Happy Halloween!

Not too much to see here, so enjoy this article.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Geimatsu Legend 10/30/13 -- Well, shit.

Oh, would you look at the time. Again. It's six o'clock. I slept for four fucking hours and nobody woke me. Great.

Programming
Unfortunately, this means (and probably October 31st too) that this will be another 1-skill day. Might as well do programming, because hell -- it's the easiest.

Hey, I worked on While loops. That's it. Fucking fantastic.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Geimatsu Legend 10/29/13 -- Almost Late Day

School has come again, in case your wondering about the infrequent updates. Also I slept from when I got home to 5 today, so remind me never to do that AGAIN.


Programming:
Same old, same old. This time I've moved on to while loops, but it's still about the same stuff.

Another side-project of mine has been "programming bibles", that add useful functions/layouts/properties into a document so that I don't have to google for an answer. It's pretty helpful.

Now, as for the other subjects, I really pretty much have zero time to work on them. I would, but I can't. Sorry to disappoint you guys!


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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Geimatsu Legend 10/28/13 -- Stream Day

Today marks the first day I streamed my progress! It was on the new group channel, twitch.tv/astukagaming. Check it out!

Programming:
Today I mostly worked on the project for "for" loops. Not much else.

Art:
Drawings:

yuugi/luugi requested by toldfir

OG J.L requested by ghjiop

Game Design:
Worked on both the OT RPG and the Roblox RPG (both side projects)

Music:
Still practicing LMMS.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Geimatsu Legend 10/27/13 -- The Whatever Day

Programming

At this point I'm trying to get through JS as fast as possible so I can get to Java. However, as it turns out for loops aren't exactly as easy as they look when matched with arrays.

Also, the annoyance that is semicolons have now begun. What kind of evil program makes an entire piece of code defunct just because you did or did not put a semicolon? Did the fucking nazis make this?

Eventually though I did get to the project, which I'll probably save for tomorrow since it looks like it will take work to do.

Art
This time on art...

Game Design and Art are going hand in hand with a mini project that I'm doing that's side-related for a forum I used to use. Basically, practice using Stencyl for the actual Geimatsu project to come.

After a few minutes, I got this response:

Well that was easy.

I now present to you...

SUPAHBOSHI64

RIKU1257

NIGHTDUMO

SENTRY7743

And thisaccount12345

I kind of got less enthusiastic about it as it went along, but I'll have to try stuff like this some other time.


Game Design

Continued working on the side project.

Music
For the most part, I plan on just testing LMMS to see how it works and what its functions are. I'll report back tomorrow to tell how useful it actually is.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
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Geimatsu Legend 10/26/13 -- Well that ended abruptly

Programming

After failing to find anyway to actually run the JS adventure, I determined that ultimately it was useless and that right after I finish Javascript I'd go straight to an actually useful language like Java. So what were we doing again? Oh, right. Loops.

For the most part, For Loops look like they have a very basic layout, which already makes them ten times easier than functions.

Also, today marks the day I was permanently banned from nl_kripp for cheating and exploiting. It was a good run RIP :,,,,,,(

Art
As I went to go search for tutorials, I realized that I had no fucking idea what to search to make "good" art. Game art tutorials? Digital art tutorials? BASIC art tutorials?

I decided to try my luck with just digital art tutorials at first. I ended up with...

...a bunch of graphic design stuff.

Okay, I know how to do graphic design. That's not my problem. I've trolled hundreds of people by faking pages and articles etc.

Then I realized art cannot be taught. It must be LEARNT.

And learn it I shall.

Today's image:

Don't ask why it's a fucking cat.

This time I tried starting with a rough sketch and replaced it with lines. It's fairly okay besides the fact that the god damn ends aren't round, but I'm pretty sure that much can be fixed.

Game Design
My project has commenced! It's looking up to be pretty good so far. Also, as I mentioned about doing a shitty-game engine game next, I'm convinced that game engine might be Stencyl. It's an extremely basic flash game maker that utilizes Scratch's coding style, so it's perfect for a coding peasant like me. I'll likely start a project in it once I get better with drawing basic things...

