#Military inspired graphic design

[laiqverse]

Military Inspired Graphic Design

Explore the world of military-inspired graphic design and learn how to combine functionality and aesthetics in your projects. Discover the use of bold typography, rugged textures, and military themes and imagery to create compelling designs that stand out. From logos to packaging, find inspiration and take your designs to the next level. Military-inspired graphic design is a fascinating trend…

[thinkingimages]

@claudiopogo and @wysocka.magdalena take-over @archivalzone with their project @the_stacks

stacks were shot over a couple of visits at the New York Public Library's Picture Collection @nyplpicturecollection

About the Picture Collection:

"Since its creation in 1915 as a resource for artists, Illustrators, designers, teachers, students, and general researchers, The New York Public Library's Picture Collection provides 1.5 million circulating images clipped from books and magazines across 12,000 subject headings, from clothing and dress to military battles to insects. The collection also features extensive holdings of prints, photographs, vintage postcards, and greeting cards, and around 150,000 non-circulating reference images from the early 1900s and prior. The Library has digitized 45,000 of these historic items as part of its online Digital Collections.

The Picture Collection's unique arrangement of items into subject headings makes it useful to researchers in many creative fields, including artists; documentary filmmakers; set, prop, and costume makers for stage and film; graphic novel writers; and fashion designers. The collection has provided inspiration and insight to some of the most well-known and influential visual artists in the world-including Diego Rivera, Andy Warhol, and Taryn Simon-and it continues to serve the needs of the creative community to this day." (Quoted from the Library's Website)

The project is a work in progress and intended to become a photobook published by @outerspacepress in the near future.

We hope you'll enjoy browsing this amazing archive of photography with us in the upcoming few days.

[pheonixbuchanan]

Kind of want to combine my hyperfixations and redesign Stardew bachelorettes and bachelors in various eras of vintage fashion?

If I don’t end up drawing this, here’s my general vision so far just because (yes I am skipping the 30s and 40s because I don’t find them as visually interesting):

20s:

Penny. Her hair reminds me a lot of the pinned up faux bobs that flappers would wear and I think she would look AMAZING in a drop waist and cloche hat.

Krobus. His little trench coat get up gives me sort of 1920s Agatha Christie detective novel vibes.

50s:

Shane, because I think he would look dapper with a kind of Cary Grant and Marlon Brando hybrid inspired look? Like with sharp lines and but because he’s messy his sharp suit is ruffled after a long night.

Abigail. I know this isn’t the obvious choice, but due to my hatred™️ of Pierre and Caroline’s parenting style, Abigail’s story has always felt a bit like her breaking away from tradition, especially for gender wise. As such, I want to draw her in Beatnik style, with a black turtleneck, a beret, slacks, and huge dark glasses.

60s:

Harvey :). His fascination with planes means I absolutely have to draw him in the golden age of travel. I’m thinking a smart suit, kind of more early 1960s, inspired by the fashion in the original Bond films.

Haley. I would probably do a different part of 60s fashion to Harvey for her, more akin to the mid to late sixties Swinging London movement, as inspired by Twiggy and Mary Quant. Boxy mini dress, Gogo boots and a Bridget Bardot-esque bouffant.

70s:

Maru. The 70s were big for jumpsuits and women’s fashion got a lot more practical, which I think works well with her personality. I love Maru and I love flared jeans so 🫠 I also think I would give her big hair (I love her older game designs)

Leah. Leah’s hippie artist vibes work perfectly for the 70s flowery hippie fashion. Please put my girl in a loose fitting prairie dress or some bell sleeves. Her hair would also work with the long natural wavy look of that era.

80s:

Emily. I know her vibes are at a first glance 70s, but the style of her dress and her hair remind me SO MUCH of Winona Ryders wedding dress in beetlejuice? So the gothy fashion of the 80s with big spiky hair and mesh and craftiness remind me of Emily.

Elliot. Once again at a first glance 70s, but I will put this man in a late 70s/early 80s glam rock outfit if it kills me. With the massive hair and the sort of military inspired studded jacket and everything. Hear me out.

Alex: the 80s were probably the start of the jock character, and Alex to me reads like he could literally be a character in the breakfast club to be honest. He must be taken back to his roots.

90s:

Sam. In the 90s skater boy fashion was literally like… the thing, so this is obvious. Give him a baggy ahh flannel , a baggier ahh graphic tee and a baggiest ahh pair of jeans. And some fugly 90s man hair.

Sebastian. Not really a huge redesign, but I’m incapable of not drawing him as like a mall goth / early emo kid (yes I know they’re different but similar style roots).

[telephoney]

um hi here is my slash 😁 and some more images of my slash & bash and info dump below

warnings for like violence and injury and trauma and all that stuff but nothing described in graphic detail

ummm these r a little older but the top image is the most recent design yay

clothing is inspired by south asian & nepali fashion not anything super accurate or traditional but just things i liked!

dad was a hunter and mom would decorate animal skulls to sell (they wear some of their mother's clothes but the big pants are a men's dhoti)

their name "soumy" means soft natured i think which is Not what their dad wanted them to be and their last name "mahat" originates from a line of warriors i thinkkkk

their mask is a skull that wasnt going to be sold because it was shot in the skull and ruined so they decided to decorate it themself (in secret cause their dad didn't like them doing that ouuuuu)

face is disfigured for. some reason i still haven't figured that out yet but i think they've had a disfigured face since childhood and got a lot of slack for it by their parents

lived in some isolated house in the middle of nowhere didn't go to school but has survival skills and basic education👍

they/them but they're like that one tweet that goes like "im probably nonbinary but i have a job so idrc about that rn" and get called he or she so they dont really bother lol like they're a serial killer cmon

their knife is the kukri knife! its used in the military but also as a hunting knife and just regular tool it's super versatile i really like that knife super cool

my bash has a deformed head so they kind of bond over Missing Parts but i wanna redesign my bash because he looks kind of too much like frankensteins monster lol

i gave bash a tactical type mask i like the ex-military themes though idk if it'd make sense if he was lol

i headcanon that the bash in his head is what killed him . i drew some neck marks???? i think i wanted him to have like a failed hanging or something but idk where i was going with that lol ideas just that they really tried their best to kill him and the bash is what finally did it

uhhh that's it just some loose ideas yay

[jarenka]

Opera poser for @dreaminghour (tbh I suck at graphic design so it's more like an illustration)

I was thinking what I should draw for this request and if I need to come up with full new opera plot. No, I already have one! Actually in post-ROTJ au fic there should be (I don't know if I include it in the final version of the fic) an episode featuring one of the Anakin's favourite opera.

It calls "Celia" after the main character, and i thing you will easily recognise which real opera inspired me.

Here is the plot.

Celia is a canteen owner on a planet in the Outer Rim. She has a lover, captain Liim, who was military officer on his own planet before he met Celia and fell in love with her. He left military, moved to Celia's planet a bought a cargo ship to become a regular cargo ship captain on local inter-sector routes so he can see her regularly.

Once captain Liim starts to suspects that Celia is gradually losing interest in him. Celia sings and dances for him to show her affection, but captain Liim is still suspicious and jealous. Meanwhile Celia is introduced by her friends to Jasen Taal, emerging racing star. He is beautiful and charming, he flirts with her and promise to visit her canteen.

Couple of weeks later after winning another race Jasen Taal celebrates his victory in Celia's canteen. Captain Liim should be working, but he doesn't take orders from his clients and refuse to leave planet. He is jealous, he is afraid that Celia would cheat him when he is away. His crew is very unhappy about it, if captain Liim continues to act this way, they won't get their money next month and their regular clients will find another carriers.

