The Naughts that which scribble.

Scribblenaughts for the Nintendo DS reminds me of a very clever game akin to one you would find on Newgrounds. It even looks like it was made using a flash program. The only problem is...this is not a game I would pay full price for. I rented it from my local Blockbuster at the corner. Granted, I would never pay full price for a puzzle game to begin with.

The objective in each level is simply "Get the Star". However, there's obligatory shit in the way of getting said star, or there's an objective to fulfill to make the star appear. To solve each puzzle, you need to summon objects by writing out what you want to us. Type JETPACK like I tend to do a lot, and you get a jetpack to help you across the chasms. Type PISTOL, and you get a gun to shoot things with. You're starting to get the idea.

Just screwing around, I typed in GOD, and got a bearded man in a white robe. Fascinated, I typed SATAN, which summoned the devil. The two started fighting until one of them exploded in a cloud of smoke. I laughed.

Essentially, what we have, is a game about thinking outside the box and utilizing problem solving skills using tools we think will work in a given situation. Sure, it would make sense to cut down that tree with the star in it with an AXE and fall it at that...but I found it more interesting to summon a BEAVER and let him do the work.

It's amusing, but not without it's flaws...

For one, moving around is a pain in the padded rear. It's one of those games where you have to use the stylus to do everything. The face buttons and d-pad move the camera. And the very loose physics will bounce items around across the board if your run into them.

Again, I wouldn't recommend paying full price for this game, as I forsee this game going to the $9.99 fairly quickly anyway.

Monthly Recomendations for September

75% done with September and nothing really of note has occurred to me other than getting into the habit of turning on the morning news when I get up. Even if it's just for background noise. At the moment the wind is blowing rather aggressively out on the balcony.

The collection of "Code Geass: Nightmare of Nunally" has been completed over on Onemanga.com. Amazing that the Alternate Re-Telling of the series is completed than the actual Code Geass manga. I've only read the first chapter so I can't say I know too much about it besides it being a girl-power "The crippled girl gets to kick butt" sort of work.
Speaking of Manga, this month on Onemanga, I'm recommending "Lucu Lucu", the story of a young boy who winds up living with the Princess of Hell and her scarecrow companion in their bid of "Spreading good deeds to prevent Hell from overflowing". Heavily slap-stick oriented. Though, as an Episcopal Faithful (think of that as a subsidiary of the Catholic Church), I can't help but feel a little offput on how the Catholic icons are often represented in manga as short tempered, narrow-minded, and overall just unlikeable. Though on occasion you do see the occasional manga about a boy stuck living with a big-knockered Angel, but that kind of story is a dime-a-dozen.

On Anime Recomendations, following on the Fractured Transmissions tradition of being late to the party, Gaia Online has a unique theater section, as well as a good deal of Anime from Funimation. Recently I've been picking at the CLAMP series XxXHolic, the story of a cynical young man, Watanuki, who has the ability to see spirits who winds up working for the rather lazy yet MILFy Seer Yuuko and her two creepy loli-lesbianish assistants. The Seer also lives with a Mokuna- a character from CLAMPS previous series "Magic Knights Rayearth". They even joke about that.
"One Mokuna, two Mokuna. There's only two."

Video Game recomendations- If you have XBOXlive, I heavily suggest you invest the 80 Microsoft points into Indie Games Section's "I made a game with Zombies". It is essentially Geometry Wars, but way more fun when you're drunk.

Food recomendations: If you don't have a Geno's Pizza in your area...well, heh, sucks to be you.

The Team Fortress Hat Scandal

Newsflash! Developer Valve cracks down on cheaters! Cheaters cry HAX!


It's been a bit more than a year since I stopped playing Team Fortress 2. While an excellant multiplayer shooter to be sure, it was one of those games I do not excell at. Like Halo and Call of Duty, it's one of those games where I will have the highest death rate on the server. Some times I have my good days, most days I spend the entire match taking it in the digital ass.

However, thanks to a web comic I read called Nerf Now, which deals heavily with TF2, I manage to stay unintentionall up to date on the latest patches, features, and fixes.
From what I've learned, TF2 implemented hats into the game...Not sure if they do anything, but they're there. They appear at random making it a bitch to get them. So, some guys got together and created a program where all you do is idle around, and wait for the drops. You don't shoot anyone...you just Idle.
Valve did not take kindly to this. In a recent crackdown, all the Idlers lost everything they had unlocked while those who had not cheated for hats were granted a little halo hat.

Oh, the Nerd Rage (Post from Valve forum)...It burns like the summer sun on your skin, doesn't it? I haven't felt this much heat coming from the nerd community since 4th Edition got released.

It's a game, people. Play it and have fun with it. Don't bitch and whine as though the developers turned out to be the ones who molested you as a child.

Now, to be perfectly honest, I'm all for playing the game outside of the means it was meant to be played...but what these guys were doing is ludicrous. You play a shooter...to shoot people. Not camp out and wait for some magical hat or weapon to drop just to have it.

Then again, I have no sympathy for people who turn first person shooters into some sort of martial art lifestyle~ Primarily because they're better than me. And we all know there's no room for anything like that in the world.

Well done, Valve. Well done.

Grand Theft Auto- Retrospect

So, recently, I decided to go ahead and give the Lost and the Damned a spin. If you've forgotten what that is, that is one of the episodic downloadables for Grand Theft Auto 4. Instead of running around Liberty City as Slavic gun-for-hire Balki...er, I mean, Niko Bellic, you are cast as Johnny Klebitz, a member of The Lost, a Biker Gang occasionally encountered in the main game, and seemingly starts his story at the beginning of Niko's, as many allusions to earlier missions are brought up. We even see Niko for a split second telling some guy off in the opening.
Like San Andreas before it, the emphasis is gang cred, and also Turf Wars make a comeback. However, instead of being a hood rat who's all about the bling, you're a jewish biker with a head for gang respect, brotherhood, and everything the Hells Angels probably are.

And coming in October, unless providence decides otherwise, the next episode will be released, entitled 'The Ballad of Gay Tony', in which we play the bodyguard of...Gay Tony...An Alternate Lifestylist mobster featured in the main game for one mission, yet mentioned a handful of times. Luis Fernando Lopez...oy...
Since it's about Gay Tony apparently, I'm wondering if it'll feature some really snazzy duds to change into. Maybe the Purple Dildo will return as a wieldable weapon.

Well, let us review our GTA antagonists, and my impressions...

GTA 1: Travis, Kat, Nikki, Divine, Bubba, Troy, Kivlov and Ulrika- All silent, all seen from the above view, and all seem to wear the same yellow sweater.

GTA 2: Claude Speed (White) , as noted in the manual, also seen in a full video intro-- also once of the coolest intro's to a GTA game.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byw1DKLy7Zw. Claude would be the one in the video who looks like Hayden Christianson as he was in Jumper.

GTA 3: Claude Speed once more, or Fido as one NPC affectionately refers to him. Silent. Efficient. Loyal, as long as the money holds out.

GTA 3- Vice City: Tommy Vercetti (Itallian American) , the first GTA Guy to have a voice. Voiced by professional Mafia Actor Ray Liotta, Tommy approaches business with a very So-What attitude and is all about power and money. A caricature of Tony Montana if he hadn't gone into crack and remained straight. My personal favorite. Takes place in the 1970's.
Trivia Note: Ken Rosenberg, Tommy's lawyer, is a Mission Giver in San Andreas, and makes reference that either Tommy has turned his back on Ken by the time the early 90's roll's around, or he is dead at San Andreas's point in the timeline, a victim of 'the business'.

GTA 3- San Andreas: Carl 'CJ' Johnson (African American) . Former runner for GTA 3's Sonny Leone. The game takes place before GTA 3, and actually sets the stage for Claude Speed's story, and Carl and Claude bump heads on more than one occasion. Carl is an opportunist as a modern Gangsta. He talks a good game until he is put into a corner. In the end, he's really all about the Benjamins and a good time and little else.

