#up pcs j 2018

[beautifulpersonpeach]

Happy Festa BPP! Is this something ppl do? Wish Festa like holiday? Ta! Happy Festa anyway!!

Don't know if you've said this before but how did you become army?

***

Hi Anon,

Honestly, no. I don't think wishing people Happy Festa is a thing within ARMY... People reminisce and all that but actually sending wishes, not really. But it's a nice gesture so I appreciate you sharing that festive energy with me.

All the Festas are sweet but something about a 10-year anniversary evokes strong memories. It's been a wild ride.

I've talked about how I became ARMY many times, but I can give an abridged version here.

I watched BTS's debut showcase No More Dream for the first time, some time in August 2013 but I don't remember which day exactly. I had heard about BTS by that point, (a lot of people had, which was unusual for a group from a small company and further shows how strong an impression they made at debut), but I didn't get around to actually watching their stuff till August.

I felt they were strong performers but had no other real opinion about them, and kinda forgot about them for a year, till their Dark & Wild comeback in August 2014.

After that album comeback, I consistently kept up with BTS but didn't really think of myself as a fan. The way I engaged with k-pop was to check out several groups I was interested in, sometimes go to their comeback shows if I was in Korea, attend KCON concerts, read Korean forums, etc. Like a fan of many groups but a stan of none, if that makes sense. So, I sort of watched BTS from the sidelines in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Throughout this time, I realized I loved every new musical output from them more than the previous one. It was clear they were improving not just their songwriting, production, exploring more genres, etc, but that they had a very distinct voice - a consistent message in their storytelling that seemed to come from their own lived experiences, for all seven members. Executed at the highest level. And that was something I had never, ever seen in k-pop or anywhere else really.

Of course, during this time, their fame, fortune, and success multiplied as well. And the latent animosity I'd observed since debut towards BTS from the wider k-pop fandom, just became more overt the more BTS became successful. That mess with EXO fans and the Blue House was particularly disgusting and soured my opinion on most fans of SM groups and the wider k-pop fandom. But by 2018, when it was clear BTS's rise was definitely stratospheric and already beyond the realm of k-pop, the gloves were off. The hostility became extremely blatant to the point k-pop stans were working with real life neo-nazis to physically assault Japanese ARMYs who were attending a concert, they were spam calling Japanese newspapers and Jewish foundations in America to put out a statement condemning BTS, and asking for the American government to blacklist BTS.

It was bonkers.

Sulli had ended her life just before the hate campaign against BTS hit a fever pitch in Fall 2018. I liked her a lot and her death shifted something in me - it made me re-evaluate my distanced, detached almost apathetic approach to k-pop beyond the music, especially regarding hate campaigns from k-pop stans that used to run completely unchecked and only escalated and became more sophisticated especially when the target was someone who broke against the norm. So, I linked up with some J-ARMY friends and we spent a weekend coordinating with local Japanese police to track down some k-pop stans working with neo nazis to assault BTS and ARMYs, and by the end of November 2018, I was calling myself an ARMY.

Nothing has really changed since then compared to how I was a fan of BTS before. Except that now, I buy their albums more consistently (it was kinda more sporadic / spontaneous before). I've never been a collector so I don't really care about PCs and what not. I educated myself on charts and fandom norms, and started watching more of their non-music content. I was already very familiar with their personalities and interpersonal quirks (jikook has stood out to me since 2015, yoonmin, namgi, namseok, and sope since 2014, and taekook since 2016 or so), but since 2018 I've found myself enjoying more of their auxiliary content though it's still not something I seek out (I still haven't watched SOOP 2 for example, lol).

Most of my friendships with fans of other k-pop groups I've maintained till now, and I still check out almost every new release in the industry when I have the time, and becoming a fan of BTS has been wonderful.

The ARMY community gets a lot of flack, like all big fandoms do, but there's a real community of genuine and smart people here that I appreciate. BTS has never disappointed me - and I had to really think before writing down that sentence. This industry is harsh, cruel. BTS had to navigate channels no k-pop group or Korean artist has had to before, they've single-handedly elevated an entire industry into the social consciousness of the wider world, and are still holding on to their relentless drive and sense of wonder.

These seven men are remarkable. They're some of the hardest workers I've ever seen. Fully dedicated to their craft and their team, artists and performers in every sense of the word. I thoroughly enjoy being a fan of the music they make, and supporting their growth as artists and people.

Happy Festa everyone! I'm treating myself to Taro ice cream topped with pistachio nuts today to celebrate. Maybe we should make this some kind of holiday lol.

[apple-pecan]

Marvel's Spider-Man (2018)

admittedly, i've been pretty apathetic about playstation's IPs since around the early 2010's. a lot of their dozens of good franchises like parappa, jak & daxter, sly cooper, and wild arms have been put to pasture solely so they can milk last of us for all it's worth, and maybe throw some other series like god of war and gran turismo a bone every now and then. i played a lot of third party games on the ps4 but rarely would i bother with any of sony's offerings.

however, one fateful day, sony announced "we're going to publish a spider-man game inspired by the absolutely GOATed PS2 Spider-Man 2. it's gonna be a PS4 exclusive, and we're having the ratchet and clank devs make it" and my instant reaction was "... yeah you fucking BET im buying that shit". i got it close to release but unfortunately for my insufferable weeb self, Dragon Quest XI came out a few days earlier on the same fucking week and i ultimately put way more time into that game and barely touched Spider-Man. 5 years later, with the """remastered""" version on PS5, i set out to rectify that and i am very glad i did.

think of the aforementioned treyarch PS2 game and imagine that with a way WAY higher budget, and you essentially have this game. it starts off with a bang as you immediately web swing your way through new york city to storm fisk tower and put a stop to kingpin. a very fun first impression, and once it's over you can just swing all over new york with some really fun movement; i know when i first got this game i spent most of my time with it just moving around from building to building, it was that much fun.

combat is essentially arkham combat, which was the style at the time, especially for super-hero games, but it feels more tuned up and engaging than what that would usually imply; my favorite thing to do is to air launch enemies and combo their pathetic asses in mid air like im playing MvC. ah, the good old days. sometimes you have to use stealth to progress, but they've made it ass simple so you wouldn't get frustrated, and in most cases it's entirely optional...

...except for the periodic times where you have to play as MJ during the main story. and maybe miles morales too. these are much slower sections where you have to sneak around enemies and distract them to get to the goal, and if one sees you, it's an instant game over. these missions aren't my favorite, obviously, and i DID groan every time one of them was about to start, but i've seen way worse mandatory stealth sections in games (suck my ass wind waker), and some of them have fun twists like MJ being able to lure enemies so spider-man can capture them and web them up on the ceiling.

tying it all in is a captivating and fun story that sure, while some parts you can see coming from a mile away even if you have even just basic spider-man lore knowledge, it still doesn't make it any less engaging. the last third of the game is particularly intense, with impossibly high stakes culminating in a tragic final boss fight and a very bittersweet ending. two scenes of the ending in particular had me on the verge of tears, something i absolutely did not expect jumping into this game. simply put, if you liked the 2000's sam raimi spider-man movies, you'll enjoy this plot quite a bit too.

all this being said, if you own a modern sony system (or now, even a PC that can handle this game), it's a no brainer, you HAVE to play this, especially if you have any fondness for the franchise it's based off of. this is the best spider-man game i've played yet, and this is coming from someone who played BOTH PS1 games!!!! play it!! or, more likely... you already have. i mean, it IS the best selling ps4 game of all time so... aw heck PLAY IT AGAIN THEN

9/10

NOTE: i dunno who's idea it was to make j jonah jameson into an alex jones-esque insane radio show host, but whoever it was, i just wanna say... FUCK YOU. at least you can turn it off in the settings XD

[sahraeyll]

Opening Success: Top 10 Medical Billing and Coding Books You Need to Master Your Career

**Title: Unlocking Success: Top 10 Medical Billing and ⁢Coding ⁣Books You Need to Master Your Career**

**Introduction:** Medical billing and coding are essential components of the ‍healthcare industry, ensuring that⁢ healthcare providers receive proper ⁤reimbursement for their services. Mastering this field requires a solid ⁢foundation of⁢ knowledge and skills, which can be‍ obtained through various resources, including books. In this article, we‌ will explore the top 10⁢ medical billing and ​coding books that ⁤can help you excel in‍ your career. Whether you are a beginner looking​ to enter the ​field ‌or an experienced professional⁣ aiming to enhance your skills, these ⁣books are a must-have for your personal library.

**Top 10 Medical Billing and Coding Books:** 1. **”Medical Coding: A Quickstudy Laminated Reference Guide”** – This handy reference guide provides‍ a quick ⁣overview of ⁣medical coding principles and⁤ guidelines, making it ⁣easy to access⁢ important information on the go. 2. **”Step-By-Step ‍Medical Coding”** ​by ⁢Carol J. Buck – A comprehensive guide ‍that covers the‍ fundamentals of medical coding,⁤ including CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II coding. 3. **”ICD-10-CM ⁤Expert for Physicians”** by Optum360 – This‌ book focuses ⁢on ‌ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding, providing in-depth guidance on accurately assigning diagnosis codes in medical billing. 4. **”Principles of Healthcare Reimbursement”** by Casto and Layman – A must-read for those interested‌ in understanding the intricacies of healthcare reimbursement systems ⁣and payment methodologies. 5. **”The Complete Diagnosis Coding Solution”** by Shelley C. Safian – This book offers a comprehensive approach⁢ to diagnosis⁤ coding, including guidelines for accurate ‌code assignment. 6. **”ICD-10-PCS: An Applied Approach”** by Lynn Kuehn – A practical guide⁣ to ⁤understanding ICD-10-PCS⁢ procedure coding,⁣ with real-world examples and case studies⁣ to enhance learning. 7. **”Coding Workbook for the Physician’s Office”** by Alice Covell – An interactive workbook that helps medical coders practice their skills and reinforce their knowledge of coding principles. 8.⁢ **”Understanding Health Insurance”** by Michelle A. Green -‍ This book ‍provides a detailed overview of ⁤health insurance concepts, including coverage options, claims processing, and reimbursement. 9. **”Medical Coding Training: CPC 2018-2019″** by Hearn⁢ and Park – A comprehensive⁢ training resource for aspiring Certified Professional Coders (CPC), with practice⁣ exams and study guides included. 10. **”Medical Billing and ⁣Coding For Dummies”** by Karen Smiley – A beginner-friendly guide to medical billing‍ and coding, offering a straightforward approach ⁢to learning the basics of the field.