Captain Liim visits Celia's canteen in the middle of celebration, he sees Jasen Taal flirting with Celia, and she doesn't stop him. Jasen Taal claims that he is completely mesmerized by Celia, he never saw a woman more charming than her. After the whole bottle of Corellian whiskey, in the end of the evening, captain Liim starts a terrible scandal, accusing Celia of cheating. He calls her slut in front of her employers and late guests. Celia is really mad. She says that captain Liim is a terrible person and she doesn't want to see him. Canteen's security guard kicks him out.

Next couple of weeks captain Liim drinks and tries to meet Celia to beg her for forgiveness. People are gossiping about him. And also he hears gossips that Celia is dating Jasen Taal now. He doesn't want to believe it.

One day captain Liim is able to find Celia in her home alone. Big annual race is coming, all the town is festive, and everyone is sure that Jasen Taal will win this race. Celia is going there too, but captain Liim doesn't know about it yet. He begs her to forgive him, he wants to be with her again. He tries to talk her into marrying him and stay with him on his ship. They will travel together. Celia finds his proposal utterly ridiculous and mocks him. Captain Liim accuses her of cheating again, Celia says that it's not his business. She doesn't want him. Captain Liim begs her to give him another chance. They were lovers for years and he thinks that deep down Celia still loves him. Celia doesn't love him anymore. They start to quarrel, Celia tries to get from her house but captain Liim blocks her way. She says that the race starts soon and she wants to see it.

"You wants to see you new lover!", accuses her captain Liim. She says that it's true, Jasen Taal is her lover now, and captain Liim should leave her alone because she loves another man. When he tries to claim her as his woman, Celia laughs in his face and says that she is her own woman and doesn't belong to any man. She tries to get past captain Liim again, but in his rage he violently pushes her away and trows her on the ground. She hits her head and when captain Liim, horrified by his own violence, reaches her, she is already dead.

So, Anakin watched this opera more then once in his youth, it's one of his favourite, it has really beautiful music and a lot of passion just like he loves. If he ever associated himself with anyone in this opera, it was Jasen Taal, charming racer. Also in Galaxy Opera House he was usually played by the actor who looked a lot like Anakin. He kinda despised captain Liim. When Anakin found out about Clovis, he mentally compared him with captain Liim.

He hasn't seen any operas when he was Vader, but later on Carati, he found a good recording of this opera from one of the local opera houses. At first he was a bit hesitant. The scenery was pretty simplistic, he usually didn't like this kind of staging. But when Celia appeared on a scene with her first aria Anakin was completely mesmerized by her. Actress had a beautiful deep voice and irresistible charm, it was very easy to understand how both captain Liim and Jasen Taal lost their minds over her. Anakin watched this pretty long opera in one sitting, but towards the end he became more and more uncomfortable. And when captain Liim killed Celia, Anakin was like: "Oh shit that's me. I was like that too".

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group I Round 1: #I8 vs #I1

#I8: Magical girl club gets silly and depressing

In her everyday life, Yuuna Yuuki is a hero. As proof, she is in her middle school's Hero Club, where she does her best to help others and bring a smile to everyone's face.

But Yuuna, always up to any task, is about to become an even bigger hero. Mysterious destructive forces called Vertexes begin threatening the world she loves, and the Hero Club is called upon by a strange phone app to save it. Along with her best friend Mimori Tougou, as well as sisters Fuu and Itsuki Inubouzaki, they must transform into magical girls in order to battle the Vertexes.

#I1: The 86 are forced to fight someone else’s war.

According to the Republic of San Magnolia, their ongoing war against the Giadian Empire has no casualties—however, that is mere propaganda. While the silver-haired Alba of the Republic's eighty-five sectors live safely behind protective walls, those of different appearances are interned in a secret eighty-sixth faction. Known within the military as the Eighty-Six, they are forced to fight against the Empire's autonomous Legion under the command of the Republican "Handlers."

Vladilena Milizé is assigned to the Spearhead squadron to replace their previous Handler. Shunned by her peers for being a fellow Eighty-Six supporter, she continues to fight against their inhumane discrimination. Shinei Nouzen is the captain of the Spearhead squadron. Infamous for being the sole survivor of every squadron he's been in, he insists on shouldering the names and wishes of his fallen comrades.

Titles, propagandas, trailers, and poll under the cut!

#I8: Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero (Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru)

Propaganda:

I adored this show from the moment I watched it because throughout it all, it’s hopeful. These girls go through a lot. A LOT. A lot of horrible, horrible things, and yet they bounce back. These girls bounce back pretty much every single time and do anything to help their friends do the same. To me, that is insanely inspiring.

The cast of characters here are also insanely compelling. They feel like actual, real friends—doing things together, hanging out, comforting each other and laughing with them all the same. This point I feel helps that sense of hope this show has absolutely.

The character designs in general too are absolutely breathtaking, and are nothing like I’ve ever seen from any other magical girl anime. Also, one last thing: this show’s soundtrack is done by MONACA. MONACA is also known for doing the first two NieR games. Take that what you will :)

Trigger Warnings: Flashing Lights, Self-Harm, Suicide

#I1: 86 (Eighty-Six)

Propaganda:

The characterization and character development in this show is amazing. It also has a very good depiction of survivor’s guilt/mental health, which you don’t see a lot. The animation is great and the soundtrack is done by Hiroyuki Sawano, who’s amazing and it’s one of the best soundtracks for a show ever.

Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse, Graphic Depictions of Cruelty/Violence/Gore, Racism, Suicide.

A main subject of the show is racism. Active war, lots of violence. Character acts without regard for their life, so suicide was included. Child abuse relates to the backstory of a character.

If you’re reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

[lost-technology]

Blank Tickets and Open Roads

So, I was looking up Youtube clips of Trigun Stampede to get my mojo going in starting to edit my major WIP, which is something I want to do before making a new chapter. Correct a few things in it that I am annoyed with. And there is the scene where little Vash is communing with Ship 3's sick Plant and Rem has a voiceover on her last recording for the twins / Ship 5's black box. She talks about the "story of a man who found a blank ticket in his pocket, which could take him anywhere he wanted to go" and that "this is what all people have" the blank ticket philosophy that is crucial to all forms of Trigun. Having read the manga, I feel a little cheated. I mean, it's better than how it was portrayed in the 1998 anime, which is just "I'm excited that the ticket I was handed on the day of my birth was blank." It is more clear here. However, in the manga... Rem recounts to Vash a dream that she had when she was grieving the loss of Alex. It is clear from the little scene where she wakes up in her mess of a room that she was going through The Horrors. (Having lost someone very dear to me unexpectedly in 2023 really makes me feel that when I go over that again). In her dream, she found herself on a train, the sole passenger and when the custodian came to punch her ticket, the destination was blank. She had a flashbang of inspiration that she could just go anywhere and it gave her hope. She woke up and had a realisation of the dream's meaning and found a new direction in life. Her dreams of being with Alex gone, she turned her thoughts to SPACE! When her life was crap, she had a dream that gave her hope to carry on. How it is portayed in the manga is VERY IMPORTANT to me, entirely for personal reasons, as I treasure a similar dream. Annoying Shadsie-lore under the cut.

