Brainsplatter!

Who knows what my brain can 'splatter' out

Brainsplatter!

What Freedom Means to Me

December 10th, 2010 · No Comments · Uncategorized

The following is my essay for “What Freedom Means to Me.” Please do not steal, it is a kind of delinquency I highly dislike. Also, please do not post something along the lines, “Your’s stinks, mine is better.” I tend to ignore those that are arrogant and prestigious. Thank you. This is just a rough draft, I will make corrections to my grammatical errors, and add in a few minor/major changes to make the essay more riveting.

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Freedom is a subjective topic that can be conveyed by others in diverse ways. Through the perspective of others, freedom is simply the act of being uncontrolled, and nothing more. Contrarily, I have a deeper perception than that.

Now, I do divulge that I had once thought that the United States of America wasn’t one of the best places to reside in. Due to this ignorance, I was unbeknownst of how fortunate I truly am. I have learned that in life, everything and everyone is flawed. But, that shouldn’t allow you to impudently judge everything. The U.S may have calamities such as homicide and rape, but that occurs everywhere. Luckily for us, we have law enforcement. Some countries don’t, this can lead to both chaos and fear among their people. I have the ability to attend school without anticipating about my lunch and supplies being pilfered. My aunt resides in Singapore to earn some money for an education. She is employed as a maid. Unfortunately for her, she is compensated at a low salary. To exacerbate everything, she has barely even a trifle of freedom. For instance, she may only access the computer she owns on certain days. She doesn’t have the ability to travel where and when she pleases.

Witnessing vicariously, the media has shown me that freedom is almost like a requirement for all living creatures. After immense quarreling, on July 4, 1776, the Americans gained their independence from Britain. During the 1940s, many Jews tried to escape from the ruthless clutches of the German Nazis as much as possible, not even attentive to the consequences. Even animals desire freedom. They whimper for us to relinquish them from their confining cage. Without a doubt, everyone and everything crave for freedom of some form. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is appreciated. Thank you!

When I was a mere infant, I constantly attempted to escape my crib. When I was ten years old, I wished to leave my controlling grandparents. As a teenager, I still tend to become agitated of the mundane events a youngling will experience. Though, now, I have more insight one what freedom really is. Freedom is being able to believe what we want without our opinions being impeded upon. It’s also our ability to accomplish what we want without having to countenance any unnecessary obstacles. Freedom is not a condition, it’s a way of life.

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Technology: Positives and Negatives

November 7th, 2010 · No Comments · Uncategorized

In Mr. Eaton’s reading class, I was instructed to write an essay on what I think about technology. Below is my completed assignment. WARNING: VERY OPINIONATED, PLEASE TAKE MY THOUGHTS LIGHTLY.

I have grown most of my young life during the 2000’s. Y2K and beyond are the years of our most high-tech machines. Although we find technology as remarkable creations, they can also be flawed.

My grandfather has built and worked with computers for thirty years. He repaired an old black and white television when he was six years old, no lie! Since I lived with my grandparents for nine years, some of my grandfather’s technological knowledge has worked it’s way into my mind.

During my grandfather’s childhood, computers were far more larger in size than the computers of present day. Today, computers are now portable—a laptop. Actually, our phones are now, basically a computer. Though, this is what may lead to problems. Unfortunately, people must absolutely have the newest “in the now” product. People are willing to pay heaps of money for something that is vulnerable to malfunctions, and then find that there is something even better to be invented. Luckily, I have the restraint. When I invested enough money for a “Playstation 2” the “Playstation 3” was immediately released. I was quite disappointed, but with having a modest personality, I didn’t holler at my grandfather for the new console. I am excluding the time I received an “Xbox 360” three years later, it was by far, more entertaining than the “Playstation 2,” but I digress. Anyways, the evolution of technology can sometimes be very irritating.

Another reason why I’m a fan of technology is because of the internet. I can accomplish research and complete homework within minutes. All I have to do is add a few keywords into the search engine, and in less than a second, millions of results will appear before my eyes. I find that VERY astonishing, whereas in the past, it was difficult to get your hands onto some form of information. I can also chat and play games with people around the world! Though, as great as that may seem, there are people around the world, teenagers in general, receive horrible consequences. For instance, studies have shown that suicide is one of the leading causes of death in teenagers. Why? It’s mainly cyber-bullying. Who knew that a tragic event could begin within the room of a teen, in front of a computer screen? Also, many teenagers have been harmed by predators. Sadly, there is a lack of internet education, and kids will post any information online to people they think is their friend. That friend could actually be a perverted forty year old man. I haven’t gone through that, but I hear about it all the time on television, newspaper, online, etc.

