Link - note, spoilers within, read at own risk!

Very interesting stuff, still exceedingly excited!

Technorati Tags: suikoden, suikoden tierkreis, suikoden characters

Now, a new Suikoden game - Suikoden Tierkreis - with graphics harkening back to the glory days of the series. I really can’t be any more excited!

Taken from duefiumi.com

Characters

The main character has no name, but apparently will be voiced by Takashi Hiroshi. It is unknown if this will just be in ‘grunts’ a la Lazlo and Freyjadour in Suikoden IV and V or like Kyril in Suikoden Tactics.

The character Jail (ジェイル) will be voiced by Ryotaro Okiayu. The female character Marika (マリカ) will be voiced by Sakamoto Maya. Ryu (リウ) will be voiced by Tetsuya Kakihara and finally, Dirk (ディルク) will be voiced by Konishi Katsuyuki who is also voicing Viktor in the Suikoden radio drama detailed on this site.

A porpoise race (I mean a species, not an athletic competition) has been confirmed for the game. All together now; grrrroan!

Actual character information; The hero is a youth from an idyllic village, Sidro. Jail is a quite, but sometimes brash young man who cares about the hero and others within the town guard. The character Dirk is the leader of the Sidro town guard, he teaches the others to fight and is very strong, etc. Marika is a friend of the hero from childhood and daughter of the village chief as well as a member of the town guard, while Ryu is a vagabound who arrived in the village some time ago. He doesn’t like to fight very often.

Other characters shown include Yula (ユラ), a brown haired girl who appears in battle screenshots and Misrach (ミズラック), a tanned man with a small beard in the same battle shots.

Gameplay

The gameplay takes advantage of the Nintendo DS’s touch screen. The top screen shows character status information. HP, MP, status effects and the like. Meanwhile, you can use the DS stylus to enter commands in battle on the touch screen.

Other observations include: The battle system is four person battle system, like Suikoden IV. As such, it is a traditional RPG, not a strategy RPG like Suikoden Tactics. Unite/Combo attacks are confirmed to be in.

Looking at the status screen it appears traditional Suikoden MP is OUT, to be replaced with standard MP numbers comparable to HP. Like in Final Fantasy VII, for example (and 90% of every RPG ever).

Setting

The game is set in the Kingdom of Salsaville. However, the hero’s home village appears to be called Sidro Village (シトロ村). Other locations include; the town of Saad, Freseria Forest, the Marcina Plains, Septaflos (the home of the porpoise-based race) and El Kalaal, the palace of a nation (not Salsaville) ruled by Danash VIII.

Plot

Supposedly the game OPENS with the defeat of the 108 Stars of Destiny at the hands of the game’s villain with only four survivors (not including the hero). The quest involves reassembling the 108 Stars of Destiny.

In the movie scene screenshots it shows the 108 Stars of Destiny in their “final battle” and being decimated by the enemy except for 4 remaining warriors that are still standing. The main character leading the stars in the video looks a lot like the main character, but maybe older and in proper armor. It could well be that the entire game is a flashback leading up to that event, rather than you being an unrelated character after the fact getting drawn into the web of affairs.

A group called the Swordsmen of the Night (or possibly Swordsmen of Hell) are stated to be involved in the game somehow.

I’ll keep blogging on this game as and when I find more info, if not for anyone that ever reads this, but for me to remember it!

Technorati Tags: suikoden, suikoden tierkreis, suikoden tierkreis ds, suikoden 2, rpg

There are many things that could lead to someone dubbing a comedy bad. The writing, the acting, the plot - anything.

Tropic Thunder, a cast of Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr, Ben Stiller and even Tom Cruise. Out of those four, who are more-often-than-not dubbed funnymen? Jack Black and Ben Stiller. If you were an alien, or had lived under a bridge with no electricity for fifty years and the first comedy you see is Tropic Thunder you’d come out thinking that Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise are kinda funny, Jack Black is just fat and likes to wear as little clothing as possible and talk about his ass and Ben Stiller relies on his stupid face and stupid voice to eek out giggles out of drunk women.

