A good show for the emotionally-deficient

Seems like I'm 2 years behind time, but I thought this would be a good watch for those who have not been conscious of its existence.


Honey & Clover is an anime series which debuted in 2006. It follows the lives and relationships of and between five students in an art college as they realize and try to resolve their own agendas with themselves and each other. Now, while this is meant to be in the slice-of-life category, you will find abundant amounts humor and those little "awww..." moments which will dissolve the slab of stone you call a heart. To my pleasant surprise, this anime is produced by the same studio which brought you Toradora!, and it was apparently very well-received in its time.

For a moment, I almost couldn't tell the difference between this and the Toradora! series, but one of the key differences is that Honey & Clover serves up equal amounts of comedy and emotions in an episode. The transitions between the two phases can be so sudden, but that only serves to make it more unpredictable and enjoyable. Toradora!, one the other hand, gives you small doses of emotion along with a platter of laughter, but gradually unleashes copious amounts of it at key points in the story. Both fit well in my book, but it might be up to you which one you enjoy the most.

The series is not on TV anymore (2 years, what would you expect?), but you can find the full 24 episodes on youtube for the first season, and go on to the second after you're done. If you're feeling bored and devoid of love, have a serving of Honey & Clover, it will make your day!

Oh, and have a Happy New Year!

Call of Duty 6: The franchise continues...

So, Infinity Ward, the crew behind the fantastic Call of Duty 1, 2 and Modern Warfare games have announced on 8th December 2008 that they have started work on their newest title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. And I sit in front of my computer giving a WTF face thinking how generic that name can be. The game will be released sometime around September 2009

So, will we be expecting a return to Azerbaijan or the middle east? Or will a religious zealot or political despot threaten world peace again, causing another group of bad-ass brits to send their butts back to oblivion?

Now, as much as I'm glad to have Infinity Ward back to blow gamers away, (Call of Duty 3 was leaving a bad aftertaste) I was hoping for something more modern, something like: Call of Duty: FUTURISTIC warfare. Now THAT would be total win. Imagine, fighting with lasers and such, pew! pew! pew! It could be the perfect game if Infinity Ward manages to pull it off. I have never experienced a game where you actually fight alongside AI buddies in a futuristic setting and you're not the "True Hero" of the whole damn thing.

Too bad it's still the modern world...

A bit too much to ask for, I guess.


If they really wanna create a sequel to COD4, I'm hoping Cpt. Price makes his appearance again. He's seemingly impervious to the effects of time, seeing as he has survived from WWII all the way to the modern times, without even gaining a scratch or a wrinkle.

Spoiler for COD4 ending (Insider joke)...

Cpt. Price: Ugghh... I won't make it... Goodbye, cruel world...

Russian Soldier: (attempting to revive Price) Не действительно, Вы появляетесь в COD6...
Translation: (Not really, you're appearing in COD6...)

Cpt. Price: What? YEESSSS..... I live, AGAIN!!!

We've come to expect nothing short of brilliance and a hella time from Infinity Ward's titles; lets hope they don't disappoint us with their latest. Remember, folks, these are the industry's finest!

The conclusion of a story arc...

...will give rise to another. So is true for the Toradora! series of anime, which I have been faithfully following since it's creation. Episode 13 just came out like, 2 hours ago, and I have scrutinized it completely, even without subs. This episode is the conclusion to the current season, and JCstaff (the good people behind Toradora!) will be taking a well-deserved one week break before they continue on 14.

So, what a season it was. From what i've gathered, JCstaff apparently isn't your popular o'l anime studio; rather, it's projects have been racked with unsatisfactory series, so when the Toradora! anime came out, you can tell not many were expecting a hell of a time from it. So, when the series debuted, it blew away quite a few people who were expecting some half-assed show which featured a predictable and cliche-filled plot with characters that make you wanna puke evertime they mutter another nutty one-liner.

Fortunately, the staff there have given me (and the mojority of anime watchers) a reason to actually adore their newest creation. You will hear no complaints from me: the whole 13 episodes have been a joy-ride so far.

With the more than satisfactory closing episode for this season, I can safely say JCstaff have made a sucessful story arc (at least for now).

I think I won't survive two weeks without my shot of Toradora!, but for now, chrsitmas is upon us! Even fan art is taking a turn for a christmassy style:

Does it snow in Japan anyway?

Its christmas, and to everyone out there, have a good one!

The perfect L4D experience

I realized today that the local LAN shop has its rigs stocked with the new zombie survival shooter: Left 4 dead. Two hours in there with three other friends later, I step out, completely dazed by the awesomeness of the experience.

