Welcome to the New Age: Kicking and Screaming into Current Gen Console Gaming

On July 5, 2015 By James CastroIn Games, Opinions, ReviewsLeave a comment

Toward the end of the PS3 generation I started to become exceedingly disillusioned with the gaming industry.

Games that started as well-paced horror franchises became absurd action shooters, beloved turn-based RPGs became mash-up amalgamations of MMOs and action games, platforming vanished (except the three franchises Nintendo makes every year), and everything became about all the additional content you could buy once you bought the original content.

On PC it was even worse; franchises I grew up with had morphed into poisonous, hateful incarnations of themselves. Diablo 3 came out with no use for weapons (despite the original Diablo having a memorable dev quote “When I pick up an axe I want it to look like an axe”) and that awful real money auction house. Sims 4 and SimCity arrived with forced online and reduced content, not to mention broken states. Not to mention the mess that Steam has become.

So I essentially gave up. I played my NES and Genesis more than any system, reliving the old days when games were just games, not virtual market vectors for publishers to extort money.

Luckily Warhammer and other table top games kept me pretty satisfied, because at least those price vectors give me physical products with palpable advantages.

So when the current gen started I decided not to get a new console and that my days as a modern console gamer were over. I’d been one since the Atari days and I’ve participated in every generation since so it was a momentous decision. I never even considered an Xbox One. Despite their desperate back-pedaling, the fact that Microsoft even considered limiting used games, tried to force always online, and initially forcibly bundled with Kinect made me completely dismiss it as an anti-consumer product. Sony’s new pay wall for some features didn’t make me happy, but everything I normally use still came with the free online so it wasn’t too off-putting. Still nothing was out that I cared about so I wrote off console gaming. Until…

Walking through a local Target with Miss Misty I decided to check their clearance section. There, in a box, with a little red tag…was a PS4. I stopped and actually said, “Is-is that a PS4?” It was and it was 289.90. More than 100 off. It was noted as being “repackaged.” I rolled the dice and took it home.

After setting it up I found someone’s account info was still in there. No funding data, but there were some kid’s gaming install info. “Huh…must’ve been a return…” I thought. Then scrolling through the games, just before factory reset, I saw there was a little disc symbol on the GTA5 icon. I selected the “eject” option and sho-nuff, the GTA5 disc popped out. Even though I’m not a fan of the franchise, a free game in system added to the value of the purchase. Essentially I got a slightly used discount bundle.

Fortress of Games — PS4 with free GTA5 at home with my other systems. The PS3 was moved to my gaming room so I could have a Bluray/Netflix player in there too.

I’ll talk about some games in the next post for now here are some late-to-the-gaming thoughts on the system itself:

Aesthetics/System Functions: It looks nice. It looks more solid and dense than the PS3, though the front buttons are a pain to get to. Also the constant glow is a little much especially for creatures of the night like me. It isn’t loud and doesn’t get as hot as I thought it would.
User Interface: The PS Vita style UI is much more effective than the old XMB. So much so that when I turn on my PS3 and navigate it I realize how clunky that interface is. I like the sorting of icons, and applications, and find it far easier to use. Also the PS Vita style continuation function, where my videos will pick up where I left off, my games will pick up where I left off, etc., even when changing applications or putting the system in rest mode is glorious.
Controller: Yes it has that weird touch pad button that I haven’t found a use for yet, but the controller actually feels better than the old PS3 version. One thing I don’t like about it is there is no turn off for that LED which means it’s always glowing all the time. I do like that the PS button is the only one that can turn it off and on…I can’t tell you how many times I kicked the PS3 controller only to have the system start up by accident and have to wait for the system to load just to turn it off. The battery life is pretty good and the first time it made sound during Shadows of Mordor scared the s**t out of me. I could use a media remote tho, as I still use the system for videos more than games.
Network: The network took a LONG time to set up. Not the actual process of me setting it up, pretty standard actually, but it was about 24 hours before the system recognized my network and gave me internet access. So much so that I thought it was why the system was returned. Once it was set up the network has actually been more reliable than the PS3 one (though that might be my aging PS3) and navigating the network options and network applications is much better thanks to the UI mentioned above. The PS Store STILL needs work. It takes a while to load and the lists of games on there are organized in such a way I still can’t find stuff I know is there. The PS Vita store is much more user-friendly.
PS Plus: I never even considered this as a feature. I don’t like paying for intangibles and this always seemed like a Book-a-Million discount card or Gamestop Rewards card: pay us money for a bonus or discount. If you DO happen to own a PS3, PS Vita, and PS4 you really do get your money’s worth. Two games for free every month each system. Even though they usually aren’t MAJOR titles (depending on your definition thereof anyway…) there are a TON of great games that show up for free. What talked me into PS+ was when I first went into the store Oddworld New and Tasty was free so…sold…

Next week I’ll do a short list of the games I’ve played. I came in at just the right time where a lot of good launch titles are now discounted and the generation is hitting its stride in terms of software support.

