Google's been telling its users of the new privacy policy and terms effective March 1st. A lot of the new data collected seem to be smart phone (Android) or VOIP (Google Voice) related so I'm not panicking and dropping my Google usage. I thought it's a good time to go through my Dashboard again since my last glean a few months ago.
...YouTube? I've never created a YouTube account, but apparently I'm automatically signed via my Google account. orz
Just to clarify, I don't watch questionable videos on YouTube so I have no problem having my viewing history logged. But I never asked for a YouTube account...
Ah, well. While this type of forced marketing might generally get Google some additional traffic/data/possible revenue, in this case, it's more likely wasted resources (albeit very tiny bit) creating the linked accounts for me. I'm a proud Niconico paid member! XD
On a side note, Neko-tan re-shared the link where YouTube is showing free movies with in-film ads.
I took a quick look at the Animation category just to see what's available (but not to watch, as it'd be English audio only anyway), and saw that Blue Gender: The Movie is rated TV-14. Come on, Funimation! I know it's old and therefore has a lax rating, but at least re-rate it if you're gonna just let people view it on YouTube.
Wait, my bad. I forgot you don't consider large quantity of blood flowing out from dismembered body parts to be mature... ┐（─‿‿─）┌
Anyway, I might watch a few movies if I feel like it and have time (Time? You mean the 4th dimension? But I'm in perpetual 2.5D...).
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Play Station Store
I finally connected my PS3 online and downloaded a few trial games as well as vol.117 of the weekly Toro Station from the Play Station Store.
Vol.117 features Tales of Innocence R for the PS3 and the local Hero (think Tiger & Bunny type of Hero but looks like Kamen Rider) for Aoimori. The TOIR part was so-so, since it's a remake port and the character design looked kinda dated to me.
The local Hero part, on the other hand, was quite interesting. All these hero stage shows I've seen in anime or drama actually do exist! And the enemy group for the Aoimori hero stage has the same name as the enemy for Akida (I think, can't quite remember), because the Akida hero keeps preventing them from doing bad things, so they've moved to harass the people of Aoimori instead! なんて面白い設定だ！ XD
After watching a few back number issues of Toro Station, I played the special trial version for Bleach: Soul Ignition's Hell chapter and the trial version of El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron.
I've been wanting to play Bleach: Soul Ignition since I saw the PV for it. It's actually available in R1 and has the option to switch to Japanese audio, but because there's text on screen and stuff, I'd prefer to get the R2 version. Need to wait until I head to the west coast to see if I can find it...
The game play itself kinda feels like Gundam Musou, and liken to the short experience I had with Gundam Musou 3, I had a bit of trouble adjusting the camera angle. Took me a while to somewhat get used to the many buttons (compared to the SNES and NDS) and the 3D field. Took me two tries to beat Kokuto, too. orz
El Shaddai's trial version contains segments from different stages so it was like an easy walk-through (of course, I also chose the easy mode to start with). This game is famed for its大丈夫だ、問題ない unique art style and battle system, and I completely agree. It's fun to see Enoch getting stripped down to just one pair of jeans in the battle. The final verdict for the game seems to be slightly on the negative side, as it's not very long and the number of enemy encounters--the most fun part of the game--was not high enough. But I think I'm still going to keep an eye out for the title and grab it when it goes on sale.
Unfortunately, I don't have a JCB credit card so I can't purchase any of the games on the PS Store. They actually have quite a few direct ports of old Super Robot Wars games and Final Fantasy games as well. I really wanted to play Gun Parade March and Chrono Cross... orz
I'll make a North American account and see what's in their PS Store next week. Hopefully they'd at least have Chrono Cross and the old FF games that I can buy.
Vol.117 features Tales of Innocence R for the PS3 and the local Hero (think Tiger & Bunny type of Hero but looks like Kamen Rider) for Aoimori. The TOIR part was so-so, since it's a remake port and the character design looked kinda dated to me.
