Winter Beachland and A Special Announcement

There comes a time when the changing of the color guard is imminent. With that, a transition from dark disastrous rain comes the beginning of a new season... I said beginning of a new season! I'm not going to lie: It's raining like hell, but long overdue has the winter arc dragged on this long that I must bring up to speed the journey to where we must begin life anew.

tl:dr: Clip Show!

The Year of Redemption was drawing it's bated breath as it prompted me to spend time doing something different for the holidays. Usually at that time we think of spending time with family, to reflect on the year and what it brought to us, but I was spending it elsewhere! To explain, for the last 2 or so years, I've spent the days upon months training on bike to become stronger. All the while, the world was coming to an end. Earthquakes in the southern Americas, the US economy crashing and slowly licking it's wounds while politicians bitched and complained about who's right and who's wrong, Justin Beiber fangirls and mostly the 4 Horsemen of the music Apocalypse. Long story. While that was happening I was inside working on a project and self teaching some advanced editing software. Yeah I know, not exactly the way to spend all year when jobs are so plentiful during the crippling times. Anyway, I finally finished by the time the fall arc ended and rested on laurels and headed straight to the middle land college town of San Luis Obispo.

The journey to SLO was an arduous one, especially for one who had only a bike as a steed. Traveling by train was relaxing, but hectic. Not only did it arrive later, but the unexpected occurred. No, the Spanish Inquisition did not appear and were not unexpected, the train broke down in the middle of the journey. Not only were hundreds of people trapped in a stalled out train in the middle of nowhere near the summit of a mountain, but it was getting dark...and the food was short. Needless to say, some people were kinda pissed. Me, being a aspiring comic relief both conscious and unconscious, I donned some cheapass broken Chinese bike lights and a headlight and trolleyed up and down the corridors between the coach and the lounge cars. Satisfied and happy that I was able to give a laugh in time to slight panic, the pulley train came and pulled us back 10 miles to the nearest city where a backup train was ready to drive us disgruntled passengers to our destination...and then the backup train broke down too...half a mile from the destination. Karma is kinda a bitch sometimes huh?

Along the delayed journey I met up with a particularly amusing attendant whom I met before. His name was unknown, but he was the only person who brought a smile to my face when I first journeyed by train to San Luis Obispo. I donned him The Namaste Guy, because at around 2 or 3 was his Namaste time as he assumably practiced yoga and meditation during his lunch time. Out of all the people who I saw on Amtrak, and by that I only knew one, he was the one that had a upbeat personality... and a few flashlights handy. The Namaste Guy later revealed himself to be Aaron, a traveling snack attendant who was part of a theatre troupe. After slowly dragging the train to the ironically named SLO train station, I finally arrived...only 2 hours late. The mystery behind the 2 powered down trains will never be unveiled. Someone just forgot to charge their batteries. Quick lesson kids, always come prepared.

My time in SLO is not of a long one, but a short but developing time when snow falls down and the chill wind brings in a warm feeling of coming together in front of a warm fire to recall lives that we lived during the year. Instead I was 5 miles away in a decent hotel. No big deal, at least it wasn't a dive. During my time there I delivered the finished project on time with some extra samples. My time there wasn't for any conquest of a rock. No, it was a time to spend with family that I haven't really sat down with in a long time. Meeting new acquaintances and old acquaintances and enjoy a full course dinner instead of just rice in a bag. Truly a nice time indeed. My magic started to dwindle as belief in magic is becoming scarce, but I still believe in it. Instead of using that, I am now using logic and science. It makes sense that way because of change. Now instead of using belief and faith, people are using SCIENCE for all their solutions. Anyway, as the curtain closed on the time spent down south, I felt a heart grow ever so slightly as I was invited to come back down, to visit again and beyond.

Back up in the land of decrepit empty technology buildings, I spent almost a month in madness as my laptop perished. Now it could have been the potentially viral program that was installed by a relative kid without permission, or it could have been a faulty part on the manufacturer, either way I was powerless. Add salt to injury, I have a film making class that involves it.

Eventually it was revived, but for those 6 to 8 weeks boredom crept up it's ugly head and hung around like an annoying room spirit that causes you no harm, but bothers you and overstays it's welcome. Not only buying a puzzle, but playing the boring trivia games that I have collected in the past. Truly, a low for such as I.

Once the boredom past away, I was able to starve off the madness by the birthday. Mini golf and new friends from an old campus was to be had for fun and all. Which leads up to now.

Through the inspiration of many others I've decided to start up a stream of sorts. It will be a way to introduce new things that has never been seen before. For example, it could be music that's unfamiliar, it could also be a video. As a former college DJ, it's my duty to share music that I picked up in the past. From Jpop, to doujin music, to epic metal, or whatever sounds great. Think of it like listening to a radio, but with actual good music. Make sure to check out Rare's Find It's on Ustream.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/rare-s-find-its

Also, follow Rare on Twitter @Rarefindit

If your in the mood for a little different taste, just stop on by Fridays at 1700 to 1900.

Screwattack and their 5th birthday

There's always going to be a special person who either changes or inspires you. Whether they be there in person or spirit, it is they whom you always have a connection to even if you don't realize it. When I think about it, Screwattack changed my life without knowing.

