Uncharted 4: A Story's End

If you love a good story as much as I do, then you know that nothing's harder than actually going through the ending, especially if you've become invested into the characters. The idea that this can be the final goodbye, it's not easy to go through. But at the same time, your love for these characters is what pushes you to get to that ending, to see what their struggles have amounted to, what their rewards are for everything they've done. Today, we're all about endings here as we discuss one of 2016's most hotly anticipated titles, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.

Uncharted 3- Drake's Development

The year was 2011. Although the Wii had dominated the HD Console War, the Playstation 3 had already secured itself as the superior machine to its chief rival, the Xbox360, mainly by not breaking down so easily. The PS3 also had an extensive library of games, including modern classics like Grand Theft Auto 4. It was in November of that year that Naughty Dog released the hotly anticipated third entry in the Uncharted series.

Uncharted 2: Among Improvements

During the year 2009, the Playstation 3 was already gaining its own identity as being more than just a more powerful PS2; it was a strong system that had several unique games, with new franchises coming up while older franchises from the PS1 and PS2 eras would see worthy follow ups. Metal Gear Solid 4 was wowing audiences with its high level of detail, wide variety of weapons, and a story that actually made sense. But gamers were keeping their eye on the new franchise called Uncharted, and were wondering just how Naughty Dog could improve on the stellar first entry. Well..Naughty Dog showed the world how with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

Uncharted 1: Drake's Debut

In the year 2007, there was a game system that, though it came with pedigree, was STARVING for new games that could properly show off its hardware. That system was the Playstation 3, which had the (mis)fortune of following the footsteps and continuing the legacy of the Playstation 2, debatably the most successful game console of all time. In the tail end of 2007, the PS3 got its wish with a game called Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

Image taken from the Uncharted Wiki, originally uploaded by user Richard1990

How Pokemon Gold and Silver Improved the Franchise

The Pokemon fandom is plagued by "Gen Oners" or those who believe the First Generation (Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow) were the best games in the series and everything that came after was crap. Personally, I would be inclined to agree with them, if I were as blinded by nostalgia as they were. It is no secret that I adore the First Generation of Pokemon. But, I believe it is the Second Generation (Gold, Silver, Crystal) that really brought the franchise to new heights. Allow me to explain how.

A Quick Announcement

First off, a Happy Halloween to all you readers!

OK, so as you may or may not know, I'm currently working full time, so blog entries are sporadic at the moment. This November will not be very active at all, and you might see two or three entries, tops. I'm saving my energy for Uncharted Month, which is still on for December.

Level Analysis- Cemetery of Ash from Dark Souls 3

I've restarted and rage quit Dark Souls 3 more times this month than I have ANY OTHER GAME in my entire life. Because of that I've become very well acquainted with the entire tutorial level of the game, to the point that I have it etched into my mind. And the more I played it, the more I realized that this is a tutorial level done right. This is the reason why.

Three Annoying Things in League of Legends

I love playing League of Legends, that's no secret. But sometimes I get annoyed by something that happens in game. These are the three most annoying moments that can happen in League of Legends.

Tutorial Levels- Do's and Don'ts

I started playing Dark Souls 3 recently, and I'm proud to say that, having played the game for the last 5 days, I've only died 81 times, started over 6, and rage quit a mere 7 times. As I replayed the tutorial level, though, I started thinking about what makes a good tutorial level. And so, I compiled a short list of the Do's and Don'ts of Tutorial levels.

3 Games That Deserved a Series

Every now and then you come across a fantastic, truly original game that leaves you with HOURS of fun. You think "oh man, this is so cool! I hope they make a new one!" But the developers never do, leaving the title to be a simple, one off thing that eventually fades to obscurity. In my opinion, however, these games showcase such brilliant ideas, and exhibit such amazing mechanics, that turning them into a series not only becomes justified, but obligatory. These are three games that I feel fit the bill.

Remembering Kingdom Hearts 1

It's a bit hard to believe that Kingdom Hearts 1 is already over fourteen years old. Although I no longer follow the series (too many sequels on consoles I don't own) I am still fond of the original game. I want to share some memories regarding this classic with all of you.

