A Misanthrope's Lecture and Another Blogger Blog

          Hisashiburi desu--It's been a while, hasn't it? A full four years to be precise. So, is this blog coming back? No, but hopefully I got something you'll like. Follow me after the jump to see what I've been up to!

Video Find! Out of Sight

          Check out this video I found today. It a short, cute, imaginative tale about a little girl journeying through her city in search of her dog. That's all I will say. Have a watch.

Shoy Schot! nui Press Release

          Virtual Gaia Games is proud to introduce Shoy Schot! nui, an electronic card game. The game will release Sunday, December 29^th, 2013 to all PC user for free!

          Shoy Schot! is an additive, console-based, strategic card game created in C#. Starting out as a simple minigame about flipping cards and gaining ownership over the game board it soon blossomed into a full fledged card game with a mega ton of customization options and gameplay modes. And now, with Shoy Schot! nui, it has finally reached its ultimate form!

          Shoy Schot! nui retains all the features of the previous release (Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition Version 2.0.1.9) which included (but not limited to): 5 main Rule Sets to play in their own Free Play modes; an Arcade-like mode called Unlimited Deck Mode; a Best Of… Mode to play consecutive matches; a robust Tournament Mode for serious play; 22 Accomplishments to earn; Stats pages that kept over 80 stats; a Personal Rank Card to share and compare with other Shoy Schot! players; 8 profiles for same computer, different persons use; and Virtual Gaia Games Matching!, a completely separate matching minigame.

          New features to Shoy Schot! nui include (but not limited to): a Custom Rule Set Maker, where players can build their own custom Rule Sets; Endless Tower, which is a survival mode; a Score Attack Mode; Arcade Challenges where players can try to conquer all 40 challenges; a single player tournament mode called Arcade Battle Campaign, a Tutorial Mode, where players can learn the basics of the game in a new, more interactive way; a new mini-game called Clementine; 26 more Accomplishments to earn; more Stats; and slew of secrets and tweaks.

          Shoy Schot! nui also marks Virtual Gaia Games’ final game made in this text-based style. Shoy Schot! nui is our swan song to this type of design. While being made in this engine, Shoy Schot! has never been a graphical powerhouse, but we think anyone who has played it in the past has had a lot of fun and we believe Shoy Schot! nui will continue this feat threefold!!

          Again, Shoy Schot! nui is a PC game from Virtual Gaia Games and will be releasing on Sunday, December 29^th, 2013. It will be downloadable from: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/2013/12/shoy-schot-nui-update-log.html for free when available. We hope you all download and enjoy our game!

Quick Information About Shoy Schot! nui

Game: Shoy Schot! nui
Genre: Electronic Card Game
Platform: Windows PC
Developer: Virtual Gaia Games
Release Date: December 29^th 2013
Price: Economical Priced [Read: FREE!]
Download Site: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/2013/12/shoy-schot-nui-update-log.html
Website: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/
Game Page: http://virtualgaiaprojects.blogspot.com/p/shoy-schot-nui.html
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShoySchot/
IndieDB Page: http://www.indiedb.com/games/shoy-schot-nui

Download a PDF of the Full Press Release: Here

          Check out Shoy Schot! nui Complete Features List after the jump.

Shoy Schot! nui Release Date Announcement

          Hi, Everyone!

          I am proud to announce that Shoy Schot! nui, Virtual Gaia’s much delayed Electronic Card Game, is done and has entered into Final Testing!! I’m even more proud to announce the Release Date of the game: December 29^th, 2013. That’s right, Shoy Schot! nui will go live next Sunday for the economical price of FREE!!

          The next thing I want to cover is: What exactly Shoy Schot! nui? I think I’ve alluded to it in the past, but I’ve never formally announced it. After a long (very long) development and many additions that weren’t included in the original scope of the project, Shoy Schot! nui is no longer third version of Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition (SS! SAE) but its own entity. Think of it more like the evolution of SS! SAE, just like SS! SAE was the evolution of the original minigame version of Shoy Schot!

          So, what does that mean? Just that the game grew big enough to warrant a separation. It feels different, it’s noticeable bigger and slicker. That said, Save Data from any previous version of Shoy Schot! is 100% compatible with Shoy Schot! nui. Also, it will retain SS! SAE version numbering and still be released as Version 3.0.0.0.