Screwattack is a, if not THE ultimate video game entertainment site. It's home to an incredibly vast and universal community of gamers and aficionados alike known as G1s. The Del Facto leader is Stuttering Craig and as I just found out, celebrated Screwattack's 5th birthday. This is what I get for being busy.

Now what does this have to do with Rarefindit, a lesser known self proclaimed Rare Game Hunter? Well, a hell of a lot really.

Back in 2008 as I was enjoying Video Games Live with Xeuton, a colleague of mine, we came across a folk singer by the name of Gamejew. He had a ukulele and was singing a song about saving the princess. Amongst the crowd, he picked me out and we were bombarded by people both local and corporate. Maybe it was the fact that I was dressed as Mario with a a big mushroom plushy and a baseball cap instead of a painter's hat, but many people were asking to take their picture with me. Even some people from Square-Enix. That was honestly a rare and honorous occasion. I didn't win the costume contest, but being stopped for a picture for a very very basic costume made out of just clothes and hand me downs, it worked.

Gamejew back then was part of Screwattack, this site which was in it's infancy. After checking out Gamejew's stream which had Jewario, who I didn't know at that time would eventually join Thatguywiththeglasses, I then found out about the Angry Video Game Nerd, A very popular name that would spawn many people to do the same thing, but with different games. It's through the fans and possibly G1s that contribute to his massive collection. Then Captain S which used a green screen that was never seen before and had a storyline that was episodic, but made sense. What do these have in common,? they were on Screwattack.

During that time when Screwattack was growing in terms of popularity to eventually a community of people who think alike and share a bond stronger than krazy glue, I joined a college radio station which eventually got me a chance to interview Stuttering Craig. For a guy who goes and wings it in terms of interviews, hes very good, and a former slamball player? This guy has the biggest honest heart for gaming I've ever seen.

Screwattack isn't just about games, it's about family, and the G1s and the people who are also part of it are also part of their family. This is probably stretching it a bit, but I've never seen such a Nakama ever before. You might be wondering who else is part of the family?

Well there's Stuttering Craig, the god, the tank, and also very nice guy, Ben who was High School Ben back then, Chad, Destin who hosts Hard News, Jared, who was on a show called Nametags which was like Clerks but with games, Jose the El Mexicano who hosts his Puntos, Maxifent Corey, Nervous Nick, who breaks stuff not intentionally, and Bryan and Angel. There a few others, but due to social obligations, I can't mention them, but they were at one point part of them. There are others whom I've grown to like such as Keith Apicary, the biggest adorkable manchild who's eternal search for the Dreamcast 2 amazes me. So much so that he went in front of G4 and asked about it. That takes a lot of balls to put Olivia Munn in her place. Lastly there's Brentalfloss, a lyricist who puts lyrics in game music. Very fun, and potential for great success.

I think the thing that stands out at Screwattack is it's G1s. I admit, I don't know if I would be accepted as a G1 as I am very limited when it comes to being on the current games as I can't afford all of them. Sorry guys, but considering the popular games these days are mostly FPSs, they are not my thing. If the romhacks are accepted, then maybe I can consider going to their forums as I probably think I still have an account there.

As time went on Screwatack started having their own convention: SGC Screwattack Gaming Convention. Basically giant gaming party with all your closest friends. They had so many people to be part of the lineup. Including the SpoonyOne, Brentalfloss and Keith, Movie Bob, who I briefly know as Game Overthinker, and even former lawyer troll guy Jack Thompson. The con is huge and the journey to it would be arduous if I were actually going. I may if I can get other people from California to join me. Maveric would totally feel like at home, but I don't know about Xeuton as that guy is not as hardcore or into his gaming as I am or Maveric who has a sparse collection.

As much as Screwattack is known in it's community as well as on the Internet, not everyone knows about them. Just the other day, in a small cafeteria barracks, I saw a lot of...well students playing Magic the Gathering. I have locked on a few conversations, but I doubt not many people know about them. That's quite a damn shame too because anyone who doesn't even know about Screwattack clearly hasn't A) Played Games enough B) Stay on Youtube and nothing else.

For what has been accomplished in 5 years, I'm glad I found out about Screwattack. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have met many people like Marzgurl, Benzaie the hyperactive gay Frenchy with a fiancee, and many more people. So to you Stuttering Craig and the G1s out there, Happy Birthday. Thanks for making this old fogey of a gamer (26 years old and 24 years counting) well worth seeking out more. You guys are the best closed knitted family I have wished I was a part of.

Tits, pop music and appeal (not those kind)

Pop music. It's like Almond Joys. You like the taste of chocolate, but the coconut ruins what is essentially junk food (I don't like coconut). Being of a sound guy who has listened to more music than I have with recent games and anime, I just can't seem to wrap my brain over the recent trend of pop music that has appeared in the last 5 or so years. By that I mean who listens to this crap?

Being in a drugged and coughing state of mind (I'm sick), I stumbled upon who people know on Thatguywiththeglasses as TITS. TITS, or Todd in The Shadows is a pop music reviewer, and one of those people who have as much bile and acid in their otherwise shadowy exterior as Simon Cowell did for being British. In his videos, he reviews and deconstructs pop songs that people otherwise get entranced by simply existing on the radio and the muzak in grocery stores. For one it's a double edged sword. On one end the song may become as Troperville calls earworms, songs that can't get out of your head until you start humming Those Who Fight from FF7 to combat the otherwise obnoxious beat, or maybe that's just me. However, it can also be a detriment to whats otherwise your mind going crazy hearing it over and over to the point of madness. Simply put, you love or hate it.

