#those scenes are also relevant to MK's character

[imminent-danger-came]

[cienie-isengardu]

Some MK1 thoughts

Since Mortal Kombat 1 cutscenes are now available on YouTube (and me watching it up to 4 a.m.), here some thoughts under cut:

This is the most pro-Mileena game and I’m glad for the girl to finally have supportive family and friends. Generally I’m very touched how much the Edenian female cast was bonded with each other, that Li Mei and Sindel turned out to be the best friends, Tanya and Mileena were in happy relationship (as much as it could be due to Umgadi laws), Mileena and Kitana for once did not need to fight for throne. Good stuff.

However, the game that advertises itself with “Fight through a brand new story featuring your favorite Mortal Kombat characters like you’ve never seen them before” can’t apparently give us a storyline in which Bi-Han & Kuai Liang are from start to (bitter) end brothers in every sense of the word. I guess, it is my own fault for hoping too much but the frustrating disappointment stings double so, because Mileena and Kitana got their happy family. And look, I don’t mind Bi-Han being so done with everyone and everything and wanting to combat / challenge authority of others while not caring much for Liu Kang’s godly status and all, but is that really so much to ask for having at least one game he is on brother’s side to the bitter end? I’m not even asking for a story to keep Bi-Han relevant to the final chapter, just him being (sort of) a good brother. 

I know I was foolish, but the plot twist of Lin Kuei only playing the thugs to test Kung Lao and Raiden from first chapter raised my hopes - supported a bit by the fact that Bi-Han was jerk to Smoke only to few scenes later asking both Kuai Liang and Tomas are they unharmed after he defeated Nitara. Because the Sub-Zero chapter (Band of Brothers!) was the best for another plot twist. We could have Bi-Han playing the role of a traitor so he and Kuai Liang could learn more about enemy’s true goal / weapon and if game creators didn’t want keep Bi-Han in the story (or couldn’t give him anything relevant to do in later chapters) they could kill him and I’m glad they didn’t or capture him or whatever. Like I said, I don’t need heroic Bi-Han per se, just him and Kuai Liang having the brotherhood we hear about since the original series. It is about damn time!

On another note, Sektor being loyal to Bi-Han and being shown in the Sub-Zero ending was such a nice addition. Though I’m still mad, that brothers are divided into Kuai Liang & Tomas vs Bi-Han & Sektor/Lin Kuei. The Lin Kuei storyline did not impress me at all.

At least, in the final fight between good and evil timelines, there is plenty version of Bi-Han and the fact that game allows the player to choose the character on their own (including Sub-Zero) warmed my heart so much ❤

I’m surprised in a good way by Johnny Cage, he was witty and great, but I’m truly touched how helpful and nice he was to some characters (and is it me, or did this Johnny felt so much like Johnny from MK movie 1995?). Him and Kenshi was pretty funny interaction but also him inviting Syzoth and Ashrah to come with them to Earthrealm AND THEN STAYING WITH THEM WHEN THE REST OF TEAM ALREADY WENT TO REST TO PROPERLY INTRODUCE THOSE TWO TO LIU KANG that is, this is the best of Johnny and I love they keep showing him like that ❤

And of course, Shang Tsung ❤ Though I do not understand why Shao Kahn was allowed to be Outworld general while Shang Tsung was given such a pitiful life? Sure, he is dangerous and all, but I would argue who was the worst person in previous lifes. Anyway, every time Shang Tsung works for the good guys, it is frankly my favorite thing. 

In general, the game looks gorgeous, the characters are cool, though I would love for some to have more screen time and some, like Bi-Han, to actually have a proper, meaningless relationship and part in the story. But I guess, Bi-Han is just fated to doom since the first game…. nothing new.

[xenonmoon]

Some last note before moving to MK 2016 volume 3:

Pros:

I really like the subversion of the "it was all a dream" trope. It being "all a dream" doesn't actually solve things, it makes them even worse and messier

Pacing is great, using switch frequency and entity of the bleedout among each one of them to build tension towards not the final act of this volume's plot but what appears to be the middle one, turning instantly in a moment of surprise when all parallel stories instead of converging with each other drop out into Marc's. The second part with the confrontation instead of escalating again it de-escalate step by step from action to calm, heartfelt moments until only Marc is left, alone. Nice

I keep thinking using different artists and scenarios for each character is a BRILLIANT way to have a visual rendition of how different alters filter the situation through different lens

Despite being a bit cartoonish/exaggerated I liked how frustrating the police interrogation felt with its ableism towards Jake. Makes you feel the character's powerlessness in that situation

Leaving Vengeance (and the latter part of the 2006) aside, since they only features Jake and in a very ambiguous way that's very passable as Marc With A Different Name, Steven and (proper) Jake hadn't had a real active role in the narrative outside when Moench was writing them. It's nice and refreshing to finally see them back as being part of Moon Knight as they should be.

Steven's narrative is how the Bendis run should have been and you can't change my mind

Love love looooove how Lemire recontextualised the dubious writing the character's had over the years into Marc's point of view - how he thinks about his condition and how to deal with. He also does a plentiful of acknowledgements that are a HUGE step forward to stop considering having alters as something bad - despite still thinking he need to get rid of them to be "sane". But will get back at this with the volume 3

Cons:

Jeff Lemire possibly only read the first volume of the Epic Collection, so he knows the basics of the Oldies but not enough to use them effectively inside the plot. They're either "extras", background stuff, namedrops, or very vague and/or ooc. This leads to their appearances being one of those cases when the callbacks are best enjoyed if you're in the middle of the spectrum between not knowing the characters and knowing them fairly well: you either just heard of them (and/or seen very marginal stuff) or remember them by long faded memories. One of those cases where elements and/or a product holds itself up for most part by nostalgia or a very shallow knowledge of the source.

This also lead to potential thematically relevant characters to be cut out of the narrative, like Morpheus.

Jake's characterisation is. I don't know how to describe it. It was fine and fairly coherent with Moench's up until the confrontation scene, when by the way Marc talks to him it seems backbuilt almost from scratch to fit Wood's heavy drift (or switch with Marc's, can be also seen as that). That resulted in a weird superimposition between him and Moon Knight and while he is not identified as "the evil alter" it flies dangerously close by being at least the violent one. This is 99.9% what inspired MCU Jake's (I can't really say characterisation since we see him for like 2 seconds but. actions?). Detaching itself even from the last bits of Moench that the 2016 still kept the MCU incarnation took a long turn away from the comics' original concept and well. I think the moon knight tag is full of self-explanatory examples of the domino effect it caused on the long run. Sighs

Despite this run's approach to MK's condition being revolutionary in the context of the history of how this character has been written after the original run closed, there are some bits that are still based on misconceptions around how the condition worked - meaning, the core theory according to which there is one "real" or "original" identity in the system and the others all formed later and- ugh that they are or used to be childhood imaginary friends. Surprisingly, the original Moench run which was written back when people knew next to nothing about the condition is more accurate on this point since it treats all three (four considering MK) more or less equally as different identities of the same individual

Let's talk about Commander. I get it, Lemire needed an alter to function as a "placeholder" to Marc for the tripartite altered narrative that dominates the heart of this volume, but you can feel by the way he's treated that's kind the throwaway one. Or, at least, the most throwaway one once its purpose in the narrative is fulfilled

That's all I could cook up for this volume! Moving to the third and final one!

