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initiate-anima-signal · 8 years ago

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The Orochi Group

Our wisdom flows so sweet. Taste and see.

TRANSMIT - initiate Kushinada-Hime signal - RECEIVE - initiate eight-branch frequency - BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW - initiate the seven-dead-daughters syntax - SEIZING THE FUTURE - initiate the Susanoo Proclamation - TRAGEDY STRUCK IN TOKYO TODAY - Flip the Ace of Industry - Witness the Orochi Group

Have you ever had the falling dream, sweetling?

Falling, always falling. You fall so far. You fall into the Unconquerable Sun. The stars go out. You can hear a star scream for aeons and aeons after it's died.

Awake. In the dark. The flicker-glow of the TV. A reassuring commercial for Sycoil energy bleeds into the staccato ad for Diet Zagan Cola. An acrid aftertaste of carcinogen rapture. You reach for a can. Synthetic. No sugar. Weep for the false sweetness, pleasuring your tongue even as it eats your brain cells. You doze.

Have you ever had the eight-branched dream, sweetling?

You cry a name to the heaves, "Yamata no Orochi" - the Eight-Forked-Gargantuan-Serpent. Eight heads and eight tales, its length extends over eight hills and eight valleys, eyes red like winter-cherries. Every year it devours your daughters. You pull out your hair. You look to the clouds and pray for a storm god. You pray that His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness will come and slay the Eight-Way-Wyrm.

Awake. The television. A commercial for video games by Anansi software. A commercial for Faust Capital. A movie channel, a news network, a children's cartoon station - all under the QBL Media banner. The signal distills divinity into two gods: Stimulus and Response. Wakefulness has its degrees.

Initiate data compiling. Cross-referencing. Distilling the data-stream down to an omni-dimensional Tarot deck. Each card has three sides. Initiate cartomancy. The universe can be viewed rightside up or upside down. Each reveals a truth. Every card can be dealt in the upright or reverse position. Initiate the hand. Deal three cards of the Major Arcana.

Flip the Tower - The Eight-Branch Dragon - The Orochi Group.

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: The largest, most powerful corporation on the planet, the Orochi Group influences every aspect of modern science and innovation - striding forward as a lead player in economical, technological and political fields worldwide, since 1949. Established in Tokyo as an international investment group shortly after World War II, the young corporation attracted the brightest minds. The soil proved fertile, the growth exponential. A few years after conception, Orochi's eight subdivisions took to the global market. Today the enormous conglomerate hosts award ceremonies, donates billions to charities, and encourages youth programs.

THE REVERSE POSITION: There are doors and mainframes that regular Orochi employee security cards will not grant access to. The corporation casts a shadow, and that shadow answers to no outside agency. Rumours of occult research, technology twenty years ahead of its time, elevators that nosy employees enter but never exit - only the board of directors know for sure. The eight heads hold secrets.

Flip the Devil - The Charismatic CEO - designation Samuel Chandra.

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: A handsome face sits at the centre of the eight subdivisions, at Orochi HQ in Tokyo. He smiles from the glossy magazine covers, eyes following you across the room.

THE REVERSE POSITION: He stands against the window, looking down from the apex of a skyscraper. Even this height does not dizzy him, but if he presses his face against the glass and bites his tongue, he tastes blood and feels the fleeting shudder and flutter of recollections that a great height precedes a fall.

Flip the Priestess - the Chairwoman - designation Lily Engel.

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: She controls the board of directors, just behind Mr. Chandra - beautiful, brilliant, and upwardly mobile.

THE REVERSE POSITION: She does not appreciate the old names. We were there. We remember the monstrous nativity. The are tombs that are less haunted than some wombs.

A fourth card lays torn in half: The Lovers. Let us play some more, sweetling. Flip the three-faced cards! Initiate the hand. Deal eight from the Minor Arcana.

Flip the Ace of Pentacles - The Cyan Serpent Head - Váli.

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: A world leader in genetics, DNA research, and biotechnology, Váli produces pharmaceutical drugs that have helped millions overcome disease.

THE REVERSE POSITION: There are closed doors. There are research reports that contain words like "cryptozoology," "cryptobotany," and "paranormal." Their scientists know so much about bees, and so many fragments of the secret world sit on slides and in vials. In the corner of a laboratory, something rattles the bars of its cage while singing lullabies in dead languages.

Flip the Two of Pentacles - The Yellow Serpent Head - Sycoil.

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: A leading oil and power company, Sycoil revolutionised undersea drilling. Recent years see them experimenting in alternate energy solutions to supply the world's constantly growing energy demands.

THE REVERSE POSITION: Secret studies theorise on the use of anima to power technology. Gears and circuits him as they did in ages lost to your kind's memory. Look where that got them.

Flip the Three of Pentacles - The Orange Serpent Head - Zagan.

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: A major producer of packaged foods and drinks, Zagan has released a new line of healthy, genetically enhanced, bioengineered products. Research includes vat-grown meat products which could eliminate the need for animals raised for slaughter.

THE REVERSE POSITION: Board members discuss psychochemical drugs in food as a behavioural modification. In a rain forest, zombie ants shamble up the branches, mind-controlled by the aggressive fungus soon to burst from their bodies. Get the joke?

Flip the Four of Pentacles - The Steel Blue Serpent Head - Manticore Research Group

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: A multinational aerospace manufacturer, global security, and advanced technology company, Manticore develops weapons and defence equipment, satellites, and rockets. Their civilian tech subsidiary builds passenger jets, engines, and turbines.

THE REVERSE POSITION: Anima is gathered to power weapons in secret test facilities. Accidental fatality margins run high, but the cost of company funded funerals and life insurance payouts fall under acceptable expense parameters.

Flip the Five of Pentacles - The Teal Serpent Head - Anansi Technologies

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: Anansi is a high profile computer software and hardware company. Their flashy retail stores, sleek operating systems, game consoles, mobile phones, and multimedia players are found across the globe.

THE REVERSE POSITION: Conspiracy theorist websites and newsletters claim that Anansi is storing information and tracking users through their hyper-modern mobile phones and laptops and conditioning the minds of the masses through games and subliminal control. Anansi's PR department ignores the allegations. The newsletters abruptly cease and the websites close down.