GTA Stories- Vice City and Liberty City: In both these games, you play lesser characters from the previous games, and serve as prequels. In Vice City Stories, you play the brother of Lance Vance who is gunned down in Vice Cities beginning story scene. Liberty City Stories has you playing the role of a muscle for the Leone Family, Tony Cipirani, whom Claude runs missions for in GTA 3. Nothing truly impressive about these characters...they have their places as GTA Guys and little more.

GTA 4: Niko Bellic (European) . Slavic military man turned Mercenary, taking jobs and contracts from the Russian Mafia, a gang of Irish Bank Robbers, and ultimatly the Itallian Mafia. He is the first GTA Guy to actually question why he does what he does, while all others are regarded as "don't give a shit" maniacs outside of their loyalties. What starts as a story of revenge turns into a journey to find out just what the American Dream really is. Niko hates what he does, but he can't escape it. "What is my profession, Roman?" He asks at one point. "I deal in death."

GTA 4- The Lost and the Damned: Johnny Klebitz (Jewish) , Vice President of The Lost biker gang. Now we're back to less angsty ground. Johnny is a more traditional GTA Guy. He examplifies typical biker qualities- the need for speed, big guns, fast women, and good times, but he isn't afraid of having to kick someone's teeth in if they cross that line. Another personal favorite.

GTA 4- The Ballad of Gay Tony: Luis Fernando Lopez (Latin) , a member of the Northwood Dominican Drug dealers and the personal bodyguard of Anthony "Gay Tony" Prince. Luis Fernando...why does that name just not roll off the tongue? I'm not opposed to a latino GTA Guy, as they're all over the spectrum. We even have an Asian one featured in the DS Game. I wonder if the story will continue the growing trend of increadingly complicated characters and have Luis and Gay Tony come into conflict with their feelings. Well...We've had a black GTA Guy already...why not an openly gay one...?

Rockstar...you so crazy...

Scraps's Guide to RPing Canon Characters

Since the role-playing scene in the local area has fallen deader than a Billy Mays VS. Steve Irwen joke, I've been getting my RP fix over at Gaia Online-- Normally a haven for 4channers to get their Troll on, all the while sporting a nifty Avatar Customization feature that makes the focus of the whole site-- and finding and getting into a good RP on that site can be a trick. I tend to steer clear of the section dedicated to original RPs, because it tends to have nothing original except a thousand threads for Vampire Romance, Slave and Master RPs, and High School themes games. That's the main reason I tend to troll the Series RP section, where you can sometimes find RP's based on Video Games and Anime. While trying to find a good game to join in on, I realized on glaring flaw-- Not very many people can play Canon Characters in Canon form. It's embarassing to read and see it, especially when there's a mix of really great role-players and really piss poor little kids trying to pretend they're Goku. It brings tears to my eyes.

I know we all have a mental image of the characters we idolize. And we always tend to inject them with a little more "oomph" than they really do. Let's take Mr. Lelouch "Saw V for Vendetta one too many times" Lamprouge from my all-time-won't-shut-the-fuck-up-about series, Code Geass. A lot of RP's and Fanfics I've scrolled through tend to make him out to be some sort of James Bond/Guy Fawkes lovechild Badass, who always knows just what to say and how to say it, and when to push the button. In reality...Lelouch has incredible insecurities about not being in a position of control, has an enormous Little Sister Complex, and tends to shatter to pieces at the first sign that things are going wrong. He has next to zero charismatic skill unless he's wearing a mask, he's very far away and communicating by satelite, or has the obvious advantage in the situation. You don't see these aspects played out very much in RP. But that's all part of the character. You have to take the flaws that come with the package, or you're not playing the Canon Character...you're playing your INTERPRETATION of that character.

And in my book, if you're wanting to play a character that's Canon, but you don't play it as such, I would ask you to change that characters name-- because you're not playing them right. Yes, I am an asshole like that. Trust me, if you didn't want to know my opinion, you wouldn't be reading this right now.