          A more formal Press Release will be issued a little later that will include more information and a full features list, but until then here is a short list of new features including in the upcoming Shoy Schot! nui:

• All Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition v2 Features
•  6 New Game Modes
• Custom Rule Set
• Endless Tower
• Score Attack
• 40 Arcade Challenges
• Arcade Battle Campaign
• Tutorial Mode
• 26 New Accomplishments to Earn (48 in All!!)
• Improved, Smarter AI
• Improved Match Interface
• A New Mini-Game Added: Clementine
• The Ability to Create 8 Separate Profiles with each keeping track of their Own Stats, Game Settings, and Accomplishments!!
• A Slew of Secret to Discover and More!!

          Again, Shoy Schot! nui will release next Sunday, December 29^th! While Shoy Schot! may not be a graphical powerhouse by any means, it's a load of fun! So... Get excited! Tell a friend! The last game of 2013 is Coming Soon!

          Seeya when we release!!

General Information

Game: Shoy Schot! nui
Genre: Electronic Card Game
Platform: Windows PC
Company: Virtual Gaia Games
Release Date: December 29^th 2013
Price: Economical Priced [Read: FREE!]
Download Site:  http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/2013/12/shoy-schot-nui-update-log.html
Website: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/
Game Page: http://virtualgaiaprojects.blogspot.com/p/shoy-schot-nui.html
IndieDB Page: http://www.indiedb.com/games/shoy-schot-nui

P.S.:
Check out screenshots of the game after the jump or go to our Flickr page: Here.
(Go to Options in the slideshow and uncheck embiggen)

Best Quote of the Week ~ [9/15/13]

          "As a writer, all you want to do is write for great actors. That’s all."

~Amy Sherman-Palladino from an Interview with A.V. Club

Good-bye Bunheads

Best Quote of the Week ~ [9/1/13]

          "I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out."

~Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde by Company of Thieves from the album Ordinary Riches

Best Quote of the Week ~ [6/2/13]: Ugly Hero Edition

          "An Ugly Hero is considered a myth. Growing up, the heroes we saw in cartoons and movies were perfectly chiseled, intelligent, and had senses none of us possess. An UGLY HERO is the everyday blue collar individual that makes the world go 'round. These are the heroes that work hard all day, everyday to help ensure that the lives around them are taken care of, and do it all without recognition. They wear themselves into the ground and sacrifice vanity for family."

~Apollo Brown, Verbal Kent, and Red Pill a.k.a. Ugly Heroes

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

          Here's the amazing trailer for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain courtesy of Gametrailers.com!

Disney's Paperman And The Tech Behind It

          I found this great Disney short today and thought I'd share it with everyone. It's an amazing blend of traditional 2D animation and 3D animation. Also, a good story in classic Disney fashion. Watch it below.

Paperman, Disney’s Oscar-nominated short film from Shon on Vimeo.

          I thought I'd also share the behind the scenes video of some of the amazing tech that went in to making this impressive short.

Best Quote of the Week ~ [2/3/13]

Not the correct John Wesley, but it is the best John Wesley photo.

          "Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can."

~John Wesley

This is the correct John Wesley.

Also, none of the aforementioned John Wesleyes have anything to do with the John Wesley Bob Dylan named this album after. Like the first John Wesley, this one does end his name in Harding, though unlike the First and the album, he loses the 'G' (Hardin). 

The Music:

As I Went Out One Morning by Bob Dylan from John Wesley Harding

Sing Your Own Song by John Wesley Harding from The Sound Of His Own Voice

Bosnian Rainbows' First Single: Torn Maps

          Bosnian Rainbows released their first single as band earlier this week: Torn Maps. This song also serves as the first single to their debut album of the same name which is due out this summer. Torn Maps is an electric, noisy, groovy, energetic rock song. You can listen to the song below and buy from it Band Camp for $1: Here.

UPDATE 1 (2/19/13):
Torn Maps might not actually be the name of their debut album. I just assumed. Also, the group released their second single last week: Turtle Neck. Check it out below.

More Music by Bosnian Rainbows

Turtle Neck

On The Run

The Greatest Thank You Video Ever

          Below is a thank you video for a Kickstarter Project I back a little whiles back: The Origin(s) Project: THE REMOUNT, which are Two one-woman shows from the adult adoptee perspective. This thank you video is possibly the Greatest Thank You Video Ever Created. Period. Watch and see why, Little Lambs.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas Everyone! And A Great New Year!

Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 by Savatage from Dead Winter Dead

(Fun Fact: Trans-Siberian Orchestra consist of
Savatage vocalist Jon Oliva and Savatage producer Paul O'Neill)

Heads Up! Yet Another Amazon MP3 Deals

This is the album I got with the $5 credits

          Heads up! From now until the end of January 2013 Amazon will give you $5 in mp3 credit to buy any songs or albums you want, and all you have to do is sign up for a free Scott Shared Values account. It takes about two minutes and they send you the code to receive your credit immediately. It's a pretty good deal. Also, like everyone else Amazon.com has also been having a Black Friday (Week) sale, that I swear started last week.

