Season 3

There has been a lot of talk about Season 3 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It seems that this season has really divided the fandom, but I admit that I struggled to watch and enjoy it. Perhaps the fun I had has worn off and it's time to move on, or perhaps the writing has begun to focus in the wrong direction.

The one that really divides fans is the episode where Discord (Lord of Chaos) is redeemed from being a villain to one of the good guys. The episode is good, everyone agrees, but it's Discord being good that splits fans. Discord is a complicated character in that he just loves Chaos (that which is not bound by law). Technically it doesn't make him evil, just more child like that he can do just about anything. Only through evil acts (like turning the main six against each other) is he classed as a villain. Him being good is just as easy to justify that with friends he can become a better individual, but in both cases it's law that justifies his stance as a Good or Bad individual.

There was much potential for him as a villain, but given that the show is based for a younger audience, that potential is limited (such power as his can become both dangerous and misused by any writer). I also don't think he was made good because the writers liked him being shipped with Princess Celestia (Although I do like that idea. After all, love is a very powerful emotion).

Edit: Yes, forgot to mention they did remove Ditzy Doo/Derpy Hooves from the show. This is a serious peeve of mine as there was nothing wrong with the character and thanks to many fans out there (this one I just love), the character is considered to be just as popular (if not more popular) then the main cast. Just because the character is cross eyed and slightly clumsy (hell, Sailor Moon was just as clumsy in her early years on her T.V show), doesn't mean the characters mentally challenged. I've met people who are and they live normal lives just like everyone else. For a show about love and tolerance, they have a very negative way for dealing with social problems.

Yes the ending of the season with Twilight becoming an Alicorn (I thought the term Alicorn was a variant of a Unicorns horn.....have to double check that one) wasn't the best idea and the mixed emotions of some over the 'Wonderbolt's Academy' episode seems to me that this season was the downward turn of the series. I'm not even sure if I'm part of it anymore, but even if I do give it up, both my characters of Storm Spear, Sparky and Lord Corrupticus Fellwing have already been integrated into other stories of my own creative universe, so it really doesn't matter now.

Also, the Bronies documentary arrived along with the shirt....there I am:

I was one of many who help fund this project, my reasons being to help people understand Bronies and to promote things like tolorence and understanding. Society is a vicious evil these days and if people learned more positive attitudes then we could make this world a better place to live (seriously people, just chill a little and learn to enjoy life. So much anger, so much hate).

Recent Games - Quick Reviews

I have learned that through my reflection on some of my fav classic games (Part 1), I have now concluded that as technology has advanced and we get more advanced games, the gameplay and addiction has gone downhill. What do I mean? Well, how often do you play a game repeatedly or go back to play it again later on (NOT counting MMO's)? Nuff said,

Aliens: Colonial Marines:
What more can be said that most reviewers haven't already said. Sadly mine was the Xbox version. My only advice to the makers is go play the Marine campaign form the old Alien vs Predator 2 game, cause that still had some humans (well, synthetics but close enough) and even a Predator fight or two and stll you fought more Aliens and Alien scenarios then in this latest release.

Dead Space 3:
It must just be me, but was anyone else disappointed by this game. So, to clarify, these are the reasons I find this disappointing. First is Plasma Cutter and Nodes, given that after two games they now remove Nodes from existence and the Plasma Cutter (after being the one and only weapon you needed to beat the previous games) becomes completely useless. I got the limited edition and the rifle with shotgun attachment DLC gun was all I needed to beat the game. What was the point? When you take your games main icons and remove or ignore them, you risk ruining the product.

Finally, the scare factor. This game was NOT scary at all. I felt it was highly frustrating at times, but it was nowhere near scary compared to the previous two games. Even the Necromorphs didn't look that human, thus they didn't seem as terrifying as previous ones (and the guys with axes were just plain annoying and didn't make as much sense). At least human enemies were a bit more limited compared to that Aliens game.

Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm:
Just completed the campaign and I must say that story wise, I was happy with the overall result. It does flesh out Kerrigan more as a person ruled by emotion, and the tragedy that surrounds her life. I did see someone complain that they found the kiss scene between Raynor and Kerrigan annoying and just wanted combat action, but screw them. There are various parts to the overall story of the Starcraft universe and the relationship between James Raynor and Sarah Kerrigan is one major part of it. It's both beautiful and tragic at the same time and just when you think this will get better, the situation goes to hell.

In truth, I really have only a few complains (apart from a few voice bugs and game crashes) and they are missions and evolution. Somehow this expansion just feels short compared the Terran campaign, but I guess that's because each planet has three missions where as the Terran one had single missions so you had to travel more. Then there is the 'Evolution' part of the game. In truth, there was very little of it compared to what we were told when they first announced it. For me, I am a major fan of the ever evolving alien race, so I really felt disappointed with the results. Perhaps it's just me, but the evolution thing is perhaps my only major gripe with this game. Still, music was great and I enjoyed this one out of the three I mentioned here.