Also, technology can allow people to input their weight, what they have done, how much more they need to burn off. Sadly, that is not what the internet is mainly used for. Many people, especially children, are obese, because of staying indoors. Why are they staying indoors? They are playing video games, getting work done within the household, or just surfing the web. Excluding the “Nintendo: Wii” video games and online social networks have caused many people to literally lock themselves in their rooms. This is also a main reason for children receiving rickets. Rickets is a disorder that is caused by a lack of vitamin D. Vitamin D can be obtained through sunlight. That is NOT good thing.

To point out a few more defects in technology, people have established inappropriate groups online. For example, a group called, “The Juggalo Holocaust” is a group that physically harms the fans of the hip hop duo, “The Insane Clown Posse.” Also, people have even begun fascist/racist groups that harm others. These groups are mainly based off the beliefs of Nazism. I understand people have a desire to speak their mind, but by opinion, I find those said groups immensely unreasonable and absurd to be created.

In conclusion, although technology has had a few mishaps in society, I find it interesting, entertaining and useful. Thus, I can never be a luddite, a despiser of technological progress. I have a small sense of nostalgia, and I am quite glad technology has improved from old fashioned gramophones, to iPods.

Gramophone

Gramophone

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Tips for drawing/cartooning

September 17th, 2010 · 2 Comments · Uncategorized

Now centuries have passed, and I now have a new post! Today’s is on how to improve (notice I didn’t say ‘perfect’)  cartoon drawings. These tips are for everyone, you don’t have to be a great artist.

Creativity:

  • According to my dictionary, it states that art is any form of creative or imaginitve work/activity. Art isn’t just pencil or color onto a piece of paper. Writing has imagination and creativity. Cooking (the culinary arts) has imagination and creativity. Even dancing, acting, and majority of entertainment out there is art. They all include being creative, using your imagination, and improvising.
  • How this relates to cartoon drawings: A cartoonist uses his or her imagination and creativity to draw anything. He or she will give it character, features, meaning, and life! If the people of today had no sense of creativity, our work would be very dull and boring.
  • The tip: Obviously, be creative. Use your head! Don’t worry about what is real. Don’t worry about the details of an actual person. Goodness, you can create either just a person of your own, or a flying talking taco! Let your ideas flow out onto the paper before your eyes. What could help is inspiration. Listen to music, watch some movies, take a walk, etc. These could give you ideas on what to help you create. Jot down some of your ideas on a paper or your mind.

Style: As my dictionary says, style is how something is done or how it happens. Style is a very important part of your art. It’s what makes it more prominent than other works, and causes it to be recognizable. Think style like your signature or your handwriting. Everyone’s handwriting is different. Teacher’s tend to know who’s writing it could be, judging by the beautiful or “horrid” penmanship. Take this to your art. Make it unique from other people’s works. Style will also help people view your work, and automatically know who it’s from.

  • Tip: As I have said to make it unique, a great way to start is by using a reference. Many artists use references to help them with their work. Make this a game, find an object, or person and try to draw them. There’s a catch, you have to make them look entirely different, but still be sure to make them recognizable. Use their features! Add some curves or edgey lines to their body, but still have their ear/eye size, hair color and face shape. Something along those lines! Example check out some art of my favorite band made by xVampirexKissesx !Photo
Cartoon

Cartoon created by xVampirexKissesx

As you see above, you can definitely see that there is a difference, the cartoon is unique from the photo, but still recognizable. This artist has even added his or her own kicks to the work. For example, the tie colors are different, the lead singe’rs skirt color is different. Also, the drummer’s (the one with white shoes) socks are different colors. Oh and another observation I’ve made, the cartoonist/artist left out the fake magenta colored blood.