So, back in the ancient year of 2000 or so, about 1999 or 2000, I suckered myself into joining the U.S. Air Force. I'd been to community college, but did not think I was able to get the kind of grant to pursue the kind of degree I wanted to pursue, as most of those go to people who want to become doctors or business people or someone important, not to people who want to pursue the arts. I wanted to get into graphic design. I didn't want to be in debt forever with loans. The military had worked out for some friends of mine, with the Air Force being a godsend for my once best childhood friend. I was desperate to get out from under the thumb of my parents, as most teens on the cusp of full adulthood are, as well as away from my abusive older brother, living with us after getting out of prison. (My father once told me that he thought that my brother was going to, in one of his temper-losses, murder us all one day and bury us in the desert, it was that bad)... So, I signed up, signed my life away with the idea that I was going to earn some college money, see the world and serve my country. This is how the U.S. Military-Industrial complex works: It takes people who never dreamed of joining before, but who are in desperate circumstances and promises them the world for a few years of service. Any kids out there thinking about it? Don't. Please. Do not give them your life, they do not deserve it. Fate had other plans. It turns out that I was too much of an "individual" to work out in a military setting. I had mental health problems come up in boot camp that I never knew I had. I went through discharge-process after a self-harming incident. They did not want me and I learned that I did not really want them. I was a failure. I came home to live with my parents and sulked around for a while until my Mom insisted that I go back into college - a different community college than I went to before, where I could get an Associates in my chosen field, not a Bachelor's like I'd wanted, but something more affordable, a step up. I felt like an utter failure, though. I distinctly remember my father telling me, when driving me to the military processing station to go off to Basic in Texas that I had to "Not fail" because my brother was watching me and he wanted me (the little sister, youngest child) to be a positive example for my loser brother. In other words, even though I had a lot of support, I had a lot of guilt for not making it, for wussing out, as it were. And, of course, the military itself drills into your head "if you don't pass, you're a failure at life." When in this dark place, I had a dream that I remember to this day. The setting was vivid because I lived in Arizona at the time and knew what the desert looked like. I had a dream that I was suddenly on an open country highway in the middle of nowhere. It was paved, but it was just... this road in nowhere, like many you will find driving across some of the more desolate parts of the state. I think the family Cocker Spaniel was with me (Rest in Peace, Buster). I started walking down this highway, going off across hilly desert, blue desert mountains in the distance. I realised, suddenly, that the road had no particular destination and that I could just go down it and see what's next. I remember having the dream again at another juncture of my life, but I do not remember what juncture - just the first time when I was transitioning from being a part of America's brutal war-machine off to pursue a peaceful art-degree. I was hopeless and the dream gave me HOPE. It's been over 20 years and I still remember it. So, Rem's dream in the manga... I relate - starkly. Now, my life didn't turn out as planned from there, either. I got the graphic design degree, but the jobs I got in the field chewed me up and spit me out. I experienced The Horrors and currently work in a grocery store. Rem got her blank ticket and died in a spaceship crash, not what she expected, either.

[taperwolf]

So I often see novel computer keyboard designs, but I hadn't really felt inspired to make my own until now.

See, Hackaday recently ran a piece on Stephen Holdaway's "Unicode Binary Input Terminal", which lets you flip switches to input any Unicode character — by flipping switches to indicate its binary value in UTF-8 encoding.

It displays the character on the little display, and you can then flip another switch to send the character like a keyboard would over USB.

Among the usual comments about how Holdaway should have built the device by using only 555 timers came the suggestion that UTF-8 is unwieldy, and that he should have added even more toggle switches to enter longer bitstreams directly. Now, I don't want to take that tack on it; toggle switches get expensive. But there are other ways to input long sets of binary data!

Years ago, I found this panel in some surplus or thrift shop; I honestly don't remember any more. It's got two sets of eight hexadecimal thumbwheel switches; each one can be set to a hexadecimal "digit" between 0 and F, and the binary pattern of that hexit read off the leads in the back.

(If anyone out there recognizes where this panel originally came from, let me know; it has no other markings besides the visible ones, and the switch banks just each bear a sticker saying they came from the Digitran Company of Pasadena, California, and were probably made in 1972. (Remarkably, Digitran still makes very similar switches — I think there's a military spec for them — though they're presently owned by Electro Switch Corp, and are of the sort that don't list prices on the webpage. For similar devices, Surplus Sales of Nebraska has 6-hexit banks, albeit with shorter numbers, available for $225 each, or slightly taller ones for $15 per hexit and you have to fabricate your own frame.)

At any rate, the switch banks are easily removed from the panel. My plan is to set them in a new panel with a display between them and have a toggle or slider switch to change modes, so you can enter UTF-8 streams (anywhere between eight ASCII characters and a single dual-character-point emoji; the wheels are currently set to display the US flag) or sets of UTF-16 or UTF-32 characters; a final button would again send the character(s) over USB.

I'm currently dithering over how best to implement this. Obviously Unicode isn't going to fit in any of my usual microcontrollers, and the 64 data lines required to read the switches will need some GPIO expanders or shift registers. I do have a couple of unused Raspberry Pi ZeroWs lying around, which would let me leverage Linux font and Unicode handling, and then I could hook it to an Arduino or Teensy to handle the USB part, unless there's an obvious way for a Pi to be a USB client. The display is a similar dither; I've got some small graphical LCDs and a tiny OLED display, and even some e-ink displays that might work for this. Heck, I should see if I can find those dot-matrix VFDs I have somewhere. It's more likely to be a color LCD if I want emoji support, but requirements are flexible right now.

[thegayhimbo]

Stranger Things Kamchatka Review (and my thoughts on the Russian arc as a whole)

Warning: The following review contains MAJOR SPOILERS from the comic, as well as season 4 of Stranger Things!

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out my other Stranger Things Reviews:

Stranger Things Six

Stranger Things Halloween Special

Stranger Things The Other Side

Stranger Things Zombie Boys

Stranger Things The Bully

Stranger Things Winter Special

Stranger Things Tomb of Ybwen

Stranger Things Into The Fire

Stranger Things Science Camp

Stranger Things "The Game Master" and "Erica's Quest"

Stranger Things and Dungeons and Dragons

Synopsis: In dark wintry Russia, Soviet scientists and military personnel oversee a new weapon they hope to use in their Cold War against the United States: A Demogorgon. To this end, they have enlisted the help of Dr. Boris Orlov to give them a device that will allow the monster to maintain its full strength. However, when Orlov refuses them and hides the device, he is taken prisoner to Kamchatka where the Demogorgon is being held. Now, with the help of an ex-KGB agent named Mr. Frost, it's up to Orlov's children, Anna and Lenoid, to save their father and prevent the device from falling into the Kremlin's hands......

Observations:

This is going to be a different review from what I usually do. The first part of this will discuss the comic itself and its merits/flaws, whereas the second will give more details about my thoughts concerning the Russian arc from seasons 3-4 and its placement on the show.

Part 1: The Comic

There are two ways I judge this comic: As an individual story, and how it ties into the Stranger Things universe.

In regards to the former, the comic works well as a thrilling Cold War spy narrative. It's fast-paced, the fight and chase scenes are intense, and it manages to capture the paranoia of living in the Soviet Union during a time when your words and actions were monitored and there was the constant threat of the KGB coming to arrest you for being a traitor to the motherland.

The artwork is impressive. From the white and grey hues depicting the bleak endless winters of Russia, to the ominous red and orange lighting of the prison, this comic does a great job with its dark colors and use of shadows to creepy effect:

On top of that, this is arguably one of the most violent comics in the series, which is saying something given the show it's based on. They do not shy away from depicting graphic scenes here:

The way the Demogorgon attacks its prey reminds me of the viciousness the Xenomorphs from the Alien series displayed towards their victims. Given how 80s movies like Aliens served as inspiration for Stranger Things and for the design of the Demogorgon in the first place, this was likely a subtle nod to that. The comic writers and artists know how to utilize the Demogorgon for all its scariness and brutality. Considering the same people for this comic have written another story (The Voyage) featuring the Demogorgon stalking and killing the crew of a freighter ship (which sounds similar to the plot of the first Alien movie), they're planning on milking the monster for all it's worth.

