April ’08 Archive (from my spaces.com blog)

April 29

DETA!!! GTA4

GTA4 is in today. I guess this will also mark the temporary end of my anime marathon. I watched Nodame Cantabile and Moyashimon. Played Patapon for a while and today I’m going to pick up GTA4 and start the game. Gamespot gives this game a 10 (highest), even higher than Halo 3. I can’t wait… in 2 more hours, I’ll be glued to my TV screen and with a long weekend coming up, I will not be updating this blog until next week. Happy gaming for me and rest of GTA4 gamers!

4:55 PM

 

April 28

Now watching… D.Gray Man

Watching D.Gray Man now, up to episode 20 in 2 days . It was a typical good guys against bad (demon) organization. As common in manhy series, the characters are vary, the silly one, the cool one, the good one. On the anti-demon weapon, I like Lenalee boots, mainly in the way she fights. So graceful, more like she’s dancing… very fitting to her. This show is still ongoing, now around epidose 90s, I think. Can I hold on that long? or rather, can the show hold me for that long?

2:12 AM

 

April 25

Which one? which one?

Still having this urge to continue watching anime, I can’t decide to pick which series to be the next. After finishing “Bamboo Blade”, I’ve been watching anime combo, first few episodes from Kimikiss Pure Rouge, Lovely Complex and Minami-ke. I think I’ll choose Minami-ke because it reminds me of “Azumanga Daioh” and “Ichigo Mashimaro”. The good thing of watching completed series marathon is the no wait. No cliffhanger. And no waiting for the next episode to be released.

2:14 PM

April 24

Completed… Bamboo Blade

My next anime marathon after Kimiaru is Bamboo Blade. A group of girls in Kendo club tale. I watched the final episode yesterday. It’s not bad with plenty of laughs. Final word, I like it. It will be honored to sit on my Favorites pile.

Am I a moody person? Last week, I was strumming all nights with GH3. These past few days, I was watching anime marathon. Don’t know why, just feel like watching anime after a long pause. Now, which series next?

9:36 AM

April 21

The most used scene in anime Opening…

I sure almost everyone who pays attention will notice that the most used scene in anime opening is…..

One’s hand extending to reach the other’s…

with 2 possible outcomes

1. Elegantly and successfully grap the other hand.

2. Elegantly miss the other hand by a finger tip.

This must be a very important scene for almost all the authors and producers. What does this signify? I am sure it has a lot to do with the culture. How I wish to know.

10:11 AM

Mini Anime Marathon…

It’s been a long long time since I had a mini marathon. This past weekend I watched full series of “Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de” (They are my noble masters). At the very beginning, I had a mixed feeling. Man, is this another harlem with full fledged fan service anime? However, my thoughts was cut off short and overshadowed by fresh comedy, likeable characters and parody. Who cares about fan service when it is funny? Well, yes, after finishing the series, I admit I like it. I like almost all of the characters. The 3 sisters are likeable, most of the butlers are likeable, even the “extras” are also likeable.

Note: I love it when Miyu hiss and shoo her older sister adorable!

After this, I watched about 10 latest episodes of “One Piece”. You know, I was so wish that this Usopp out of the group. I am sure it will not, but I really wish it. Robin, on the other hand, I don’t want her leave the group! As usual with this series, it will not be concluded so easily and have to wait for another maybe 20 episodes for this section tale to conclude.

After that, I started first episode of “Bamboo Blade”. I read the beginning of the manga before and it seems interesting so I’ll continue with this series.

9:57 AM

April 18

Chi’s sweet home…. very sweet

As a cat & dog lover, this new anime series “Chi’s Sweet Home” really hit (my sweet) spot. The author either owns or studies cat. His depiction of the cat’s behavior is on the mark. It’s really really sweet and funny. One complain, IT’S TOO SHORT! Only 5-minute per episode. Dear studio producer, you have to compensate this by creating 1000 or more episodes ok? Now I am going to hunt for the manga. Thanks for producing this series!

3:19 PM

 

April 15

Can we human make up our mind…?

