Playing Online Massive Multiplayer Games Half a Year Later

So recently I decided to give a shot to online playing again, I only maybe tried WOW for like two weeks around ten years ago and it was fine but it didn't really got my attention until maybe around 2015 when husband bought Final Fantasy 14 and a little bit after the Elder's Scrolls Online and also he got FF14 got for my birthday this year as he wanted the two of us to play together but my attention to these types of games was completely out of my focus.

Since we live in a small apartment I probably set my attention watching him play, as the computer and the Playstation are in the living room. Out of nowhere, I just mentioned that I would like to play together and he got the card and got the game without thinking, at first I only played when he was near, but also with time I found myself immerse in the game atmosphere and I wanted to know more about the experience.

Elder Scrolls Online was maybe the game that put some ideas on my persona about playing further these type of games, the game itself contained some of the essence of the Elder's Scrolls but it wasn't the same as many aspects diverted from the source; graphics was one of them and how the interaction with the NPC's was executed, but the biggest disappointment for me was nothing compared to the same immersion given on the stand-alone games, I was honestly bored and probably played for around 2 months before dropping the control and continued with something else.

I know ESO has people who enjoy it, myself on certain extent included as not long ago I decided to give a small game play and see if there were any changes. During the last year another two games I had the chance to try were Fortnite and Player Unknown Battleground.

 Fortnite is quite interesting, it's a game that doesn't require too much memory and plays quite easily with almost every computer besides being multi platform, PUBG is not far behind only with better graphics and a more realistic scenario.

Player vs. Player games seem to be on vogue lately, and it attracts millions of users per year and it generates a decent revenue but is not a genre for everyone, there is no chance to enjoy the enviroment if you get executed quickly and even if you survive the objectives of these types of games tend to be extremely limited and is usually oriented to what person or teams can win.

As any other game to chose, the best way is to try them first and see which community you feel you fit the most. At the end six months later of continuously playing even if it has been longer but it wasn't until 2018 that I finally made my mind into what new community I want to be inmersed and I had enjoyed playing Final Fantasy a lot as it's perfect as a couple's activity.

At first Final Fantasy can be extremely overwhelming, especially if you are joining late on the game's story development as myself. It's a world of is own with is own lore, writing system, races, technology, etc. It's almost even a vision to another universe in which you can explore based on the level you gain.

It's interesting to see that almost every NPC has their own way to talk, the fauna and flora differs from every region and customary traditions; I am enchanted with the game as it offers what I am looking for but also it has helped to connect with a community that essentially role play with the characters they develop and they become one with their online personas.

RichaadEB

RichaadEB

Last July I had the chance to go to Metro-Con in Tampa Bay, it was the first time I was also going for the four days of the convention as last year I only went for Saturday and it was also the first time I was going to a con which was a fantastic experience.

This year it was amazing, not only because I had the chance to finally meet several cosplayers that I've been following but for the first time I had the opportunity to meet him thanks to Metro Con in Tampa Bay, Florida but also besides the meet and greets he was playing for the first time in a live show and it was incredible.

The first moment I saw RichaadEB it wasn't on the concert itself, it was on the first day of the convention that myself and my friend Kim who we always go together to these events.

My surprise was that he was already there also, he was walking along with Caleb Hyles and Jonathan Young, among Caleb's wife and Thundersque. All the people I admire were walking not far away from where we were sitting listening music as on the first day there aren't many forums as well many cosplayers.

They passed and say hello, I couldn't even muttered a word because I was excited to see them all, much of the reason I like Metro Con as a convention is that you as an attendee have the chance to see the guests walking among everyone and posing for photos, from all the conventions I've been you never get a more one-on-one experience as is Metro Con plus the cosplayers are just awesome.

RichaadEB is just the epitome of smooth but also extremely cool, his style on stage is just smooth as the chords on his guitar but also his stage presence is just unique, I am trying to think someone who Richaad reminds me of but there is no one.

His demeanor is just smooth and calm much as the audiovisual content he create, his stage persona translates perfectly on the stage as well on the interaction with his fans but listening to him play live is just a unique experience because his hammers, his pinch harmonics is just flawless, I can go on and on on his technique because honestly it really impressed me.