**Benefits and Practical Tips:** – These books cover a wide range of topics in medical billing and coding, from ​basic coding principles to advanced⁣ reimbursement strategies. – ⁢Reading and studying these ⁢books can help you⁤ stay up-to-date with the latest⁢ coding guidelines and regulations, ensuring accuracy in your coding practices. – Many of these⁣ books include practice exercises, case studies, and real-world examples to help reinforce learning and improve coding proficiency. – ‌By mastering the concepts presented in⁤ these books, you can enhance your ⁣career opportunities and potentially increase your earning potential‍ in the healthcare ‍industry.

**Conclusion:** Investing in your education and continuous learning is key to success in the field of‍ medical billing and coding. By incorporating⁣ these top 10 books into your study routine, you can strengthen your coding skills, expand your knowledge base, and stay current with industry ⁤trends. Whether you are ⁢a student, a new coder, or an experienced professional, ⁣these books offer valuable insights and resources to help you excel in your career. Start building your personal library today and unlock the path to success in medical billing and coding.

Remember to regularly update your knowledge with⁢ new editions and resources to stay relevant in this ever-evolving field. Happy⁤ coding!

https://medicalbillingcertificationprograms.org/opening-success-top-10-medical-billing-and-coding-books-you-need-to-master-your-career/

[nghiazet]

WEEK 9: GAMING COMMUNITIES, SOCIAL GAMING AND LIVE-STREAMING.

DEVELOPMENT OF GAMING COMMUNITIES

Playing games alone is mostly a product of the computer era, with just a few deviations. Prior to this, the majority of "games," whether they were played on a tabletop or in an outdoor setting, required the participation of other individuals. With the advancement of technology, modern gamers are now able to revisit the nostalgic era of communal gaming after spending many decades in isolation. During the 1990s, the growing interest among users in Internet-based multiplayer PC games like as Meridian 59 and Ultima Online indicated the significant financial and societal influence that the Massively Multiplayer (MMP) genre may have.

With the progression of technology, social media platforms and specialized gaming forums emerged as platforms for gamers to share ideas, methods, and experiences, promoting a feeling of camaraderie among persons with similar interests like Reddit, Discord, along with the emergence of streaming services with various platforms like Youtube Gaming, Facebook Live and Twitch has significantly transformed gaming communities by enabling players to live-stream their games to a global audience, fostering the growth of fan bases and the formation of communities centered on common interests.

STREAMER PHENOMENON

The primary players in the streaming phenomena are the individuals known as 'streamers'. The labor required for streaming may be compared to Kücklich's (2005) concept of 'playbor', which also incorporates aspects of 'free labor' (Terranova, 2004) that are more similar to play than work. However, these activities can still be transformed into financial profit. The act of broadcasting video game play has resemblance to the 'modding' communities associated with games (Postigo, 2007; Sotamaa, 2010) - including the modification of game material by enthusiasts.

Presently, gaming communities consist of a wide range of demographics and interests, spanning from casual smartphone players to professional eSports teams. Discord servers, subreddits, and gaming-focused social networks provide communication and cooperation, while events like as conventions and eSports competitions provide chances for face-to-face connection.

The ramifications of having such a substantial gaming community for the game business are many. Nevertheless, it is evident that there are several correlations between the expansion of live streaming and other prevailing patterns in the gaming business. For instance, the increase in funding and labor expenses in the popular and highly successful 'triple-A' or 'AAA' games sector has resulted in many changes in games production. The growing influence of publishers in the value chain has heightened the significance of digital marketplaces and the intermediaries that regulate the positioning of items inside them (Toivonen & Sotamaa, 2010). As a consequence, there have been imbalances in power, especially due to increased market demands for cost reduction and adaptability (Thompson et al., 2015: 7). The pressures mentioned have led to significant changes, as shown by a statement from a Ubisoft official who said that their "business model has shifted" towards using sequels instead of creating fresh intellectual property (quoted in Martin, 2010). On the other hand, independent game creators have used crowdfunding to finance their development and connect with audiences, a process that may be enhanced via advertising on sites such as Twitch.

To conclude, gaming communities have not only improved the gaming experience but also fostered connections, honed skills, and promoted worldwide cultural exchange. As technology advances, gaming communities will also progress, opening up new opportunities for interaction and cooperation inside the dynamic gaming world.

Reference:

Johnson, M. R., & Woodcock, J. (2018). The impacts of live streaming and Twitch.tv on the video game industry. Media, Culture & Society, 41(5), 670-688. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443718818363

Kücklich J (2005) Precarious playbor: modders and the digital game industry. The Fibreculture Journal 5.

Terranova T (2004) Network Culture: Politics for the Information Age. London: Pluto Press.

Postigo H (2007) Of mods and modders chasing down the value of fan-based digital game modification. Games and Culture 2(4): 300–313. Crossref.

Sotamaa O (2010) When the game is not enough: motivations and practices among computer game modding culture. Games and Culture 5(3): 239–255. Crossref. ISI.

[domers-group8]

Neel - Research

Idea 2:-

My second concept is set in a high-tech submarine where the action begins from the audience's first-person perspective, with the character of a crew member walking through the cramped confines of the submarine. The camera movements mimic the subtle swaying and footsteps of a real human being, enhancing the sense of immersion.

Setting:

The submarine's interior is inspired by the detailed and realistic environments seen in "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Crew Expendable" and the intense naval battles depicted in "Battlefield 4 - South China Sea." The atmosphere is tense, with dim yellow/white lights casting eerie shadows on the metallic surfaces.

Build-up:

The camera subtly records the character's breathing as they move through the tight corridors, adding to the tension. The audience is drawn towards a large glass window, where the camera stops, revealing the vast and mysterious underwater ocean outside.

Suspenseful Moment:

In the distance, something large and ominous moves in the depths. The character, initially unaware, turns towards the window just as the monstrous silhouette reveals itself – a horrifying and gigantic shark-like creature. The tension builds as the creature approaches, and suddenly, it attacks the submarine. For the monster’s reference, it could either be inspired by the Clip from “The Meg" (2018) or it could be influenced by the Leviathans (Chitauri) from “The Avengers”(2012).

Action Sequence:

The lights within the submarine switch from dim yellow/white to alarming red, and sirens blare in panic. The impact of the monster hitting the submarine is felt through dynamic camera movements, mimicking the chaos within. The character stumbles as things fall off shelves, giving the audience a visceral sense of the submarine being attacked.

Escape and Catastrophe:

As the alarm intensifies, the character instinctively runs in the opposite direction, with the camera realistically portraying the urgency of the situation. Just as the character glances back, the glass window shatters, and water violently gushes into the submarine. The audience witnesses the imminent danger and catastrophe through the chaotic visuals and immersive soundscape.

Conclusion:

This concept is a bit ambitious to be fair and will require a lot of asset development along with animations, camera movement and sound effects. We will also need to experiment with the particle system to check if the water simulation is working properly. All things considered, I believe this concept could turn out pretty neat but the only thing I am worried about is whether we would be able to complete the project within the given deadline.

References:-

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. (2007). PC, Xbox, Playstation 3 [Game].Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision. 

Battlefield 4. (2013). PC, Xbox, Playstation[Game].Battlefield 4, Electronic Arts.

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Crew Expendable. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJDzYJJ5NKk&t=416s&ab_channel=RossMahon [Accessed 28 Jan. 2024].

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). South China Sea Naval Battle - Battlefield 4. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18cuoCemjRE&t=739s&ab_channel=AFGuidesHD [Accessed 28 Jan. 2024].

‌www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Megalodon Bites The Glass - The Meg (2018) Movie Clip HD. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkKmWhtzYHU&t=29s&ab_channel=BestClips [Accessed 28 Jan. 2024].

Turteltaub, J. (Director). (2018). The Meg [Motion picture]. Gravity Pictures, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Apelles Entertainment, Maeday Productions, Flagship Entertainment Group. 

[seemabhatnagar]

Fair Trial

Anupam Singh v. State of UP through Principal Secretary Home and Another

Criminal Revision No.794/2018

Before Allahabad High Court

The Criminal Revision was disposed of on 17.01.2024 by Hon’ble Madam Justice Jyotsna Sharma J. Criminal Revision was allowed and order of the Trial Court rejecting the application moved on behalf of the accused for summoning defense witnesses was allowed and Trial Court was directed to issue summons for production of the defense witnesses.

Background

This revision has been filed against the order passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge, F.T.C.-II, Ambedkar Nagar on 03.08.2018 in Session Trial State vs. Anupam Singh arising out of case  under section 302 IPC, whereby the permission to examine 5 defense witnesses, was refused.

Fact

The revisionist accused – Anupam Singh is facing trial under section 302 IPC.

During the trial on behalf of the accused an application was moved on 02.06.2018 with the prayer that the inquest was done in presence of 5 public witnesses and they have been named as prosecution witnesses.

The aforesaid 5 prosecution witnesses have not been produced by the prosecution, therefore at least one of them may be summoned and examined as court witness.

The aforesaid application was rejected by the trial court on 27.06.2018.

After recording of all the statements under section 313 Cr. P.C. the accused moved another application with a request that the witnesses namely, Surendra Pratap Singh, Balram Nishad, Ramdhari Yadav, Ram Siromani Upadhyaya and Ram Suresh Nishad may be summoned as defense witnesses.

Contention of the prosecution before Trial Court

This application to produce them as defense witness was objected to by the prosecution, submitting that all of them were in fact witness of the inquest report and that they have switched side and have come in collusion with defense and further that the previous application moved by the defence for summoning them, has already been rejected, therefore this application may not be allowed.