A News Post

I'm currently working, full time, as a teacher. It's a dream come true for me, one I've worked for for over 7 years now. Because of that, I'm often exhausted after a hard day's work, and on the weekends I just don't have much energy left, if any. For this reason, blog entries will be very infrequent for at least September and October. My apologies.

Cliches that Work: Grandia 1

Grandia 1 is one of those games whose success is utterly baffling: a game with an unoriginal premise, a predictable plot, stock character archetypes that don't evolve beyond their predictable pattern, and a graphical presentation that has NOT aged gracefully. And somehow, some way, it's STILL one of the freshest, most amazing games you'll ever play. How could this happen?

Regarding Lara Croft

When you think Lara Croft, the average gamer will quickly think of the woman who can duel wield pistols, crawls around jungles and exotic locales, all while dressing rather scantily in a pair of hot pants and a tank top. It is inevitable: Lara Croft is rather pleasing to the eye, no matter how many changes you make to her design. But there are people who take issue with her specifically BECAUSE of what she does and how she looks. There are those who oppose Lara's design, saying that her design undermines her as a strong, female character. The question is: does being sexy undermine being strong?

Five Video Games That Changed my Life

Though my entire life does not revolve around video games, they most certainly do take up most of my free time. Some would say I'm wasting my life, but in the words of John Lennon "time spent enjoying yourself is time well spent." Video games are fun, but that's not the only reason I love them. Some video games have left a lasting impression on me, helped me become who I am today. So today, I'll share this list of video games with you.

Three Year Anniversary

I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this, but my life has been so busy lately that I find myself with the real possibility that I might not be able to write this down. On August 2nd, this blog will be three years old. Three years, ladies and gentlemen, three whole years.

Everyone who has read this blog from day 1 knows that I never expected it to last three years. In fact, I was almost certain I'd last around fourteen entries, get bored, and then abandon everything. But I didn't. I stuck to my guns, kept writing, and now I have 202 blog entries.

This blog has evolved quite a bit since it began. When I started out, and some of you may have noticed this, I was trying to emulate other people's styles. Specifically, I was emulating Dr Nerdlove, whom three years ago I greatly admired. Of course, things change, and that admiration has fizzled out into contempt. My original blog entries are a bit slipshod, a bit all over the place, and lacking in seriousness. I originally added pictures just to add a wisecrack or two, something I no longer do.

I'd like to think the future of this blog is looking rather bright, as far as content is concerned. Among some of the blog entries I wish to make are:

1. An analysis of Grandia 1 and how a cliched game can seem fresh by actually respecting the Tropes it's using.
2. A revisiting of the two Chrono games, and why Chrono Cross is actually a suitable sequel to Chrono Trigger.
3. Another World Analysis, something I haven't done since 2013. This time, I've got my eye on Johto from the Second Generation of Pokemon. What I'm planning on doing is demonstrating just how Johto really expanded on the world of Pokemon, in EVERY sense of the term.
4. Continuing the analysis of how Lunar perfectly defines how women can have varied roles in gaming beyond being damsels or bit characters, this time focusing on Xenobia and her role as a villain.
5. Asking ourselves a very, very tough question: is Final Fantasy becoming irrelevant?

And of course, we must not forget that December will be Uncharted Month. Every Saturday, we'll be taking a look at each Uncharted Game, chronicling Nathan Drake's growth and development as a character, as well as explore the themes present in each game.

So yeah, there is a LOT to look forward to in the future! Stay tuned!

The Ten Points to Make a Good Sonic Game

Sonic the Hedgehog, like it or not, is no longer the entertainment juggernaut he used to be. Or at least, that's true as far as gaming is concerned. After some consideration and some analysis of what made the classic Genesis titles be classics, I've come up with ten points to what should constitute a GOOD Sonic the Hedgehog game.

Is Pokemania Back?