Now, I'm not exactly the guy that has been "in the loop" during the last 5 or 6 years. Mostly because I almost lost myself hearing Hollaback Girl 20,000 times a day working at a crappy pizza joint, and the only working radio which is covered in hardened flour and corn meal had no way to turn off. Even more so with Jenny From the Block being blasted 80,000 times a day at the amusement park. Listening to a bad song is one thing, but listening to a bad song you hate urges a man to commit suicide in the chemical poisonous chlorine waters below. So yeah, I don't like the pop music here.

The saving grace that is my sanity is that I turn to the eastern side of the music spectrum, by that of course I mean Jpop. What Jpop does is different from what western pop music does: it doesn't pierce your ears. Yet, because of this, I've been lured into listening to more Japanese music. Maybe it's because the lyrics are mostly of struggle and fighting against that struggle, or a symbolic family of pork dumplings represent what is happening in real time to an existing family. Meanwhile, the other side is listening about screwing, cheating, or being an obnoxious attention whore who can't sing for shit or some songwriter who's videos make Offensive on Encyclopedia Dramatica blush. For some strange reason, it sounds more pleasant. Canadian Punk is a different story as I either had to listen to a crappy sing along band of preachy baptists urging for everyone to sing to a broken raffi tape, or a band about how much they think their government sucks. I made my choice.

However, as I cough the days away to excess Flem and Earl, I can't seem to understand what attracts people to listen to the music they listen to. What is it about jpop that beings me back for more and stray away from what kids are calling it "music"? What is it that a Zoids fangirl who I have a crush on find fascinating about discovering Ke$ha on the store radio station? And unfortunately, it raises more questions than answers to why humans like to listen to attention whores who sing taunts and don't know how to write lyrics. To which I ask TITS this:

As a pop music reviewer, what part of our brains, in which the least common denominator is mentioned attracts people to listen to the music that defines their personality? What entrances those to listen to the music that they listen to? Why does pop music sound so bad now? Is it the junk food-esque that clutters what is essentially our perception to comprehend the "deep" meaning behind the lyrics to what is simply put, shitty pop music? Finally to add the jaywalking part to arson and murder, where the hell is my Beaver Fever?

Todd, if your reading this, I would like to get your perspective on what attracts people to the music that they listen to. Besides force from other means, what entices the listener to pick up that insert-shitty-attention-whore Single here and how does one define themselves to the genre that they are accustomed to?

The reason behind why I listen to Japanese is not that obvious. It's not because I grew up by it, it's more that I've become accustomed to it as the years went by. I started out a fan of anime, went to Otakon, bought T. M. Revolution, started singing to it as it is printed on the lyrics sheet. *Singalong with T.M. Revolution* Honestly, that's how it began.

Then I started seeking out more and more until it became clear: I like modern Japanese music. The discovery of a Ryoko Hirosue CD in a charter bus was sheer coincidence as it was next to a Counting Crows August and Everything After. Listening to both, I couldn't make it past Mr. Jones on Counting Crows and kept listening to Hirosue-san.

What makes Japanese music appealing is that it sounds more pleasant. The lyrics don't rhyme when translated, but it's more in that the lyrics in Japanese rhyme. For example, in TMR's song Invoke, the second line in the first verse goes like this:

samishisa ni yogore ta ude de daita

sore igai no nani ka wo shiranai kara

Ta and ra rhyme. That's how you can tell. But honestly, you don't have to really understand the language to know that the sound has more energy to it. Then again, that's just me liking jpop.

In the end, what really boils down to the reason what attracts me to Japanese pop and not my American counterpart is based on self discovery. Being an anime aficionado, gaining an interest in learning the language, teaching myself a bit, and seeking out more. The experience is what attracts me to it. That's ultimately my reason, what's yours?

Year of the not Acheived Redemption

The finale of this year draw his bated breath and it has certainly been the penultimate form of mixed feelings. From the world making a scene literally, to political mash ups, I kinda hoped this year would be a year of Redemption after what happened during the last 2 years. It seems that humans will never learn. I now fear that humanity will be continuing what is considered to be called a "dork age".

As for me, it also has been a mixed bag. Some forms of good, to Tommy Wiseau levels of bad. Ok, bad analogy as Wiseau is funny to some, it's just been a festival of shit. This is probably going to be a bet of worst of this year, but then again, each of them balance out. Here's what happened.

The start of the year wasn't that great. Still being under the influence of GUILT no thanks to the vampyr, I went to Maryland with a somewhat stable mindset. It was my grandfather's 80th birthday and I was going to go. That also meant seeing my dad's family for the first time. I honestly don't remember any of them. Some seemed nice, but they all came off as uncomfortable. I did the best I could with what little time I had. However the bad part came before the trip. One day while at Micro Center preparing for my eastbound journey, I thought I would get some reading material for the plane. When I got to the register, I was charged twice. This is bad on one end, but considering my wallet was still suffering from PVS (Post Vampyr Syndrome) so the monetary life support was a little low. Then the overcharge just overkilled me. Not exactly a good way to start the year of redemption.

