432 - A Proper Monday Post!
HELLO there, dear bros! How are you all doing? Welcome to another Monday Post! Also known as Akabur’s Weekly Gazette, where I discuss super niche things that probably only I care about, while also giving you a small update on the current state of the game I’m working on. Let’s do this thing!
SHOP/GALLERY. This week’s item is a super old drawing of mine based on official art from one of my all-time favorite games: BULLY. I love this game so much, man... But I completely missed it back in the day and only played it in short bursts ever since, during various phases of my hectic life. I never actually beat it. This year (hopefully), I want to give it a proper (super slow) playthrough from start to finish. I also plan to buy the original PS2 disc with the map, and maybe even the official guide, so I can browse through it leisurely while recalling my days at Bullworth Academy. Anyway, I’m getting off track here. The new shop item is my old Bully illustration. Moving on.
NEGATIVE/BORING STUFF FIRST. Over the last week, my news feed was flooded with some gross tongue-licking game and another equally gross game called Mixed Tape, along with a ton of comments—of varying levels of funniness—shitting on both games. The way the algorithm works, I don’t even know if this is actually big gaming news or not, or whether the majority of people really hate these games, or if it’s just Twitter showing me those kinds of comments and posts because of my preferences. To be honest, I don’t really care either way, since I’m happily living in the past. Oh, and apparently the Black Flag remaster updated the female NPCs to more modern standards. That gave me a chuckle XD
SNOWPEAK NO MORE. So yeah, Snowbreak is back. If you didn’t know, the game went offline for 2 months with zero official explanation. And now it’s back—all censored. Visuals, story, everything got butchered. Needless to say, I lost all interest in the game. The old uncensor method (basically baked into the game by the devs themselves) doesn’t work anymore. On the bright side, judging by how ridiculous some of the new censored outfits look, it feels like they still plan to roll the censorship back eventually. That’s just my assumption, though. The worst part is that there’s still been zero communication. No explanation, no list of what got changed or removed—just silence.
ANOTHER THING that sucks is that this whole situation is yet another reminder of how aggressively the “modern world” goes after anything that makes a guy happy. Oh, and I keep seeing comments about the evil CCP and how the devs should just release the game only in English regions, which is always funny to me because we all know things are even worse in most non-Asian countries when it comes to this stuff. Oh well, farewell my sweet waifus... o7
PALATE CLEANSER. Here is a piece of news that even I don’t care all that much about, but I was surprised to find out just now while trying to dig up some Japanese Luminous Arc 3 GIFs: apparently, you can’t access Yahoo.jp from outside of Japan. On one hand, I hate how fragmented the internet is becoming between countries. On the other hand, Japan has suffered way too much from foreign culture invading it lately, so personally I support any kind of restrictions they put up—even minor ones like this. -_-
MORE RANDOM STUFF. I got a message from a fan on Discord, but after closer inspection I noticed that he sent it 2 years ago, and I never replied to it (because I completely missed it). I only got a notification because somebody hacked his account and sent me some MrBeast crypto scam message. Since he obviously lost access to his account, I can’t reply to him anymore. The chances that he will see this post are very slim, but I just wanted to vent a little. I really regret missing the original message and not replying on time. Thank you for your kind words, cherished bro o7
MORE GAMING NEWS. The new StarFox looks exactly like what I’d expect a modern game based on a very cartoony IP to look like—basically another Unreal Engine slop with zero soul. That’s exactly why I have no interest in any Jak and Daxter remakes or sequels: the technology to create games like that have been long lost. That being said, I still can’t tell whether people actually hate the new StarFox designs or if it’s just what the algorithm is feeding me. Either way, I’m sure the game will sell extremely well, so none of this really matters. Personally, I’ve already profited from this in the form of many funny memes people made after the original trailer reveal XD
MrLAZARE strikes again. He created (without me even asking) a few really nice promo art pieces for Reporter Trainer. I spent a portion of last week working on Tiffany’s facial expressions, so this AI “slop” illustrates that. Honestly, I think it looks absolutely amazing. ^_^ The high-resolution picture is in the attachment if you need it. This post’s cover art can be found there as well.