Flip the Six of Pentacles - The Tyrian Serpent Head - Faust Capital.

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: The largest multinational financial institution in the world, Faust Capital covers investment, personal banking, insurance, and stock market trading. In the last six decades, they have uncannily dodged every crash and financial crisis.

THE REVERSE POSITION: Did you hear the news story about a top Faust executive, who was found dead, having leapt from his office window, with charts outlining geomancy and the mystical flow of fortune tattooed to his chest? No. Of course you didn't.

Flip the Seven of Pentacles - The Red Serpent Head - QBL Media.

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: QBL is a media behemoth, owning TV channels in all major markets, a Hollywood movie studio, television and movie production companies, animation and special effects studios, record labels, book publishers, newspapers, magazines, and a handful of theme parks.

THE REVERSE POSITION: Critics claim their ubiquitous presence controls the outcome of presidential elections, directs wars, and sways public opinion. In a digital mass grave of killed data, the story of a certain Faust Capital executive's suicide lies buried.

Flip the Eight of Pentacles: The Green Serpent Head Plethron

THE UPRIGHT POSITION: Closely tied to Váli, Plethron is an agricultural biotechnology company. It uses genetic research to advance farming and pesticides in order to massively increase crop yield, particularly in the third world.

THE REVERSE POSITION: Controversies over their genetically modified food products hover and buzz like blow flies. What are Plethron's intentions? ADD spreads like an epidemic, and it becomes harder to concentrate on such questions with every bite.

Satellites hover over the world like angels, singing to one another in a secret language. The game goes on, sweetling. More cards flip. A tragedy erupts in Tokyo, scattering the deck with nuclear winds. What happened? Perhaps you should ask the Eight-Way-Wyrm.

#tsw #the secret world #global #groups #the orochi group

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all-the-kings-archers · 5 years ago

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Ok Arden inspired me to relisten to Speak Now the album deluxe edition (cause I’m sad and I love speak now) so I’m just gonna type thoughts as I listen. Warning(s) beforehand, they probably do not make any sense. This is getting really long, sorry if you don’t want to read this. If you’re on the computer you can hit “J” and it should take you to the next post. Mobile users, I am SO sorry.

Those first notes of Mine felt like coming home. I love how I can hear her smile in her voice. Also I forgot how much I love her country accent, wow. “said I’ll never leave you alone” aka something I need to hear right now.

Ugh, Sparks Fly has the best intro. I don’t actually have the energy to do this properly, but this is one of my favorite songs on the album. “kiss me on the sidewalk take away the pain” reminds me of a weird dream I had this week. in a good way, obviously. Sparks Fly is so much sexier than we give it credit for.

I can’t handle Back to December right now. This is NOT fair. She sounds so small. “but this is me swallowing my pride standing in front of you saying i’m sorry for that night“ this hits so hard “it turns out freedom ain’t nothing but missing you”. I legitimately cannot handle this right now, not today. It’s giving me chills, I can feel my body temperature dropping from this.

Stupid turbotax ad. I hate this stupid ad. Not all people are tax people, leave me alone. I am also not interested in stupid horror movies. I do not want to watch the invisible man. leave me alone. also neutrogena, stop. i have that face wash, and it made my skin peel.

Speak Now, hello lovely. The imagery in this is WONDERFUL, and it’s so snarky, and can you believe Taylor Swift wrote this herself? I feel like James Madison discovering the comma, sorry. “don’t you” you can tell she’s smirking. I’m a sucker for happy endings.

Dear John, you do NOT get to make an appearance now. “and I lived in your chess game but you change the rules every day” my entire life feels like this right now. It’s not your optimism to blame, please don’t blame yourself. Yeah, 19 is too young to be played with. Am I calling college John? Abso-freaking-lutely. Good for you Taylor. Go be your own fireworks. I believe in you. Wow, I am really delirious right now. “i should’ve known” to “you should’ve known” is a glow-up. do we still say glow-up? I don’t care. I still say glow-up.

Mean, hi, I need you right now. Screw you college, I don’t need the major I wanted from you! Taylor is right, someday I will be living in a big city, and all you’re ever gonna be is mean and wishing I was one of your alumni. Also stop pointing out how stupid I am, I know I have flaws. I bet they are just sitting somewhere being miserable. Every single time saying “Taylor Swift has peaked, her next album is gonna flop” and every. Single. Time. Being proven wrong. I’m so proud of her.

I hate ads. I hate ads. I hate ads. Neutrogena needs to stop bothering me. The horror movie is back. I hate horror movies. this is why I don’t listen to Spotify before bed anymore. Old Navy, finally a change of pace. Still a waste of time, but a NEW waste of time.

The Story of Us is a BOP. Oh, wait, no sad for a second. Stop making me feel things Swift, I’m using you to assist in my escapism. AND WE’RE NOT SPEAKING AND I’M DYING TO KNOW IF IT’S KILLING YOU LIKE IT’S KILLING ME YET. Next chapter is iconic. “but you held your pride like you should’ve held me” and, like, the entire bridge (which I would quote if I could type that fast) are sooooooo good. THE END?! Already?!

Never Grow Up is... a lot of feelings for right now. It’s so soft, but it’s also kind of exactly what I’m feeling right now. Like, this is me to younger me, but also for my little siblings. The fear underlying this is hitting really hard, why exactly did I pick Speak Now? The point of this was to get out of my head, not further into it. It’s always colder than you think it will be on your own. I wish I hadn’t grown up either. Stupid introspectiveness, let me enjoy this beautiful, sad, soft song.

Enchanted, how wonderful to see you. I’m just gonna let this one wrap around me like a blanket. This was my first stan song of Taylor’s. So I’m just gonna let myself feel comforted by this. “wonderstruck” is a beautiful word. Look at this desperate pining, but also simple joy and excitement, and there is so much emotional range in this song. “Please don’t be in love with someone else, please don’t have somebody waiting on you” is what made me fall in love with her music. I just love Enchanted so much.

ADS. STOP THE HORROR MOVIE ADS. Can I sue for repetitive or badly targeted ads? I wouldn’t, cause that’s a waste of money and time, but I REALLY want to know that I can if they ever push me over the edge. Honey (ad), go away.