[cutekittenlady]

Lol I make a post where I explicitly reference that I dont talk about MK despite him explicitly being the main character of Lego Monkie Kid and then proceed to use said post to talk about my feelings of cultural fascination with the character of Sun Wukong.

Sorry MK I keep doing you dirty.

BACK ON TRACK

This scene I think serves just as much as exposition for the benefit of the western audience as it does for introducing the character's of MK and Tang as fans of the story and of Sun Wukong himself.

Mk goes on a full exposition dump regarding Sun Wukongs origins which, while not entirely enough to educate someone unacquainted with the story as to the context of these things, does clearly establish a vague reference point from which to start and understand who Wukong is. Born from a stone, spent his early life with other monkeys on flower fruit mountain, and while the image of the elixir, peaches, and pills of immortality aren't elaborated on, they're a fun viewer bonus. Especially since all three of those things become plot relevant at the start of season 2.

For MK's character, the first scene we get of him is him listening to a story about his future mentor. While this helps to make it clear he's enthusiastic about the stories and that Tang is likely the source of this knowledge, it also kinda sets Wukong up to be a mythic hero figure in MK's mind and how, I think, that starting point effects his future relationship wtih Wukong going forward.

As for Tang...

Well while hes the one telling the story I think his REAL moment of characterization is when he reveals that he's telling the story to MK in exchange for a free bowl of noodles XD

Definitely helps set up his priorities going forward. Both as a bit of a noodle food enthusiast, his scholarly understanding of the old legends, and the fact that he's kind of a drifter.

[ninewheels]

some bits from the MK trailer

I’m obsessed, so I did some shot-by-shot clue hunting and found some INTERESTING things.

possible spoilers???

The part where Cole is looking in the mirror and gets spooked by a vision of something:

It’s only a flash, but pause it and hey, it’s Hanzo! Looking all corpsified and gross!

As you’ll see by the end of this post, I no longer subscribe to the theory that Cole Young is Kuai Liang, (though I still thing that’d be cool) but I do think he’s gotta have some personal connection to the Scorpion/Sub-Zero story. He’s the protagonist, but Hanzo and Bi-Han are both super prominent in the story from what we can tell. We know the film opens with their first fight, their faces are both on the poster, Bi-Han seems to be Shang Tsung’s #1 enforcer, and there’s a lot of footage from their rematch later in the trailer--and what’s more, I believe Cole is in that rematch scene, as you’ll see later.

Not sure if it’s plot relevant or an easter egg, but there’s Kitana’s fan on the pedestal.

It’s hard to tell from any single screenshot of this clip, but is that Reptile, coming out of his camouflage invisibility?

Because that's definitely Reptile (Deadly Alliance inspired) throwing down with Kano, and both parts seem to be set in the good guys’ HQ.

We’ve known Kabal would be in the movie, but there’s him with his hookswords, about to get fucking wrecked by Liu Kang’s dragon. There’s a bit of this fight scene later in the trailer as well.

Definitely hooksword. Definitely Kabal.

Goro!!! But also, who is that in the foreground, with what looks like either armor or some kind of scaled skin?

In the background of the Scorpion/Sub-Zero rematch, there’s what looks like the same guy, and from the front, it looks like Cole.

One final shot of Cole with the weird hardened skin, getting the assist from Sonya, and holy shit y’all, those are definitely blades come out of his arms TARKATA SURPRISE YO!

Also, you can’t really tell from this particular frame, but that’s Mileena getting her purple guts blown out by Sonya’s wrist blaster.

I’m gonna get meta and talk about how choice of actors reflects the nature of a character’s role in a movie like this. So Kabal and Nitara (who didn’t make it into the trailer I guess) are being played in the movie by actors Daniel Nelson and Elissa Cadwell, both of whom are stunt performers, which tells us that neither of them is going to have any kind of prominent speaking role; they’re probably just henchman who get one fight scene a piece. Mileena is played by Sisi Stringer, an actress with two IMDb credits to her name, neither of them for stunt work. She’s an unknown, but the fact that they didn’t cast a stunt performer suggests that her role is going to involve dialogue, not just fighting. That combined with her multiple appearances in the trailer, and the fact that she got her own character poster yesterday suggest that she’s important to the plot. Based on everything in this last screenshot, I’d guess it has something to do with Cole being secretly Tarkatan.

Edit: Okay, if I had to form all of this into one cohesive (and completely batshit) theory, I’ve got it. Cole Young was cloned from OG Kung Lao the same way Mileena was cloned from Kitana, hence being part Tarkatan. Outworld thought this would give them an advantage, and Raiden was also worried about what an evil Kung Lao would do so he somehow arranged for Hanzo to kidnap newborn Cole from Outworld and bring him back to Earth, where he was adopted by an American family. Bi-Han was sent by Shang Tsung to retrieve the child, which led him to Hanzo, Hanzo wouldn’t give up the location and Bi-Han killed him. In the course of the film, part of how Cole finds out who/what he is comes through confronting Mileena and learning about her.

Even this ridiculous all-encompassing theory still doesn’t account for why Jax also has the dragon logo birthmark. I’m stumped on that one. Maybe Jax was also cloned from another past Earthrealm champion? Yeah, let’s go with that.

[smutav]

So i posted the pictures I had for my xray and comic in this post here and I said id wait a year but I’ve decided I need to lay this project to rest and move on to what comes next. Its under the cut because its mad king heavy

the old man part was fully scripted out so I’m going to throw the script in here first then it’ll be just notes for the general plotline

(M) Old Man   = O1 / (J) Old Man   = O2 / Xray          = X / Vav           = V

we come in on Xray and Vav coming onto the scene but we start lookin at the old men

O2: "Uh Oh, the calvaries here" O1: "issit the popo? tell them they cant make me go back... to that horrible home... fulla old people..." O2: "No.. its those spandex kids again" O1: "Oh, the blue one confused me... so blue jus like those dirty cops" O2: "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE US ALIVE" [O2 throws something that lands nowhere near xray and vav] V : "Look you have to stop causing a ruckus!" O1: "ah ah ah prettyboy we got da bomb" O2: "Thats right if you get in our way it'll be a real stinker!" O1: "Uh Ohhhh"