The first time I heard about RichaadEB it was when YouTube was on is first years, I was trying to find covers of Final Fantasy but also find music that I never found in Colombia, at first I found the channel of ToxicxEternity and from there some of the channels that YouTube suggested was eRock and RichaadEB back when Richaad was going by his non artist name and I got stuck.

Over the years Rich has dangled between nerdcore, hard rock and metal; his fusion of styles is just so cool, he can make you rock to the Tetris A Theme or Kirby's Gourmet Race and add humor to his videos which the production values are extremely good but also catchy. Probably one of the aspects that made me a life long fan of RichaadEB is his humor, is just subtle but also that nerds can relate.

The meet and greets were quite nice also, great way to speak with the guests and take photos. Probably could be because of the intense schedule, but I noticed that Rich is a man of few words but also extremely eloquent and really pleasant with his manners; it was also fun to see a musician that I been following for almost a decade for the first time.

Besides all of that, one aspect I love about RichaadEB it is his involvement within the Undertale music, not only on the official soundtrack but also the covers, his cover of Death by Glamour with Family Jules is just even better than the one in the game, is full of energy and the two personalities contrast in an release of energy which make the final audiovisual product incredibly dynamic.

Caleb Hyles is Kawaii

Property of Gus Calvo (Metro Con 2018)

I've probably been following Caleb's career for a long time, I can honestly even remember the first time I heard him while I was looking for Full Metal Alchemist covers and I ended up becoming a full fledged fan with his rendition of Defying Gravity.

Albeit his biggest assets besides his incredible voice are his charisma and that his authentic, what you see on-screen within his music videos or his streaming's at his Twitch account is him, an incredible genuine guy who can make anyone feel welcome.

Last year on 2017 I had the chance to see him for the first time along with Jonathan Young at Metro Con, I missed the concert but I made it on time to check their Disney Sing-A-Long, it was fun, and it was also my first time going to a con, I couldn't honestly believe they were there.

They sounded as they were in the music videos, people in the sing-a-long room where going euphoric, they were excited to interact with their idols and be in the same stage as them but they were happy to see them live; a year later, I had the chance not only to be back on Metro Con  but to see the concert of 2017 and it was awesome, the fans were happy singing along and repertoire was incredible.

Myself and my friend Kim who was the one who introduced me to the world of the cons we sat down outside the auditorium, I was happy just to have a chance to see them in person, when my friend saw they were leaving the auditorium surrounded by fans she was excited too as it was myself who passed their music to them, she knowing I am a fan of Caleb Hyles said to me you should go before you lose your chance, I only replied "there is always a next year, but I am happy just by the chance to see him and Jon live"

After the fans were asking for photos and autographs, an improvised session happened just in front of us and they were there near room 23, they ask if it was OK for me and my friend if they could the session there, they even ask the Metro staff and they didn't objected. My friend again ask if if I was going to say hello but the nerves collided and I was there watching but being happy.

A year later, or summer 2018 I went back to Metro Con, after seeing that he and Jon were invited I bought the ticket as soon as possible and as always when it reached July me and my friend we went again, we even made a tradition to go as many cons even for one day but Metro Con has become the it event for events, cosplayers and music.

The first day I was excited, we saw each other and we spend a good chunk of the day listening to music and going to a few panels. Yes, on the comic cons you have people outside any events playing music on the hallways of the con, again at a certain time around 3PM on Thursday we saw them, Caleb's wife was there too and RichaadEB who got invited was along with Thunderesque, I panic one more time and it was something that never happened to me before as I am usually not a nervous person but there was a group of people I deeply admire in real life.

On Saturday after shopping some items and I didn't wanted to hang out on them I took them to the car, on the way I inbox Caleb as I wanted to say hello before the concert started, in the mean time I was also getting messages from a friend who was also going and they were going to the concert and they were waiting for Caleb also, he was going to let them in, when I was heading to the second floor in between the communication, I got another message from Caleb that he was heading to Kelsan but he was also on the second floor.

I never imagined meeting someone I admire as much under those exact circumstances, chasing each other and chasing another person. I saw him by mere casualty before taking the electric stairs for the first floor, out of nowhere I let my voice create the most loudest but bass tone I could generate and in between the noise he heard me, there was this big smile in both of our faces and there was an honest hug as if we knew each other in real life as long as memories could take us.