Two months ago I remembered wishing for Left 4 dead to be set up in that LAN shop. I predicted it would rival CS in terms of popularity over there. Presto, two months later, my wish came true. While I was there, everyone was playing it. A few other deviants were stubbornly sticking to their DOTA games, but the day was won by Left 4 Dead.

So then, I sit down and start the game. My friends on my flank are chattering like its -10 out. I can already here zombie blood being spilled by others around me. And then, the game (and the fun) starts. The next two hours were filled with pure win as we screamed at each other every 15secs and start breathing again every time we kill another tank or witch.

This kind of experience, you can never find online or with bots. Its frantic action out there, with your friends swearing at you after a friendly-fire incident or when YOU swear at them after they shoot you while you get jumped by a hunter. Communication is WAY easier, and you don't get maddeningly high ping.

Okay, we all got killed half a dozen times and there were a few TK incidents, but the whole thing was just SWEET. I can't explain it all in words, but do yourself a favor: Get three friends and go someplace where you can play Left 4 Dead over LAN. And let the fun begin...

Two words: Hella Cool

Feast your eyes on this baby:



THAT is a true masterpiece. Read more on http://www.brickgun.com/

A world-renown sub machine gun now in a high quality Lego model. What more could you possibly want for Christmas? It looks and handles just like the original HKmp5, from the trigger which can be toggled by the safety switch to the retractable stock.

Note the magazine. Each of those bullets are REAL Lego parts too. The word "awesome" doesn't even start to describe how good this Lego model is.

Of course, at a price of US$450, you will be hoping you get the bang for your buck with this. The package includes a limited edition gift box and instructions for building your own. Not that I'd give anyone this gun as a gift once my hands get a grip on it.

Its frighteningly expensive, but if there's one thing I would kill for this Christmas, it would be this slick and incredibly ass-kicking gun.

A misunderstood weapon

I present to you, the most wide-spread firearm in modern first-person shooters:

The M4A1 carbine.



Yes, folks, this is the gun any counter strike nut would instantly recognize, yet it's a shame some people do NOT know the real characteristics of this highly prolific weapon. I have friends who have played counter strike for ages, and when I tell them, "Hey, I think the M4 is better for you", they ask, "Huh, whats that?". That's just sad, thinking the gun is really called "carbine" If you are all hardcore over a game, why don't you learn something about it instead of just playing it?

Alrighty, here are some hard facts for the hard skulled...

-The m4a1 carbine has fully automatic and semi-auto firing modes, unlike the full-auto capabilities you often see.

-As you might already know, this weapon can be modified to incorporate a scope, grenade launcher or another attachment. This is a contrast to the plain jane m4s you commonly see.

-The gun is not called the "carbine". A carbine is a shortened and "nerfed" version of a main weapon. This gives it better maneuverability in the tight urban combat environments at the cost of power. The m4a1 carbine is a firearm designed from the late m16a2 assault rifle, which wasn't so hot as a weapon.

Hope this will bring awake our disillusioned trigger-happy friends.

A teaser for my story.

Progress on my post apocalyptic tale is going strongly, and I have decided to release a small teaser within my story. This is partly to raise a little awareness among friends, and to gather a bit of feedback. ^^ So, ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes on this...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1145 hrs, July 5th 2018
San Diego, California
Interstate Highway 8

Throughout the journey from the Pacific beach till now, not a single word was uttered between the two. Fiona was shaken badly, and curled up in a featal position on the worn leather backseat. Having her legs retracted, she was in her own quiet, albeit moving, corner of the world. She tried to think. Had she not been so good at it? Why was her mind suddenly phased out? It was as though there was a party outside her head, and every single one of her brain cells were invited.

She had burrowed her head into the space between her knees and chest in quiet contemplation. Every once in a while curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked out the window. It was the same scene which scared her to no end: one of people desperately trying to get away, of untold atrocities done in the name of survival, of a world gone completely mad. Each time, she had hastily stuck her head back into the narrow space in denial. And every time she did that, hot tears came gushing from her eyes.

“I’m Clement,” came a hoarse voice which interrupted the noisy croaking of the engine, “you… are you okay?”

Fiona looked at the man with watery eyes. Although his eyes were on the road, every once in a while he would look back at her uneasily.

“No, I’m not okay. My mother is in New York, and I have no idea how to find her. For all I know, she could be, she… she could…” those was all the words Fiona could muster before her head collapsed into her knees and the dams in her eyes were opened again.