X : "you have got to be kidding me" O1: "I'm too old for kidding, im old-ding over here" V : "What are you doing with a bomb!?" O2: "We've got demands!" O1: "Oh yeah lots of demands!" O2: "We want.... Pudding!" O1: "Oh yeah and none of that rice shit in there" O2: "get that rice out of our pudding no chunks!" O1: "itsa chokin hazard, I almost died when they had that at the home" O2: "thats why we left they was tryna kill us" O1: "But you only show up to stop two guys havin fun" O2: "Ya punks!" [Vav has snuck over to the obviously hidden 'stink bomb' and gags when he sees whats under the cover]

O2: "Ey!" [he smacks Vav with a cane] "gettaway from there" O1: "These two have no manners" O2: "they jus go touchin stuff that doesnt belong to them!" O1: "Well two can play at that game" [he moves towards Xray pointing at his glasses] "I want those" X : "How about I give you this instead" [he shoots a lazer at the old guy but it bounces off his walker] O1: "uh oh you shouldn't have done that" X : "oh yeah what if i do it again" [it really has the same result smart guy]

[Vav at the same time is dealing with.. a really slow old guy. and he dodges a punch an the old guy just keeps goin down and hits the ground] O2: "Ah! I'm hit thats it for me! [he tries to get up but just knocks himself over again] it's over for me I'm deadd. You killed me ya bastard" V : "I really didn--" O2: "this blood is on your handssss ohhh im goinnnn" [Vav backs off while the old man keeps slowly 'dying' to help out with Xray who's wrestling for his glasses from O1]

X : "Youre smudging up my glasses!" O1: "oh i'll do more than that" [he moves to take a lick at them] X : "no you dont!" [He punches the old man square in the jaw] O1: [catches himself on the walker] "you want a boxing match, i used ta have the belt ya know" [he lands a punch on xray who doesnt even flinch]

V : [Vav comes up from behind and pulls the old man away] O1: "No he's got me!" [he flails a bit but ineffectively to get out] "this is just like the 40s you cant stop all this" V : "We're sending you both back to the old folks home just stay there this time!" O1: "You'll never keep us caged! We'll always be ba-- Oh no is this a heart attack? Ma is that you in the light I'm-- I'm comin... comin to kick your dead ass" [and he's dead]

[Xray and Vav dump the old guys on an elderly bus they're used to dealing with these guys 'dying' and approach the stink bomb which is the stink jug but theres wires and stuff attached to supposedly detonate it] X: "Well I guess we'll have to deal with this" [he kicks the 'stink bomb' and Vav goes green] V: "I guess it'd be best to get it to Hilda she'll know how to get rid of it" X: "right lets go" [he starts walking leaving Vav to carry the barrel, poor vav]

I hope the notes after this make sense plot wise a lot of it was going to be explored deeper as we get drawing XDD ((also you get all my note writing jokes that i make to myself))

V = xray and vav / K = mad king / R  = rimmy tim / M = mogar

(V) - I need,, some basic everyday hero biz to start the story with - tIME TO THROW THE OLD MEN IN THERE (K) - He decides to try out his powers a lil test run ((around Hilda's lab)) - Xray and Vav crash the party ofc - He gets by them EASY slow mo can't do much against teleporting - He didn't have much of a goal for it but, now he knows he has the upper hand on Xray and Vav - He leaves victorious (V) - He gets the business end of a run in with ender ryan - What was that?? he can teleport?? - Well we have to figure something out! (R) - Rimmy Tim runs into Mad King - Which is wild! thought he was dead! - but he does have some weird ass shit going on (K) - Wow running into Rimmy Tim isnt that neat? - He pays no mind to the Battle Buddy (R) - Rimmy Tim is crashing at Jake's place ((to be relevant)) - He also meets Xray and Vav but nobody knows what his full deal is ((and theyre distracted from having they ass kicked))

(V) - Vav is the plan guy - They get intel that he has a weird power source - it gave him the powers so if they can figure it out maybe they can take them away! - We'll need to be stealthy boys... - MOGAR! - ask mogar for help, he distract while they sneak in and nab the gem (M) - The plan involves Mogar fighting Mad King up front - Mogar runs into Rimmy Tim and is suspicious of him (K) - Ofc he knew Xray and Vav would make a plan - Mogar comes to fight him aw they just decided to send a fwiend - Mad King is busy beating Mogar and doesn't notice that they got the gem ((Uh Oh! Plothole!)) (M) - They dont see him at the meeting place (K) - He Notices when he decides to experiment with it and tries out a lesser power source - Resulting in Zombie Mogar

(V) - They HAVE to find Mogar - poking around the outside for a sign of him they find his sword in the dumpster - thats,,, not good - its really heavy but if vav straps it to his back he can handle it - they wind up splitting up for any sign of Mogar (K) - Well if you're going to be rude about it - [teleports in the streets] - Have it your way do what you want - [and he leaves Mogar there] - when he teleports back Rimmy Tim is there and he quips ab how convenient tping is (R) - MK has him get rid of the new power source obviously a failure (V) - It gets dark but vav hears a noise in the alley - He finds Mogar! But he's eating something - Mogar growls and starts running at him - *british screaming* - As he BOOKS IT around a corner Xray runs into him and Vav just grabs his arm - NO TIME TO EXPLAIN - so what the plans just fucking run - oh wait thats Jake's van - *climbs in* wEHAVE TO GO HIT THE GAS - bro its a red light - iTS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THERES NO TRAFFIC JUST - Mogar jumps on the vAAAAAAAA - Thats enough to convince Jake she slams on the gas - " you guys are paying for any tickets i get"

((for context, Jake is my oc she has an ask blog that I was planning to use to be like in between she and rimmy tim are hanging out and you might find out things from interacting w her. But for character knowledge she’s an appliance installer that works with The Monarchy’s Servants. Which that is the company that installs the stuff that comes out of Monarch Labs. there was also a whole bit where she and rimmy tim would be hanging out and he’d be joking like oh do you ever go in like “ah m’lord!! is this installation to your liking thank you m’lord!!” and she’d goof back if he ever had a house for her to install shit in she’d do it just for him.

and for how Jake and Rimmy tim met it was at 3am dennys a few years ago and they been buds ever since))

(R) - Jake's checking on her van later and Rimmy Tim comes out to give a hand - and he asks what happened and she's shaking a lil - she just leaves it as hero biz as usual she thinks (V) - bloody hell we have to help mogar! - yeah what did Mad King do to him! - they gotta bait and catch him (R) - Jake gets a call from xray and vav asking for help getting mogar to a lab - Rimmy Tim tags along and gets to see Mogar (M) - Xray and Vav catch mogar and have him leashed in the lab - But?? Is he dangerous?? Can he contaminate others??