After we met with the other person, Caleb took us inside before the concert started and we sat the sound check and met with RichaadEB and Jonathan Young, neither myself or Kelsan we couldn't believe it, we were there before everything started and it was an unforgettable experience, the sound it was incredible and the show was extremely entertaining and funny

The last day I had the chance to get a few merchandise items getting signed, in between those items those items there is one of the CD's with covers, the cover itself is extremely kawaii and it follows that style of Japanese form of animation that the characters are bishonen in which the characteristics are made to be as cute as possible.

The album is a series of covers to Anohana, Naruto, Yuri on Ice and One Punch Man, which make the album have a great feel good vibes, in which you can enjoy on a quiet afternoon.

Much of the songs can be found also on Caleb's channel for free, the only exception but I am not even sure is the Unravel - piano version as I never heard that one before on his channel.

The essence of the album is just pure and wonderful, it's enjoyable as it has happy tunes around, it really uplift the spirits of anyone; but, also it's a reflection on how music that is aimed for nerds can reach to anyone; in 20 years I wouldn't imagined people singing along to anime intro's and lesser gathering to celebrate nerd culture. Kawaii is a testament on how one person can gather so many people through music, make them feel they are friends for a long time but also to let anyone find friends within his community of #peaceloveandmetal.

Kawaii is one big celebration to the conventions where people can gather and be their authentic selves; Kawaii is a celebration to friendship.

What if Peach crown is another Super Crown

I been thinking for a while, and this is a mere what if? Nothing to be taken serious. With the introduction of Peachette and fan made Bowsette, the item of the Super Crown has become some form of staple in the vast arsenal of the war items in the Mushroom Kingdom, but what if this item had played a role towards evolutionary patterns but also political ones on the Mushroom Kingdom?

Think it and it wouldn't be strange, why someone as Peach would look more human than the rest of her subordinates? I am not talking on the Odyssey game but rather on the Deluxe games that follow the classic story and the linear pattern of the games without placing any other characters of the expanded universe.

With this item I been thinking that the Peach we know is a mere construction to keep peace in the Kingdom, that in reality there has been many of them and when one dies another one takes her place making Peach to be "eternal", think how much Toadette looks like Peach when she enters the super form, but is not the first time we see something similar, what if the concept of the hats or accessories transforming characters into others was saw for the first time on Super Mario 64 DS.

This makes me think that hats and crowns are items of war in the Mushroom Kingdom and their use is to bring symbols of peace but also to create soldiers. Toadette transforming into Peachette made me thought that Peach herself was a regular Toad before obtaining the crown she sports and since the Toads are a gender less species the construction of a more human body is just a mere commodity and just made for protocol.

Now imagine if Mario and Luigi are Toads that were granted also similar abilities because of their hats, that means the military defenses of the Mushroom Kingdom could be almost impenetrable if several Toads at the same time sport the plumblers hat they would become a force to be feared with. While in the case of Peach, just having an extra crown or preserving any newer one could mean that the Princess would be replaced and nobody would notice as the crown itself would give the wearer the same physical appearance of Peach, which at the end the question is "where there was a real Princess?"

A Year in Cosplay Part 3

At this moment, it has been a year for me going to the comic book conventions; each one of them is a complete different world from one another and every year even the experience is completely different. One goal that I have for my second year is to create a full line-up for the conventions that I am going, so far my I have a few choices such as Sans from Undertale, Morty, Evil Morty and to do something steampunk along with Deadpool, I still have until May to decide what I want to do and how much I want to invest.

My yearly cycle ended with Mega Con Tampa which was the first one I went for the full duration mostly because I wanted to see Stan Lee and also to learn more of the experience. It has been an interesting year going through the different ones as I saw that each con has their own set of rules but also it attracts different set of people.

You can find different cosplayers going to i.e. Tampa Bay Comic Con from what you see in Metro Con and Mega Con Orlando, so if you are going to take photos you have one chance only to request them as cosplayers go on a limited time and much of the time they only have their cosplays for a certain time of the day before they change to another.

Depending on the area, vendors will usually go to the same cons, some vendors are only found on convention grounds and they do not offer their services outside the events, which is good to keep their business cards as they can always become handy if you are looking to update items on your cosplay or to purchase something in particular.