After that disaster, spring came along and I was ready to get back to class to continue on my major after parting with the radio station. That didn't end well. I was kicked out or was intimidated by the bad teachers. My math class was no exception. The administrator let me go because I didn't make it to the first day on time. Now this is happening mere days after the Micro Center fiasco. I explained to the administrator that I was having financial problems and I wasn't able to get my pass in time. That and the curriculum changed even though the same teachers copy was being used. The second of my classes I collapsed because the teacher was threatening me about my business and how it's illegal. My business is middlemen, the extra money I make helps me get the item there. That or burgers.

So with my classes dwindling, I ended up in the hands of KJCC, but instead of being part of them, I was a mere shadow of who I used to be there. In other words, a ghost. In addition to a lack of classes, I became an observer of the Associated Student body of SJCC. On an awkward day, the president herself let out her dirty laundry about some event in front of the whole counsel. You don't do that in front of strange people. It's wrong. And in the middle of this controversy, the acting chancellor was caught embezzling money for herself. The news was all over it and the district tried covering it up.

After the tragic spring semester it was that time where I go up to Santa Rosa to see my friend, however at the same time there was a new movie that I actually took interest in seeing. That also meant going up and wander off into the hipster city. What was significant about the movie was that actress Cristina Vee and the author were there signing books, as well as the premiere. I took friend over interest. Sadly I also took a request to find something and I ended up screwed. The biggest salt to injury, my friend went to Fanime and I didn't. I was SO close to go and possibly develop a friendly acquaintance with cosplayers, and my friend got a boon in Touhou merch. I'm still punching myself thinking about it. And that's just halfway through.

June came by and I thought I would finally check out the movie I was denied. It was good, but getting there was a challenge. Being somewhat new to SF I went only by instinct and a paper map. I was well worth it. One filler later I invited a childhood friend to see The Last Airbender. I already said my fill of it. It sucks. Then July with Twilight Eclipse. Again, I refer to this is as cancerous ass. How can you suck movie? Simply put adapt a crappy romance story aimed at tweens and they'll eat anything up. Bella is probably the most diabolical manipulative evil 2faced whore ever conceived in history. To think, she was modeled after Stefanie Meyer herself. I smell symbolism.

Later on, I regained my composure after suffering from GUILT for a whole year, I went back to taking in requests for my side business. When I heard Scott Pilgrim was going to be made into a movie, I became curious to watch it. I saw the graphic novel and was initially turned off by it's artstyle, but was enticed to read it after watching the movie. It was well worth picking up the individual books and the game that came with it. It was an amazing feat to bring what is essentially a video game set in a Jackie Chan flick, as what Spoony said. It was however shunned for being what it was and really the fault was the fault of everyone as they preferred to see Vampires Suck more than Scott Pilgrim. Think about it, a pop culture parody making fun of Twilight made by the guys who brought you Disaster Movie and Epic Movie. The worse of it all was, that Vampires Suck did better than the Expendables and Scott Pilgrim. Americans have shitty tastes.

Once the fall arc came around I took a job at West Valley because of sheer coincidence. After a few days I quite enjoyed the atmosphere and was more woodsy than the fuckall that was the controversy at San Jose City College. When I was let go because I did my deed, I decided to continue on the Zoids project that I started months ago. In between I started the omake project in which I would make promo dvds to entice the viewer to check out the personalities in which I chose to show. Linkara, Spoony, Nostalgia Critic and D2brigade. The challenge however was in creating something using no knowledge whatsoever using advanced software like Adobe. Going in blindly I made what I could with what limited resources I had and shipped them out...then one of NC's videos and Spoony's videos had no audio. So I slap dashed a vanilla DVD and said done.

In between projects there was a sad time in which a relative of mine passed on. That meant traveling to Maryland to visit what was essentially the antithesis of family. Some at first were decent, then the fangs came out and everyone was at their throats after the burial. I've never seen so much snark come out of some one's mouth when someone else did nothing to garner any kind of douchebaggery. I mean come on! I may seem like a jerkass, but at least I'm a nice guy. Fighting jerkassery with jerkassery is second nature. Like fighting fire with fire. Once the part of the family came and went, I spent what I could with Uncle Outcast. The one uncle who apparently was the scapegoat to the other brothers and sisters. Which is sad cause it seems he is a, and I refer to TVtropes for this but, a jerkass woobie. Sure he seemed like a jerk, but you gotta feel sorry for him. Once the family parted ways I was on my way back to Sunny California where everyone else is envious for it's pleasant weather. I'm jealous myself for not having snow.

Which brings me to now. The winter arc is in, but the year is at it's end. I've made peace with some and their character routes were practically finished. Due to the holidays, it was for certain that Thanksgiving would be a good time to take requests to find some rare items for people. I didn't get everyone, but at least I did what I could. Couldn't be more happy for that. With that said, Season's Greetings to all, enjoy your cardboard flavored crackers and latkes, enjoy those boxing days and Hanukwanzmas and I'll see you at the beginning of the new year.

RPGs and My Relationship with Them

Naturally, I'm a gamer, and a gamer's job is to play games and have fun. However, in recent times, that simple philosophy has lost it's luster and has been reworded so many times to show that games are more than just things you play. Now it's more like games are simulations and cutting edge looks need to compete with other mediums of entertainment. Among the many genres of games that I've played in the last 23 or so years, nothing is more close to my heart, than the RPGs.