(R) - This is wrong - RYAN is wrong - Rimmy Tim,, Has to do something - discussion doesnt work, Ryan's just a wall discussion wise - theres no talking him out of anything he's too absorbed (V) - Mogar has good moments - reference the rotten flesh test w vav (K) - Rimmy Tim is getting increasingly worried ab him - Rimmy Tim mentions Mogar - Well it wasn't on PURPOSE - but yeah i did that - No, I don't particularly know how to reverse it (R) - Rimmy Tim tries talking hey what if we just did this partner like - Nothing can beat the battle buddies then this can all be done right? - Mad King brushes him off and tells him to stay out of his business - Ryan gets caught in the rain - He claws Rimmy's face oh no! his money maker! - Rimmy Tim decides enough is enough and leaves to help Xray and Vav fix this,,, fix him,,, (V) - They hear Mad King in the rain - hhhhh i dont want to deal with more monsterrrrssss - Rimmy Tim joins the team! - he explains his history with Mad King - and how he's worried - wORRIED LOOK WHAT HE'S DONE TO MOGAR - He digs out the lesser power source that was used on Mogar - THIS made THAT *points at Mogar* (K) - Mad King is bandaged and goes to sleep off the pain and *emotions* (gross) of the evening - as he drifts off instead of dreaming he finds himself seeing through Jeremy's damaged eye - He just sees xray and vav but he cant hear a word - needless to say he feel betrayed

(Finale leadup)

- they need a plan to catch MK - Xray and Vav decide to drill RT ab possible weaknesses - he doesnt have much to contribute though they havent worked together in years and he didnt have all this magic junk going on. - and all RT's seen of the magic junk is teleporting - Well have you seen his hideout? can you explain like layout or whats going on there - oh fuck yeah i guess that is intel lemme sketch it out

- Hilda is playing around with whats the difference between the gem they stole from MK and the one that RT says changed Mogar - Mayhaps after some experimentation gone wrong she figures they cant use the thing against him but need a device that'll remove that specific energy - so you know a SUCKING machine - While she's working so closely with this she starts having enderhilda dreams but like when she's awake shes like yeah thats neat but you aint caught my interest you dumb gem

- Wait RT if you and MK used to be in cahoots do you have any powers that can beat him? - I got guns we were guns for hire you know battle buddies - wot MK doesnt use guns he plays mind games - well yeah NOW he does he uh-- didnt have it all together after our last mission

(flashback)

- Battle buddies are cleaning up after a mission - they're both pretty angry like we wound up being the bad guys AGAIN how does this keep happening - RT agrees he's not a fan of dirty cash - MK comes to the conclusion if i controlled these sheeple nobody would be calling my shots and makin me do the wrong thing - come on ryan ya cant control people thats wrong - whats a little more blood on my hands if it means making things better on the whole - and MK winds up leaving the battle buddies :C

(Finale)

- Hilda comes in like hey i got your guys's sucking machine go suck off mad king or whatever - and vavs like Alright! lets make a plan lads! - then we go to MK - he can see them coming, he's gotten practice watching through RT's eyes - he gets the machine from them as theyre barely through the door - "well I was curious what this would do but what does it matter anyways" - and he's got like some full ender shadow clones to help with the fight and they all pair off ((not like an army literally just enough to pair off MK dont need an army to beat these guys)) - the real MK personally faces off RT though :) - RT "why do i get the real ryan why couldnt you face off with like vav or something" - MK "im curious if you could shoot me 'buddy'" - RT "well I doubt i'll do something but i do owe you one ;)" and he do shoot him but yeah the bullets are stopped and do nothing - MK "I do hope you brought something else if youre turning against the MAD KING you have best be prepared" - RT "what can i say" [drops gun] "I stick to my guns" [throw punch]

- but yeah after the fighting and witty dialogue clears it looks like MK do have the upper hand - RT was left bleeding out ((stabbed through with pointy fingers oooo MK got his blood literally on his hands)) - While MK is monologuing RT sneaks into the bathroom which MK pauses mid monologue when he sees a flash of RT's bloody hand reaching for the showerhead - cant believe that fuck - and RT comes out and hoses him down ((yes it reaches that far LOOK its got a long hose)) - then MK's on the ground fucking sizzling - vav's like oh right! and jumps up to get the sucking machine and they use it on MK

(epilogue)

- Jake drops RT off where they got MK locked up and shes like "do what u gotta do man" and RT's like "thanks for understanding bud" - and he gets in MK shifts to look at him - RT starts to apologize for ruining his plan but gets interrupted as MK says "you were right" - which is a SHOCKING thing to hear from that guy - and mad king is like "thank you" - and we end on "anytime buddy."

so that was my plot I havent been kidding when I said it was a long comic plan. Its been heartbreaking to have this whole thing ripped from me but I can’t tell a story about friendship w a manipulator. 

I’m not sure how long it’ll be until I actually get another thing started but I hope its soon because I was very excited to share a good long story with the xray and vav fandom and I thought this plot wouldve been like a good season worth of content

I had some draws tagged under “#its all connected” and they were all me working on this idea before I actually decided to write it out and try for a whole comic after being inspired by some close friends and the good at being bad animation collab

[knightofbalance-13]

HOLD IT!

https://sokumotanaka.tumblr.com/post/162989658394/friendly-reminder-that-selfish-asshole-jaune-arc

Halt!

I, Knight Of Balance, retired RWDE counter lawyer, have re-entered the fray!

Why?

because of the slander against the innocent Jaune Arc, my friend, @mageknight14, against Miles and Kerry!

case... RE-OPEN!

-Despite getting blackmailed into throwing sap at his friends (if he didn’t, he would be forced to give up his dream) by an asshole, still didn’t throw the sap at his friends and stood up to Cardin. A typical bully arc seen a billion times, speaking of blackmail jaune snuck into beacon which forging and sneaking into places your unqualified for is a crime; and we’re never given a reason. If blake a person who went from heist to literally beacon and several orphans can also get in then why didn’t he just join the academy? There’s virtually no point to him forging documents if blake can literally walk in.

HOLD IT!

First off: The bully arc comment has nothing to with the discussion at hand! this si just slander against Miles Luna And Kerry Shawcross!

Second: It is ever said that forging transcripts for Beacon is a crime! And even if it did, there is NOTHING that counters the argument about the blackmail.

Third: Blake was surprised by the fact that Ozpin knew she was in the White Fang despite the fact that her own FATHER was the former leader, meaning she deliberately hid that fact. Meaning she did in fact at least falsify her transcripts so this argument is invalid.

Didn’t put Pyrrha on a pedestal and treated her like a person and a friend instead of a celebrity. OBJECTION! I’d argue nobody but weiss did that and ene then it was only for her own selfish gain, every other character didn’t even seem to aknowledge her status nor did anyone at the tournament despite being from the four corners of remnant Not one pyrrha fan in the bunch? Suspicious don’t you think? Because they writing didn’t convey her status expect among five characters those being weiss, ozpin, qrow, ironwood and gynda. Nice try MK

HOLD IT!

Pyrrha herself outright admits in Volume 2 Episode 7, as seen here (https://youtu.be/0-f-mGvOba8?t=3m17s) that people in the PAST held her up on a pedestal and Jaune didn’t do it the instant he saw her, ergo he treaded her as a normal person out right. This also means that by meeting her through Jaune, a completely normal guy, they wouldn’t treat her that way!