Some of my readers might be too young to remember Pokemania, when Pokemon was dominating pop culture and was literally everywhere. Pokemon toys in Burger King, Pokemon trading cards, Pokemon events in Toys-R-Us, the Pokemon movie opening to PACKED theaters, list goes on. Pokemania came in 1999, died out sometime around 2001. But now, thanks to Pokemon Go, the franchise is back again in the Mainstream Media. Question: is Pokemania back?

The Women of Lunar 1

Opponents of gaming, as we as those uninvolved with our culture, like to make the claim that women's roles in gaming are limited. They claim that women can only be sex objects, damsels in distress, or pieces of background furniture. They also claim that femininity and strength in gaming are opposites; a strong female character is JUST a male with breasts. Those of us involved in gaming, however, know better. And today, I want to introduce a few female characters from that GROSSLY under appreciated game franchise, Lunar. This entry will focus exclusively on the heroines of Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete, but future entries may focus on the girls from Lunar 2, as well as the villains of both games.

A Quick Reminder for Pokemon Go Players

It seems to me like Pokemon Go has become the smash hit of 2016! Half my Twitter feed has been nothing but people commenting on the game. "Oh, I found a Geodude on the plane!" "I found a Magikarp in my backyard!" And honestly, this is good! I'm glad people are out there having fun! This year has been especially hard, and it seems like every other week we're getting nothing but bad news. If it's not a beloved celebrity dying, it's a mass shooting, or a terrorist attack, or a murder. Maybe that's why we distract ourselves with video games.

But remember, people: real life is still going on out there. As you play Pokemon Go, the world still spins around, and life still goes on. The world doesn't stop for you to catch that Vulpix in the church yard, or that Mewtwo in Vatican City, or that Pidgey in your toilet. Life still goes on.

Here's a sobering fact: children are still dying in Syria, Daesh is still killing people, there are still thousands of killings a day all around the world, and you're out there playing Pokemon Go. And why not play? Why not cover our ears and eyes to that which we can do nothing about? We each struggle in our lives; why add the miseries of others to our own?

I am reminded of something I once heard. When God confronted Cain over Abel's death, Cain asked "Am I my brother's keeper?" A wise man once told me that the rest of the Bible answers that question: yes, you are. We all are our brother's keepers. In all of us lays a responsibility to make the world just a bit better than how we found it.

And how can we make the world a bit better? Simply put, we can't; not in a grand scale, anyway. We can't end the war in Syria and the Levant just like that, we can't end world hunger from one night to the next, and racism in the US, Europe, and all around the world will NOT be going away any time soon. But what we CAN do is practice kindness.

A kind word here, a helping hand there, it can make the difference in someone else's day. In a world where cruelty is law, kindness is rebellion. Until next time, take care of yourself, and each other.

Five Outclassed Weapons in Fallout 4

Whereas some weapons are objectively bad in Fallout 4, these are five weapons who serve their purpose well enough. They just simply have the bad luck of not being as good at their job as other weapons; they are outclassed. Each of these weapons has an alternate counterpart that has the same mods, uses the same ammo, but simply does the job better.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 1

And so, we cap off this list with the BEST moment in Final Fantasy 7. This is a moment that needs no introduction: The final boss fight against Sephiroth.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 2

When a villain does a deed so horrible that the only acceptable fate for him/her is a cruel, painful death, there is an element of catharsis in seeing such a thing come to pass. Of course, in a video game, the player might feel cheated that he/she wasn't the one to deal that finishing blow. After all, the point of a video game is to be an interactive experience! But of course, in an RPG, though the story is second to gameplay, the story is STILL one of the most important parts of the game. So, if you're going to take something away from the player for the sake of story, it damn well better be good. Well, that's today's moment: Sephiroth kills President Shinra.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 3

TV Tropes calls it the "Moral Event Horizon", a line that, once crossed, there is no coming back. In this case, we're talking about an action so vile, so horrifying, so evil, that it leaves no doubt in anyone's mind that the perpetrator is beyond any redemption. Final Fantasy 7 has no shortages of these types of actions; most of them done by Sephiroth himself. But it was Shinra, not Sephiroth, who committed the most heinous act in the game. That act is the third best moment of the game: the destruction of Sector 7.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 4

