A new look for 9k!

Those of you who frequent the site may notice we look a bit different than normal -- that's mostly because we can't actually integrate Facebook inside of blogspot with Dynamic Views. Whoops! But who cares; Dynamic Views was old school anyway.

There's plenty of news to talk about right now, so let me get started:

First of all, we've hit 9k! Woohoo, we're now only 1k away from 10k, the greater achievement.

Second of all, there's a new episode of the AstukaGaming Podcast! We've decided that after this one we're likely going to stop focusing on having guests and just work off the vague dynamic we have. We're also likely going to bring true the original idea for redux by starting to focus on things other than exclusively video games.

Lastly, there's a Codex of Aegis subreddit! This has already been in existence for awhile, but I've thrown off advertising it until fairly recently. I always add the new story to it, so in case your a redditor, you can now have Codex of Aegis on your feed! Hooplah!

That's not all though, as there's even more news coming soon. Extra-Life 2014? Wider social media integration? Skit channel? Game reviews? BOOK?

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself.  Some of that isn't going to come for a while, but still!

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

GamerGate Part II: The Quest for the Uncensored News Site

A few weeks ago I made a blog post here discussing the Quinnspiracy. In it I apologized for being late to the party.

Boy, could I have been more wrong.

A lot has happened in these few weeks, and since then it has gone to expand beyond Zoe Quinn herself and even gaming in general. However, for the sake of being careful I'll use this next paragraph to summarize what has developed since then, assuming that the last Quinnspiracy/GamerGate article was the one I made.

It turns out that the alleged internet censorship is real, and it is worse than we thought. This brilliant article by Milo Yiannopoulos shows exposes an emailing list used by many top ranking game journalists, website founders, and indie developers called “GameJournoPros”; a name which leads me to believe that my backseat journalism may be more professional than I give it credit for.

Here is a list of these emails, with important information in highlight, courtesy of Breitbart.com. (images need to be opened in separate tab to be read)

Ah, yes, Journalism ethics sure are bullshit. Besides, I've been meaning to review her game... *wink wink*

People are using your platform to harass a developer. Though more of these people are concerned with censorship, we should really just make that our excuse.

No. This is simply not true. I don't believe it. Shut up.

If we censor their thread about internet censorship, it plays DIRECTLY into their narrative! God, why does making responsible decisions on community content have to be such a pain in the ass!

It's not just popular tech and gaming websites, however. The following image is a screenshot from a reddit AMA with Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. In it he's asked his opinion on GamerGate.

And on this, the Darwin Award committee struck gold.

Think it's fake? Here's the permalink. In other news, Reddit's moderation team braving through worst intelligence drought in decades.

And I'm not even done. The bastion of anonymity on the internet, 4chan, has been revealed as to be censoring it's threads as well. 

Now this may be not as bad like the last time, however also like last time that's only in proportion to the other current events. We know have feasible proof that censorship is going on in most major discussion areas of the web.

The main defense game journalism has given up to this point is that the GamerGate movement is a thinly veiled misogynistic scheme that insists it's about censorship, but is really just trying to remove women from the industry. What we have proof is that that allegation is the farthest thing from true.

Sworn opponents of censorship and active members of GamerGate, this is your fuel. Use it to create a wildfire so wide that not even major websites can control it. The two greatest inventions in humankind were writing and the internet, because they allowed the common man to speak his mind. Use these gifts. There have been entire country-wide revolts by use of social media alone. Utilize it, and there will be change.

But before we change others, we must change ourselves. Recently I have watched the InternetArtistocrat's GamerGate stream in which he discusses current events and inspires people to raise their flags for better, unbiased journalism. I have decided that if there is interest, I'll use this site – small though it is – to give the unbiased gaming news people have asked for. And that means not just in GamerGate discussion, but all of gaming in general, whether it be reviews or announcements. If I stir up even the slightest interest in this, I will heavily consider trying to do this.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Patch Notes -- 9/16/14

okay well its more like updates but anyway

• We actually achieved all the goals made from the last notes, with more good news incoming!
• In case you haven't already noticed, content on Codex of Aegis is now following a biweekly schedule, each new story coming out the same Saturday as every AstukaGaming Podcast!
• This gives me more time for not only format edits, but general edits such as typos and sentence flow
• As Dungeoneer 3 was mostly a practice exercise to increase my skill in C++, it has since been discontinued. I have learned a lot from the project though, and will be utilizing this knowledge (hopefully) in the future.
• Meanwhile, the Stencyl project that was put on hiatus is now in development! And you guys thought I was bad with projects.
• Facebook integration will be coming to this blog in the same way that it is on the Codex of Aegis. Look for it soon! (assuming I didn't do it already and just forget)

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

It's time for MADDEN! (gifs)

Madden has a new viral marketing technique this year. Did they need one? Probably not, but needless to say it makes some pretty sweet-ass gifs.