Clement stole a look at the pitiful creature. He was in a rough state, but still managed, although just barely, to keep his mind straight. He was always a survivor, not easily brought down by anything except the worst twists of fate. But this time, fate had thrown him a wild card.

He remembered the morning earlier. He recalled the wails that resounded across the neighborhood waking him up from his slumber. The panicked crowds he could see from his window. His radio suddenly cutting off the throaty voices of a singer, replacing it with an emergency message.

And yet, he managed to remain calm. Calm enough to notice old Mrs. Bailey drive through the streets on her red pickup towards the city just minutes before the commotion started. His mind was clear enough during the chaos to remember her granddaughter living with her. While fearing for his survival, an inner angel had so pleadingly asked him to save her. This time, his devil had nothing to say.

And now, here he was, with a brain-case in the back seat of his minivan. He wasn’t sure if she would compromise his chances of survival.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, here's a snippet of my writing! If you have an opinion on the quality of this teaser, please do post a comment!


Although this story is hardly near-completion, I am planning on a second story, maybe turning it into a series in a long story, or just a novel. I'm turning away from apocalyptic fiction, and trying the romantic comedy genre. Sounds weird, yea I'm aware of that. I'm getting a bit ahead of my abilities... heh heh.


But, stay tuned for more news on my stories!

(P.S.: Any similarity to real life persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental. Thank You!)

Disney might buy over Electronic Arts in future

One word, "Tragic". Bloody tragic.

"Asked if Disney's focus would be on developing in-house games over buying more developers, [CFO Tom] Staggs responded, "I don't want you to conclude that those are in the long term mutually exclusive." He went on to say that a "strategic and attractive" purchase would be "a possibility" for the family entertainment giant.

Did he say Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS)? No. However, a combination of EA's battered share price and Disney's desire to ramp up its gaming presence dovetail nicely in the rumor mill.

The Motley Fool offers five reasons why a Disney takeover of EA makes sense:

• Disney has acquired game companies before (Avalanche Studios, Club Penguin)
• EA Sports and Disney's ESPN would have synergy
• Disney's MMOs haven't worked out so far, but EA has Warhammer
• Racing is a major theme is Disney's films and parks; EA has Need For Speed
• Convergence of Disney's theme parks with EA's strong IP" - gamepolitics.com

Nooooo!!!

What titles can we expect in the future?
-Mickey and Friends Online
-Need for Disney
-Adventures in Disneyland (Alright, they're all made up)

Right now, EA is one of the leading developers in Video games. Although its games are declining in quality in the recent years, a world without EA is pretty hard to fathom. Furthermore, EA and Disney just do not mix. EA caters to the more down-to-earth gamers with titles such as the Battlefield and Command & Conquer series; adding "family entertainment" to it would be pure facepalm.

As far as I can see, the equation is:
(EA assimilated into Disney) =/= (very family-oriented games and unhappy gamers)

Nuff' said.

Another stick of RAM

At least on this cold, gloomy day, i have something to be happy about. I finally fitted my rig with another GB of RAM, making the grand total 2GB. Nice.

Its not much however; for many power horse rigs these days, 2GB RAM is a norm, for some its even insufficient. At least now when i discuss about computer hardware with friends, I don't have to scowl when someone asks, "Hey, how much RAM your computer has?"

I'm off to enjoy the increased game performance I've so greatly deserved, but before i end off, I present to you, the future installment for my computer.....

A STICK OF NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800GTX GPU!!!!!!

Thehappycamper, out.

Forget the Rocky music. CS pro wannabes, watch this...

This is just about the coolest thing I've watched on the internet. When all you newbs out there play Counter Strike, turn this song on to full blast and watch your self become the ultimate pro!

Noah's Ark: Fact or Fiction?

I just read this up on facepunch forums, thought it would be an interesting read. If you're lazy, I've summarised its contents below.

Sorry if this means any offense to our religious friends, or if you're insulted by this post. But it makes absolute sense, so don't even think of flaming my post unless you have a valid argument.

Ok, the Noah's Ark story is somewhat of a childrens' bedtime tale, but many Christians and Muslims take it literally. The story states that Noah and his wives brought along a pair of every single animal (one male, the other female) in the world to a huge ship, to save them from a flood caused by the ballistic God. Nothing else survived the flood, and the world was repopulated with the pairs of living beings.

If you study biology, you would realize this is utter bollocks. Looking at it in a scientific manner, you will come to realize that: how can two living things copulate, and leave an entire family tree after them? This would mean sisters would have to mate with their brothers, and vice versa.

