Showing posts with label Miscellanious. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miscellanious. Show all posts

2012/05/22

Ev12: Fiesta Asia 2012

I know it's been long since I've done ANY posting, and I'm sorry about that. But things have become complicated, what with having limited internet service as well as my preparations for July and August (another issue I'll address soon.) In the meantime, I came back from yesterdays excursion at Fiesta Asia 2012, down near the National Archives in D.C. Once again, I went with my friends of the anime club and had a wonderful, yet humid, time, busting out my Rock (Black Lagoon) cosplay for the first time. As with any Fiesta Asia, we took part in the Cosplay Parade, though unlike a year ago, I didn't have to march with the banner myself this time. We also had a few photoshoots here and there, photos I'm still waiting to see, and with my Blackberry I took a few more, some of which I will put on here a little later.

As for what's ahead, I'm not only going to Otakon in July, but the month after, I'll be in Europe for a while, namely Austria, so it's doubtful if I'll have internet, let alone be able to review anime for a while. However, in the mean time, I'm also involved with this documentary that the students of George Washington University students are doing about anime (I know, it's exciting for me.) It's unnown if copies of this will be made, but if possible, that would be great. VERY doubtful if I can sync this to the Wolf Vlogger, though. In any case, that's it for now, but stay true and golden, and I'll post again sometime later. Seiko Takeda-Wolf, signing out!

2012/03/02

ST1: Seiko's Message in Response to the Controversy

[This marks the beginning of what I would like to call "Seiko's Thoughts." It's basically where I take a break from the usual stuff and get serious, sharing my views about certain topics I come across. Originally it was supposed to start and end here, but with so much going on... I can't seem to keep my silence. Read and feed in if you desire, just keep in mind of the usual blog conduct. - Seiko]

Seiko Takeda-Wolf here again, with another post. Okay, I know for a fact this has nothing to do with anime or whatever, but I feel as though that, as the problem has raged on for this long, I must voice my two cents on the FGC, that is Fighting Game Community, and the bully-like, sometimes sexist remarks normally said by others, but not at all condoned by important figures of it. Okay, here we go.


The Problem:
Though it has gone on for a while, it recently came to my attention that the FGC is in disarray over some remarks said at 2 events streamed for the said community. The spark of this came from the streaming series Cross Assault, a a live event series broadcast on the net that promotes the upcoming game title Street Fighter X Tekken, which releases this month and made by Capcom. Now then, apparently on that show, there was a little talk going on involving Team Tekken's Coach, Aris, and one of the players of the said team Miranda, or Super_Yan, as she's called. Aris made some rather... distasteful remarks, such as guessing her bust size during a broadcast (which already warrants a red flag for most people), which ultimately made her forfeit a match in which her supposed upcoming opponent gave her prizes out of concern (how thoughful of him.) Natrually, Aris' words sparked an ongoing controversy that erupted within the FGC itself, following an article on Kotaku which covered the whole incedent. While she felt that the community was responsible, she later realized the main one at fault, directing her aim of guilt towards her team coach, who is, as described by people within the community, naturally like that with anyone. Debatable statement maybe, but since then Capcom has apologized, despite the people of Cross Assault not representing the company themselves. It's also surmised that Aris, too, has apologized for his actions, but this is just as well debatable based on his exact wording in that apology.

You would think with that done, the issue would be put to bed, but no, not so fast. Wednesday Night Fights, or WNF, a streaming podcast produced by Level|Up, and sponsored by FGC website Shoruyken (SRK) was another venue in which distasteful commentary was made. After pointing out what was said, through various areas, especially one involving the women of NOS (a type of energy drink, if I remember right.) Regardless, when the statements were said, the community once again fumed on both sides of the issue: between those trying to brush it off, and those that felt that it was wrong (to which most of the time, it normally IS wrong.) The two commentators that were in the episode from 2 nights ago (yes, this was pretty recent) were pulled from commentating anymore WNFs, or any event in which are produced under Level|Up, as well as support provided by SRK were pulled, and along with it WNF's Season One seeding points to Evo 2012, a popular tournament for skilled players in the world. To add, the commentators, Marn Phan and Christan Cain, have apologized as well for their statements from Wednesday night's episode.


The Uproar:
With both of these cases, there were people on both sides voicing their opinions on the matter. Now, quoting something I hear often, though not sparking any controversy much like the one I'm referring to: "An opinion is like an asshole, in which everyone has one." That said, I'm afraid that some opinions just go a little out there, demeaning those of the FGC like myself. First, I'll get into the comments made in response to the respective articles. One such article, involving the Cross Assault scandal, someone mentioned her possibly staging the whole thing, or allowing it to continue, then getting mad off camera. To that I say a few things. To start, what I heard from one guy held a grain of truth. With Aris saying all those things, Miranda could have told him to ease up. But instead of causing a scene on camera, she tries to play it all, which is commendable. And frankly, that's a hell of a lot better than the shots I see take place on actual local news segments. To conclude, she voiced her disapproval over her Twitter (the post themselves now deleted), but as she was offended, to which one should be, I find her actions expected and I do not criticize her for it. But she didn't ultimately reject the FGC, which she initially felt they did to her. That said, reading all of this gave me a lot to think about, especially since I hear sexism shots taken often, but on that note, it doesn't make it any less or any more ignorant as it is already, therefore uncool. There were even talk about alienating females from the FGC, which would normally throw me into a rage (don't ask why it would...), but for the sake of this post, I'll try to say this as calm as I can, without blowing up: Granted in the FGC, there are so few women FGC players over a mainly male-dominant community. This is kind of sad, given the fighting characters in games are diverse in gender, orientation, race, and fighting styles the world over. But with remarks like this popping up, it comes as no surprise that when heard in the wrong ears, something said as a "means of passion" could be taken too far. Inkblot of SRK, who is also one of the founders of EVO, did a few posts pertaining to such behavior, saying things such as:

"If we continue to let the worst elements in the scene speak for us or excuse their bad behavior, we deserve whatever criticism we get.  It’s everyone’s responsibility: the players, the content producers, the tournament organizers, and the fans.  We need to be just as serious about the way we treat each other and how we reach out to others online as we are about the game."

Inkblot, Hurtful Speech: Time To Take a Good Look in the Mirror, Shoruyken
http://shoryuken.com/2012/03/01/hurtful-speech-time-to-take-a-good-look-in-the-mirror/
Now while I don't necessarily agree with him all the way, he is right. We do need to seriously consider how we not only engage our fellow fans, but also how we attract others into our world. And making remarks such as the ones said by those 3 individuals (which I will not post here, the articles on Kotaku and SRK were nice enough to provide them) are not doing the job. They're just causing trouble, some belittling the type of people we of the FGC really are. It shouldn't do so, but that one saying "One rotten apple ruins the bunch" seems to apply here as well.

AS AN FGC FAN, MY FINAL THOUGHTS:
The actions are deplorable, the fact that such beings represents what we are as gamers is insulting, yet some of us thinks it's okay to say such things, making light of how hurtful they can be. Well, wake up: regardless of what is said, how it's said, where it's said, and who it's said to, some things, Freedom of Speech or not, AREN'T okay to say, and if you think otherwise, and feel that saying things like "Rape that Bitch!" or whatever they say (that CAN and WILL be hurtful) is alright, then it's time for you to put down the controller, because it's making other FGC voices/faces look bad. It's enough that the community is mixed with newcomers and pros, spectators and enthusiasts the world over, waiting to see the next big phenom in the gaming world, or to hone their skills to fight and surpass the best. Even with those, newcomers are sneered, but not to the point where it's outright bullying. Some play for fun, some play for keeps, and some play to get better at what they do. What it comes down to is that whether you're a winner, loser, or some bystander looking onward, we should treat one another with respect. That applies to face-to-face match-ups, as well as online battles. That's not to say act like the days of old and kiss someone's hand like in The Godfather, but don't be arrogant, disrespectful, and (above all else) sexist to fellow gamers. It demeans character, regardless of whether it's by word or action. As gamers of FGC, we need to change, so that it's an even playing field for everyone. If you're a newcomer, don't come in just to start beef, and if you're a pro, don't be such a snobbish jerk and play with fairness. And if you're a commentator, watch what you say. But then again, the latter could apply to everyone.

Before I rag on forever (this post is becoming WAY too long) I leave one final message. Accept it or not, it's up to you: Grow up, Step up, and Change up, or put your controller up and go elsewhere. This is Seiko Takeda-Wolf, signing off and saying:

"To FGC fans, prepare for the next battle!"

To the anime fans, sorry you had to witness such an unrelated post, number 200 is on the way, but "Stay True, fans and otaku the world over!"

2012/02/04

CXCIV: "Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters"

The name Yu-Gi-Oh! is a common mainstream title known everywhere, due to the cards, video games, manga, and the various anime bearing the name. Despite being the second one in origin, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters was the first anime title of the franchise to hit the states. A little insider: as with the Pokemon franchise, the anime featured the merchandise as the plot device for the anime. A little outside my usual forte, but I'll get to the anime AS WELL as a bit of its Trading Card background in this post.

First, the anime named Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters. Titular and focal character Yugi Muto is a short, pure-hearted high school student, whose grandfather runs a card shop. He is also a skilled card player, which are referred to as Duelists, complete with his own deck of trading cards. He is handed, prior to the first episode, fragments of an Egyptian artifact, known as the Millennium Puzzle, one of a handful of mysterious items. Assembling it, he becomes the host of an ancient spirit, the Pharoah (who is addressed to viewers as Yami Yugi), who suffers amnesia, bearing no recollection of his past. Events kick in when skilled Duelist Seto Kaiba, the CEO of KaibaCorp, visits Yugi's grandpa Solomon, who ends up kidnapped and beaten for the rare Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Defeating him with skill and the "Heart of the Cards", he is soon challenged again by many others, starting with Maximillion Pegasus onward. Assisted by his friends Joey Wheeler, Tea Garner, and Tristan Taylor, among other characters, Yugi and Yami must throw down against any Duelist standing before them, while finding the memories of the Pharoah. To them, it's more than just a game...