Tropic Thunder sucks, big time. A terrible movie which made me laugh six times. Four times at Downey Jr, once at Tom Cruise and once at that slightly pudgy guy from Drillbit Taylor and Pineapple Express. (imdb.com names him as one Danny R. McBride).

the movie’s premise is simple, a bunch of big stars go into Vietnam to make a war movie, they get mistaken as invading American soldiers and shit goes down.

With annoying bit parts for the ever shitty Steve Coogan and the annoying Matthew MCConanananana-hey! The film just didn’t do it for me on any level. I like stupid comedys every now and again, I laugh at Will Ferrell, I laugh at Reno 911 (a lot) but Ben Stiller, you ain’t done no good with this one, boy!

Avoid this one, please.

Technorati Tags: tropic thunder, ben stiller, jack black, robert downey jr, tom cruise, danny r mcbride, drillbit taylor, pineapple express, steve coogan

Arthur C. Clarke sadly passed away earlier this year, but merely days before his sad passing, he finished work on what would be his last novel, The Last Theorem. Co-written with the equally matured brilliant mind of Frederik Pohl, The Last Theorem is about the simple truth of maths and the power of science.

Ranjit Subramanian, the main character of the novel, is a young,bright amatuer mathematician whose fascinated with Fermat’s Last Theorem. Not being mathematically savvy, this book gave me a lot to think about and taught me a lot about, at the very least, the few mathematicvians, theories and math games that are among the many out there. The story follows Ranjit’s life as he goes from a little nobody student on Sri Lanka to a worldwide celebrity and loving Husband and Father.

With simple prowess, Clarke and Pohl propel the reader along Ranjit’s life, stopping here and there to make note of the other major factor in the novel, the aliens! Yes, big ones and small ones, all semi-interested in the happenings of humanity.

The Last Theorem is a light read with heavy-ish science and mathematics sprinkled in here and there. Overall, though not as powerful, groundbreaking or innovative as the authors previous works, it stands as a nice swan song from Clarke and a great reminder of why Pohl is and forever will be, one of the science fiction greats.

Technorati Tags: frederik pohl, arthur c clarke, the last theorem, fermat, ranjit subramanian

So, there are some games coming out this year that I’m excited about. some I’m buying day of release, others I’ll just rent as soon as I can - as I’m not made of money! Here’s the list of those games:

Fable 2
This game looks like a lot of fun. I played the first one for a while, but its quirks grew tiresome and I never finished it. This, however, has online play. Now, I’m not entirely evil, only slightly. but one thing I cannot wait to do in this game is go into my friends worlds, flirt with their wives and kill their families. Its just something I really want to do. This game is going to be a lot of fun!

I also like the idea of owning every building in the game world. Along with a dog to use or abuse, this game is looking more fun by the second! I have my pre-order ready and can’t wait for the XBLA game, Pub Games, to make me some money!

Fallout 3
I remember, back in the day, sitting in front of my off-white computer, wading my way through the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout & Fallout 2. I honestly don’t remember too much of the story, as it was quite some time ago. but every now and again me and my friends would talk about it. Now we have a new one to be excited about. By the creates of Oblivion and Morrowind comes Fallout 3, open world apocalytpic fun!

Reading previews of tiny snippets of game play has me practically salivating at the prospect of playing this game.

Left4Dead
Simple really, I enjoy shooting zombies. I also like the idea of playing as a a zombie, I really think I’d make a great zombie.

Tales of Vesperia
I downloaded the demo, got in one fight and decided I’m gonna like this. The same formula as Tales of Symphonia on Gamecube, so its not likely to disappoint.

Castle Crashers
Four player madness from the guys that brought us Alien Hominid. I’m in!