The learned trial court heard both the sides and rejected this application by order dated 03.08.2018.

Contention of the Defense in Criminal Revision

Order dated 03.08.2018 is challenged by the defense.

The first application was moved under section 311* Cr.P.C.

The second application was moved for the production of the same witnesses but it was made under section 233* Cr.P.C.

There cannot be comparison between the two and that the accused has indefeasible right to produce witness in his defense.

If the summons is not issued to call those persons as defense witnesses, the accused shall be highly prejudiced in his defense and his valuable right as regard fair trial shall stand defeated.

Though they had applied for summoning all the 5 witnesses but it will suffice if any 2 of them are summoned for examination as defense witnesses.

311*Cr P C

In 311 Cr P C right to summon any person belongs to the Court.

The court has a plenary power to summon any person at any stage of the proceedings as a witness.

This power includes recall and re-examination of any person who has already been examined

This power is to be exercised when the court finds it necessary to summon/recall any witness for just decision of the case.

The law puts no fetters on the powers of the courts to call for any witness to attain the highest goal of justice.

233*Cr P C

In 233 Cr P C right to produce its witness lies with the defense.

This provision is essential part of Session Trial.

This provision is applicable when the prosecution evidence is complete and the accused is given an opportunity to produce the evidence in its defense.

Undoubtedly this right has been given to the defense to produce its witnesses as part of fair trial and as part of legal principle of hearing both the sides.

233(3) Cr PC

 If the accused applies for the issue of any process for compelling the attendance of any witness or the production of any document or thing, the Judge shall issue such process unless he considers, for reasons to be recorded, that such application should be refused on the ground that it is made for the purpose of vexation or delay or for defeating the ends of justice.

Observation of the High Court

The witnesses who were sought to be summoned by the defense under section 233(3) Cr. P.C. were not examined as prosecution witnesses, at any stage.

Though they were witnesses of inquest but never produced by the prosecution.

Supreme court on Fair Trial –

In re

Kalyani Baskar v. M S Sampoornam

Fair and proper opportunities is allowed by law to prove his/her innocence.

Adducing evidence in support of the defense is a valuable right.

Denial of that right means denial of fair trial.

It is essential that rules of procedure designed to ensure justice should be scrupulously followed, and the courts should be jealous in seeing that there is no breach of them.

The observation of the trial court that summoning the witnesses will tantamount to review is misconceived.

The trial court failed to apply the law in right perspective and ignored the difference in scope and implications in which the provisions of section 311 Cr.P.C. and section 233(3) Cr.P.C. are meant to be applied.

The order of the trial court suffers from legal flaw and is not sustainable.

In view of the submissions of the revisionist, revisionists is given liberty to point out to the court concerned which of the 2 witnesses (out of total 5 witnesses), he seeks to produce in this defense.

Seema Bhatnagar

[thetoxicgamer]

All teams qualified for 2023 LoL World Championship

The 2023 World Championship field is slowly taking shape as leagues from North America and EMEA to Korea, China, and all across the world finish off their most recent seasons. This marks the pointy end of the League of Legends competitive cycle. This year, Worlds will descend on South Korea for the first time since 2018, when Invictus Gaming became the first-ever Chinese world champions. League’s premier event looks very different this year, with Riot Games rubberstamping several format changes ranging from the introduction of best of threes to a Swiss-style stage and more bracket-based play. Worlds 2023 is been penned in for an Oct. 10 start date, which is a little later than the standard September click-off. The play-ins and group stages will be held in Seoul before the tournament shifts to Busan for finals. Seoul’s 17,000-capacity Gocheok Sky Dome will be hosting the grand finals. When the premier event finally begins in late October we will have 22 League teams locked in and ready to battle for history at the 13th edition of one of the most illustrious tournaments in all esports. That will include four representatives each from heavyweight regions like China and Korea, between three and four from NA and EMEA, and a host of Cinderella hopefuls. Table of contents - All 2023 League World Championship teams - LCS (NA) representatives - LCS teams still in contention - LEC (EMEA) representatives - LEC teams still in contention - LCK (Korea) representatives - LCK teams still in contention - LPL (China) representatives - LPL teams still in contention - PCS (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, SEA, Oceania) representatives - PCS teams still in contention - VCS (Vietnam) representatives - VCS teams still in contention - CBLOL (Brazil) representatives - CBLOL teams still in contention - LJL (Japan) representatives - LJL teams still in contention - LLA (Latin America) representatives - LLA teams still in contention - Worlds 2023 Qualifying Series Winner 2023 League World Championship teams LCS (North America) - TBA (LCS 2023 Championship Champion) - TBA (LCS 2023 Championship Runner-Up) - TBA (LCS 2023 Championship 3rd Place) LCS teams still in contention - Cloud9 - Golden Guardians - Evil Geniuses - Team Liquid - NRG - TSM - Dignitas - 100 Thieves LEC (EMEA) - TBA (LEC 2023 Season Finals Champion) - TBA (LEC 2023 Season Finals Runner-Up) - TBA (LEC 2023 Season Finals 3rd Place) LEC teams still in contention - G2 Esports - MAD Lions - Team BDS - Excel - Fnatic - SK Gaming LCK (Korea) - TBA (LCK 2023 Summer Champion) - TBA (LCK 2023 Championship Points) - TBA (LCK 2023 Regional Finals Winner) - TBA (LCK 2023 Regional Finals Runner-Up) LCK teams still in contention - Gen.G - KT Rolster - Dplus KIA - Hanwha Life - T1 - Liiv SANDBOX/Nongshim RedForce LPL (China) - JD Gaming - TBA (LPL 2023 Summer Champion) - TBA (LPL 2023 Regional Finals Winner) - TBA (LPL 2023 Regional Finals Runner-Up) LPL teams still in contention - Bilibili Gaming - LNG Esports - EDward Gaming - Top Esports - Weibo Gaming PCS (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Southeast Asia, Oceania) - PCS (2023 Summer Champion) - PCS (2023 Summer Runner-Up) PCS teams still in contention - PSG Talon - J Team - Beyond Gaming - Three of: Deep Cross Gaming, CTBC Flying Oyster, Frank Esports, HELL PIGS, and West Point Esports Philippines - Chiefs Esports Club (Oceania) - Team Bliss (Oceania) VCS (Vietnam) - VCS (2023 Summer Champion) - VCS (2023 Summer Runner-Up) VCS teams still in contention - GAM Esports - Team Whales - Four of: Saigon Buffalo, Team Secret, CERBERUS Esports, SBTC Esports, Team Flash, MGN Box Esports CBLOL (Brazil) - TBA (CBLOL 2023 Split Two Champion) CBLOL teams still in contention - RED Canids - paiN Gaming - LOUD - Fluxo - INTZ - One of: Vivo Keyd Stars, FURIA LJL (Japan) - TBA (LJL 2023 Summer Champion) LJL teams still in contention - DetonatioN FM - SoftBank HAWKS - FENNEL - Crest Gaming Act - Sengoku Gaming - AXIZ LLA (Latin America) - TBA (LLA 2023 Closing Champion) LLA teams still in contention - Movistar R7 - Estral Esports - Six Karma - INFINITY - Team Aze - Isurus Worlds 2023 Qualifying Series Winner - TBA (One of North America #4/EMEA #4) We will continuously update the above details for you as all the competitive League seasons continue to wrap up over the next few months. Read the full article

[beansonbread2]

BEANSONBREAD AWARDS 2022 - BEST GIG

AWARD NO.4 - BEST GIG OF 2022

PAST WINNERS

2021 > Self Esteem @ Green Man Festival - 22/8/21 (see full lists HERE)

2020 > Hannah Diamond @ The Exchange, Bristol - 4/3/20 (see full list HERE)

2019 > Black Midi @ Fiddlers, Bristol - 20/6/19 (see full list HERE)

2018 > Kero Kero Bonito @ The Village Underground, London - 11/9/18 (see full list HERE)

2017 > Richard Dawson @ Fiddlers, Bristol 23/6/17 & Richard Dawson @ Green Man Festival, Wales 17-20/8/17 (see full list HERE)

2016 > Death Grips @ Simple Things Festival, Colston Hall, Bristol - 22/10/16 (see full list HERE)

2015 > Super Furry Animals @ Green Man Festival - Wales 21-23/8/15 (see full list HERE)

2014 > FKA Twigs @ Trinity, Bristol - 9/10/14 (see full list HERE)

2013 > These New Puritans @ Simple Things Festival, Bristol - 12/10/13 (see full list HERE)

2010 > Francois & The Atlas Mountains @ Fence Homegame, Scotland - 11/3/10 (see full list HERE)

2009 > Wild Beasts @ The Thekla, Bristol - 3/10/09 (see full list HERE)

2008 > Animal Collective & Atlas Sound @ Koko, London - 22/5/08 (see full list HERE)

2007 > King Creosote & Fence Collective @ Glastonbury Festival - June 07 (see full list HERE)

–

THE RUNNERS UP (in no order)

Mica Levi, Joanne Robertson, Still House Plants @ St George’s, Bristol (5/5/22)

Dry Cleaning @ Rough Trade, Bristol (31/1/22)

EP/64 & Friends @ Arnolfini, Bristol (27+28/5/22)

Yves Tumor @ Strange Brew, Bristol (5/3/22)

Clipping @ The Lanes, Bristol (5/12/22)

Tara Clerkin Trio @ Strange Brew, Bristol (17/12/22)

Bill Callahan @ SWX, Bristol (1/11/22)

Group Listening @ Strange Brew, Bristol (12/3/22)

Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupul @ Rough Trade, Bristol (4/4/22)

Black Midi @ SWX, Bristol (16/11/22)

Self Esteem @ Trinity, Bristol (4/2/22) 

Self Esteem @ Focus Festival, Wrexham (6/5/22)

ICHI & Evil Usses @ Jam Jar, Bristol (10/11/22)

Bas Jan @ The Cube, Bristol (9/4/22)

Wet Leg @ Rough Trade, Bristol (10/4/22)

Alexia Avina @ The Cube, Bristol (14/7/22)