RPGs, or Role-Playing Games are a tough breed to describe. At it's core you play the role of someone in an interactive story. What differentiates each RPG is based on the many mechanics or gimmicks that are featured in each of them. I myself being a 3rd generation gamer see that RPGs nowadays are too complicated and seem to cater to the younger gamers with visually pleasing graphics and, normally I don't say this, but the choose your own adventure style.

There's an ongoing debate over the difference between the eastern style RPGs, commonly from Japan, and the western style RPGs, commonly from the US. In a recent shift in quality game design, it's the western style RPG that is getting the proverbial nod. Mostly because of the stereotype of every hero needs to be macho. I don't buy it. It really matters not to me who's been out of the loop of the current gen whether or not the main character is a little kid with a ball-in-a-cup for a weapon, some big muscled dude with a gun, or a composer with a conductor's baton for a weapon. What really should matter in an RPG is the story and whether or not it will entice you to keep going till the end.

Now, as a kid there is an ongoing series of RPGs that I grew up with and is near and dear to my heart. That series is the eponymous Final Fantasy. As a kid I loved playing the role of the hero and saving the world. And RPGs filled that gap. The one that stuck out the most was FF itself. The peak of the series came when I was 10 and the 6th one received critical claim as the best of the SNES, 1st or second place or not to Chrono Trigger. However, I believe the fans itself are critically putting a high demand in the series and assume it would be AAA material in the same vein to it's western counterpart. In other words, western gamers are poisoning the influence in the developers. Which is why I'm hearing speculation that the recent entries in FF are dwindling because it will never have that same wow factor that the previous entry received. And honestly, I'm starting to hate the hate.

If I may go off on a tangent for a bit, the fans themselves are really killing the fun factor in FF mostly because they are comparing the latest and how they are inferior to their previous entries in the series. Saying stuff like how 13 is inferior to 7 and how no one remembers 5 or 6 is better than 4 and people hate 9 without any reason. I've tried to ask a legitimate question in regards to why? Why does everyone hate 13, without going into fanboy mode. Why are they comparing the previous entries to their past counterparts? Why do they want a remake? Why not seek out the originals, and finally why not just buy the damn game in it's entirety instead of going online, donning an eyepatch, and seeking it out on the information super highway? The bile however was spilled onto the 14th, which in my opinion was still in beta form when they were releasing it. Hence why it has become what it was. It was you damn fans that rushed 14 out too quickly. As much as I respect the SpoonyOne, it was probably in it's Alpha stage when he saw it in Pax. i honestly will ask you, the reader of this a serious question: Tell me why people hate 13 in regards to the game itself and not on a fanboy base. Why compare the entries in the series in the first place? And finally, why deny a free game even if it's in it's beta stage? That is all I gotta say on that, now lets talk about other RPGs.

When it comes to RPGs, I am on them like a fat kid in a crisco suit. Many of them come and go, some stay on, some I avoid, and some I want to go back to, but wait for the opportunity. Here are my opinions of the series that I have experienced. It's not a best or worst of, I have no favorites, everyone gets an equal share:

Mana series: Legend of Mana was at it's peak and I consider that to be the best second to Secret. I'll play Seiken Densetsu 3, but sadly I think other factors show that it jumped the shark.

Kingdom Hearts: The bane of my existence. Not because it's Disney and Square make a bastard inbreed love-hate child, but mostly the fans who have to make creepy gay yaoi fanfics of characters who have no depth. KH is basically Disney's attempt to advertise their passed movie entries into a game and then shove that off for their own online game to surpass it. Even Wada might be on it to.

Star Ocean: It's pretty good and the mind screw is nifty, but I'm somewhat at a standstill when it comes to Vesper in Second Story. If I can't beat a third to last boss at level 80, it's unwinnable.

Atelier Iris: Item making is fun and the localization is pretty decent, but in some cases it will be overlooked from other perspectives. I want more of it though.

Dark Cloud: The only dungeon based RPG I played, and rather engaging as well. Plus, Scott Menville plays a kid who was born of a future mother and a past father making him a rare time hybrid.

Legend of Zelda: My love for this rivals of Final Fantasy, but it's simplicity and complexity keep me coming back. Not so much the animated proportions of Zelda who is basically tease to Link who is just a jackass. But honestly, how come Zelda is in the legend if Link is doing the dirty work. and wasn't he left handed? The whole wii thing just threw a spanner in the southpaw community. Hope the next one can let you tinker with the interface. Making things go from left and right with the touch of a button.

Radiata Stories: Jazzy strategy based. Not a bad concept, but jazz? I'll get back to it.

Tales: The only series out there that will be shunned over by the demographic. Such a shame to cause i rather like Tales. Cliched or not, it's still good. Just bring more to us damnit, or let Axsys or Atlus bring it here. Your a douche for not exporting your flagship title Namco!

Eternal Sonata: introducing me to Chopin, playing this beautiful game makes me wonder why aren't they making a game based on Bach? Potential of a game based on musical composers? sign me up!

Mario & Luigi: I have a new found respect for trying new things. Ever since Super Mario RPG which was the best RPG experience out there, there have been many attempts to reclaim that glory. Mario & Luigi may end up reclaiming the title. When you fought with your past baby selves to an ugly princess mushroom which sounds like an LSD name for a villain, it was kinda lame, but you really brought it back with the fight against Dark Star. I'm talking about the musical aspect in this regard. Superstar Saga was great, Partners in Time was kinda weak, but Luigi's Inside Story (I know it's Browser's) is where it redeemed itself. It goes to show that you can make good final battle music.

