people. There are a couple knocks I do have to give. It is a little slow in the beginning and about 10 to 15 minutes longer than what it should have been. Otherwise, it gets point across at a good pace with no filler or side plots outside of Billy trying to find his mother. Check out Shazam in theaters. It's an example of a film where less is more in a good way.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Monday, April 15, 2019
YouTube Channels I Watch: Game Sack
Gaming content is a plenty with many YouTube channels. However, a good amount of them are not up to speed on certain aspects. One to stand out tremendously is the Game Sack channel. For the last eight years, the duo of Joe Redifer and Dave White have built a strong series of videos that cover quite a bit of games and systems.
My first time watching these guys came around 2012 when they did the FMV video and created their video into the same manner as a Sega CD game. They create personas for the show as nut job Nintendo fanboy and nut job Sega fanboy although they appreciate both sides and other companies. Favoritism does skew into the 16-bit era and 32/64 bit era, but it's not anything to get bothered about. You'd be surprised at what they like and don't like.
One thing they have always stuck to is trying to show the content in high video quality. Basically, anything with S-video and higher unless they have to resort to AV outputs. They don't cover anything pre NES and PC's, but that's a given considering the difficulty of showing Atari and lack of interest. The PC is something they don't dabble into, but I don't see them as being completely biased.
I do think they try to showcase some the higher ups and downs of the systems. Some of their most viewed videos are console related with number one being their Sega Saturn video. Others include hardware being pushed, 32-bit competition and obscure systems like 3DO. There is a little too much rambling about some games, but they don't take forever, either.
It's disappointing that Dave is leaving, but to be around family is a justifiable reason to not continue Game Sack. I'll be curious to see how some of the newer content goes with just Joe. Either way, Game Sack should continue strong and still have a few years worth of material left to do. Definitely give their videos a chance.
My first time watching these guys came around 2012 when they did the FMV video and created their video into the same manner as a Sega CD game. They create personas for the show as nut job Nintendo fanboy and nut job Sega fanboy although they appreciate both sides and other companies. Favoritism does skew into the 16-bit era and 32/64 bit era, but it's not anything to get bothered about. You'd be surprised at what they like and don't like.
One thing they have always stuck to is trying to show the content in high video quality. Basically, anything with S-video and higher unless they have to resort to AV outputs. They don't cover anything pre NES and PC's, but that's a given considering the difficulty of showing Atari and lack of interest. The PC is something they don't dabble into, but I don't see them as being completely biased.
I do think they try to showcase some the higher ups and downs of the systems. Some of their most viewed videos are console related with number one being their Sega Saturn video. Others include hardware being pushed, 32-bit competition and obscure systems like 3DO. There is a little too much rambling about some games, but they don't take forever, either.
It's disappointing that Dave is leaving, but to be around family is a justifiable reason to not continue Game Sack. I'll be curious to see how some of the newer content goes with just Joe. Either way, Game Sack should continue strong and still have a few years worth of material left to do. Definitely give their videos a chance.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Lake of LA Dysfunction
There was a point where the Los Angeles Lakers were one of the most feared teams in the NBA. The last six years, not so much. Too may issues that have hurt them in recent memory combined with losing seasoned veterans. It has been a small improvement under now former head coach Luke Walton, but the travesty of resignations and partings show how bad the franchise has become.
Magic Johnson stepped down as an executive for the Lakers, and Walton agreed to part ways after three years as a coach. The improvement to what they did last year seemed like a step in the right direction. One of the big issues was dealing with that loudmouth idiot, LaVar Ball, whose son, Lonzo was the second overall pick in 2017 and went to LA. It became a circus frenzy and I don't think Walton and Johnson could take anymore of him.
Of course, you have the signing of LeBron James to come this season to get a championship for the city. It's been roughly ten years more or less since the Lakers won it. The way I view it, James dictates how things go and you can see it in his attitude on how things should go or not go. How he was when they lost to the Knicks was a good indicator of his commitment to the team and how he didn't like a role model, which he never was. He's a freaking head case. That championship year with Cleveland resulted in David Blatt getting fired and Tyronn Lue taking over. Anything that doesn't go James way, some people can lose their jobs or get traded.