The local Hero part, on the other hand, was quite interesting. All these hero stage shows I've seen in anime or drama actually do exist! And the enemy group for the Aoimori hero stage has the same name as the enemy for Akida (I think, can't quite remember), because the Akida hero keeps preventing them from doing bad things, so they've moved to harass the people of Aoimori instead! なんて面白い設定だ！ XD
After watching a few back number issues of Toro Station, I played the special trial version for Bleach: Soul Ignition's Hell chapter and the trial version of El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron.
I've been wanting to play Bleach: Soul Ignition since I saw the PV for it. It's actually available in R1 and has the option to switch to Japanese audio, but because there's text on screen and stuff, I'd prefer to get the R2 version. Need to wait until I head to the west coast to see if I can find it...
The game play itself kinda feels like Gundam Musou, and liken to the short experience I had with Gundam Musou 3, I had a bit of trouble adjusting the camera angle. Took me a while to somewhat get used to the many buttons (compared to the SNES and NDS) and the 3D field. Took me two tries to beat Kokuto, too. orz
El Shaddai's trial version contains segments from different stages so it was like an easy walk-through (of course, I also chose the easy mode to start with). This game is famed for its
Unfortunately, I don't have a JCB credit card so I can't purchase any of the games on the PS Store. They actually have quite a few direct ports of old Super Robot Wars games and Final Fantasy games as well. I really wanted to play Gun Parade March and Chrono Cross... orz
I'll make a North American account and see what's in their PS Store next week. Hopefully they'd at least have Chrono Cross and the old FF games that I can buy.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
40% acl/vol
As a result of a fridge issue at a certain feline meat's place, I got a bottle of brandy. Since I don't drink, I decided to use it for cooking.
My 1st alcoholic(?) dish: drunken chicken drumsticks
The only experiences I have with the dish were the few instances in restaurants, so I didn't expect my vague attempt to be comparable. It was also my first time using the rice cooker for drumsticks, but I think it went really well. The drumsticks were fully cooked and tender, and the brandy wasn't too overwhelmingly strong. The dried wolfberries also added some sweetness to the taste.
It was only when I had pushed the start button on the rice cooker and was putting the brandy bottle back in the fridge, that I realized the thing said 40% acl/vol. Maybe next time I'll put in just a little bit less than what I put in today...
My 1st alcoholic(?) dish: drunken chicken drumsticks
The only experiences I have with the dish were the few instances in restaurants, so I didn't expect my vague attempt to be comparable. It was also my first time using the rice cooker for drumsticks, but I think it went really well. The drumsticks were fully cooked and tender, and the brandy wasn't too overwhelmingly strong. The dried wolfberries also added some sweetness to the taste.
It was only when I had pushed the start button on the rice cooker and was putting the brandy bottle back in the fridge, that I realized the thing said 40% acl/vol. Maybe next time I'll put in just a little bit less than what I put in today...
Thursday, January 19, 2012
MIKUNOPOLIS in LOS ANGELS -はじめまして、初音ミクです-
I know I'm absolutely horrible when it comes to tying loose threads and never even finished posting about my 1st AX experience. But I think this deserves a mention on its own, based on the blu-ray release (the actual concert review shall be posted when I get around to write about my AX experiences, if it happens).
First of all, the effect of the 3D projection really depends on the viewing angle. The four of us were at the back of the orchestra area and to the left, so while it was still 3D, it looked a little weak a lot of the times (but super clear when the character moved to the left).
Filmed performance, on the other hand, is usually centred with the occasional side cameras, so the blu-ray release looked much sharper than what we saw live. The only downside, in this case, is that the camera basically shot directly into the projecting lights located at centre stage and thus had reflections most of the time. To compensate for the reflections, clips filmed and projected unto the large screens in the theatre were sometimes shown instead, but these just look blurry on blu-ray (albeit they looked great on site for us).
The few Hatsune Miku concerts in Japan that I've seen so far all have ragged edges up-close. I was expecting the same for this one so we didn't want to sit too close to the front. But the close-up shots in the blu-ray show no ragged lines at all, thanks to the 3D models being created by 5pb. this time (not indicated in the end credit of the blu-ray, but Magic Frog got the info off tweeter before the concert). Compared to other Vocaloid concerts prior to Mikupolis, I have to say that the 5pb. mods were indeed better in every way than the Sega ones. According to the tweets Magic Frog was following at that time, even the Sega guy (CEO?) admitted the superior result after watching the concert and vowed to learn from 5pb.
