Caught in the Web

Hello there, children! This time, I'm doing something a wee bit different. As you may have picked up from this blog, I like a lot of things, and, as you most assuredly already know, a lot of things are on the internet, so therefore, a lot of the things I like are on the internet.

Wow, that was crap. Let's start over.

So this time around, I've decided to share a few things from the internet that I like and that I think you all should check out. This might even become a semi-regular thing. So, without further bad writing, let's get started. Here's some things from the internet that I like:

Extra Credits: Harassment

Extra Credits is weekly video series about video games; what's great about it, what issues have come up in the medium, and what can be done to make it better. This week, the EC crew looked at something that's been a longstanding issue in online gaming: Harassment. Rather than berate those who have made racist, sexist, or homophobic remarks in the anonymous forums of the Playstation Network, X-Box Live, and MMO servers, the crew offer tips on what gamers can do to prevent this behavior in the future. If you play online games and want to stop harassment, you should definately check this out.

Obscurus Lupa Presents: Heidi 4 Paws

Obscurus Lupa Presents is a semi-regular series in which Obscurus Lupa (a.k.a. Allison Pregler) reviews films you've never heard of, mostly Z-Grade martial arts movies and direct-to-video horror films. In her latest review, however, she takes a look at Heidi 4 Paws, an adaptation of the novel Heidi featuring a cast of dogs in costumes with rotovoxed mouths. Its as stupid and disturbing and hilarious as it sounds, so check out the review.

History of Power Rangers

I didn't watch Power Rangers as a child. Strange, I know, but my parents were under the impression that me watching anything more violent that Daffy Duck would turn me into a serial killer, so a show about teenagers using martial arts to fight Japanese stock footage was blacklisted. Thankfully, this particular hole in my childhood is being remedied. Linkara (a.k.a. Lewis Lovhaug), host of the comic-book review series "Atop the Fourth Wall", also does a show called "History of Power Rangers". It's pretty much what it sounds like; Lovhaug breaks down the story of each season of Power Rangers (in alarmingly comprehensive detail) and gives his opinions on it. With the latest installment up finally going up (it takes months for these things to get done), I figured now would be a good time to share it. It's a fun, interesting, and educational series; I, for one, for instance, learned that the show "Power Rangers" had a plot. No really, it's true. Go check it out.

Thats all I got for now, but I'll probably amass a bit more in the future. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time!

Meanwhile, IN SPACE!...

Originally this post was set to be a users guide to Season 2 of Game of Thrones, explaining character names and personalities and family ties and so forth. However, my chronic procrastination has led that to be somewhat unfeesible, since we're almost halfway through the season. If you guys still want me to write that, say something. Anything. Please.

Anyway, on to today's subject. A question I often get asked is "Hey, man, when was the last time you got a haircut?" A question I wish I was often asked is, "What sort of comics should I read?" Of the many titles that come to mind, the first would be Saga.

Saga marks the triumphant return to comics of writer Brian K. Vaughan. Vaughan is something of a legend in comics, having written some of the most unique series of the past decade. Runaways took teenage rebellion to its extreme, with a group of kids discovering that their parents were a cabal of supervillains and, as the title suggests, run away. Y: The Last Man examined gender politics in the post-apocalypse, where a virus kills every mammal on Earth with a Y-chromosome, save for a nineteen-year-old slacker and his pet monkey. Ex Machina followed the world's sole superhero as he undertakes his most dangerous venture: politics. Then Vaughan disappeared, and nobody knew where he went. Actually that's a lie, he went to Hollywood and became a writer on Lost. Anyway, Vaughan is back with his latest gift to the masses, Saga, which is...well, it's Romeo and Juliet meets Star Wars. But's still unique and it's still a damn good book.

The setting is, of course, SPAAAAAAAAAACE! Specifically a galaxy still entrenched in an ancient civil war. On one side are the winged soldiers of the planet Landfall; on the other, the horned mystics of its moon, Wreath. In the process of this conflict, against all odds, love is found between enemies. Alana, a low-level prison guard with the Landfall Coilition, and Marko, a consciencious objector of Wreath, fall in love and elope together, returning nine months later with a pair of wedding rings and bouncing baby crossbreed. Unfortunately for the new parents, both sides get wind of Hazel the hybrid and send their best (or just most expendable) agents to retrieve the child. Alana and Marko are now on a search across the planet and across the galaxy to find a safe place to be a family, along the way dodging mystical horrors, freelance bounty hunters, and the powerful (but funny-looking) Robot Kingdom.

And we're only two issues in.

The books strongest point is its characters, and just how meticulously Vaughan presents them. The protagonists are definately likeable and you root for them, but at the same time you don't know much about them, which gives the book a sense of unpredictability that's rare on stories these days. The intrigue suggests that there's something more to the characters than they let on, which creates an effective hook and keeping the reader invested and the stories fresh. Anything can happen; not just in the sci-fi/fantasy elements, but with the characters as well. The shining example comes when Alana is confronted by one of the bounty hunters. I won't say what happens, but suffice to say she demonstrates a level of resolve that makes a much stronger character.