Jockstrap @ Bristol Beacon (28/5/22)

Jockstrap @ Rough Trade East, London (9/9/22)

Jockstrap @ The Fleece, Bristol (5/10/22)

Pet Shimmers @ Strange Brew (11/6/22)

Belle & Sebastian & Django Django @ Bristol Amphitheatre (15/7/22)

Charlotte Church’s Pop Dungeon @ SWX, Bristol (16/12/22)

Little Simz @ Glastonbury Festival (24/6/22) 

Sleaford Mods @ Glastonbury Festival (24/6/22) 

Dry Cleaning @ Glastonbury Festival (24/6/22) 

Wet Leg @ Glastonbury Festival (24/6/22) 

Katy J Pearson @ Glastonbury Festival (25/6/22) 

Squid @ Glastonbury Festival (25/6/22) 

Cate Le Bon @ Glastonbury Festival (26/6/22) 

Giant Swan @ Glastonbury Festival (23/6/22) 

Kraftwerk @ Green Man Festival (19/8/22)

Cate Le Bon @ Green Man Festival (19/8/22)

Katy J Pearson @ Green Man Festival (20/8/22)

Beach House @ Green Man Festival (20/8/22)

Tara Clerkin Trio @ Green Man Festival (211/8/22)

Group Listening @ Green Man Festival (21/8/22)

James Yorkston @ Green Man Festival (21/8/22)

Sudan Archives @ EOTR Festival (1/9/22)

Beak @ EOTR Festival (2/9/22)

Pixies @ EOTR Festival (3/9/22)

Alabaster DePlume @ EOTR Festival (3/9/22)

Sleaford Mods @ Forwards Festival (4/9/22)

Rozi Plain @ Forwards Festival (4/9/22)

Chemical Brothers @ Forwards Festival (4/9/22)

-

THE TOP 10 GIGS OF 2022

10. Black Midi @ EOTR Festival (2/9/22)

9. Caroline Polachek @ Glastonbury Festival (26/6/22) 

8. Jockstrap @ EOTR Festival (3/9/22)

7. PC Music (various) @ KOKO, London (15/6/22)

6. Sugababes @ Glastonbury Festival (24/6/22) 

5. Self Esteem @ Forwards Festival (4/9/22)

4. Dorian Electra @ The Fleece, Bristol (7/4/22)

3. Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupul @ Green Man Festival (21/8/22) - VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

2. Self Esteem @ Glastonbury Festival (25/6/22) - VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

1. Kendrick Lamar @ Glastonbury Festival (26/6/22) - VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

[serialjune]

What started out as a project, one late summer, by the eager developers, Matthew Impey and J. Richards, became more than a nightmare to follow. Never meaning to be publicly released, Asteroid Sculptor relishes in its obscurity, jarring game play and occasionally hard to read text. With an unrelenting esoteric humor, the full manuscript was written only a week after the game had started. There was only one problem.

It would take five years to get to this point, some of those with no work at all, others with in-fighting, dispute and demoralized fatigue. The initial excitement was enough for the creators to believe they’d have something complete by 2018. In fact, it hadn’t even been until 2019 that an official engine was chosen. Drafts, sketches and conversational lines filled the void. It was going along like just about every other game development story.

The inability to wipe the smear that was Asteroid Sculptor's enduring presence in both creators lives proved to motivate the young authors to eventually start again. Impey had picked up the slack and J. Richards had just left it behind entirely. Admittedly, both creators had not pursued game development outside early childhood immersion experiences in a depth equivocal with what modern game developers might consider “hobbyist”. The official engine chosen, RPG Maker MV, was sectarian and fan devoted, kids, coders and dads ran their races with it. And not one game from the official library looked a thing like Asteroid Sculptor. Matthew Impey’s exposure to gaming had largely been absorbed by the PS1 console and early PC gaming itself. The possibility for ‘the game’ to mark their next great creative exposé was a turning point from their more original passion for music. Indeed, in years past, the two had founded 'Metro Product', alongside third and pivotal member, Ethan Toews. With its unabashedly sardonic choice in name, Metro Product was ready to launch “Metro Record”, a child-label, equally imaginary, scooped for the purpose of music profitability and collecting. All activities, including Asteroid Sculptor, came to be loosely branched under the Metro Product banner. That is, ‘the ideology that I shall do as I say”. This ideology proved to be influential.

The very name for Metro Product began in the same way as did the original title for Asteroid Sculptor. that is, under working title “5D Age of Aquarius”. This early moniker was begrudgingly scrapped due to its associations with the band "Fifth Dimension" and their track titled, "Age of Aquarius". What remained, albeit with title change, were the endlessly expansive possibilities of the present day being sifted through the fictionalized satire both developers found themselves in increasingly. Asteroid Sculptor is very much a realist take on the 21st century and living it. It was tainted with doom and gloom, a memoir of what both authors had lived and experienced, tying together those memories with the broader identity of a one man/citizen of the future within the game's made-up eschatology.

Stories of time travel, alien hijacking, demonic possession, with a general sense of abandonment and despair were the bread and butter. Furthermore, impossibility in the way of modern society, social aggravation and the satirically large egos of the every day. In the frame of Asteroid Sculptor’s entirety, the design ranges from 3D maximalism to staunch, NES-style minimalism.

In early 2022, the game's building blocks had doubled and it had became, quite literally, a new game for the two, with realistic challenges and breakthroughs ensuing. Prior to early demo release (Demo 1.0 August 3rd, 2022), the game's pre-release had absorbed criticism for its 1D "Simpson's esque" satire. The game had been all about despair, abjection, confusion and the inability to combat enemies or even solve puzzles essential to the plot and gameplay. What seemed to be coming to fruition came to a dead-end due to the one-sided focus of all that a game is. It had seemed more like a dream diary than a playable "game". There was one cause and one solution.

This relates back to the first sentence, way back when the game started five years ago. Only now, both developers had grown up quite a lot. As both came equipped with a new arsenal of skills and experience set, so did protagonist, “Jack-off/Clutch”. Rather than acting as a hopeless NPC, the game we provide to you today showcases the original fervor of development combined with the ability to engage in actual problems. Weapons, tools, solutions and means for the player to fight back in the various dream realms of the game became a feature for the first time ever, reflecting a crucial difference from what had all began as learned hopelessness and ‘unusurpable genius’. And, now, just another indie game:

https://asteroidsculptor.itch.io/asteroid-sculptor-demo

[yurimother]

The Best Yuri of 2019

2019 was a challenging year for many, in and out of the anime community, which is still reeling from the horrific attack at Kyoto Animation’s first studio in July that killed 36 people. However, I want to take this moment, as we start a new decade, to reflect on some of the greatest achievements in Yuri.

2019 marked the genre’s 100th anniversary, 100 years since Nobuko Yoshiya released her landmark lesbian novel Yaneura no Nishojo that shaped and created Yuri as we know it. It was possible Yuri’s best years ever, as more incredible titles were released and localized, we experienced fantastic events and moments, and more. This article is part of my continuing celebration of all things Yuri!

Note that many of the works mentioned came out before 2019, but they either were first released in English during 2019 or hit particular high points during this year. Now then, here is the best of Yuri in 2019!

15: SukeraSparo

This Japanese Yuri visual novel developer is starting to reach new heights as they set their sights on releasing new and innovate Yuri titles. The English release of The Expression Amrilato, an educational Yuri visual novel that teaches the player Esperanto, was one of the most unique and creative works I have the pleasure of playing this year. But, they outdid themselves this year, releasing a sequel, Itsuka no Memorajxo, creating one of the most beautiful Yuri games in Folklore of Kudan, and founding a sister brand, SukeraSomero, “to fill the world with YURI!”

The Expression Amrilato is available in English for PC on Steam and Mangagamer

14: Mage & Demon Queen

This outrageous and vivacious webcomic hits its stride in Season 2. After setting a solid foundation, this masterpiece by Kuru “Color-LES” is finally able to explore some more interesting plot lines such as its characters’ pasts, conflicts between the demons and humans, and figuring out who’s gonna be the bottom (it’s Malori, it was always going to be Malori). It is chock full of modern humor and moments I can only describe as hilariously kinky, while rarely feeling gross of sleazy. I can only wait to see what is next for these star-crossed lovers.

Mage & Demon Queen: is available to read in English on Webtoon

13: Yuri Anthologies

In 2018, Yen Press gave us the first hint of some Yuri anthologies starting to squeak into the West with Éclair, but 2019 threw the floodgates open! New works are coming out in both Japan and the West, featuring multiple artists coming together to create works featuring workplace romance, isekai, first-time stories, and even MARRIAGE!! Additionally, creators released volumes collecting their various short stories, like Rouge Nagashiro’s Eve and Eve, and some series saw multiple artists contribute to an already established world such as in the Bloom Into You Anthologies.

12: SHWD

Sono’s science fiction Yuri doujinshi series, published in English by Lilyka, is everything I did not know I wanted in a Yuri series. It showcases pulse-pounding action as the women of the “Special Hazardous Waste Disposal” fight to take down the horrific Dynamis. It has musclebound beasts of women that exude strength, power, and femininity at all times. And it has a compelling story about overcoming personal conflicts and learning to rely on others.

SHWD is available digitally on Lilyka

11: If I Could Reach You

No other series this year delivered an emotional gut-punch like If I Could Reach You. This tragic and beautiful manga by tMnR follows a young girl as she attempts hopelessly to overcome her attraction to her brother’s wife. Everything from the artwork to the dialogue masterfully communicates the devastation and pain that the protagonist Uta feels. It is beautiful and devastating, and I carry every awesome moment on my mind continuously.

If I Could Reach You is available digitally and physically in English from Kodansha: https://amzn.to/36vsYPe

Honorable mention: SQ/Tamen de Gushi/Their Story 

2019 was a little bit of a slow year for Tan Jiu’s webtoon, thanks to an extended hiatus, especially when compared to 2018’s triumphant and spectacular storyline. However, small moments of genius like Sun Jing’s father’s phenomenal visual monologue keep this work in peak form top and my heart. I hope that its recent Japanese serialization on Comic Walker help even more people enjoy it.