The year was 1997. The computer was JUST starting to become the most important part of animation; Toy Story had been released a year prior to critical acclaim, ReBoot and Beast Wars were two of the most popular shows for children, and Toonami was just starting to come out. Likewise, video games were graphically improving, impressing gamers with the use of CGI cutscenes. Final Fantasy 7 owes a good part of its success to the use of CGI, and today's moment may be the BEST example of its use throughout the whole game: WEAPON's attack on Junon.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 5

There are two scenes in Final Fantasy 7 that are truly iconic. The first, Aeris' death, was already discussed on this countdown. The second scene is the one we'll be discussing today. This is a scene that has been redone and retold no less than three times; once on an OVA, once on a PSP game, and of course, once in the upcoming remake. The fifth best moment in Final Fantasy 7 is "Sephiroth destroys Nibelheim."

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 6

The world map, a staple of classic RPG's dating back to the original Dragon Quest. Often with peppy, adventurous music, always inspiring in the notion that "the world is just huge." Well, Final Fantasy 7 is no exception to this rule; the world map does a well enough job to paint the world as being appropriately large (though surprisingly empty, all things considered). But unlike most games, who give you access to the world map at the first hour, FF7 waits five to six hours before it lets you out of Midgar and into the world. And that first step out of Midgar makes its way to the sixth spot of the best moments in Final Fantasy 7.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 7

Final Fantasy 7 is undoubtedly Cloud's story. However, many other characters also get the spotlight now and then; from Cid's dream of going to space, to Red XIII coming to terms with what happened to his father. But I have reasons to believe that Barret's story arc is one that deserves an observation, considering how relatively muted it is. And though his story arc has a few key moments that demonstrate his depth as a character, there is one moment that truly encompasses Barret's character. The seventh entry on this list, and one that may be surprising to you readers, is "Barret versus Dyne."

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 8

When it comes to RPG's, I have a set of rules to how they should be made. One of these rules says: "If I'm not wowed in the first thirty minutes of the game, then the game will not be good." The first 30 minutes or hour should be used to give the player a feel for how the game will be, and should include at least the first dungeon,a couple of battles, and one boss fight. There should also be some inkling to what kind of story the game will tell. Does Final Fantasy 7 follow this rule? Oh, does it ever. Today's moment is precisely that: the first mission of the game. "AVALANCHE destroys the Sector 1 reactor."

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 9

How do you introduce a villain? Some people choose to do so by having them perform a heinous act; like in Suikoden 2, where Luca Blight is introduced laughing about slaughtering a platoon of child soldiers from his country. Sometimes, a bit of deception helps set the mood, like in Final Fantasy 10, where Seymour is introduced saving Luca Stadium from a fiend attack. But sometimes, an understated entrance is the most effective. This is what Final Fantasy 7 went for in introducing one of its villains, President Shinra, and our ninth entry on this list.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 10

Today's moment is one that needs to be explained in more than one level. From a narrative stand point, it's a rescue mission that lasts for a few minutes and then leads on to the of the most shocking moments in the game. From a gameplay level, it's a scavenger hunt. Yet on a meta level, it's an unforgettable scene. The tenth best moment in the game is "Cloud cross dresses to save Tifa from Don Corneo."

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 11

We kick this countdown off with the biggest spoiler in gaming since "Samus is a girl": Aeris dies. Yes, every gamer worth their salt knows this plot twist, how at the end of the first disc of the game, Aeris bites the bullet. This scene has been parodied, mocked, dissected, analyzed to hell and back, to the point that it seems almost pointless to even bother discussing it. And yet, it's still one of the most brilliant moments in the game.

Mighty No. 9- What Went Wrong

I remember it like it was yesterday, how many gamers saw Mighty Number 9 as the second coming of Mega Man, a classic game franchise that Capcom had been neglecting up to that point. In the year 2013, the game was hyped to hell and back, and chances are, you DID hear about it. Now it's 2016, and few, if any people, are as excited for the game as they were. In fact, Mighty Number 9 is more of a joke than anything. What happened?