Now if someone will just get the concert blu-ray licensed and make a R1 release... Even Neko-tan, who mostly just go for the R3 and sometimes R2 releases, is hoping to be able to buy it!
Before going to the concert, I told my friend that I was more going for experiencing the technology. Now, if Mikupolis is coming again (please skip the DANCEROID), count me in! XD
On a last note, I will try to pick up where I left off back in 2010 for the AX posts, when I have time... XD
First of all, the effect of the 3D projection really depends on the viewing angle. The four of us were at the back of the orchestra area and to the left, so while it was still 3D, it looked a little weak a lot of the times (but super clear when the character moved to the left).
Filmed performance, on the other hand, is usually centred with the occasional side cameras, so the blu-ray release looked much sharper than what we saw live. The only downside, in this case, is that the camera basically shot directly into the projecting lights located at centre stage and thus had reflections most of the time. To compensate for the reflections, clips filmed and projected unto the large screens in the theatre were sometimes shown instead, but these just look blurry on blu-ray (albeit they looked great on site for us).
The few Hatsune Miku concerts in Japan that I've seen so far all have ragged edges up-close. I was expecting the same for this one so we didn't want to sit too close to the front. But the close-up shots in the blu-ray show no ragged lines at all, thanks to the 3D models being created by 5pb. this time (not indicated in the end credit of the blu-ray, but Magic Frog got the info off tweeter before the concert). Compared to other Vocaloid concerts prior to Mikupolis, I have to say that the 5pb. mods were indeed better in every way than the Sega ones. According to the tweets Magic Frog was following at that time, even the Sega guy (CEO?) admitted the superior result after watching the concert and vowed to learn from 5pb.
Now if someone will just get the concert blu-ray licensed and make a R1 release... Even Neko-tan, who mostly just go for the R3 and sometimes R2 releases, is hoping to be able to buy it!
Before going to the concert, I told my friend that I was more going for experiencing the technology. Now, if Mikupolis is coming again (please skip the DANCEROID), count me in! XD
On a last note, I will try to pick up where I left off back in 2010 for the AX posts, when I have time... XD
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
No to SOPA & PIPA
As any Netizen would have noticed, the US is trying to pass SOPA and PIPA to censor the Internet, and many major websites are on strike today to advocate against the proposed bills. While I don't live in the US, this would still be bad news for the rest of the world.
If you're in the US, you can sign a petition here.
If you're outside the US, you can sign a petition here.
Take action now.
If you're in the US, you can sign a petition here.
If you're outside the US, you can sign a petition here.
Take action now.
Friday, January 06, 2012
マイ動物園
After using up all my energy and surviving the dreading dentist appointment, I decided to charge my depleted self and got a few more Schleich animals.
Now I have a total of 12 Schleich animals (in alphabetic order):
Cat, stretching (Felis catus)
Dwarf Lop (Leporidae)
Gnu (Connochaetes taurinus) (I only know them as wildebeest until today, but they were a regular topic in my university years.)
Kangaroo, male (Macropus rufus)
Kudu antelope (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Moose calf (Alces alces)
Polar Bear, female (Ursus maritimus)
Rabbits, sitting (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Red deer calf (Cervus elaphus)
Wolf (Canis lupus)
Wolverine (Gulo gulo) (For some reason, I thought it's a honey badger when I got it XD)
Yak (Bos grunniens)
Along with my other animal collections, I'm slowly but surely building my pet zoo.
目指す、百匹！:D
Now I have a total of 12 Schleich animals (in alphabetic order):
Cat, stretching (Felis catus)
Dwarf Lop (Leporidae)
Gnu (Connochaetes taurinus) (I only know them as wildebeest until today, but they were a regular topic in my university years.)
Kangaroo, male (Macropus rufus)
Kudu antelope (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Moose calf (Alces alces)
Polar Bear, female (Ursus maritimus)
Rabbits, sitting (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Red deer calf (Cervus elaphus)
Wolf (Canis lupus)
Wolverine (Gulo gulo) (For some reason, I thought it's a honey badger when I got it XD)
Yak (Bos grunniens)
Along with my other animal collections, I'm slowly but surely building my pet zoo.