Lunar: I haven't seen you in a long time and as much as I want Silver Star on the PSP, it is the original complete game on the Playstation 1 is what I seek. Get Xseed to make more entries for you and I'll be there to play them.

Breath of Fire: You are basically put on a bus cause people are having a hard on for the next big fighting game. Please come back, I miss you.

.hack: An not-MMO to be sure seeking you out is kinda tricky, then again i don't play MMOs that much.

Now the western side is obviously lost on me who grew up with the aforementioned. I'm just not that choose your own adventure type of guy. I'm always going to be a Neutral Good and seek out logic over magic and fight as a last resort. I just think western RPGs are getting too much of a hard on from other developers.

Which brings me to now. Right now as I observe the eastern side is running out of new and innovative ways to stay afloat. It's basically become too much like Hollywood in the make something new category. Westerners don't need to point out that the east side is running out of ideas. It's just pressure from the consumers and how they don't like the same ol same ol or they didn't like this so they want a newer version of that same game.

The other gripe I have is the devout, or as they are called, fanboys. There are alot of types of fanboys. Some are commonly known derogatorily as otaku, there are tech fanboys, the egregious of them is the apple cult in which they cherish Apple for being the end all be all of tech. But that's beside the point. The fanboys who I refer to are the FF and KH fanboys. It is they who I find to be irksome only because it is they who brought the mighty to be the fallen. In other words, they deliberately made XIV suck. SpoonyOne is another example of devout believing the word of Spoony. As much as I enjoy his work, some wounds aren't meant to be pierced. People believe Spoony as he said 8 sucks and this is why and it then it went onto 13 and now to 14. The problem? People believe and agree with Spoony.

Now the reasoning behind the way 13 and 14 were made were based on a time based deadline. In 13's case, the jump to consoles had Square scrap what they got and didn't have enough resources to make it the way they wanted. Slapdash what you could scrap later and it is a game that people poo pooed on, yet no one gave me a reason why it sucks. XIV was an anomaly. When it was shown at PAX, it was from what I saw, an alpha. Still being worked on, yet people still saw what it was and immediately crucified it. Once again I blame the Spoon factor. Sheep follow the sheppard, and fans everywhere follow what is heard. If they hear FF sucks now, they believe it without giving it a second thought. Plus, the pressure from western developers are causing eastern developers go for the macho factor. Consumers want to believe in the masculinity of the main characters. Yet Chuck Greene is wearing a lady's nightie while riding a tricycle punching zombies with flaming boxing gloves. How is that manly again? Everyone knows that Princess Tutu is manlier than every macho character in existence. Yes, even Frank West.

KH fanboys are worse. Because of the series itself and how many have tried to debunk it's story, there are many who consider it the end all be all game for all to enjoy. It's nothing more than a Disney product placement. Yet in their store there is no sign of those beach towels I saw at FYE. The theory I have is, KH is to shill the worlds that were brought by Disney and then the producer drops ship and makes an MMO for them with their characters from KH. It's dastardly awful. It's like Rare face heeling Nintendo for Microsoft only to be put out Old Yeller style. The creepy fanfiction and crossovers are byfar the worst that this series has churned out. To think, this is the series that usurped the Mana series. I think Mana didn't jump the shark, more than they couldn't keep up with the story about the Mana tree. I'll play Seiken Densetsu 3 and see that this is the best of the two.

People need to remember that games are games, they are there for us to play, not take for granted as a savior for our lives. That's what the Savior Spirit is for. So remember, think of how the games are developed before passing judgement and therefore ridiculing while it is being conceived. It's like throwing rocks at a newborn. Those who do it are despicable. Enjoy RPGs as stories, like I do. As what they are and not what they are trying to imply. You're just ruining it for the rest of us.

Early Gift ideas and begging for your requests

The holidays are coming up and already there are stores putting up the supplies and armaments (which is what I call gifts for the holidays) in October when Halloween candy was still being churned. It's at this time where I get active in helping people find what they need. Anything at all, but not many requests at this time. I'm sure it'll pick up. So I'm here to give you recommendations on what to get your special someone. You don't have to follow what I say, I'm just giving clues to what you want.

First off the gamers. I'm a gamer, we are all gamers regardless of age, nationality, generation, if we play something it's going to be a game. It's basic logic. For the video gamers out there, you have a lot of your plate. Normally I would go for the fall lineup that's already out. New Vegas, Black Ops, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, etc, since most gamers these days don't care for nostalgia.

However being a little different than your average gamer I would go for the original experiences and other games that were somehow overlooked. Like Trauma Team on the Wii. Who cares if it has blood showing, surgeries show blood, but in this case it's not real. But what you do see is one of the best games of Operation ever. Also you get to play as 6 different doctors: Surgery, EMT, Forensics, endoscopy, diagnostics, and Orthopedic. Give it a shot, it's very engaging and well worth the low price. If you are slightly advanced and into romhacks and emulation, A Super Mario Thing is the best collaboration hack I've ever seen and it's as weird and surreal as the person it was inspired from. There's also Hyper V if you like hard romhacks from Japan and the Second Reality Project which is very unforgiving at worst times, but still fun for that savestateless challenge.