There are plenty of Cons in Florida all year long, I think the last big one is on December 14th and that is Holiday Matsuri in Orlando which it will be the first year I am going and I honestly don't know what to expect, but after going to 10 in the last 12 months I learned which one is my favorite, which one I can take better photos, which ones I am going for the full duration or other ones I am going exclusively for the panels.

Metro-Con so far has been my favorite ever in Central Florida, is just perfect on terms of fan approaching, you have amazing cosplayers everywhere, the hosts walk among everyone, you can take photos with them in the hallways; the panels incredible and the shows the cosplayers put on every corner are worthy for the photos but also entertainment.

Price wise Metro Con is probably the best one in terms of being budget friendly, since autographs do not cost (I don't know if rules will change next year) guests usually sign the merchandise you buy from them, they don't charge for photos either, the vendor's hall is small but has a good selection and is not limited only to the vendor's room as you can find some other vendors around the convention center.

Metro also is the only one that has a Maid's Cafe in all the Tampa scene, which adds an extra value and from what I heard the food in the cafe is really tasty and affordable, I am definitively buying it for next year as I missed this year because of doubts as if I was going to like it but after talking with the maids and reading the reviews I realized I made a mistake so I postpone it as I also never been to a maid's cafe before.

There is nothing much I can say, but next year I am going to write a series of entries towards each convention and each entry will be based on the days I am going. Thank you for reading me and I hope you have a nice day also.

Apreciacion cultural de la Champeta

Son casi once años los que tengo viviendo en la Florida, no soy precisamente alguien que se aferre al pasado ya que casi siempre estoy en el momento y pensando en el futuro, pero hay cosas y vivencias que me moldearon y que siempre recuerdo y una de esas cosas era la cultura Cartagenera, no estoy precisamente hablando de un aspecto negativo sino mas bien de la música, de la cultura que las urbes sociales de estrato cinco y para arriba odiaban porque a palabras de mi madre era “música de negros” estoy hablando de la Champeta.

Cartagena es la historia de dos ciudades, es la mejor manera como la miro, divididas por el Caño de Bazurto, La Cienega de Tesca, la Bahia de las Animas y décadas de administraciones locales que han dejado a la ciudad dividida; si uno va en un avión uno puede ver con detalle las diferencias sociales que pasan por el serro de la Popa y van de la Zona Norte hasta Castillogrande y el resto de la ciudad la verdadera Cartagena.

La zona comercial y turística es la que siempre se vende, fue mi prisión por mucho tiempo pero cuando podía escapar siempre me ponía a oír la música en los pick up por Zaragocilla, 13 de Junio, Pozon, Olaya, por detrás del Centro Comercial los Ejecutivos y por la Castellana.

En la casa estaba prohibida y en esos tiempos Youtube ni existía ya que era por 1997, 1995; el Internet de por si era una novedad en la ciudad y era cosa de ricos. Años después, caí en cuenta de la importancia de la red mundial ya que comenzó a permitir el intercambio cultural como sitios como Myspace y Youtube cuando comenzaba. Los Torrents eran cosa seria, ya que contenían virus y había que esperar que los que tenían el material estuvieran conectados.

La primera vez que oí una champeta fue en el año 95, y fue la del Pato Donald, era casi caricaturesca, pero me llamo la atención, era la primera vez que podía oir algo como eso y se me quedo en la cabeza. Los años pasaron y en el colegio fue donde tuve más exposición a la música ya que los que manejaban la improvisada emisora de radio que sonaba en los descansos ponían la música, pero cuando me preguntaban que cual artista me gustaba mas no tenia la misma idea porque realmente no podía llevar semejante cosa a la casa sin que mis padres me la quitaran.

En general la curiosidad me termino matando en varias ocasiones y cuando empecé a tener un poco mas de independencia, que de independencia no era un carajo si no que aprovechaba los momentos que podía y me desaparecía por las calles del Centro Amurallado por el sector de la Escuela de Bellas Artes donde en algunos establecimientos ponían las canciones y podía quedarme oyéndolos, eran por momentos, por ratos tremendamente cortos pero era de las pocas veces que podía ver la autentica cultura de la ciudad que no estaba confinada a las playas de Bocagrande y la vida social del Club Cartagena.

