Forgot password?  |  Register  |    
User Name:     Password:    
Blog - General Entry   

Things I Have Been Doing


On 04/28/2013 at 10:21 PM by Alex-C25

See More From This User »

For those who don't know, I used to do blogs in 1up with that title. They were updates focusing mainly on things I had done lately on videogames, television, movies, music and literature, which I did wherever I had time and/or weren't lazy.

At first, I was going to do some first impressions on a game I have been playing lately, but because I wanted to talk about other things (and do shameless gushing on a webcomic i've been reading), I decided to return this series of blogs to Pixlbit. The only two changes I will make would be that I can omit sections on future blogs if I feel that I don't have much to say, like for example I haven't seen any movie lately, and I can also add things like Webcomics, Web Shows, etc.

With that said, let's start Pixlbit's first blog of TIHBD.

Videogames:

This is the most recent game I have right now, which I didn't buy, but was a gift I got from a friend who went to the United States and bought it in GameStop, in the shelf where they sell DS for 10 dollars. According to him, the clerk told him that it was one of the best games on the DS, so that's why he got it.

I heard on the internet that this game is disliked in the Mega Man community and according to Metacritic, much of the press thought it was average (which could mean the clerk got his statement wrong, or just simply didn't know). So far, I think it's average, but i'm hooked into it.

There are some things that are a bit annoying. One thing that annoys me it's the random enemy encounters, which I know it's a staple of many RPGs, but here they are annoying as they happen more frequently than they should (and sometimes you can't exit the battles) and I really think they aren't necessary when I have to get from point A to B in a hurry. I also have to say that I don't care much about the story or characters so far. I think the story and characcters will develop later to make me care, but i'm just very early in the game and except for Omega-Xis (the alien who's in Mega Man's arm), the characters aren't really interesting and Geo, the protagonist and titular Mega Man here, its kind of an antisocial crybaby who doesn't stop complaining about his dissapeard dad (atleast, so far). Good thing Omega is giving him lessons on being more social.

That said, I don't have that much problem with the combat system, even with some cheap enemies and randomness, the graphics look good on both 2D and 3D and well, I do have a feeling that the story and characters will get a good development. Let's just wait and see.

For information on the story, just go here.

Literature:

I decided to repeat one of my favorite books of my pre-teen years, Tunnels. It's the first part of a saga it created, of which I have the the first three books, but for some reason I didn't continue to the fouth book. To see how much it has aged and to remember the story if I would like to get the fourth book, I started from scratch the saga.

The plot is about an English fourteen-year old kid named Will Burrows, who has a hobby of digging holes, something which he shares with his archeologist father, Dr Burrows. They both find that below London and their neighborhood (I think) Highfield, are many mysterious tunnels and abandoned underground places (which they keep as a secret to anyone). After the dissapearance of his father, Will embarks on a underground journey with his friend Chester, to find him. To not spoil anything, i'll just leave the summary like that.

On the book, I just finished the first part and i'll continue to the second. Overall, although I could finally understand and catch many things I didn't notice on my first read, the first parts is very slow and not much is happening. Fortunately, the book still hooked me in to continue and as far as I remember, the story gets better and exciting at the start of the second part (much like something I will mention later).

Speaking of repeating books, I also decided to repeat I, Robot. I had this book for like four years   but I never finished it and although I was pretty far on it, I decided to start again, to understand better the story now that I have a better level at english (I have Tunnels in Spanish, while I, Robot is in english).

So far, I'm hooked again. With my current level at english, I could understand many things I missed on my first reading and follow the stories better. So far, the themes are very interesting and I like when some of the characters explore the Three Laws of Robotics that Isaac Asimov created. Since this is a collection of short stories with a small link between them, the two ones I like so far are Robbie and Reason, and i'm halfway in Liar!.

Webcomics: 

> Proceed to gush talk about Homestuck.

Image from tvtropes page.

I think anyone who has spend a lot of time on the internet has heard of this webcomic called Homestuck. If not, then proced to go to the tv tropes page linked above to know more about it.

I won't deny that I also created this category here to talk about Homestuck. The thing is that it's currently my favorite webcomic and one of my current obssesion lately. This comic it's just epic. From the story and the setting, to the characters actions and probably other things, this comic is something that needs to be seen to be believed, with things of big scope and lots of complex time traveling and issues, and everytime something epic happens, the author, Andrew Hussie, manages to top that with something even bigger. Combine that with great animation and music (it's also an interactive comic that uses Flash), very interesting characters and blending of other genres, I could say that you got something never seen before.

Although, if you want to read it, you'll need to set an schedule as the comic is very long and might get tedious to some and much like Tunnels above, it starts slow at the beginning (Acts 1 and 2 on the comic), even if I enjoyed a bit the starting chapters. 

So far, because of the longevity, I haven't finish the comic and i'm around Act 5 Act 2 (yes, some of the acts are named like that).

Now, if you want to start this monstruocity, start here. But before starting, I recommend to explore more the site and get to know it.

 

Well, that's it for today's first entry of this blog series (even with the shameless free promotion at the end). You can expect more to come.


 

Comments

Matt Snee Staff Writer

04/28/2013 at 10:42 PM

I love Asimov.  Check out his Foundation series or his book "The Gods Themselves."  Great, great stuff.  

Never heard of that Mega Man game. I don't think I'd be into it, but it doesn't look that bad.  But random encounters (if they're too frequent) can really suck the life out of a game.  