Better Than Revenge. I can’t help but love this song. Except for the mattress line, that’s kinda... uncomfy to hear. It’s full of such smart insults, except for that one low blow (which is unfortunately the one that’s repeated). It’s still such a fun song, though. “You might have him, but I always get the last word”

Oh, Innocent. You’re so sweet and sad, but you don’t make me sad cause you’re so hopeful and heartfelt. And so soothing too. “I hope you remember today is never too late to be brand new”

Hey Haunted. It’s kinda jarring to not have it acoustic, but it’s still so GOOD. The instrumentation is ugh, and her voice is just so beautiful, and I can’t stand explaining how this makes me feel cause I can’t find words, and it’s just wonderful.

Last Kiss, aka the home of one of the best bridges of all time. ”All that I know is that I don’t know how to be something you miss” is so heartbreaking. also this is taking me several hours longer than Speak Now (deluxe edition or otherwise) is cause I need periodical breaks. The build-up before the bridge is so good. And the bridge itself I think I’ve already addressed. “just like our last...” ugh she’s so SMART

Long Live, I can tell you’re gonna make me cry and that’s not allowed. This is so nostalgic. Just, this is something that belongs on a playlist on the ride home from a tournament in 8th grade. Everyone singing (and poking fun of the one guy who was always so monotone). “for a moment a band of thieves in ripped up jeans got to rule the world” is everything that I felt back then. The energy in this song is so beautiful. “we will be remembered”

Ok, we’re on to Ours. I’m gonna be honest and say I’ve never really clicked with Ours. It’s cute, and in a way I usually enjoy, but it’s not a favorite. “people throw rocks at things that shine” is a nice line. and I like the positive message that the entire song has. The little things she loves about him are adorable to hear listed.

Is it gonna be ads? Yes it is. Great. CVS, that’s new. And now Spotify promoting itself AND Google Home.

If This Was a Movie. A song I unfortunately forget about far too often. “if this was a movie you’d be here by now” hits so hard. Just the entire feeling where you lose someone and you just want them back but it doesn’t... it just doesn’t work. yeah, that’s a feeling. “I thought you’d be here by now”

Superman... Not a favorite. But, once again, cute. “He’s complicated, irrational” I do not remember her mentioning flaws before, maybe I just need this one to grow on me. “I loved you from the very first day” is such a nice resolution to the “I loved you forever” thing from earlier (in this same song).

Back to December... but now acoustic. The first time screwed me up enough, I’m nervous. This feels somehow slower? Maybe it’s the instrumentation change, or maybe she really is going slower, but I have absolutely no complaints. It’s beautifully aching like this. It feels like they’re pulling on heartstrings, not just the strings on their instruments. Have I mentioned how much I ADORE strings instruments when played well? And all the lyrics in this song? The way everything goes super quiet for a second? I think I might like this version better than the original.

Haunted... also acoustic. I’m fairly certain that I do like this version better than the original. The heavy piano, and the violin, that’s just so nice. It’s just slightly jarring, and it makes you feel everything that this song conveys so wonderfully. Hello violins, I love you for this. Is that a piano solo? It does not get the recognition it deserves. that last “break”

Mine but pop? I’ll give it a shot. This is making it pop-y? I guess I don’t mind as much as I thought I would. And there’s something to be said for starting and ending an album with the same song (even if the second is technically a different genre) Ok, this is enjoyable. Yeah, I like this. The buildup feels a bit weird at times, but it works, and I like.

Ok. That’s it. That’s the album. Taylor deserves more awards than she has for this album. Acoustic anything deserves separate, individual awards. I think that’s all I’ve got to say about the album as a whole. This was definitely something that I needed, and I hope someone else finds it fun to read.

#long #long text post #speak now

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freebestbettingtips · 6 years ago

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Borussia Dortmund V Freiburg: Bundesliga Tactical Analysis

New Post has been published on https://bestfreebettingtips.com/borussia-dortmund-v-freiburg-bundesliga-tactical-analysis/

Borussia Dortmund V Freiburg: Bundesliga Tactical Analysis

Borussia Dortmund beat Freiburg 2-0 at home to go yet another game unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season. The win came after securing progression to the UEFA Champions League knockout round last week, and now Lucien Favre’s side sits 7 points clear at the top of the table.

The game was relatively entertaining and Dortmund coped with the challenges presented by Freiburg relatively well. The visitors, however, weren’t the most dangerous opponent and they lacked the range of attacking options to trouble Dortmund a bit further. Dortmund were very comfortable and maintained possession for long periods without doing too much to threaten either.

Let’s take a deeper look at how the battle that played out:

Lineups:

Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Burki; Piszczek, Diallo, Zagadou, Hakimi; Witsel, Delaney; Sancho, Reus, Larsen; Gotze

Freiburg (5-4-1): Schwolow; Stenzel, Gulde, Koch, Heintz, Gunter; Waldschmidt, Haberer, Gondorf, Frantz; Petersen

Dortmund Maintain Possession Against Freiburg’s Mixed Pressing

Freiburg began the game using a 5-4-1 formation. Christian Streich, Freiburg’s coach would’ve watched Dortmund’s previous game against Brugge, and he would’ve known how important it was for his side to defend as compactly as possible. Haberer and Gondorf worked together in central midfield and they tried their best to control this area defensively as Dortmund dominated possession. However, Freiburg’s wide midfielders and forward Nils Petersen struggled to work defensively in unison and thus allowed Dortmund to maintain possession under pressure and after losing the ball while facing a deep-defensive block.

From kick-off, they pressed Dortmund in attacking areas trying to win the ball before counter-attacking directly. Their 5-4-1 shape would change into a 5-2-3 with both Waldschmidt and Frantz pushing forward to press the opposing full-back. One of the midfielders would press, Petersen would press the ball-near centre-back and the ball-far wide midfielder would tuck in to provide cover along with the two central midfielders. Freiburg made the use of their wingbacks by tasking them with marking any open players in behind one of their wide midfielders. Freiburg had 2 wide centre-backs to cover the flanks in case Dortmund managed to advance beyond their midfield line.