Knowing an artist’s style: I know Jhonen Vasquez’s work anywhere. You can see why:

Squee from Squee! Jhonen Vasquez

Squee from "Squee!" Jhonen Vasquez

Keef from Invader Zim by Jhonen Vasquez

Keef from "Invader Zim" by Jhonen Vasquez

Nny from JTHM by Jhonen Vasquez

Nny from JTHM by Jhonen Vasquez

Patience, Practice and Improvement (NOT PERFECTION)

  • “Patience is a virtue.” That quote is true! Have you ever tried to be the ultimate best at a new video game? First time you played, you lost. Well, a cliche statement I give to you, is that keep trying and you will succeed! No one can be entirely great at something on the very first try. Frustrating, but it’s life, and it’s also what makes life fun. If we knew everything, why go to school? Why take lessons? Imagine days without challenges! Imagine being a million dollar football player with no work, or inspiring story to tell the children!

Same goes for art. It has taken me over a year and a half to find my art style as of now. I have been drawing so many people and objects in various ways, yet none suited my personality, and were forgettable within a day. Finding style and drawing well takes patience. Also, I  dislike the term “perfection”. In my eyes, perfection doesn’t exist. Improvement does, though. When I was a six year old girl who drew almost twenty-four hours a day, I had a style. Of course, since I have practiced drawing, my style between age six and age thirteen is entirely different. It has improved. Now should I just stop drawing, now that I have found my style? No! In the next five years, my style will probably get even better, if not worse. The pictures of Jhonen Vasquez’s work above, are his works from 1997 – 2002. His style has improved/changed! Example:

Different style

Another drawing

Fun:

  • What’s doing work without enjoying it? Yes there is a time for goofing around, and a time for being serious. Though to some extent, a job or career SHOULD be enjoyable! People get promotions, and get paid more if they enjoy what they do. If you receive a job that involves answering a phone for eight hours a day, with the same greeting and question, that would get boring. I have noticed, by observations and experience, the majority of  people I see at a fast food restaurant give horrible attitudes to their customers. Unfortunate, but it happens. Personally, I think that if you don’t enjoy your job, why keep with it?

How does fun come into play with art? Simple. If you draw, have some fun with it! Don’t draw how a person says you should, art is made by the creator. Drawing the same thing the same way will tend to get boring after a while. Add some special affects, interesting colors, distinct lines, or features that pop out! Also, draw, because you find it enjoyable.

Those are some of my pointers. Do whatever your creative mind can come up with. GET OUT THERE AND LET YOUR IDEAS FLOW!

Thanks to: xVampirexKissesx , the person who photographed The Birthday Massacre’s photoshoot, and Jhonen Vasquez. Also, here’s some links to Jhonen Vasquez’s sites: Twitter, Mindspill blog, Tumblr. Links to The Birthday Massacre’s sites: Twitter, Myspace.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender TV show

July 18th, 2010 · 2 Comments · Uncategorized

Hello blog minions,

No, I haven’t watched the film “The Last Airbender” directed by M. Night Shyamalan. BUT, I have read some articles about how much of a poor film it was. It gained an 8% rating! Now usually the horrible movies I have watched gain a 50% rating. Well at first I was thinking how someone could fit 25 hours of tv show into a 2 hour movie. But “The Last Airbender” is based on the first season of the show.

Characters

Haha, well this is dissapointing. First of all, the characters in the TV show are supposed to be oriental Asian. Not Indian Asian. Shyamalan chose an Indian actor to play as Prince Z

uko. Also, the character Aang (pronounced: Ayng) is now called “Ahng”. Shyamalan stated that he was Asian and would know how “Aang” should be pronounced. Well, if he would only know that if it had only one ‘A’ in Aang, then it would be pronounced “Ahng”. Plus, Aang is the original name from the show, why change it?

Second, I HEARD that the characters personalities are a big change from the show to the movie. In the show, Aang is a lively, happy and joyful 12 year old. While during the movie, he is boring. And I also heard that in the show, Sokka is very sarcastic and tries to be funny, while during the movie he’s quite bland with the “humor”.

Third, the character appearances look nothing alike. Especially, a loved character, deuteragonist  Prince Zuko.

Look at the difference:

Prince Zuko from show

Prince Zuko from show

Zuko from film

Okay this one is the Sokka difference.

Sokka from show

Sokka from show

Sokka from film:

Sokka from film

Sokka from film

…Horrific…isn’t it?