It's a mix of multiple things, but it's damning one of the most prestigious franchises in pro basketball is at a crumbling point. Lue could wind up coaching the Lakers and there's a possibility Monty Williams could. They need someone to develop the players and not piss off James. It might be one of the coolest jobs, but the stress, I'm not sure whoever is hired can handle it.
Magic Johnson stepped down as an executive for the Lakers, and Walton agreed to part ways after three years as a coach. The improvement to what they did last year seemed like a step in the right direction. One of the big issues was dealing with that loudmouth idiot, LaVar Ball, whose son, Lonzo was the second overall pick in 2017 and went to LA. It became a circus frenzy and I don't think Walton and Johnson could take anymore of him.
Of course, you have the signing of LeBron James to come this season to get a championship for the city. It's been roughly ten years more or less since the Lakers won it. The way I view it, James dictates how things go and you can see it in his attitude on how things should go or not go. How he was when they lost to the Knicks was a good indicator of his commitment to the team and how he didn't like a role model, which he never was. He's a freaking head case. That championship year with Cleveland resulted in David Blatt getting fired and Tyronn Lue taking over. Anything that doesn't go James way, some people can lose their jobs or get traded.
It's a mix of multiple things, but it's damning one of the most prestigious franchises in pro basketball is at a crumbling point. Lue could wind up coaching the Lakers and there's a possibility Monty Williams could. They need someone to develop the players and not piss off James. It might be one of the coolest jobs, but the stress, I'm not sure whoever is hired can handle it.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Thursday, April 11, 2019
An Accessible Game: Necessary?
Sekiro has been out the last three weeks for PS4, Xbox One, and computers. It is a well regarded game considering its developer is From Software. However, that name alone is something gamers either enjoy or groan at. And this is where today's blog is targeting. Is it necessary to make games accessible?
From Software is known for making games very, very difficult. That goes all the way back to ten years ago with Demon's Souls and then the continuation with Dark Souls and whatever else they have done since. There is a mentality that people can't handle Sekiro and that the ones that do mock them and all that. These kind of games have a cult approach and it's downright scary how the fanbase reacts. All because others want an easy mode and that including it would ruin these kind of games. I don't think an easy mode is going to kill anything.
Options were there to have games easy and hard for home consoles until the NES. For a short period until the Turbografx and Sega Genesis, there wasn't options for most 8-bit games to have difficulty modes. Since 1990, developers have been keen on giving these kind of modes to get all sorts of audiences in on their game or games. I can name at least a few games that could have benefited from being less difficult. Battletoads for sure. Even certain sports games like NHL All-Star Hockey 95 for the Genesis could have had something to tone down the very aggressive opponents. Frogger on PlayStation is one that needed to be toned down tremendously, particularly on later zones.
I do think it's necessary to make games accessible, but not every single game. Everyone has a distinct way of playing and will find something either very easy or very hard. It's all subjective. In regards to very difficult ones, you gotta throw in an easy mode. That does not mean it ruins the game for others. There was a bit of mockery earlier about cheating to beat the game. Unless it's that hard to you or if you just want to mess around, I wouldn't cheat until beating the game. I beat every level of Goldeneye on the N64 on 00 Agent difficulty except Aztec, which I used a cheat because it was way too difficult with the enemies perfect aim. I don't feel bad for cheating on that secret level.
The only thing I wish for is that these Dark Souls type fanboys not criticize how others play compared to them. Other than that, there's not much else left to talk. Accessibility should be common for most games. It doesn't ruin the hardest difficulty by any means. It's not like the 80s.
From Software is known for making games very, very difficult. That goes all the way back to ten years ago with Demon's Souls and then the continuation with Dark Souls and whatever else they have done since. There is a mentality that people can't handle Sekiro and that the ones that do mock them and all that. These kind of games have a cult approach and it's downright scary how the fanbase reacts. All because others want an easy mode and that including it would ruin these kind of games. I don't think an easy mode is going to kill anything.