And then there's art. Oh man, is there the art. Fiona Staples (Woot! Female creators!) uses a sketchy, almost childlike style that adds to the sense of wonder of the book. The big epic images, such as a brief summary of the history of the war have a proper gravitas to them. However, where Staples truly shines is in the characters. Their acting is pitch perfect. Their facial expressions and body language is drawn in such a way that you know them and their disposition immediately, even the faceless members of the Robot Monarchy. It's beautiful artwork that invokes the same sense of amazement one had watching the Original Trilogy as a child (I imagine).

Saga is the book I didn't know I needed until I read it (that and Wolverine and the X-Men). Expertly written, with fantastic intrigue and characterization, coupled with stunning artwork that suits the book perfect. I cannot recommend it highly enough. DO. NOT. MISS. THIS. BOOK.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time!

Deeply Affecting

Yep, we're going back to this old business. Also, spoiler alert for the Mass Effect games.

To refresh your memory, this past March, Bioware released the third installment of their sci-fi video game trilogy, Mass Effect 3. While it was praised for its story, characters, gameplay, and RPG elements, much criticism was levied against the ending. Now, it's more or less expected that a big geek property like this would have some complaints, but the sheer amount of anger leveled against this ending was staggering. Fans petitioned Bioware to change the ending, to the point where Bioware stated that they would be releasing downloadable content that would add scenes to the end to tie up some of the loose threads, but that the original ending (Shepard gets teleported to the Crucible, talks to the god child, changes the universe, dies, maybe not dies, etc) would remain the same. And frankly, the whole affair kind of sickens me.

First things first, I'm going to echo a lot of other online personel in saying this: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD BIOWARE CHANGE THE ENDING TO MASS EFFECT 3. And the reason I say this and believe this is one simple, overriding fact: Video Games are art. Bioware put out a piece of art, and while those who take it in are more than welcome to dislike it, criticize it, or outright hate it, they are not entitled to have it changed. See, video games are tricky like this because, with DLC and patches they're an artform that can be modified and added to after release, and because they're an art form where the participant has an active role in shaping it, it gives the participant a certain sense of entitlement. It's the player's choice what Commander Shepard looks like, acts like, what he says, what he does, who he likes, who he hates, what gun he carries, what powers he has, etc. And having these choices and being able to shape this experience is great, but it doesn't make the player have the right to change the direction of the story of the game that Bioware made. Because Bioware made it, not the player.

Look, I don't want to be really hard on the "Take Back Mass Effect 3" people because really, they have a right to complain about the ending. But they shouldn't be demanding a change to it and Bioware shouldn't agree to those demands. When an art is changed to fit the wants and desires of its viewers, it stops being art and starts being a product. Changing the ending to Mass Effect 3 would set a terrible precident not just for Bioware, but for all video games. Bioware took a risk with the ending and while it didn't pan out exactly as they hoped, they shouldn't try to fix it, they (and everyone else) should learn from it and move on.

Now, the ending controversy didn't really get to me until I saw a Facebook ad for a Facebook game developed by Bioware. Now I try to ignore Facebook ads for the same reasons I do so for other ads and I try to ignore Facebook games because I can play real video games. However, this ad got to me because of the headline for it: "No Bad Endings".

When I read this, it suddenly struck me that the ending and the anger and bile surrounding it would be the most lasting part of Mass Effect 3. And that is bullshit. Having played through it for a third time now, I can safely say that Mass Effect 3 is a great game and should not be judged by one part that a lot of very loud people didn't like. This is a problem I hope to fix (even though I can't possibly do that, but shut up). So, with that in mind, here's a list of things I really, really like about Mass Effect 3 (bear in mind that people who haven't played any of the Mass Effect games will have no idea what I'm talking about, but may still get enjoyment out of it):

I like the sheer jaw-dropping epicness of seeing a Reaper land in the Thames River.

I like the terror you get when you stand on the moon of Palaven and watch the plaent burn.

I like that James Vega's only purpose in the game is to be a dumb guy that new players can relate to.

I like how the Warp power looks. It's just Incinerate or Freeze with different color scheme, but it looks really cool when you use it.

I like that Sabotage can turn enemy turrets against them.

I like that Martin Sheen still plays the Illusive Man and doesn't half-ass it for a second.

I like that Kai Leng's a total badass.

I like how Mordin Solus dies. It's like Spock in Star Trek II but less dramatic. The guy blows up while humming Rogers and Hammerstein.

I like Eve. She's just a nice character and good counterbalance to Urdnot Wreav.

I like that if you save Maelon's research data in Mass Effect 2, you can keep Eve from dying in Mass Effect 3.

I like that when you go to Grisson Academy, you see Jack being a well-developed person without losing her core characteristics. Plus she looks hotter with hair.

I like when you meet David Archer at Grisson Academy. He says he's been counting again, this time "the days I'm still alive thanks to you".

I like Joker and EDI. They make a weird but nice couple.

I like that no matter who you pick as your romantic option, it always feels like you should be with Garrus Vakarian.

I like that by the end of the game, you can kill Brutes and Harvesters without breaking a sweat.

I like how goddamn creepy the Banshees are.