Dortmund, who play a possession-based style, were well equipped to dealing with the pressure and zonal/man-to-man marking they faced. What made it even easier for Dortmund to keep the ball was the fact that Freiburg were often at a numerical disadvantage whilst pressing. Mario Gotze played as the lone striker against 3 defenders, so this meant that Dortmund always had an extra player in defence and midfield. One channel that Dortmund value above all because of it’s attacking potential is the half-space. Freiburg were unable to close down this channel when pressing high was because they only played with two central midfielders and two wingbacks. Dortmund always managed to find space and use it to retain and circulate possession.

Freiburg’s forward line lacked the required cover to make a high press successful. Firstly, Delaney and Witsel playing as the double pivot, forced their forward line to make a sacrifice when applying pressure. They would either have to press the backline and leave the two midfielders open or wait for an opportunity to press by marking them. This would then allow Diallo or Zagadou more time and space to distribute the ball. The lack of defensive cover during high-pressing situations caused Freiburg to defend from deep and wait for access, to press, rather than actively seeking to win the ball back, as the game went on.

Freiburg’s man-oriented high pressing movements

Reus and Larsen drop deep to create support and help Dortmund retain possession under pressure. The(triangle) connections their support created during the build-up eventually forced Freiburg to give up their high pressing scheme

Reus, Bruun Larsen and Sancho stayed mobile constantly to support players under pressure. Larsen, for example, did brilliantly to support Dortmund’s progressions out from the back with his movement. When the defenders and midfielders were marked, he always managed to provide a passing option or open up channels/passing lanes by dropping into the half-space in midfield from his advanced wide position.

“Larsen dropping deep into the halfspace in midfield. He occupies two midfield players and allows Hakimi to receive a pass out wide in a 1v1 situation. When Hakimi receives the ball, he can support his teammate to create a 2v1, which they can use get closer to the box

The home side however still faced one big issue: breaking down the last two lines of Freiburg’s defence.

Sterile Possession:

Dortmund, despite almost notching up 70% possession, only created 7 key passes the whole game one of which resulted in a goal in added time. Before I explore why this happened, it’s important to note that from a defensive standpoint, at least they were in control from start to finish. Their occupation of the midfield area, also made it extremely hard for Freiburg to construct attacks or execute efficient counter-attacking moves. Dortmund often played with a high line but this was hardly risky as their counter-cover was solid (thanks to the defensive movements of their players in possession and their double pivot) and Freiburg were always under-loaded when going forward. Plus the fact that they defended so deep made even harder to execute counter-attacks because of the distance to Dortmund’s goal.

From an attacking standpoint though, Dortmund’s possession was mostly futile. In the first half an hour, when Freiburg still had the energy to press high (which was also futile to a certain extent), they found more space in advanced zones to attack at speed after escaping the press. Throughout this period they created 5 key passes and won a penalty (after Sancho was fouled at the end of a quick break). After this period, however, with Freiburg opting to focus on controlling their own defensive zones rather than winning the ball, Dortmund found less space in advanced zones. Disappointingly, and yet again, Dortmund struggled to break down a dense defence. Their inability to create space positionally means that opposition teams find it easy to channel Dortmund’s attacks into non-threatening areas. There were very few of positional rotations and connections between players in and outside of Freiburg’s defensive block. The result? 67% possession and only one goal scored in open play…in the 91st minute.

Conclusion:

Credit should be given to Dortmund for remaining unbeaten and winning a full 3 points. Defensively they were hardly troubled but their attacking play, especially at this stage of the season is a huge concern. Their inability to break down teams positionally creates a dangerous precedent for the defining part of the season, which comes after the winter break. Thomas Tuchel managed to rectify this exact issue when he replaced Jurgen Klopp when he introduced a pro-active, positional attacking style. His departure saw Dortmund return to the lacklustre possession-based style (heavily reliant on chance and opponents mistakes) that haunted Jurgen Klopp in his final season at the club. There’s no doubt that Dortmund can win the league, provided they keep on racking up 3 points every week. But as for the long-term future of the team, will we see a side that dominates the opposition and controls them in all phases of the game or will we see a side regress performance wise and struggle to entertain the Signal Iduna faithful?

If you love tactical analysis, then you’ll love the new magazine from totalfootballanalysis.com – 118 pages of pure tactical analysis covering topics from the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga and many, many more. Get your copy today for just £4.99 here!

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briefnightmaretiger-blog · 8 years ago

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mukyoucom · 8 years ago

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How the Iconic Wipeout Series Was Born

From Playstation Blog USA

“It’s only really many years later when you have the benefit of hindsight that you look at the idea, the art direction, the soundtrack, the platform… and it’s all just perfect timing. Those moments don’t come along very often.” – Nick Burcombe, co-creator, WipEout (1995)

WipEout hit 1995 with the force of an earthquake. Its sci-fi vision of armed anti-grav craft battling it out at 1,2000kph for gold and glory on twisting, vertigo-inducing race tracks couldn’t have been further removed from the quintessentially English pub in which it was conceived. Yet it felt perfectly in sync with the world it roared into like a supercharged sci-fi colossus.

Birthed in Liverpool, England and deployed on PS One’s bleeding edge tech, WipEout dropped into the eye of a raging cultural storm that was gripping the United Kingdom. Yet while it embodied the zeitgeist of ‘Cool Britannia’ – a celebration of the country’s beautiful collision of movies, music, art, club culture – its impact wasn’t restricted by geography. Cool Britannia’s epicentre was the British Isles. WipEout’s was anywhere a PlayStation was hooked up to a TV.

How the Future of Racing Started in an English Pub

WipEout was the child of a concept pitch and a vivid memory. The two met in a pub just outside Liverpool in the early ’90s, introduced by a pair of Psygnosis developers – designer Nick Burcombe and artist Jim Bowers. The drinking establishment was a regular haunt for studio staff of which Bowers and Burcombe were two. They’d regularly meet and bounce ideas of each other.

Years earlier, Bowers had created a concept movie of two wedged ships dogfighting along a race track, firing missiles at one another before soaring round a huge loop.

He’d showed it to Burcombe, who recalled the footage when regaling Bowers with a story of how he’d overcome a particularly difficult race in Super Mario Kart by turning the TV’s volume off and cranking up a trance track (‘Age of Love’ by Age of Love) on his hi-fi.