Well enought about the film, because I haven’t seen it so I don’t have word to “down it”. The TV show was definately a win, sorry guys but it’s way better than Invader Zim. It had a perfect plot/story, and each character had their own personality and appearence. The show also has a balance between it’s dramatic points, humorous points, serious points, and even some horrific points. The seasons are also organized by elements that Aang learns. It goes from Season 1: Water, Season 2: Earth, and Season 3: Fire.

Sadly the award winning 61 episode series ended. LUCKILY, FOR ALL YOU FANS OUT THERE, a new show is being worked on called: “Avatar: The Legend of Korra” which is based 100 years after the first show.

Well there you have it, Avatar: The Last Airbender fans.

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Birthday Massacre New Album

June 26th, 2010 · No Comments · Uncategorized

After about a two months of reading the Birthday Massacre’s twitter… They finally announce their album release date. “Pins and Needles” will be released on September 14th 2010. (Quick Birthday Massacre info: They are a synth-rock, new wave, electro band formed in Toronto, Canada. Year: 1999)

The album cover

The album cover

I think I can be so gullible that I would almost believe anything a famous person/group would say. Very unfortunate characteristic for me… The Birthday Massacre are from Toronto, Canada. Rhim, the drummer, stated that there was an earthquake in Toronto and Ottawa. That’s true, I quickly googled “Toronto earthquake” and there it was. Then came the bit about the album and recordings being destroyed. At first I was thinking to my self, “Nah, there’s no way!” … “Then again…”. I checked the twitter the next day, and I was relieved to read “Big announcement in a few seconds… and no, the album was not destroyed. Kidding!” Well, I’m glad I didn’t fret to the point of dying.

My parents haven’t said anything about the Marquis Theatre performance… well at least they didn’t say “No” right on the spot. Phew!

Random Rainbow the guitarist picture:

Taken by Normanbolditalic

Taken by Normanbolditalic


More information on the album:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=2015281&blogId=536289352

Safe driving, blog minions :)

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End of the School Year

June 5th, 2010 · No Comments · Uncategorized

Without a beginning, there can’t be an end…

Like a video game, the closer we get to the end, it seems harder. Same goes for school, I assume it’s because of how students or some “learners” (as Mr. McIntosh likes to call them) are more stressed out about getting their assignments in, and the teachers are trying to ‘cram’ work into their class time. Tight schedules much? Though it’s tough, it is life, and it prepares us for the future. Young ones, imagine stepping into the shoes of an adult.

WOOHOO!!!

WOOHOO!!!

Well, the year was worth it, I had great grades (straight A’s for the whole school year), acquainted with new friends, and became quite productive! After the last quarter of the school year hit, I began taking naps when I arrived home… which annoys me, but it’s healthy. I feel unproductive when asleep, and something is to be done…

ANYWAYS, the moment everyone was anxiously looking forward to has arrived, and summer begins! Then we have to do it all over again in two an a half months, but let’s NOT worry about that now!

Unfortunately, no official trips planned, but I do have some INTERESTS and GOALS.

A list of the following:

  • Get extremely better at guitar. I find it sad that I have a guitar in my room, that I have slowly learned a few chords here an there, so that’s one thing I’ll be doing.
  • Golf… lessons/club (maybe). I’m a golfer, and I used to be quite good, but after I moved to Colorado I didn’t have a course to practice on nearby, so hopefully there’s an opportunity out there.
  • Band camp (maybe). I doubt it, but it would be fun! I love music, (rock/metal, electronic, swing in particular, but classic is very cool too!) I play the accordion, harmonica, recorder, a little bit of guitar, and one of my favorites, trombone. The brass instrument with the slide.
  • Comic/cartooning/drawing. I’ll definitely keep this hobby alive. On the last day of school, I was able to get Ms. Duker to sign my year book. She asked what I’d be doing over the summer, and I told her I would work on comics. She was  hyped up to hear that! NO I WASN’T KISSING UP, I was telling the truth.
  • Cleaning. I think it would be nice to see my room and all the closets in the house organized. That’s something productive right there. I already arranged my books, video games, DVDs’, and video tapes in alphabetical order. I also arranged my clothes in order by color. I’d like to see my desk drawer organized, I’m thinking by type. For, example, by pens, pencils, etc.
  • Video games. This isn’t exactly important, but in Call of Duty I sold my prestige account. I regret that, because everytime I log on to xBox Live, I get called the “noob”. I find it hilarious how people call each other that, because we have all been the “noob” on a multi-player video game. Everyone starts at level one. Everyone is the beginner…
  • Get out. No I don’t mean go on a date, because that’s absolutely REVOLTING. The thought of a relationship makes me sick. Anyways, I mean run outside, explore the… grassy fields, and ride my bike. I haven’t done anything to get active in a while, which sickens me.
  • Edit stories. I already have two people that will be sending me their stories, so I’ll be editing those for them… Want me to edit your story/paper/etc.? Comment please!
  • Go to the Birthday Massacre concert. Oh there’s really nothing more to say about that.

