Laws restricting video games not a reasonable solution

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Jan. 30, 2007

Video games - along with rock 'n' roll, movies, television, rap, heavy metal, the Internet and everything besides bad parenting - are once again (or rather, still) being blamed for the problems of the world's youth. Germany, which already has heavy censorship of video games, recently urged the European Union to ban violent games and is itself trying to make virtual violence in games a jailable offence, according to Reuters news service and the Guardian newspaper. The cited definition of violent games includes games from the "Star Trek" and "Lord of the Rings" series.

Attempts at banning or restricting games continue in the United States as well. Friday, Jan. 26, a committee in the Utah House of Representatives voted to hold off on a bill (HB50) that would have made providing certain video games to minors a third-degree felony, according to the Desert Morning News. Audio recording of the hearing featured those for the bill expressing concern about the influence of violent games on children. Those against the bill pointed out that the bill doesn't even differentiate between businesses and individuals, meaning parents would face mandatory jail time for letting their child play a game that fits the bill's vague definition of violence. And if a 17-year-old boy wants to buy the Teen-rated "Call of Duty," it would be a felony - but if he turns 18 the next week, the army would have no problem teaching him to kill for real. The bill was held because the state's legal experts and its own Attorney General Mark Shurtleff felt the bill would likely fail any constitutional challenge, as similar bills have failed in other states. The committee is supposed to meet about the matter again.

Restricting certain games would likely stifle the game industry, as no retailer would risk being shut down for selling certain games to a minor. That would affect every gamer.

What all of these overreaching politicians fail to realize is that the average age of gamers is 33, and 93 percent of game buyers and 83 percent of game players are over 18 years old, according to statistics from the Entertainment Software Association. And seriously, $600 PlayStation 3s and multi-thousand dollar PC gaming rigs are not children's toys, and people should realize that just because it's a game does not mean it's targeted at children. Henry Jenkins, director of comparative studies at MIT, wrote an essay called "Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked," where he points out that no causal relationship has ever been shown between youth violence and video games, and that violence among youths is actually at a 30-year low. So there's just as much circumstantial evidence (which is all anti-gamers have) showing that video games actually decrease violence. He also debunks the myths of games being antisocial, desensitizing and without artistic merit.

If movies are allowed unrestricted free speech, with a rating system in place for parents, video games, which have a similar rating system, should have even more protection. Think about it: Gamers' experiences are based on their own actions, meaning the protected expression can be as much their own as it is the game maker's.

These attacks on video games are not really about protecting children, despite whatever rationale the politicians and concerned parents have. Maybe gamers used to be children, but they're grown up now and likely play games with their children that they feel are appropriate. It'll probably take another generation before politicians have a better understanding of games and don't act in such broad overreaching strokes as they try today. Until then, let's hope they turn their attention to some actual problems.

Video Game Review: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Jan. 30, 2007

While the original "Metal Gear Solid" pioneered the stealth action genre, the first two PSP entries in the franchise were card-based tactical games. With "Portable Ops," the PSP finally gets a game closer to its home-console counterparts. In fact, "Portable Ops" has the only directly connecting stories of the series, until "Guns of the Patriots" connects with parts 1 and 2. "Portable Ops," however, connects to the end of part 3, "Snake Eater," which put the player in the position of the legendary soldier who would eventually become Big Boss, the antagonist of the original Metal Gear series and genetic donor to series hero Solid Snake.

The storyline fits with the new team dynamic by showing how and why Big Boss, still known as Naked Snake, builds up his army of loyal followers. Rather than rendered cutscenes, the story unfolds through dynamically-drawn animated storyboards and features quality voice acting, including David Hayter reprising his role as Snake.

The stealth portion of the game features a fully 3D camera that most of the previous games didn't have, but the lack of a second analog stick makes the controls a little awkward still. To make up for this, weapons can auto target, and each character has a skill rating that determines the hit chance of their weapons. Players can also aim in first-person mode for sniping accuracy. But in this game, capturing enemy soldiers has the benefit of adding them to your team, with the possibility of 100 members, either as part of the medical team, surveillance team, technology team or active mission squad. While Snake will always have the best stats, capturing soldiers with different uniforms will allow those characters to blend in with like-dressed enemies, making certain missions much easier to complete in a stealthy fashion. Missions are appropriately sized for on-the-go PSP playing, and playing in different areas is encouraged by having different Wi-Fi hotspots act as automatic recruiting points for special soldiers.

"Portable Ops" also makes use of the Infrastructure mode for PSP's online play, connecting wirelessly to players worldwide. Online play has two team and two solo modes, with an optional mode that actually removes losing players' fallen soldiers and rewards them to the winners.

With its combination of role-playing elements and stealth action, "Portable Ops" is a must-have game for PSP users, and even those disappointed with the "Acid" series will find plenty to love as the game returns to the genre it pioneered.

“Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops”
4 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Konami
Developed by Kojima Productions
Genres: Stealth, action, squad-RPG

Anime Review: Ergo Proxy (Volumes 1 and 2)

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Jan. 30, 2007

"Ergo Proxy" is a stylish science-fiction series that combines first-rate animation and seamless 3D to create an engaging mystery with elements of social and philosophical commentary.

The story starts in Romdo, a self-contained city where androids called AutoReiv assist in every aspect of society, including serving as companions or children, but are still treated as products. Immigrants also are considered lower class, but by serving the ruling establishment they have the chance to become Citizens. A computer virus known as Cogito (after "Cogito ergo sum") grants infected AutoReiv self-awareness, but the resulting disobedience makes them targets for destruction and scapegoats for a string of mysterious murders.

Jaded heroine Re-l Mayer (pronounced Ree-el) investigates one of the murders and stumbles across the real culprit, a monstrous being known as a Proxy. As she chases down just who or what the Proxy is, she uncovers a whole world she never knew about, with implications that could change everything.

Action scenes don't take any animation shortcuts, and the moody visuals add to the paranoid air of the show. The opening theme is a catchy U2-ish song that sounds almost Western (but isn't), and the ending theme is the appropriately named "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead, which both help set the tone for the show.

The first volume moves at a quick pace, not stopping for exposition but revealing just enough to not be too confusing, while slowly bringing out the larger mystery. The second volume focuses more on immigrant Vincent Law, who becomes a big part of Re-l's investigation, leading her to some big discoveries. The pace is also slower in the second volume, but there are several big developments in the story that move things along.

Besides the Cogito Virus, the show is littered with subtle inside references to science, literature and mythology - little touches that add something extra to the discerning viewer. "Ergo Proxy" definitely stands out above the average sci-fi anime, and the first two volumes don't disappoint.

“Ergo Proxy”
Vol. 1: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Vol. 2: 4 stars (out of 5)
U.S. release: Geneon Entertainment
Produced by: Manglobe
Genres: Sci-fi, mystery, drama, action
Release date: Nov. 14, 2006

Anime Review: Basilisk: The Parting of Ways (Vol. 3)

As published on thenorthernlight.org

As the volume opens, the Iga have eight remaining ninja of the 10 from their clan who are listed on the scroll, while the Kouga only have five still alive. The scroll lists the top 10 ninja from each clan who are to battle until only one side remains. For the first two volumes, the Kouga were not even aware of this contest, as Iga Oboro and Kouga Gennosuke were about to get married. Once the Iga finally learn Gennosuke’s special power, they fear the only way they can beat him is through Oboro’s ability, which is the involuntary ability to cancel the power of anyone whom she makes eye contact with. Naturally, the would-be-lovers must part, even as they both hope for a peaceful solution, for them being together would be fatal.
“Basilisk” continues to be an emotional and suspenseful mature drama that just happens to be set with super-powered ninja. The show has no villains, per se, as each side in the ongoing clan struggle is in one moment sympathetic, and in the next, morally reprehensible. The show hasn’t taken a side, but shows the pointless conflict as destructive and futile.
The pace slows down in this volume, with the second episode offering a recap of the show so far with a little new information thrown in. The slightly slower pace allows more exploration into the consequences of the battles so far, especially now that Oboro and Gennosuke are trapped in the tragic feud as well. The voice acting is well done and the music adds to each scenes mood without being overwhelming. At the third volume, “Basilisk” shows no decline in the quality of its story or production. While any story about super ninjas can be overly melodramatic at times, “Basilisk” keeps the viewers engaged in the story and characters.
It’s always a good sign when the end of a volume leaves you anticipating the next one.

“Basilisk, Vol. 3 – The Parting of Ways”
4 stars (out of 5)
U.S. release: FUNimation
Animation: Gonzo
Genres: Romance, historical, action, drama
Release date: Nov. 14, 2006

Anime Review: Naruto - uncut box set 2

As published on thenorthernlight.org

Despite the uncut label, these box sets of “Naruto” are not scandalously different from the individual releases of the show. They do have a few differences – the original amount of blood shown during fights is restored and they include the Japanese language track – but the story is still that of hyperactive young Naruto and his fellow ninjas-in-training. No matter which language you chose to listen to, Naruto is still an annoying brat of a character, as he’s supposed to be. But the show finally starts to show a bit more depth as this set finishes up the conflict with Zabuza in the Land of Waves, revealing a more serious side with some of the recurring emotional themes of the show. Granted, it’s still for the younger set, but not too young, and there’s nothing childish about it. The second half of episodes in the box set starts the overriding Chunin Exam story arc, which will last another three or so volumes, these episodes merely laying most of the groundwork.
The slow pacing of the show makes box sets an ideal way to watch it; watching a two-hour continuous battle is preferable to watching it play out over six weeks on TV. On the other hand, the show uses a lot of flashbacks, so watching it in a marathon usually means sitting through a bunch of flashbacks that just happened.
“Naruto” may look like a simplistic fighting anime, and to some degree it is, albeit a rather fun one. But – especially once the other rookie ninjas get their stories fleshed out – it’s got a lot more to it than good vs. evil. It takes a lot of patience to watch this show, but by episode 19 (contained in this set) it will be apparent whether or not it’s worth it. That was the turning point for me back when it aired, and I’ll be picking up the next uncut volume for sure.