ANOTHER RANDOM WEIRD THOUGHT that crossed my mind recently: am I some kind of lucky mutant who manages to enjoy video games just fine even in my 40s, while the rest of the world is suffering? Every now and then, YouTube recommends me these weird videos with the same theme: “I used to enjoy video games when I was younger, but not anymore.” Some videos of that nature are about strange roundabout techniques to trick your mind into enjoying games again, while others offer nothing but pseudophilosophical rambling. I’m not sure why YouTube keeps recommending them to me, considering I almost never watch stuff like that. Maybe you receive these videos after watching too many retro game reviews, PS2 trailers, and GBA games recommendations, like I do?
AM I BRAGGING? I guess. But at the same time, I’m counting my blessings. I’m thankful because I’ve never experienced this “video game fatigue.” I did completely lose interest in movies over the years, but I still get an immense amount of joy from playing video games. If anything, even more so than when I was a child, when I was just playing whatever was available. Just thinking about booting up SSX3 or Jak X later today fills me with anticipation. And don’t even get me started on my precious Japanese RPGs with romance elements. ^_^
THE CRAZY RUMBLING CONTINUES. But, hey, this isn’t a video essay or anything; it’s just plain text that you only need to read if you find it interesting ^_^ So let me indulge myself by sharing another weird thought I had a few days ago while listening to the 1st Harry Potter audiobook for the dozenth time. (I sometimes put stuff like that on while working if I need to turn off my brain.) Anyway, listening to that book made me realize why I often prefer original games, books, and movies to remakes. My interest in the original comes from the realization that it’s a perfect time capsule of when it was created. The technology, the society, the world, everything gets encapsulated in a book, game, or movie when it’s made. It’s almost a way to revisit the past. For example, when Harry explores London with Hagrid for the first time, he walks by bookstores, cafés, and burger joints. If this book were released now, he’d be walking by kebab stands and barbershops or something. There were also no cellphones, and Mr. Dursley reads newspapers, and so on. If the book were written today and set in contemporary times, many things in it would be different. The same goes for older games. The way sex, humor, and violence were treated in games 20 or even 10 years ago was completely different from how it is now. No remake could ever measure up to the original time capsule.
LATEST PSP ACQUISITION. I am not turning into one of those crazy collector guys, I promise. Valkyrie Chronicle is another Japanese game set in a military academy, and you know I have a soft spot for that setting. I have been eyeing this one for a very long time. A lot of stuff on Japanese eBay is very cheap. You have to pay for shipping, but it’s still worth it, and the items I get are always in pristine condition. Also, as is always the case with old games, even the regular edition comes packed with additional goodies. This one has a manual themed after the journal the main character carries around in the game. So cool T_T
SPEAKING OF THE GAME MANUAL. Not only is it in full color, but it also has quite a few pages and a lot of information. It’s almost like a small game guide. And it still manages to keep the feel of the journal from the game world, featuring silly things like funny doodles on some of the pages and even a class photograph. Man, this shit gives me so much joy T_T
SPEAKING OF THE GAMES. My main story-driven game continues to be Luminous Arc 3. The latest big news from the main story is that a freaking secret nightclub opened up in the Academy’s basement (under the baths) where the students can hang out in secret. It even has a waitress in a bunny suit. Why would a military academy need a questionable establishment like that? Because!!! (I love this game so much XD).