10: Still Sick

In my recent review, I called this workplace romance a “Yuri manga for Yurijin,” and there is no way I could come up with a more apt description. Still Sick surprised me with its self-awareness, knowledge, and commentary on the genre. It has an incredibly deep story about two complex and layered characters that ignite each other’s passion, in more ways than one.

Still Sick is available digitally and physically in English from Tokyopop: https://amzn.to/2rVRH07

9: Going Beyond Girl Meets Girl

Yuri stories tend to repeat the same story, two girls meet, they fall for each other, they get together, THE END! The past decade or so has finally seen more stories adding sexual elements, in contrast to earlier S works, and some even explored the dating life of two schoolgirls. However, we have recently seen something remarkable: works featuring couples “graduating” (literally or metaphorically) and enter the real world. Series like Citrus, Kase-san, and, briefly, Bloom Into You explore the relationships as they exit the honeymoon phase and get into the meat of lesbian livelihood.

Kase-san and Yamada is available for English preorder: https://amzn.to/2MXnp4w

8: Nagata Kabi

Over the past few years, Nagata Kabi has redefined what the Yuri genre can be. Her powerful autobiographical manga essays My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness, My Solo Exchange Diary, and Genjitsu Touhi Shitetara Boroboro ni Natta Hanashi communicate her experiences with queer identity, mental illness, and alcoholism. No work of fiction could ever hope to reach Nagata’s strength and crushing honesty. Nagata’s manga has and will continue to change readers and the genre for years to come.

My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness is available digitally and physically in English from Seven Seas: https://amzn.to/2MZ7DWJ 

7: Bloom Into You

Nakatani Nio’s popular Yuri series Bloom Into You crushed it in 2019. It concluded serialization, ending on an incredibly high note, and dominating the market in both English and Japanese, selling over one million copies (well deserved). Additionally, Sentai Filmworks released an excellent collector’s edition of the 2018 television anime adaption that is now a must-have for Yuri collectors. But my favorite aspect of this series is the spin-off light novel series featuring one of its best characters, which have already begun English release.

Bloom Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka is available digitally and for physical preorder from Seven Seas: https://amzn.to/2SVPVHG

6: Heart of the Woods

When I heard that one of the co-creators of Highway Blossoms, one of the better English Yuri visual novels, was creating his own studio, I was pretty excited. But nothing could have prepared me for Studio Élan's first release, Heart of the Woods, which blew me away. The enchanting adventure full of exceptionally queer characters shattered every expectation I had. I am looking forward to its Switch port and voice acting patch, as well as more titles from Élan.

Heart of the Woods is available for PC on Steam. Switch edition coming later this year.

Honorable mention: Hayama-sensei to Terano-sensei wa Tsukiatte iru

Oui Pikachi’s manga about two teachers navigating a new relationship is one of my new favorites. Everyone is so supportive of the title characters as they stumble their way through an honest and mature love. However, I am only giving it an honorable mention this year, as I am sure it will be on this list next year after Seven Seas releases the first volume in English as The Gym Teacher and School Nurse are Dating!

The Gym Teacher and School Nurse are Dating! is available for preorder in English from Seven Seas: https://amzn.to/39JhXMs

5. Sexiled

Ameko Kaeruda’s spectacularly feminist and outrageously funny light novel series Sexiled is could ever ask for and more. I feel in love with its compelling female characters and their riveting battle against the sexist conventions of their society, all of which painfully mirror reality. This work is cathartic, empowering, and so very, very gay.

Sexiled is available digitally in English from J-Novel Club. Physical edition coming later this year: https://amzn.to/35u6NaW

4: Yuri Life

I adore domestic Yuri. Granted, I love a good romance and fantasy, but so many of these stories exist that it feels overwhelming, and sometimes it is just good to sit down and read about two women who love each other living their everyday adult lives in bliss. Kurukuruhime’s Yuri Life, which I have enjoyed ever since it was first uploaded to Pixiv and am so proud to own in print, is precisely that. Nine couples being cute and living together in a variety of humorous, scandalous, and adorable situations. Yuri cohabitation has never been so good! Now, if I could only get some Yuri titles about women raising kids together…

Yuri Life is available digitally and physically in English from Yen Press: https://amzn.to/35stSLg

3: Children’s Cartoons

For the past several years, children’s cartoons and media have slowly begun to allow bits of queer representation onto the screen. While we are still a long way from having Elsa kiss a girl, the small and large victories on children’s television give me hope. Some of my personal favorites include an episode of Nickelodeon’s The Loud House about a lesbian date, a lesbian couple and agender character (using they/them pronouns) in Craig of the Creek, the female protagonist of Twelve Forever developing a crush on another girl, and of course the unbelievable amount of queerness that She-Ra and Steven Universe shove into every moment. I wish I had more series like these when I was young, and I am thrilled that my students get to grow up with them.

2: Our Dreams at Dusk (Shimanami Tasogare)

Yuhki Kamatani’s Our Dreams at Dusk is easily 2019’s best manga. The incredible story explores many real aspects of LGBTQ identities, gay, lesbian, trans, non-binary, and asexual included, in an emotional and resonating masterpiece. The artwork is stunning and more expressive than words could ever be. I stand by what I said in my review, that Our Dreams at Dusk is the greatest manga I have ever read and wholeheartedly believes that it was deserving of the only 10/10 score I gave in 2019.

Our Dreams at Dusk is available digitally and physically in English from Seven Seas: https://amzn.to/2s282AE

Honorable mention: ‘The Conditions of Paradise’ Licensed

One of the best moments of this year came out of Anime Expo when Seven Seas announced that they had licensed Morishima Akiko’s Rakuen no Jouken and would be releasing it as The Conditions of Paradise in 2020. Not only is The Conditions of Paradise a fantastic and mature work of Yuri literature, but it is also over a decade old, having been published originally in 2007. This license, more than anything else, helped me realize how far Yuri came this year. Not only is the hottest new series being adapted, but a historic and profound classic of the genre.

The Conditions of Paradise is available for preorder in English: https://amzn.to/2FjTE9M

1: Yuri Publishers

Not too long ago, it was rare for us to see more than a few Yuri manga releases in a year if any, but now we are at the point where a publisher can do an event announcing five Yuri licenses in a single day! As of this year, all the major publishers, and plenty of smaller ones, are actively licensing, adapting, and publishing amazing Yuri works: Yen Press, Viz, Kodansha, Seven Seas, Tokyopop, Renta, J-Novel Club, and more keep giving us incredible Yuri. I also have to mention the incredible work Lilyka Manga is doing, working directly with mangaka to adapt Yuri doujinshi titles into English, something I would have never dreamed of a few years ago.

As Yuri enters its second century, we are staring down the rest of 2020, a year that will no doubt go down in current Yuri history. The year will see a record number of Yuri manga releases both in Japan and from licensed series in the West. We are getting several promising anime series like Adachi to Shimamura, Magia Record, Oshi ga Budoukan Ittekuretara Shinu, a Princess Principal movie, and more. I cannot wait to see what this year will hold for YuriMother and the Yuri genre. I hope you all stick with me through it as we navigate the waters of a newer, gayer, and greater world of Yuri.

[lunapaper]

Album Review: 'SNACKTIME' EP - ATARASHII GAKKO!

ATARASHII GAKKO’s aim is simple: To represent Japanese youth, to express the real feelings of young people everywhere, and to live a ‘daring and fun-filled life while searching for freedom within the margins of society.’

And boy, do they know how to have fun.

Kooky, irreverent and the true embodiment of kawaii right down to their trademark school uniforms, the bubbly foursome (also known as New School Leaders, consisting of bespectacled Suzuka, curly-haired Rin, Mizyu with her pigtails and Kanon with the silky, straight hair) serve up some seriously tasty treats on their latest EP, SNACKTIME, with help from Beastie Boys producer Money Mark, stripping away the jaunty, piano-laced pop of their first two albums to reveal fuzzy riffs and frenetic synthwork.

First single ‘Pineapple Kryptonite’ comes at you from all angles, a glitchy menace that hums with bass and glitters with synths. ‘Free Your Mind’ combines jagged punk with a bratty schoolyard swagger, unable to resist the group’s playful bursts of ‘Gotta sing! Gotta dance!’ Both ‘Candy’ and ‘Fantastico,’ however, are more PC Music than J-pop, their sleek, celestial mix of house, Italo disco and pulsating club rhythms given a delightfully goofy polish by pitch-shifting the girls’ vocals.

‘Happy Hormones,’ meanwhile, evokes hazy streets and ice cold daydreams, ending the EP with a dollop of pure sunshine as squelchy keys and rousing horns meet a soulful, bass-fuelled groove.

SNACKTIME proves a lot more adventurous than 2018’s Maenarawani and 2019’s Wakage ha Itaru combined, able to defy genre without ever skimping on the group’s theatrical flair. Hell, you might even find yourself headbanging to it...

‘The best part about being young is that I can head bang all I want,’ Suzuka recently told NYLON. ‘And then I can go on to the next concert and it’s already healed.’

It’s a good way to look at it. And that’s why ATARASHII GAKKO! are born to lead: They’re fun, they’re fearless, they’re funny and they’re totally up for the challenge. What being young, wild and free should be all about...

- Bianca B.

[dpanuncialwriter]

Librarians, Start New Game

November-December 2019, American Libraries Magazine

For librarians at universities with videogame design programs, maintaining a large, accessible gaming collection isn’t a Final Fantasy. It’s a Call of Duty. Beginning a collection may be as easy as pressing start to play, but storing and preserving complex materials is a tough battle—and academic librarians want to level up.

The University of Michigan’s (UM) Computer Video and Game Archive (CVGA) in Ann Arbor boasts more than 8,000 videogames and 60 consoles dating back to the 1970s. “Because we have such a large collection, there are many examples from which to pull and get inspiration, things [students] would never be able to afford on their own,” says David Carter, videogame archivist at UM. “Almost nobody has a collection this big, especially a college student.”