目指す、百匹！:D
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
憂喜參半
The good news first, since I read this first.
NIS America has licensed all four seasons of Natsume Yuujinchou and will be releasing them on discs!!
ｷﾀ━━━( ﾟ ∀ ﾟ )━━━!!
I've been waiting for this for so long... （つд｀）
Since it's NISA, premium packaging with a full-colour artbook will be expected. If the series is available in blu-ray in Japan right now, it'll likely get a blu-ray release here as well.
Depending on when they plan to push out the releases, it might be their main pitch for this year's AX. So there's a chance for at least one seiyuu from the show to be a guest at AX... もしそうなら…ついに妄想してる。
Now the bad news.
Bandai Entertainment won't be licensing or actively distributing titles in North America, and three previously announced series were cancelled: Gosick, Nichijou, Turn-A Gundam. This also means there won't be a complete collection release for Tales of the Abyss.
AHHHHHH!! Why couldn't you wait until after you give me Turn-A Gundam! ｡ﾟ(ﾟつД｀ﾟ)゜｡ｳｧｧｧﾝ
The only comforting news is that Star Driver and the original 1979 Gundam series will be released in full before they shut down.
Gundam Unicorn? I'm waiting for all six to come out before ordering all six from Japan.
NIS America has licensed all four seasons of Natsume Yuujinchou and will be releasing them on discs!!
ｷﾀ━━━( ﾟ ∀ ﾟ )━━━!!
I've been waiting for this for so long... （つд｀）
Since it's NISA, premium packaging with a full-colour artbook will be expected. If the series is available in blu-ray in Japan right now, it'll likely get a blu-ray release here as well.
Depending on when they plan to push out the releases, it might be their main pitch for this year's AX. So there's a chance for at least one seiyuu from the show to be a guest at AX... もしそうなら…ついに妄想してる。
Now the bad news.
Bandai Entertainment won't be licensing or actively distributing titles in North America, and three previously announced series were cancelled: Gosick, Nichijou, Turn-A Gundam. This also means there won't be a complete collection release for Tales of the Abyss.
AHHHHHH!! Why couldn't you wait until after you give me Turn-A Gundam! ｡ﾟ(ﾟつД｀ﾟ)゜｡ｳｧｧｧﾝ
The only comforting news is that Star Driver and the original 1979 Gundam series will be released in full before they shut down.
Gundam Unicorn? I'm waiting for all six to come out before ordering all six from Japan.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
らんま1/2 SP
I was very skeptical of this when I read the news. I was somewhat despaired when I saw the full casting on the program website. I kept putting off watching the actual thing.
Then I decided to plunge in yesterday while waiting for my curry to finish cooking.
All in all, the story itself is all right, since it's based on chapters of the original manga and tweaked to fit the drama settings.
But the biggest problem for live action shows based on manga or anime is always the casting, and that's exactly the issue with this one as well.
While the lead actress playing Akane is somewhat cute, her stature is too big and tall for the role. This is further accented by the skinny, albeit slightly taller, male Ranma and a much shorter female Ranma.
More importantly, the female Ranma is not cute at all! ぜんっぜん可愛くない！（ノ`Д´）ノ
In comparison, the mismatches of other characters are negligible, and the panda actually isn't as horrible as the photos on the program website. Since the show supposedly takes place from the beginning, it's acceptable that many regular characters don't appear.
I'm glad it's only a drama special, not an actual drama series. Although it did make me want to read the whole manga series again. XD
The next test of live action based on manga would be the Kenshin movie. We'll see.
On the subject of Kenshin, there's an announcement recently that the manga author of Kenshin will be drawing Kenshin again. I'm doubtful as to what the story would be about, but I'm more interested in the manga than the potentially image-crashing live action movie...
Then I decided to plunge in yesterday while waiting for my curry to finish cooking.
All in all, the story itself is all right, since it's based on chapters of the original manga and tweaked to fit the drama settings.
But the biggest problem for live action shows based on manga or anime is always the casting, and that's exactly the issue with this one as well.