For the readers out there and movie goers it's a win win situation with Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Normally I wouldn't give recommendations since your taste is different than mine, but this is one instance where I would say go buy the comic book and the movie. For one the source material is very very good, Brian Lee O' Malley brought out something different from the comic book side and the movie is a visual treat. The blu-ray is the one I would recommend, not because I don't have a blu-ray, but it comes with a DVD so it counts. From what I hear there's 22 hours worth of extra content on the blu-ray. A day's worth of stuff that was cut out of the movie. Other blu-ray movies would be just previews or standard commentary, but a full days worth. That's why I would say get it. And there's a downloadable beat-em-up/rpg which is pretty much a love letter to River City Ransom. $10 bucks gives you a great experience and $2 more gives you Knives. Edgar Wright is three for three in my book. Nice job, sir.

Music is a very vast and different market, especially for me who has adapted to Japanese pop and rock during the last 5 years or so. Mostly, it's based on what you like. People seem to like what they hear on the radio. There's a guy I know named TITS (Todd in the Shadows) who reviews pop music. Yeah he pains himself and is a bit arrogant and snarky to tell you whats good and whats sh*t, I would go listen to him. If your the gamer/token anime aficionado, Elisa,Fripside, Abingdon Boys School, TM Revolution, Larc en Ciel, Kawada Mami, are all good. Hell even my friend Tommy Tallarico has a bunch of albums you can check out. He did the music for Earthworm Jim for crap's sake. In fact what I would recommend is getting the blu-ray for Video Games Live. That's right, I'm going to plug his concert which is what I do on the side. Video Games Live has a bluray/DVD that lets you see the concert that tours around the world showing more than video game music awareness. It's in the hearts of gamers and neophyte retro gamers, and is an amazing experience to check out. Who knows, it might come to a city near you. Check out www.Videogameslive.com to see if it's coming near you.

Speaking of anime aficionados (otaku is a derogatory, but still shows who the anime fans are), last I heard a lot of people in the states are showing their Hetalia love and I would check it out. It's an acquired taste on an anthromorphization of WWII. Hetalia or Idiot Italy is who we see. And Germany is his brother. America likes hamburgers like we do, and it's generally fun. For the drama out there, Toradora is also very good. Don't tell anyone I said that, they would tear you up for it. Instead, go for Clannad. Yeah I'm a little behind, who cares? This is probably the best show I've ever seen because it really pulls you in and tugs on your emotions. After Story the continuation is where it truly shines. Sure the ending was an asspull and whether you believe in the Second Reality (project) or the actual reality, it is an emotional roller coaster and you'll really feel for the characters and the relationship that they build. But I warn you, it gets really bad around episode 16. Not bad bad, but if you lost someone recently and you watch this, it will really screw you up. And yes, I'm normally a guy who is not fazed by anything sad . It's a part of me, but when ep 16 came around, I just wanted to cry more, but couldn't push it out. Oh crap, now I'm crying, thanks a lot! Wagnaria recently picked up by the guys who brought you Disgaea will bring it out next year. Well worth a clue that I would like that kinda gift.

Manga wise theres alot of titles and series out there to pick up now. Haruhi and Lucky Star are a couple of guilty pleasures, Higurashi When they Cry is horror and will whet your appetite for that genre. Yostuba is alway recommended for a pick me up, she is too innocent to sully. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is rather hard to follow, but still funny to look at because of the detail in the manga and how the jokes are drawn and written. Within the Light is a very sweet series about a mother raising a son with autism. There are alot more titles to check out and it's really up to what you like to read.

If your a streaming person the latest fall lineup in japan is so far churning out some really good stuff. Panty and Stocking is great if you want a contact high. Seriously, watching it will make you question Gainax's prescription or else what the crap they are taking to top what previous episode you saw. Ore no Imouto or as I call it Little Fangirl Otaku is the best manga to anime adaptation I've seen so far. If Kyosuke is as plain as he is stupid in his relationships, then it'll end up as a harem end. Can't say for sure though. Ika Musume is a Squid girl and that's all you gotta know about it, but it's fun. Heartcatch PreCure is a guilty pleasure, sure Erika kinda bugged me, but it's pretty good. Arakawa under the Bridge is more wtfness for Ko and the bridge dwellers. This time I saw an amazon and theres more to Nino and her relationship with the former rich son guy.

Movies side, again Scott Pilgrim. However there are some movies that have received some good reviews like Inception and the Social Network when it comes to DVD. Expendables which is older actors blow shit up real good...and no I'm not correcting that, that's how you best describe the movie. if you are of a fangirl who likes crappy badly written "Harlequin" romance novels, then I wouldn't recommend getting Eclipse. Seriously. I don't care if it's a chick flick or that there are fans, big fans, and devotees, Twilight sucks and I felt less than a man for being dragged to it.

These should be well worth seeking out (except for Twilight) and should give you an idea on what to give that special person. I've also learned that some people like gifts that were handmade by you. There's someone I know who made me a scarf, a cap, and wrist warmers (gauntlets) out of yarn. It's pretty sweet. In return to that nice and waifu gesture, I made a DVD box set of her favorite series. The feeling is mutual, but again that's what I did. Ask that person you wish to give something what they like and you'll think of something related to it. If someone likes baseball and they are San Francisco Giants fans, give them a world series t-shirt and hat, cause they won this year.