Music
When it comes to the music section, we have a few problems.

Synthesia is just for learning the piano for the most part, which honestly could get me the ladies but in the end I really don't care too much about it since its not related to the vidya and this IS related to the vidya. Also I ragequit with Mario Paint, so there's that too.

So I decided the next best thing to do is find something like FL studio. FL studio is for music, right? It's basically what Han Zimmer uses, right?

Anyway, searching for "free software like FL studio" led me to this:

Well, that was quick.

In case the image isn't readable, basicly the entire front page mentions something called LMMS, a "free beat-making software" according to the first result. The second result was the actual download.

For now I've just downloaded it, next time I'll probably get the actual thing done.

Also, things have managed to get really awkward since I'm still managing the 4-person "other" studio. I haven't been doing anything since the one incident that caused this, mostly because I've been focusing on this more. However I still need it to exist, just in case. It's like putting as many lottery tickets in as possible, you feel me?

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
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Geimatsu Legend 10/25/13 -- Broken Record

Continuing off of last post, it appears that contrary to popular belief you can't run jack shit when it comes to javascript. According to one guy off yahoo answers however, what you can do is place that .js file into a html file and play it through there. So, is it true?

I don't know, does this look like a fucking game to you?

Of course, it doesn't. It was then however that I remembered I had downloaded some coding app for google that I was pretty sure couldn't run the script either. To be fair though at this point I was pretty desperate, so I tried it anyway.

to be continued

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
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Geimastu Legend 10/24/13 -- The First Project!

Programming

PROJECT ONE

Idea: Simple text-adventure

Programming: Javascript in Notepad

Art: N/A

Music: N/A

As I started thinking when I was walking home this morning, with my current knowledge of JS it would actually be pretty easy to make a simple, 30 minute-or so long text adventure game using only JS. Since this is the first project though, combined with the fact that I have a lot of work to do this may be the only thing I end up doing today.

Once the game is finished, I'll probably just put it up as freeware on a separate page on this blog, assuming it even works.

So, as most games start I decided to add a basic "set-up" that showed who the game was by, what it was called, etc. Then right after I saved I realized something: I had no fucking idea how to run it.

I'd figure it was probably the console, but actually running it on the console confused me. I decided just to open up the code and see if I could open it with the console. After being distracted by all the different strange folders in the "My Documents" library, I opened up the right folder to see that it was already recognized as a javascript file.

Huh.

HUH.

Oh, fucking fantastic. Looks like whatever windows was trying to run doesn't even know what console.log is. Here's hoping codeacademy is telling the actual truth.

I'd figure my next best bet was to run the command prompt, which instead of doing something useful just closed instantly. I figure that my last hope was to run the program through the console, or to use the alternate return function. Surely that's got to do SOMETHING.

Did I mention I have to idea what the fuck I'm doing?

UPDATE 1:

I've tried a few other things and googled some, but it looks like no matter what I try the code still isn't running. I'm going to leave for now to finish that other work and try again later.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
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Geimastu Legend 10/23/13 -- The Third Day

I just realized the title is actually not technically pronounced "Game-mot-sue" like I thought it was. It's actually spelled "Guy-mas-tu". Oh well, my pronunciation is still correct.

Programming
As it turns out, it is actually the function ride that never ends.

Honestly I'm getting tired of this shit, mostly because you can not even MAKE any (good) games using javascript. However I'll probably need to know this for Java (basics) so I'll do it anyway.

Oh hey, look. Functions turned into loops. Well this is a pleasant surprise. Hurray for loops!

This is the most happy I've ever been about seeing the word "loop"

Art

Since things are turning out so well in the art department, I've decided to turn in one more day without looking at tutorials to try one last thing -- a 3D table. Here's how it turned out:

Oh god nevermind I need help.

Well then, more tutorials for me.

Game Design

Still working on other writing stuff. It counts, okay?