While the lead actress playing Akane is somewhat cute, her stature is too big and tall for the role. This is further accented by the skinny, albeit slightly taller, male Ranma and a much shorter female Ranma.
More importantly, the female Ranma is not cute at all! ぜんっぜん可愛くない！（ノ`Д´）ノ
In comparison, the mismatches of other characters are negligible, and the panda actually isn't as horrible as the photos on the program website. Since the show supposedly takes place from the beginning, it's acceptable that many regular characters don't appear.
I'm glad it's only a drama special, not an actual drama series. Although it did make me want to read the whole manga series again. XD
The next test of live action based on manga would be the Kenshin movie. We'll see.
On the subject of Kenshin, there's an announcement recently that the manga author of Kenshin will be drawing Kenshin again. I'm doubtful as to what the story would be about, but I'm more interested in the manga than the potentially image-crashing live action movie...
Monday, January 02, 2012
良いお年を
２０１２年、明けましておめでとうございます！
As mentioned in last year's New Year post, I don't really set New Year resolutions. But let's at least revisit the wannados from last year.
＞keep my weight at the current level (OK, maybe get it down to that level...) so the first digit doesn't start with 7 when the number is rounded-up
I think I managed to do this.
→ Of course, this will be on this year's list again.
＞finish translating the シューピアリア drama CD and posting on 冒険の書
I was almost through the monologue of track 1 when I stumbled upon a site that's doing the exact same thing. So I stopped.
→ If I feel like it, I might start writing Agion there. Otherwise, I want to catch up on reading rather than translating anything.
＞finish reading at least H2, とらドラ, and 植物図鑑
Haven't finished reading any of these, but I am on the last book of Toradora right now. Well, there are still the three volumes of spin-offs though...
I did read 35 volumes of City Hunter, 56 volumes of 犬夜叉, 25 volumes of 医龍, 18 volumes of 桜蘭高校ホスト部, 11 volumes of 虹色とうがらし, and 8 volumes of ちょびっツ
→ Finish reading とらドラ+spin-off and H2, and at least 50 volumes of managa and five volumes of novels
＞finish at least one of Chrono Trigger, FF IV, or DQ IV
Finished Chrono Trigger's normal ending, DQ IV, DQ V, and Bleach DS 4th.
→ Finish at least three DS games and at least one of each for PS3 and PSP
＞buy a pair of shoes to leave in the office for winter
Just did in the first week of December!
→ Hopefully I won't need to buy anymore shoes... or clothes.
そんじゃあ、今年も張り切って全力で行きます！（どこへ？）
As mentioned in last year's New Year post, I don't really set New Year resolutions. But let's at least revisit the wannados from last year.
＞keep my weight at the current level (OK, maybe get it down to that level...) so the first digit doesn't start with 7 when the number is rounded-up
I think I managed to do this.
→ Of course, this will be on this year's list again.
＞finish translating the シューピアリア drama CD and posting on 冒険の書
I was almost through the monologue of track 1 when I stumbled upon a site that's doing the exact same thing. So I stopped.
→ If I feel like it, I might start writing Agion there. Otherwise, I want to catch up on reading rather than translating anything.
＞finish reading at least H2, とらドラ, and 植物図鑑
Haven't finished reading any of these, but I am on the last book of Toradora right now. Well, there are still the three volumes of spin-offs though...
I did read 35 volumes of City Hunter, 56 volumes of 犬夜叉, 25 volumes of 医龍, 18 volumes of 桜蘭高校ホスト部, 11 volumes of 虹色とうがらし, and 8 volumes of ちょびっツ
→ Finish reading とらドラ+spin-off and H2, and at least 50 volumes of managa and five volumes of novels
＞finish at least one of Chrono Trigger, FF IV, or DQ IV
Finished Chrono Trigger's normal ending, DQ IV, DQ V, and Bleach DS 4th.
→ Finish at least three DS games and at least one of each for PS3 and PSP
＞buy a pair of shoes to leave in the office for winter
Just did in the first week of December!
→ Hopefully I won't need to buy anymore shoes... or clothes.
そんじゃあ、今年も張り切って全力で行きます！（どこへ？）
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