Artist Spotlight: Jessica Boehm Part 1

On July 1, 2015June 29, 2015 By R. PettyIn Art1 Comment

Jessica Boehm, yoga teacher and freelance writer, is a dear friend and talented young woman who we’ve had the pleasure of knowing for years. I literally sat and worked behind Jessica, and she has always been a positive – and entertaining – force in my life. Be sure to show some love for this month’s artist, and visit the Hot Yoga House Studio!

Years practicing yoga: 6, Years teaching yoga: 4

RevPub: Other than health benefits, why is yoga important to you?

I could probably write an entire book about why yoga is important to me, but I’ll try to hit the high points! My yoga practice gives me the opportunity to get still – both in my mind and body. Like most people, I’m usually on the move, and sometimes I forget how important it is to just BE. Yoga reminds me that everything I’m seeking has actually been within me all along.

My practice is also important because it connects me to other people – some like me and some very different – and they all teach me so much. Without yoga, I would have never met several of my close friends, and those friends are some of the most real and genuine people I’ve ever come across.

RevPub: What is your favorite pose? What is your most difficult?

My students all know my favorite pose by heart now – it’s supta baddha konasana (also known as reclining bound angle pose or reclining cobbler’s pose). It’s a restorative pose that allows the hips to gently open, and it just feels amazing (especially for anyone with low back issues and/or tight hips).

My most difficult pose … that’s a hard question because it really depends on the day and the practice. In general, I tend to struggle with anything that requires a ton of flexibility because I’m very tight and always have been. So, deep folds and binds can be rough. Even though they’re hard for me, I try not to avoid them because the poses you want to avoid are typically the ones you need the most.

RevPub: What made you want to become certified to teach yoga?

To put it simply, I just wanted to share this fantastic thing I found. I wanted to hold space for students like my teachers held space for me. Misty Parrish, the owner of The Hot Yoga House, was really my main inspiration and continues to inspire me every time I take her classes.

RevPub: How has yoga affected your life?

Again, I could write a book on this question alone! I guess yoga just makes me a better person. It helps me be more in the moment, calmer, more honest with myself and others, less judgmental (again, of myself and others), and more peaceful. That probably sounds cliché, but it’s true.

I think it’s important to clarify that yoga doesn’t necessarily change lives. Instead, yoga helps people become AWARE of their lives, and at that point, they can make changes to better themselves. Another way to think about it is yoga shines a light into dark places.

RevPub: What’s the strangest or funniest thing that’s happened in a class?

This was actually pretty embarrassing – and in case you’re reading this and thinking about coming to one of my classes, let me start this off by saying I learned my lesson, and this has only happened ONCE! So, at the end of class, each teacher passes out cold washcloths while the students are in their final pose (savasana or corpse pose). The washcloths are usually infused with essential oils, which are SUPER strong and should only be used in very small doses. Well, I didn’t know that at the time, and I dumped a ton of oil into the bin of washcloths. As I was passing them out, I felt a bit of a burning sensation on my hands … Turns out I practically burned the flesh off my students because of the high oil concentration! Whoops! We still joke about it and call it the time they got a “free chemical peel.”

Don’t forget to like The Hot Yoga House on Facebook!

And check out Jessica’s hubby, Chris Boehm, and his awesome woodworking!

*Photos from Jessica Boehm

Lindsey Stirling in Nashville Vol. 3

On June 28, 2015 By R. PettyIn Concerts/ShowsLeave a comment

Lindsey Stirling played Fontanel this week (aka Carl Black Chevy Woods Amphitheater), and this was no regular show – it fell on a milestone birthday of someone I love very much.

This was the third time I’ve seen Lindsey. This year’s show seemed to focus more on her and what she wanted to do to improve her own performance and the show itself. Here’s what was different:

Woman Power – Lindsey replaced her male backup dancers with women. On stage, she admitted to being the only girl on the tour for the last 2.5 years. Wow… I went on vacation with three male family members last year and thought I was going to lose my mind a few times. The new dancers were fun and talented. They didn’t do anything mind-blowing, but they added a playful, strong girl-power element to the show.

Fewer breaks – We were 10 feet from the stage, so I could see her catch her breath and get tired, which was cool. There were still several stage and costume changes, but they took much fewer breaks between songs than the last time, and the pace moved well.