“I had a zen moment were everything flowed perfectly,” remembers Burcombe. That sense of exhilaration as the music reached its peak as he crossed the finish line “was the moment I knew I wanted to make a game that did that to you.”

He envisioned doing the same to Bowers’ concept, setting the piece to a Liam Howlett cover of surf track ‘Wipe Out’ that broke out into the Prodigy’s ‘No Good’.

“I think that was the moment we could both see immediately what the game could be,” Nick says. “Even if it was in our slightly sozzled minds’ eye.”

The concept was gold. But there were two other key elements that helped turn the concept into reality.

How the CD-ROM and the Movie Hackers Made WipEout a Reality

In the early ’90s Psygnosis was making inroads in two key areas. Alongside researching CD-ROM technology on the belief it’d soon be the next big shift in the industry, its Advanced Technology Group art team were getting to grips with 3D modelling. The result was a pair of arcade shooters, Microcosm and Novastorm (the latter, designed from scratch by Burcombe, offered a heavier emphasis on sci-fi).

Unbeknownst to Psygnosis, Sony’s PlayStation console would also use the technology. Impressed by the studio’s output, Sony would soon buy the studio outright and put it to work creating a game for its debut games machine.

At the same time, Sony Pictures approached the studio to create a gameplay sequence for a scene in its movie Hackers. Bowers and Burcombe saw their chance to solidify the idea born from their recent pub conversation. A tight deadline meant there couldn’t be any fat, and the pair raced to refine their initial idea. Burcombe focused on vertigo-inducing track design while Bowers added pop-up walls that could be shot to access new sections of the level.

Their work paid off. So impressed by the concept, when the studio took delivery of its first PSone development kits, Burcombe was put in charge of creating its debut title. “I think [my boss John White] and Jimmy knew I had something in my head that I wanted to get out,” Nick theorises.

Tracks, Setting, and the Feel of Anti-grav

Initial focus was on perfecting track design. Trackside details, the game’s overall tone and theme were secondary.

“I was much more concerned with the length of straight, steepness of elevation, frequency of undulations and the tightness or camber of chicanes and corners,” says Burcombe.

The designer also had a clear idea about the weapons pilots could use during the races, stating that everything initially designed made it into the final game.

The 2052 setting was picked because of its relative proximity to the modern day. Close enough to relate to (“it should still be recognisable. An arbitrary date – like 3231AD – would mean nothing to me”) but still offer a tantalising glimpse into future tech such as anti-gravity, which would be the cornerstone of WipEout’s feel.

“For some bizarre reason, I’d use vocal sound effects to really emphasise the weight of something or the inertia and drift,” recalls Burcombe of trying to convey the feeling of anti-grav to the rest of the team. “So I’d have to say it is a testament to the programming team who actually understood what I was trying to achieve.”

How the Iconic Soundtrack Emerged

You can’t talk WipEout without discussing its soundtrack. At a time when licenced music was a rarity in the industry, it was a combination of Sony’s extra marketing heft – specifically tapping into Sony’s music label – and an early demo of the game that secured the title’s first artist. Burcombe headed to London to meet Phil and Paul Hartnol – better known as dance outfit Orbital.

“We got talking about [the demo we showed them] and they were really enthused.They took us down to the studio to play me a track they had called P.ET.R.O.L. After some remixing and reworking – this track actually ended up on the disc. I think once that contact had been made, it was easier to get some others.”

Leftfield and The Chemical Brothers soon followed, and the game’s success greenlit further collaborations in sequels with the likes of FSOL, Fluke, Underworld, Prodigy, Photek and more. “It was a who’s who of the ’90s dance scene,” Nick says as he runs down the artist list.

Restarting the Project and Finishing the Game

Yet despite discussing the initial concept at length and fine-tuning it before full production began, creating a fully textured, real-time 3D game proved challenging, to the point that at one stage, the team had to restart the entire project, rethinking its approach to its production and programming pipeline.

“There was a moment when Ken Kutaragi came to the Liverpool studio and left believing we couldn’t make our launch dates,” Nick reveals. “But that was like a red rag to a bull for a team that had already worked very hard on it. The final few months of WipEout’s development was extraordinary, and I think being there for the European launch was a monumental achievement.”

“Looking back on it now, if it was just reverse psychology – it worked,” Burcombe admits.

Even when discussion shifts to the game’s launch, and acknowledgment of the fact that WipEout was on every early adopters’ wishlist come the PS One launch night at the studio’s local HMV, in typical developer fashion Burcombe mainly remembers the less enthusiastic critical responses.

“We were reading the 7s more than the 9s and nodding about the things that could be improved. It really focused our attention on what we needed to achieve for a sequel.”

After celebrating its success the team rolled up its sleeves and immediately started work on the next entry: WipEout 2097.

The Price of WipEout 2097

In the original game, weapons were deployed only to slow the competition down, give you time to overtake. In 1997 follow-up WipEout 2097, the studio introduced ship energy bars, meaning competitor – and player – ships could be destroyed if you didn’t recharge via trackside pit lanes. It added a new layer of strategy to races; WipEout’s version of F1 tyre changes mid-race.

Ships would now scrape up against walls, sparks flying, rather than coming to abrupt halt. While the original’s difficulty had its fans – including XDev’s John McLaughlin (“This is also why it is loved so much,” he says. “Once mastered you become one with the handling model, zipping through tracks, bounding over boost pads”) – the team wanted to make a more rewarding experience.

But the development turnaround proved creatively tough. Coming directly off finishing the original, the studio now had just less than eight months to develop and release the sequel. Despite 2097 bettering the original in every way, some of the original staff needed a break. As a third game went into production, Burcombe became a bystander to the franchise’s future. Nick eventually left Psygnosis – or Studio Liverpool as it was rebranded – to form his own independent label, PlayRise, and work on mobile turned console racer, Table Top Racing.

“I was able to stand back and watch as WipEout 3 launched, then Fusion on PS2 and then the PSP, PS3 and PS Vita versions.” But he remains upbeat about seeing the series continue without him. “Watching it evolve from afar has been great and I know so many of the people who have worked on all these different versions – improving and building on it each time.”

