MUSIC MON! TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO OPEN A TEAR IN MY HEART, LEAGUE!

 ADHD: TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY ON THE IN THE INTERNET

I'm back kids!

And I had an amazing weekend: still coming down from the penultimate episode of this season of Game of Thrones and getting to play Smash Bros on the Wii-U at Best Buy (oh yeah, you know I'll be covering Nintendo's E3 conference later this week), I went into a two day weekend (hadn't had one of those in a while) to celebrate Father's Day a day early by eating out for lunch with my family and...

...I bought me and my Dad matching Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and Flash shirts (I got a good deal). I think he liked them.

Later that night I watched Edge of Tomorrow with my friends (3/5) and played a ton of Hearthstone that night and following morning. The next day, being a Sunday, I hung out with friends, played Wii-U, watched videos, and worked on my new D & D setting. I gotta say in the end it was a good day. Or two.

brentalfloss: BIOSHOCK INFINITE SONG!

It has been over a year since I played Bioshock Infinite and the twisted perversion of Mainstreet USA that is Columbia still haunts me. The atmosphere, the details, the characters, the story, and the violence all create this visceral experience that, honestly, is a proper follow-up to the lonely trip down to Rapture that I first took a few years ago.

The shooting sections aren't the best and the NPCs act strange, but I think people forget that most of the times in the first Bioshock you could sneak around, create traps, and were mostly fighting a couple of enemies at a time in a small area or a Big Daddy that was basically a killer bullet sponge. In Infinite, they strove for mobileThe NPCs didn't seem as strange in the first game because the residents were insane. I would in fact press you to find a video game where the NPCs react appropriately to odd behavior. In a world where everyone sort of minds their own business, I can accept that the citizens wouldn't pay much mind to a slightly strange fellow like Booker. But I digress...

Out of all the games I played last year, I think Bioshock Infinite has probably left the longest emotional impact.

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS POKE'RAP!

MORE LIKE LEAGUE OF DRAVEN! AMIRITE?!

WORD OF THE DAY! 8/26/13!

salutations [sal-yoo-tehy-shuns]
noun
1. An act, phrase, gesture, etc, that serves as a greeting.

EX. Salutations. I thought we'd take things a little slow on this Monday. For some of you, it's just another Monday and, for others, it's the first day of school in a new semester in your academic quest to acquire knowledge, experience, and a diploma.

Today, could lead to any number of bizarre scenarios and you might be scared...

GAME GRUMPS: QUAKE III ARENA

Others of you might grow bored during a first day orientation in a class, look outside and see the deer that has been stalking you and you may need to be defended by the principal..

NICHIJOU- PRINCIPAL VS. DEER

Just try to take a deep breath and put your best foot forward...

 VSAUCE- WHY DO WE CLAP?

Just try to make the right decisions because there are an infinite number of possibilities that you will have to navigate...

VIDEOGAMEDUNKEY SAINT'S ROW IV CO-OP

So seize the day! You're an adult now! Be the very best you that ever was! (Also, does Ash look older here? Or is it just me?)

POKÉMON DECOLORA ADVENTURES TRAILER

That's all folks!

WORD OF THE DAY! 5/3/13!

multiverse theory [muhl-tee-vers-theer-ee]
noun
1. Also called the metaverse, it is the hypothetical and seemingly infinite number of multiple possible universes (including the universe we inhabit) that comprise everything that can and does exist across the entirety of space, time, matter, energy, and the other physical laws that are present.

EX. Some day I'll go into further detail about my thoughts on this metaphysical subject but, for now, I'll wait until you play and finish Bioshock Infinite.

SOURCE

WEEKLY ROUND-UP! 4/15-21/13!

WEEKLY ROUND-UP PRESENTS

MEWTHREE WEEK!

7. WORD OF THE DAY! 4/17/13! Oddsmaker.

I'm still pretty hyped up for Pokémon X & Y, but there are about a half dozen other 3DS games that have also got my attention: the new Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Fire Emblem: Awakening, and a sequel that is coming out of no where to my favorite Zelda game of all time, A Link to the Past. Check out the trailer, HERE.

Who knew that the 3DS would manage to pump out so many awesome must-have games while the Wii-U continues to languish? Oh, Nintendo.

6. WORD OF THE DAY! 4/16/13! Boffer.

On the subject of role-playing, I've just started enjoying a Star Wars campaign with my friends on Sundays and, believe it or not, TUBB RAMKIN RIDES AGAIN!