Infinite Undiscovery
i don’t know too much about this one, except that it looks - graphically - amazing. Plus I love me RPGs, so this is sure to do right by me.

Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise
I want penguins and tigers and some sort of penguin-tiger, which will be dubbed a Tiguin.

Spore
So many reasons why this game is going to be awesome, I’m just hoping I have my main computer fixed for its release!

de Blob
Looks like some good fun.

Kirby Super Star Ultra
I love me some Kirby!

Sim City Creator
Not having a working graphics powerhouse Pc right now, I’m missing out on some great PC games. I’ve also had to miss out on the latest Sim City installment - which I’ve read mixed things about. This Wii game looks interesting, like Sim City Lite. I’ll definitely give it a go.

Wario Land: Shake It!
More for my wife, but I’ll give it a go. Looks like a lot of fun!

FIFA 09
Not a huge fan of football games, but I always rent them

Tom Clancy’s EndWar
This one looks a little different, should be interesting - will download demo or rent definitely.

Gears of War 2
Multiplayer looks awesome, will try this one out for sure.

James Bond: Quantum of Solace
Stupidn title. But still, working off the Call of Duty 4 engine, should be interesting. If it can recreate the multiplayer of that, I’ll be in.

Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party
There are no funnier games out there than the Rabbids games, to me, they are it for making me laugh. So a new minigames release from them is a definite buy in this house hold - just hoping we’ll have the balance board by then!

Final Fantasy XIII
Love my RPGs

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
This sounds very good too.

The Last Remnant
Don’t know enough about this yet, but what I’ve read sounds promising.

Chrono Trigger DS
Missed out on this in the past, where it wasn’t released in England for long. will get this day of release!

Little King’s Story
Sounsd great to me.

So, there you have it. Anyone else looking forward to any of these games? Or know of any games I’ve missed that are going to be great?

Technorati Tags: Lost Odyssey, Unreal Tournament 3, Halo 3, Soul Calibur 4, Mario Kart Wii, Fable 2, Fallout 3, Left4Dead, Tales Of Vesperia, Castle Crashers, Infinite Undiscovery, Viva Pinata Trouble In Paradise, Spore, de Blob, Kirby Super Star Ultra, Sim City Creator, Wario land Shake It, FIFA 09, EndWar, Gears of War 2, Quantum of Solace, Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party, Final Fantasy XIII, Tales of Symphonia Dawn Of The New World, The Last Remnant, Chrono Trigger, Little King’s Story

Contest

The New York Public Library. A silent sanctuary of knowledge; a 100-year-old labyrinth of towering bookcases, narrow aisles and long marble hallways. For Doctor Stephen Swain and his daughter, Holly, it is the site of a nightmare. Because for one night this historic building is to be the venue for a contest. A contest in which Swain is to compete - whether he likes it or not.

The rules are simple: Seven contestants will enter, only one will leave.

With his daughter in his arms, Stephen Swain is plunged into a terrifying fight for survival. The stakes are high, the odds brutal. He can choose to run, to hide or to fight - but if he wants to live, he has to win. For in this contest, unless you leave as the victor, you do not leave at all.

Readers all over the world have been cheering about Matthew Reilly’s lightning fast adventure thrillers. Contest, the action-packed extravaganza that launched this international bestselling career, is vintage Reilly at his explosive best.

——–

Great stuff, really quick read. Full of action, suspense and big fucking aliens fighting each other and shit!

Technorati Tags: matthew reilly, contest

The Dark Knight

According to IMDb this is one of the greatest movies ever made, ever. It has, as of writing this, 9.3/10 (179,586 votes), which is pure insanity.

Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is just not THAT good.

Sure, Heath Ledger’s retooling of The Joker is great. But the rest of it? No, not that great. Enjoyable? Yes. Engrossing? At times. Overlong? Definitely!