Alex-C25

04/28/2013 at 11:26 PM

I do have Foundation (I think the first three books in a single volume), but I haven't looked into it and it still has the plastic on. Still, maybe if I really like I, Robot, i'll open the book.

Yeah, so far it's not too bad, but the random encounters are a bit annoying. I'm not sure if you'll like the game.

Aboboisdaman

04/29/2013 at 03:33 AM

It's hard for me to imagine what a Mega Man rpg is like since I'm so used to the 8 bit 2D style of MM. It doesn't sound that great lol. That clerk probably didn't know what he was talking about. Oh well. Hopefully it will get better. I'm gonna check out Homestuck soon. Thanks for the link Alex. 

Alex-C25

04/29/2013 at 05:58 PM

So far for me, Mega Man ST is pretty average but not too bad, but knowing that you like more the 2D Mega Man, I really don't think you'll like the game.

Glad you decided to check Homestuck. I don't think it's for anyone, but its better to try and see if it's for you. Just remember to have time lol.

Super Step Contributing Writer

04/29/2013 at 04:28 AM

I need to try reading a book in Spanish at some point, so I can re-learn a bit about the language. I had an "ok" grasp on it in high school, but I haven't read, heard, written or spoken it in so long, it's like aside from cognates and a few phrases, the classes I took are just not even in my brain any more. Your English is really good, though. Quite a bit better than a lot of primary English speakers I've read online, frankly.

I almost forgot I, Robot was a book, and not just a Will Smith movie.Might read that some time, never saw the movie, though.

I don't think I've re-read any of my favorite books in quite a while. I really should. I just got to Mockingjay in the Hunger Games trilogy though, so been reading that.

I've actually never heard of Homestuck, but it sounds awesome.

I guess the Gamestop clerk might have meant it was one of his favorite DS titles, regardless of ratings, or maybe he was just trying to move product. Either way, it's cool your friend got you a game; $10 is a good price. How was his experience in the U.S.?

Alex-C25

04/29/2013 at 06:18 PM

I think Spanish it's a bit complicated at first for people that don't speak the language, but much like riding a bicycle, once you get the hang on it, it's more easier to learn it, and I think compared to other languages, Spanish it's more simple. Hee, your praice almost made me blush.

As far as I heard, the movie has very little to do with the book, except for some ideas from one of the stories. I might watch the film once I finish the book.

I recently got from my mom who went to a book fair the second Hunger Games book, Catching Fire. Hope to read it before the movie sequel comes. Oh, and I finally saw The Hunger Games movie. It was awesome.

Homestuck is just epic.

Yeah, I was a bit surprised that he gave me a game as a gift. I haven't heard much of his journey to the US, but he said he had a great time there.

Cary Woodham

04/29/2013 at 05:12 AM

I played the Mega Man Battle Network games on the GBA, but not the Star Force games on DS.  The first 3 Battle Network games were pretty fun and charming little RPGs.

I read a few Asimov books when I was a teenager.  My brother Jeff likes that Homestuck comic.

Alex-C25

04/29/2013 at 06:20 PM

The only Battle Network game I ever had was one which wasn't from the main saga and was a weird hybrid of fighting game and RPG. I can't remember its name.

Your brother reads Homestuck? Awesome.

daftman

04/29/2013 at 10:06 AM

I see that sneenlantern recommended the Foundation series above and you said you have it. Read it! Asimov is my favorite author and the Foundation series, particularly those first three books, is my favorite thing he wrote. Really really great.

I haven't heard of Homestruck but I'll have to check it out. Not sure when I'll have time for a big investment like that but we'll see Smile

Alex-C25

04/29/2013 at 06:24 PM

Well, now i'm curious to try Foundation. Like I said above, I might do it after do I, Robot.

Yeah, you need a lot of time for Homestuck as it's a giant beast and you have a lot of games to finish.

TheMart22

04/29/2013 at 11:36 PM

I enjoy these kind of blogs, keep it up man! If you like I, Robot, I might recommend Ender's Game. Its another alternate reality book telling a future where kids are bred for warfare. I really enjoyed it

Alex-C25

04/30/2013 at 07:28 PM

Thanks, i'll have more soon as this used to be a semi-frequent series on 1up.

I have read a sample of Ender's Game on my kindle, but I gotta repeat it again, as it hasn't sold me yet to buy the book. Then again, most of the sample was the author's introduction and influence the book had on people, so I could only read the first chapter.

Chunopo

04/30/2013 at 12:32 AM

Hey Alex, good to see you on here, sorry about finding you late I ve been picking up ex 1 uppers slowly but surely of late!

I ve never played MegaMan starforce before, looks like one I'll be looking out for in the future! I did recently download Mega ManMaverick Hunter on the PSP and it's turning out to be a blast at the moment, some seriously cool platforming that does not have the hair pulling out difficulty of the original installments!

As for Home struck I'm checking it out as we speak, always like a good graphic story to pass the time!

Alex-C25

04/30/2013 at 07:35 PM

Hey man, glad to see you here, too.

I'm not sure if you'll like StarForce, but hey, one needs to try and see. I also have Maverick Hunter X on the PSP. Without comparing it to the original X game, it's very good.

Glad you decided to check Homestuck.

Log in to your PixlBit account in the bar above or join the site to leave a comment.