Announcements for June, July, and December 2016

This July I will be taking a summer course, so the list of the top 11 male characters has been postponed for next year, if possible. Although I do have June free, I do not yet feel ready to compile the list, because there's something I need to do first.

See, this December, the FF7 Remake is being released. Yes, I am still looking forward to it, in spite of how many revelations have made us more weary regarding the game; mainly that it will be episodic and that some changes have been made. Because of my excitement for the remake, I want to do something to honor and discuss the original game. For that reason, I have compiled a list of the 11 best moments in Final Fantasy 7. This June, I will be sharing this list with you all. That's 11 different blogs, all discussing and analyzing the many individual moments that have made the original Final Fantasy 7 such a groundbreaking, spell binding game.

And yes, we WILL be discussing the death of Aeris. No, that moment is NOT Number 1.

Why not on December? Because my little brother managed to get his hands on a little game called Uncharted 4. So, it's official: December will be Uncharted Month! Four blogs every weekend, detailing the way the series evolved throughout each installment, and how Nathan, Sully, and Elena grow and evolve throughout each game. Look forward to it this December!

Suikoden 6- My Way

Every day it seems like the Suikoden series will never see another numbered entry. That's exceptionally for the fans who have emotionally invested themselves in the series, myself included. And why not? It's a fantastic series, interconnected by themes of war, history, camaraderie, love, and so forth. So, it's up to the fans to decide what Suikoden 6 would be like. Today, I share my take on what Suikoden 6 should have been.

Quick Thoughts on James Rolfe, Ben Kuchera, and More

James Rolfe won't see or review the new Ghostbusters movie. Good for him. He has every right to choose which movies he sees and reviews. The sooner people understand that, the better.

The new Ghostbusters movie looks like shit, and people are only defending it as a front to appear progressive and pro-women. I won't see it anyway, even if I had the money for it. I'm saving MY money for the Suicide Squad movie, with Margot Robbie and Will Smith. THAT movie looks awesome.

Far be it for me to tell someone how to do their job, but if you're reviewing a game, or showing it off, it helps to be GOOD at the game. I mean, Jesus Christ, Polygon, what the hell? You can't upload a video showing off the first half hour of a new game by having someone who SUCKS at the game play it! Part of what makes Let's Plays so enjoyable is watching people with SKILL play! Imagine a basketball game where every other player who tries dribbling the ball drops it and then spends half a minute chasing the ball. THAT is what Polygon's Doom gameplay video was like!

Ben Kuchera has proven himself to be as incompetent as an actor in a product infomercial. What kind of idiot can't differentiate between the Power button and the Eject button in a console? Maybe he can get work as an actor for the next Snuggie infomercial; he can be the guy who can't keep his arms and legs blanketed at the same time. But what makes it worse is that he's a games journalist; this is supposed to be the kind of shit that should be second nature to him! Jesus...

The Five Worst Weapons in Fallout 4

This is a short list of the five worst weapons in Fallout 4. Each entry will include a brief description of the weapon, what you can do with it, and why it deserves to be called one of the worst (if not THE worst) in the game. Let us begin...

Just for Fun: The Yoruba Pantheon for SMITE!

This year, Hi-Rez released their latest Pantheon in SMITE: the Japanese Pantheon. This latest addition has been by no means surprising; Japan has had an undeniable influence in gaming, so adding their gods in a game played by millions of players world wide is something we all should have seen coming. That said, there's a bit of an imbalance regarding the continents represented. We have 3 European pantheons (Greek, Roman, Norse), 3 Asian (Hindu, Chinese, Japanese), 1 American (Mayan), and 1 African (Egyptian). As I am very, very big on representation in gaming, I must say that I am unhappy with this situation. I want some more Africa in here, and I want something sub-Saharan! So for that, I offer a solution: adding the Yoruba Pantheon!

Four Games Deserving of a Remake

So Final Fantasy 7, that's the remake gamers have been clamoring for since the days of the PS2, and now we're finally getting it. Sure it's great and all that we're finally getting that remake, but as I dug around the classics of gaming, I found a few video games that were simply too awesome to forget, but who never got the attention and recognition they deserved. These are games that DESERVE a remake as much (if not more) as FF7 deserved its remake.

Regarding the Cancellation of 'Legends of the Game Industry' Panel

Those of you who have been reading this blog from day 1 know that I am not just a writer, but I'm also a teacher. I'm also an unashamed supporter of the Left, and pretty damn liberal too. I'm all for women's representation in gaming, equality in the work force, and all that. But I don't support this cancellation.

A Quick Thought Regarding Gamergate

We've won. There's no two ways about it, we've won. We set out to put ethics in games journalism, and we did. We got Leigh Alexander fired from Gamasutra, relegating her to some no-name site she eventually resigned from. Dunces like Patrick Klepek have made themselves known to outsiders as corrupt, unethical bloggers who don't deserve a second of your time. The old guard of games journalism is dead, and new sites, like TechRaptor and Based Gamer, have taken their place. Conservative gamers now have a voice; likewise, Liberal gamers no longer need to feel ashamed of opposing 'feminists' who do little more than demonize games. We've won.

But the battle is not over, nor will it ever be truly over until every developer can feel like they can make ANY game they want and not worry about being censored by hyper-sensitive feminists. Until games journalism earns its credibility with gamers. Until a game can win an award and no one will have to wonder if the award was truly earned or if it was a "favor" cashed in. Until independent games are made by people with a passion for gaming instead of a frustrated Liberal Arts major. Then, and ONLY then can we say "Gamergate's over."

What Happened to Sonic?

Twenty four years ago, Sonic the Hedgehog was one of the biggest game franchises in the world. Comic books, cartoons, and of course the games, the Blue Blur was not as much a franchise as he was a phenomenon. Today, though there are still the comics and a cartoon, the Blue Blur is simply not the powerhouse he once was. What happened?

Video Game Journalism: Good Idea, Bad Idea

If you've ever watched Animaniacs, you'll understand the title's reference. Anyway, the following is a list of five things you SHOULD do if you were a video game reviewer or journalist, followed by the direct opposite thing that you should avoid doing. Like the title says, it's a Good Idea versus a Bad Idea.

Tattoo Assassins- Analyzing a Failure

Imitation is not always the sincerest form of flattery; sometimes it's just a shortcut to success that seldom works. In gaming, few imitators see any level of success comparative to what was being originally copied. Bubsy attempted to copy Sonic the Hedgehog, with limited success. Super Smash Bros is a multmillion dollar franchise, Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale was a dead flop. Some copy cat games get released quietly, and some are never released at all. One of these was Tattoo Assassins, a game that shamelessly copied off of Mortal Kombat. The game was a shameless ripoff; its cancellation was to the bereavement of nobody. But, did it have potential?

photo taken from http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/tattoo-assassins/

20,000 Visitors Special- Quick Words of Thanks

So today, a new milestone was reached: 20 thousand visitors. Honestly I am humbled, because when I first started I thought for sure I'd never get this far. Holy crap, 20 thousand people have visited my blog to read my things!

I know I'm not the best writer out there, and I'm taking steps to improve both my content and my style. When I write, though, I don't write to meet any demands besides my own. Sometimes I meet my demands, sometimes I don't. I'm not always happy with what I churn out, but I will tell you this right now: NOTHING on this blog is half assed.

Unless I'm sick or something, every entry you read has been carefully thought out before it's been written. As I make zero dollars from this blog, you will read NOTHING resembling click-bait. This isn't Gawker, after all. And unlike Kotaku or The Mary Sue, you can be sure that every article was written with a love and respect for gaming and its culture!

What I write, I write out of passion for gaming, on my own time, on my own dime. No bosses to tell me what to add or delete, no sponsors to bribe me to give a game a glowing review it never earned! Just my thoughts, pure and simple! 

Thank you for your patience with me, for giving me a voice, and for reading my articles. More to come in the future!

Just for Fun- The Five Worst Games I've Ever Played

I've been gaming since I was just a five year old child, and in that long and illustrious time playing games, I've played some truly fantastic games. I've played games that have changed my perspective in life, games that have entertained me for hours on end, and even games that changed my life for the better! League of Legends, EVO: The Search for Eden, Final Fantasy Tactics, The Crooked Man, these are but a few of the best games I've ever played. But, I also played some pretty damn bad games in my time. This is a short list of the five WORST games I've had the misfortune to play.

League of Legends- On Toxic Players

Around three days ago I was playing a game of League of Legends, and I was doing pretty badly. I was not making the right decisions, I was allowing my emotions to get the better of me, and ultimately I was being a hindrance to my team. A teammate of mine (whom I have since blocked) started flaming me, taking every opportunity he could (I'm assuming he was male) to deride me, insult me, and get me to uninstall the game. I did not have fun, I can tell you that much, and in fact I had to take some time off just to calm down. In spite of the fact that we won, and that I in fact started making better, game changing decisions, I was never offered an apology. This is nothing new to League, however. But, a question to be asked is: why are so many League of Legends players like this?

A Short List of Amazing Female Video Game Characters

In honor of International Women's Day, I have assembled a SHORT list of amazing female video game characters. These are women who break the mold, who demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are more roles for women in gaming than just being the damsel, the sidekick, or the sex reward. Not all the women in this list are heroes; you might see some villains too. These are in no particular order. Anyway, on to the list:

A Special Blog on Fanaticism- The Lauren Southern Incident

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is one of those articles written when many facts were unavailable to me. When it was written the only information I had regarding Lauren Southern and Augustus Invictus was that they were alt-right, which AT THE TIME was not as ill-reputed as they are today. It was also written at a time when I was dangerously close to Centrism, veering on Right Wing ideology. I make no excuses for it, nor do I make any apologies.

As I was browsing my Twitter feed this morning, I had the displeasure to witness the disgusting double standards that feminists have regarding women. Lauren Southern, a commentator for The Rebel, a part of Rebel Media, was assaulted yesterday by various women. Her crime? Insisting that there were only two genders. Assaulted how? Some woman poured an entire bottle of urine on her.  Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to explain why this matters.

9 Things Straight White Guys Won't Understand About Gaming- A Rebuttal

This is bad. This is horrendously bad. This is an "article" that offends me on a professional level, as I am a man who takes writing seriously. This is not an article that invites the reader to think, nor is it an article that educates the reader on issues regarding the LGBT community. For that, at risk of my mental health, I provide a rebuttal to what may well be the worst piece of writing I have ever had the misfortune to dissect. As always, the original work will be in bold, with my words written beneath. An archived link to the original is here: http://archive.is/Wz8Fl

Love in Gaming: Philip and Anna Strenger, "Witcher 3"

You know, not all love stories have a happy ending, but few of them have an unhappy middle. Sometimes we fall in love with someone, but then one member of the relationship gets tired of everything and wants out, but the other one doesn't. When that happens, it all goes downhill. That's the story of Philip and Anna Strenger, a couple from the game The Witcher 3.

Pictured left: Philip; pictured right: Anna. Not pictured: a happy marriage. Photos taken from the Witcher wiki. Philip Strenger's picture uploaded by user Keashi, Anna Strenger's picture by user Magic713.

Love in Gaming: Tidus and Yuna

Not all romances are permanent. Some romances last us a few years, when the couple finally gets sick of one another. Some loves end because of boredom, or because of infidelity, or because of growing apart. Some loves end in tragedy. But it's not the beginning and the end that matter, it's the middle part, all the time spent together, all the joy shared. Some romances are like a firework, a bright flash in the night, gone just as soon as it lights up. Today's couple is like that: Tidus and Yuna from Final Fantasy X.

Tidus on the left, Yuna on the right. Tidus is a guy, in case any of you didn't know.