“[People] don’t think of libraries as a destination for digital scholarship,” says Anne Morrow, associate librarian and head of digital scholarship services at the University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library, which has more than 500 videogames and serves almost 400 game design students. “There’s an incentive to see what the obstacles are for bringing these types of original work into the collection.”

Objective: playability

As the owner of more than 2,000 commercial games, 300 student games, and 40 consoles (some as old as the 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System), the University of California, Santa Cruz’s (UCSC) Science and Engineering Library prioritizes authentic playability. Its goal is to provide students with not only a game but also the console it was made for, a compatible controller, and an era-appropriate TV to play it on.

With so many moving pieces, says Christy Caldwell, science and engineering librarian at UCSC, “providing usage of increasingly ‘antique’ [materials] is an ongoing challenge.”

UM has the same goal. “We don’t have to do a lot of tracking down, thankfully,” says Valerie Waldron, UM computer and videogame archive manager. About half of its collection is donated, and as with other academic libraries that own game collections, staffers turn to eBay if they need to repair or buy a missing item. Or they get creative.

“Something broke on our Atari 7800, and we actually 3D-printed a replacement part,” Carter says.

Why is maintaining playability of older games important? Students are mainly studying design and software. “What does the game look like, and what does the controller feel like?” Caldwell says. “Are you seeing something similar to what someone who played the game earlier would have seen and experienced?”

Students are also looking at artwork, game mechanics, subjects, and even source code as inspiration for their own games. “They’re using [archives] for competitive intelligence, and looking at what’s been done already,” says Tallie Casucci, assistant librarian at Marriott Library.

Space is another issue. At Marriott Library, students must go to different floors to pick up a videogame, grab a console and matching controllers, and actually play, since the stations are separated and require checkouts for loss prevention. “It’d be nice to have everything all in one place,” Casucci says.

In Ann Arbor, the CVGA houses both the collection and spaces to play the games on consoles, since the collection doesn’t leave the library. “It’s a very crammed room,” Carter says.

Save game?

UM staffers say they have two missions: to serve the teaching and research needs of faculty and students in order to promote usage of the games, and to preserve those games. “There’s an inherent tension. Usage is the enemy of preservation,” Carter says. “Academic usage trumps preservation. We don’t want to have something just to have it and not let people use it.”

After students from the Entertainment Arts and Engineering program at Utah lost all the materials for Erie, a popular student-made game from 2012, Casucci and Morrow investigated their options. With help from an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant, they published an ebook this fall on how to best archive, preserve, and disseminate student videogames.

“People have been looking at digital preservation seriously, [but] we haven’t made progress with objects that are really complex, like videogames, that have many interactions between files,” Morrow says. “We thought about the existing services in a library and how games might be supported by those services.”

“In our case, it would be the sheer number of analog games to process and store that would be difficult, especially year after year,” Caldwell says. “You’re asking people in cataloging who have never even played a game to suddenly start cataloging media. You need to support them.” The best way to do that, she says, is to develop accurate metadata and consistent, detailed cataloging practices.

But academic libraries still need to strategize.

At Marriott Library, Casucci and Morrow created a tiered retention system for archiving student games, through which students can choose the process that best suits their needs. In earlier tiers, students can contribute visuals such as screenshots or game trailers. As they go further into the system, students can contribute their games in their entirety, allowing future students complete access to its features.

Commercial games have not been forgotten. Carter and Waldron are finding ways to preserve legacy formats of videogames like floppy disks and cartridges. “We’re trying to discover ways of taking the game off its original format and creating an image for it,” Waldron says. “There are still a lot of things to work out, like how to store it properly, retrieve it, or put it back in its original format.” As for regular discs, UM keeps multiple copies and stores them in archival-quality sleeves behind the circulation desk.

According to Heather Maxwell Chandler’s Game Production Handbook, after producing a videogame, developers organize the game’s source assets and archive them in a closing kit—a common practice in the industry to help developers install updates or patches to their games. UCSC would like to implement closing kits down the line.

“The faculty wants to have a record of what students have created,” Caldwell says. “They want students to be inspired by what other students have done and build on that work.”

Carter and Waldron say that videogame preserving and archiving has been underdeveloped in libraries because it is still an emerging format. “Until recently, the history of the videogame industry has been left in the hands of private collectors,” Carter says. “Not to discount the work that private collectors have done—that’s one portion of preservation, but you need academic libraries in the mix.”

“For a long time, [game companies] weren’t really interested in preserving their games, either,” Waldron says. According to Kotaku, this is due to legal gray areas, lack of industry support, and turnover of games. “I think that’s slowly starting to change.”

Conquering copyright issues

Potential copyright problems exist in every layer of videogame collecting, especially regarding older materials with expired copyrights. In October 2018, a decision from the Library of Congress and US Copyright Office allowed institutions to lawfully own copies of older videogames if they were acquired from the original companies in order to make preservation copies—a separate challenge for librarians and archivists as many companies are no longer in business or have discontinued server support.

“Assuming that all videogames are governed by terms of use, it’s likely that any exceptions one would expect in the copyright law are not allowed,” says Carrie Russell, senior program officer and copyright specialist at the American Library Association. “If students are doing close analysis of the games or something similar, it’s likely that license terms don’t forbid just studying and researching the game unless the research involves the need to circumvent digital rights management (DRM) that may be employed by the rights holder.”

DRM is a form of copyright protection licensing for digital media implemented by embedding code that prevents copying, specifying a time period in which content can be accessed, or limiting the number of devices content can be installed on. For example, games with expired or maxed-out licenses may not be library friendly.

Another consideration is that certain PC games come with keys—a string of unique characters—that a user must input in order to play. “But then that [game] is registered, and it’s only good for one use,” Carter says. “If someone donates a PC game to us, if they’ve used the key, we can’t use that game. We have to somehow get another key.”

Currently, libraries’ and archives’ rights to preserve videogames are allowed under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. “That exemption, however, will expire in 2021 and need to be requested again,” Russell says.

Student-made videogames are easier to preserve since students get to decide what university libraries can keep. The student work that libraries archive mostly consists of digital files. They can either archive the entire game or different elements of it, like an abstract, artwork, or gameplay footage.

“We never make the students put up everything,” Caldwell says. “They could say, ‘I don’t want to upload my actual code. I’ll upload my abstract.’”

Students can claim complete copyright of their games or use a Creative Commons license, which allows others to share, use, and build on their work. They can even decide if they want their work to be available to university affiliates or the public.

Librarians, too, try to educate students about the importance of archiving their work at the library, studying other games, and how copyright plays into both. “You have to believe that [students] are going to use [the collection] responsibly,” Caldwell says.

Next-level libraries

Librarians agree they’re just beginning to assimilate game scholarship into academic libraries; progress will continue as the industry and programs evolve.

Caldwell says librarians should be working collaboratively to keep games accessible by lobbying for copyright law exceptions, partnering with game companies, and improving metadata and catalog descriptions.

“Games are to the 21st century what films were to the 20th,” she says. “How long did it take libraries to start collecting film? I think what we can do is start working together sooner, because we’ve already lost so many games.”

UM also wants to encourage students who may not be game design majors to help normalize videogames in the library. “In humanities or social science classes, instead of writing a paper, students are creating games,” Carter says. “We’ve been working with the design lab [at UM] to figure out ways to support the lighter-weight aspect of game creation.”

“[Games are] a part of society,” Waldron says. “It speaks to what our culture is in any given era, like any other format.”

[nextstepjk]

Masterlist

A list of all my posts of BTS photobook scans and videos.

No links = no content has been posted yet. 🌟 = completed.

Memories

🌟 2014 / 2015 /🌟 2016 / 🌟 2017 / 🌟 2018 / 2019

Musters*

3rd / 3rd (JPN) /🌟 4th / 4th (JPN) /🌟 5th / 🌟 5th (JPN)

*1st and 2nd Musters are included in Memories 2014 and Memories 2016

Others

BTS World Soundtrack

BTS 24/7=Serendipity Exhibition Photobook (Ongoing) - Link

WINGS Concept Book

Graphic Lyrics (2020) - Link

花樣年華 The Notes - 01 / 02

🌟 In the Soop (2020) - Link

Map of the Soul: 🌟ON:E - Postcards (01 / 02) / 🌟Backpack PCs (01)

Photocards - 🌟ARMY Bomb Ver. 3 / BE 

Photos -  🌟Merch Box #1 

D-icon Vol. 10 -  🌟 RM / Jin / SUGA / j-hope / Jimin / V / Jungkook

Concerts

🌟 Speak Yourself (2019): London / Sao Paulo / Japan

Love Yourself (2018/2019): 🌟 Seoul / New York / Europe / 🌟 Japan

🌟 The WINGS Tour in Seoul (2017) - Link

2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III In Japan: Kyocera Dome

2016 BTS Live On Stage: Epilogue - Link

🌟 2016 BTS Live On Stage: Epilogue ~ Japan Edition ~ - Link

1st Japan Tour 2015 Wake Up: Open Your Eyes

Summer Package

Kota Kinabalu (2015) / Dubai (2016) / Palawan (2017)

🌟 Saipan (2018) / 🌟 Korea (2019)

Winter Package

🌟 Helsinki (2020) / Gangwon (2021)

BTS NOW

NOW 1 / NOW 2 / NOW 3

ARMY Membership

2nd / 3rd / 4th / 5th / 6th / 🌟 7th

Season’s Greetings

2015 / 2016 / 🌟 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 🌟 2020 / 2021

BTS Discography

BE (Essential)

🌟 BE (Deluxe) - Link

🌟 Skool Luv Affair (Special Addition) - Link

Map of the Soul 7 ~ The Journey ~ [JPN] - Link

[Coming] Albums (2 Cool 4 Skool to Map of the Soul: 7)

[goatsandgangsters]

For the trans asks! 1, 6, 14, 18, 25, 41?

1. How did you choose your name?

So the majority of people in my life call me either Em or EJ, though some people still call me Emeline (which is my given name). I don’t think I’ll ever consider it a deadname, because I do have some attachment, but I think the nicknames Em and EJ suite me better. People are welcome to use any of those options. While I’m particular about people getting my pronouns right and using neutral- or masculine-coded language, I’m kind of shrug emoji when it comes to names.