Imagine the first generation cellphone… huge, bulky and heavy

Over the years, consumer (human) complains and the cellphone became smaller, slimmer and lighter

Over the years, consumer (human again) complains about functionalities and the cellphone became smarter, more advanced with more features… but…

to overcome all the technologies, the cellphone gradually growing bigger (for the screen to display better maps, pictures, videos), heavier (for the camera), etc., etc.

To eventually…. PDA.

… over the years …

and soon, the cycle’s head will find it’s tail and it will repeat itself again and again.

So… can consumer (human, yet again) make up his/her mind on what’s the ideal size for cellphone?

My take? Definitely will not. Human is greedy, selfish and it’s implanted in every single one of us and our way of life. That’s why there is war, there is politician, and lots of meetings. Yeah, then another meeting to schedule for the next meeting.

11:48 AM

Games -> Music

Almost unlock all the songs for Guitar Heroes 3 and I found there are quite a few very good songs that I don’t know about. I am going to look into the following:

Eric Johnson

An Endless Sporadic (Impluse ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Die Toten Hosen

Because I like this game so much, I want to get Guitar Heroes 2, wonder if it is still available for sale?

10:57 AM

April 14

Reading now… Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino & more Harry Potter

Just finished reading “Crossfire” by Miyabe. This is her first book I read and it is a rather mixed feeling. In summary, I like the opening and the ending. Somehow in the middle, I feel slightly bored and too many “coincidences” that take a mystery out of it. However, I don’t mind try her second book and probably will then decide if I like her books or not.

Now I move on to “Grotesque” by Kirino. This will be her second book I read, after “Out” which I enjoyed very much. This will be my “on the move” reading. At home, I am still in the middle of my Harry Potter marathon and now I am up to book 6 halfway. One more book to go and that’s Harry Potter to me. Not yet reach the end, I am already decided that Harry Potter will not be on my all-time favorites section. The main reason being, just like I mentioned on top, too many coincidences that make things “easy” to proceed. I don’t really like that. BTW, I don’t enjoy Harry Potter movies as much as the books.

3:38 PM

Musical instruments…. are tough

Just acquired “Guitar Hero III” because can’t or won’t or maybe not yet able to acquire “The Rock Band”. Man, it is tough but super fun. I am a pianist and I know how hard it is to play piano beautifully. I guess it is the same for all instruments. This guitar, with only 5 “buttons” fret, creating a havoc for my fingers when just started. And it is the first time in any games that you need to practice!!! But, being able to play along your favorite songs is extremely satisfactory. Frankly though, I don’t recognize most of the songs because they are quite… old. Yesterday I was so happy when I see Muse’s song!! Finally! something I love. But man…. it is a tough song to play. I need to practice more so that not to be boo-ed I also like Santana’s song… so groovy.

9:27 AM

 

April 10

L’arc en Ciel… did it again

I love L’arc en Ciel! Their newest single is another rocking good music. Actually, I only like “Drink it Down,” music from Devil May Cry game. It’s so fitting, the gothic violin sound, the bass, the guitar, the drum, and of course Hyde voice. Been listening to it non stop.

I do really wish that there is a “Guitar Heroes” or “Rock Band” version for J-Pop and J-Rock. I’ll be strumming and drumming my favorites songs. But, I don’t think it’s gonna happen. But there is no harm in wishing though…

9:15 AM

 

April 09

XBox…. aLIVE?

True, true. As a non-online gamer, I play XBox LIVE for the first time. All because of seeing Rainbow Six online tournament. I used the first month free Gold membership and found out the tournament is only for people at US. Why now when I am not there? So, not wasting the free membership, I’ve been downloading demos, trailers and played Tenchu Z online. Maybe it’s this game, but I don’t have a “wow” experience at all. First, the host just disconnect at anytime, especially when the host is losing. Or the AI acts strangely and randomly. Or the game is way too short (most probably is this game).

But, I will continue downloading and playing the demos, which is very helpful if one wants to have a “hands-on” experience with a new game.

3:27 PM