5. MUSICAL MON! ZAN SAVES LUCAS ARTS, BIOSHOCK RAPS INFINITELY, ETC.

Picture of Zan looking mortified unrelated to link...

4. WORD OF THE DAY! 4/20/13! Pump iron.

There was time that I really wanted Pokémon cards and I don't exactly know why. I never really played the card game and I wasn't exactly a collector. How about you guys?

3. WORD OF THE DAY! 4/19/13! Infinity.

Fun fact: The first comic I ever bought was What If? Vol. 2 #104 Silver Surfer that asked the question, "What if Impossible Man stole Thanos's Infinite Gauntlet?" The short answer is that Robin William's Genie style mayhem ensues and the long answer left to be answered in the comic is whether he will ultimately use his new found powers for good or bad-- being a god and all. There is something special about your first comic. I must've read the issue like twenty times!

2.WTF WED! OF FRAGGLES, DEATH, PONIES, & WIZARDS!

"Dance your cares away
Worry's for another day
Let the music play
Down at Fraggle Rock."

COLLEGE HUMOR: FRAGGLE ROCK

1. POKÉMON OF THE WEEK! #335 ZANGOOSE & #336 SEVIPER

CIRCLES AND CIRCLES AND CIRCLES AND CIRCLES, ETC.



And that's all, folks! Tune in next week for a whole new slew of articles including a MtG article on my experiences at the Dragon's Maze pre-release.

WEEKLY ROUND-UP! 4/8-4/14/13!

WEEKLY ROUND-UP PRESENTS

MOTIVATIONAL MEGA FAUNA WEEK!

7. WORD OF THE DAY! 4/14/13! Masochism.

On a side note, I have a slight soft spot for pink-haired Link, since Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was my first & favorite Legend of Zelda experience and having a pink-haired hero is a lot more more interesting, visually.

Plus, I'd love to see another game with more of a Link the Past feel instead of the point A to point B formula of later incarnations of the series.

6. WORD OF THE DAY! 4/12/13! Om nom nom.

Also, if there is anything to blame for my recently scrawny articles it would be League of Legends, Bioshock Infinite, and Tomb Raider.

5. WORD OF THE DAY! 4/11/13! WHAM!

Note: I don't think Batman would stand a chance against Superman unless he pulls some MacGuffin fighting dirty solution out of his bat belt he has had prepared. Superman's biggest weakness is that he's a good guy.

4. WTF WED! CHIN-CHIN (ちんちん) CATCHES ST. BERNARDS WITH POKÉBALLZ!

Sometimes I like to boil your brains, but I always follow it up with a nice pallet cleanser-- if I can help it.

3. WORD OF THE DAY! 4/10/13! Self-inflicted claustrophobia.

Hey, so, um, I dunno if I've talked much about The Hobbit (cuz I think I did a vlog on it and haven't gotten a chance to post, unfortunately), but I did like it. It had its flaws-- some of the additions worked, but many felt like obnoxious filler to expand the movie into a money grubbing trio.

But, all in all, I really enjoyed it and the film had more than enough stuff out there for all of us dwarf fans out there.

2. POKÉMON OF THE WEEK! APR 13-APR 19/13! #209 SNUBBULL & #210 GRANBULL!

I dunno why, but sometimes finding new fanart makes me really appreciate a Pokémon I hadn't really appreciated before I got on google to make the article. I had mixed feelings about Snubbull, but this article set me straight.

1. MUSICAL MON! LEAGUE OF LEGENDARY METAL GEAR SOLID PLASTIC ROCK BANDS!

My favorite post this week has gotta be about several things I love: LoL, MGS, Rock Band, and my old pup, Ruby.

MUSICAL MON! ZAN SAVES LUCAS ARTS, BIOSHOCK RAPS INFINITELY, & EVERY MOVIE TRAILER EVER!

ZAN: SAVING LUCASARTS

First up, we have Zan who mourns the death of LucasArts (for reason you can't even begin to imagine and probably won't understand). Personally, after much contemplation, I've accepted that LucasArts has been making a lot of disappointing titles in recent years, the employees should be able to find work with their talents, and this opens up opportunities for their properties to get utilized by other game companies-- which is potentially awesome. So, that's my two cents. What do ya'll think?