Well that’s a few things that I have come up with. There might be more as I stare at the calendar, counting the days that pass by.

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Birthday Massacre Gig

May 25th, 2010 · No Comments · Uncategorized

About a week ago, I was surfing around on other people’s twitter pages, and I clicked on the Birthday Massacre’s twitter (tbmassacre). They have finished their Europe tour about a year ago, and now they are going on tour this year in the United States. I thought, “Hey, neat.” I scrolled down a bit more and that was when I almost exploded like a ticking bomb… they were coming to Colorado Springs. Hey, REALLY neat.

Okay then, I clicked on their tiny-url in that particular tweet, and it led me to an information page. It was going to be held at the Black Sheep. That would be a bar. I asked my step-father if I could see the band… it would be my first gig. He said he would have to see it to it later, since the tour starts in July. Unfortunately, I came to the full extent of the information that changed his mind. It was going to be at the Black Sheep. He didn’t mind taking me to concerts, but bars not so much… but he’ll see. I had the “all hope is lost” kind of feeling about it, and with a mature voice I pretty much told him how I understood him, how I was okay with that, and so on.

A few days later, I decided to check up on the Birthday Massacre’s twitter page yet again. Gloomily looking at the list of tour dates/locations, I found yet another tweet that really blew my mind. In August, they were coming back to Colorado! They were going to be performing in Denver at the Marquis theater… for three hours! Up until this point, I didn’t ask my step-father yet, since August is a while away.

Mini background on the band:

The Birthday Massacre originated in Toronto, Canada 1999 as Imagica. It first started when Chibi (singer) and Rainbow (guitarist) met in art school. If you’re wondering about why they have weird names, it’s actually their pseudonym. I have no idea what their real name is, and I really don’t think they have revealed it.  After they made one of their first albums, they changed their name to The Birthday Massacre, which was named after one of their songs. They have a live drummer, two guitarists, bass player, keyboard player, and vocalist.

Them

Them

QUESTION:

Since it hasn’t been confirmed that I can’t go the Black Sheep, should I go the Black Sheep concert, or the Denver concert? The Black Sheep is three hours long, but it has two other bands. So each band would get about an hour set. Whereas Denver, The Birthday Massacre is alone, but also for three hours so they might make their performance really interesting. Also, my friend’s father might actually get us to meet the band at the Black Sheep. Sadly, the Birthday Massacre isn’t the opening band, I don’t know anything about the first band (OTEP). I don’t know…

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Windows Vista… not cool anymore

May 20th, 2010 · No Comments · Uncategorized

I think I have changed my mind about windows being one of my favorites. I have Windows Vista Home Premium, and my gosh VISTA IS HORRIBLE! There are always problems with Vista, constant reboots and restarts without warning, So many pop ups, and just that horrible lag. Just yesterday I had a virus. I tried to do a system restore, and of course, it fails. Then my lap top just restarts over and over, it took me a while to figure something out.

What I did was reboot, press F8 and chose Safe Mode with Networking. Okay finally, it loads without restarting. Victory… kind of. I quickly opened task manager to temporarily end the processes of those horrible viruses. I downloaded something called Malwarebytes Anti-malware. I’ve heard it has worked before, so I opened it up and chose Full Scan. I waited for an hour and five minutes, it found SIXTEEN infections. Never had so many before. Clicked on remove infections, and they were gone. Problem solved! That easy! Though it was a hassle just to power up my lap top, and get task manager to pop up before the virus came. The virus pretty much disables all execute (exe.) files… like Task Manager, and my Anti-Virus.