But!

Soku has directly attacked Miles and Kerry twice now! This is proof that he doesn’t care about the facts and simply interrupting everything as a way to attack them , AKA confirmation bias. I submit two more pieces of evidence that support this (https://sokumotanaka.tumblr.com/post/162989670704/barbara-dunkelman-i-just-think-its-a-show-that / https://sokumotanaka.tumblr.com/post/162989666784/lindsay-jones-theres-a-lot-of-vibrancy-in-the ). And as we shall see that is the case as we continue!

-Offered Ruby a helping hand when they first met and became her first friend at Beacon. Yes after ruby offered him a helping hand; it’s common for most to extend their hands after they do the same to you; this is a good point.  But nobody gets brownie points for doing something they’re suppose to do in a school where teamwork is a priority.

OBJECTION!

That is not the point of the post! The point of the post is to show Jaune arc is not an asshole, not that he should be rewarded for common things. The mere fact that Jaune acts like a decent human being is proof he is not an asshole!

This is yet again another case fo confirmation bias on Soku’s part!

-Saves said asshole from getting mauled by a Ursa. And said ursa targeted him as well, yes he may have helped but again doing the thing you’re suppose to do in said school doesn’t earn you brownie points,  And in the end it was more of a thing about pride to him. Sad cause that could have been a great character moment.

OBJECTION!

That is a direct lie! As shown in Episode 14 (https://youtu.be/PS9huFMmSoc?t=1m34s) the Ursa outright avoid Jaune to go after Cardin: he was never in danger. And considering how hated Cardin is for his bullying and racism, the same cannot be said of everyone that they would save him. I would argue both Nora and Blake would leave him to fend it off then help him if he were to die. And again, this is not the point of the post, this is yet another example of Soku moving the goalposts to suit his own desires.  And there is no indication that this was a pride thing: In fact, if Jaune were prideful, he’d leave cardin to the Ursa as revenge for ruining his pride.

As evidence by Soku’s last statement, this si yet another attack on the writers, showing more confirmation bias as he lies and willfully misinterupts the scene to suit his narrative.

-Realized how selfishly he was acting during Jaundice and owned up to it and apologized to Pyrrha. That’s actually a good point but need again I bring up you don’t get brownie points for doing something you’re suppose to. Like being a decent human isn’t something you should get pat on the back for you should have the common sense not to be an ass. You could learn from this MK

OBJECTION!

That is the point: jaune is not an asshole. He is a decent human being. What Soku is doing is trying to change the subject in order to achieve a victory!

But since he sees this fit, so shall I: Soku has displayed signs of Psychopathic behavior in calling everyone who disagrees with him a racist, a sexist and a homophobe eve if they are victims of these there things, spreads slander about a person, lies to suit his own needs and has even suicide baited before. If this is a case of morality, then I demand that Soku be judged on these accounts as well!

-Despite being jealous of Neptune, encourages him to be himself and to ask Weiss to dance. He lectures him for not asking weiss out, and this is after constantly creepying on her for several scenes even going as far to say he’d stop being weird if she opened the door and then said  “I lied.” stalking and creeping is a real fucking issuse and using it as a point of humor is in bad taste. Sorry but jaune gets no sympathy from me.

OBJECTION!

From Soku’s pharsing, it would imply that Jaune did the same thing to Weiss but worse so this is manipulative wording. “Creeping” is not a word and Jaune is not shown to have obsessive behavior over Weiss aside from your average love struck teen, especially seeing as he would use possessive tones toward Weiss when the lecture he in facts gives Neptune is over using Weiss and not atking her feelings into account like any friend would. (https://youtu.be/0-f-mGvOba8?t=4m31s) Again, this is a lie.

To expand on the stalking subject as it will come up later, Stalking is defined and determined as such by legal dictionary: “Stalking is a distinctive form of criminal activity composed of a series of actions that taken individually might constitute legal behavior. For example, sending flowers, writing love notes, and waiting for someone outside her place of work are actions that, on their own, are not criminal. When these actions are coupled with an intent to instill fear or injury, however, they may constitute a pattern of behavior that is illegal.“ Since Jaune’s intent was not to instill fear or injury onto Weiss, he was not, in fact, stalking.

Also: Of Soku ahs no sympathy for Jaune. He has psychopathic tendencies: they have no sympathy for anyone aside from themselves.

-Wears a dress (keep in mind that he said he would do so if Pyrrha didn’t get a date to the dance as a JOKE) to cheer up Pyrrha and dances with her. There is no good or bad outcome to this.

OBJECTION!

The post is about Jaune not being an asshole and by going this far to keep a joking promise to Pyrrha to cheer her up shows that he is not an asshole. That is why this is relevant.

-When Pyrrha was feeling down about the Maiden affair, tries his best to understand what is going on and to be encouraging and comforting to her (granted, he didn’t know what was going on and Pyrrha accidentally slams him into a wall, but still). Need I say it again?

What he needs to do is show that jaune is in fact an asshole, which he has yet to do without lying and misinterepting facts.

-Despite Pyrrha slamming him into a wall, still shows up to her and Penny’s tournament round to support her. Well ren and nora ask him too it’s not a matter of akwardness it’s just being a leader; I mean wow jaune showed up what a good person to show up when all the other members of your team also show up?

That’s the point: Jaune is a decent person: that is what the post is arguing. it never said he was exceptional for doing this: just not bad.

After Pyrrha breaks down after accidentally killing Penny and as a result, doesn’t notice a Nevermore about to attack, rushes into the battlefield in order to get her out of the way, with no thought or worry for himself. Again everyone did this as well, doing your job and rescuing a teammate in danger is not something you should get patted on the back for, espeically when several people do the same thing.

Same point here, along with evidence showing he is, in fact, changing the topic at hand to suit his own needs.

-After Cinder’s speech and watching Pyrrha being incredibly torn up over her accidental murder of Penny, he and Ruby immediately assure her that it wasn’t her fault and that Cinder was to blame for this. A obvious thing to do, epsecially after ruby started doing it.

And the right thing to do as well, proving his point and therefore disproving yours.

-Realizing that he won’t be able to make it to Pyrrha in time, he immediately calls Ruby and Weiss to go to her and help. After ozpin tells him to call gynda and him and pyrrha stand there watching, doing nothing until he just disappears. Yes calling for help is great but disobeying a headmaster in disstress? A poor display of leadership, smarts to call both and potentially putting both ruby and weiss in danger? Good call indeed.

HOLD IT!

One: this is a case of morality, not jaune’s leadership skills.

Two: Jaune was obviously emotionally distressed when he called them (https://youtu.be/hq1lk-QWxNg?t=5m31s) thus is not in the right state of mind and thus showing bais against Mr. Arc.