DAN BULL'S BIOSHOCK INFINITE RAP

You may remember Dan Bull from his incredible SKYRIM BARD RAP and will probably appreciate the clever lyrical content of his Bioshock Infinite rap. As someone who finished up Bioshock Infinite, about a week ago, I gotta say that it is probably 2013's Game of the Year (and the year isn't even half-over!). Play it.

HOW TO MAKE A MOVIE TRAILER

And last, but not least, is another cheery animated music video from ADHD. This is a pretty good parody of every movie trailer in recent years and certainly got a good chuckle out of me.

WORD OF THE DAY! 4/12/13!

om nom nom [awm-nawm-nawm]
noun
1. The sound of loud, often obnoxious, biting, chewing, and swallowing of food.

EX. I think my favorite League of Legends character has gotta be Kog'Maw (ha, you thought this was gonna be about Bioshock Infinite! FOOLED YOU!).

Kog'Maw, the Mouth of the Abyss, is a living embodiment of hunger-- part Pet T-Rex and part Hungry Caterpillar, this AD Ranged Carry specializes in the art of spewing out of his maw to stun and dissolve his prey... FOR DIGESTION1 Kog'Maw isn't just the embodiment of hunger; he is the embodiment of OM NOM NOM!

KOG'MAW CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT

WEEKLY ROUND-UP! 3/25-3/31/13!

WEEKLY ROUND-UP PRESENTS

PIKACHU: MASTER OF MIMICRY WEEK!

7. WORD OF THE DAY! 3/30/13! Rod.

Y'know, I still haven't gotten around to rewatching the Avengers (since I got it on Bluray). I should get on that...

6. WTF WED! SUPER SAIYAN MERMAID VELOCIRAPTOR GO!

Fear is a powerful motivator to get you to visit my blog or suffer the wrath of Vegeta-- Proctologist!

5. POKÉMON OF THE WEEK! #129 MAGIKARP & #130 GYARADOS

Speaking of hurt butts, I know I might've seemed a little critical of Gyarados in my article, "but" you should believe me when I say that I do, actually, like Gyarados.

4. WORD OF THE DAY! 3/29/13! Bathos.

I hope I never have to write an article about the about twenty Pokémon from the first generation that make the fifth gen's ice cream Pokémon seem inspired by comparision... EX. Diglett and Dugtrio.

3. WORD OF THE DAY! 3/28/13! Brawn.

Speaking of uninspired Pokémon that compensate with a really cool design, I like Sawk and Throh. But not that much.

2. WORD OF THE DAY! 3/26/13! American exceptionalism.

Holy crap! Every minute I've spent in Rapture so far has been either small moments of anxious wonder, sweeping moments of grand awe, or a thrilling and violent romp to fly across the battlefield, from enemy to enemy, ending their life in a visceral blow. Bioshock Infinite is probably Game of the Year, if not one of the the greatest games of all time.

1. MUSICAL MON! BIOSHOCK INFINITE PRE-RELEASE EXTRAVAGANZA!

BUY, RENT, OR BORROW THIS GAME TODAY!

WORD OF THE DAY! 3/26/13!

American Exceptionalism [uh-mer-i-kuhn-ik-sep-shuhn-uhl-iz-uhm]
noun
1. The proposition that the United States and it's citizens has the unique role amongst countries to spread it's own brand of democracy and freedom. It it not necessarily a notion that American culture is inherently superior or quantitatively better, but instead that it is "qualitatively different". While American superiority or righteousness amongst its peoples can be traced back as early as the Puritan and non-Puritan settlers established the concept of the "City Upon a Hill", the "uniquely" American ideology didn't come to the forefront until the revolution. The American branding of the ideals of liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism and laissez-faire have been at the core of this "exceptionality" ever since. Critics use the term in derision to refer to an American sense of superiority and others still use the term with some hint of the "City Upon a Hill" reverence in modern politics.

EX. It's difficult to escape American Exceptionalism-- national pride is instilled through the cultural zeitgeist through public holidays, monuments, history books, television, films, etc, as part of a conscious effort and sub-conscious effort to instill patriotism. This, in itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. While I personally don't see the difference between national pride and team pride (the idea that one's sport team is somehow inherently different than their rivals), although I do appreciate there is much more cultural difference between nations, because, much like your sport teams and other ideologies, an individual's support is usually based on geography. If you live in Baltimore, you're probably a Ravens fan. If you live in New York, New York USA, you're probably an America fan. And yet, despite how I try to holster the patriotism instilled into me by my upbringing, I must admit that a part of me still thinks America is the best (but not say that most of the competition is worth beating, necessarily).