Em is actually largely @meyerlansky‘s doing (still suspended, rip), because they just... have a tendency to shorten people’s names and started calling me Em several years ago. And it just caught on! Particularly among online friends or mutual IRL friends, I looked around one day and was like “oh huh, a lot of people call me Em now, don’t they?” 

EJ has a bit more of an intentional story behind it: I first thought of EJ back in mmmmaybe late 2018? I saw a post on tumblr that was like, “I think it’s cool how there are a couple different Categories that transmasculine names tend to fall into” and listing those out. And one of them was initialisms—with examples like AJ, CJ, TJ. And I noticed, you know, J is always the second letter. And EJ is ACTUALLY MY INITIALS. And I just instantly felt really good about that, because here was a Very Gender Neutral Name, but it still already felt like a name I’d had my entire life. It was fresh and familiar all at once. It fit into this J pattern while also still feeling unique, because EJ is not as common as other -J initialisms. I first tried it out when I started going to a trans group IRL, so I have an entire trans friend group that only calls me EJ. The majority of people at work also call me EJ—similarly because nicknames just spread sometimes. I left my official documentation under Emeline, but mentioned to a couple people that I also go by EJ and then I blinked and almost every single person I work with calls me EJ. 

Both Em and EJ amuse me, because I’m surprised at how easy it is for people to pick up a nickname. I’ve found that people adjust to using a different name WAY more easily than they adjust to changing pronouns? Which is on the one hand an interesting observation, but on the other hand, it’s unfortunate because I CARE MORE ABOUT THE PRONOUNS PEOPLE USE THAN MY NAME

6. When did you realize you were transgender?

Short answer: 2012. I was a sophomore in college and one day I found out some people actually want to be their assigned gender?? I had thought we were all just miserably putting up with it. 

(There’s a longer answer here about realizing my gender in 2012 but then spending years and years overcoming my internalized guilt about “not being trans enough” and constantly moving my own goal post of “well I’m not trans enough because I don’t do x” and then doing x and going “OKAY BUT I HAVEN’T DONE Y” and then doing y and going “YEAH BUT I DON’T DO Z” and then wanting z and finally realizing, hey uh, how many times are you gonna move this goal post and also you’re eventually going to run out of goal posts—and finally having to go OKAY FINE, YES, I’M TRANS ENOUGH. I’M OUT OF EXCUSES TO INVALIDATE MYSELF.)

14. How long have you been out?

2018 was the first time I started telling people directly to use they/them pronouns for me. (I know, I know, took SIX YEARS RIGHT? But processing that is what my therapist is for.) But before that, I was definitely like in that vague place of “blogs about gender feelings and nonbinary stuff often enough that everyone who follows me like probably knew for a number of years before I said anything directly.” But in 2018, I was finally being Concrete and Direct about it, put it in all my socials, etc. Then in 2019, I came out to my parents and at my job for the first time. So officially, 2–3 years overall! 

18. How does your family feel about your trans identity?

If you asked them, they would tell you that they love and support me and they’re proud of me and they fully accept my identity. 

If you asked me, I would tell you that while they do love and support me, trans stuff is COMPLETELY BRAND NEW to them, so they don’t always know the right ways to show that support. It’s one of those “sometimes I wish it didn’t take work, but I know they’re trying and they mean well” situations

They ARE making progress, albeit more slowly than I’d like. Neither of them had ANY IDEA what I was talking about when I first came out. They very much... did not understand what I was telling them. So I made them both read a very good book on the subject, which they did read, and that helped lay some groundwork.

My dad has been consistently good about using neutral language from the start and as of a couple months ago started consistently using my pronouns! My mom still has not used my pronouns ever, which is kind of a bummer because she’s had... two years. She’s at the stage of “notices when she gets it wrong” or “aware enough to avoid pronouns,” which is better than not noticing at all, but it’s still not as good as getting it right. iT’S A PROCESS. I’m trying to be patient with it. They mean well. But god I wish it could just be easy, like a light switch. 

I still haven’t told them about my plans for top surgery. I’ve been putting off that conversation for....... months. It was actually the “pin in that for next week” comment to my therapist when we were wrapping up. But like, IDK IF YOU’RE STILL WORKING ON PRONOUNS, I FEEL LIKE “SURGICALLY REMOVING MY BOOBS” MIGHT SOUND LIKE A LOT?

25. What do you wish cis people understood?

I MEAN, QUITE A LOT. But if I have to get specific, I wish there was more understanding of why pronouns are actually important. I get the sense from a lot of cis people who are older and who don’t have a lot of understanding about queer stuff to begin with, that they think of pronouns as like “something they have to be PC about” and if they use the wrong pronouns I’m going to be mad and offended and they’re going to be sent to pronoun jail by the language police. Like, people approach pronouns by thinking “I need to remember that she uses they/them pronouns, so I need to only call her by them/them pronouns.” 

But actually, I’m asking that they stop seeing me as a woman. I don’t want a linguistic bandaid slapped over internal misgendering. If you can’t internalize that I’m not a girl, then pronouns will continue to be a struggle. I’d rather people call me the right thing than the wrong thing, but I don’t want to only be called the right thing. I want to also be seen as the right thing, too. It’s like one of my friends had a coworker call them by the wrong pronoun and the coworker came to apologize and then was like “alright, see you later girl!” with apparently no cognitive dissonance whatsoever. Pronouns are important, but they’re also not JUST language. Pronouns are important because they signify seeing people authentically. I want people to get my pronouns right, but I don’t want getting my pronouns right to be ALL that people do. 

Also, the idea that trans people are “angry and offended” when you misgender them because everyone is so sensitive and political correctness has gone too far, instead of like “it’s a painful reminder that you never get to just exist as your gender the way that cis people do, that no matter what you do there are always people who’ll use the wrong pronouns—sometimes unintentionally, sometimes intentionally, and it’s death by a thousand cuts” is a whole other rant I could go on. But if I get into how the myth of trans people being “easily offended” is dangerous, unfair, and untrue, we’ll be here all day. 

41. What is the place (blog, website, forum, IRL space) you get most of your info on being trans or on trans related things?

When I was first starting out, I did—for better or worse—get a lot of information from tumblr. On the one hand, I can’t shit talk, because it did allow me access to information that at the time I couldn’t find anywhere else. On the other hand, tumblr is often an ugly place for information (and whatever nonbinary discourse and misperceptions might exist now, it was 38475785 times worse in 2012. good god. just fuckin wall-to-wall trusc*m). I can’t tell you how many “HOW TO PASS AS A MAN (FTM)” articles and blogs I read back in 2012 as well. I absorbed any information I could find about anything, anywhere, because it was not as widely available. 

In the interceding years, I feel like I don’t know exactly where my information comes from. I just absorbed so much of it, wherever it could be found, that I don’t have a strong sense of where it comes from. I’ve watched countless “1 month on T / 3 months on T / 6 months on T / one year on T” videos on YouTube. I’ve trawled transbucket and facebook groups looking at people’s top surgery results. I’ve read lots of articles on fitting clothing and masculine style onto bodies that weren’t necessarily intended for those clothes. 

Spending IRL time with trans people though has been by far the most enriching and healing, though. It wasn’t necessarily where I learned the basics like different methods of top surgery, but it was where I started un-learning a lot of the emotional baggage I’d picked up along the way. 

[Trans ask game! What has been your gender journey?]

[thefloatingstone]

Last time I made a playlist of recommended youtube channels to enjoy while in lockdown or self quarantine, I focused on individual videos while also recommending other videos from the same channel.

I thought I’d make another list only this time I’m going to be recommending playlists or series on youtuber instead of just individual videos.

This is gonna go exactly like last time, so check out any of these that might seem interesting to you, and hopefully I can give you something to look into if you want something to watch but don’t feel like watching a Netflix or Crunchyroll show.

Last time I tried to put this under a read more break but it didn’t work and I ended up posting this long-ass post on everyone’s dash. Well I decided to do so again here. hit J to skip to the bottom of the post if you don’t feel like reading this whole thing. If you’re on tumblr mobile; why?

In no particular order;

Cinemassacre movie reviews and topics

All of you already know James Rolfe as the AVGN. I started watching him before Youtube was even a thing, before he was even signed on with Screwattack. Back when his videos could only be seen on his own website (or for some reason included on the free DVD you got with the local video game magazines). However, I eventually outgrew the outrage style humour of the AVGN episodes... but then James started doing Monster Madness where he would talk about his love for horror movies, and this where I learned about his vast knowledge about movie history and even films I had never even heard mention of before! I think it’s safe to say, he got me to be interested in movie history just as much as movie production and film as a viewing experience.

I recommend this playlist which is a hodgepodge of James talking about old horror movie franchises, talking about his first experience with Power Rangers as someone who didn’t grow up with it, or how Bob Ross is a childhood hero of his. It’s an excellent play list that’s really laid back but you learn a lot of stuff from it. James is very informed for the most part and it leads you to wanting to check out a lot of these things too, just because he’s so passionate about it.

If I ever get over my weird hang up about speaking out loud, these are the kinds of videos I’d like to make.

Vinesauce Vinny: The Neverhood

Vinny is by no means a new Let’s Player, having been on Youtube for over 10 years now, but I only started watching him a few months ago. I started with this playlist when I saw he was doing The Neverhood, a game I had heard about but never seen played before. The Neverhood is a bizarre game, as a point and click PC game from the 90s where the entirety of the video game was made with stop motion and clay. Something that sounds so insane you would say it’s impossible if not for the fact that it exists. The claymation itself is extremely well done, and the game has a really weird and absurd sense of humour. Just the strangest things happen in this thing. Now couple that with Vinny’s very dry and straightforward delivery and you have probably one of the funniest Let’s Plays I’ve watched in a long time.

This is also “short” for a Let’s Play series. With only 4 parts to it, the longest video only being a bit under and hour and 30 minutes. It’ll still take up a good chunk of your time, but it’s not as daunting as some of the other Let’s Plays I’ll mention on this list.