Three: Jaune was never told that. Pyrrha was. (https://youtu.be/pT1XiUbJu_Y?t=15m33s) jaune ahd been knocked by Cnder several seconds before so he was still recovering and didn’t hear Ozpin Even so, Pyrrha never told him to get ahold of anyone. So this is yet another lie.

-Still keeps a recording of Pyrrha helping him train so all the work and effort she put into believing in him doesn’t go to waste. I mean that’s not an example of being nice as it is mourning and sadness.

OBJECTION!

An asshole would be glaring and cursing Pyrrha for leaving him: Since Jaune did not, he is not an asshole.

-Despite not liking Qrow, still helps Ruby carry him around when he was poisoned and brings him to safety out of the Nuckalevee’s way. After literally berating her uncle who showed up to save her after jaune didn’t even make an attempt; jaune literally dislike him because despite Qrow being kind of a dick he’s overall a better person and blames him for something he had no part in.  

HOLD IT!

Qrow pressured Pyrrha into becoming a Maiden which is what Jaune called him out on. And the only things Jaune ahs been accused of is being misgyonistic, which Qrow himself fits by his standards when he talked a bar maid’s skirt. So they are equal at that point and with Qrow’s self admit dickishness, Qrow is lower than Jaue on the morality pole. Thus this statement is both a lie and invalid.

uplifting speech about how despite Ruby witnessing Pyrrha’s death along with losing Penny, Team RWBY, and to a certain extent, Yang, she keeps pressing forward, and that gave them the courage to keep pressing forward, while playing down his own loss. A scene where ruby should have expressed said feelings of pain and loss rather than have them talked to at her, he plays up his loss with the sad training, berating qrow for something ozpin did infront of ruby this is a man she loves and he shits on him for reasons and things he was just for the lack of a better term barely within earshot of.

Ruby did in fact express feelings of pain and loss was expressing self loathing, self doubt and self guilt but instead focused on the condition and safety of team JN_R, balming herself for their misfortunes which at that point jaune stops her, recalls everything she’s lost, shows her that she kept moving them forward and that she should put herself down. (https://youtu.be/QjBtT4uCWpI?t=9m13s) This is yet another direct lie.

Just like the accusation jaune berated Qrow in that segment which, as the links I shall provide here (https://youtu.be/QjBtT4uCWpI?t=3m57s / https://youtu.be/QjBtT4uCWpI?t=8m47s) show he did no such thing.

In the space of one argument, he has lied twice now just to make Mr. Arc look bad.

You see the reason people say jaune is a dick is because how he progresses through the story. He stalks and annoys weiss despite her wanting nothing to do with him. Ignores pyrrha when she introduces herself and once weiss is in his arms completely forgets the fact that pyyrha is in danger with a grimm chasing her and doesn’t even attempt to tell anyone.

Jaune was introduced flying into Ruby and jumped in to try and stop Weiss from falling on the hard ground. This all happened right AFTER Pyrrha and the deathstalker appear. (https://youtu.be/ctiDu69kIho?t=1m57s)

Despite earlier talking about wanting to be a hero and wanting to help people has several opportunities to do so and just watches this happen like the velet scene despite this contridicting his established characterization.

As did the entirety of RWBY and JNPR: However, unlike jaune who si weaker than cardin and due to his bullying is an apologist for him, they are all at least as strong as Cardin (especially Yang, Pyrrha and ironically Velvet herself.) Also, in schools, it is not the bully who gets punished in that situation, it is the one who retaliated and so Jaune would gotten his ass kicked and gotten in trouble.

Sleeps in class and doesn’t bother studying; Need I remind you this is a place people have to work their asses off to get in and he’s neglecting any form of bettering himself

OBJECTION!

Two episodes prior, Ruby herself is sleeping in class and I have yet to see you call her out as well. (https://youtu.be/-E6aeUjfBCM?t=3m5s) and so you only choose toc all out Jaune because he is Jaune. Also: this is not a moral thing so it is irrelevant.

Gets pissed off when a strong talented huntsman offers her help in training despite him literally needing it cause as ruby said “You’re a leader now jaune.” but acts like a spoiled brat and refuses help, studying etc to the point of actually bring his team down because of such.  you know those group projects everyone hates where if one jerk doesn’t attempt anything you all fail cause it’s a group project? Jaune is being that guy.

May I ask if there is proof of such a group project is during Jaune’s time like that? because as of EPisode 14, Jaune no longer displays this tendency. (https://youtu.be/PS9huFMmSoc?t=4m36s) In fact, Jaune himself says exactly what you do and promises to never do this again, which he has not.

Literally continues stalking weiss and gets jealous/petty whe she likes someone else.

HOLD IT!

As I have proven before, jaune’s anger was not out fo pettiness towards Neptune but rather because he hurt Weiss for rejecting her for seeminly no reason.

Just as well, I have proven Jaune was not stalking Weiss as well due to a lakc of malicious intent.

And the statement is also a lie: Pyrrha never outright asked out Jaune, unlike Weiss. And this also implies it was okay for Neptune to do that but not Jaune.

Decides to completely derail a fight because he wants to yell ship names going as far as to snap at a person who literally reminds him of such.

Derailing a fight is not a moral issue and there are no rules against what jaune was doing, just weird. (https://youtu.be/RzEo0F8thL4?t=4m51s)

Pyrrha again is making advances on him during their alone time and jaune never breaks it off when it would be easier to say “I just don’t have these feelings for you.” than lead the poor girl on.

HOLD IT!

Jaune is obviously incapable of seeing that Pyrrha was interested in him going as far back as the dance arc (https://youtu.be/0-f-mGvOba8?t=4m) And thus making the assumption he’s stringing her along purposefully is not only false but is shifting the blame from Pyrrha who should have asked him out if she wa sthat serious!

In the middle of ruby saying it’s not your fault decides to cut her off so he can have a speech.

because he wants to make a point know: Yang, Blake, Pyrrha and Qrow have all done it.

Is told to watch amber if he wants to help pyrrha ignores the order after said headmaster trusted him to guard her and indirectly hands the maiden powers to cinder.

HOLD IT!

Jaune did in fact stand guard (https://youtu.be/pT1XiUbJu_Y?t=12m18s) only breaking when Pyrrha cried out, thus showing concern for his best friend. (https://youtu.be/pT1XiUbJu_Y?t=14m17s) By this logic, it’s Ozpin’s fault because his job was done, he was closer to Amber and he should have faster reflexes: If Ozpin can’t stop the arrow, neither Jaune or anyone short of an experienced Huntsman could.

When the headmaster tells him to call glynda him and pyrrha stare at the battle and don’t even bother reaching into their pockets.

Again, Pyrrha was told that, not jaune. the responsibility goes to him since he was recovering when he said that. Not jaune’s fault Pyrrha didn’t call.

Then jaune calls pyrrha and ruby two inexperienced hunters to help fight off a person with powerful maiden powers???

A Prodegy and her partner in a time he was not in the right state of mind.