In animals you call it inbreeding. In humans you call that incest. But thats just the least of the problems, if you manage to get by the moral implications.

Inbreeding causes problems to the future generations of animals. You see, each of our genes contains a dominant (D) and recessive (R) allele. Through normal breeding, the (D) allele will always be expressed. In inbreeding, there is more chance of homozygosity, where your offspring might get alleles of the same type. Not only does this mean your future generations will lack genetic diversity, but the probability of receiving (RR) alleles is increased (Your offspring will have BAD genes).

In the long run, the future generations will:
1) have increased genetic disorders (from recessive genes).
2) be prone to mortality at birth.
3) have weaker immune systems.
Plus other heath problems.

If the story of Noah's Ark was true, we would all be weak, mentally handicapped, prone to genetic diseases and a failure as a species. That hasn't happened, right? So the story of Noah's Ark is, in simple terms, total bull.

The next time you see a mongrel on the streets, don't look down on it. It's off spring has a better chance of survival than your pampered pure-breed pets.

Oh, and since we're at the topic of atheism, heres a pic for fellow atheists.

The excitement mounts...

I'm really, really pumped right now. The 11th episode of Toradora! is airing in two days time (Ok, technically one more day...) on Okto! I'll admit it, I'm a complete dumbass when it comes to anime, but believe me when I say this. Toradora! is THE anime you should be watching this month. Screw that, its the anime you should be watching for the rest of next year too if they create a second season (which i pray fervently the good people at J.C. Staff do). Refer to my 3rd post if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

Every night i wake up at 4am and ask, "Why am I so crazy over this show? I must be losing my damned mind", and go back to sleep.

For this post, please end your reading right here if you cannot relate to emotions.

Anime, especially the really good ones, have the ability to make you wish you were in their world. They are what some people may call, a "second life" for the truly obsessed.

Toradora! is the first anime series I've watched in more than 5 years, and I can't believe how engrossing it is. I mean, I almost wish i was in the shoes of one of the characters.

I discussed this anime-watching symptom with my Mom, and she was asking me, "Why would you want to do that? These characters probably have a life worse off than you." Makes sense, doesn't it?

Taiga Aisaka is emotionally troubled and intolerant of others, VERY short in stature, and left alone to fend for herself by her parents, although she is the cutest thing you've ever seen. Would you like to live her life?



Ryūji Takasu is a nice guy, but is not well off financially, scares people off with his eyes, is father-less, and has to contend with Tiaga tormenting him everyday. Unappealing, eh?

But this kind of thinking can be described with one word: "dense". Just because these people don't lead the perfect life, it doesn't mean they do not have emotions, or feelings. The manga and the anime convey these feelings out in their own way; in a way that we can understand, appreciate and maybe wish WE could also convey them.

Toradora! is beautiful in its own way, and i cannot describe it in words. The characters have some sort of substance in their personality which makes you want to BE one of them, or at least spectate their adventures within their magical world. You might be able to understand what I'm going on about here, but you most likely won't until you've actually watched "Toradora!".

Do you recognize the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when witnessing something special, or meaningful to you? Even though i don't know much of them, I can safely say many animes will give you those special fuzzies, sub-consciously or otherwise.

I mean this for every single anime out there. But Toradora! has simply given me a wish to relive its characters, and a wish to share with you this amazingly crazy rant I've posted. =)

Maybe you think I'm just in love with this anime. You might be right.

Godspeed!

Rants of a serious gamer

This is just plain crazy.

[Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told Reuters in an interview that Wii sales during the Thanksgiving holiday week came to about 800,000 units in the United States, more than double the 350,000 units it sold in the same period a year earlier.

"When the economy is strong, people tend to buy three things from the top of their wish list. But when things are bad, people often buy only the first thing on their list," Iwata said. "Fortunately for us a lot of shoppers put our products at the top of their list."] - Reuters UK.



When I read this is was like, WTF? The Wii is a nice little toy, but for it to become so popular is just about embarrassing to the hardcore gamer.

In short, the equation is:
big jump in Wii sales = [ (Casual gamers/Family gamers) > (Hardcore gamers) ]

I can almost see a family buying a Wii for Christmas....

10yr old boy: Daddy, I want this Xbox 360 for Christmas, okay?

Father: Alright son, I'll buy... (turns head around) ...hey look, a Wii! Finally in stock!

10yr old boy: But Daddy, I want a Xbox 360, not a stupid Wii... (Starts crying)

Father: Shut up! Lookit, family play! Woot! Dear, hand me my wallet!