The anime span for 5 seasons. Airing on Kids WB initially, this title found its way to The CW4Kids (currently called Toonzai), the Saturday morning block for The CW which is owned by 4Kids Entertainment (which is in ways ironic, because WB changed into CW as of 2006, so in a way, it came right back to the premiering channel...) Each season obviously dealt with a new plot, and as more monsters debuted, the cards would surface all the same. As follows, this is how all 224 episodes were broken up:
  • Season 1: Episodes 1 - 49
  • Season 2 - Battle City Duelists: Episodes 50 - 97
  • Season 3 - Enter the shadow Realm: Episodes 98 - 144
  • Season 4 - Waking the Dragons: Episodes 145 - 184
  • Season 5 - Grand Championship/Dawn of the Duel: Episodes 185 - 224

Since its debut, it was dubbed in English by 4Kids Entertainment, who is still ongoing despite issues concerning this series and companies TV Tokyo and Nihon Ad Systems or NAS, who aired the anime in Japan prior to the U.S. License. Though this helped trigger the conflict, Funimation had their own dubbed viersion, which used the names of the Americanized 4Kids version, but had the settings of the original, taking place in Japan instead of the U.S. Funimation's also featured mild profanity, and followed closely to the original script. Only 3 DVDs were made, composing of the first 9 episodes, that were released. The fourth was finished, but legal issues, as well as the "competition" with the edited 4Kids episodes led to its uncertain status on whether or not it will resume. The role of Yugi was voiced in English by Dan Green (who voiced Ryuggi/Ryuji of DNA² and was the voice of Knuckles the Echidna for some of the Sonic the Hedgehog games as well as the anime Sonic X), while Chuck Powers (who voiced Richard Moore of Case Closed, as well as Uchi and the Principal in the anime Gokusen) voiced another English version that was released in Singapore. While each featured an opening and ending track done by a Japanese singer, the American versions lacks this, instead using mostly instrumental theme (which they alternate with each season), that features an anime voice clip saying "It's Time to Duel!" as the opening and ending theme.

Before grading, I promised to touch a little about the Trading Card Game this anime revolves from. Made by game company Konami, the monsters seen in the manga, created by Kazuki Takahashi, are made into cards people duel and trade with. Over the years, it has been revised under different rules and regulations, to ensure fair play, though usually one finds a way around this to make a nearly unbeatable strategy. Unlike the anime, the Monsters aren't projected and they don't come to life either, which is prominently seen in the anime. Moreover, certain cards aren't made to be used, while others are merely anime-exclusive. The Duel Disks, which debuted around the second season, were made as toys/accessories for fans. As the franchise progressed, the Duel Disks were used much more prominently and even featured new designs, extending into Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds, and the recent Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal.

Initially, while Konami was the sole mastermind behind this cash cow, popular trading card distributor Upper Deck released the cards in America prior to the end of 2008, when Konami found out and sued Upper Deck for illegal distribution. A year later, Upper Deck was held liable for counterfeiting the TCG cards, and Konami, to this day, is the sole distributor of the cards, despite that other companies also make false copies of the said cards, sometimes trying to make it authentic, and even including the officially banned/exclusive monsters as cards. The TCG tournaments, sponsored by Konami, only uses the authentic cards distributed by them, the cards sold in packs and collectible tins in various stores, though some exclusive cards are obtained through other official means.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters had a long run, and while I don't favor much mainstream, it's between a 7 and 8 of 10 for me in general. Anime like this is made to help sales of the merchandise, and it did that well, because hadn't this surfaced in America, I would ignore the Trading Card Game still going on to this day.

2011/12/31

A Year in Review

Strange, huh? Ever since March, I've put on full blast any and every review I can think of, and was steadily in the double digits until last month. Never thought I'd keep going towards 2012 with this blog. Of course, there's still the vlog in progress that I still intend on making possible, and the Gamer Base Blog that has much less posts than this one. Seriously, thanks to all that has been with me through the lifespan of Seiko's Otaku Pad. When it was just Life of Seiko Wolf, I never even thought about doing this, but I ended up managing 2-3 different ones, and the one taking most of my time just happens to be this one.

It's been one hell of a trip, going to so far 183 anime posts in general, and the ride's not over as long as there's some being made. Of course there's other events as well, if I get a chance to go to them. Well, 2012 is rolling in, and with a possible job, I'm not sure how much events I'll venture to and review, but if it's anime, I'll be here as I always have. Stay true fans, anime lovers, and I'll see you next year!

- Seiko Wolf