Music

Today I focused primarily learning Synthesia, and learned one thing -- either I'm really fucking bad at piano, or it's just because I don't even know what half the keys are in this fucking game. Oh well.


Well, that's it for today. Least productive day ever? I'd say so.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Geimatsu Legend 10/22/13 -- The Second Day

The adventure continues.

Podcast of the day

Programming

The functions may be over, but as they've always said: the javascript ride never ends.

Jesus bloody christ.

The good news is that I do know functions now, though I still have no idea what the fuck the return part does. I'm also still debating on what to continue with -- Java (which, by the by, is not related to JS -- I just have some experience in it) or continue along the Codecademy track to like PHP or something, which if I remember correctly has bloody-all to do with games.

Art

After watching a few speed-art videos for League of Legends characters, I noticed that a common trend was zooming in to pixel form in order to draw, as well as creating a "rough draft" the layer beforehand. Equipping this knowledge, I made this piece of armour in full on tryhard mode.

And it's STILL better than normal.

This time I focused mostly on multi-layering and zooming in/panning, which felt a lot better than the first time. This one actually looked pretty damn good at first, but after I realized I had no idea what the fuck I was doing things quickly fell apart.

Game Design

Mostly my writing has been being focused on the "secret project" I told you about in the beginning of this blog (Oops, spoilers). Because of the recent tragedies with the game studio I used to have, I haven't been able to write for it for awhile so I'm planning on getting a shit-ton done this Saturday to make up for the lost time last Saturday and next Saturday (Extra-life!). I've also been thinking of using Sketch or whatever the fuck its called and some other babby game engines to try and improve my skills there, but that would likely help all of them, not just game design. So, for now, we continue to wait.

Music 

After my epiphany last time of realizing I was the new Beethoven, I continued on my progress for the song I was making last time.


Looking back at the last song FUCK I FORGOT TO SAVE IT

Wait,

Nope, yep. It didn't save. Well forget what I was saying and fuck that junk, looks like we're going to go straight to virtual piano next time.


So, will I re-realize the fact that I am a musical genius by teaching myself to play piano and that me closing out was true divine intervention, or will I end up making a cacophony of ear-shriekingly bad music? (game design)

Find out tomorrow on

GEIMATSU LEGEND

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Happy 1k Views!

Close enough.

Today is the day we celebrate 1k views for this blog! This may be like a small feat to most, but this in reality is pretty damn big mostly because this website has NEVER BEEN ADVERTISED. That's right -- if you got here, it sure as hell wasn't me.

Not only is that true, but we're also catching up on the blog that I DID advertise from about two years ago that has only five posts.

Hype is through the roof.

And NOT ONLY THAT, but it's also technically a fifty-post celebration -- the longest I've gone on any blog ever. Mother of the lord, today is the day of achievement.

But enough of that, time to get to the "special edition" I was planning out for you guys!

Overall website stats:

Average per month (2 months so far!): 509.5
Most viewed day: October 12th, 2013 with 56 pageviews (that was the day we posted the "Quest to the Master Race" special)
Page views, all-time count at 10/21/13 @ 5:40 PM: 1,019 views

Where in the world did you come from?

Greatest refering sites:

1. VampireStat.com (205 views)

2. 7SecretSearch.com (31)

3. Kallery.net (28)

4. AdSenseWatchDog.com (26)

5. Google.com (25)

So basically a bunch of bot-spam/blog sites. Not bad.

Search keywords:

1. astukagaming.blogspot.com (20 views). Huh.

2. michael townley real life (2)

3. meeting god you were on your way ... (1). So someone literally just copied and pasted the entire story to see what would come up.

The Audience

Most of you are from...

1. United States (946 views)

2. South Korea (28) YEAHHHHHH

3. Russia (11)

4. Germany (5)

5. United Kingdom (5)

I'm just glad South Korea's in the top 2. I love you too, Korea.

Using the browser...

