Tuesday, February 27, 2024

The History of Super Mario RPG

 

As time pass by and with the release of the Mario RPG remake for the Switch, it made me wonder about preserving the history on how this game was made and the legacy that generated over the last 28 years.

To think of Mario RPG is to see a legacy within the Mario IP, the influence goes with the Paper Mario and the Luigi & Mario games that spawned several sequels over the last 30 years on different Nintendo consoles.

 History
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When the game was released in Japan, it sold 1.47 million copies; the release in the United States surpassed the sales expectations of Nintendo of a target of 500,000 units making it the sixth best selling game of 1996 in the United States and also the last game to be released for the Super Nintendo by Square in North America.

The game was released in Europe and Australia much later, on August 22 of 2008 with the port of the game for the Virtual Console of the Wii and subsequent the port was released on September the 1st of 2008 in North America.

The conception of the game came from the idea of Shigeru Miyamoto to create an RPG using Mario and the joint effort of Square to create an RPG property that could make it in the international grounds outside the Final Fantasy and Secrets of Mana series. The collaboration and development began as early in 1994 after a business meeting between Square and Nintendo.

The process of choosing the mechanics and how the game was going to look i.e. the isometric 2.5 view that is present, was chosen to make it more vibrant with the 3D scanned models of the characters and environment, similar as the Donkey Kong Country games for the Super Nintendo which used 3D rendered model for character creation and scenarios.

Super Mario RPG was unveiled at the V-Jump Festival of 1995, which by October of the same year Square cited that the game was over a quarter complete.
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References

  1. The Magic Box (The Webmaster) (October 31, 2006). "The Magic Box: Platinum Game Chart, Japanese Console Games Sold Over One Million". The Magic Box: International Videogame News. The Magic Box. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2007.
  2. "Japanese Virtual Console list - June 2008". nintendo.co.jp. Nintendo Japan. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on July 22, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  3. "Super Mario RPG – 1995 Developer Interviews". Shmuplations. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2021.

Monday, February 26, 2024

Nothing happened

Nothing happened, we just postpone it. There is no need to rush especially when finances are rough, we still we have each other, there will be one day soon in the time that will come.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Changes

     I've been going through a lot in the last three years, it has been a period that I wouldn't even survive if it wasn't for friends who were there in times of need. I am thinking how much I lost but at the same time how much I earned through the mere fact of living, living is one of the most revolutionary things you can do in this world.

    In a little bit over 24 hours we will be applying to a marriage license, I honestly thought that wasn't going to happen ever, I was in a state of fear and survival and I finally feel is leaving my existence. I'm thinking how much life has changed in the last 14 years, more to be precise in the last 16. 15 and a half years ago I was arriving to the United States in an airplane by Avianca, the views of the keys are one of the first memories I have from that period of time, then the metropolis that is Miami-Dade, then the long road we took to Tampa Bay, then back to Miami, then back to Tampa, from Tampa eventually Gainesville and later in the outskirt's of the aforementioned city.

    Is a long road from Cartagena to where I am now, yet it feels that tomorrow was only yesterday and yesterday wasn't 16 years ago but rather a couple of nights ago. I am trying to think what I have done to survive, and yet I want to stop thinking about surviving and simply enjoy life like anyone else. I've been with Josh for 14 years at this moment that you are reading this, it hasn't been easy as the two of us we have struggled with mental health over the years but since the two of us going to treatment there has been a change.

    My biggest fear when I started my own family was if I was going to repeat the same mistakes my progenitors did? I didn't knew, my parents made a lot of mistake same as my grandparents, they pushed people out of their lives out of mere pettiness, I did for a long time the same thing as them and pushed people out of my life because I didn't see them use in my life, and saw the idea of family as a façade to hide any behavior, I knew I had my own little family and yet I neglected it for a good number of years because I was scared of the concept based on my previous experiences.

    I never imagine getting married, this is as public as I plan to do it, and yet on 2/21/2024 we are going to be getting a marriage license and that's a big step because my relationship is not the same as my progenitors where time was nothing and there was no meaning of living and learning together. I don't know what life will bring, nobody knows but I feel at peace that I am living mine to the fullest because a lot of people in the community couldn't be their own authentic selves. I don't know how to say it, but living to the fullest is an act of revolution. 

Friday, December 8, 2023

A Current Analysis to the Four Freedoms, Part One

 

Freedom of Speech
The four freedoms by Norman are series of painting that after 50 years they have some relevance because they are based on the peril of the world versus an idealized version of what constitutes the life in the United States.


As I turn older, I see Freedom of Speech from the series of four the most prevalent one because a lot of people in the last 8 years can't dissociate that with freedoms there are consequences. The art of Norman Rockwell comes from an idealization back when reality was more dual in terms of social development and equity to all of the citizens.