“Naruto,” uncut box set 2
4 stars (out of 5)
U.S. release: Viz Video
Genres: Adventure, comedy, shonen
Release date: Dec. 5, 2006

Video Game Review: Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles

As published on thenorthernlight.org

Unlike most “Naruto” video games, “Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles” plays more like an RPG than a fighting game. Instead of picking characters from the show to battle, players are put in the titular role of Naruto, and must perform certain missions and beat nameless enemies in random battles to gain Virtue Points. These points can then be used to purchase new items or upgrades of Naruto’s abilities, which are laid out on a variety of Skill Boards with limited room and different shapes. Different abilities fit together in different ways and it’s like a jigsaw puzzle that determines what powers Naruto will have. It’s an interesting system that forces players to choose how they want Naruto to grow, instead of a set skill path or simply being able to upgrade everything.
Sadly, the battles are lacking.
The generic enemies are too easy to beat, and the difficulty ramps up sharply when asked to fight tougher characters from the show. Even worse, the battles and missions take place on a map that Naruto travels around on – but only one location on the map is a save point. This means that if a player gets defeated anytime during a mission, even a multi-stage one, all progress up to that point is lost and the player will have to start all over again. This is especially frustrating when the cut scenes are not skipable, so defeated players will have to watch them again and again until they succeed.
There are good things about the game; the upgrade system is good, special moves are easy to pull off, mini games offer a change of pace and rewards, and guest characters can be used to tag-team when in a bind. For a single player, “Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles” offers much more depth than a standard fighting game, but a lot of little hiccups keep it from being what it could’ve been.

“Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles”
3 stars (out of 5)
U.S. release: Namco/Bandai
For PlayStation 2
Genres: Action, fighting, adventure
Release date: Nov. 15, 2006

Long waits, scalpers mark game console launches

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Nov. 28, 2006

The day before the PlayStation 3 was released, I bought two games, “Resistance: Fall of Man” and “Ridge Racer 7,” which are supposed to show off the new console’s graphics capabilities fairly well. Unfortunately, like most gamers, I wasn’t actually able to get a PS3 to play them on. Delays in production made the gaming console in very short supply on its launch date, though Sony announced plans to have at least a million units out by the end of the year.

So while Sony has finally entered the next generation of gaming, and the Nintendo Wii starts its own side generation, most of us will have to wait a while longer to play in it.

But it wasn’t for lack of trying. Those first few days were ruthless.

Thursday, Nov. 16

With very few places taking preorders, most people had to wait until today to start making plans. In other states, folks were already lining up outside of stores, but Anchorage retailers weren’t allowing campouts. A reconnaissance of stores in town revealed a few different strategies when it came to the PS3 launch.

Best Buy was getting a minimum of 26 units, and said a line could start at midnight for the tickets they would give out in the morning. CompUSA took PS3 preorders only with the purchase of a big-screen TV and had none left. Fred Meyer stores got six or eight units and lottery tickets would be given out to anyone in line tomorrow at 6:45 a.m.

Both Wal-Mart stores had six units and would begin selling them at midnight, but one was only going to announce the line’s location once it was 15 minutes to midnight and whoever made it to the line first would win. Sears had two units and would open as normal on Friday through a random door, which discouraged camping. GameStop took preorders a while back, which were snatched up as soon as they were offered, and Toys ‘R’ Us said it was sold out of preorders, but a rumor of unsold PS3s had people camped outside anyway.

My plan was to hit the Wal-Mart scramble, with a Best Buy campout and early morning Fred Meyer lottery as backup plans.

By 11:30 p.m., Wal-Mart was already a madhouse. Clusters of people were gathered at each aisle and intersection, hoping that when the secret line’s location was announced over the store intercom their group could get there first. Imagine a store packed full of people all wandering in tight circles in their little sections, ready to sprint to wherever the location may be, despite the cluster of people likely already to be there. To the store’s credit the announcement came over the speakers that they changed the format to a lottery. After lining everyone up single file, in a line that snaked in and out of the aisles of half the store, they started giving out tickets.

A group of people nearby was talking about their plans to sell the system on eBay if one of their numbers were drawn. An excited woman kept checking her Web-enabled cell phone to tell her friends the ridiculously high prices the PS3 was supposedly fetching on eBay. One man ahead in line said, “I need new friends,” after hearing what someone was supposedly willing to pay. Most of the people there were apparently wannabe scalpers, since selling the PS3 dominated most conversations.