1. Chrome (640 views, 64% of all browsers), so basically me.

2. Firefox (178, 17%)

3. Internet Explorer (129, 12%)

As well as some other unorthodox browsers, such as UniversalFeedParser , OS;FBSV (whatever the fuck that means), and NX. Sad to see Netscape is apparently not making a comeback, but oh well.

And the operating system...

1. Windows (508 views, 50% of all OSs)

2. Linux (395, 39%)

3. MacIntosh (70, 6%)

The simple fact that Linux beat Mac by that much just makes me feel all warm inside. 

And, finally...

THE TOP 10 MOST VIEWED POSTS

1. "Meeting God" by Anonymous (14 views). The only one I copied takes 1st place. Of course.

2. The beginning of a hypothetical legend (Introductory post) (12 views)

3. Meet the GTA V characters... in real life (11 views)

4. Grand Theft Auto V Review (10 views)

5. The Quest to the Master Race special (9 views)

6. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Review (8 views)

7. Important Links (8 views)

8. gotta go fast (7 views). I don't even remember what the fuck this was.

9. TIL & is called an ampersand (7 views)

10. 5 browser games you can play right now (7 views)

And the most viewed by "series" were

TIL - 30 total views

Reviews - 29 total views

Nothing to Post 2013 - 25 total views

Gaming News - 22 total views

Geimastu Legend - 9 total views

At least now I know what to make more of in the future!

Well, there you have it folks. Oh yeah, also with my terrible digital art-making skill (which you all now know about) I made you this:

Beautiful. Truly beautiful.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis  

Geimastu Legend 10/21/13 -- The First Day

Well, the one thing about this project is that, so far, I haven't actually told the rest of my team that I'm doing it. Well, the part that remains. Neither of course do I have any intention on it since, if this project fails, might as well have some auxiliary. Right? Right!?

Programming:
THESE GOD DAMN FUNCTIONS

So the current area that I'm learning in Javascript is functions. For HTML/CSS/JQuery I pretty much brushed by with little to know problems, but this is the first time I've had to actually read things and do them over and over again. Like real coding.

Something tells me I'm going to HATE real coding. Oh well.

I feel kind of cheated in the way that I feel like I've learned practically nothing from using functions. They sure seem useful, but the whole idea seems like some convoluted mess to me, probably mostly because I'm both tired and frustrated.

Also, what the fuck does return even DO? I've been going through this section of it today and have no idea why it even has any importance. Then again that's probably just because I don't read. From my great analysis skills though, it looks like it does the same exact thing as console.log only just in functions.

Ingenuity, ladies and gentlemen.

Art:

For art, I decided just to "assess" what I already know before I proceeded to find some tutorials. To do this, I recreated myself in full glory.

Holy. Shit.

Okay, TO BE FAIR to my artist self, this is probably the best drawing I've made in YEARS. This, this is a high point.

Utilizing the incredible skillful techniques of line-drawing and correct oval eyes, I was able to make this master piece. Looks like Ringo Starr has some competition.

But seriously I REALLY need to get on some tutorials.

Game Design:

Well, like I said in my starting post, this is pretty much the only thing I'm good at, so....

Music:

My obvious initial first step for music was to find something that was actually able to create music. The only problem is, I don't know any. Why, is that, you ask? Oh yeah, I'm MUSICALLY INCOMPETENT.

But then, like a lightning bolt to my chest (how about you add that shit to writing/game design), I found the answer swiftly and incredibly painfully.

FUCK YEAH

It was perfect, and made to be 8-bit. I couldn't start on Synthesia or whatever the fuck its called because I don't know piano, and I couldn't do Garageband because I actually have a good computer, thank you very much.

So with a flick of the finger I clicked the virus/spyware software and started composing the mario way.

What came out was the most masterful first attempt at making music ever witnessed by no one, mostly because there's no way to actually upload your work. I might find it later, but for now I've got shit to do.

Toodaloo, bitches.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Geimastu Legend -- The Beginning of a Great Journey

"Can a single man develop a game all by himself?"