About the same thing happened to me last year for my birthday, just that i DIDN'T cry, and i wanted a computer upgrade instead. Contrary to popular belief, Wii games aren't really that fantastic, its just that people who buy Wii games are disillusioned causals who mindlessly play them because "Oooh! I've shelled out my hard earned money for a Wii and a set of games so it must be good". I once spent money on a game called "You Are Empty". I tell you, anything else would have been money better spent.

Ok, there were a few great ones, like " Twilight Princess" and "Resident Evil 4". But many of the other games are really overrated. They're silly, like "Warioware". Then again, what can you expect from Japanese innovation?

Its a bit of a blow to more serious forms of video games, i'll give you that.

Have an opinion? Spit it out here!

I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire

Any Fallout 3 freak would instantly recognize this song, but for the benefit of our non-gaming friends, here's the music. Quite a surprise that this mellow and sweet song would be found in a game with such a gloomy theme.

Guys, sing this to your sweethearts. If you play the guitar too, I'll be damned of they don't swoon.



I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start
A flame in your heart
In my heart I have but one desire
And that one is you
No other will do

I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission that you feel the same
I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of

Believe me!
I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start
A flame in your heart

Blood diamonds

Speaking of the movie "Blood Diamond" two posts earlier, it might be useful to know the show isn't all mindless blood and guns wrapped into a presentable package. "Conflict diamonds" do exist, and they come mainly from Africa. Warlords get people they captured to work in diamond mines, and sell the bloodshed-stained rough diamonds in exchange for supplies and weapons. The governments are no innocent parties; they too sell diamonds to foreign countries to support their war effort.

As you can see, the rebel warlords and governments suffer the people to get diamonds which are exchanged for arms. This continues the fighting and bloodshed, and the local populace suffers even more. Diamonds will always be in demand by the starry-eyed ladies, so the fighting will always continue. They are taking advantage of the world's lust for diamonds to fund their petty and bloody conflicts.

(Men working in a diamond mine in Africa)

In 2003, the Kimberley Process was established by the UN to ensure that diamonds in circulation are free of conflict. While conflict diamond trade has reduced by up to 75%, up to 1% of all diamonds found can still have their roots linked back to conflict diamond mines in Africa.

For all you guys out there wanting to blow your cash on diamonds for your one and only, there is something you can do to insure against buying blood diamonds.

As a consumer, you have a right to know more about what you are buying. Ask for a certificate which comes with a diamond to certify its origin. If the jeweler cannot provide proof to show that a diamond is conflict-free, do not buy it.

Remember, diamonds may be forever, but lives are not. The five hundred dollars you just spent on a diamond ring might be linked to a innocent victim shot to death a few weeks later.

You can't live with that, can you?

Zealots, DO NOT READ

Get the picture?

Ok, call me an atheist, but I'm proud of it.

Bringing in the new year soon..... but remembering the old ones.

Year end. What a time to start a blog.

Anyways, 2008 has been a fantastic year in gaming. Every year, games get more and more technically advanced; so do the machines that run it. There are, however, aspects of a game that not even the best and abstract technology can replace. These points are: Storyline, Characters, Setting and Atmosphere. It takes skill, and most importantly, passion, to be able to craft a gem in the gaming industry. While I will continue to drool over the latest eye candy games can offer, what will make a game truly enjoyable will not only be graphics, but gameplay mechanics, plot, and the right atmosphere. From the early Missile Command all the way to Crysis, the hallmark of the graphics department, all successful games are not just frilly, they pack real substance too (ok, maybe a little marketing does go a long way). A girl, beautiful, yet devoid of any emotion will simply be complimented on her looks, but overall, shes a brick wall. The same applies to video games.

Ah, rant rant rant.

It has been a great year, in every aspect. But for the purpose of this blog, long live video games!

My trusty machine has endured game after game for this year, and prevailed against the increasingly high system requirements. Here's a brief rundown of the 5 greatest video games that have rocked 2008!


1) Fallout 3 (RPG-FPS hybrid)
Just about the most anticipated game, Fallout 3 earns points in the graphics department for its great representation of blasted Washington DC. The atmosphere was pretty well planned. You step out of the vault you have been living in for 19 years of your life, for the first time. Your eyes adjust to the brightness. You see rocky, barren wastelands stretching for miles onward. Pulverised building litter the landscape. Pockets of humanity live amongst these ruins, a shadow of their former selves. The presentation isn't the best, but its a perfect example of what constitutes a good game. The rpg-gamepaly is serious fun too, even if its in First person. Oblivion with guns? The game however, falls short in the technical department. Its a bugs life over here; I can barely play for more than 2 hours without the game crashing. Overall high in entertainment value, but just a wee bit unrefined.