“I think it’s one of those games that actually conveys something of the team in it. It is a game with a soul and I think people get that,” Burcombe concludes. “The ideas, the graphic design, the music and the PlayStation all combined to make it perfect for that moment in time.”

The Origin of WipEout Omega Collection

“It’s a unique game; there’s nothing else like it. It defined a generation.” – John McLaughlin, XDev, Omega Collection

December 2016, Anaheim, California. A packed auditorium’s roars are only emboldened as the tease of a bass-heavy electronica track kicking in merges with stunning HD visuals to confirm WipEout is returning. The Omega Collection couples PS3’s fan favorite tag-team of WipEout HD and Fury to PS Vita’s WipEout 2048 for an upgraded, remastered package on PlayStation 4.

It’s a welcome surprise for fans. For John XDev’s McLaughlin – one of those lifelong franchise fans and brainchild behind WipEout’s rebirth – “it seemed a simple and obvious choice” to bring the series back.

Though he admits it couldn’t be his decision alone, he made sure he was in the best possible position when pitching the idea.

“I managed to pry [WipEout HD’s] codebase from IT and got it over to Hustle Kings developer EPOS”. Together with CEO and programmer Staffan, McLaughlin worked out how they could conceivably make a PS4 remaster happen and worked up a timeline for development. To achieve it, they’d have to reach out to Clever Beans studio (When Vikings Attack) to partner with. The pitch worked. WipEout was on its way back.

The original plan, according to McLaughlin, was just to work on the HD/Fury package. “But very early on in development we looked at the 2048 code,” he explains. The PS Vita launch title is the most recent entry into the franchise, but its fiction provided a glimpse into an earlier era of the Anti-Grav Racing League. “We thought it would be great to bring all of the tracks and ships from that game too.”

Artwork was reworked, details added. SFX was totally remastered. Split-screen was coded in – a first for the previously handheld only 2048 – and a couple of nods to the classic era added (“we set about bringing back a couple of defunct teams from yesteryear and brought back Tigron and Van Uber teams.”).

And today, some months short of WipEout’s 21st anniversary, the futuristic racing franchise is reborn on PS4.

Back in 1995 there wasn’t anything like WipEout. In 2017, there still isn’t.

Your favorite race track from the franchise…

While Burcombe has the very first WipEout track, Altima VII, as a highlight (“I purposely put it first so you get that “wow” moment from the rollercoaster style downhill section”), it’s pipped by the game’s later course Arridos.

“It has a brilliant flow to it,” he remembers. “There’s some insane airborne shortcutting and great air-brake drift corners too. I also love that it looks carved into the landscape; the location seems plausible.”

For McLaughlin, it’s a pair of Sols – Sol2 from HD and Sol from 2048 – that are closest to his heart. “I love being thousands of feet in the air, zipping along at 1200KPH knowing I can fall off the edge at any moment. Real seat of your pants stuff!”

Your favorite WipEout team…

Maybe because it’s the default team come the ship selection menu of every WipEout, but both Burcombe and McLaughlin favour the Federal European Institute of Science and Research, better known under their acronym, FEISAR.

Though McLaughlin “has some affection” for Triakis, Burcombe points out the story behind FEISAR’s naming may be why it’s his only choice.

“It was a bit of a political joke. The UK had just signed the Maastricht Treaty in ’92 and it was a sort of prediction on where the UK and EU might be heading.”

Your favorite music track…

Despite not making its WipEout debut until 1997 sequel 2097, Prodigy and dance classic Firestarter is what immediately comes to mind for both men.

“It’s embedded in everyone’s brain,” Burcombe sums up simply. “Even though the version in [WipEout 2097] is the instrumental, it’s so engrained in the UK psyche, your mind just fills in Liam’s incredible vocal without even thinking about it.”

Your favorite piece of fan appreciation…

Much as WipEout is a unique melting pot of near-future techand killer tracks, so too is fan love spread across mediums, styles and disciplines. Burcombe points to seeing WipEout tattoos (“it blows my mind that its influence is strong, they felt the need to etch it into their skin forever”) but also that he “still gets regular emails” from fans thanking him for getting them into PlayStation, dance music or becoming DJs themselves. For McLaughlin though, a homage to the in-fiction ships wins out. “I simply love this model.”

Celebrate WipEout Omega Collection’s launch with its iconic art and music

Listen to WipEout Omega Collection’s soundtrack on Spotify here, and crank up the volume for a curated tracklist of the franchise’s best track from previous entries in our new The Best of WipEout playlist here.

Check out 25 stunning pieces of unseen WipEout artwork from across the franchise’s history here.

Celebrate the franchise’s stunning artwork with a collection of WipEout League t-shirts and hoodies, available from tomorrow exclusively on PlayStation Gear. The tops which were debuted on stage at PSX last year, feature a variant of the iconic Anti-Gravity Racing League logo – which dates back to the original game. Check them out below..

The post How the Iconic Wipeout Series Was Born appeared first on Ship 2 Block 20.

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junker-town · 8 years ago

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2017 NHL mock draft: Stars, Lightning get top-5 talent in our 1st simulation

Everything is backward.

The 2017 NHL Entry Draft is 151 days away, but it’s already time to start thinking about how special it’ll be.

After all, there’s a twist this year: the Vegas Golden Knights will draft their first player in franchise history, throwing a monkey wrench into the works. Vegas will receive the same draft lottery odds as the team with the third-best odds, meaning they’re pretty much guaranteed a top-three pick.

Plus, the pecking order is all backward. Stanley Cup hopefuls like Dallas and Tampa Bay will likely pick in the top 10, while Edmonton and Toronto are playoff-bound.

So here’s our first monthly NHL mock draft. Note that the order isn’t lined up with the standings because I ran the standings through the Tankathon simulator based on current standings and odds. The following draft order is based on the first (and only) time I simulated it. And since most teams are still fighting for playoff chances, the order will look totally different next month.

Let the fun begin.

1. Colorado Avalanche - Nolan Patrick, C, Brandon (WHL)

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When you have the luxury of the first overall pick, you never pass the chance at taking the best player available. And Patrick is simply the best player in the 2017 draft. The 6’3 center is molded in the vein of Auston Matthews: a big forward with skill and vision to spare. A center with size is something the Avalanche have lacked with Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon, and Patrick’s equally strong playmaking abilities should provide a nice complementary element.