Options were there to have games easy and hard for home consoles until the NES. For a short period until the Turbografx and Sega Genesis, there wasn't options for most 8-bit games to have difficulty modes. Since 1990, developers have been keen on giving these kind of modes to get all sorts of audiences in on their game or games. I can name at least a few games that could have benefited from being less difficult. Battletoads for sure. Even certain sports games like NHL All-Star Hockey 95 for the Genesis could have had something to tone down the very aggressive opponents. Frogger on PlayStation is one that needed to be toned down tremendously, particularly on later zones.
I do think it's necessary to make games accessible, but not every single game. Everyone has a distinct way of playing and will find something either very easy or very hard. It's all subjective. In regards to very difficult ones, you gotta throw in an easy mode. That does not mean it ruins the game for others. There was a bit of mockery earlier about cheating to beat the game. Unless it's that hard to you or if you just want to mess around, I wouldn't cheat until beating the game. I beat every level of Goldeneye on the N64 on 00 Agent difficulty except Aztec, which I used a cheat because it was way too difficult with the enemies perfect aim. I don't feel bad for cheating on that secret level.
The only thing I wish for is that these Dark Souls type fanboys not criticize how others play compared to them. Other than that, there's not much else left to talk. Accessibility should be common for most games. It doesn't ruin the hardest difficulty by any means. It's not like the 80s.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Tacoma FD Initial Impressions
Over the past year, I had been hearing about the concept of the new TruTV show, Tacoma FD. For a channel like that, they have been trying their hand at getting some scripted material. Stuff like Those Who Can't, I'm Sorry, and maybe Amy Sedaris (Is that scripted? I feel like it is) have stuck around and have given chances to shine in the wake of many Impractical Jokers reruns (I like the show, doesn't mean it needs 10 hours of reruns like Law and Order on USA) For the first two episodes so far, they are hilarious and is the lighter firefighter version of Super Troopers.
This all starts with Terry McConkey, played by creator Kevin Heffernan. If you're expecting a Farva type guy, you're going to be disappointed since he is serious about the job. Things have to be done professionally, and Terry tries his best to keep things at bay, which usually fails. Doesn't help his friend, Eddie Penisi, played by creator Steve Lemme, is looking to cause mischief with the other firefighters. Given the other firefighters, they usually do what Eddie or Terry ask or tell them to do.
As far as the premise, Tacoma ain't great for battling fires. Wettest town in the country. But they still do stuff like get kids out of wells and help people get back into their homes after being locked out. The last episode involved a war between the cops, giving a Reno 911 type scenario, but with pranks instead of incompetence. And at the end of it, there is no happy ending for both sides. With the humor, I saw a bit of some of their stuff on a web series Heffernan and Lemme did back in 2013 and it works better here than it did on their web series. Some of the other ways of doing comedy is very laugh out loud.
My only concern will be whether this stuff will hold up for audiences and if they can do more with a second season if given a green light on that. I don't know. However, they could create some interesting moments with the next episode going forward when Terry's daughter joins the squad and how she handles the mischievous side of the group. For now, as a fan, I am sticking to it until it comes a point where there's a few mediocre episodes in a row.
This all starts with Terry McConkey, played by creator Kevin Heffernan. If you're expecting a Farva type guy, you're going to be disappointed since he is serious about the job. Things have to be done professionally, and Terry tries his best to keep things at bay, which usually fails. Doesn't help his friend, Eddie Penisi, played by creator Steve Lemme, is looking to cause mischief with the other firefighters. Given the other firefighters, they usually do what Eddie or Terry ask or tell them to do.
As far as the premise, Tacoma ain't great for battling fires. Wettest town in the country. But they still do stuff like get kids out of wells and help people get back into their homes after being locked out. The last episode involved a war between the cops, giving a Reno 911 type scenario, but with pranks instead of incompetence. And at the end of it, there is no happy ending for both sides. With the humor, I saw a bit of some of their stuff on a web series Heffernan and Lemme did back in 2013 and it works better here than it did on their web series. Some of the other ways of doing comedy is very laugh out loud.
My only concern will be whether this stuff will hold up for audiences and if they can do more with a second season if given a green light on that. I don't know. However, they could create some interesting moments with the next episode going forward when Terry's daughter joins the squad and how she handles the mischievous side of the group. For now, as a fan, I am sticking to it until it comes a point where there's a few mediocre episodes in a row.