It is a question I have asked myself many a night. And by that, I mean this night whilst I was probably wanking off in the shower.

I have tried for what seems like a thousand times to make a little mini game studio of my own, but no matter how hard I try people get pissy and leave. What, they want rights? Bah! Let them eat cake, I say!

Then it hit me. If no one else has the same dream that I have, why don't I just do it myself and not get other people to do the work for me?

Sure, it would be hard. Hard as in probably the "DANTE MUST DIE" mode of life. But why would we do that in video games? To be challenged? So why don't we just challenge ourselves in real life?

Well, this is a challenge I will gladly accept. And there is no challenge I do not complete.

The goal of this mission is to make my own game where almost all aspects of it are made by me. In order to complete this, I will have to learn the following arts:

THE ART OF PROGRAMMISTU
Ah, yes. The simple foundation of all vidya -- the code. It is the most diverse and likely most frustrating of all of these tasks, but thankfully just like real life, once you learn one programming language it's pretty easy to learn the rest.

Fortunately, I already have HTML, CSS, and JQuery under my belt. Unfortunately, all of those languages can't make games for shit, or make really shitty games. My final goal in this art is to learn and master C++ and Java, though I intend to learn many others on the way.

THE ART OF ARTSU

Probably the most difficult art for me personally, I will sadly need to learn how to actually make digital art and 3D modeling. The question is, will I be able to? The answer is, probably not.

The goal for this art is to make art that isn't crap. It will take a very, VERY long time.

THE ART OF GAME DESIGNITO

Well... actually... this is the only one I actually know. So while I may prosper in this art, I will still need to practice to become a true Game Designito master!

THE ART OF MUSGHATI

Alright, I'm going to say it here and I'm going to say it now -- I am completely incompetent when it comes to music. Like, more so than art. And my art looks worse than Ringo Starr's fucking web art. So yeah, I'm fucked.

Thankfully though I know people a many who are actually good at making music, so perhaps I'll just make them do it for me. Maybe.


So here it goes, folks. The start of a real, living legend.

GEIMASTU LEGEND!

BEGINS MONDAY, TOMORROW, 2013

 

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Dark Matter ends after abrupt ending

Dark Matter, a game recently released on Steam for $15 has been flagged for a completely abrupt ending. According to the developers, the game originally was supposed to last around 14 hours, but was cut to around 4 due to the Kickstarter for the game failing, as well as a complete lack of funding in general. While the game was praised, the shortcomings with the ending may effect its lifetime on Steam.




It's likely that the developers had their best intentions, but they could have easily did one of two things:

A) Label the game as Early Access on Steam

or

B) Make another Kickstarter

They, however, did neither. If they said the game was a work in progress all would be good, but unfortunately they didn't, and there's going to be one hell of a backlash.

(In completely unrelated news, we're 53 away from 1k views! Better make that special edition soon...)

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
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Killzone 3 Review

Highway to the Killzone

Astuka Reviews: Killzone 3

Killzone 3 is considered to be the greatest PS3 exclusive shooter out there -- but does it live up to the hype?

GAMEPLAY: 8/10
The gameplay in Killzone 3 is one that you would expect from any other game. There's two preset control schemes in the game, one with L1 aim and the other with L3 (so basically, CoD or Battlefield). Sniping is incredibly accurate and fun, and for the most part the sights work well. Damage is realistic, with most enemies taking only a few hits before they die depending on the armor they have. However, the vehicle missions are everything but fun, and can be tedious and frustrating at some points. In summary: On-foot works well, vehicles not so much.

Multiplayer maps are pretty well designed, with multiple paths all around. Areas for both sniping and close quarters are all over, and a man who memorizes a map would probably do well. The "droids" in MP are pretty good, not being too overpowered while still providing decent coverage.

STORY: 4/10
Unfortunately, Killzone suffers with the incredibly dull average shooter storyline. Dialogue mostly consists of "ALPHA CHARLIE MIKE" and other tactical sounding phrases that really don't mean anything, and bland see-through characters are all around. For the most part, voice-acting is extremely cringey, especially from the American actors.