Team Four Star: Pokemon Shield Nuzlocke

Exactly what it says on the tin. The guys from Team Four Star play Pokemon Shield with Nuzlocke rules. They’ve done several Nuzlocke runs in the past, but I find the Pokemon Shield is the best one they’ve done. Especially since a lot of the needless fluff and grinding has been edited out. So unlike some of their previous series you don’t see a lot of Kieran and Grant running in a circle for an hour trying to catch a specific pokemon or trying to get to a certain level.

It’s also hilarious as they have a lot of “house rules” for the Nuzlocke often involving the exercise bike they.... have..... for some reason.

It’s very good and the gym battles become SUPER hype with the Nuzlocke rules and the music.

Baywatching

Having been going to a few years now, watch Allison try her very best to go through and do a video series where she talks about summarises every episode of Baywatch.

.... Ever. Single. Episode.

She’s not even close to done yet (and now she’s introduced Baywatch Nights AS WELL) but her trying to explain the batshit insanity of this show, it’s over the top characters, it’s insane plots and behind the scenes weirdness with all the enthusiasm and love for this slice of 90s is amazing. Please enjoy a good thick chunk of inside jokes, silly character voices, and a whole lot of ?????

Brutal Moose: Shenmue

Probably one of the most chill channels on all of Youtube, Brutal Moose aka Ian, prefers playing games you wouldn’t think would make for good Let’s Plays. And maybe they don’t, objectively. A collection of playlists covering Truck Simulator, Nancy Drew, Hidden Object games etc etc, spliced in with old commercials from drive in theaters from the 50s,60s and 70s. Ian’s Let’s Play channel is great for just putting on and letting play for company while you’re drawing or grinding in a video game or playing Stardew or something.

I recommend his Shenmue playthrough as Ian completely fell in love with the game and went on to play both the sequel and the newly released third game. Ian genuinely adores the weird voice acting and all the menial tasks and mini-games you can do. I watched this a lot in 2018 when I was going through a rough time, and it really helped me in a strange way to just put Ian on and listen to him talk to the chat and drive a forklift around for like 4 hours straight before going to Tomato Mart or wasting all his money on the gacha machines.

A Measured Response to “In Defense of Dark Souls 2″

At some point, big name youtuber Hbomberguy made a video called “In Defense of Dark Souls II”. I’m not subscribed to Hbomberguy but I enjoyed his video on why Sherlock (the BBC show) is trash. (come to think of it I should have added that to the first list). And it seems the video on Sherlock was really good and well argued.... and it seems his “In Defense of Dark Souls 2″ video... was not.

Using subjective language, bad representation of facts, or simply outright getting certain information wrong, Hbomberguy′s video on Dark Souls II is, at best, a man trying to argue that he likes Dark Souls II because it is “Objectively good”, rather than simply accept he likes it... because he likes it.

MauLer is kind of an asshole, but I have learned more about dissecting someone’s argument and deconstructing what they have said watching his response series than I have in any english or debate class I have ever had.

The response is over 10 hours long, but this is because MauLer takes time with each and every statement he takes umbrage with, discussing what is being said, discusses why it is false or dubious, and then compares with actual facts and research.

If you ever want to know how to to distinguish subjective opinion from objective fact in someone else’s argument regarding... ANYTHING really, I highly recommend this series.

I may not like MauLer as a person, but DAMN if he doesn’t know how to deconstruct an argument in a logic, emotionless way.

John Wolfe: Maize

Maize is a stupid game. a Stupid stupid game.

It involves sentient corn, and underground secret genetics lab, a Russian bootleg teddy bear that hates everyone, sentient corn, and a crumpet.

This game IMMEDIATELY went on my wishlist after watching this playthrough. Please watch John try and figure what the actual fuck is going on in this Monty Python-eque weird black comedy. It’s stupid, it’s weird, it’s bizarre and it’s honestly one of the funniest games I’ve seen streamed.

Hollywood: a Celebration of the Silent Era

This is not a youtube playlist. I mean it IS, but what this actually is, is a TV series released in the UK in 1980 covering the Silent Film era. As it was made in 1980, it includes interviews with many of the silent film stars who were often still alive during this documentary’s production. Each episode covers a specific theme of the silent movie era. One episode is about comedies, one is about WWI, one is about Westerns etc etc.

It’s a fascinating series, because it focuses on the silent era which, in modern day, I think many people unfairly think of as “those first few years of movies before movies really became a thing.” And that’s such a shame and really not true. The artistry, camera tricks, and raw nature of this early era of film making is so important and produced films which can still be watched today easily, possibly even easier than a few modern movies as often the very fact that the films are silent means they are universal, regardless of what language you speak.

I think an episode or two might have been turned to private or copyright claimed in this playlist, but I know if you do a search on youtube you can find the episode uploaded by someone else.

Diamanda Hagan: Bonekickers

Bonekickers is the show Mathew Graham made before he went on to work on the new Dr. Who. It is about archaeologists and it is God-fucking-Awful.

It is.... look. Ok. I like Archaeology a lot. But this isn’t a show that’s bad “if you like history” or “if you know things about archaeology”. This show is bad because it doesn’t make a single fucking lick of sense, all the characters are awful and terrible, and even if you understand what’s going on in the story you’re still going to be screaming “WHY????” at the screen as each new baffling stupid piece of the puzzle slots into place.

Diamanda Hagan has 0 time for this garbage and she’s going to walk you through each episode to show you how truly horrible this piece of garbage is.

Cry Plays: Ori and the Blind Forest

With Ori and the Will of the Wisps releasing recently, now is a great time to go and watch Cry playthrough the first Ori game. an absolutely gorgeous piece of work with a beautiful soundtrack and really likeable character designs and a sweet story, Ori is a great game to put on, sit back, and just let it wash over you. Cry’s playthrough is also great because although its a Metroidvania game, Cry fast forwards the parts where he backtracks for a long period of time, so you don’t get stuck watching him run back and forth as he tries to figure out where to go next or anything like that.

Cry also recently started playing the sequel as well!

If you enjoyed this list at all, please consider tipping me for a coffee

☕️ Ko-fi ☕️

[nomoneytoplay]

Legrand Legacy: Tales of the Fatebounds

Bought for: $1.99

Played on: Nintendo Switch 

Release date: January 24, 2018

Developer: SEMISOFT

Publishers: Another Indie, Mayflower Entertainment 

Game Type: JRPG, Action-Adventure, Turn-based tactic, indie game

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC

ESRB Rating: T for Teen - Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Pros & Cons

A great throwback to classic J-RPGs

A beloved group of characters, all of them filled with an impressive character arc and development. 

You can use their special attacks at any time without worry.

All attacks, when performed, have a small roulette. Hitting the goal line for a “Perfect” the attack deals more damage, hitting close to the goal bar for “Good” the attack deals a moderate amount of damage. But if you miss it, a “Poor” attack will deal low damage. It is both a great and frustrating feature, the same applies when you are guarding.

A special bar will fill up during battle so you can deliver a powerful attack to your opponents!

Main enemies also have special attacks and they will perform them at random times in battle. 

Characters are well animated in conversation scenes, but in-game character models aren’t very impressive. 

A turn-based tactical mini game that is so much fun! 

A variety of side-quests, some aren’t really exciting but rewards make them worth doing and EXP points gain. 

Graphics aren’t very impressive, especially the in game graphics and cinematic cutscenes that resemble a PS2 game.

Collect too many items and your character will move slowly because of too much weight. However you can turn that feature off in the option menu, SO WHY HAVE IT?

Game crashes only a few times for me. 

No voice acting, even though there’s a moment where the plot is narrated by one of the characters. The entire game is one long script, so get ready for a lot of reading. 

Character got stuck in an area of the map and I couldn’t get out! 

Your party members are really weak, sooo much healing!

Items are weirdly named! 

Keep an eye on your gold, you don’t earn gold by winning battles but by selling some expensive items.

My Experience:

I once mentioned that I am a big fan of Tales of Xillia, one thing that makes that game incredible and every single game of it’s genre like it. Is the long journey of a group of characters, together to fight monsters, form friendships, explore lands and reach the end whether it be together or only one. So does Legrand Legacy have all those components? Yes, it does! 

True Legrand Legacy is not like Tales, however is a great throwback of games in the genre just like it. I kept seeing it in the top twenty chart of the Nintendo eShop, sure you can argue that a cheap game will be in that rank. But curiosity, a quick YouTube search and two dollars to spend got me to play this truly bizarre treasure. 

One thing that Legrand Legacy does amazing is it’s leveling up system. You’ll get power up points to raise your character’s attributes. The power up menu gives out the amount required for your character to gain a new skill. However in my playthrough I did just the opposite, I raised all their attributes evenly, so I failed to gain a lot of those special skills, that was an error on my part. With that in my game, I still pretty much managed to continue my pleasant experience with little care, even though I still had plenty of skills to unlock. 

The one thing that caught my attention in Legrand Legacy was the character conversations, they display the main and important character’s faces. They appear on the bottom of the screen next to their text boxes. This animation is so nice, it helps appreciate these character’s faces a little more because the game’s graphics are a bit…..well awful. I would be remiss if I wasn’t truthful, some parts of the game just look really bland. All the npcs look the same, some places look terrible and animations make the game lag. On occasion I was crossing my fingers in hope that the game didn’t freeze on me or in some areas the main character wouldn’t get stuck in areas of the map. 

When I bought Legrand Legacy, I thought I was going to just play for a few hours, forget about it and delete it shortly after. But surprisingly I have hours and hours of gameplay. I absolutely enjoyed the game for what it is, even though I am not giving this game a big score for the main issues that are very noticeable. As of the time I am writing this review, the game is at the current price that I bought it. If you are a fan of JRPG, this is a nice throwback to that genre. The low price is an adventure worth trying out but if you aren’t sure of it, search for gameplay video. 

So take a moment to appreciate those diamonds in the rough. Perhaps if you give this game a try you will be drawn to it like I did!

A score of 65 out of 100 pennies.