It was a slap in the face to gamers everywhere to know that they might have had a shot at getting a new system if it wasn’t for the hoards of console-war profiteers who thought they could get thousands of dollars for a $600 machine, people who didn’t want it but would gladly take it just to drive up the price. Those are the type of people who shot a man outside a Wal-Mart in Connecticut and robbed a GameStop at gunpoint in San Francisco.

There were more than 400 people at this Wal-Mart but only six consoles. Needless to say, I didn’t get one.

Best Buy was next, but the crowd was dispersing by the time I got there. Apparently, nearly 1,000 people were waiting to line up and police were called in but had no way to organize the crowd, so Best Buy employees decided to give out the vouchers for their units right then instead of the next morning.

Friday, Nov. 17

While waiting in freezing temperatures outside Fred Meyer at 6:30 a.m., I look down the line and see a few faces from last night who are also enduring the cold for a last chance at a PS3. Here, as at Wal-Mart, most of the crowd wasn’t crazy about gaming, just money. After handing out tickets, everyone is ushered into the electronics department, where the drawing takes place and winners immediately buy their prize. When the first winner happily announced his intention to auction off his unit on eBay, the boos and hisses that came from some scattered members of the crowd showed that true gamers were indeed present.

It’s a small consolation, but after going through more than 100 pages of PS3 auctions on eBay that night, there were only a handful of legitimate bids. Most of the scalpers in those pages set the starting bid at $3,000-$5,000, but the bids that came in were obviously not real; bids would jump suddenly by thousands – and occasionally millions – of dollars, but only on auctions without a set buy-it-now price, and some winning bidders had no history of feedback. Going to various gaming forums, many upset gamers openly admitted to placing many false bids, despite the impact it might have on their eBay rating.

One poster said, “I will bet on every single PS3 auction, say ... $3,000.”

A particular auction’s bid history had a bidder who kept making high bids and then retracting it within an hour, saying it was a mistaken amount, only to repeat it and retract it continually over the course of the day.

Real auctions were taking place once the price got to $1,200 or lower, and by Monday that was around page 50. If the few hundreds of dollars is worth all the hassle, the opportunists will probably strike again, but more than half of the PS3s up for bid were only about $50-$100 over retail. If the scalpers were paying attention, they would have seen the exact same pattern after the launch of the system in Japan the week before. Non-gamers bought up available supplies and tried to inflate the market, only to have it come crashing back to earth within a couple of days.

But as I stood in line hearing others’ numbers come up, I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to wait a little longer for Sony’s console. But maybe I could still get a Nintendo Wii.

Saturday, Nov. 18

With no reported supply shortages and less hype than the PS3, I thought getting Nintendo’s innovative new console wouldn’t be as difficult. Fred Meyer held a midnight opening, and when I arrived at 11:30 p.m. a line of about 200 people had already formed outside. It was 20 degrees and I wasn’t properly prepared for such a line. Most people weren’t, as many were jogging in place and huddling in groups for warmth. The air was much more excited than at the PS3 events, maybe because everyone knew they had a much better chance at getting one, or maybe because there were more real gamers. Jokes about the console’s name ran down the line (“Is this the line for the bathroom? I heard people say they had to take a Wii.”) and after a few of the more popular Wii jokes were told, someone exhaustedly said, “This is going to be a long year.” Employees on both sides of me were yelling back and forth, apparently not sure if it was first-come first-serve or lottery-style.

Despite the large number of people who sat in their cars and then cut into the middle of the line, it was a first-come event. In case there was a lottery, some people came in groups but only wanted one console. Yet, despite having 79 units available, the line was cut off about 20 people in front of me, leaving me without anything to show for my last three days of effort.

Well, at least I do have two next-generation games; I’ll just have to wait a while to review them.

Couldn't get a Wii either

Fred Meyer had 79 units available on a first-come, first-served basis. I showed up at 11:30 thinking it wouldn't be as bad as it was for PS3. There were already 200 people in line. Some were family groups that only wanted one Wii, but they still ran out about 20 people ahead of me. This is just sad.

I hope PS3 scalpers get shafted

I waited at two different stores yesterday and this morning for a chance at a PS3, and of course didn't get one. I wouldn't have even minded so much except that nearly everyone who won a PS3 in the stores' raffles would proudly exclaim that they didn't even want it, they just wanted to jack up the price and sell it on eBay. This is capitalism at its worst. And all the reports about shootings and robberies at game stores and PS3 waiting lines will be characterized as "look at how insane hardcore gamers are" when the only people to do such things are after the big sell! No gamer would rob a GameStop of all its PS3s or rob a line of waiting gamers at gunpoint. The most responsible thing true gamers can do is not buy ANY PS3s for over retail. That's the only way to show the greedy opportunists that we're not going to let them ruin things for the rest of us.