Monday, April 8, 2019
Domino Effect of Oakland Sports
For just about all my life, Oakland has always had teams in various sports. They have baseball, football, and basketball as of now. It's part of the Bay area that includes the various San Francisco teams and others like San Jose with the NHL's Sharks. As the time has gone on lately, sports ain't as big a deal.
A lot has been said about the Raiders. In a couple years, they will be the Las Vegas Raiders. One of the big issues pertaining to it was the fact that their stadium, Oakland Coliseum, is a worn out relic of the 60s. Most stadiums shared both football and baseball. Maybe one or two other sports. After Camden Yards opened in 1992, the focus became single sport only venues, quickly becoming huge favorites in design. Oakland is one of the last few to share multiple sports. Ideally, having a baseball stadium in it does not bode well. Not a surprise why they are leaving.
Hockey and basketball go hand in hand for a lot of sports cities. Most teams in a city share one and quite a bit of these arenas are from the last 25 years or so, a few replacing old 1920s arenas. Oracle has housed many teams in California, but primarily the Golden State Warriors. The last five years have been kind for them, but the move to go back to San Francisco is a bit of a surprise to me. Then again, maybe it is the time to have a new place to call home for a very long time. Oracle is well over 50 years old and sooner or later, it would not be a place to have various sports venues.
Where does that leave the Athletics? I don't know. But they are going to stay in Oakland. However, like the Raiders, they are looking for a new home. That's where the last few months have seen ideas on where they can play. One of them is by a waterfront, similar to San Francisco and the water at Oracle Park's right field. However, this is a work in progress. Nothing is final. Oakland Coliseum is met with tons of criticism every year and it is a place most baseball teams dread.
I don't think it's a matter of competition, but just having a place that is adequate for both teams and fans. Oakland losing the Warriors and Raiders soon could trickle down to whatever happens to the A's. Long story short, it's not the most ideal place for sports in the eyes of the teams front offices and their respective leagues.
A lot has been said about the Raiders. In a couple years, they will be the Las Vegas Raiders. One of the big issues pertaining to it was the fact that their stadium, Oakland Coliseum, is a worn out relic of the 60s. Most stadiums shared both football and baseball. Maybe one or two other sports. After Camden Yards opened in 1992, the focus became single sport only venues, quickly becoming huge favorites in design. Oakland is one of the last few to share multiple sports. Ideally, having a baseball stadium in it does not bode well. Not a surprise why they are leaving.
Hockey and basketball go hand in hand for a lot of sports cities. Most teams in a city share one and quite a bit of these arenas are from the last 25 years or so, a few replacing old 1920s arenas. Oracle has housed many teams in California, but primarily the Golden State Warriors. The last five years have been kind for them, but the move to go back to San Francisco is a bit of a surprise to me. Then again, maybe it is the time to have a new place to call home for a very long time. Oracle is well over 50 years old and sooner or later, it would not be a place to have various sports venues.
Where does that leave the Athletics? I don't know. But they are going to stay in Oakland. However, like the Raiders, they are looking for a new home. That's where the last few months have seen ideas on where they can play. One of them is by a waterfront, similar to San Francisco and the water at Oracle Park's right field. However, this is a work in progress. Nothing is final. Oakland Coliseum is met with tons of criticism every year and it is a place most baseball teams dread.
I don't think it's a matter of competition, but just having a place that is adequate for both teams and fans. Oakland losing the Warriors and Raiders soon could trickle down to whatever happens to the A's. Long story short, it's not the most ideal place for sports in the eyes of the teams front offices and their respective leagues.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Women's Basketball's Stigma
In sports, we see certain ones that get ignored more compared to others. Lately, WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart complained that women's basketball should get more attention compared to the men's side. What she has accomplished the last ten years is impressive, but this is a spoiled, pampered bitch brat with no clue about what she is saying.
First, Stewart is a former UConn player who won championships in all four years and was part of the undefeated streak. That alone, while nice, is also something not all basketball fans care for. Add in all the games where they blow out their opponents by 30 to 50 points, and you have many shunning or changing the channel to find something better. One reason the 2017 Women's National Championship got much better ratings is because of UConn not being in it.