I personally love the art of Norman Rockwell because from a commercial and marketing point of view it encompass a sense of nostalgia that transcends time and encompass a sole root in the Americana Pop Culture. From an art analysis there's a polarization in the Rockwell paintings because of the message they give as sucrose but instead we need to look him as a painter that was a byproduct of his time and worked towards the war efforts and reconstruction of the United States towards his art.

Freedom of Speech is one of my favorites, it juxtapose with the today ideal of freedom that we have to speak what we believe but a lot of people forget there are consequences towards the speech we can give. The composition of the painting follows a triangular pyramid order which centers the figure of the man as the main focus for the viewer, the hierarchy is really simple but effective because we as viewers we can see the story and how people are focused at the main character who is exercising his freedom of speech yet we don't see discomfort on any of the other faces but rather a complacent crowd who seems to agree with him.

I am trying to think that today we can found a similar aspect in which being complacent goes with accepting unwanted behavior such as accepting Neo-Nazi's ideologies because they are protected under the constitution, there is no freedom without consequences and that goes beyond the idyllic idea that we live in a perfect country because we don't. The ideas from Norman Rockwell comes from a time where the exchange of information was limited by how far people could interact, a time without the Internet where you could have pen-pals but your sources come from local and regional media to know what was happening around your community and not even in an international grounds.

Is hard to think of a time where people were naïve but it existed, it was a frame of human history that isn't far away from contemporary times, we can think of the concept back in the early 1980's up to the mid 1990's where the last time where communication was centralized and freedom of speech was influenced as far as we could reach.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Tyra and James

I found the story of James William Ross a.k.a. Tyra Sanchez quite interesting because it shown the paths that can lead after fame. I am going to be updating this profile as I get more information because there is not enough information to find online.

I didn't knew King Tyra was a neighbor, still I find that fascinating that I had the chance to say hello to one of the most iconic performers in the scene of Drag Race. The first time I heard Tyra was living near us was when my fiancé mentioned that we were going to be living near a celebrity, a piece of information he got from a friend who also lives in the same are as us. I had to ask Josh to be more precise because I never guess properly and then he mentioned we live in the same place as Tyra Sanchez, and yes I was surprised because I never expected that.

Josh then explain to me that Tyra had some issues with the law around Bradford County and he was arrested after an incident with protesting and having disorderly conduct, the part that got me was a few weeks later while we were heading back home we saw someone in one of the intersections of town protesting against the police with a very colorful outfit and I wish I had taken a photo, Josh ask me if it was OK if we could bring them water and we stopped at the closest pharmacy and we got some water and give it to the protestor.

We weren't sure that was him, but Josh was happy we could support someone who is queer and as well protesting against the police of the county, until a few days later out of curiosity I started to check online and it matched all the information with dates that the person standing in the corner protesting was Tyra himself and found out the charges placed during the first week of July were dropped as in the second week of June she was sporting a sign that was aimed at the police of Starke, Florida saying he is a free person and out of charges.


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This is where I finish this entry until I can gather further information and be able to expand this entry
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Recordando a Rolando

 

    Rolando siempre tendra 43 años, en tres años yo tendre la edad de Rolando, es tan raro pensar que un dia yo sere mas viejo que mi profesor y algun dia los dos estaremos en las memorias de la gente. En este momento han pasado 16 años, 17 ahora en Febrero 23 del 2024 y todavia el crimen no ha sido resuelto y la Policia Metropolitana de Cartagena no se ha disculpado por el discurso homofobico diciendo que el crimen fue un crimen pasional, pero nadie ha sido juzgado y la memoria de Rolando sigue manchada debido a la actitud.

    Honestamente despues de casi 20 años la respuesta al crimen sigue en el limbo. Se sabe que fallecio debido a un arma blanca, el posible sicario tenia accesso a la casa donde vivia Rolando y que la Policia Metropolitana no hizo absolutamente nada en frente a un pronunciamento y a lo largo de este tiempo no han habido avances y cada vez que los años pasan se hace mas dificil encontrar coherencia a una respuesta del crimen.

    En el año 2014 el caso fue asignado a un fiscal que era destacado en casos de violencia contra la poblacion LGBTIA pero de acuerdo al Caribe Afirmativo 16 años despues no habido un avance significativo. De acuerdo con testigos que vieron el cuerpo de Rolando, vieron que el cuerpo presentaba heridas en la cabeza que problablemente fueron causadas con un martillo que fue un punto que los testigos y el reporte policiaco tuvieron en comun.

    El Estado a lo largo de los años no ha hecho mucho, y la sombra que la policia Metropolitana de Cartagena dejo como un caso de maricones debido a que no le vieron importancia y no habido rasgos de voluntad de justicia por parte del Estado Colombiano.

    Es escabroso pensar que la policia sencillamente justifico el asesinato como un caso pacional y que todavia el culpable sigue en la impunidad. Recordando claves del caso, unos meses antes Rolando fue robado utilizando escopolaminas y recibio amenazas debido a su labor de defensa de los derechos humanos de la poblacion LGBTIA el cual tenia un programa radial en Cartagena.