Video Game Review: Final Fantasy XII

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Nov. 14, 2006

After 12 volumes (not counting sequels, side stories or spinoffs), the Final Fantasy series continues to be the high standard that all RPGs aspire to. “Final Fantasy XII,” like all the central Final Fantasy games, is a stand-alone story unrelated to all the rest. Common story themes, game mechanics, general names and creatures tie them together somewhat, but what really makes a Final Fantasy game is its epic story. The small kingdom of Dalmasca, caught between two large warring kingdoms, is soon overtaken by Archadia. Dalmasca’s king is seen being assassinated by its own captain of the knights and its princess is said to have killed herself. Two years later, players start as an idealistic young man named Vaan, who wants to restore Dalmasca’s dignity and get out from under the Archadian Empire, while also looking for the traitor who killed his brother at the same time as the king. The epic story expands from there.

“Final Fantasy XII” has one of the most straightforward and compelling stories since VI (III when it came out in America, not to be confused with the upcoming III for Nintendo DS), with fallen kingdoms and conquering empires being more relatable than the near-undecipherable world of VIII. Along with the more grounded plot, deep and complex characters with excellent voice acting make it an ensemble cast without an already-defined main character, also going back to the strengths of VI. Parties can contain up to three characters, who can be swapped at any time. So if a character dies in battle, another one can immediately fill the vacant slot. This provides a good incentive to develop and use all the characters, and keep them at similar levels.

Combat is no longer random battles, but a refined MMO-style that’s completely customizable based on personal preference – it can be turn based or active time, with direct control of the whole party or the use of gambits. Gambits are the most interesting new feature in XII, allowing for characters to have individualized responses to a variety of specific situations, meaning players can custom-program the artificial intelligence of their party members. Playing with gambits is also very MMO-like, as the other party members will act on their own alongside the player’s character. But, unlike massively multiplayer online games, players can regain direct control of a party member at any time, for those times when a complex strategy is needed. Battles are fast and smooth, and random battles are not missed at all.

What doesn’t work as well is the new license board used to improve characters’ skills.

Some of the Final Fantasy games use a job-class system (which is always excellent), but others use more confusing systems like the materia, junction system or sphere grid systems. The license board allows any character to potentially use any skill as long as they hold the correct license and that ability has been purchased. Besides essentially adding an extra step to gaining abilities, the board layout requires some abilities to be purchased before others, but many times the skills are unrelated to the skill that character is trying to learn and license points are just wasted. If enough license points are acquired throughout the game, every ability could be open to every character. While it’s good to give players a lot of freedom in what types of skills their characters devolop, it ends up taking away from the characters’ individuality during battles by making their skills generically interchangeable. Of course, that wouldn’t even be a concern in any other RPG, but “Final Fantasy XII” gives its characters so much personallity during the story aspect that it’s a shame to see that lost during battles.

It’s a minor gripe, though, in a masterpiece of a game.


“Final Fantasy XII” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Square Enix
For PlayStation 2
Release date: Oct. 31, 2006
Genres: RPG

Anime Review: Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid: Vol. 1

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Nov. 14, 2006

One of the more accessible and successful anime series in the U.S., “Full Metal Panic!” has an excellent blend of action, comedy and drama. “Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid” is a 13-episode follow up to the original “Full Metal Panic!”, a 26-episode series combining military robot action with the comedic attempts of Sousuke Sagara as he tries to blend in with high school life. His undercover mission is to protect Kaname Chidori, an often-hostile girl who has special subconscious knowledge of “Black Technology,” which is sought after by the terrorist organization Amalgam. Sousuke, who grew up as a mercenary and now works for the secret paramilitary agency Mithril, is combat trained but socially clueless. Most of the humor comes from the deadpan military attitude with which he approaches every situation, Kaname’s exasperation at his tactics and her love/hate relationship with him.

“Full Metal Panic!” was followed up by “Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu,” a purely comedic series that stepped away from the main storyline. “Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid” comes back to the main story and adds the action and drama from the first series back in, making it a true sequel.

Volume one reintroduces the characters along with the new mysterious madman Gates and his twin assassins Xia Lu Lan and Xia Lu Fan. Even without watching the first shows, the story is easy to get into. “The Second Raid” has a slightly darker tone than the original, the scenes with the assassins in particular. The first volume sets up a lot of the new conflicts and serves as a good intro to the continuing story. The animation is very high quality and the action is fluid and gorgeous. The DVD is also loaded with special features, a rarity for anime, including audio commentary for all episodes.

“Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid” is about as mainstream as anime gets.Fortunately, it’s also really good.

"Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid: Vol. 1" ★ ★ ★ ★½
U.S. Release: FUNimation/ADV Films
Animation: Kyoto Animation
Release date: Nov. 14, 2006
Genres: Action, comedy, drama, mecha, romance

Anime Review: Noein - to your other self: Vol. 1

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Oct. 31, 2006

"Noein” is an interesting mixture of adolescent comedy/drama with surreal sci-fi action and mystery. Haruka is a girl just going about her everyday life, enjoying a final summer break with her friends before one of them, Yuu Karasu, leaves for a prestigious Tokyo middle school. Yuu’s mother, however, won’t let Yuu spend time with his friends but wants him to study hard to ensure his school admission. In the background of this normal drama, a group of strange travelers in cloaks literally appear out of nowhere with glowing cords attached to their backs – leading back to another dimension – looking for the Dragon Torque. Haruka soon encounters two of these hunters, who fight over her using incredible powers, claiming she is the Dragon Torque. When Yuu tries to come to Haruka’s rescue, one of the figures reveals that he is the Yuu Karasu of his dimension, corresponding to this dimension’s future.

The sci-fi multi-dimensional plot of the show is revealed slowly, so the viewer might be lost trying to understand everything that’s going on at first. In the five episodes on volume one, the story nicely balances the sci-fi elements with the normalcy of Haruka and her friends. The contrast between the two worlds helps viewers feel how jarring things are for Haruka when strange things start to happen to her.

The art is fairly simple but fluid, even having a sketch-like quality during certain times of intensity that serves the action well. Computer effects are used heavily but are integrated expertly into the animation and again draw a nice contrast between the normal and sci-fi aspects.

With its juxtaposition of styles and intriguing story, “Noein” is far from a standard action or sci-fi series. It’s a welcome treat to those looking for something different.

"Noein - to your other self: Vol. 1" ★ ★ ★ ★
U.S. Release: Manga Entertainment
Release date: Oct. 17, 2006
Genres: Drama, sci-fi

Video games, virtual reality are newest options for business, education

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Oct. 31, 2006

Even though the mainstream press and politicians act as if video games like “Grand Theft Auto” and “Bully” are indicative of the entire medium, some forward thinkers are starting to think of video games in fascinating new ways.

Technically, the massively multiplayer online Second Life is not a game, per se, as there are no goals, points or quests to complete. Similar to the popular game “The Sims,” Second Life is more about the everyday business of life. The difference is that the business in Second Life is real, with millions of real dollars traded every week. The news agency Reuters even recently opened up a virtual news bureau inside of the game world, with a staff member paid to log onto the game at set times and keep virtual office hours. From virtual business meetings in custom-built virtual meeting rooms (with real-life video conferencers interacting with virtual avatars) to a virtual clothing store that allows avatars (with real-life measurements) to try on and buy actual outfits, Second Life is poised to become the virtual reality that was imagined when the term was first coined.

Wal-Mart, American Express and Intel are looking into using Second Life for corporate training, according to a September 2006 “Popular Science” article. A basic Second Life account is free, and players don’t have to be businessmen – flying, teleportation and nearly anything one can imagine or create is possible in this virtual playground. The site’s creator even hopes that the social aspects of his online community will be like a living MySpace.

On the education front, a year-long study by the Federation of American Scientists concluded that the addictive nature of video games could be used to create new video game learning tools for schools, according to an Oct. 17 Associated Press article. The group called for federal research into the potential of video game learning.

While educational games don’t usually sell well, “Brain Age” for Nintendo DS has been a huge seller – and it’s basically just math and reading mini-games. And if role-playing gamers can memorize all the monster and item names, strengths, and stats, just think if a game used real chemistry and science. Gamers would learn without even realizing it.

Aircraft pilot trainers and even the Army have been using games for years to teach skills that directly apply to real-world applications. Perhaps very soon, playing hours of video games won’t be a sign of a slacker but of an overachiever. Of course, if it really is that easy to learn from games, those disturbed over “Grand Theft Auto” might have a legitimate concern. Then again, school-sanctioned sports have been teaching violent and competitive activities to students for years, so maybe a college “Halo 3” team isn’t beyond possibility. Thanks to Second Life, neither is a virtual classroom.

Blogging gets writers noticed by manga, book publishers

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Oct. 10, 2006

A Japanese man who regularly went online to write a daily blog about his domineering wife has now earned the equivalent of more than $300,000 for two book deals, as well as a manga, TV series, movie and video game, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal.

The “Demon Wife Diaries” is not unique either. The same article goes on to say that Japanese publishing firms scour the Internet for original content, and more than 300 books based on personal writings have been published in Japan since 2004. It’s estimated that about 1 in every 5 people in Japan read blogs and a person in Japan is far more likely to maintain a blog than a person in America.

“Densha Otoko” (“Train Man”) is another popular Japanese property based on conversations on an internet forum. What started out as people giving advice to a nerdy guy over the Internet is now a multimillion dollar, international story that’s generated over a $1,000,000 in royalties for the anonymous poster and the forum moderator. It became a book, manga, TV series and top-grossing movie. The author credited as creating “Densha Otoko” is named Hitori Nakano, a pseudonym meaning “one of those people,” according to Anime News Network. There are a couple of manga versions available in English, and the movie showed in New York at the end of September. The movie is scheduled to be out in the U.S. on DVD in January.

For anyone interested in writing, blogging is becoming the best way to get noticed. Because people from anywhere can instantly read blog postings, it can be as effective – and much less expensive – than trying to self-publish work in print. Of course, it most likely will not become a huge multi-medium hit, but at the very least blogging helps writers express themselves, hone their craft and have something creative to show prospective publishers when they prepare to turn writing into a career.

You never know, though — maybe your blog will be the one that brings the trend of blog books to the U.S.

Anime Review: Basilisk: The Spoils of War (Vol. 2)

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Oct. 10, 2006

The second volume of “Basilisk” begins with the Iga clan at an advantage over the Kouga clan – only the Iga know the uneasy truce between the clans is over. The top 10 ninja from each clan are on a hit list to determine the next shogun, and several Kouga have already been crossed off. As the battle between clans escalates, the fighting gets more brutal, although star-crossed lovers Gennosuke and Oboro remain blissfully unaware of the fighting while they stay in the Iga compound.

Many more characters are introduced – and more get crossed off the list – but this volume does an excellent job of fleshing out the members from both sides. It’s not good ninja versus bad ninja, but two warring clans that are more alike than they would ever acknowledge. When one of the main ninja from either side are killed, viewers will feel sympathetic.

The animation is still excellent, and the music adds to the dark mood and action without overpowering the scenes. While the mature content isn’t gratuitous, it is more intense than the last volume and might be best kept away from younger ones.
By the end of the volume, neither side is shown to be virtuous, and no matter which side wins, it will be a tragedy. In not choosing sides, “Basilisk” shows just how destructive and hurtful war can be. What affect it will have on Gennosuke and Oboro remains to be seen, although it looks like they will get personally involved in the next volume, which is sure to shake things up.


"Basilisk: The Spoils of War (Vol. 2)" ★ ★ ★ ★
U.S. Release: FUNimation
Animation: Gonzo
Release date: Sept. 26, 2006
Genres: Romance, historical, action, drama

Graphics may not matter in next video game console war

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Sept. 26, 2006

The thought among video gamers used to be that better graphics meant a better game, but that notion will be tested in the coming months as the three video game systems of the next generation will finally go head to head.

While the Microsoft-made Xbox 360 was released last year, sales of the system in Japan are terrible, selling only 158,000 units so far, according to a recent AP article. By comparison, in 2000 the PlayStation 2 sold almost a million units in Japan within the first two days. Later this year, Japan-based Sony and Nintendo are set to release their respective PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles, but both have totally different strategies to win over gamers.

To try to keep up with the PlayStation 3’s Blu-Ray technology, Microsoft will be putting out an HD DVD upgrade for their system, bringing their total Xbox 360 package to essentially the same price as Sony’s system. Both Sony and Microsoft are counting on gamers to spend a lot of money to acquire the latest cutting-edge game technology.

Nintendo, on the other hand, is foregoing graphics power to make a low-cost system that boasts new levels of interactivity. Of course, Sony then announced that the PlayStation 3 will also have a motion-sensing controller, but Sony’s main sales point will still be the system’s power. Nintendo is counting on gamers wanting games that are simply fun to play and appropriate for families and parties.

While gamers will always want better graphics and physics – as evidenced by PC gamers willing to pay thousands of dollars for the newest graphic systems – there is a growing trend toward games that are quick, interactive and fun. The immersive, time-eating online games will start fading away as the number of Massively Multiplayer Online games dilutes the online player base, leaving only a few standout titles, like “World of Warcraft,” with anything close to a massive audience.

Meanwhile, cutting-edge systems like the handheld PSP are being used by hardcore gamers as emulators to play old NES games and arcade classics. Even on PlayStation 2, interactive games, like “Guitar Hero,” “Dance Dance Revolution” and “Karaoke Revolution” are finding bigger audiences than most generic action adventure titles that only have graphics as a selling point. Even the Xbox 360’s Live Arcade was talked about more than its launch titles.

As video games become more mainstream, we can expect this trend to continue. Fewer gamers will be couch-bound loners who want to spend 10 hours a day in a game world, but more will be groups of friends and families who want games anyone can just pick up and play together, whether online or off.

There will still be a large market for the “Final Fantasy” and “Halo” games, but the classically fun games are making a comeback. The future of video game design depends a lot on which side wins the upcoming console war: the graphics or the fun. Gamers can only hope that companies find a way for games to have both.

Anime Review: Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conquer of Shambala

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Sept. 26, 2006

While only those who’ve seen the entire 51-episode “Fullmetal Alchemist” series will get all the references, connections and relationships in the movie, it is set up to be somewhat accessible to newcomers. Naturally, the movie can’t have the same depth and philosophical musings as the series, which is an outstandingly good show, by the way. It is very different from the bulk of the series, since it connects directly to the series’ end, which changed a lot of what was usual for the show. Despite the tie in to the series, the story acts as a stand-alone adventure, establishing new characters and conflicts. The movie can serve as either an introduction to the “Fullmetal Alchemist” world or as an extra chapter to the show that ties up a few loose ends in a very satisfying way.