2) Far Cry 2 (FPS)
An African setting. Tanned men wielding ak-47s. Lush jungles, unforgiving deserts. Seems pluckked right out of the movie "Blood Diamond", and "Blood Diamond" was one hell of a joyride. Speaks volumes about the game, eh? Sure, enough, Far Cry 2 is quite one-of-a-kind. The immersion is totally awesome; imagine pulling a bullet out of your arm with your teeth, or desperately climbing to the gun turret of a jeep to blow away trigger-happy rebels. All this happens while you're in first person, so it feels like you're an action hero pulling these stunts. When you're in the heat of the action in the open-ended Far Cry 2, adrenaline will be pumping through your vessels. Whether you like to blow the opposition away with your Milkor MGL, or be a stealth whore camping from afar with a SVD rifle(Which i LOVE), Far Cry 2 will not disappoint. Be prepared for long periods of travelling between points though. Map design could be improved to reduce the long distances between the periods of heart-pumping firefights.


3) Mass Effect (RPG)
Futuristic plot, memorable characters, stunning graphics, what more could a RPG fanboy want? I'm definitely not a RPG whore, but this game is pretty amazing. You'll be so sucked into the plot that I don't think crowbars can pry your fingers from the mouse. The story is uber, let me repeat: UBER. Combat and character upgrading is sweet. I would have like a greater variety to the endings, though. Apart from that, i find little to fault with Mass Effect. If you have not tried it, your loss, mate.


4) Left 4 Dead (FPS)
This game is, quite simply, a first in truly cooperative gameplay. The makers of Half Life 2 bring you Left 4 Dead, a zombie apocalypse themed shooter where 3 of your other friends can come together to survive the shambling hordes. Teamwork is an integral part of this game; going Rambo on zombie asses will net you a quick death. As Mia Hamm once said, "I am a member of a team, and i rely on the team and sacrifice for it because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion." You and your team mates will either get out together, or die alone. You will be relying on your teamies to cover your back while you unload some lead, its a mutual act. The atmosphere is positively creepy, and you'll be glad to have a friendly face fighting beside you. However, I've had a few bad experiences playing with strangers. The lack of coordination while playing with unknown others leaves something to be desired. But if you get three of your best homies and play together, its an experience that redefines "co-op" in gaming.


5) Endwar (Strategy)
Lock and load, this game from the Tom Clancy's series is a strategy experience which is different, and amazing. Why so? Because you command your soldiers using your voice. Barking orders into your headset and watching your troops dutifully and precisely roll across the battlefield really makes you feel like a real field commander. This intuitive way of effective and keeps things interesting. Hell, you could even play the entire game by voice commands! Too bad its only for consoles; I'll be all over the PC version. The single player bit feels a bit tacked on, but multiplayer on Live is awesome. No RTS experience gets better than this. While the stratergy is somewhat shallow and the single player mode could do with improvement, its seriouly reinvents the way people play RTS games.



Well, thats that. Hope you all had a great 2008, and watch out for more video game commentary!

A few LOL pics and I'm off to bed...


Reminds me of myself... =)

I'll call him "Freddy"

Check this out:



Ok, that isn't something that will go into pixar or dreamworks film, I'll admit. But its still a 3D model! Its just something I created after following the blender 3D modelling guides. Will add to its detail soon, so you'll see more of this little bugger.

For now, Freddy the (unfinished) 3D model says good night.

GTA 4 for PC. A dream come true.

The GTA series of games has probably been the most memorable gaming experience I've received since the first game debuted more than 10 years ago. Since then, the spin-offs did not disappoint; each of them were like hand-crafted gems, unlike other game sequels (Red Alert 3 comes to mind). GTA and GTA vice city were especially enjoyable.

Then came GTA 4. I nearly went crazy when they announced it would only be out for consoles (Besides the Wii, i don't have any other gaming consoles). Then a few months later, Rockstar announced the PC port for the game. A slice of heaven!

Now, i'm not so sure the PC port would be that great. A trip to Gamespy later, i found that the reviewer who had given GTA 4 for PC a 5/5 had to face some pretty angry viewers; they had other ideas, it seemed.

"WOOOSH! That was the sound of your journalistic integrity flying out the window."

"Ok, I think this will be my last visit to Gamespy for a review - 5 stars? Come on, did you even install the game?"