Link: Scott Shared Values account

All Your Gold by Bat For Lashes from The Haunted Man

Serial Experiments Lain DVD/Blu-ray Coming Soon

          I preordered this a month ago and said I was going to do a post about and forgot, so I doing one now. Serial Experiments Lain is getting an amazing DVD/Blu-ray combo boxset that is releasing at the end of this month. Not only will the set include a restored Blu-ray edition alongside the DVD, but it will also feature a restoration booklet, a 300+ art book, and beautiful render covers. Also, for those who preoredered, they will receive a decal of lain as a bonus gift. This is a great collection to get for fans of Lain, Yoshitoshi Abe, or anime in general. See the trailer and some pictures after the jump.

The Story:

Lain Iwakura appears to be an ordinary girl with almost no experience with computers. Yet the sudden suicide of a schoolmate and a number of strange occurrences conspire to pull Lain into the world of the Wired, where she gradually learns that nothing is what it seems to be... not even Lain herself.

Serial Experiments Lain Boxset Information:

• Age Rating - 14+
• Date Available - Nov 27 2012
• Genre - Drama
• 325 Minutes
• Format - Hybrid
• Media - Blu-ray Disc
• Publisher - Funimation

Buy From:

RightStuf.com - $53.99

DeepDiscount.com - $60.70

Amazon.com - $69.99

Mars Volta On Hiatus, Bosnian Rainbows Shine

          Omar Rodriguez-Lopez has decided to put his baby, The Mars Volta, on an indefinite hiatus and it has been so since September. However, the as working Omar has created a new band, Bosnian Rainbows, along with fellow Mars Volta alumni Deantoni Parks on drum, Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes as lead vocalist, and Nicci Kasper on the keyboard. Bosnian Rainbows is touring right and performing all new material! After listening to a few of their songs I can honestly I love this new band and wait to hear more. Omar remarks that this band is actually a band and that he is not "dictator" here but a team player--there a collaborative effort here. It's a bit sad to see Mars Volta on hiatus, but everyone is working on projects and Bosnian Rainbows one hell of a start. Check out videos and pictures of the band after the jump! Go now; they're awesome!

Also, check out a full interview with Omar from CityArtsOnline.com in the source.

UPDATE 1 (2/19/13):
Mars Volta has officially disbanded. Cedric Bixler-Zavala gave a statement few weeks ago. Truly sad, but this is how things are sometimes. We do have the awesome Bosnian Rainbows to look forward too, as well as something from Cedric in the near future.


SOURCE: CityArtsOnline

Hikaru Utada's New MV

Sakura Nagashi's Cover Art drawn by Evangelion's character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto.

          Taking a break from her hiatus Hikaru Utada release a song this week: Sakura Nagashi (Flowing Cherry Blossoms). The is a beautiful piano ballad with her signature ethereal sounds and strong voice. After two years without her voice it's really good to her again. And any Evangelion will be pleased to know that she wrote and composed the song specifically for the new Evangelion 3.0 movie, out now in Japan. The song is just a stand-alone release and does not mean her hiatus is over. Watch the MV for Sakura Nagashi below.

UPDATE 1 (11/18/12): Added Evangelion 3.0 TV Spot 4 which uses Sakura Nagashi as the BMG.

Sakura Nagashi by Hikaru Utada

New Evangelion 3.0 Preview

Evangelion 3.0 TV Spot 4

SOURCE: AnimeNewsNetwork

I Finally Beat Super Mario Bros.!

          I've been playing through Super Mario Bros., All Stars Edition, for the last two or three weeks and I finally beat it today! This is my first time ever beating it. 8-3 was giving me such a hard time with all those hammer brother. I was trying to get past that stage for the better part of a week. I beat the Lost Levels two ago and decided to try the original now. Yay. Later I'll Super Mario Bros. 2, but now I'm satisfied.

UPDATE 1 (11/2/12): Video added below

Beating Super Mario Bros. (All Stars Edition) from Thaddeus Coleman on Vimeo.

Live: Felix Baumgartner Freefall From The Edge Of Space

          Watch live as Felix Baumgartner attempts to break the sound barrier by freefalling from the edge of space!

Best Quote of the Week ~ [10/14/12]

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

          "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

~Albert Einstein

Extra Quote:

          "Why'd the wooden box need cough syrup...? Because it was a coffin!"

~Fraser Agar (from Video Games AWESOME! Spelunky is AWESOME!- Part 5 - Treasures Untold!)