It’s difficult to describe the plot without giving away the whole series, but it essentially is about two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric. Ed is stranded on a parallel world, that of our 1930s Germany, where his skills in alchemy don’t work. Al, in the meantime, is improving his alchemy in an effort to find a way to bring Ed home. As in the series, their relationship, even when separated, forms the emotional core of “Fullmetal Alchemist” and provides most of the brothers’ motivations.

“Conquer of Shambala” will be most appreciated by those who love the show; those who haven’t seen “Fullmetal Alchemist” before might be a little lost, but it’s still good fun – and if it leads one to watch the series, better yet.

"Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conquer of Shambala" ★ ★ ★ ★½
U.S. Release: FUNimation
Animation: BONES
Release date: Sept. 12, 2006
Genres: Adventure, historical, sci-fi, drama

Anime Review: Basilisk: Vol. 1

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Sept. 26, 2006

“Basilisk” takes the familiar concept of two people in love from feuding families and adds ninjas with special individualized powers clashing in bloody battles. The lovers introduced in the first episode meet a tragic fate at each other’s hands after their families’ feud makes them spend their lives separated and at war, but their two grandchildren want to end the animosity and get married. However, unbeknownst to them, the top 10 ninjas from the two clans are put on a hit list, and whichever clan survives longest decides the next shogun.

The character designs give a very different look, almost a caricature, to each of the ninjas; one is limbless and moves like a snake, another is nearly round and can blow himself up like a balloon, one moves like a spider and so on. As odd and over-the-top as most of the ninja fighters are, the love story is handled with much more realism and subtlety. Whether or not their love can avoid the tragic path their grandparents took is as interesting as the actual war between the clans.

By the end of the first volume of “Basilisk,” the two lovers are still unaware that their clans are actively fighting, but several ninjas have already been crossed off the list – and some of those who get killed are surprising. With period romance, fluid action/animation and bloody battles, “Basilisk” has a lot to offer those who are looking for a serious drama (with super ninjas).

"Basilisk: Vol. 1" ★ ★ ★ ★
U.S. Release: FUNimation
Animation: Gonzo
Release date: Aug. 8, 2006
Genres: Romance, historical, action, drama

Video Game Review: Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Sept. 12, 2006

Although “Disgaea 2” is a sequel, no knowledge of the first game is really needed; the story starts with new characters and story. The game belongs to a small subgenre of role-playing games often called tactical or strategy RPGs.

Tactics games are more like super chess – they are turn-based and played on a grid, with certain movement, attack and defense values for each character. This game allows for hundreds of possible characters, with any 10 of them brought onto any stage. In this game, items as well as characters can be leveled up. The Item World adds up to 100 randomly-generated levels for each item one can ever acquire, and each completed level raises the item’s power. Because exits are every 10 levels and players can’t revive any of their 10 chosen characters who might have fallen in battle between levels, Item World is more challenging than the game’s main story.

“Disgaea 2” has quirky characters and a unique sense of humor, but the sprite-based characters and somewhat clunky camera view make the game feel dated.

Good tactical RPGs are a rarity, and lovers of the genre could spend many, many hours playing “Disgaea 2,” especially if they haven’t already experienced the game’s features in the original “Disgaea.” Those who don’t get excited just hearing about item leveling probably won’t enjoy this game.


“Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories” ★ ★ ★ ½
Nippon Ichi Software
Release date: Aug. 31, 2006
Genres: Strategy RPG

Anime Review: Shakugan no Shana: Vol. 1

As printed in The Northern Light newspaper
Sept. 12, 2006

Originally a series of light novels, “Shakugan no Shana” (roughly, “Shana of the Burning Eyes”) offers a nice change from the standard action and romantic comedies that fill the shelves.

Despite its crisp lines and smooth animation, volume one of “Shakugan no Shana” has a melancholy tinge that comes from the show’s premise: People’s very existences – not just their lives, but everyone else’s memory of that person and everything they did – are being destroyed and devoured by beings from the “Crimson World,” another dimension of sorts. Those devoured, including protagonist Yuji Sakai, are replaced by “Torches,” flickers of life made of residue from the original person. Torches provide stability by letting that person’s existence disappear gradually, so no one even notices, except for Yuji, who doesn’t seem to be fading as he should.

He meets someone who fights the Denizens of the Crimson World, the titular girl he names Shana, and the story starts from there.

More mature and a little darker than most adventure series that stay around a PG-13ish rating, “Shakugan no Shana” is engrossing and shows promise for great action and drama in upcoming volumes.

“Shakugan no Shana: Vol. 1” ★ ★ ★ ★
U.S. Release: Geneon Entertainment
Release date: Sept. 5, 2006
Genres: Drama, fantasy, action, romance