There are two main antagonists besides the Demogorgon: The first is Ivan Kolochev, who comes across like Darth Vader if he was a Russian KGB agent. He's the one who hunts the kids in order to get their father's device, and it's revealed he was the former protégé of Mr. Frost during the time they both served the Kremlin. Ivan later turned on Frost for becoming soft in his eyes, which forced Frost to go into hiding and abandon his wife and daughter for their own safety:

The second antagonist is Dr. Karine. She's the one overseeing the Demogorgon at Kamchatka, and was revealed to have worked under Alexei and General Stepanov when they first tried (and failed) to open the gate to the Upside Down on June 28th, 1984. She was one of the survivors from the blast, and later discovered a pollywog that she nursed into adulthood:

Best way I know how to describe her is she's similar to Dr. Irina Spalko from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in their ruthlessness, their desire to advance the Soviet Union's cause, and their fascination with abnormal branches of science. They even look physically similar in some respects:

In terms of the main characters, Mr. Frost was the interesting one. A man who ran from the KGB for 15 years and was skilled enough to survive and help two kids who were out of their depth. The story behind him abandoning his family for their safety was sad, and his reunion with daughter later on is heartwearming:

My only criticism of Frost is I wish they'd gone more in depth about his mindset. He tells the kids at the beginning of the comic he's disillusioned with what his country has become, and flashbacks show him becoming lenient in his interrogations, which gets him in trouble with the Kremlin. However, they never elaborated on how he got to that point. They never clarify if he began developing empathy for the Americans who were being tortured by the KGB, if he became tired from years of interrogating prisoners, if he began to fear he was turning Ivan into a monster by taking him in as a pupil, or if something else happened that made him re-evaluate his beliefs.

There's also his relationship/rivalry with Ivan. From the way Frost tells it, he raised Ivan like a son when he found him on the streets and took him in, only to later be betrayed by Ivan because he would "take the Americans side" whenever Ivan tortured prisoners. At the end of the comic though, Ivan accuses Frost of caring more about the rules and the state than about him, suggesting he felt Frost personally betrayed him.

Maybe it was intentionally written to be vague and let the audience decide who was more at fault for Ivan's descent into sadism, but considering we don't get many scenes showing what Ivan and Frost's relationship was like before they fell out with one another, it comes off like an aspect of the story (and Frost's character) that wasn't properly fleshed-out.

As for the kids and Dr. Orlov, they're pretty flat as characters. Anna and Lenoid have scenes showing they care for one another, but they don't really have personalities beyond them trying to find their father. Same for Dr. Orlov: Aside from one moment where he briefly delays Dr. Karine's plans by screwing over another scientist, he's basically a Damsel in Distress (or in this case, a Dude in Distress) waiting to be rescued. There isn't a lot to these characters that's engaging.

And this brings me to the crux of the problem I have with this comic: Setting it in the Stranger Things universe.

If this was just an individual Cold War thriller taking place in Russia, that would be one thing. In fact, I argue this comic works better if it isn't tied to Stranger Things. Just tweak a few plot details, change the Demogorgon to a different monster, and you have an original and unique story. By trying to shove it into the Stranger Things narrative, it creates a whole host of issues.

For one thing, it's highly unlikely Dr. Orlov or Anna and Lenoid are going to make a canonical appearance on the show. Because of that, it's hard to get invested in them or their story, and it doesn't help that the two characters who were interesting (Frost and Ivan) die at the end of the comic. There's maybe the possibility of Dr. Karine showing up in season 5, but since she made no appearance in season 4 during the Kamchatka arc, I seriously doubt that.

I've said this before, but I'm tired of them focusing on characters who either aren't important to the main plot, or aren't canonically part of the show. I'm not opposed to them doing a comic set in Russia, but it should help enhance the ongoing story and characters from the show instead of being a pointless side detour with Easter Eggs sprinkled in.

Take Hopper for instance: He spent 8 months imprisoned at Kamchatka prior to season 4. Why not write a story that focuses on his time there and how he learned to survive the harsh conditions of the prison and his torture by the Russians? Why not give more details about how he met Enzo/Dmitri, how they came to trust each other, and how they formed their initial plan for Hopper to escape?

For that matter, why not have a comic focused on Enzo/Dmitri? They could go more into detail about his life as a prison guard at Kamchatka, his relationship with his son, and so on.

Same with Yuri. I don't particularly like his character, but he at least was relevant to the show, and has a backstory as the "Peanut Butter Smuggler" that's ripe with potential.

They did this with Will and Bob in Tomb of Ybwen, and they did this with Dustin and Suzie in Science Camp, so I don't see why they couldn't have done that for either Hopper, Enzo, or Yuri.

Then there's the plot involving the McGuffin: A device created by Dr. Orlov that amplifies telekinetic abilities which Dr. Karine wants to keep the Demogorgon alive. Long story short: The Demogorgon is slowly dying because it can't live in our world and needs to be connected to its source (the hive mind) which the device allows it to do.

Now maybe I'm remember this wrong from the show (and feel free to correct me in the comment section if that's the case), but my understanding was that Demogorgons, Demodogs, and anything infected by the Mind Flayer (which was revealed to be controlled by Vecna) would cease living if the gate closed. There was a whole deal made in season 2 about getting the Mind Flayer particles out of Will before El shut the gate at Hawkins Lab because he would die otherwise.

However, when it comes to the Soviet's Demogorgon, I was under the impression it wasn't infected by the Mind Flayer, which is why it was still alive once the Russian Gate closed in season 3.

Same thing for the Demodog on the operating table that was being vivisected: My impression was it didn't have the Mind Flayer particles in it either, which is why it was active before Hopper shot it.

All of this makes the telekinetic device used to keep the Demogorgon alive look like a major plot-hole. The Soviet Demogorgon is never seen wearing the device once on the show, even though the comic puts a major emphasis on needing to wear it to survive.

It seems like an unnecessary element to the mythology given the show didn't bother to include it, and it's one I don't care for.

(Side Note: This is a question that's bothered me for a while now, but was the Hive Mind already a part of the Upside Down before Vecna arrived there, and he simply hijacked it when he used the black particles to create the Mind Flayer? Or did Vecna create the Hive Mind by forming the Mind Flayer and using that to infect almost every living being in the Upside Down and link their minds to his?)

Overall, my feelings about this comic are mixed. Some aspects like the artwork, the tone, and the Cold War setting work well, but the characters aren't memorable and the attempts to link the story to the Stranger Things Universe is handled in a clumsy way.

Part 2: The Russian Arc

When it comes to the Russian Arc in seasons 3-4. I know the general consensus has been fans questioning the point of it, with feelings ranging from indifference to outright negativity. In many ways, I get it. Out of all the directions they could have gone with the main story, this is not one I expected them to go either, and I'm still wondering whether there's a future payoff coming that will make it all worth it.

That being said, I don't hate this arc like some people do, and I even know a few people who like it. My dad for instance, who grew up in the 50s and 60s during the height of Cold War paranoia and the fear of Russians infiltrating the United States, thought the show did a good job recapturing those feelings and memories. He also liked how the show emphasized how the danger of the Upside Down wasn't just limited to Hawkins, and that it was important to show Vecna as a threat worldwide. I can see his perspective, and it has made me reevalute some aspects of the arc again, but my feelings still remain mixed at best.

I know when Season 3 came out in 2019, there was a podcast with the Duffer Brothers and producer Shawn Levy giving details about their reasoning for introducing the Russians:

Shawn Levy: “We’ve seen the Americans and now the Soviets trying to harness the power that seems to reside in the Upside Down through that gate. We’ve seen both sides of the Cold War now try to tap into it and control it in order to weaponize it so it felt like a really compelling way to take a real-world fear, an actual authentic historical paranoia, and to mix it with a very specific sci-fi genre plot that is unique to Stranger Things.”

Matt Duffer: “We always struggled a little bit with the U.S. government as the bad guys because there’s only so many times you can punch and/or kill U.S. government or military personal before you get locked away in America. So in a sense, they [The Russians] were an easier human villain because we could do a lot more with them.”

On paper, the writers wanting to explore themes relating to the Cold War and delve more into the paranoia surrounding the Red Scare wasn't a bad idea on its own. The way it was executed on the show, however, left a lot to be desired.

I'm not a fan of how the Russians were depicted in season 3. Not only did they come off as cartoonish buffoons and stereotypes, but they weren't threatening as antagonists. I never got the sense of menace or the intimidating presence I felt when Dr. Brenner or Colonel Sullivan's men showed up looking for El and anyone associated with her. And compared to villains like Dr. Brenner and Vecna, who evoked feelings of fear and revulsion, I felt no similar emotions for the Russians because I had a hard time taking them seriously. My suspension of disbelief breaks whenever I think too hard about how they were able to build their underground base at Starcourt Mall in less than a year. They were portrayed in such a bumbling manner that I didn't buy it.

Even Alexei is a character I'm not a fan of. There was always something irksome to me about the show portraying him in a childlike, naive manner in spite of the fact he knowingly opened a portal to a different dimension to capture monsters to use as weapons, which ended up getting a bunch of people killed in the process. The ONLY thing I liked about this arc was the formation of the Scoops Troop and the interactions between Steve, Dustin, Erica, and Robin.

Season 4 is different: Part of this may be due to a different perspective considering this season came out 3 months after the real life Russian Invasion of Ukraine, but the Russians were creepy compared to the previous season. There was a sadistic, cruel inhumanity to the way they acted that made them menacing. The vicious torture of Hopper. The pit where prisoners were fed to the Demogorgon and the whole thing being treated for sport by the guards. The lack of any basic human rights for the prisoners at Kamchatka. Even the vivisection of the still-alive demodog was horrifying. There was a brutality from the Russians that was chilling to watch, and it made them more insidious than before.

I liked the Russian arc in season 4 better than season 3. I enjoyed Enzo/Dmitri's character and loved the friendship that developed between him and Hopper. I liked seeing Hopper's character development where he became more level-headed and introspective compared to how impulsive and hot-headed he was in season 3. I enjoyed the break-in to the prison and how reminiscent it was of video games like the Resident Evil and Outlast series in tone, setting, and sense of danger. I also loved both fights between Hopper and the Demogorgon, despite how corny some people claim they were.

Just because something has flaws doesn't mean it can't have good elements to it as well. Compared to controversial arcs from other TV shows, this one had enjoyable moments, and it's not one I mind rewatching again.

I acknowledge that all of this is my personal opinion, and I don't speak for everyone in regards to how they feel about the Russian arc.

I also recognize there are still questions that need to be answered for season 5. Like how the Russians found out about the Upside Down in the first place: Was there a mole at Hawkins Lab that Dr. Brenner was unaware of, or did they discover it through other means? How did they get that piece of the Mind Flayer into the glass case without getting infected by it? Is Kamchatka the only facility that houses monsters from the Upside Down, or are there others? Do the Russians know about Vecna? What happened to Enzo and Yuri, and are they coming back? Will the Russians return to Hawkins to exact revenge for the destruction of their facility at Kamchatka, or to try and capture more monsters from the Upside Down?

In spite of these questions, I am willing to give the Duffer Brothers the benefit of the doubt in believing they will tie this together. As I've said before, I'm still looking forward to season 5! :)

[topguru1]

Get the Look: Celebrity Leather Jackets That Define Iconic Style

Celebrity leather jackets are more than just outerwear—they are symbols of style, rebellion, and sophistication. From rock stars to Hollywood icons, these jackets have been the go-to choice for celebrities looking to make a statement. But the best part? You don’t have to be a superstar to wear them.

In this guide, we’ll explore iconic leather jacket styles worn by celebrities, show you how to recreate these looks, and provide expert tips on choosing the right jacket for your wardrobe. Whether you want to channel your inner James Dean or emulate the chic style of a modern-day icon, we’ve got you covered!

1. The Biker Jacket: A Classic with Timeless Appeal

a) The Rebel Look: James Dean and Marlon Brando

One of the most iconic leather jacket styles is the biker jacket, often associated with rebellious figures like James Dean and Marlon Brando. The biker jacket exudes cool confidence and a no-nonsense attitude, making it a classic piece for anyone who wants to add some edge to their look.

How to Style the Biker Jacket:

Pair it with a basic white tee and black jeans for a timeless rebel look.

For a modern twist, add chunky boots or high-top sneakers.

Accessorize with silver jewelry or aviator sunglasses to complete the look.

b) Celebrity Inspiration:

James Dean: The epitome of cool, Dean’s leather jacket look is legendary. His simple yet bold style continues to inspire.

Marlon Brando: Known for his role in The Wild One, Brando made the biker jacket iconic, pairing it with a tough-guy attitude and effortless charm.

2. The Bomber Jacket: Military Meets Modern Style

a) A Heroic Influence: Tom Cruise and Ryan Gosling

The bomber jacket, originally designed for pilots, has become a staple in the fashion world, thanks to its association with heroes like Tom Cruise in Top Gun and Ryan Gosling in Drive. The bomber jacket’s casual, military-inspired look is perfect for those who want to add a bit of edge to their everyday outfits.

How to Style the Bomber Jacket:

For a laid-back look, wear a bomber with a graphic tee and slim jeans.

If you're going for a more rugged vibe, pair it with cargo pants and combat boots.

For a night out, wear it with a fitted shirt and dark denim for a more polished look.

b) Celebrity Inspiration:

Tom Cruise: His aviator sunglasses and bomber jacket in Top Gun became a signature look, synonymous with American heroism.

Ryan Gosling: In Drive, Gosling rocked a satin bomber jacket, pairing it with sleek, minimalist pieces for a stylish urban look.

3. The Shearling Jacket: Cozy Chic for Cold Days

a) Luxury and Comfort: Kate Moss and David Beckham

Shearling leather jackets combine the sleek look of leather with the warmth of sheepskin, making them the perfect winter outerwear. Celebrities like Kate Moss and David Beckham have shown how to make shearling jackets stylish while maintaining practicality. This jacket is a fantastic choice when you want to look chic while staying cozy.

How to Style the Shearling Jacket:

For a boho-chic vibe, layer it over a sweater dress or with a pair of ripped jeans and ankle boots.

Wear it over a casual sweater and skinny jeans for a more urban look.

Keep accessories minimal, as the shearling jacket itself makes a bold statement.

b) Celebrity Inspiration:

Kate Moss: Known for her off-duty model style, Moss pairs shearling jackets with everything from skinny jeans to maxi dresses.

David Beckham: Beckham’s shearling jacket choices blend rugged appeal with refinement, making him a modern style icon.

4. The Leather Blazer: Elevated Elegance with a Twist

a) Sophisticated Edge: Angelina Jolie and Rihanna

For a more polished yet daring look, the leather blazer is the way to go. It adds a structured, sophisticated touch to your outfit while keeping that edgy leather vibe. Celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Rihanna have rocked the leather blazer on red carpets and casual outings alike, proving how versatile this piece can be.

How to Style the Leather Blazer:

Pair it with tailored trousers and a silk blouse for an elegant office look.

For evening wear, wear it over a mini dress or with leather pants for a daring outfit.

Opt for a sleek clutch and heels to elevate the look further.

b) Celebrity Inspiration:

Angelina Jolie: Known for her polished yet edgy style, Jolie often pairs leather blazers with sleek pants or dresses.

Rihanna: Rihanna’s leather blazer ensembles push the envelope, blending street style with luxury fashion effortlessly.

5. The Moto Jacket: Street Style with Power

a) Edgy Meets Chic: Beyoncé and Kylie Jenner

The moto jacket is a step up from the biker jacket, with a more polished appearance but still maintaining that rebellious edge. Celebrities like Beyoncé and Kylie Jenner have made the moto jacket part of their street style repertoire, often seen pairing it with everything from denim to dresses.

How to Style the Moto Jacket:

Combine it with a band tee and high-waisted jeans for an effortless cool look.

Pair it with a bodycon dress for an edgy yet feminine outfit.

Throw on ankle boots or strappy heels to complete the look.

b) Celebrity Inspiration:

Beyoncé: Queen B frequently sports moto jackets with bold patterns or metallic finishes, adding her signature glamour to this edgy style.

Kylie Jenner: Jenner embraces the moto jacket with chic street style, often pairing it with oversized sunglasses and sleek accessories.

6. Choosing the Right Leather Jacket for You

When selecting a celebrity-inspired leather jacket, it’s important to consider factors like fit, color, and style. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect jacket:

Fit: Choose a jacket that flatters your body shape. A tailored fit works well for most body types, while looser cuts can create a more relaxed vibe.

Color: Classic black and brown are timeless, but don’t be afraid to experiment with colors like deep red, navy, or olive for a more unique look.

Material: Make sure the jacket is made of high-quality leather for durability and comfort. Genuine leather often outlasts synthetic materials and develops a unique patina over time.

Conclusion

Celebrity leather jacket are more than just a fashion statement—they are a symbol of style, attitude, and timeless elegance. Whether you're looking to channel your inner rebel like James Dean or embrace the elegance of a leather blazer like Angelina Jolie, there’s a celebrity jacket style for every occasion.

At Top Guru Jackets, we offer a curated collection of celebrity-inspired leather jackets that combine durability, style, and sophistication. Find your perfect jacket today and get ready to make a statement wherever you go!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which leather jacket style is the most versatile?

The biker jacket is one of the most versatile, as it can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

How can I style a leather blazer for work?

Pair it with tailored pants, a button-down shirt, and classic pumps for a professional yet fashionable look.

What’s the difference between a biker jacket and a moto jacket?

A biker jacket is often more rugged and traditional, while a moto jacket offers a sleeker, more modern silhouette.

Can I wear a leather jacket in the winter?

Yes! Shearling and bomber leather jackets are perfect for colder months while keeping you stylish and warm.

How do I maintain my leather jacket?

Keep your jacket clean by wiping it gently with a damp cloth, condition it regularly, and store it in a cool, dry place.

[bobbybutterfly]

A Squirrel and Hedgehog OC. OoooooOOOooo. I was about to say it’s my second one (I’ve got a squirrel I never posted about before) but then I remembered Geumseagi’s dad. I think we could also have a philosophical discussion about how many head cannons can you lump up on a character before they become an OC. I imagine it’s when you change the character’s name. That’s just the last straw.

Changing up pre existing characters is a skill I learned from writing real people fan fiction. By the time you’re done writing your femboy pagan priest turned an immortal 20 something sparking dictator after the film market collapsed with the rise of AI, people will scratch their heads as to how this character ever started life as Tom Hanks. But most importantly you don’t get sued!

By the way this was an actual character I made. I never put out the unfinished book on the internet outside of one chapter on AO3. I was getting tired of working on it for I think over 2 years with no results.

This character though is original in that they’re not inspired by any character from Squirrel and Hedgehog specifically. I will talk about my inspiration for them later.

So. Their name is Shiho Tenshi as you can see. It means white angel. Originally they were supposed to be called Shiho Akuma, meaning white devil But it didn’t make sense to me that they would be called that by the weasels. They’re a war hero to them after all. Probably the Flower Hill animals would call them whatever the Korean translation of white devil is. Hayan Agma. Language is something that goes unaddressed in the series. It’s an idea I want to incorporate into my AU. Primary example being that the weasels kept Mulmangcho around as a translator.

Shiho Tenshi isn’t their real name. No one knows their “real name”. I should also mention that they’re gender fluid and use they/them pronouns. Also also they’re a white weasel if you didn’t notice. Growing up they were a poor orphan on the streets. They learned very quickly that by changing up how they behave and look they were gendered differently. Seeing their love for performance a traveling acting troupe took them in. They would preform for soldiers at military bases. Providing cheap entertainment.

One day though the base they’re performing at gets attacked. Using their sword skills they heroically defend the base earning them a place in the military. They rarely use guns or martial art. Preferring their elegant silver sword. The military allows it as it makes for some good propaganda posters. They absolutely despise all Flower Hill animals. Appearing ruthless and brutal. The peak of military masculinity. But when it comes to weasels and surprisingly mice they are kind almost motherly and willing to sacrifice themselves whenever it comes to it. They like mice because the acting troupe was primarily mice.

What do you think? I wanted to play with gender roles when it came to them. My main inspiration was Hoshiko Kawasima. They are a very interesting World War 2 queer historical figure. I would recommend checking them out. Then the character Lady Oscar from the manga Rose of Versailles. They were totally based off of Kawasima. There’s too many coincidences! Lastly their whole acting part was based off of the Takarazuka Revue. It’s an all female acting troupe in Japan. They’re really cool.

This picture was based off of a promotional image of Lady Oscar for their performance of Rose of Versailles. The background inspiration was from @32girassoisdevangogh I am trying to go more abstract graphic design for backgrounds of character art. Mainly because I’m just too tired after 5 hours of rendering. So prepare yourselves for more comic sands and pixelated images of puppies and kittens because graphic design is my passion as you can see from my tumblr banner!

I’m not really sure what I’m going to do with this character. They’re not going to be included in my Super Secret Project. Maybe I can write a short story about them or roleplay. We will see.

Bobby out!

[thecrofttomb]

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Has Been Announced!

The classics are back, and they look better than ever! Relive—or experience for the very first time—the original adventures of our iconic Lara Croft lovingly remastered for a new generation.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered: Starring Lara Croft is a definitive collection of the trilogy started by Core Design over 27 years ago, which includes Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III, and all of their respective secret levels and expansions previously available on PC only. This game bundle has been carefully restored with upgraded graphics and many other enhancements by the skilled hands of developer Aspyr, who was responsible for bringing the classics to the Mac back in the day.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered lets long-time fans and newcomers alike step into the boots of the iconic hero in her first three adventures like never before. Experience the classic action and innovative gameplay that helped pioneer 3D gaming, spawned a beloved franchise which has sold more than 95 million copies worldwide since its debut in 1996, and made Lara Croft one of the most recognizable video game characters in the world. From the treacherous tombs of Peru in the original Tomb Raider to the awe-inspiring sights of Venice in Tomb Raider II and the mystical realm of India in Tomb Raider III, players will embark on a nostalgic journey filled with breathtaking landscapes and ingenious puzzles. Dust off your gear, sharpen your wits and prepare to step into Lara Croft's adventurous shoes once again as we accompany Lara on her original globe-trotting expeditions.