The hotheads were disappointed with a few things:
-Seriouly bad graphical performance even on above average PCs.
-Laggy as a Granny.
-Buggy game.

Ok, thats on the technical side. But what about the game itself? I heard its has:
-great immersion for a sandbox game.
-a fantastic plot.
-sweet visuals & sound.

"It's not a stretch to say that, were this a film, some of the "performances" would be Oscar-worthy. Yes, we're aware that the characters aren't real people, but they are still better actors than many of the people in the yearly crop of summer blockbusters." - Will Tuttle

Seriously, the viewers were a bit harsh. I tried it on the XBox, pretty good. But you can understand; it wouldn't be very nice if there's a huge titanium carbide door between you and a flawless diamond you want.

I'm seriously torn, to buy or not to buy? Every PC version of the GTA series has been an epic episode, one after the other.

I'm all over the storyline and visuals and stuff, but my computer is no power house, at least when compared to the industry's finest. My computer will choke to death if given Crysis at Ultra high settings:

Intel Core 2 Duo, 1.8Ghz
1Gb RAM (getting 2 soon)
80Gb HD space (Pathetic, yea?)
Nvidia Geforce 8500 (I'm a moron, this card totally sucks. Should have gotten 8800)
Integrated sound card
No physics plugin cards

With all the bugs and cut-throat system requirements, i'm having second thoughts.

Toradora! Heard it?

I feel a bit wasted, blogging at 4.30 in the morning. I'm just a bit type-happy after creating my own blog. Right, enough of me, on to my subject.

Ok, I'm not a fantastic fan of anime, or manga for that matter. I've always associated them with the emotional or "glorious" type. I swear a watch less than one anime series a year. (Ok, maybe a bit more for pokemon and digimon 10 years back...)

Something caught my attention, however, when i made a trip to youtube a few weeks back. Under the section, "Videos being watched right now" 5 colourful pics popped out. Usually i wouldn't give a damn. Of the 5 pics, 2 were usually sleazy anime shorts produced to give geeks something to fap over while they plan their next cheesy pick-up line. I swear, there was even one vid titled "ANIME GORY SHIT" which appeared there before. God, the poor bastard watching it must be socially awkward or something. (Amazingly, it had 12000+ views. Sick bastards, all 12000 of them)

On that particular visit, i saw this pic flash up. I dunno why, but on my sudden intuition i clicked it. I was not dissappointed.

I watched episode 10 of a recent anime called "Toradora!", lasting 30mins in 3 separate vids. It could not have been produced more than 2 months ago.

I did not understand a word of it; it was completely in japanese, even the video title was foreign.

But I was intrigued. The characters, although speaking gibberish, caught my attention.

I went to do a little research on my trusty google toolbar. I found its English name, "Toradora!", which basically means Tigerdragon! or something like that in Japanese. Here's a few promo pics:








The anime came from the manga, which came from the light novel, all of the same name. I smartened up, and went to search youtube with its English name. Smart move, although the characters still spoke Japanese, there were english subtitles. I ended up spending a full day watching the first 10 episodes, something i would never dream of doing normally.

For the anime freaks who have been in coma for the past two months, the plot is basically about this guy, Ryuji (Means Dragon) Takasu, a friendly, cleanliness-obsessed, self-reliant 16 year old high school student who has the devil's eyes. These eyes, while making him look striking, also makes him look like an intimidating, angry punk all the time, which causes his classmates to fear him greatly, at least for a while. He starts his school year, but comes into very bad luck when he bumps into Taiga (Tiger, get it?) Aisaka, a very beautiful, albeit very short and somewhat clumsy girl in his class. Despite her looks, she is a tigress, quick to anger and does not really socialize, except with her best friend. Everyone in the school are afraid of her violent ways, and give her the nickname, "Palmtop Tiger". She gives Ryuji hell on the first day, until she finds out that he knows her secret crush: his best friend. She is about to kill him for having that information, when he reveals to her that he is in love with her best friend as well. The two then work together to seek their goals, and all the while, Ryuji discovers more about Taiga's other troubled side as well.

This romantic comedy is very well written; the plot is engaging, the characters have a deep agenda behind them, and overall the series is very moving. Unconvinced? Surf the net, and get a second opinion.

There should be 3 episodes left, for those who have been following the series. If you're in singapore and have cable TV, check okto at channel 8 if i'm not wrong. It airs every thursday night, 11.30. If you missed it, youtube is chock full with its videos.