The spotlight – I didn’t realize until the next day, Lindsey was in the spotlight more. Her band members stayed hidden half the time, and the show was about her performing for the audience. The crowd has also grown, as Fontanel holds 4,500 people and was nearly sold out. I believe she has truly come out of her shell and will continue to get bigger and bigger.

The songs – The set was awesome. She had a better balance with her songs and the variety of others she covers. For example, gamers love her for covering songs from Zelda, Skyrim, Assassin’s Creed, etc. She always plays one and thanks the gamers for supporting her from the beginning – they are the reason the became so huge on YouTube (nearly 50M views for Skyrim alone). However this year, she played a compilation and blended the most popular ones together, and it rocked.

The Encore – I was so tickled when we were walking to the car after the show, and my young companion said, “That last song she played was like a bunch of different songs!” I smiled and replied, “That was Phantom of the Opera.” That’s right, she ended the night with the epic song, which I’ve never seen her perform. It was incredible.

Bonus – We met her. Because it was a special night, I bought VIP packages. We saw her playing cornhole, met and hugged her, took photos, did the Q&A, watched the sound check, and had a blast. I was able to thank her for being such a great role model. The milestone birthday will never be forgotten. It was 96 degrees outside, the venue was evacuated twice due to lightning, and afterwards I drove through the worst storm I have ever been in. It was an adventure and well worth it!
Be sure to check her out if you haven’t, and feel free to share some love in the comments below!

Jurassic World: Bringing Life Back to the Movies (and also some Dinosaurs)

On June 17, 2015June 17, 2015 By James CastroIn Movies, ReviewsLeave a comment

I lived on Nellis Airforce Base in the mid-Eighties and because I was a young kid at the time, my family only visited the strip once. On that single trip the only thing I cared about was visiting a museum made from a converted casino (complete with red velvet carpet and brass foyer railing) that had an amazing display of animatronic dinosaurs. For most of my life I’ve been dino-obsessed and I never saw anything as amazing at that point in my life as full-sized, moving, roaring dinosaurs. That feeling of amazed and that feeling of being completely engaged in the entertainment experience is what I felt for the first time in a long time while watching Jurassic World.

Admittedly I had high hopes. 1993’s Jurassic Park is the movie I’ve seen the most in theaters and being, self-admittedly “dino-obsessed,” seeing all-new dinosaurs in an all-new Jurassic Park story was more than exciting. There was a slight worry of disappointment that was blown away by what appeared on screen.

I’ve seen loads of cynical hipsters commenting that “it was just ok” or “wasn’t very deep” or “was just a popcorn movie.” I think, rather than do a straight review I’ll explain why it was more than “just ok.”

Progression: This movie took what the first (and some of the second and third) did and moved the story forward in a logical and effective way. The dilemma of cloning is still an intense one, but it is one that has been covered already and one that, at its simplest root, doesn’t illicit the same conversation it did in the early Nineties. Genetic manipulation and gen-hanced organisms is something that is topical now. Furthermore the uses of this science beyond the exploratory and into the military applications is more than topical. It wasn’t just a “oh look more dinos” movie. It was a “look at what genetics misused run amok can cause.”
Pacing: Jurassic World introduces the world and its characters relatively quickly but effectively without a lot of explicit backstory. Yes there is a bit of expositionary dialogue, but no flashbacks (thank f*ck…) and no original Star Trek style over-simplification. The world is bright and controlled, until control is lost. The Jurassic World park is deep and realistic and we are lulled into the comfort of the world despite knowing what is coming. Because of this the scene (this is NOT a spoiler) where the Indominus Rex escapes is one of the most tense scenes I’ve seen in a film in YEARS. From there on it is a race to stop the super-saurus rex as plans are tried and it gets closer and closer to the safe zone. Plot devices are introduced and recur seamlessly without being obvious of shoehorned in. Take note film makers on how some of that can work.
The Horror: I don’t get scared in movies, but there are scenes in this film that are more effective at horror than most horror movies have been in recent years. Particularly dinos hunting soldiers in the jungle. It was reminiscent of the Alien franchise in its execution. The Indominus herself is like the villain in a slasher movie. Killing characters (in this case dinos we all love ‘caus their dinos) for fun and stalking our leads through an enclosed environment. She’s vicious and relentless with the “it will not die” special rule and has a bit of Godzilla thrown in. The raptors (Misty, my local princess, is an even bigger JP fanatic than I and she was afraid they’d be like domestic dogs) are more intimidating and frightening than ever. Even while being trained! The released dino rampages, as they off characters we know and tear through unsuspecting extras, make a more effectively scary bodycount than anything I’ve seen in a so-called “straight up” horror movie in probably a couple of decades.
The Joy: This is a movie that loves its history, its subject matter, and more than anything ADORES its fans and audience. The filmmakers knew what we wanted out of a Jurassic movie. They knew what we liked about the original series, what we were kind of “eh” about, and what we expected out of a continuation. Audiences in modern movies don’t applaud (though I did see an audience inexplicably applaud when “Lucasfilm” showed up on screen during Revenge of the Sith). During my first viewing of Jurassic World the audience applauded twice at the end of the film. Once after the climax (after everyone gasped) then in the final scene before the credits rolled. This movie reminded me WHY I go to the movies. So much so I saw it twice in IMAX 3D in three days.