So, that said, I decided to write a small guide on Role-Playing Series Canon characters for you forum Role-Players out there on the internets, or you people about to roll up a character for a seriously Fluff-Heavy campaign. These are my opinions and mine alone, so don't get pissy just because I don't agree with your idea of how to portray Canon creations.
-If you haven't actually seen the film/comic/anime/video game that the character appeared in, you aren't worthy of playing them.
-Know every aspect of your character. Do your homework, hit up the Wiki.
"But, Scraps, I don't wanna do that much work! What if it's just for a Forum game that probably won't even last a week?" Then...why are you wasting your time?
-Interject minor references from the Characters past in dialog...not in large drawn out diatribes that make everyone roll their eyes, but just little nods towards their accomplishments and/or failures. Not only does it add a touch of flavor, it also can show other players that you really know your character well enough.
-Don't get it into your head that just because you're playing someone vital to a series that the RP is probably themed from that you're immune from getting knocked around some. In fact, those moments are great role-playing moments for you--which leads to...
-Act in combat as your character would. If they are known for being a coward, you better not be the one in the front of the combat form throwing the first punch, so to speak. Strategy and what seems logical to win the fight be damned. You're playing you on that table, you're playing someone else with established goals and means.--
And finally...dammit people...put a little theatrics into it. Don't just post or say what you're saying and what you do...put a little energy into it, paint a picture of this character you're portraying. Give your fellow players something to envision.So there you got it folks. Take this with you if you ever find yourself in the situation that has you playing a character not of your own creation, nor the GM's. Take these rules with you to forums, use them as rules for your own Gaia RP- and see the kind of talent that emerges. You'll be surprised who you'll bump into in such a den of scum and faggotry.

New Name, New Amibtions, New Adventures

This blog---I should use it's power to save mankind.

...Nah.

So as you may have noticed, I've tweaked the name of the blog---Now no longer Fractured Transmission- The Blog, like some cheap Summer Blockbuster, it is now Project 14, the FT Blog. And we're all a part of Project 14, whether you want it or not.

District 9 comes out today-- and I am not going to go see it. I'm sure Peter Jackson did a good job on it. I'm sure it'll be a good movie. I just don't care to see movies that depict humanity treating aliens who're trapped on our planet like prisoners. I already have a vast dislike for my species as is, so I don't need more reason. I can't enjoy films like that.
With that said, I still have reservations against the G.I. Joe movie. An action film based on a line of toys and cartoons from the 70's and 80's. Sitting through the previews to watch Year One (really funny, btw), they showed the trailer mainly featuring a couple of Joe's running around what I think is France in these power suits that make you run and jump and Superman. It all seemed extremely...childish. I shouldn't be surprised. I wasn't that big into G.I. Joe growing up. I was more into Ghostbusters, He-Man, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I also recall being a fan of the short-run New Adventures of Peter Pan, back when it was hip to run a New Adventures Of spinnof of something popular Disney had done.
Aladdin- The Series, for instance. Ran for a good couple of years. The Adventures of Tarzan. The Little Mermaid had a very short lived series back when I was a wee tyke, same with Fieval. Boy, that makes me feel old. Fieval was the story about this Russian family of mice who immigrate to America, and later move out to the wild west during the 1800's. Few recall the original, and the sequel spawned a short run cartoon on saturday mornings.

Our new rat Roz is finally getting comfortable around us enough to take food from our hands now. With me, at least. Still as jittery as all hell when it comes to loud noises and sudden movements. Doesn't just grab with her teeht like Ursula did, she takes with her hands.

Pokemon: This time with more trumpets

So yesterday I found my old copy of Pokemon Ruby and decided to take it a spin on the old save on there while paying homage to the toilet spirits...and I think I know why I stopped playing these games-- the music is godawful. Reflecting back, the Pokemon series is not widely known for it's musical score. I sat there, trying to discern what instrument I was hearing, and I think it's mostly trumpet, with some flute or other wind instrument.
I also ran into the dilemma a lot of gamers run into when they've put an RPG away for a long while-- We tend to forget where we are, what we were doing, and from what direction we came into this area from. We even forget the controls a little. It can not bode well for the world when the hero trying to save it develops Alzheimers.

Chapter 7 of Requiem After got put up yesterday over at Fanfiction.net. Felt a lot more confident with this chapter than the previous. Though I did revise the last segments of Chapter 6 to fit in with the change in plot.