This is serious shit guys, the series is fantastic. I can't wait for next thursday. If you haven't done so, do yourself a favour and check out the first 2 episodes at the very least on youtube. I'll gouge my eyes out if you weren't even remotely moved.

A little something i'm working on...

All right, first comes the reality. Then the anxiety. Then the mugging. Next comes the Examination. The relief. The boredom. The shock-of-your-life/what-you've-expected.

There, I've summarized the o'levels examination process for the average Joe.

I'm currently in the "boredom" stage, and boy is it a shocker. I can't believe the hours of my life I'm wasting away. I gotta do something useful, be productive, serve the society, etc. etc.

After milling about it, i decided to get a job. I asked a few of my friends along, they were like, meh. Yes, I'm looking at you, Nigel. It didn't work out. It seemed their human resource manager took a serious disliking to me.

So, I'm now unemployed. Couldn't be bothered to get another job. More time to blow on Fallout 3 (Its a rpg game, by the way), i guess.

I have approximately a month and 3/4 of holiday left, maybe less. My brain is starting to rot from the 372nd time i blew a raider's head off in the Capital Wasteland. (VATS was addictive, I'll admit.)

So, i decided to write. Maybe it wouldn't occur to some of you to let your imagination flow in writing, but i gotta tell you, its pretty addictive. What were originally plans to write a short essay have turned into blueprints for a full blown novel.

I'll let you guys in a bit on the plot: Its set a decade down the road, when the world situation is at a critical turning point. The background is actually about the conflict between nations, but in my story I'm focusing totally on the conflict between China and the USA. It doesn't last very long though; I blew both countries up with tactical nukes from the other side by chapter 2. Not much more to write about, eh? But wait! What about the lives of the people who survive the holocaust? The bulk of my story will involve the adventures of people as they try to survive in post-apocalyptic USA.

My story will be from the perspective of 2 or more people, depending on where the story takes me. Currently I've settled for two:

One of them is a disgruntled US air force officer and his exploits after the war.

The other is a wayward teenage girl spending her summer vacation (like us) when the bombs changed her life forever.

I'm thinking of a third character to spice up the mix, maybe some Chinese bloke who witnessed the American ICBMs fall on his country? Share your thoughts, please. I'd like a second opinion.

I was inspired to write this when i saw this amazing flash movie on newgrounds. Respect to whoever created it.

Here's a link (part 1 only, further parts are easily found) :
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/466240

I also found inspiration from many cold war themed books, like Tom Clancy's. Of course, how could i forget, Fallout 3. =)

This story ought to get more interesting as the plot thickens, so check back for future updates. Also, if any publishers are reading this, watch out for my latest!

Hello, World!

Hey, new blog on the block!

To all those who DON'T know me:
Heya, fellow dudes and dudettes, I'm Darrel, a.k.a the happy camper.
A few things about me...
-I'm from Singapore.
-I'm from tanjong katong sec school.
-I'm 16.
-I'm WAY taller than i should be. Could be a mutation at birth or something, i dunno. Its a godsend still, believe me. (okay, sometimes)
-I'm not really the sort which will make a girl go mad with desire, heh heh.
-Computer games are somewhat 35% of my life. I attribute 20% to schoolwork, 20% to social life, 10% to other hobbies, 10% to lazing around and 5% to the random crap life throws at you.
-My vocabulary is somewhat colorful, bear with it, please.
-I'm not a very "emotional" kind of person, so don't expect me to drone on and on about stuff related but not limited to mushy stuff, emo stuff and deep-hearted things. I do talk about it once in a while though.
-Stuff i do as hobbies:
-computer gaming
-computer gaming
-listening to the muzak
-writing
-3D modeling (using Blender)
-computer gaming
-figuring out game physics
-billards
-computer gaming

Get the picture? Magic.

To all those who know me (Who i believe will make up the vast majority of readers):
I'll leave out the introductions. Welcome to my blog!


All Right.
What can you expect from this blog?

Well, I'll give my commentary on everyday stuff and happenings. Tell you about projects I'm working on. But don't be surprised if you see a lot of posts with "Video gaming" as a topic. You've been warned.

Oh yes, and greetz to the following people:
-Nigel (Whens the next pool date?)
-Varian, will miss the after tuition pool games with ya.
-Chin Kiat and his cronies.
-B Tan (Saw your blog, decided to start one)
-Yash, the coolest Indian I've known.
-Jovi, Dota elemental.
-Thuggy (Sao Jun), sorry, too used to your nick. Cool guy.
-Clarence, the fantastic emo. Cool guy too.


Well then, welcome the newbie blogger! On to actual content.