MUSIC: 7/10

The music in Killzone 3 is little of note. In fact, I'm not even sure the game has a soundtrack. The gun sounds/explosions seem pretty real, but overall there's really nothing to talk about here.

ART: 9/10
The art of Killzone 3 is really the only thing they have to be proud of. Areas are beautifully designed badlands, the scenery makes you feel like you're in a huge battle, and some vehicles are incredibly epic. From nuclear-ravaged warplains, to snow mounds, to caves teething with life -- Killzone's art is great and fitting.

IMMERSION: 3/5

Killzone 3 can be decently immersive, but for the most part you get thrown off by multiple deaths and annoying vehicles scenes.

EASTER EGGS: 3/3

Okay, fucking seriously? Does a game even NEED easter eggs to be good?

FINAL SCORE: 34/48 (70%) --- OKAY GAME
For the most part, Killzone 3 suffers at the things they think they're good at, but they're really not. If you're a hardcore FPS gamer you might enjoy it, but for most people you should probably just wait on this one, if buy it at all.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
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Reviews incoming

This is me, promising more reviews for the vidya are coming soon. However, since they're work in progress, I can't actually post them (unless I want to be like IGN) and since I have nothing else to post, well, here we are.

In the mean time, enjoy these new screenshots from The Witness, the upcoming game made by Braid creator Jonathan Blow:

More info on Extra-life

Last Edited: 10/21/13



First of all, I'd like to announce we're closing in on 1k views! Woot. I'll make sure to do a special post on that, whenever that happens.

However, this specific post will cover the details on the Extra-life charity marathon. I'm not going to go too far into the details of what the actual 'Extra-life' foundation is though -- for that, check out extra-life.org .

The marathon will take place from 8:00 AM on November 2nd until 9:00 AM on November 3rd. The team members (check below) and I will be playing a variety of games, possibly including but certainly not limited to:
Path of Exile
Neverwinter
Guild Wars 2
ARMA II
World of Warcraft (PTR)
Spiral Knights

Team members (as of current, will edit as people come in):
Astuka
ChaoticCactus
Toldfir (Yihzo)
Ghjiop
Zpher16
Wiiplay123
Mr_Swaq
Yunuen Cho
koopatroopa007

But wait, there's more! You too can become a team member by following these easy steps:
1. Fill out this app:
Name:
Age:
Skype ID:
Twitch UN:
Mic?:

2. Send it to

As the stream goes on, we will have various milestones for how much money we make. Some will be free games!

Milestone list still under construction

Our team page is at extra-life.org/team/rekt . Check it out!

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD remix revealed

Game will include Kingdom Hearts 2 and Birth by Sleep remix versions, as well as the Re:coded cutscenes, all in HD.


EDIT: Also, there's apparently going to be a new KH3 gameplay video released at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr9twjpM7gU&feature=youtu.be . So far it's private, so be patient!

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

WE GOT AN EXTRA LIFE TEAM NOW

http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=12858

The team and I will be playing the vidya on November 2nd, 2013 from 8AM to 9AM the next day. Come watch and support Children's Hospitals!

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

The Quest to the Master Race, or how I probably got a virus from trying to get Pokemon X

Alright, let me start off by saying that the only reason I'm cataloging this is so A) I actually post something today and B) So people know why I'm not going to be posting for the next few months

As you all know, Pokemon X & Y just came out recently. Everyone I know is talking about it, mostly because everyone I know is a "m-muh pokemons" fag, but I digress.

Anyway, I wanted to try my luck to see if there happened to be a 3DS emulator that I could use to play the game. Sure enough, googling "3DS emulator" comes with this result.

This is bound to be legit, right guys? Guys?

So I watched the video, and it led me to an extremely sketchy blogspot website, like one you go to to get free WoW characters. As it turns out, it was exactly like that.