First episode of AstukaGaming Podcast Redux now up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92wHSPrGMhI

The first episode of the Podcast Redux is now up, featuring our special guest Ash-Bit Gaming! Check it out.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

GUYS I THINK I JUST FIGURED OUT P.T (Silent Hills)

Okay this is going to be short and tumblr-tier writing but I seriously think I've figured this out. Also I'm not going to bother explaining the different stuff, I'm just going to assume you've played through the game.

1. The radio states that the neighbors have heard the father chanting numbers before hand, like he was trying to "cast some strange spell". It also says similar events have happened before (this is important for later).

2. A little later the radio says the same message but there's a cut in it in which the numbers are said. This is in a different voice then the radio and the fetus (who talks during the end of both the normal ending and Silent Hills ending).

3. Swedish radio states  they're "opening a portal to another dimension" (very important for later).

4. There is a reoccuring theme in the game in which the idea of poor welfare and job loss is referenced. If we remember what the baby says near the normal ending, it states the father lost his job and the wife had to get some shitty job as a grocery clerk.

Alright, so how are these four all connected? Let me blow your fucking mind.

Father is in distress. Lost his job and his wife is cheating on him with a manager. Gets a tip somehow (we don't know this) about someone who can help, but only gets a string of numbers as a hint. Guy nearly goes crazy trying to figure this out. After a while, he realizes it: it's not the numbers that are important, its what the numbers make. Its Jareth (or gareth fuck if i know)

Guy prepares to finally do the ritual. Thinks he's ready. Waits until midnight. Ten paces forward. The cries, the whispers -- they hit him. He knows what to do.

"Jareth."

Silence. Dead silence.

He doesn't understand. Did he do something wrong? Was there another step to it? Poor guy has a panic attack, before he hears the phone next to him ring.

"H-hello?" He asks, still shivering from the ritual itself.

"You've been chosen."

Man on the other line hangs up. Door near him unlocks. He's scared, trembling even, but he knows what to do.

He needs to open the door. To go to another dimension. To find Jareth.



That was 10 months ago. At least, it felt like it.



Daily radio plays. Apparently, a father killed his whole family before hanging himself with a garden hose. What happened? What would drive a man mad?

Not only that, but what would drive many other men -- fathers -- mad?

There's only one way to find out. Recreate the steps. Go open the door. Go to another dimension -- Hell, aka Silent Hill.


Go find Jareth.



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Yes I know its not exactly together (there's probably more pieces to the puzzle) but I feel like the story of the new Silent Hill goes like this. I've been way off on my predictions before though, so we can only know once we've found out.


P.S. To the people who don't see how Luci, the drugs, the fetus, the bag, etc. etc. fit into it?

This game is a teaser.

It has no direct relation to the main title.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Patch Notes -- 8/26/14

It is me and we are back again and welcome to patch notes!!!!!

• As of right this moment, I have removed some of the unused content cluttering Codex of Aegis. This includes the Google Translate, "Follow by Email", and Viewcount widgets
• These fixes should help load speed if you're viewing from a slower computer.
• Later today (or tomorrow) there will be an update to Dungeoneer to make it a bit more playable. Like I said, I will be actively updating it until it is fun enough to be considered a real game.
• This will mean it will probably be the main thing updated on Codex of Aegis right now, so check back often!
• The Astukagaming Podcast has the tentative date of Sunday 31st and will be hosted by me and featuring Vaughan Jones and our guest Ash-Bit Gaming. 
• At around the second week of September, there will be a MASSIVE dump of content on Codex of Aegis, which will then unfortunately be followed by another drought. I mentioned in the last post I was working out a reliable schedule for work-school, and I'm still trying to get it together. I apologize to anyone looking forward to new story content.
• So, uh, I kind of forgot last Patch Notes that I said I was going to fix the formatting on the Codex of Aegis stories. I'll try to get at that later today.

First Game up on Codex of Aegis!

http://landofeternallife.blogspot.com/p/games.html

It's not much, but its the first in many that I hope to be put on the site. I'm going to keep working on it until it can at least be slightly considered fun before moving up to my next project. Next update: Magic!

The Quinnspiracy, also known as generic internet drama

I was really hoping I'd not have to make something about this, but seeing that it's the only thing I've been able to see on the internet recently I figured I might as well chime in.

For those of you who are uninformed on what exactly armchair internet sleuths are dubbing "The Quinnspiracy", the story goes as follows:

Recently, a game by the name of Depression Quest was greenlit on Steam, made by a Zoe Quinn. This game was, as it turns out, not a game at all -- rather a shitty visual novel. This is a fact.

Where things tend to get a bit shady is where the conspiracy part of this quinnspiracy lies. Apparently, the creator of the aforementioned game, aforementioned herself, allegedly was having "special relationships" with five men, some of which were married, and even more shockingly some of which worked for the games journalism industry.