I like that Liara T'Soni is simultaneously a sweet girl, a genius, a badass, and an intergalactic crime lord.

I like that at the end of the Rannoch mission, even if you do the morally right thing, there are still terrible consequences.

I like the mission in the Geth mainframe. It's trippy, big-idea stuff and it works.

I like the new resource mining system, or as I like to call it, "Grand Theft Reaper".

I like doing all the side-missions on the Citadel.

I like the mission on Sanctuary. I don't know why; maybe it's Henry Lawson's Aussie accent talking about indoctrination and Reaper technology.

I like hearing Admiral Hackett saying "Hackett Out" at the end of every conversation, because it means I don't have to talk to him anymore.

I like the Geth. They have a good look to them, they're well designed.

I like that part during the attack on London when you get a chance to call all your old friends to say "Good luck".

I like that Buzz Aldrin voices the Stargazer at the end.

I like watching a giant worm monster take down an also giant robot spaceship.

I like that we got this song out of it.

I like Garrus Vakarian.

I like Liara T'Soni.

I like Tali'Zorah vas Normandy.

I like James Vega.

I like Kaidan Alenko.

I like Admiral David Anderson.

I like Mordin Solus.

I like Krogan Eve.

I like Legion of the Geth.

I like the Justicar Samara.

I like Jack.

I like Miranda Lawson.

I like Thane Krios.

I like Jacob Taylor.

I like Kasumi Goto.

I like Commander Shepard.

I like the characters.

I like the universe.

I like the story.

I like Mass Effect 3.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time!

My Little Guilty Pleasure

Yep. This. I'm doing a blog on this. Lord have mercy, I'm doing a blog about...THIS. I suppose I have to revoke my Man Card now.

Hasbro is an interesting little corporate entity, ennit? In 1964, they found a way to market dolls to boys and changed the face of the toy industry forever with two simple words: "Action Figure". In 1982, they came up with a new whole new way to sell their product: the tie-in shows, which led to the rise of two juggernauts of the 80's, G.I. Joe and Transformers. They also tried to repeat their success by creating a toy line aimed at the female demographic. The result was 1986's animated series My Little Pony.

If internet critic Lindsey "Nostalgia Chick" Ellis is to be believed, the original MLP show is less fondly remembered than it's big brothers (when it's being remembered at all). The characters were ill-defined and the conflict ranged from petty disagreements to nonexistent (because girls don't like conflict in their stories, naturally). MLP survived as a franchise and had hiccuped now and then throughout the nineties and two-thousands with new toys or an animated special here and there, but never really found the same level of success as Transformers or GI Joe (which may very well be a blessing. Do you really want to see Michael Bay's My Little Pony?) (Actually, that could be hilarious). However, in Fall of 2010, something completely unexpected happen: MLP became popular. And it was all thanks to a new animated series on The Hub, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

Developed by animation veteran Lauren Faust (late of The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends), FIM struck a chord not only with it's intended audience of young girls, but also with the very vocal demographic of males age 20 and up. The so-called "bronies" carved a strong internet presence for themselves and their fandom made the show far more well-known and noteworthy than it otherwise might have been. Being something of a media-soak myself, I was curious and fascinated by this new fandom, and wanted to know the reason behind it; why was a kids cartoon aimed at girls becoming so big with grown-ass men? What was the hook to it? Everytime I asked, I got the same answer: "It's just good writing." Not the most difinitive answer to my question. When I discovered that the series was now available for streaming on Netflix, I got to watching, and now, ten episodes in, I can safely say that I get the appeal.

Let me explain the premise in a way that won't lead to me wanting to shoot myself. In a mystical far-off land (where, much like C.S. Lewis's Narnia, the mythology is a hodge-podge mashup of whatever the writers feel like pulling from, be it Greek, Norse, or Bullshit), Pony Jesus rules benevolently over the anatomically incorrent four-hooved citizens of the realm. Her apprentice, Aspergers Pony, is exiled from the capitol and sent to live in a peasant village to get a real job. This job is basically keeping the citizens of the village from killing each other (Not unlike Hawke from Dragon Age II). Specifically, she must constantly make peace between the other core five characters: Redneck Pony, Social Anxiety Pony, OCD Pony, Compensating For Something Pony, and Habitual Crack User Pony. Together with Aspergers Pony's assistant, Closeted Gay Lizardman, the ponies defend the village from all manner of threats, include petty differences, racism, pollution, a plague of locusts, and the return of Pony Lucifer. And if I write the word "Pony" one more time, my keyboard may explode.

FIM has some good things going for it: For starters, the animation is outstanding. Fluid and dynamic, brightly colored, with consistent aesthetic. The characters, while often extreme, are likable and relatable in their own ways. And, god help me, the writing is actually good. There's genuine conflict (most of the time), the lessons are simple without being too preachy, and character interactions are dynamic enough not to be repetitive while consistent enough to be believable.

The best word I can use to describe FIM is "Harmless". It's a rice cake with powdered sugar: not really bad for you and sweet without being disgusting. Like I said before, the first season is up on Netflix, so maybe take a look and decide for yourself what you think. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go hang my head in shame for a while. See ya next time!