The trolls are funny.

It's been a blast, not only hearing about Mists of Pandaria, but looking around the WoW forums at all the people complaining.

Why do I get the feeling there's a meeting somewhere that goes like this:

Oh, pachter...

Not everyone is convinced that a new Wii would even sell all that well if it did hit store shelves in 2011. In an interview with IndustryGamers earlier this year, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said that the chances of the Wii 2 succeeding after a late 2011 launch would be slim. One of the key additions would be HD suppport, which the Xbox 360 and PS3 have had since launch. Pachter sees Nintendo as jumping aboard that train much, much too late.

"I just think Nintendo's blown it; I think by the time they launch [their next console] if it's Christmas 2011, it's two years too late, and for sure one year too late," Pachter said in the interview. "So it's over--I don't think they can ever recover. Wii sales will continue to decline and I think Wii 2 will not sell well."

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20056046-17.html (right at the end)

Given that history has shown Michael Pachter to say the complete opposite of the truth, the logical conclusion would be that Nintendo will not release a new console until at least next year, that they're right on time with releasing an HD console (or perhaps a year or two early), that Wii sales can expect a drastic turnaround, and that the Wii 2 (Project cafe) will sell fantastically.

At least he's not calling it a Wii HD.

Wii2/Project Cafe

What is Wii 2/Project Cafe? Here's a starter.


This is exactly what happened with the 3DS, Nintendo leaked information about a new console, it was showcased at the following E3, and came out the following year.  I expect something similar here.



Those who speculate a release for late this year are probably blind, stupid, misinterpreting the facts, misinformed, or purposefully misinforming. (I'll let you decide.)

Why Comic Sans?

As always, whenever I see a baseless "hate" movement, I feel compelled to rebel in extremely childish fashion.  Especially when the reasons for the hate are equally childish.  For example, when I see the hate garnered towards Twilight, I feel compelled to write an article about what the Twilight movies and books do right.

Or, when I find a hate towards a particular font, especially when such hate comes from designers acting like there's a 'right' and 'wrong' way to use fonts, and hate the font because it is "overused" (not like Times New Roman or Arial are, of course not.) or "Easy" (What does that even mean?) Or "Easy to Read"  (How is 'easy to read' a bad thing?)  I feel like doing something childish, like starting up a "I love comic sans" movement, or changing my blog to be entirely comic sans, or perhaps simply creating a post in the font of "evil" (i.e. Microsoft).

That's just it, though.  I suspect that much of the reason why people hate Comic Sans is because the Evil Microsoft corporation (of evil)^tm  made it, and not Apple (or their patron saint Steve Jobs)

Honestly, why not hate Times New Roman because it's usually the default font and an "amateur" way to look professional?

Oh, wait.

Ah, the 'professionals', why is it simply so easy to laugh at their idiocy?  Malstrom, Malstrom, you've opened me up to a whole new world of laughter.

You want to have a larf to?

Here you go (I just can't help myself):

We believe in the sanctity of typography and that the traditions and established standards of this craft should be upheld throughout all time. From Gutenberg's letterpress to the digital age, type in all forms is sacred and indispensable. Type is a voice; its very qualities and characteristics communicate to readers a meaning beyond mere syntax.
Early type designing and setting was so laborious that it is a blasphemy to the history of the craft that any fool can sit down at their personal computer and design their own typeface. Technological advances have transformed typography into a tawdry triviality. The patriarchs of this profession were highly educated men. However, today the widespread heretical uses of this medium prove that even the uneducated have opportunities to desecrate this art form; therefore, destroying the historical integrity of typography.
Like the tone of a spoken voice, the characteristics of a typeface convey meaning. The design of the typeface is, in itself, its voice. Often this voice speaks louder than the text itself. Thus when designing a "Do Not Enter" sign the use of a heavy-stroked, attention-commanding font such as Impact or Arial Black is appropriate. Typesetting such a message in Comic Sans would be ludicrous. Though this is sort of misuse is frequent, it is unjustified. Clearly, Comic Sans as a voice conveys silliness, childish naivete, irreverence, and is far too casual for such a purpose. It is analogous to showing up for a black tie event in a clown costume.
We are summoning forth the proletariat around the globe to aid us in this revolution. We call on the common man to rise up in revolt against this evil of typographical ignorance. We believe in the gospel message "ban comic sans." It shall be salvation to all who are literate. By banding together to eradicate this font from the face of the earth we strive to ensure that future generations will be liberated from this epidemic and never suffer this scourge that is the plague of our time.

I do like how they made it so easy. 


I've thought about showing up to a black tie event in a T-shirt and Jeans, but a clown costume?  Now that's an idea!  Or maybe I'll go in my Link costume, not even wearing pants!  Maybe I could convince Malstrom to do it instead...

Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to go to bed and perhaps return to 'professional' posting tomorrow.

Wait, what?

Another "Other M" game?  Nintendo, you just want to confuse me, don't you?  You have Final Fantasy M, That space marine game with Samus, and now you've got this laughably hardcore game?

You cannot seriously tell me that the above is the same game as this,

and this,

and expect me to not laugh in your face.




One more thing:

This reminds me of something...if only I could put my finger on it.

The only thing funnier than this trailer is fans' reactions to it.  You'd think it was a completely different game from the one I saw the trailer to.

People are funny #5, "Biggest innovation in gaming this generation"

http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=102705&page=1

There is, at least some semblance of sanity on the internet, even on what I would expect to be a haven for 'hardcore.'

However this thread and the people trying to defend their points are borderline hilarious.

Let's look at our options for 'biggest innovation':


Online Multiplayer:Oh, yes, because this definitely hasn't been around for thirteen years or anything like that.