The ideals of American liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and even a laissez-faire treatment of social and economic issues point toward a progressive society, in which, we would all be proud to be citizens. And yet, the problem is that the many people who do not feel so proud of our country have good reason to feel that way; many in this country, throughout history, who consider themselves to be "patriots" and, the more popular term as of late, "real Americans" have their own set of American ideals that conflict with "American Exceptionalism". Social and economic conservatives, traditionalists, who instead support and have supported the ideals of slavery and inequality, conformity, classism (where the elite rich enslave the poor), manifest destiny, and strict social adherence to an imagined idealic social standard created to justify witchhunts. Under the guise of "protecting the American way of life", a plethora of crimes against humanity have been committed in our history. These ideas can be traced back to the earliest American settlers and still resonate today in the shadow of the American stars and stripes.

Colombia, the Flying City in Bioshock: Infinite is a microcosm of these contradictory ideas coming to a head. Unlike Rapture, Colombia isn't a dystopic museum of oddities sinking beneath the waves, but a living, breathing "utopia" that is on the brink of self-immolation. Colombia fits an old saying, not only in metaphor but also literally, "United we stand, divided we fall."

MUSICAL MON! BIOSHOCK INFINITE PRE-RELEASE EXTRAVAGANZA!

MUSICAL MONDAY PRESENTS

BIOSHOCK INFINITE PRE-RELEASE EXTRAVAGANZA

I've talked about Bioshock before. Some of the articles I've written on the subject are some of my most memorable pieces. Now, before we even get into today's features, make sure to check out those excellent articles linked below:

WORD OF THE DAY! 9/14/11! Utopia/Dystopia.

MUSICAL MON. BIOSHOCK W/ LYRICS + MORE!

And now for a look at the trailers for my most anticipated game of the year and, most likely, hot contender for best title of 2013, Bioshock Infinite.

BIOSHOCK INFINITE DEBUT TRAILER

It was way back in 2011 that we got our eyeballs coated in the sunshine of the beautiful new Bioshock's setting, Colombia. The trailer did an excellent job; first, they tease us with a fish tank to start with a image from Bioshock, then we're running from some brute, rope to rope and airship to airship, to see something like Disney's Main Street USA floating in the clouds above the scenic pastures of American farmland. This time, it was clear, that rather than anti-altruism being the central theme of the society, that Colombia was "City upon a Hill" taken to new heights in a tableau of American Exceptionalism. The trailer ends with a mystery. You see a beautiful woman-- the game's princess stuck away in some tower guarded by a dragon-- before plumetting toward the ground.

The imagery is a gorgeous and well-lit paradise that completely contradicts the sunken, cold, and claustrophobic tomb of oddities that was Rapture. Also, make sure to check out the delightfully quirky LITERAL video by Tobuscus for added fun.

"BEASTS OF AMERICA" TRAILER

This trailer kicks things up a notch and gives us a better introduction to Booker Dewitt, the game's protagonist, and his mission to "save" Elizabeth from Colombia-- in exchange for his debts and crimes being wiped clean from the slate. Then it focuses on the new enemies unique to the setting that all represent different threats and how you'll deal with them. Surely, this was an exciting addition to get us hyped up.

COLOMBIA: A MODERN DAY ICARUS

Then, a couple of months ago, we got this neat video promo that represented an old documentary or teaser for a documentary on the video game world's myths surrounding this lost marvel that sets up some ideas of how Colombia fits into the history of the same world as Rapture (presumably). I especially loved the creepy 80's mystery music in the background and the narration.

BIOSHOCK INFINITE: TV SPOT

Infinite's main character relationship and, according to Kevin Levine, one of the trickiest elements to nail down for the final product was the relationship and gameplay built around Elizabeth. According to review and previews, Dewitt spends most of the game with Elizabeth close at his side and her characterization, through animation and voice, is superb. I can't wait to find out about more about the mysterious girl to meet since the first trailer.

 INFINITE LAUNCH TRAILER

And lastly,  we've got the action packed launch trailer that shows some of the ways that you'll interact with characters (besides shooting them in the face and blasting them apart with powers). I'm excited to start playing this game, well, like in 2011. But I'm excited by the prospects of getting this in the mail tomorrow or Wednesday and hope to share my feelings with you on the title soon.