2. Vegas Golden Knights - Nico Hischier, C, Halifax Mooseheads

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There is no consensus second-best player in the draft, but Hischier is approaching that status. The 6’1 center from Switzerland rose in scouts’ minds even before the World Juniors, but his strong performance there only magnified his abilities in everyone’s minds. Few players in the draft blend speed and scoring senses like Hischier, and he��ll be a good first block for the Golden Knights to build around.

3. Arizona Coyotes - Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle

I’ve seen a few mock drafts predicting the Coyotes will go with a forward here. I don’t really see it; so few NHL teams are blessed with a forward pipeline as strong as Arizona’s. They can afford to take a defenseman here, even if it ends up as a bit of a reach.

And I don’t think Liljegren qualifies as a reach yet. A lengthy bout of mono kept him out of the lineup in Sweden for a few months, and thus he’s fallen in scouts’ eyes. That’s unfair. Liljegren is still a smart, puck-moving defenseman with plenty of high upside, and the kind of player I think GM John Chayka adores.

4. Dallas Stars - Gabriel Vilardi, C/RW, Windsor Spitfires

Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

The Stars simply can’t afford to swing and miss on another project first-round pick. Too many (Scott Glennie, Jack Campbell, Jamie Oleksiak) have stagnated their progress as a franchise.

Luckily, Vilardi is both a strong prospect and the kind of forward the Stars look for. He’s big (6’3), but he’s a possession hound, defensively responsible, and has a true knack for scoring and finding the open man. As good a Jason Spezza replacement as any other prospect in the draft.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning - Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City (WHL)

Another team with Stanley Cup aspirations likely heading up the draft instead, the Lightning might consider trading down to pick up a defenseman later in the round. But Valimaki might not be a reach here. Tampa Bay lacks a true offensive-minded defenseman in their stacked system, and Valimaki is the best one of those in the draft. The 6’2 defenseman is enjoying a strong year in the WHL with 40 points in 40 games.

6. Winnipeg Jets - Elias Pettersson, C, Timra (SWE-2)

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Winnipeg’s future on the wings is bright with Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers already emerging as stars and Kyle Connor, Nic Petan, and Jack Roslovic on the way. But what their system lacks is a pass-first center who can distribute the puck at exceptional levels. Pettersson fits that mold with some of the best playmaking vision in the draft. If Pettersson becomes the Sam Reinhart to Laine’s Jack Eichel, then the Jets would be quite pleased.

7. Florida Panthers - Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Sioux City (USHL)

Considering the front office turmoil in Sunrise this year, it’s hard to gauge what the Panthers will look for at the draft. It’s easier to look at what their system lacks and work from there, so we’ll go with a winger for now. And Tolvanen is a nice prize: he’s quick, plays with excellent vision, and has shown strong possession play in his own end. He’ll play at Boston College next season.

8. New Jersey Devils - Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City (WHL)

Rasmussen is a pure power forward with a strong nose for the net and scoring ability. His huge 6’6 frame belies his mobility — Rasmussen’s skating could improve, but he’s agile enough to create plays around the net and talented enough to know how to finish the many puck battles he’ll win. Rasmussen has 30 goals and 52 points in 48 games.

9. Detroit Red Wings - Nicolas Hague, D, Mississauga (OHL)

If the Wings are finally ready to rebuild, then a strong defenseman with offensive ability is a nice place to start. Hague is huge (6’6, 208 lbs), and he already displays awareness of how to use that size and reach to his defensive advantage. But he’s a two-way defender, with 32 points and 14 goals this season.

10. Buffalo Sabres - Klim Kostin, W, Balashikha (KHL)

Kostin’s draft stock has risen considerably, and it’s not hard to see why. The 6’3 winger reminds one of Denis Gurianov, the Dallas Stars prospect who dominated the World Juniors with Russia in December. He skates well, is strong on the puck, and would provide a nice scoring, power winger presence to Buffalo’s system. He’s out for the next three months with a shoulder injury, however.

11. Boston Bruins - Casey Mittelstadt, C, Eden Prairie (High School)

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It’s time for the Bruins to start preparing for life without Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci, who are approaching the last third of their NHL careers. Mittelstadt, a University of Minnesota recruit, could be that center of the future for the Bruins: a hard-working, high-energy attacking center with vision and skill for days. He could be the steal of the first round.

12. Calgary Flames - Cale Makar, D, Brooks (AJHL)

Bound for U-Mass Amherst next season, Makar could run the Flames’ power play for a long time. Makar has gone from draft unknown to first-round dark horse after a strong performance at the 2016 World Junior A Challenge.

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The 5’11 defenseman is what you want out of an offensive-minded, puck-moving blue liner these days: playmaking ability and vision in the offensive zone with speed and responsibility to cover in his own end. Makar could be a strong pickup for the Flames, who would love to see him and Johnny Gaudreau play together on the power play.

13. Vancouver Canucks - Lias Andersson, C, HV 71 (SWE)

Bo Horvat is becoming a player to build around for the Canucks, and Andersson would complement him nicely down the middle for years to come. The Swedish center possesses playmaking ability and a two-way mindset that would make him useful in all situations, kind of like Aleksander Barkov does in Florida.

14. New York Islanders - Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga (OHL)

Hey, remember when John Tavares had a winger who could finish plays for him named Kyle Okposo? That was fun.

Tippett is in the same mold: a 6’2 right-winger with a knack for finishing plays fueled by an elite skating ability and one of the best shots in the draft. New York must start giving Tavares players to thrive with. Tippett is a good start.

15. Carolina Hurricanes - Cody Glass, C, Portland (WHL)

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Carolina is healthy on the wings and on defense throughout their system, but they lack some speed and skill down the middle. Glass would fill that hole. A relative unknown before this season, Glass has skyrocketed up draft rankings with 38 assists and 59 points in 45 games with Portland. Still growing into his 6’2 frame, Glass’ exceptional playmaking abilities would make him hard for the Hurricanes to pass up.