ABOUT LA3 AGAIN. The game stats screen says that, despite having spent 22 hours on it, I’m only about 13% into the main story. That should give you an idea of how much I enjoy this game. I take my time to explore every corner of the academy, talk to everyone, and soak in the setting as much as I can. Also, this is one of the very few games where I actually enjoy the fighting, so I’m way overleveled now ^_^
AND THAT’S ABOUT IT for this week’s Monday post. Here’s the status of work related things right now: I’m done coloring Tiffany’s and Kimmy’s sprites, and I’ve also finished all of Tiffany’s facial expressions. The plan for this week is to work on two additional costumes for both girls (one for each) and all of Kimmy’s facial expressions. If you want to hear a bit more detail about this, check this week’s EXTRA!! post. And I’ll see you all next Monday. Laterz.
-Aka-
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Comments (28)
Was it the longest Akabur's post ever? I need more Tiffany in my life.
I think it might have been. It sure took a long time to write and assemble. I don’t think I’ll be doing this again anytime soon. Next week, we’ll probably be back to proof-of-life posts XD P.S. I promise to do my best to make it hard for you to decide who the best girl in the game is :)
I really like what you said about older games, movies, and books being time capsules. I feel the same way. For me, it’s especially the arcade games from the 80s and 90s that create that “time travel” effect. The big pixels, the music, the colors, even the weird limitations of the hardware… it all instantly brings back a very specific era. I’ve also started buying some 80s movies again on 4K Blu-ray, partly because the quality is much better than streaming, but also because it feels like a way to preserve them properly before everything gets edited, “updated,” removed, or quietly censored. And honestly, sometimes I just want to dive back into the 80s for a couple of hours. Also, very happy to see Reporter Trainer moving along nicely! And I’m glad you liked the AI promo pieces, I had a lot of fun making them. Tiffany and Kimmy are already looking fabulous, and I’m sure both girls are going to be amazing in the game. ^_^
Yeah, I hear more and more about people starting to buy physical media. If I were a radical optimist, I would say that the world is healing, but that’s not the case, of course. It’s more like people trying to hold on to the remnants of all the good things we used to have and took for granted. And yes, the only sure way to avoid “updated versions” of anything is to have those Blu-rays and DVDs and take good care of them so they stay in nice condition for as long as possible. And maybe even make copies of them at some point -_- As for Tiffany and Kimmy, you know they are going to be a lot of fun XD
Yeah, original works in an era exploring the fun and possibilities of technology are way better than remakes trying to 'improve' them. A friend of mine has gotten into Warhammer 40K and every time I hear about it all I can think of is 'stop trying to improve the original, metal as hell lore and write something new before you water it all down into pigslop!'. Same applies here. Hollywood is already pigslop and it'll be a while before they sort that out if ever.
“Original works in an era exploring the fun and possibilities of technology” — well said. That was exactly what it was, wasn’t it? -_-
U cute
No u
My, my, you've been holding out on us, I knew there was more, keep up your work, and super excited about reporter trainer
I am doing my best to keep spoilers to a minimum. There will be a lot of surprises in the final product. Thank you for your support o7
Well, I am into my 60s and still enjoy gaming, and the main mmorpg I play has friends in their 50s playing, so some of us are still out there.
Well, MMORPGs are a different beast. I love fantasizing about how cool it would be to play an MMORPG and just wander the map, have a virtual house, and all that. I played Final Fantasy XIV for a bit, and it was great. I also played a lot of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Having romanceable companions and buying houses on different planets was so much fun. Unfortunately, I had to give up on the whole idea eventually because (in my case at least) if I play an MMO, it takes ALL my time. I won’t be playing anything else ever if I do that. P.S. Which MMO are you playing?