    Su cumpleaños era el 24 de Febrero, su pareja de 23 años Edgar Plata recibio una llamada que Rolando no estaba respondiendo el celular y que algo malo le habia pasado, la mejor amiga de Rolando Claudia fue la que identifico el cadaver de Rolando, y el Coronel de la Policia Carlos Mena Bravo llego a la escena y en frente de los medios de comunicacion nacional y regionales dijo que el ciudadano llevaba una vida desordenada y la razon del caso fue promiscuidad lo que lo llevo a su deceso.

    La declaracion del General causo indignacion porque se supone que la policia tiene que proteger las garantias de las victimas y no vulnerarlos para justificar los hechos, en los ultimos 16 años el General nunca se retracto acerca de sus comentarios y de acuerdo con un articulo de hace 7 años del periodico El Espectador en el 2016 los casos de violencia policial contra la poblacion LGBTI con 135 casos minimos.

    El proximo 23 de Febrero del 2024 sera el cumpleaños numero 58 de Rolando, pero por siempre seran 43 años.

Fuentes:

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Pluto and Discrimination (Spoilers)


As November 16th of 2023 there has been a lot of buzz about Pluto, a manga created by Naoki Urasawa and with a series in Netflix there has been plenty of conversation about Pluto due the contemporary issues that border around discrimination, equity and equal rights that match the civil rights to a marginalized group which in-universe are robots to the Civil Rights movement or even Pride.

We need to think that is just a reinterpretation of The Greatest Robot on Earth arc that was in Astro Boy back in the 1960's and many other reinterpretations in the last five decades. Pluto is a complete juxtaposition of the original material, it's gritty and it has some essence that transcendent in to current world issues that are linked to discrimination and system race.

You as a viewer can see it on how the world deals with robots, is not that difficult to compare it to how systemic racism has pushed people of color down the rug in States with little to no development in the infrastructure of their people and how that lack of investment reflects in the culture and people life development. Is not difficult to see robots as a marginalized groups where their basic rights are constantly placed in danger.

Episode 1 and episode 5 have moments in which we can see how robots are threated, when they die they are handled as mere junk instead of acknowledging they are gone and there's no way to bring them back much as a person would be when they are declared dead, but even when they are gone there are comments by minor characters that their bodies are just junk which mimics a similar state when police and other public official mention when a transgender or genderqueer person is killed, the officials just mentions their lives were a mess and they got what they deserved.

The point that got my attention is within episode 5 which reveals how Gesicht  learned about rage and gained a motivation that made his AI to act beyond the robot laws and kill a human which was the brother of Adolf Haas who was murdering robot children. Similar situation goes with the general premise of the series which on some extent equals the gay panic defense which diminish the life of the people who were murdered.

Within the intricate narrative tapestry of Pluto, the exploration of discrimination goes beyond the realm of robotic rights and delves into the depths of racial inequality. The parallels drawn between the plight of robots and the systemic racism faced by people of color offer a poignant commentary on the shared struggles of marginalized communities.

The juxtaposition of how society deals with robots in the series mirrors the historical and ongoing challenges faced by communities of color, particularly in the United States. The narrative underscores the stark reality of systemic racism, where communities with little to no investment in their infrastructure find themselves pushed to the margins. The lack of development and support for these communities has a profound impact on culture and individual life trajectories, echoing the deeply entrenched racial disparities witnessed in society.

Episodes 1 and 5 provide crucial moments that amplify the social commentary. The dehumanizing treatment of robots when they meet their demise reflects a callousness akin to the dismissal of lives in marginalized communities. The dialogue surrounding robot "bodies" as mere junk echoes the troubling rhetoric employed by authorities when addressing the deaths of individuals from racial or ethnic minorities, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and reinforcing systemic biases.

In Episode 5, Gesicht's journey becomes a microcosm of the broader societal struggles against discrimination. His discovery of rage and his subsequent deviation from established robot laws to confront the human perpetrator draws an unsettling parallel to real-world scenarios where individuals, driven to the brink by systemic injustices, act outside established norms. This mirrors instances where marginalized communities, in the face of adversity, are compelled to challenge oppressive systems.

The series delves into the complexities of Gesicht's motivations, portraying the blurred lines between right and wrong, much like the gray areas that characterize discussions around racism and discrimination. The narrative prompts viewers to reflect on the cyclical nature of injustice and the repercussions of historical traumas, drawing connections to the deep-rooted struggles against racism that persist today.

Pluto's exploration of discrimination and racism extends beyond a mere reflection of societal issues; it serves as a compelling call to action. By weaving these themes into the narrative, the series challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and actively engage in dismantling discriminatory systems. In doing so, Pluto transcends its robotic facade, emerging as a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the interconnected struggles for racial and social justice in our contemporary world.