Overdue

Wow, was February a major disappointment. Let's just say it was a very bad time and hopefully the next few months will pick up. I'll get more into this later, but right now just felt to have some sort of update.

Edit 13/3/13 - Will be a little delayed with update, something called 'Heart Of The Swarm' has lead to an infestation of enjoyment and has blinded my sense of reality..........thank goodness for that.

Edit 16/3/13 - Oh boy, here comes the updates....

Great Classic Games Part 1

I've played a few games over the years and it's always great to go back and see those which I've always been fond of.

KKND 2 Krossfire

This strategy game was by far, the most played game back in the day. It had three great sides, a variety of units and some classic comedy thrown into the mix. I have yet to play a game where flying units are just as dangerous in the sky as they are landing. Unlike the move here and shoot, they had to make passing runs before needing to land and if they got shot down, you'd try to position them so they would crash into something valuable of the enemies in the hopes you'd cause some serious damage (taking out their oil towers like this was fun).

Jazz Jackrabbit 1 & 2

What can I say, Jazz Jackrabbit should have been for PC what Sonic and Mario was for Sega and Nintendo. A rabbit with a big gun fighting bad turtles across a variety of strange worlds.......what more could you ask for. To this day fans are still demanding a return of this character (we tend to ignore the disaster that was Jazz Jackrabbit GBA). The levels of both games were fantastic to look at, the music was excellent and the game play was fun.

 Toonstruck

 This game sadly came out during the last days of point and click adventure games, so it never got the recognition it truly deserved. There were a number of parts cut from the product and many were assured that they would be in the sequel, which never came to be. Given that Christopher Lloyd is still doing voice acting and the ending left itself open so he could return at any time, this game is now a great opportunity to any gaming company to take up.

Part 2 Coming Soon.

Weekend Plans

Despite the situation getting worse, it still won't stop me from trying to complete some of my planned goals. Will attempt to finish painting up that Crusader/Weaponsmith and am already working on two Dark Eldar Wyches to act as Deathcult Assassins. I actually had some background information from when I designed a force using the Chaos Space Marine rules awhile back involving the Twin Goddesses of the Moon. This information will allow me to give these two assassins a good background from that.

I have also found various sketches of my characters, along with other artists characters as reference material on certain design features. I must admit, I'm no good with drawing the female body and designing female characters is harder for me then male ones. I plan to get at least one character re-design done before the weekend is over.

Finally, Dead Space 3. Now on Disc 2, so I must be over half way now (and on to some of those bigger Necromorphs......so long as I don't have to fight any more of those blasted regeneration ones, I'm fine). Will play this during my creative breaks.

Plans Vs Depression

Yes, my depression has hit a major low point and it is hampering things. What I've been so wanting to do is to finally sketch up proper designs for some of my longest running characters and from them, get other artists to bring them to life (figure of speech). Alas, this depression along with recent events is really screwing me over.

Not that I haven't been entirely useless. Work has resumed on my converted Chaos Lord and I've been gathering parts for my Inquisitor character. The Crusader conversion is finished and painting commenced, but here's the unpainted version:

As you may have guessed, this guy isn't too fond of Tyranids. I know GW did erase Squats from it's lore, but then there have been sketches of a Dwarf like race living as part of the Tau Empire, so I do believe space Dwarfs are still in there.

While I will try to get back to my character designs, fate also throws me the release of Dead Space 3 tomorrow. Oh what to do....

Inspiring Chaos

Had a look at the new Warriors of Chaos armybook that was released today and to be truthful, I don't see where all this hate is coming from. Yes, it is more expensive to field a large unit of Marauders/Warriors that are marked (I believe the Khorne and Tzeentch marks are more expensive), but there are things that have improved as well. The Daemonic Gifts & Mutations chart has improved immensely and while there is a major drop in magic items, that too was to be expected. The randomness has come back with things like the Eye of the Gods, Chalice of Chaos, Forsaken random chart and the Mutalith's bound spell.

I guess some might disagree with that last part, given they probably want a serious army, but you are dealing with Chaos. It's an infinite and unbound power that shifts and changes and the new rules better reflect that power. Spell wise is defiantly better if you are Nurgle or Slannesh as some spells count as Hex or Aug depending if you cast it on an enemy or ally. Not only that, but a marked sorcerer can choose between two lores, one god base and one set (so Tzeentch has Lore of Tzeentch or Lore of Metal).

I'm happy with this new book and it has encouraged me to finish converting Xzark, my Chaos Lord of Tzeentch. I can see him being more effective then before.