First of all, the download link was blocked by this thing that made you either tweet about it, like it, or + it. I went with Twitter because it was the only one that you were able to delete everything and post something completely off the topic, so instead of "LEL I GOT POKEMANZ FOR FREE [link]" it ended up just being "poop".

After tweeting "about" it, it led me to a survey page.

Most of my luck with these stupid fucking surveys have just been "hueheuheu you are trapped in an eternal survey!!!!" that never ends and in the end you don't even get to download the virus in the first place. However, that day for whatever fucking reason I was so determined to get Pokemon X I got my hands dirty.

The first one said "WIN A FREE IPHONE 5", so I just told myself "might as well" and clicked it. This led me to perhaps the worst fucking survey page imaginable -- about fifty iphone 5's made in a square format outlined the background as the annoying tone of the default iPhone ringer went through my ears at decibels greater than a plane taking off. Still, I preserved. Eventually I got to the point where you had to put in all of your personal information, a place where I had stopped at most of the time. However this time I just decided to put in all of David Baszucki's public information.

At least he'll know it was for a good cause.

Even after I had put in "my" personal information for the NSA to spy on me and give me boatloads of ads, the surveys continued. There was some for health insurance, car insurance, and dental insurance. No matter where I went, the surveys followed.

I had just about given up when all of a sudden one window named "Save As" popped up (then followed fifty more but that's besides the point). At first I thought it was trying to download some virus, but I realized -- it was the 3DS emulator and game.

At that point was when the virus had potential to hit. I checked the download -- the game was a standard, non-suspicious .nds file while the other was a slightly-suspicious .exe file.

After checking both with Security Essentials and AVG at least 30 times, I pondered the idea of opening up safe mode, but decided to go big and try doing it on default anyway. The only thing that popped up was this window.

Ruh roh.

This is it. This is where the virus was going to attack.

I'd seen "Missing .dll" windows before from such likes as audacity, but this one seemed to have a, thisistotallyavirusandifyouclickityouarefuckingretarded feel to it. Of course, I didn't click the "DOWNLOAD FOR VIRUS" button, but instead decided to try my luck in googling the .dll. Surely not more people could be playing along with this malware, right?

After googling and finding the NoDevice link, it had turned out that the data.dll was actually a Windows-made .dll file. This should mean that it already came with the computer, but nevertheless I decided to download it anyway.

After downloading the .dll, I decided to open up the emulator try and verify the .dll. So, what happens next? You'll find out the next time I update this post, either in 10 minutes or 2 years.

EDIT

Unfortunately, this was neither a virus nor a legitimate copy. 

After trying to use the .dll I had downloaded, I noticed it didn't work. So instead I just went to go download the one it sent me to, which lead to a bunch of "$1 offers!!!!". So I decided to stop there.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Blogspot Shutdown part 3

Alas, as the government shutdown continues to commence, so does the "no content, no gaems" that seeps through this blog.

I'm keeping my shibe promise though.

nothing, part 2

Okay until I actually have something to post I'm just going to use shibe pics

There is literally nothing to post today.

No news.

No TIL.

It's a weekday so I can't post any of the reviews.

Nothing.

So have this picture of two cats

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Possible Halloween stream?

As most of you can tell I haven't streamed very recently due to lots of work and other stuff going on. While "Astuka's Week of Streams II" is confirmed to take place spring break (as it did last year) and likely WILL be a charity stream, I'm thinking of making a halloween special stream sometime during the weekend near halloween. We'll be watching scary videos, movies, playing scary games, etc. Anyone interested in this idea?

If enough people care, I'll start working things out. Maybe I should start a petition?

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

TIL Roald Dahl's last words were actually "Ow, fuck!"

