Acid for Blood

Well, that was relatively easy. I now have a domain, web hosting, and a WordPress blog.

I will not be deleting this Blogger blog, but I will no longer be updating it.

Please update your links and feeds accordingly. Cheers.

New address: http://acidforblood.net/

RSS for entries

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Hope to see you on the other side!

I am so getting it.

Provisional list of games to buy:

Animal Crossing: Wild World
Mario Kart DS
Metroid Prime: Hunters
Nintendogs: Chihuahua and Friends
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Trauma Center: Under the Knife

I'm iffy on the last two, and Phoenix Wright is quite hard to find, anyway.

The previews for Metroid Prime: Hunters have failed to bowl me over, but I'm keeping my hope up for more details.

I haven't played Castlvania: Aria of Sorrow, which is why Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is not included.

Should any other DS games be on this list?

Tagged: nintendo ds, nintendo ds lite

I was bored and curious, so I made a blog on WordPress.com. WordPress.com is another free blog hosting site, using WordPress (multi-user version) as the blog software/publishing platform.

The advantage of hosting one's blog on WordPress.com is obviously that it uses WordPress. WordPress.com is great for newbie bloggers and for anyone who doesn't want to deal with code. WordPress is quite user-friendly, it is easy to get to work with for the uninitiated, it has a lot of features, and there are loads of nice-looking templates available.

It has a host of standard features that Blogger lacks. The ability to categorise posts and blogroll links is one. Another is a basic, integrated blog stats counter. Another feature that Blogger doesn't have is the ability to make stand alone pages which are not part of the continuity of your blog entries.

The version of WordPress that WordPress.com provides is less feature-filled than if you downloaded WordPress for use on your own web server, but it is still powerful.

The major missing feature is the inability to alter the blog's template code. I am accustomed to tweaking the Blogger template to suit my needs. Granted, I don't do anything too fancy, and creating a template from scratch is beyond me, however I like the flexibility to edit the code.

Another point against WordPress.com is that they do not allow JavaScript, so Flickr badges, StatCounter code, or anything else that uses JavaScript is out.

WordPress.com does not allow you to associate more than one blog with one author, which is something that Blogger allows. I don't have the need to author multiple public blogs at this point, however it would have been nice if WordPress.com offered the option.

One thing to note is that the WordPress.com hosting site just went public just last Autumn, after a period of being invitation-only. They are still making improvements and developing features. I'm going to keep an eye on them. If they offer an automatic import/export feature, I may take another look. WordPress offers enough features as standard that I would consider moving from Blogger (though I would miss my Bloglines blogroll).

On a related note, from time to time I consider paying for hosting services, getting my own domain, installing WordPress, and blogging from my own site. Learning the ins and outs of the backend would be something to look forward to, kind of. I am not schooled in the ways of programming or the technicalities of web site management, but surely it isn't too difficult, is it? Having said that, it's not as if I have a large audience or that I make any money from doing this, so I dont know if I can justify the recurring expense. It would be a nice project, though.

For the elites in the audience, do you have recommendations or warnings about specific web hosting services?

Tagged: blogging, wordpress, wordpress.com

4 color rebellion has commentary on the Metroid film.

Right. I do not have the energy to write about this topic again. When news of a Metroid film emerged last year, I subjected my LiveJournal audience to a very long essay about this, Samus as a character, and the suitability of Metroid being adapted to film. My sentiments remain the same as they were last year, and are generally in line with the 4 color rebellion piece. Metroid is my favourite videogame series and Samus is one of my favourite videogame characters. I have a cloying fear in my gut that the Metroid film, like so many other videogame film adaptations, will go horribly wrong. Even more terrible is that I will still watch it even if it sucks.

Tagged: metroid, samus aran, videogame movies

GameSpot says:

Kojima Productions offers PC desktop accessory to Japanese purchasers of Metal Gear Acid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence.

Kojima Productions is offering a free bonus to purchasers of Metal Gear Acid 2 or Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence in the form of an appropriately themed PC desktop accessory. The accessory is called "OtaClock," and as the name suggests, it's a clock that features series character Otakon. The clock was originally developed for use by Kojima's development team, but it's now being released to the public as well. Keen Metal Gear Solid fans might recognize the OtaClock from its brief appearance in the last few seconds of Metal Gear Solid 4's trailer. To download the OtaClock, gamers will need to visit a special Web site address that can be found in Japanese copies of Metal Gear Acid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence.