In a world dominated by superheroes and teen entertainment it made me supremely happy that Jurassic World broke box office records. A lot of people believe that Star Wars later this year will do it again. That remains to be seen, but for now I’ll rejoice that once again…Dinosaurs rule the earth.

Favorite Little Things in Life

On June 14, 2015June 14, 2015 By R. PettyIn OpinionsLeave a comment

Life is rough. It doesn’t matter what age or stage you’re at, some weeks just suck. This week was one such week.

Instead of ranting or complaining, I though I’d share my favorite little things in life. These are things that make a day better or I wouldn’t survive without:

Note: I’m omitting foods, drinks, and people because this list would simply be too long 🙂

1. My couch – My couch is my spot for relaxation. At the end of the day when everything is done, you’ll find me on my couch. I work from it, nap on it, watch movies or TV, knit from it, and have even considered moving my easel into the living room.

trees, nature, nashville — My view: Taken last week after a storm

2. Nature – Flowers may be my favorite thing ever. I also love trees, grass, clouds, rain, animals, etc. I’m not one to go camping or hiking, but I love watching birds outside my window and seeing deer peek their head through the treeline. Nature can be calm or destructive, but it’s beauty you can’t buy and something that always brings me peace.

3. My dog – My little dog is a pain sometimes, but he is one of the sweetest and smartest dogs I’ve ever owned. Every day when I come home, he gives me belly and has to be picked up. It’s the only time of day I have to hold him like a baby up on my shoulder.

4. Quiet time – I need quiet time. There are some days I won’t turn on the TV or stereo. There are nights I shut everything down and just enjoy silence. I even turn off my phone occasionally to get away from it all. Quiet time is essentially to my sanity, especially after a stressful week.

5. Watching whatever I want – I don’t hide my guilty TV/movie pleasures. I love to watch romcoms, teen movies, River Monsters, tattoo shows, Shark Tank, and several more people “don’t expect” me to enjoy. I grew up with three other people in the house, so it’s nice not to have to share lol.

6. Music – Medicine to my soul. Music has been a huge part of me since I was a toddler. It helps through tough times, cheers me up, and releases stress and nervous energy. This week it was all Rage Against the Machine, but I’m ending the weekend with U2’s Rattle and Hum.

7. Control of the thermostat – I realize a lot of people fight over this. Most people I’ve lived with like it at 72 or below. Well, I’m cold natured, so I like it warmer. I freeze at 72 or 73. Having the power to set it at 76 and be comfortable is awesome, and something I never take for granted.

Feel free to share your favorite little things, and here’s to a good week!

Game Room Update: The Fortress of Arrogance

On June 10, 2015June 10, 2015 By James CastroIn Art, Games, Random FunLeave a comment

When I moved in to my new place last year one of the things I was most excited about was setting up my new game room. With a home-made 6×4 table and a wolrd of board games and 40k to play, I couldn’t wait to put up decor and set up my hobby room. I never thought of naming it until I shared with my RevPub partner my WIP of Commissar Yarrick’s legendary Tank, The Fortress of Arrogance.

I learned of this mighty armored vehicle from Chains of Golgotha and immediately loved the name. I knew when I started my guard army (built almost ENTIRELY from rage quitters and scrap and a couple of boxed sets admittedly) a version of Yarrick’s pulpit would have to be included. Here’s my version:

When I shared this she commented that it would be a good name for my game space, and I started work on a sign that night that mimicked the “official” markings on the tank as it appears in the Apocalypse expansion. Here’s what I’ll print for my door:

Fortress Of Arrogance — Built from some Skull line art, and some simple Illustrator work it captures enough of the original and still makes a good readable sign for the door!

As for the Fortress itself it’s progressed a bit. I was able to get my fantasy armies out of boxes with the addition of the two new inexpensive glass curios, and even added some shelves for the Blood Angels/Flesh Tearers that used to be crammed into the bottom shelf of my IG curio (a couple of chaos engines too big for my storage boxes are up there too.)

As I get things painted (which I’m working on now, my Vostroyan command squad is up first) I’ll share them. As can easily be seen I have a lot to paint, but I like to build and play, so painting always seems to take a back seat!