This doesn't apply only to just them, though. When you see the same few teams in the Final Four, that says a lot, too. Even if Notre Dame and Mississippi State do get attention for getting a championship, it would possibly still shun people from watching. The style of play is a small reason. This passing mentality for me is a turn off. Even watching high school teams, it is very low scoring affairs. Some games go like 33 to 21. Maybe even teen numbers if one of them is that horrible.
Attendances don't lie, unfortunately. Even in college, it was struggle for both men and women's basketball to get people into the gym to watch games. A little more watched the men, but it was still very small. Then there's fans who will support the home games, but some of the distances during the tournaments are prohibitive. There's probably other reasons that others may have, but is there a stigma? Kind of, but not really.
Maybe if we see different teams sometime in the future, maybe the public interest will go up instead of the same three vying for the championship every year.
First, Stewart is a former UConn player who won championships in all four years and was part of the undefeated streak. That alone, while nice, is also something not all basketball fans care for. Add in all the games where they blow out their opponents by 30 to 50 points, and you have many shunning or changing the channel to find something better. One reason the 2017 Women's National Championship got much better ratings is because of UConn not being in it.
This doesn't apply only to just them, though. When you see the same few teams in the Final Four, that says a lot, too. Even if Notre Dame and Mississippi State do get attention for getting a championship, it would possibly still shun people from watching. The style of play is a small reason. This passing mentality for me is a turn off. Even watching high school teams, it is very low scoring affairs. Some games go like 33 to 21. Maybe even teen numbers if one of them is that horrible.
Attendances don't lie, unfortunately. Even in college, it was struggle for both men and women's basketball to get people into the gym to watch games. A little more watched the men, but it was still very small. Then there's fans who will support the home games, but some of the distances during the tournaments are prohibitive. There's probably other reasons that others may have, but is there a stigma? Kind of, but not really.
Maybe if we see different teams sometime in the future, maybe the public interest will go up instead of the same three vying for the championship every year.
Monday, April 1, 2019
2019 NCAA Men's National Championship Prediction
A year without North Carolina teams should be very refreshing for the NCAA. To look at this, I gotta say it's going to be some big underdogs for Saturday's Final Four. Michigan State beating Duke was a stunner. Auburn getting past Kentucky was a shocker. But nothing compares to Texas Tech playing defense down the stretch and shutting down Gonzaga. By the way, Auburn and Texas Tech are going to their first ever final four appearances. Not even Charles Barkley made it that far 30 plus years ago.
I see Texas Tech and Virginia going for the championship next Monday. I buy into that defense for Texas Tech. They know when to clamp down and not bend during the critical moments of the second half. That's how the victory against Gonzaga and also Michigan were. Nothing against Auburn, but the health of some of their players is a pressing concern. Losing a player with a torn ACL is one thing, but some of these guys against Kentucky will be sore for a little bit.
Virginia plays high scoring basketball, but they are not a selfish group. It's a balanced team that can make shots count and can put together a solid defense. However, they had to earn their victory against Purdue. Yes, it was a win, but they barely survived it to force overtime. And why I think it's them against Texas Tech for my prediction is that both can put up solid games scoring. However, these defenses could provide an entertaining two hours of basketball.
Anything can happen, though. But my take is Virginia and Texas Tech winning to advance to the championship and Texas Tech winning it all. It's going to be a fun weekend for all four teams involved.
I see Texas Tech and Virginia going for the championship next Monday. I buy into that defense for Texas Tech. They know when to clamp down and not bend during the critical moments of the second half. That's how the victory against Gonzaga and also Michigan were. Nothing against Auburn, but the health of some of their players is a pressing concern. Losing a player with a torn ACL is one thing, but some of these guys against Kentucky will be sore for a little bit.
Virginia plays high scoring basketball, but they are not a selfish group. It's a balanced team that can make shots count and can put together a solid defense. However, they had to earn their victory against Purdue. Yes, it was a win, but they barely survived it to force overtime. And why I think it's them against Texas Tech for my prediction is that both can put up solid games scoring. However, these defenses could provide an entertaining two hours of basketball.
Anything can happen, though. But my take is Virginia and Texas Tech winning to advance to the championship and Texas Tech winning it all. It's going to be a fun weekend for all four teams involved.
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