With all that, I leave the shopping and gift ideas to you, and if you have any requests at all to find anything, let me know @ Rarefindit@gmail.com.

The Legend of Scott Pilgrim - A Game to the Movie

As a gamer, I'm obligated to try out something new in case the routine gets old. Sometimes playing the same game gets tiresome and you play it to death. That game sadly commonly gets sacrificed or shoved aside like a raggedy toy. In this case it's a game and it gets sold or trade in for little of what it's worth though you paid extraneous amounts of money for it. I don't know what I'm getting at, but I want to tell you about some games that get passed for something more black and more dakka like. That game I'm talking about is Scott Pilgrim vs The World the Game.

Now hold your horses and don't you dare think about clicking the close button. Let me at least get this out of the way: I love this series. It's like a love letter from someone long ago. That would be from the beat em up genre as he introduced his cute meganekko sister. Scott Pilgrim the game is that cute meganekko sister.

Scott Pilgrim vs the World the Game is as it is, a game based on the graphic novel to tie in with the movie. Normally that is a disaster waiting to happen as the cardinal rule of video games is: Games based on movies suck! It's a fact. Just take a look at the remote landfills of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Underneath it's desolating lands lie millions and millions of unsold E.T cartridges on the Atari 2600. In fact, the landfill there would be considered the Video Game Wasteland. So yeah, movie games have a bad rap of sucking. It's a type of curse or something. Scott Pilgrim however, is a cures than a curse as it's very very good. So much so that as you play it, it hearkens back to an older golden time when we were blessed as kids and gamers to enjoy a beat em up without the consequence of being realistic or mothers complaining about how games are too violent just because some poor bad guy turned into a pile of money. Won't somebody PLEASE think of the money morphing bad guy?! Those were simpler times.

Sorry, I got off tangent. So yeah, this game is awesome. As I said it's based on the graphic novel and it's look almost has that same style. The premise is simple. Beat Ramona's 7 evil exes in order to date her. Sound simple, but dating a chick with emotional baggage isn't easy. Believe me, I tried. The music in the game is a hearing to behold. Chiptune legend Anamanaguchi (yeah I never heard of them) brings to the table a plethora of catchy tunes that you will listen to constantly to how great they are.

Scott Pilgrim is basically a beat em up RPG in the same way as River City Ransom. You kick ass, you take names, people turn into coins, it's as simple as that. But this time around it's much more deeper than you can imagine. You gain better stats by buying attributes. That's right, the brutally murdered monetary remains of your enemies are used to make you stronger. It makes sense to me in a hilarious way. Also, there are chances to gain more money in the subspace highway from flying piggy banks. That one not so much. The more experience you get from kicking ass, you unlock more moves. Those moves will be used to your advantage against the 7 evil Xs that form the League. In other words, kick some evil ex ass with your skillz (Z in skills is relevant).

Speaking of X, your opponents are tough, really tough if your not powerful enough. Matthew can use fire pulse and summon demon hipster chicks, Lucas hits you with his doubles and skateboard, Todd is a psychic vegan which pretty much kills any suspension of disbelief, with an AT Field, and electric attacks, bastard; Roxy is a ninja, Ken and Kyle are twin Japanese Djs, Nega Scott is Nega Scott, and Gideon is one evil bastard. He turns super, gets a one winged angel form and attacks you with a digitana. No, I'm serious, that's his weapon: a sword made from hand movements. There's not enough drunken jutsu in the world to see that weapon is stupid. Once you beat these poorly misunderstood punks you get the girl... or do you?

The graphics look like it's novel counterpart, and the backgrounds and stages look like it's in Toronto. From the snowy streets, to the eerie forest, to even the top of a building with dark smoke covering the sky. Within each stage there is a shop run by a different person. I won't get into detail about it, mostly because I can't remember the other names of the people running the shops other than Wallace and Mobile (yes, his name is Mobile). It just looks great, I can't tell anymore about it.

Whats unique about Scott Pilgrim vs the World (the movie) the Game is that it's not like your ordinary beat em up. For one I haven't played a great beat em up like this since Godhand. Plus, it's on the cheap side. For only $10 to download on the XBLA and PSN there's a lot of meat on this platter. Sure you can't play online, but these kinds of games are meant to be played with local friends. You know, to join in and steal all the money for yourself and hit each other with baseballs by accident. I'm sure there's some of you who would want online co-op, but then again who wants to play with hackers huh? I know some of the online community would put countless hours and figure out a way to TAS (Tool Assisted Speedrun) it even though it's only a downloaded game. The plus side of this is in honor of the release of the movie based on this on bluray/DVD, there is going to be DLC already for a downloadable game where you get to play as Knives and a patch to fix the difficulty on Average Joe. I admit I was a bit frustrated in the elevator at stage 7. The hit detection just went bonkers and lost everything before arriving at Gideon. Seriously you guys, it's not that hard to do a little training before you take on the big boys! But give me some space without pushing me into the pit! Finally, the game is half off, that's right. You can download this game for 5 bucks to coincide with the DVD/bluray. How can you not pass this up?

With the value your getting for this game, the content included, battle system, music, graphics, and game play, I'm glad to have bought this game based on a great series. Even though my cardinal rule is movie licensed games suck, my exception to that rule is this game. Brian Lee O'Malley, your a genius. This game deserves my Suzaku's Seal of Awesome. Good going, Ubisoft.

9 out of 10