Since I have mentioned Otakon a couple of times recently, I guess I'll mention the link between the Metal Gear Solid character, Otacon, and the anime convention, Otakon.

Way back when the first MGS game was released, Otakon Staff found out that this character in the game was called 'Otacon'. Since Otakorp, Inc. had the rights to this name, and because 'Otacon' was similar enough to 'Otakon' the non-profit had to give permission to Konami to use this name in the game. As I remember Otakon Staff were really quite excited that the character had a similar name to the con, so they were only too happy to give Konami the permission to use the name. When you complete a Metal Gear Solid game in which Otacon appears, you will see Otakorp, Inc. mentioned in the credits.

Oh, and the character's name is spelled with a 'k' instead of a 'c' in the Japanese version of the Metal Gear Solid games, apparently. So, in Japan, 'Otacon' is 'Otakon'.

Also, the way 'Otacon' (the character's name) is pronounced in the game is not the same way that Otakon (the name of the anime convetntion) is pronounced. Otacon = AH-tuh-kon, Otakon = OH-tuh-kon.

[Wikipedia entry for Otakon, the anime convention -- Scroll all the way down to see the explanation about the name]

[Wikipedia information for Otacon, the videogame character]

Tagged: metal gear solid, otacon, otakon

Weekend gaming consisted mostly of Guitar Hero, when I could actually get a turn. The song line up for this game is really great. It would have been cool if they'd had a song (or two) from The Darkness, Poison, and/or Guns n' Roses (maybe unlockable?). Oh my God, that would be sweet. Great game, though. If only I knew someone who has it around here. I can't really spend the cash on more games now (and Guitar Hero is $80.00), since I have mentally allocated my money to other titles.

I think I'm going to try to get back into DDR seriously. I'm very firmly stuck on Standard, and it would be nice to consistently pass Heavy songs. Playing on a semi-soft dance mat is underwhelming, since I learned how to play DDR at the arcade. Perhaps I could reward myself by saving money for a nice metal dance pad later on, if I improve enough. I guess I'll check my progress in six or eight months from now, and decide whether I've improved enough to think about a metal pad.

I got a call from one of my D&D mates last night with an update on the campaign. I have missed the last two Sundays of D&D due to other obligations. Apparently our Psion has died; killed by a Drow Rogue on a rooftop. The party had saved the enemy's armour and weapon for me, because it is best-suited for my character. I am the only full Rogue. A couple of others have taken a Level of Rogue, they wouldn't be able to use this armour and sword as well as my character. So now I have really awesome armour and an awesome sword (possibly the best equipment in our party), and I haven't been there in a fortnight. I feel bad that my character is going to be using the equipment that the Drow used to kill our Psion.

I'm going to become pretty busy in the next few months, due to my involvement with Otakon. I'm a Department Head at Otakon, and also in charge of another Department-like entity for Otakorp, Inc., the non-profit corporation that runs Otakon. The latter position is effectively a Department Head position, though the event does not take place during Otakon. Otakorp sponsors an anime film marathon at the National Cherry Blossom Festival and for the past few years, I have been coordinating that. These commitments will likely mean fewer posts and fewer reading of blogs.

Tagged: dance dance revolution, dungeons & dragons, guitar hero, otakon

Weekend away from PC + Lack of time upon returning home on Sunday = Very little Guild Wars: Factions (preview) for me.

I created an Assassin briefly and mucked about in the Team Trials, but not long enough to gather any solid impressions. The new regions and costumes are beautiful.

The Assassins could have used nicer facial options, because most of them were not that appealing. Seriously. Only two of the female Assassin facial options were really attractive. The Assassins are meant to be like ninja, I guess, so they kind of have this Chinese/Japanese influence going on.

I often find that Western people have different concepts of what an attractive Asian woman looks like. Asian women that I find are of average- or below-average attractiveness, some of my non-Asian friends will rate them very highly. I had a discussion about this a few years ago with a friend from Hong Kong. She came to the conclusion that Westerners, because they have not interacted with large numbers of Asians, are unable to differentiate as much as an Asian is able to. Basically, Westerners think that all Asians look the same, as such they don't have a "refined eye" when it comes to Asians' appearance. Interestingly, my friend says that all white people look basically the same. She sometimes has a hard time telling them apart unless she has interacted with them regularly. I guess it goes both ways, then.