🦖 Tomb Raider (1996)

In the game that started it all, adventurer Lara Croft has been hired to recover the pieces of an ancient artefact known as the Scion. With her fearless acrobatic style, she runs, jumps, swims and climbs her way towards the truth of its origins and powers—leaving only a trail of empty tombs and gun cartridges in her wake.

Tomb Raider comes complete with the "Unfinished Business" (1998) expansion, which adds four new bonus levels spread into two extra chapters:

In Shadow of the Cat, several months after the events of Tomb Raider, Lara returns to the city of Khamoon, where she must investigate a hidden temple dedicated to the feline goddess Bastet.

In Unfinished Business, directly after the ending of the original game, Lara discovers a ruined segment in Atlantis, allegedly containing an alien hatchery. She must destroy the remnants of the Atlantean race before they infest the world.

🐉 Tomb Raider II: Starring Lara Croft (1997)

In the sequel, Lara travels around the globe on a quest to retrieve the legendary Dagger of Xian, fabled to grant the powers of a fire-breathing dragon to its holder. During her journey, she finds she's not the only one in search of danger! Warrior Monks and crazed cult members plot against her as she travels from the canals of Venice, to the bottom of the sea, and even to the remote mountain peaks of Tibet.

Tomb Raider II includes the "Golden Mask" (1999) expansion, which adds five new levels in a separate mini-adventure.

In Golden Mask, Lara explores an abandoned Soviet military base and mine shaft somewhere in Alaska and discovers a strange and hidden world within. Many surprises await as she uncovers its secrets.

In the bonus level Nightmare in Vegas, while on holiday, Lara is taken by surprise when the hotel she resides in is taken over by baddies. After receiving an ominous vision of her butler Winston, our heroine sets off to rescue him.

☄️ Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (1998)

In the third and last game of the original trilogy, Lara Croft follows the clues to a mystery that defies any earthly explanation as she tries to lay hands on four powerful artefacts fashioned from the heart of an ancient meteorite. From the jungles of India to the icy wastes of Antarctica, across the rooftops of London and into the depths of Nevada's mysterious Area 51, Lara is ready for anything that comes her way.

Tomb Raider III includes "The Lost Artefact" (2000) expansion, which adds six new levels to explore.

In The Lost Artefact, after receiving a strange invitation to the Scottish Highlands, Lara now learns of the existence of a fifth artefact, the Hand of Rathmore. Lost for many years, this final piece will complete the set and unlock the secret of the ancient meteor's powers. A hazardous trail riddled with traps and enemies takes her from a Scottish castle's subterranean laboratory to the Parisian Catacombs.

As previously stated, in addition to a visual makeover, various enhancements were made to improve gameplay and performance. Along the three adventures, you'll be able to toggle between updated and original graphics and switch between modern and classic control schemes instantly. Furthermore, there are numerous quality-of-life improvements, including a camera lock-on and achievement/trophy support.

The game is now available to pre-order for 29,99€ with special savings opportunities for each platform:

Console players can pre-order with a 10% discount (some restrictions apply).

PC players can pre-order with a 20% loyalty discount if they currently own the original games on Steam or GOG.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered: Starring Lara Croft releases on February 14th, 2024, on Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam and GOG, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.

[l-1-z-a]

Lessons in Game Design, lecture by Will Wright [Recorded November 20, 2003]

Will Wright has become one of the most successful designers of interactive entertainment in the world. He began working on what would become SimCity—The City Simulator in 1985. Using a complex technique, he found a way to bring realistic simulations to desktop PCs. Previously simulations of this sort were only available to the military, scientists and academicians. However, using an easy to use graphic interface, the world of simulations opened up to consumers.

Wright co-founded Maxis (now part of Electronic Arts) with Jeff Braun in 1987. SimCity was released in 1989, and within a few months became a hit. The game has since won 24 domestic and international awards. With Fred Haslem, Wright co-designed SimEarth—The Living Planet in 1990, a simulation of a planet based on the Gaia theory of James Lovelock. In 1991, Wright and Justin McCormick designed SimAnt—The Electronic Ant Colony, a scientifically-accurate simulation of an ant colony. SimCity 2000, and SimCopter, a helicopter flight game, are also part of Wright's recent repertoire. SimCity 3000 Unlimited, the definitive version of 1999s best-selling game SimCity 3000, continued in the tradition. The long-awaited 4th generation, SimCity 4, was released in January 2003.

Taking computer entertainment to its most personal level, Wrights ground-breaking game The Sims, puts players in charge of the lives of a neighborhood of simulated people. Released in February of 2000, this wildly popular title has become a cultural phenomenon, sold millions of copies worldwide, has received numerous Game of The Years accolades, and has become the best selling PC game of all time. The Sims has inspired several expansion packs including Livin Large, House Party, Hot Date, Vacation, Unleashed, and Superstar!

The Sims Online™ enables you to take your Sims to an online world where you get to be yourself or whoever you want to be. In this world you have your own piece of land to do with as you please. In this open-ended, online world, you choose your role, your attitude and your destiny.

In this lecture, recorded in November 2003, Wright discusses various aspects of game design, human interfaces, artificial intelligence, metrics, simulation and the future of gaming.

Catalog Number: 102703077

Lot Number: X4881.2009

[letstalkwhump]

Let's Talk Whump! No. 18

Welcome to Let’s Talk Whump, a series of interviews that spotlight the amazing people in our whump community! I’m Malice and I’ll be your host today. 

Today I’m talking whump with the amazing @crash-bump-bring-the-whump! 

Great to have you here, @crash-bump-bring-the-whump! Before we begin, do you mind sharing a little bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m Ruin, I’m a graphic designer and I love horror, drawing, and playing video games!

Alrighty, let’s get started! What does whump mean to you? 

Whump is the juicy bits of a story! It’s the conflict, the agony, the struggle! The good stuff that we’re all here for.

How did you find the whump community?

I found it because I was poking around for more hurt/comfort things to read! @friendlylocalwhumper and @sweetwhumpandhellacomf were actually the first blogs I followed! Lux and the Hunter, and Valerie and Eos were what inspired me to make my own blog. 

Do you feel like your view on whump has  changed since you joined?

Ohhh man all that’s super changed is that I’ve found more tropes that I like! I knew fevers and environmental and self-sacrifice whump were favs, like who doesn’t love a good sickfic or someone taking a bullet for their loved one, but I also really really discovered my love of gore and lab whump, which are just amazing. 

Everyone’s favourite topic: whump tropes! Which are your favourites?

Oh man, so many right now! I love a good drowning, and bouts of hypothermia are fantastic. Those tend to go hand-in-hand though so I usually feel blessed when I find stuff with those. I also love a good fever, “Stay with me”, kidnapping, and self-sacrifice though I’m not as big a fan of death, so this usually also includes intensive caretaking and probably a lot of worry from the other characters which is also amazing.

And your favourite piece you've written?

Oh this is hard, I have a few favorites! 

If I can cheat a little bit and name two, the first is MO-1620, which is my current fav OC Mariano’s prison psych transcript! It was super experimental for me, and I had a blast getting to explore his feelings about his imprisonment and how he sees himself versus the reality of his actions and behavior and circumstances. And the second is my first BTHB 2023 fill, for Possession ! I’d gotten House of Leaves for Christmas one year and the formatting just really grabbed me, so I wanted to try playing with that! Plus I love a good human AU, and my OC Will was too perfect for this prompt.

I love the style and formatting of MO-1620! That’s such a unique idea! Do you have a writing routine?

I usually write during the night! I usually have some flavored water, probably a little snack, and I definitely write best if I can just get a big chunk out at once. I try to write regularly while not putting pressure on myself, so it winds up being every few days at least, unless I’m just super grabbed by something and it won’t let go of my brain.

Is there an easy thing for you to write or anything you struggle with?

Oh I love writing horror. If I can incorporate horror into something, or explore what I think is scary about a situation, then it flows SUPER well. Or if I’m getting to do something with a lot of dialogue. Or lately, smut, because consensual NSFW writing has really been going well too.

I also tend to struggle with delving more into environmental, in-depth descriptions. Or diving hardcore into tactics with my military whump stuff because I…am not a clever man sometimes.  Also patiently staying on a linear timeline is the worst. I can never do it. Which sucks, because it puts me in a situation like now, where I KNOW how a bunch of characters WILL be and I want to write about it publicly NOW but first I have to REINTRODUCE them AND get them through the initial “I want to kill you here and now” conflict. 

Is there anything you're working on at the moment?

I’m working on so much right now! I do written roleplays, my drafts are 15 posts deep, and that’s not even counting my random google docs. Uh I’m working on introducing Mariano’s war buddies again, a bunch of smut, I have a grim reaper fighting a losing battle against a demon, a prompt game request for a friend, a response piece for my co writer, more therapy vignettes for said war buddies, and– you get the picture!

Sounds like you’re pretty swamped! Do you have any advice you’d like to share?

Write what makes you excited! If you don’t want to read what you’re writing, change it! Make it self indulgent! Make more OCs that are specifically catered to you and what you love and want to see! That’s more fun to read anyway, honestly, I love seeing passion!

Shout out to your favourite writing/whump blogs, bffs or people who've inspired you. We're hyping everyone up here!!!

YEAH HERE WE GO! I’ll shout out my co writer @brinkofdiscovery, my bestie @friendlylocalwhumper, my accomplices @comfy-whumpee , @that-one-thespian, and @painful-pooch, uh god there are so many more people. So many people are so sweet! @actress4him, and @inscrutable-shadow, and like everyone in the various servers I’m in, I can’t name everyone or this post would get so obscenely long so quickly… 

Anything you'd like to add?

Thank you for this!! It’s super fun to see this happening, and I like getting to see everyone talking about stuff.

Thanks so much for joining us today!

And to all you folks at home, have a whumpder-ful day!

[patricedumonde]

Just curious what is the second version of nutcracker by mariinsky about? Just saw some videos on Instagram and it honestly look like a witchcraft version of the usual nutcracker HAHAH

HA. It actually does. It premiered in 2001, so very new by ballet standards. I guess they just wanted to change things up but I do agree, very very witchy. I don't know but I kind of like it(?)

At least I heavily prefer this reinvention over ABT's lmao.

Here's the short synopsis from the Mariiinsky website:

The world of this Nutcracker was created by the designer Mihail Chemiakin. Chemiakin not only produced the sketches for the costumes and sets, he also conceived the images of the characters, dictating to the choreographer the nature of the movements, and all of the miraculous transformations in this theatrical tale are the fruits of his imagination. In the colourful phantasmagoria of Chemiakin's production, adorned with masks with long noses – neither people nor mice – the dramatism and unease of Tchaikovsky's score is enhanced. In this ballet, inspired by Hoffmann's incredible imagination, there is no room for peaceful domestic comfort or the typical harmony of classical dance – in the pre-festive chaos in the kitchen rats are discovered, tasting the cheeses and sausages that have been prepared for Christmas dinner, while flies and bees swarm around the sweet shop. The designer has presented "the circumstances of enduring, comfortable and 'tasty' bourgeois life" with the meticulousness of an eager documentary-maker – not a single detail of the kitchen, be it the perforated spoons or ladles, wreaths of garlic or ribs hanging among other carcass parts, have escaped the designer's attention. Neither is the audience left bored for a single second – when looking at the touching details of the props, sets and costumes children will be charmed with the readily recognisable everyday items, while adults will smile at their - at times - unexpected use in a children's tale. "The task of the new production of The Nutcracker," Chemiakin says, "was to restore the spirit of Hoffmann to the tale with its elements of grotesque humour, peculiarities and transformations; to combine the graphic elements with Tchaikovsky's musical dramatism. And in a way to revive the original libretto by Petipa, which over the years had become contracted and semi-forgotten. As a rule, the velvety mice in numerous productions have been unable to instil either fear or sympathy in children today. Already in the 1920s the mice had been replaced by rats (in particular, with Fyodor Lopukhov, Hoffmann's Mouse Queen and her son were transformed into rats), as their behaviour in both the tale and the ballet more closely resembles the behaviour of rats, those strange and mysterious creatures. In my production I decided to 'humanise' them. They are a royal family, a rat aristocracy, the military and the common people." Olga Makarova

[vote-gaara]

Is your oc a self insert?

Weirdly personal response under the break

I think that all of my characters, no matter how small, are extensions of me in a way. Think like Ian Malcolm/Michael Crichton in Jurassic Park type deal.

The real self insert was when I was like 12 and used to draw and write myself as a ninja with cat ears and a cat sidekick kinda like Kiba and Akamaru...LOL god, if I ever got hold of those notebooks or sketchbooks again I think I would just wither up and die of shame. There were just so many intricate drawings that were just baad, and the fics that were riddled - RIDDLED - with spelling errors. I don't know if I have these fics anymore, but if I manage to find one back from my middle school days, I will absolutely transcribe and share with the world because I'm sure we could all use a really good laugh at my expense.

But as for Kaiya, who is my main OC; no I wouldn't say she's a self insert. Actually, I've discovered a phenomenon of ME taking after my characters. For example, I researched the hell out of gardening and food preservation when building Kaiya's character, as she was always meant to live next to society rather than inside it. Anyways, that muse ended up a full time obsession and I was desperate to grow vegetables and keep chickens even though I lived in a major city and had a tiny balcony the size of, idk, a small bathtub. But, I persevered and 10 years later I had a small hobby farm in the middle of nowhere with chickens and a big garden. Though I gave all that up when I separated with my partner.

In fact, I think the most "self-insert" type aspect of my OC is her appearance, and that might have been a bit of laziness on my part. I think a lot of manga/anime characters have colours and designs that are really bright and significant, but making my own characters like that just didn't appeal to me for some reason. I don't think I'm very good with aesthetics tbh so I just avoid it lol. I like characters who are colourful, don't get me wrong (my fave part about Gaara is his red hair) but I also don't mind characters who fade into the background a bit and can make up for it with strong personality.

Also on another, random note: Gaara influenced me too. I grew cacti from seed, and his influence has made me a lot more political and "in the know" about world events. He also helped me take care of myself emotionally and mentally, as I found his story inspiring. I also took a job in bylaw as inspiration from him and made a lot of friends in the military reserves by that connection which was really cool. Ultimately, though, I gave up that job to become a copywriter with some basic graphic design (blah), as writing was my true passion.

Spoiler: I hated that job. I absolutely hated it. Turns out, writing is only fun when you're writing about the stuff you enjoy.

Now I work supporting medical staff!