16. Los Angeles Kings - Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State (NCAA)

Few teams covet strength and two-way games more than Los Angeles. Poehling is loved by scouts for those qualities, making him a player trusted in all situations for his college team. If he’s NHL-ready soon, Poehling could easily slot well into L.A.’s third line. And, if asked, he could play a top-six role on either Jeff Carter’s wing or as his center.

17. Philadelphia Flyers - Nikita Popugaev, LW, Prince George (WHL)

Philly has done quite well in recent drafts filling system needs with high-upside players with bright futures. But an over-reliance on depth scorers like Matt Read and Michael Raffl can only go so far. Size and skill are in order as Jakub Voracek ages, and Nikita Popugaev fits that mold. The 6’6 power winger put up 51 points in 40 games with Moose Jaw before a deadline trade to Prince George.

18. St. Louis Blues - Callan Foote, D, Kelowna (WHL)

We know what the Blues want out of their defensemen: size, mobility, and smarts. Offensive upside is an added bonus. Foote meets all of those criteria with a 6’3 frame, accurate, well-reasoned zone exits, and oozing with hockey IQ. And wouldn’t it be perfect if Adam Foote’s kid haunted the Avalanche for years?

19. Nashville Predators - Martin Necas, C, Brno (CZE)

Nashville went heavy on defensemen last draft, as if they were preparing to trade Shea Weber or something. Hm.

So they can afford to go after a forward in the first round in 2017. And with Mike Ribeiro on his way out, the Predators could use a similar pass-first player like Necas. Few players in the 2017 draft possess his combination of speed and puck-handling, which lets him create space for teammates and find them with accurate passes.

20. Toronto Maple Leafs - Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP (FIN)

It’s true that Toronto’s glut of incredible forwards needs a puck-mover to get the puck to them, but they also need someone equally capable of keeping the puck out of their own end. Vaakanainen is the best of both worlds this late in the first round, with intelligence with exit decisions and a defensive game sound enough to offset risks taken by Morgan Rielly or Nikita Zaitsev. A safe pick.

21. Ottawa Senators - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, HPK Jr. (FIN)

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With Thomas Chabot and Colin White on the way, the Senators’ future with skaters is bright. But they need something to look forward to in net, and it’s not Matt O’Connor. Luukkonen is the best goalie in the draft, with the size (6’4) and agility scouts love. He was the lone bright spot on a disappointing Finland World Juniors roster, and as safe a bet as goalie draftees get.

22. Edmonton Oilers - Henri Jokiharju, D, Portland (WHL)

Alright, I’ll just say it: it’s super weird to be talking about Oilers and Leafs draft prospects this late in the first round. I don’t like it.

Edmonton should look for a power play quarterback of the future here, and Jokiharju is the best one available at the moment. Makar’s rise has led to Jokiharju’s fall, but that’s no fault of his own. Like Makar, he uses his small, 6’0 frame to elude defenders and make smart passes out of his zone or within the offensive zone. More of a project than Makar, but that’s kind of what you get later in the first round.

23. Anaheim Ducks - Shane Bowers, C, Waterloo (USHL)

Ryan Getzlaf is already starting to slow down, and Ryan Kesler might join him soon. Bowers is a good step toward the future of the Ducks’ center depth, with qualities they value: size (at 6’1, he’s still growing), playmaking ability, and a two-way mindset. He’ll join Boston University next year, where he’ll continue to grow into an effective top-six player.

24. San Jose Sharks - Kailer Yamamoto, W, Spokane (WHL)

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If you’re a small winger then you’re usually doomed to at least the second round, because scouts haven’t figured out that those players can succeed in today’s NHL more easily than ever. But I hope Yamamoto gets taken in the first round because he’s a joy to watch. The 5’7 winger mixes the game-breaking of a Johnny Gaudreau with the feisty edge of a Brendan Gallagher. He’s ninth in WHL scoring with 30 goals and 62 points in 41 games.

25. New York Rangers - Filip Westerlund, D, Frolunda (SWE)

If the Rangers are smart, they’ll draft heavy on defense this season. Marc Staal and Ryan McDonagh aren’t getting any younger and Dan Girardi isn’t getting any better. Westerlund is admired for how his intelligence with the puck offsets his stout 6’0 frame. He’s already trusted in most situations with Frolunda as a teenager, so he’s more NHL-ready than most European defensemen.

26. Montreal Canadiens - Maxime Comtois, LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Getty Images

Once regarded as a top-five pick, Comtois’ stock has fallen as other players have simply exceeded their initial expectations. So he’s still a good player, and exactly the kind of winger the Canadiens would love to have. He’s tough on the puck, but will walk right up to the edge without crossing over it. Add in elite speed and a sneaky wrist shot, and Comtois could become a terrific player in Montreal.

27. Chicago Blackhawks - Nick Suzuki, C, Owen Sound (OHL)

Suzuki is the kind of Swiss Army knife center that teams are falling more in love with. As a teenager, he already kills penalties better than most prospects and constantly makes great decisions whenever the puck is on his stick, no matter what zone he’s in. Again, his height (5’11) might make him drop this far, and the Blackhawks would love to let him marinate in their system.

28. Pittsburgh Penguins - Miro Heiskanen, D, HIFK (FIN)

Heiskanen’s stock fell after a quiet World Juniors, but he’s still a defenseman with intriguing upside, even if he ends up as a bit of a long-term investment. The good news is he’s leaned on heavily by HIFK even as one of the youngest prospects available, meaning there’s already a lot to like.

29. Minnesota Wild - Matthew Strome, LW, Hamilton (OHL)

Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

If there’s one thing Eric Staal taught the Wild, it’s that a skilled winger with size can thrive in their system. Strome fits perfectly in that case. The younger brother of Ryan and Dylan, Matthew put up 23 goals and 38 points in the first half of the season with Hamilton.

30. Washington Capitals - Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph (OHL)

If there’s one place where Washington’s system is lacking, it’s depth and size on the left wing. Ratcliffe projects as a power forward with finishing ability, enjoying a breakout year with 22 goals and 40 points in 46 games.

31. Columbus Blue Jackets - Stelio Mattheos, RW, Brandon (WHL)

Overshadowed by Nolan Patrick, Mattheos stepped in admirably in the center’s absence this season. He’s shown strong offensive ability but will more likely end up as a complementary winger who performs well in whatever situation Columbus asks him to play.

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