• 7Jul 09

  Japanophilia

  Even though no one reads my blog I still feel the need to stain the internet some more with pointless rants.
  
  Now it seems no other media has issues with "Japanophilia", the love of Japanese culture than gaming, mostly due to two of the three companies being Japanese and thus there being more Japanese games who as we know love to inject their own into their games. Now of course I am aware of games made in Japan that don't do this like the WWE series, but they aren't considered "Japanese". However the term "Japanophilia" was first used for those who enjoyed the authentic Japanese culture, you know? Culture you preserve and is the foundation of one's modern society? NOT, repeat NOT popular culture. What is considered Japanese culture is nothing more than culture in another country since many things apart of Japanese pop culture, anime and manga being the obvious if not only major case are not only found but even produced in other countries. Sure it was invented there but is Scotland the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the television?
  
  Anyway the point is due to the wide circulation of this form of media has led to Japanese pop culture being the only major form people recognize and so have minor views on real Japanese culture... except misconceptions about "honor" despite like all ruthless leaders it was about power and power only... If you say otherwise try telling that to the Chinese!
  
  Now the most obvious Japanophiles are of course the cosplayers, those who dress like game and anime characters who themselves dress more flamboyantly than Mr. Gay Universe (thats not a prejudice comment, have you seen them!?). These people are fine however, its no different than hardcore comic fans or Trekkies. But there are those who aren't to smart in their blatant Japanophilia. Examples include defense toward aspects of Japanese culture that shouldn't be defended. The most obvious is the Yakuza. We don't like to talk about how well organized and trained people like the Taliban, Mafia, IRA and other violent gangs and organizations... but the Yakuza seem to be admired with the whole honor BS (again its power, sugarcoated). Murder, thievery, trafficking, territorial gain etc... man with honor eh?
  
  The second example is racism... the fact being its all good to call your own fellow country men as bigots, despite in my home country, UK if there was ever a sign that said British/whites... I can't begin to describe the follow storm... but they DO it in Japan still. Hmmm... Did anyone know that? Now here in the UK the Germans get a lot of stick for the Second World War but the Japanese don't and of course try telling that to the Chinese. Maybe they do in America where most readers here are from and thus had a bigger score to settle, I don't know but its something to think about... I'm not calling the Japanese people any more racist than the UK, US etc but how come it seems to fly?
  
  Now lets get my biggest issue out of the way and keep in mind this is entirely my own opinion, pop culture in games. JRPGs have become they're own sub genre, and I think its due to their style. I mean the gameplay mechanics like heavy scripting and turn based cinematic combat are used in many western made games but aren't called JRPGs and of course RPGs that are made in Japan but don't have those features. Since a lot of this J-pop culture is found in this genre, the prevent becoming Final Fansty clone No. 48953, which many already are over there the setting is changed. Heres an example, in Bladestorm that is set during the Anglo-French 100 years war, the Japanese voice option according to reviews is the better option. Sure its bad voice acting but its more believable than Joan of Arc speaking modern Japanese (although this is the same game with elephants and ninjas...). The next example is Valkyria Chronicles that while fictional in its setting is clearly based of the world wars centered in Europe... but still has oddly dressed and blatant oriental looking characters (with the nation based off being against the Japanese in real life BTW)... why can't they explore other cultures? The Americans, despite all the guff they get over being narrow minded from other nations and the extreme left, in all honesty adopt more aspects of other cultures than most nations.
  
  TO BE CONTINUED, MORE COMING SOON (UNFORTUNATELY)...
  • Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:52 pm PT
  • Category: Rant
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• 10Apr 09

  Recent Wii games line-up

  I don't own any of the games I first got when I got my Wii (for one hell of a price), not including Wii Sports of course since thats bundled in. I've completed and sold them, although I have re-bought Super Mario Galaxy since that was sold for financial reasons. Anyway for a long time all I owned was Mario Kart, Brawl and a Godzilla game that I maintain is NOT BROKEN!!! Aaaanyway... recently I've picked up House of the Dead: Overkill, Deadly Creatures and MadWorld in one month... so of course I do think the Wii has potential but it really needs more creative concepts, I mean another game I recently got, Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars which critics thought was alright but not great was actually a great concept with very good mechanics.
  
  So the Wii has become fun for me as a hardcore but not fanboyish about Nintendo gamer but thats it? All my other systems have much larger collections...
  • Posted Apr 10, 2009 6:05 pm PT
  • Category: Games
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• 7Nov 08

  RTS Craft online

  I recently purchased the supposedly great "StarCraft", along with the corresponding expansion pack "Brood War". For someone who has played PC strategies from Myth to Total War, why has it taken me so long to play this named "classic", let alone now and making me put everything in "quotes"? Ignoring the later, the reason being previous buys. I didn't normally buy older games until I realised I still play Myth and Age of Empires because they're fun and graphical charming/artistically designed so I've recently gone back and started playing more. WarCraft III was first from Blizzard because I got it for free from a BOGOF offer and I played World of WarCraft. Now let me say WarCraft III is a great RTS title so naturally I would go beyond that and BAM, StarCraft. Now its a great titles, not as charming graphically and sounding as Age of Empires I and II but still great BUT I WILL NEVER PLAY ONLINE.
  
  I don't know how good I am against humans... maybe good because I'm (not bragging hopefully) excellent at many RTS and RTT games online. The reason being simply the lack of fun games I've heard about. If you play properly you play to win and win only or are Korean... and if not they use rush tactics IE Zerging... so why bother? Its far to competitive it seems now, like how China ruined pig pong... sorry if I'm sounding racist. I'm all for competitive games but to this extent... nah. I'll stick to offline and lan games... unless anyone wants to play plausibly then drop me a line.
  • Posted Nov 7, 2008 1:06 pm PT
  • Category: Rant
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