Alredor del 98 fue la primera vez que me entere quien era El Afinaito, y trate de buscarlo en línea pero fue imposible ya que en ese entonces en la ciudad no se consideraba como herramienta valida el Internet para hacer marketing, pero no fue hasta cuando entre en la Tadeo Lozano que aprendí a coger las rutas de los buses en la ciudad y en ese momento aprendí a perderme de manera controlada para buscar la música que quería oír y la cultura que quería ver.

 Mis padres nunca entraron en detalle cómo me aprendí rutas que en teoría no debía conocer, pero la razón era muy sencilla cada vez que podía me metía en los barrios donde me metieron la idea en la cabeza que todos eran enemigos de uno.

La realidad siento que por rato largo perdí el tiempo que tenia para meterme mas de lleno en la cultura de la ciudad, la escena musical, lo poco que vi en el poco tiempo que viví en la ciudad donde naci me hizo pensar que había una realidad mas compleja de la que siempre vivía. Un aspecto que entendí ahora de viejo es que la música Champeta en un paralelismo de la herencia Afro-Caribe es también un testamento del desarrollo tecnológico y la importación de bienes electrónicos en la ciudad, como procesadores de audio e instrumentos musicales.

Como un buen amigo mío me dijo en varias ocasiones “la champeta tiene un sonido que parece MIDI” y le doy la razón ya que hace casi 30 años el sonido electrónico fue lo que empezó a popularizar la música y hacerla más accesible a las masas; siempre manteniendo el mensaje que va ligado con las realidades que se viven en los diferentes barrios.

Mario RPG and the Legacy of the Seven Stars

It's been twenty three years since this game came to the market, it has been one of the most influential games even if it only had one installment and fans two decades later still want to see a continuation (including myself) of the game, because after the break of Square and Nintendo I honestly feel there was no proper conclusion to the saga.

It was 1996, I remember I got this game along with Donkey Kong Country 3; the gamed itself came late on the Super Nintendo Life as the N64 was already on the market and creating a buzz with his debut title Mario 64 and subsequently Ocarina of Time which became staples on the brand but also influenced story telling on other games as well on how the gaming can be art but also to reach an audience.

My first impression of the game hasn't change since 1996, I was surprised by the intro music and the sequence, there wasn't anything else as that with the exception of Star Fox but finally the fans we had something more relatable as many of us from that generation we grew up with Mario since day one on the NES and that first jingle that I don't need to describe is in our heads 30 something years later.

At that moment I wasn't a huge fan of turn base RPG's but I was feeling interested as I wanted to see Mario and see what he would do on a more complex enviroment than the platformers. The intro of going inside Bowser's Keep and reaching Peach and learning how the game works it made me feel happy, there was finally this complex story of Mario that still kept the essence of saving the princess but also that you could interact with other character's, it was the first time I learned about what an NPC was as I had no previous interest in genres that contained them and obtaining the Legend of Zelda "Link's Adventure and Link to the Past" were difficult.

It was the first time I feel a connection with video games and I was only 12 years old, it was the moment in my life where I saw them as an item similar to books or puzzles but more entertaining and I was playing the games my father had on the Atari but it was the first time I feel identified with a hobby or an activity and with the merchandise.

The narrative of the game influenced the spin-off such as Paper Mario and the franchise of Mario & Luigi, they contained the elements but not the essence of what was Mario RPG, which let fans for years asking for a sequel a true sequel, a product that maybe will impact the Mario universe or tell a new story of the plumber of the Mushroom Kingdom?.

Surely Mario Galaxy is the epitome of the story telling, it just unifies all the games, it can even be given the possibility on the new universe to set a new RPG game, it can be 3D and bring old characters back such as Bellome or Mallow, it can really happen if Nintendo and Square reach on an agreement, it would be amazing to explore the Mushroom Kingdom far away from the concept of Mario Odyssey, and to see it on a more classical way.

At the end the question is would a sequel would generate the impact the original game had? Probably no, Mario RPG was one of is kind, a game that was meant to be a standalone concept, but a sequel wouldn't be bad, it could be a nice piece of nostalgia that could find is position with the demographics who grew up with Mario and contribute new elements on the Mario Lore.