The film runs in at 152 minutes and you feel it badly at times. Such as when Gordon is consoling his family for tricking them, as much as I love Gary Oldman, this is a needless scene - I can see its trying to establish that he loves his family, but his character is already a good guy, we don’t need that emphasis.

On to the next flaw. Christian Bale’s god damn annoying voice. I understand why, again, it is used but I really wish it wasn’t. It really detracted from my enjoyment, giggling like a little girl every time the caped crusader spoke.

Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhall. The former over acted, the latter was just bad. Not as bad as Katie Holmes was, but a close second.

What else can I cap on? Not a lot, the movie had its moments and all of them fell around The Joker, without him, the movie would’ve panned.

Still, enjoyable, but no 9.3! I’d say a solid 8 is fair. If we look at other 9+ movies, we get classics like The Shawshank Redemption & The Godfather. The Dark Knight is not one of these awesome movies. It’s no One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and it certainly isn’t as good as 12 Angry Men.

But, then again, who rates movies on IMDb anyways?

Technorati Tags: the dark knight, batman, christian bale, heath ledger, gary oldman, christopher nolan, aaron eckhart, maggie gyllenhall

Starring Jason Statham.

Martine offers Terry a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London’s Baker Street. She targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. But Terry and his crew don’t realize the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets - secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal.

–

This was an okay film, nothing special. The plot was interesting, but some of the acting - I’m looking at the female lead, Saffron Burrows, was terrible - a lot of the “evil” characters were also over-the-top terrible. But the story kept me going till the end and in this day and age, that is a rarity - so many movies I’ve put on I never finish.

Technorati Tags: the bank job, saffron burrows, jason statham

Flawed in everything. Acting. Directing. Writing, oh, especially the writing. Some of the dialogue is beyond terrible. and some of the scenes are even worse.

I’m a huge fan of Guillermo Del Toro, The Devil’s Backbone is one of my favourite movies of all time. And the rest of his are pretty special too, even Mimic is watchable. I always thought, here’s a guy that I’m willing to trust, willing to let him take me where ever his over active imagination wanted to take me, but now, I don’t know. But, Hellboy 2, is just plain unwatchable for roughly 95% of the duration. From the opening sequence with a young, ridiculous Hellboy, the tone was set for something that not only wasn’t going to take itself seriously, but wasn’t going to take the viewer seriously either.

Its hard to pin down one specific part of the movie that made it so bad, but i was forced - or even asked, to point one out, it would be the singing duet between Hellboy and Abe Sapien. Yes, duet. Singing. In a Hellboy movie. Wht the fuck is up with that? Now, a duet of a awesome song might, I say MIGHT be forgivable, but they don’t sing an awesome song, they sing “I Can’t Smile without You” and whilst that might be funny to 2% of the world, it isn’t funny to me. And I’m guessing it isn’t funny or wanted by hardcore Hellboy fans either!

The action, in places, was interesting, but it wasn’t amazing. The sets however were pretty agreat, as where some of the character designs - even if those same characters had terrible voices and even worse lines - I’m thinking mostly about an Irish legless troll thingy.

On top of the bad script and the average action, you add to this some terrible acting. Selma Blair is right up there with Rosie Perez for worst actress since the invention of the vagina. She was just plain awful, not a second went by that I didn’t want her to just die. Mean, maybe, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Jeffrey Tambor was just awful, why the fuck he had ANY lines, let alone the amount he did is beyond me. And the casting of Seth MacFarlane as the voice for Johann Krauss just pissed me off, I didn’t know it was him at the time, but it just irritated me the whole way through as being incredibly off. Why didn’t they get a real German to do it?

Anyways, I’ve gone on long enough. The short story is, avoid this movie. It’s bad, real bad.

Technorati Tags: hellboy, hellboy 2, guillermo del toro, the devil’s backbone, mimic, luke goss, ron perlman, abe sapien, can’t smile without you, rosie perez, seth macfarlane, jeffrey tambor

Technorati Tags: greg bear, quantico