Vol. 4 Starts off with him idiotically  claiming one of his strategies as “hitting it harder.” while also running around with no weapons/defenses making him an actual detriment to the team, when he could sit back and still give orders or if he so smart set up traps or something.

1. The team said he should go with no weapons (https://youtu.be/IZKpkzPIRlw?t=9m52s) 2. Limited supplies and no experiences in traps and 3. He detailed his plan and reasoning. (https://youtu.be/IZKpkzPIRlw?t=11m39s)

Also, by this logic, Ruby is an asshole for making the Geist’s arm catch fire and make it more dangerous. So this shows more bias against Jaune.

Despite not knowing who pyrrha is has sent in enough box tops to get a hoodie which makes no sense.

Actually, eh recognized her FROM the box (https://youtu.be/H09KTtyElWQ?t=4m) Just not in person, which happens in real life as well.

Gripes at ruby for not knowing how long the trip would take despite their original plan being taking a airship and not again remembering she’s a child with a power to go fast.

1. The airship was in the first destroyed village (https://youtu.be/IZKpkzPIRlw?t=16m49s) and Ruby’s Semblance can only hold herself and takes Aura to use, thus leaving her vunerable to attack.

Instead of taking pyrrha’s armor to her family people who’d probably want it he melted it down (with no regard for ren/nora) into his own armor. Classy.

Pyrrha had to have armor at her house in Mistral as well as all her mementos from before Jaune.

Drops the map instead of…putting it away like a good strategist would do.

As does Ruby, who holds the same title, because of the shock of seeing the destroyed village. (https://youtu.be/rHjUHnG7WOQ?t=4m28s)

When ren talks about this city being apart of his past and how he lost his family jaune decides to say “it’s creepy let’s get out of here.”

Grimm are attracted to areas of great disasters, as shown in Volume 2 with Mountain Glem.

Despite coming to a town he’s never been to talks about how he hates/is tired of losing everything.  Yet is content to sit there and watch ruby get shanked after saying that; jaune would not sit there (more on this in a bit.)

Tyrian single handedly destroyed Nora, Ren and Ruby, all three of whom are magnitudes stronger than him: he’ fight Tyrian, die, and have Ruby grieve even more while STILL getting caught by Tyrian. It would mean nothing and Jaune’s expression shows so.

After her uncle saves her life and risk his, the family she loves dearly berates him as I said because of a choice ozpin makes….after saving all their lives…berates him for a semblance that makes no sense (If miles says semblance takes aura then how could people have passive one’s without their aura depleting???)

That Qrow supported, pressured Pyrrha in and about a subject that is sensitive to him. Also, this shows bias against Miles as you complain about it now but not in the Ruby example.

Idiotically when ruby states “they’ll be okay.” decides to be pessimistic knowing it will attract grimm.

Ruby acts over naïve and lets her guard down not to mention the fact that you ignore this in the Tyrian example seeing as this would attract MORE Grimm to RNJR.

See the problem is how contidictory his character is, he wants to be a hero yet refuses to better himself even for his team and it’s not until so real coaxing does that set in cause he’d not be only telling himself down but his team.

Argument is about whether or not jaune is an asshole, not his overall character. Not only that, there is justification for hs actions when you aren’t directly lying about it. And that second line shows that he isn’t an asshole by your own words because an asshole would be self absorbed whereas Jaune is being selfless. Also there is no proof Jaune is not trying, a least, no less than Ruby who has the same motivation.

Despite being a “tactician” has only did three things. -yell pyrrha (and these people he never met suddenly do a team attack??) -Say we hit it harder.” Despite again nora about to do that and their being several ways to prove his smarts otherwise. -Telling the people who are already circling the creature to circle it.

1. They both look at the stinger and at each other, understanding each other. (https://youtu.be/ctiDu69kIho?t=8m52s)

2. Already disproved this

3. Only ren was, the others where not.

And when he wants to be a good person or wants to genuinly do something it’s shutdown by an action jaune would never do, you said so yourself he ran out to pyrrha and stated in vol. 4 he was tired of losing everything yet didn’t even attempt to help ruby which just isn’t jaune; he’d try something; anything.

Excpet Pyrrha did that exact same thing and died and grief, y your own admission, attracts Grimm so even if he could help her, he’d just be making her life worse by dying.

It blows when a character wants to be good but is constantly bogged down by by writing making his kind of an asshole, so yes he’s an asshole  with a moodswing by my and many diagnostics.

All of which are based on lying, misinformation and misintereptation.

Because we pay attention to the events that happen; no one is making up him being an asshole espeically not such a large portion of people.

Actually yes, you are. Unlike me who ahs given links to support his debunking, you do not which shows you know you’re full of it and refuse to show proof because it would contradict you.

It’s not rational thinking, jaune is a contrasting character and people and like him but dislike where he’s going and his actions just like any other character; I hope you’ll put some thought into that.

Actually, everytime this comes up, it ahs been lies and misinformation just like here: if you are right, show your proof and don’t lie. I have conclusively proven that the hatred are Mr. Arc is founded only on bias, lies, misinformation and misinterptation . This post is proof.

You have shown to lie, show bias against jaune and the writers, misinform and misinetrupt at every twists and turn to the point that every compliant you have lobbied here has been debunked.

Until next time; Case closed!

Yes, it is. And you have been found guilty of misinformation, bias, misrepresentation, moving goalposts and lying. So I think you should take this into account: If you must lie to sell your narrative, you’re probably wrong.

[attract-mode-collective]

Of Course Dr. Mario Has A Storyline, What Kind Of A Dumb Question Is That?

Yes, it’s true. It’s even in the instruction manual! Though the latest video from Gaijillionaire details the storyline in the manga adaptation of Dr Mario, is something that was dreamt up by the comickers at Bonbon.

I’m not sure what I like more: how it somewhat connects to Super Mario Land (well its manga adaptation at least) or the explanation as to why the pills fall so slowly in-game. That and all the bits & pieces that would appear in Mario titles many years down the road; I do believe it is plausible that Miyamoto may have gotten some ideas from the manga.

On a semi-related note, a couple of mini storybooks based upon early Famicom titles popped up on Yahoo Auctions. They’re no longer active, but thankfully uwagoto was able to save the pics (here and here)…

I really hope, as one of the cover implies, Donkey Kong Jr and one of the fish from Balloon Fight actually teams up against the Balloon Fighter and Bubbles from Clu Clu Land.

And why the hell not; here we have another Mario related vid this early into the proceedings, but one on the opposite end of the spectrum. There’s a brand new series that I dig, called Low Poly, which tracks the evolution of a character model from game to game. And the first installment, based upon Mario (obviously), is perhaps my favorite thus far. Cuz I had long assumed that Mario hasn’t changed all that much, past his GameCube. Well, I was wrong…

insertdisc5 states: “i started thinking about a zelda game where link and ganondorf are childhood friends and gave myself Intense Feels”…

Here we have my first fave piece of Persona fan art (the first of many to come, no doubt), by averykua…

Also via Avery Kua, from her homepage, is this very nice looking arcade stick…

Here’s the artwork in full, btw…

Back to my mai latest P5 waifu; the very first Futaba figure has been revealed!