Bloggy buddies, this is the 4th time I had problems with a computer that had Vista. I never had a virus with Linux.

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An Interview with Ethan Nicolle

May 18th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Uncategorized

Ethan Nicolle

Ethan Nicolle

Since I first began drawing, I had a dream to become an artist. Not just any artist though, a comic book artist. I would read graphic novels and comics like Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman, etc. Then I grew into the more “mature” works from Roman Dirge, Jhonen Vasquez, and of course… Ethan Nicolle. Things like that are what really stood out to me, and inspired me to become a better cartoonist/artist. I was able to contact Ethan Nicolle, and HE TOO… ever since he was a child wanted to become an artist. Ethan Nicolle writes, “As soon as I could move a pencil on a page I loved drawing, and as long as I have been alive I knew it was what I wanted to do.”

The Beginning

Ethan Nicolle was about 15 years old when he tried to get one of his comic published in Slave Labor Graphics. He went to Slave Labor Graphics – A publishing company for dark humored, off beat comics, and was rejected by SLG president Dan Vado. He would constantly go back to Slave Labor Graphics with extreme confidence hoping he would be accepted. Unfortunately, he would recieve the same words, “Work on your art a bit more.” When he became twenty six years old, he went back to Slave Labor Graphics. He was surprised to see that Dan Vado was still president of Slave Labor Graphics. Then that was when the great  news happened, “Instead of another letter of rejection, I received my first letter of acceptance.” The comic he published was “Chumble Spuzz”

Ethan Nicolle may enjoy illustrating/writing his comics, but it can also be quite difficult for him too. Ethan Nicolle says, “Compared to mining for coal it is easy, but is also hard in that I am constantly trying to create new content on a deadline.”

Axe Cop

Ethan Nicolle illustrated a web comic written by his little brother Malachai. Ethan explains, “The AXE COP saga began on a Christmas visit to see my family. My Father, a man with very healthy loins, has managed to produce a variety of children, ranging from me, a 29 year old comic book artist, to my 5 year old brother Malachai, a 5 year old boy genius, with four other siblings in between.

During the visit Malchai was running around with his toy fireman axe and he said he was playing “Axe Cop.” He asked me to play with him, and I asked what my weapon was… so he brought me a toy flute (actually a recorder). I told him I would rather be Axe Cop then Flute Cop, and he seemed just fine with being Flute Cop.

The story that followed became more and more brilliant, until I couldn’t contain myself and I had to draw the whole thing into a one page comic. From there the saga continued, and over the course of my week-long visit we cranked out the first four episodes of AXE COP.

I posted the comics to my blog and on Facebook and they got great responses. I decided to give AXE COP a home on the internet here and attempt to continue the saga as often as I have time to draw them, and I can get Malachai to write them.”

A Job? Activity?

I always wondered if comic artists did art as a career, or an activity. Ethan says it’s pretty much his job.

“(Doing comics) is my job now, with Axe Cop it became sort of a low paying, paycheck to paycheck, risky endeavor… which is pretty good for a comic. It’s nothing like a 9 to 5. It is more of a 24-7 kind of thing, but I’m my own boss and it is sort of an adventure since it took of on it’s own. I really feel like I am along for the ride and just trying to make the best of it.”

Influences

Many… actually I think all artists of some kind, have a person that influences their work. Who are Ethan Nicolle’s influences?

Ethan Nicolle says, “G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Bill Watterson, Doug TenNapel, Sam Kieth, Eastman and Laird, Eric Powell, Simon Bisley to name a few.”

The Future

Everyone can’t always continue to do the same medium/work for a long period of time. It will slowly become boring, and discourages the adventure in a person. Ethan already has some dreams in mind.

“I would love to work on a show or a movie or even a video game. If I get to dream here, then these are based on creations of my own. I have always wanted to be the guy who makes up all the cool stuff… the stories, the characters, the worlds… I guess that’s what everyone wants to do.”

That is what everyone wants to do, human nature seems to dislike following others in one way or the other… To be in the lead is what many- all want.

A Small Statement of Advice

Ethan Nicolle states, “Spend more time with your little brother or sister, it can really pay off.

Right now Ethan Nicolle has been option a pilot episode for a TV show at Cartoon Network. Good luck to Ethan Nicolle!