Now, AS FAR AS I KNOW, there is no SOLID proof that Zoe Quinn was sleeping with any of the alleged five guys, besides a large blog post made by her ex-boyfriend. If anyone has any information on this part that is TRUE and SOLID, please send it to me at the email or twitter that I'll provide at the end of this post. As for now, I'm not going to bother getting into this part, but rather a section with a considerable amount of proof which seems to trouble me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Equc1QnQ9rw

What I've linked above is a video made by a man with the charming internet mask "Mundane Matt". The content of this video however, is not important. What is important is the story behind it.

Figure A -- MM video claim

A few days ago, when this conspiracy first began (also forgive me for bringing this up on this event's wind down; as you know with me I tend to think late and write later) Mundane Matt released this video, only to have it removed via copyright claim by "Zoe Quinn". I put that in quotes because, as we all know, anyone can take down content with practically any reason. This "no reason" is the fact that the Quinnmystery claimed that the video contained screenshots from the game that were not available "for public use" -- a thing that turned out to be absolute bullshit, as it was later shown that the screenshots were directly from the game's store page on Steam. However, there is one more thing we shouldn't overlook, and its the "anyone". Just because this person is Zoe Quinn, doesn't mean she's actually Zoe Quinn right? Right?

Figure B -- Censorship on Steam Discussion Boards

Figure C -- Extremely probable censorship by /r/gaming moderator (may need to open in separate window to see)

Figure D -- Deletion of correct content on Wikipedia

Figure E -- Censorship by 4chan moderator (though some may say it is irrelevant)

Figure F -- Censorship on the website GamesNosh, likely by Zoe Quinn herself.

Figure G -- Censorship on 4chan -- content posted features information related to video game journalism, a subsidiary of video game discussion.

What I have posted above are 6 images that I believe are the closest to resembling actual censorship by Zoe Quinn and her compatriots. I got all these images from a compilation made by an anonymous /v/ user, and it is available here. Feel free to check all the content in it at your own pace.

Now as a writer I have a soft spot for censorship of any kind, because I believe it is more destructive than it can ever be creative. The censorship revolving Zoe Quinn is an excellent example of that; in the end, it doesn't even MATTER if the rumors surrounding her are true. At the end of the day, what we do have is exemplary evidence of wide censorship.  Surely, you'd say, you shouldn't send death threats to her, and you're right -- but deleting ALL of the negative content associated with a person is without a doubt censorship, and there's no way to retort against that fact besides sugarcoating it yourself. The internet gives us, all of us, one basic right -- to start discussion about whatever topics we want as long as they follow a set of country laws. You can't say video game journalism discussion isn't relevant to 4chan's /v/ board. You can't say discussion of a video game personality's view of an active video game related event isn't relevant to reddit's /r/gaming. And you certainly can't say that an entire website deserves to be taken down for it's non-threatening opinions on another person, no matter if its negative or positive.

If you wish to discuss this article with me directly, or have any content that can help bolster the quality of this article, please contact me at my email  or at my twitter, @JohnMcGroover. And no, I'm not taking it down. Ever.

- Jacob Robinson, writer of the Codex of Aegis

Edit 8/20/14 8:31 PM
An anonymous emailer sent me a link to this Kotaku article. In short, the editor in chief of Kotaku Stephen Totilo states that "he [Nathan Grayson] was in a romantic relationship" with Zoe Quinn, but that during his time at Kotaku had not written anything about Zoe Quinn during there relationship with the exception about an article concerning the Game Jam situation. While this is true, it also explains the fact that Zoe Quinn did indeed cheat with at least one of the five men rumors have explained, and it does leave the additionals up for some more serious consideration. I continue to encourage all of you to send me any solid information you may have on this, as well as critique on any factual errors I may have made in the article.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Patch Notes -- 8/10/14

Welcome to Patch Notes, a new mini-segment in which I discuss updates that are going around on various projects. I figured it would be good for this blog to have at least one segment, so here it is!

• As school is coming up very soon (like, two days soon) there will be no updates on any projects until about a week in when I can properly reassess my time and budget it correctly.
• Although the AstukaGaming dream is dead, I am interested in the returning the podcast to a biweekly schedule. Nothing is confirmed however, as I do need to check for some people who would be interested as well as maybe a few potential guests.
• Unlike the previous podcast which focused completely on AstukaGaming and videogames, this new podcast would be separated into multiple segments, most likely consisting of Games, Movies, and Music discussion. It would likely be sponsored by Codex of Aegis itself, as well as perhaps a few other brands.
• The first game a la shitty command line RPG will likely come to Codex of Aegis after a few balance changes. It will be a free download, as well as be free of viruses and botnets. Mostly.
• Testing for Hitbox.tv will happen sometime soon, though we are delaying it slightly due to known issues with Xsplit.
• Expect formatting fixes similar to the ones found on the new Kerland House story coming soon to all previously posted stories, as well as possibly a few typo fixes.

That's all for now. I'm not going to be limiting this to a schedule but rather just posting one whenever there's new updates coming. For now, just get hyped.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis