anime on bluray? what for?

This is something I've been thinking about for a while now, and reading this article really made me wonder about just how much better anime (or cartoons in general for that matter)could possibly look in HD format (bluray in particular). That's not to say it's a total waste, shows like Appleseed, Final Fantasy: Spirts Within, Final Fantasy: Advent Children, and AniMatrix come to mind as shows that are detailed enough for an HD release (being that they're CG films with presumably large budgets). For the most part though, and speaking directly at this article, I can't really see the advantage of HD versions of old shows, especially hand drawn shows (which I'm about 95% certain the old Tenchi Muyo movies are). Unless there's some sort of video remastering/ touch up job done on them I just can't see how a drawning is ever going to look better then it was drawn. Besides the fact that anime is pretty expensive to begin with on dvd, and bluray is only going to make it more expensive (it's going to get the 1-2 punch of being a) a niche product and b) a new HD format).

As you can see from the article the Tenchi Muyo movie boxset runs 23,400 yen (about $235 US) and (unless there's something extra) it's only for 3 movies, making them around $80 a piece. Which honestly is REALLY expensive for something that's at best a slightly clearer version of something you can get on dvd for $27. I put the comparison picture from the article at the top of this post, so you can see the difference yourself. For me it's really tough to see a noticible difference, but I guess if your the guy that blows $235 on it you must see something I don't.

On a slightly humorous side note, this points out how huge of a nerd I am, it's 4:30 in the morning on Christmas day, and the best thing I have to do is write up a blog article on Bluray anime. :P

Things about video games that piss me off: racing games edition

Well it's been a few weeks since I last posted anything, feeling somewhat inspired to write something I decided I'd make a new post on something that take up a fair amount of my free time, video games. I don't know if I'll turn this into a "running topic" (Things that piss me off about X genre) or if I'll just make this one, only time will tell :P.

I've been a gamer for a long time, ever since I first got an NES back in the late 80's (almost 20 years ago). And over time there's been certain flaws that seem to creep into every genre of game, and today I'm going to explore one of my favorite game genres, racing games. Let the list begin:

*Retarded AI drivers Sadly this is a FAR to common flaw found in almost every racing game I can think of. You always have cars that refuse to brake to avoid collisions, or cars that sideswipe you as go down a straight away. I honestly can't understand how designers can make games with flawless graphics, and insanely accurate physics, yet can't design AI drivers that will slow down in a corner to avoid ramming me in the ass at 120MPH and sending my car flying off the track.

*Inconsistent difficulty: I understand that a game should get more difficult as it progresses, but far too many racing titles have seriously flawed difficulty curves. Usually at the beginning the cars are slow and the AI is slow and shitty, basically it gives you time to learn the game, and not get frustrated trying to figure out the controls and the physics while the AI completely leaves you in the dust. Sadly in too many games, the last 25% or so of the races always seem to fall somewhere between "Jesus fucking christ! hard" and "This is fucking impossible! hard". Races where the AI will intentionally wipe you out in the last few laps (or last few corners) of a race. my common responce being screaming "You fucking cock suck", then restarting the race (likely multiple times), and hoping I can avoid the AI till the end. On a similar note, the races seem to reach a point where anything short of Mario Andretti driving perfection means you'll lose. I understand that the game should be a challenge, but honestly, having to sit on the verge of mental breakdown for 10-15 minutes in order to beat a race driving some ungodly fast rocket car with the AI right on your ass, no matter how hard you drive, is honestly asking a little much out of a casual gamer.

*Taking "realism" too far: This is mostly a flaw of "simulation" type racing games (ex. Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport). For one thing, endurance races, Gran Turismo 4 being the biggest culperate. I don't think it's unreasonable to have long races (30-40 laps, 1-1 1/2 hours), but GT4 truely takes the cake for the "lets see how ridiculous we can go" prize. With most of it's "short" endurance races taking around 2 hours, and a few taking 9 or even 24 hours (seriously WTF!), I really can't understand the attraction. I mean, look, I realize that there are some crazy ass gamers out there that are gonna dedicate a day of their life to slamming some energy drinks and pulling an "all-nighter" so that they can get the "nerd glory" of beating the "Nurburgring 24h Endurance race". But for basically everyone else, it's a giant ass waste of time. And it leaves you with an annoyed feeling that you can never really beat the game. Unless you; a) dedicate a day of your life (technically 3, since there are 3 different 24 hour races), or b) use the games "B-spec" mode on 3X speed, and spend 8 hours "babysitting" the game to make sure the AI "driver" driving your car doesn't do anything retarded and blow the race.

There's plenty other things, but these seem to be the main "flaws", that I find really often, and they usually end up with me getting annoyed and never acutally finishing the game, which kinda takes the fun out of the whole experience honestly.

Babies are wonderful, but sex is evil?

Here's one of the things I love about America, we love babies, we love children, but we hate sex. Or at least that's what you would think based on the additude of your typical American. You walk up to some random person at work and say "hey my wife just had a baby!", they respond "oh that's great! how much does it weight, do you have pictures, etc.". Walk up to the same person, and say "my wife and I had sex last night", thier response is "that's great pal, why don't you get lost".

Because apparently sex is disgusting, it's ugly, it's evil, or at least that's what is drilled into our heads from when we are little. But without sex, there's no babies (yay for double standards), and I'm not talking raunchy smut, porno, ass rape sex here. I'm talking the regular old fashion sex that married (and non-married) people have all the time, the kind that makes the babies everyone loves to hold and talk "baby-talk" to.

We're so caught up as a society to "protect the children" from whatever bullshit that we think is inappropriate for them this week, that we've turned something that's completely natural into something shameful. Something that "only adults can do". I'm not suggesting that you tell your kid that "sex is awesome, get out there and fuck everyone you meet", but on the other hand don't give them the age old bullshit of "sex is only for after your married", or worse yet telling them nothing at all.

How about giving some real advise, some real knowledge, how about giving them the facts and letting them think for themselves. Don't just leave it up to "sex ed" classes, and don't treat your 13 year old like they're 5, the horny assed kids at school sure as shit won't be. Try being a decent fucking parent, don't give your kid zero information about sex, and then be all angry and suprised when they tell you they think they got someone pregnant (or got pregnant by someone) they like at school.

While we're at it quit censoring everything your kid hears and sees. There's nothing wrong with the naked human body, NOTHING, all this bullshit about not showing a naked female breast on TV without a million stupid assholes collectively shitting themselves and threating lawsuits on everyone who is even remotely involved is rediculous. Seriously, it's a breast, grow the fuck up, chances are you saw one as a little baby (especially if you were breast fed), and it didn't scar you for life it probably gave you something to eat.