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Bioshock 2 Review

May 17th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Uncategorized

Ah, the wonderful sequel to GAME OF THE YEAR 2009… Bioshock 2. Such a great game, but what kind of score would I like to give it?

The Bioshock 2 game cover

The Bioshock 2 game cover

Bioshock 2 as I have said is sequel to Bioshock 1… just pointing out the obvious. Basically, Bioshock is set during the 1950′s, 1960′s in an underwater city. No, not Atlantis if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s called… Rapture.

During Bioshock 1, Rapture was led by a man named Andrew Ryan. He was killed by the first game’s protagonist Jack Ryan. Bioshock 2 is dated about  eight years after the first game. The new protagonist is a “Big Daddy” (a large guy in a diver suit) named Delta. He isn’t just any Big Daddy, he is the first… a prototype.

Before I go on about what you’re supposed to do in the game, I need to point out some specific people and terms. The common enemy you fight is called a Splicer. Splicers are humans that have injected ADAM into their body, to give them more ‘power’ like electrobolt, flame, ice, telekinesis, etc. They have also been given Gene tonics to upgrade these ‘powers.’ These humans have used so much, to the point they have become demented looking. You will also cross other Big Daddies, they aren’t like you. One kid of big daddy includes rocket launchers, another a drill, and the last has a rivet gun. You have bot the rivet gun, drill, and other weapons like a machine gun, shotgun, etc. When you see a big daddy you would normally see big daddies, they have a little girl with them. They are called Little Sisters, which are protected by Big Daddies. Also, another enemy is called the Big Sister which also protects the Little Sister, but is against Big Daddies. The main antagonist of the game is  Sophia Lamb… and no she’s not a lamb.

Remember I said Big Daddies protect Little Sisters? You, yourself, protect Little Sisters, but you have one that is bonded to you. Her name is Eleanor, she was taken by Sophia Lamb. The point of the game is to fight past all these splicers, rescue/kill all the Little Sisters you can find for their ADAM, and find Sophia Lamb.

REVIEW: The main reason why I like the game, is because of the design of the characters. Bioshock gives a steampunk, classical type of look for the characters. Think of Frank Sinatra, but in a demented physically disturbing way. Also, it’s the atmosphere that gets me. Unlike the first Bioshock, you can actually step out into the ocean waters. The erosion of the walls, the dark areas, the light areas, the amount of rooms that you can get lost in… It freaks me out, but it’s so cool!

I also like how the ending depends on what you do. If you kill the Little Sisters, you get a bad ending. You save them, you get a good ending. If you kill any of the three major antagonists, you get a bad ending. It’s pretty neat. Also, there are numerous amounts of secrets to find in many of the rooms that reveal more and more about the game’s story. Unfortunately, most of the rooms that aren’t necessary to explore are dark and creepy. As if it’s trying to say “Are you brave enough to go in?”.

The various types of weapons are also what makes the game interesting. Delta can carry the Rivet Gun, the Drill, Machine gun, Shotgun, etc.

Everything seems pretty great, EXCEPT for the difference in ‘scares’ with the first game. In Bioshock 1, more splicers will pop up almost right behind you, and follow you. In Bioshock 2, there are less jumps. Now what usually happens are loud noises, or splicers “playing dead”. (Which causes me to lose ammo, because that has caused me to shoot everything even the dead splicers)

Even though Bioshock 2 has the multiplayer, the multiplayer doesn’t have many options to choose from. You can choose modes like capture the sister, civil war, etc. What really annoys many people are the waiting time in the lobby. Yes, you might say “Patience is a virtue.” But this is ridiculous. I once waited over 45 minutes in the lobby just to get into a game, and then for some crazy unknown reason, lose connection. Games like Call of Duty, Halo, etc. usually take less that three minutes. Gosh, even as quick as 60 seconds! The gameplay can be fun though, especially when someone becomes the Big Daddy.

Ah, the old cliche “As I come to an end…”. Although it may have those lousy down sides,  Bioshock 2 has excellent gameplay, great story, a very creepy atmosphere, and the character design is quite astonishing! A very well done game, excluding the multiplayer choices and lobby wait, and the lack of scares. What would I give the sequel to our 2009 game of the year? Hmm… Four drill hits, out of five!

 

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