The best part about is how she comes with interchangeable parts, which means she you can take her jacket off and even have her pose with Morgana…

It also hasn’t taken long for someone to produce a pair based upon the protagonist’s glasses. Which I thought about getting, but as my buddy @ducktastic pointed out, they’re not the most flattering looking frames IRL, at least not as nice as ones based upon P4. Though for anyone else interested, you can pre-order a pair via National Console Support…

My pal @vitaminsteve passed along this tweet, by someone that’s “really close to starting an IG dedicated to the living situations of wrestling fans. it's fucking fascinating.” Included is this image of a guy with a ton of replica wrestling belts (you non-wrestling fans have NO IDEA how much each only one can sometimes cost), and also a Sega Saturn Bomberman multitap…

Oh, and here’s what the multitap looks like when its full potential has been reached (via @Cure_makopi)…

Back to wrestling; was just listening to Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard, aka my current fave podcast, and a recent episode mentioned the indoor Sega Saturn blimp, a staple of mid 90s WWF PPVs. And which coincidentally just appeared in my feed (was originally posted by laser-lobotomy)…

BTW, the game Battle Monsters was also brought up in that same episode, multiple times.

Kotaku recently passed along some tweets from folks in Japan that noticed that the windows at a shopping mall there looks like DS game cards…

Another neat thing that Kotaku picked up from Twitter users in Japan that you might have missed is this story about a kid who wanted a Switch so bad that he made a one out of cardboard…

And while his son was taking a bath, dad places the real thing inside…

As always, the @CoolBoxArt Twitter feed continues to deliver…

BTW, am assuming the reason why Kyle passed along to me the intro to the PSone version of UNO is cuz the Saturn version’s cover was shared earlier today...

Whereas @GoodBoyGraphics recently shared a flyer for Attack Animal Gakuen…

The actual art on the cart is quite different, yet also quite the same, and overall quite nice…

FYI, the lead from the game is the school from the bazooka you previous saw here.

Speaking of girls with guns, and also food, cuz I’m hungry as I’m writing this; byronb states: “BurgR. Va inspired by the D.Va references coming from Wendy’s and Arby’s”…

Please enjoy this scene from the arcade by crisalys…

Which do you prefer; this woman whose arms is wrapped around a MSX (via potetoboy)…

Or this snake wrapped around a GBC (via scale-punk)…

While on the subject of the Game Boy Color, here we This Does Not Compute, which addressing one of classic gaming’s great white whales yet again: a GBC with a backlit screen. Unlike with other models of the Game Boy, you can’t mod the factory-installed screen for such a thing, for reasons that has been explained already. Hence why the appearance of the dream mod that appeared on a Chinese shopping site was such a big deal to those in the know. Colin tried to get ahold of one and… thus we have this 20-minute long video!

Which animated gif from a not so popular third installment of fighting franchise do you dig the most? This one from Virtua Fighter 3 (via lvrllnd)…

Or this one, from Street Fighter EX3 (via vgjunk)…

And which animated gif from a game that I’m pretty sure you’ve never heard of appeals to you the most? This moment captured from Akatsuki Denko Senki/Akatsuki Blitzkampf (via kazucrash)…

Or this equally frantic and perplexing moment from Hard Head 2 (via obscurevideogames)…

One more question, for now at least: which part of part of Sega 3D Classics’ ending do you prefer? The part in which Ecco the Dolphin steals the car from OutRun…

Or when the pterodactyl from Ecco steals it (both via grooveonfight)…

Hey look, Asteroid cookies (via it8bit)…

Speaking of arcade classics, perhaps everyone’s aware of my affinity for TNT Amusements’s informercials? The first one I ever covered was for GameSetWatch over a ten years ago(!!!), then a bit more recently, I passed along an earlier example when the Attract Mode blog was still powered by WordPress. Well, turns out, there’s yet another infomercial, one that predates even those two efforts! Which was recently uploaded to the TNT YouTube channel, with the bonus commentary. Alas, much like how the second one isn’t quite as strong as the third and final masterpiece, the first attempt is rough around the edges; Todd hadn’t developed his comedic chops, but hey, we all have to start somewhere and it all starts here…

According to actionfigureinsider.com…

“BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., the creator and publisher of the ubiquitous PAC-MAN, is bringing back the nostalgic, iconic art of PAC-MAN in the form of a new Style Guide called “PAC-MAN Retro”. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment worked with a team of in-house designers to expertly create the new style guide, which is comprised of a series of evocative artwork styles from the 80s that catapulted the game into one of the highest grossing licensing brands in history.”

Here’s apparently an excerpt from the style guide. Basically, for those of us who have been patiently waiting for a toy based upon Pac-Man, back when he had red eyes, our day might finally be here…

Meanwhile, miki800.com tells us that the Arthur from Ghosts ‘n Goblins figure I first showed off nearly a year ago is finally almost here (there’s even an additional face, with the Pac-Man-looking eyes)…

Though is Ghosts ‘n Goblins too mainstream for you? I get it; I too prefer something more off the beat path as well. Hence why I too am interested in these Wings of Wor figures also (via mendelpalace)…

Check out these absolute stunning models by Kow Yokoyama, for the original Super Famicom release of Front Mission, that Video Game Densetsu gathered up (you can see everything here and here)…

Oh, and to prove that I’m not only about toys and models based upon old Japanese games, here’s a wonderful assortment of Killer Queen figures that was spotted over at the Killer Queen NYC FB page…

Am pretty sure this rather curious ad that has oldgamemags perplexed is for Ubisoft’s very early Mario Kart clone, Street Racer. It’s also reason #175,932 why the recently leaked Mario + Rabbids is hardly a shock to my system at least…

And here’s reason #275,853 why I love Mortal Kombat so much (via angyspaulding)…

Plus reason #275,854, and yet another long ass video; courtesy of mysterious0bob comes an hour long vid of glitched finishing moves from a MK rom hack that’s bucking at every single seem. It’s… truly something else. It’s also hard to say what my absolute favorite part is, though the 39:30 mark is just one of many in which things become legitimately high art…

These GameCenter CX screencaps are pretty relevant to me, especially since I recently turned 40 and am officially middle aged, though I’m not too out-of-shape I’d like to think (via starbornkit)…

And finally, here we have some images by Filip Hodas (via retrogamerblog)…

… Which remind me of the cover to that zine I’M STILL WORKING ON I SWEAR TO GOD…

… Though here we have an interesting opinion from SlimeGirls…

Don’t forget: Attract Mode is now on Medium! There you can subscribe to keep up to date, as well as enjoy some “best of” content you might have missed the first time around, plus be spared of the technical issues that’s starting to overtake Tumblr.