and right now I’m playing GTAIV like everyone else on the planet (or whoever spent that $500 million filling Rockstar’s coffers right now. Keep up with me over at Gamestooge!
Weekend Update with Kevin Neala… Wait!
Hmm… What did I do this week? I wrote a mediocre post on Holocaust Memorial Day.Ā A review of Ikaruga that I quite like, mostly because it is more creative than I’m usually allowed to do over at Gamestooge, which is why it is posted here. They wanted something a little more objective, which I gave them and that should be going up in the next few days…
This week is supposed to be a little slow at the Capitol, not that that means anything, no one seems to know what is going to happen over there. Next week is supposed to be crazy and I’ll be working the weekend, which is not something I’m looking forward to, but then no one asked. I’m just the intern š
What is in store for this week? If I can get around to it a little first impressions review of GTA4 multi-player, a retro review of an as of yet to be determined game (probably something on virtual console or live arcade), I’m also going to start a playthrough of the Space Quest series for Talking Time, and I think that is quite enough. I also need to finish reviewing two pieces of writing, and start putting down ink on paper for my own stories. If I get it all done I’ll be very impressed with myself. I’m a realist though and expect me to get through maybe half of it… Go Me!
In other news my Warlock on Wow (Elune) just reached level 60 today… 3 1/2 years after I created him! I’m hoping not to take another year to get him to 70. But, then you never know…
Yom HaShoah
is May 2nd, it’s the day set aside by Jews to remember the victims of the Holocaust. On Monday ( 4/28 ) the California Legislature passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution 83, recognizing this week as Holocaust Memorial Week and urged all Californians to reflect on the Holocaust, those whose lives were lost in it, honoring those who survived it, and committing ourselves to meaningfully acting to insure it never happens again…
It was a lovely ceremony with stirring speeches and calls for action. The Chamber full of Holocaust survivors who have made California their home. The phrase “never forget” was said multiple times.
Yet, as they spoke, and I type this, thousands are being killed. In Darfur, Rwanda, Tibet, Ukraine ,aamongIndigenous populations around the globe. While we remember the horrors that were what are we doing to prevent those occurring today? Why do we turn a blind eye to the suffering of our fellow humans? The United States has more than once been referred to as a City upon the Hill, a beacon to the rest of the world, it seems though that we shine too bright, and cannot see the rest of the world dazzled as we our with ourselves.
I’m not writing this to be pessimistic, the pessimist has already given up, he mentions atrocities and pain only to confirm and justify his inaction. No, I mention this so that while we remember we might consider how we can prevent. I alone cannot do anything to stop the genocides across the world. I am small and powerless while potentates and Great Nations do as they please. But, I can be a small light. With my actions, small as they may be, I can make a statement one that I can share with my friends and family in the hopes that through my example they will be inspired to make small changes in their lives. I don’t flatter myself in thinking that my small ripple will ever become a wave. My stand is only a testament to myself, a single finger pointing and loudly declaring that “This is Wrong.”
My unobjective review of Ikaruga
My opining on Ikur
Oh Ikaruga, I remember so well the first forum posts concerning you, the sequel to that most excellent of shooters Radiant Silvergun, but you were released for the Dreamcast in 2002, long after that console was dead in the U.S. Forums were buzzing with rumors of your porting to the Gamecube, that we might be blessed with your presence here in the States. I read every scrap of news I could find on you, when I heard you’d be coming stateside I rushed to the local EB games to reserve a copy of you, it didn’t bother me that that guy behind the counter had never heard of you, had to look you up, and then proceeded to butcher your name repeatedly. Whatever.
Then you arrived and I flew over to the EB hoping they hadn’t sold my copy yet. Turns out my copy was the only one they had ordered. I took you home and slid you into the Gamecube, stoked to experience your polarity based game play. The groans and moans about difficulty I’d read on-line hadn’t bothered me. I’d cut my teeth on games like Ninja Gaiden, Alien Soldier, and Gradius, I thought I knew. I was wrong. I’ve never been so humbled by a game in my life. Everything was so simple. Why was I so bad? Shoot everything on the screen. Enemies are black or white when you match their color you absorb their shots, only dying when hit by the opposite color (when white you absorb white shots and die from black and vice-versa when your black). You only has five levels! I never got passed the third. You crushed me. Even on repeated plays I could never get higher than a B on a level. I took my licks and retreated, you were replaced by easier games, games I could beat. Then I sold you back to EB and forgot about you…
But you haunted my dreams, visions of black on white, unending, incomprehensibleĀ patterns of monochromatic shots. How could I have failed so miserably? Why had I given up so soon? Too late though to get you back, I could only find you on Ebay and the price to redeem myself was too high… until now. For ten dollars I can play you again on the Xbox 360. I eargerly paid and waited for the download to finish. Finally, I would be able to banish the doubts and vanquish my failings, I would conquer you! So I thought.Ā Ikaruga, you are no easier now thanĀ you were 6 years ago. So my shame begins anew. The difference is that this time I’m not quitting until I’ve seen the ending credits.
Look for the objective, actual, review later this week