The bottom line is that I was very disappointed with the face options for the female Assassin. I don't think I've been able to say that any of the Guild Wars facial types are ugly until now.

The only impression that I came away with regarding the new Professions in terms of play is that it seems that anyone who plays an Assassin Primary will have to keep an eye out on chaining their Skills. But the Profession shows a lot of promise.

I didn't even have time to create a Ritualist like I wanted to. They have an African/Amazonian tribal thing going for them in terms of appearance.

I'll have to wait until the full version arrives later in the year. I reserved Factions at my local GameStop. Apparently, if a pre-order bonus becomes available, I will be able to get it, since I've already reserved the game. The price of Factions will be the same as any other game, around $50.00.

Don't know how much a Special Edition will be. Perhaps $20.00 more like the original? Doc Jitters got the Special Edition of Guild Wars for his birthday last year, and the only thing he got in-game was the Divine Aura. This amounted to lots of shiny sparkly lights around his character's hands when she danced or moved around. He did get an artbook, and I think the soundtrack CD (which I have already purchased via download from DirectSong).

I was really excited to try out the new Professions, but didn't have the time, but that's the way it goes sometimes. It was a fun weekend regardless.

Tagged: assassin, guild wars, guild wars: factions

I'm in a meeting right now. Not much gaming occurred in terms of Guild Wars, though I did attempt the bonus of a Mission that I have been trying to complete for ages (Divinity Coast Bonus, though I still need to do the Bonus to D'Alessio Seaboard). I didn't get very far, because I kept getting interrupted, and it's hard to concentrate in this environment as well. Too many things going on, too many people to talk to/socialise with, and too much serious stuff to discuss.

I had a brief look at the templates for the Assassin and Ritualist PvP characters. They look cool, especially the Assassin. Wow. Hot stuff. One of my friends here was telling me about some of the Assassin Skills and they seem really awesome. Can't wait to get home and try them out.

I played some Dead or Alive 4 and I wasn't too impressed with the game, though I am not a DOA player. The Xbox 360 controller is very nice, though. Very nice indeed. I may check out this same controller for my PC.

Played some late night DDR on sweet Cobalt Flux hard pads last night. A more skilled player complimented me on my technique, saying that I'm moving the right way to play at a more advanced level. I usually play on Standard Mode, though I have, when I was on top form, passed a few Heavy Mode songs. I didn't play nearly as long as I wanted, since it was getting quite late. Went to sleep at around 03:00. I love hard dance mats. Wish I had one.

I played some Guitar Hero this morning after breakfast, and I am convinced that the controller is too big for my small hands. I was having problems pressing the buttons. It's great fun, though.

I could use some Tekken 5, but everyone here only seems interested in rhythm games. I love rhythm games, but I love Tekken 5 as well. Maybe tonight, if I'm not doing anything else.

Some Karaoke Revolution would be nice, too. Don't know if anyone brought that.

More later.

Tagged: cobalt flux, dance dance revolution, ddr, dead or alive 4, gaming, guild wars, guitar hero

Here are pictures of the new Assassin and Ritualist Professions in Guild Wars (both male and female types).

I am stuck at work, and I likely will not be able to log in for the PvP event until late on Sunday, as I am out of town. I seriously considered skivving off today. However, missing work because one wants to play a game is a slippery slope that I don't want to venture towards. I could have come up with a better excuse like, "I have to attend Otakon Staff meetings, and they are starting today" (which they are), but really... I would have spent the bulk of the day playing Guild Wars, and then leaving for the meeting in the late afternoon. I decided to be good, though.

[Via the Guild Wars LJ Community]

Tagged: guild wars, guild wars: factions, guild wars pvp weekend

This will make germphobes and hypochondriac of us all: Toilet seat is cleaner than the average keyboard.

Despite this fact, I think I am the only one in the office who has yet to become ill this season. I haven't had a cold (knock on wood) in two years, at least. Though, having said that, I may seriously consider buying some of those disinfectant wipes for my work keyboard and phone...

[Via gHacks]

Tagged: bacteria, dirty, keyboard