The endings of Dahl’s stories are almost always surprising, even when we know the twist is coming. This talent, it turns out, applied equally to the author’s own life. In a hospital, surrounded by family, Dahl reassured everyone, sweetly, that he wasn’t afraid of death. “It’s just that I will miss you all so much,” he said—the perfect final words. Then, as everyone sat quietly around him, a nurse pricked him with a needle, and he said his actual last words: “Ow, fuck!”

http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/67962/

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Why don't you have a level 85 heroic yet?

https://www.everquest2.com/news/everquestii-heroic-producer-letter

"Former players don’t want to play catch-up to Level 95, existing players don’t want to start over at Level 1 with their friends, and some players just want to get into high-end guilds and raids because that’s what they love to do. There’s been a lot of great feedback that led us to create Heroic Characters."

.....

"First, for a limited time, players can create a Heroic Character for free. Oct. 1 until Oct. 15 is our “Hero’s Call” event which invites new players to create one free new Heroic Character per household. Existing accounts can create or upgrade to a Heroic Character for free too!"

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Meet the GTA V characters... in real life.

Michael Townley

Former professional thief and robber, Michael De Santa (formerly known as Michael Townley) was well known for numerous heists and scores that happened all over both the United States and Canada. After one heist gone wrong, he faked his death and was put into witness protection, living with his family in Los Santos.

But in real life...

Michael Townley (born December 5th,1942 in Waterloo, Iowa) is a former CIA agent and professional assassin living under witness protection somewhere in the United States. He is known for the assassination of Orlando Letelier, former Chilean ambassador to the United States, and the Chilean general Carlos Prats. After the death of Orlando, he was sentenced to 62 months in prison, before receiving immunity from further prosecution. He is still wanted by both Argentina and Italy.

Trevor Philips

Drug dealer, murderer, and psycho lunatic, Trevor Philips isn't a person who you'd want to get on the bad side of. Also notable for cannibalism and pissing off a lot of gangs.

But in real life...

He is a parody of a real life Trevor Philips. Member of the London Assembly for the Labour Party, Trevor Philips is widely known for defending racial equality and human rights. He is the former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and the head of the Commission for Racial Equality.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Crazy Guide to Console Exclusives

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Review

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Astuka Reviews: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

One of the best characteristics of Kingdoms of Amalur is that it succeeds in being different but not new. By that, I mean it appeals to the general flavor of today's games (AKA fantasy RPGs) whilst still adding much to the table.

GAMEPLAY: 10/10

On the PS3 (the console I played on), the combat is well fitted to the controls. Nothing seems to "difficult" to do, and combos, unlike some games, are not near impossible to do. FPS drops and latency are extremely hard to notice, if not nonexistant. The action is a nice mix of arcade-y and hack and slash. The inventory and shop screens are easy to manage, and there is not an overwhelming amount of things you need to put points in when you level up. The map can sometimes be misleading, but overall leads to little problems.

STORY: 8/10

The story unfortunately, is pretty generic. A little Dragon Age here, some Warcraft here, and there's your story. Writers tried to add some diversity with the Fae and Gnomes, but it seems to make very little of a difference.

Of course, the fundamental principal on rating a story is NOT by how generic it is, but if it's well done. KoA's story may be generic, but it's execution is very well done. Most quests feel like they have a meaning, and twists in the story lead to much more exciting adventures.

MUSIC: 8/10

Music is reminiscent of Dragon Age and Warcraft in some ways (no doubt the games two major inspirations). Some music is notable, but overall its a far distance from being considered "legendary" in any way.

ART: 10/10

The art style of KoA is one of its best qualities. Every area is well rendered, luscious, and beautiful. Every character is detailed, but still has a cartoon-y aspect to them that fits the theme of a fairyland escape shrouded by darkness. 

IMMERSION: 5/5

As most western RPGs are, KoA is extremely immersive. 

EASTER EGGS: 0/3

Sadly, no easter eggs were found in the game, so that causes KoA to lose 3 micro minipoints.

FINAL SCORE: 41/48 (86%) --- GREAT GAME

I HIGHLY recommend this game for fans of the Western RPG genre, especially for the fans of it's inspiration. Kingdoms of Amalur is a cartoon-y, arcade-y RPG that's serious when it needs to be and fun all around.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
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