Love in Gaming: Peach and Mario

It's every nerd boy's dream: getting together with the hot girl who sees beyond your appearance and likes you for you. It's that small (or not so small) yearning for acceptance, for someone to care for who we are, not what we look like. Society places such importance on the physical that we often develop hangups regarding our bodies, which will always lead us to think we're not good enough. For that reason it's heartwarming to see a work of art that shows the fat, funny looking guy get together with the girl one would think way out of his league. Today's couple is no exception: Peach and Mario from the Super Mario franchise.

Quick Words on Tifa Hate

First of all, I'd like to apologize for the fact that none of my blog entries this month have had pictures, but that's because my computer is broken and I'm using a really old one that is simply too unreliable. Sorry about that. Secondly, I know the hot topic of the day is that dumb article from the Mary Sue that talks about Tifa. (Update February 25, 2016: It has come to my attention that the article was intentionally written as a joke, which the Mary Sue, and by extension most readers, took seriously.) I've spoken my thoughts regarding issues like this before, but to sum them up: it's OK to draw sexy women and make sexy female characters in gaming, it's OK to enjoy sexy characters in gaming, and focusing on looks is wrong.

The Main Theme of Suikoden 4

The fourth game in the main Suikoden series, Suikoden 4 is often seen by fans of the series as being one of the worst, or at least most disappointing, games in the series. There are many reasons for this, ranging from the gameplay (a paty of 4 when the series ALWAYS allowed for a party of 6, high random encounter rates) to the presentation (only five or 7 towns to visit, depending on how you count certain areas of the game, and only ten or so dungeons), even the story gets some flak. And it's true, the story of Suikoden 4 is very short when compared to the stories of Suikoden 2 or 3. But just because it's short doesn't mean the story has no meat to it. In fact, a close observation even reveals the main theme of the game: leadership.

The Butts

In an episode of Tropes vs Women in Gaming that was at least three years in the making, Anita Sarkeesian brought to light the troubling lack of diversity in female antagonists in gaming, how most of them are either sex pots or old crones, how few video games actually have a woman in the role of the main antagonist, and how too few games show female antagonists that...Wait, no, she didn't. She talked about how many female video game characters have clothing designed to showcase but not exactly show their butts.

Between the Lines- Fallout 4 and Nuclear Apocalypse Media

I've been playing Fallout 4 since Christmas, and let me tell you that I am addicted.As I played the game, however, I couldn't help noticing the very many elements it had in common with other media I had seen regarding nuclear weaponry. As I kept playing, I kept making mental notes about these similitudes, and what kind of message a gamer could take away from the game.

Plans for 2016

Well, 2015 came and went, and now we have a whole new year to look forward to. I don't know about you all, but I have a few plans for this year. First off, if I find work, I'm gonna buy myself some good games for the PS4 like Disgaea 5, the FF7 remake, and so forth. In regards to the blog, though, I already have some big, big ideas.

I'll be doing a blog entry about an old game called Tattoo Assassins, a game made in reaction to Mortal Kombat's success as a shameless attempt to cash in on the latter's popularity. It was canceled because it was so poorly done that NOBODY wanted to beta test it. What I'll do this entry is look at how the game could have been done better.

For February, I want to take a second shot at Love in Gaming Month. Last year, due to my school work, I was unable to do more than one entry; this year, I plan on doing 3. What I'll do is simple: take a look at some couples and explain what makes them work or not. They are:

Mario and Peach from the Mario Franchise.
Phillip and Anna Strenger from Witcher 3
Tidus and Yuna from Final Fantasy X.

As I am uncertain as to what Ill be doing this June, if I'll take summer courses or not, I'm leaving that month open. On July, however, I'm planning on doing a countdown for the Top 11 Male Characters in Gaming. Like always, this is a look at 11 characters, 11 entries examining what makes these characters so awesome. I can already hear the feminists crying out "where are the female characters?" My answer: I'll get to them eventually, I just need more research.

As for December, I'm still up in the air what I'll do then. It really depends on my ability to play one of two games: if Uri releases her next game, The Hanged Man, I'll be doing a Month of the Strange Men, where I look at all four games in this series. If not, and if Uncharted 4 is released and I manage to play it, then I'll be doing a Month of Uncharted. But I have eleven months, so let's all relax.

Here's to a successful 2016!