"am I some kind of lucky mutant who manages to enjoy video games just fine even in my 40s, while the rest of the world is suffering?" Nah, I still love gaming, but aint got no time for it. Wife, house, 3 kids 2 cars, full time job, military side hustle and a desperate need to stay in shape leaves little time for the games. Any spare time is spent with a friend or 2 over beers
Yeah... In my case, it’s more like I have no energy. During the day, I can’t allow myself to play since I would feel guilty for not working, and when night comes, I often feel too drained to do anything at all. I know some people like to game in their bed before sleep, but I am not one of them, sadly T_T On a personal note, I just wanted to thank you for doing your part for humanity’s survival — 3 kids is a major achievement. It’s funny, up until I hit 30, I used to think of having kids as an annoyance. Nowadays, I feel the opposite. Also, you may want to consider investing in a small console like the Nintendo DSi or, better yet, the ANBERNIC RG35XXSP. Having those two consoles allows me to play games in extremely short bursts in between doing literally any chores :)
Yay, Valkyrie Chronicles, the 2 isn't bad but it's my least favorite, if you can get the 3rd with teh english patch try it. Thanks for the great Monday post, full of good, bad and ugly things, but hey, why worrying about things we can't change?
Well, since I am a sucker for the setting, Valkyria Chronicles II gets a lot of extra points from me. But I heard a lot of good things about the 3rd game, and I definitely want to play it. In fact, I’ve been eyeing the UMD for that game for a long time now, along with the artbook XD
Uhm, too late. U are already one of them. Just admit it. It's too late to back down, u r too deep into the spiral😜
No way. Collecting for the sake of collecting sounds depressing. A few days ago, a friend gifted me a cool little Hot Wheels car (one of the cars from the Tokyo Drift movie). Well, I opened it right away and made it drift on my desk. If I was too deep into it, as you say, I would’ve kept it in the original packaging. (The thought did cross my mind briefly, though... Ugh... That’s scary. I hope I never become like that 0_0 )
First, they need to fix that Snowbreak censorship, the bastards and second, is it bad I know the anime that gif is from. No, I swear, I don't have the dvd.
I didn't expect any less of a man of culture such as yourself. I salute you, sir. o7
The developers of Snowbreak are just panicking. The Chinese government came down on them because of feminists, LADS fans, and their collaboration with government agencies. And now they literally have to rush the game into a state where the government won’t destroy them. So they need some time to recover and get their bearings. It’s funny that LADS is just as risky a game and has also collaborated with government agencies, but apparently feminists are the priority in China - no “peak” for men.
I am well aware of all those details. The problem is, all that stuff is just a collection of rumors. In the past, the devs used to host video streams (for the Chinese players at least) explaining everything. This time, the silence is deafening. That being said, if they recover and figure out a way to give the players what they want, they are going to be just fine. I have a theory that maybe that’s not the case, though. Snowbreak has 3 teams working independently on updates, which means that when the game got nuked, they already had about 3 major updates’ worth of content in the pipeline... I hope I am wrong, but they may just be trying to release what they already have and then shut down the game afterward. That sounds ridiculous, though. I am definitely wrong. Definitely...
Wait, are those tiddies in the bully image? That's highly inappropriate I thought this was a Christian art channel.
Im sure there are lots of Christian men of culture here enjoying some art
GIFs are getting better and better 😀 Speaking of Harry Potter audiobooks - the new Amazon full-cast Harry Potter audiobook is surprisingly a modern thing that doesn't suck, imho (I know, right?). It's really more like a radio drama, with every character having unique voice, with some big actors (like Simon Pegg as Arthur Wesley, and Hugh Laurie as Dumbldore). Sounds effects and ambience are great as well. I've listened the first two so far and I'm quite happy about it.
Yes, I do my best to provide you guys with quality gifs weekly o7 Thank you for the recommendation, but like I said, I have listened to that book so many times by the same narrator guy (who is quite good) that any other iteration of the narration would just take me out of the experience now, I think.
While I am both on the fence and hopeful for the new Starbucks (STARFOX!!! 😆😆😆) game. Altogether, I refuse to be a victim of went I could possibly not even own even own the game after paying for it…… just like the switch two
Well, I am glad you are enjoying Switch2. Personally I still love my Switch1 but the second one killed all the interest in the console's future for me. As for the whole digital cartridge thing I think, all gamers in the world would unanimously agree that it's just dumb idea. Well in any case, I will definitely check out some playthrough videos of StarFox when it drops. I hope you'll have fun with it, man :)