Achievements: Right, because high scores haven't been around since arcades or anything like that. 

The same people today that obsess over achievements and gamerpoints would be the same as the kids years ago at the arcade, except instead of being the "1337 Haxx0rz" "p0wning n00bz" with their "N1nj4 Sk1llz," they were "da bomb," wasting the wannabies big time with their totally wicked badness.  I kid you not.

Technological Leap:  Bringing PC graphics of 10 years ago to a console! Such an innovation!  Don't believe me?  Computer graphics have been capable of 1280×1024 resolution (enough to display 720p) since 1998.  1920x1080 (1080p) was emerging around the time sony announced the PS2.  Such innovation.  What, you mean the resolution of the games?  Computers have always had better graphics in their games.  (not to mention that the nature of PCs make it so you can adapt the computer to your game, and games are made to let you adapt the game to your computer)

Not to mention that "Technological Leap" is pretty much what defines a generation from it's predecessors (8-bit generation, 16-bit generation, 64-bit generation, and so on), so the 'technological leap' isn't so much your biggest innovation, since it's kind of expected.  If that's you're only innovation, then there is something horribly wrong.  I'm looking at you, PS3.

It's like what Iwata says about the rumored "WiiHD" or "Wii2,"  Of course it's going to be HD, what else are they going to do?

DLC: Downloadable content?  Like, stuff from the developers that I download enhance my game?  Like a patch?  A map pack?  Expansion?  Or the stuff you got with the Dreamcast?

Hm, it seems there hasn't really been any defining innovations this generation.  So sad that the Video Game Industry has run out of ideas.  Wait, did I miss one?  What was it again?  Oh, yes.

Motion Control:  Oh, yes the Wii remote!  A computer mouse fused with a remote control!  Gyroscope technology, first invented in 1817!  Peripherals for the Wii just like in the NES days!  The Miis, planned for the NES!  Motion games that totally have never been done in arcades and the like!  So innovative! 

What? You're shocked?  You thought I was going to pick motion controls?  Why would you ever think a thing like that?

There is, of course, the final option.

Other: The real innovation this generation comes from the Wii, but is not motion controls.  If it were, than Microsoft and Sony would stand a legitimate chance with Natal and Arc, respectively.  It is not a graphical or technological achievement.  It is not a feature. To modify a quote: "It is not what they are on the inside, but what they do, that defines them."   It is not the Wii, it is not the Wii remote, but what they represent.  It is the revolution. 

The revolution is more than a discarded name for the Wii.  It is the gamer, playing his shiny, expensive HD (or 3-D) game, with all its 'art' and 'story' who has the ability to say "this sucks" and shut it off.  Maybe he turns to an arcade-style 'old-school' game and has some fun.  Maybe he makes his own game.  Maybe he goes out and does something else with his time.  Maybe all three.

It is games like Wii fit, a game where I stand on a scale and shift my weight around (whee?)  and actually have fun doing so.  It is games that push the boundaries of what a game is.  It is games which, rather than say "look how awesome I am, look at the one who made me and how awesome he is," turn around and say, "Forget about me, forget about that guy, look how awesome you are!"

It is a change in the perception of the game.

Nintendo appears to understand this; they did, at least, through the development and launch of the Wii, but the lack of complete, solid Motion Plus games does not bode well.  Malstrom says that Nintendo pushing their "Super Gamecube" games at first opportunity is so that they can announce true Motion Plus games at E3.  'Gaming' sites and analysts say Nintendo is pushing the last of their 'core games' so they can announce a new console.

Honestly, looking at Nintendo's recent actions and the news/buzz, I don't know which to believe, though I hope Malstrom is right.  Whatever Nintendo is planning, they obviously think it's big.  We shall see.  Only time will tell if Nintendo will ride the revolution they started or grow content and let it crush them.

People are Funny #4, the next step?

So, American television went entirely digital last year, and after enough pushing "HD" this and "HD" that, along with HDTVs becoming cheap enough that families can spend their vacation money on one, the industry must be feeling secure.

What's next though? People are starting to buy HDTVs and they are getting cheaper. Why, the next move is 3-D of course! With James Cameron's Avatar passing Titanic for highest grossing film of all time (which isn't too hard when $10 each 3-D tickets constitute around 81 percent of total sales) the industry is ready to shove a new over-expensive completely superficial technology at us! I mean, it makes so much sense! The reason that 3-D didn't take off in the 20s or 70s or whenever else they've tried this nonsense had nothing to do with the fact that not everyone has two fully-functioning eyeballs, nothing to do with the many people who already have glasses, no, it's because the picture wasn't good enough!

This will fail. It will fail miserably. I will laugh when it does, just as I did when I read the article above claiming that TV makers and networks, not consumers, are ready for 3-D. I'm actually a little bit giddy; I've been thinking about the possibility of disrupting TV and movies, and this will only alienate more people.

To change their article title: Internet bloggers say market is ripe for Disruption

Alright, People are Funny #3

I'm officially making this a series, since there's just too much good stuff out there. I'll be posting stuff like this all the time, so I might as well distinguish it.

Is he serious? Is he sarcastic? I don't care; he made me laugh, and deserves my hits to his site. 'if you are in the game industry you ignore Nokia at your peril' and yet the Wii is not just doomed, but already 'dead'.

The Wii 'was cheaper, it had that breakthrough gesture interface and it had a catalogue of amazing Nintendo first party games that were must haves for any keen gamer.' Yes, because everyone attributes the monstrous sales of the Nintendo Gamecube to their 'amazing first party titles' and 'cheaper price.' Why would these two be any part of the Wii's success when they didn't help the Gamecube at all?

It just gets better with the more I read of his articles and their comments.

Enjoy.