Pirate?

This extra entry from today came about when I was writting the earlier post. I mentioned something about pirated DVDs and just kept rambling about it, long enough for its on post, so...

Last NIght I watched Dan in real life, its a good movie, I mean is not hte best, but if you like The Office's Steve Carrell I bet you will like his acting in this movie a lot, I did and I think is worth going to the movies to see it, or rent it, jsut see it but not in a pirated way.

Even though I live next to the theater my girlfriend insisted in taking the car since it was rainy nigh, so I was worried we wont find parking and we would have to park almost the same distance or further than my house's walking distance to the theater. I was amazed, we found parking and, the line to buy the tickers was actaully empty along the theater hall, only like 20 people the most, including staff.
When we got to the room, it was empty except for a couple sitting in the middle, I was surprised it was opening night for this movie, I thought more people would come in to watch the movie, no one else did. So it was a good/weird experience. Many elements can contribute to this... a bad movie? bad weather? bad promotion... or getting a pirate version of the movie and watch it on the computer. Actually an ad ran talking about pirated movies, and it showcased a cliche dramatic sequence of how a parent gave bad example of buying a prated DVD... its lame but so true.. even though they over acted.

Fuck pirated DVDs and CDs, if you want a DVD or CD, buy it. People say is not stealing, riiight. Let me put it this way, if you steal a DVD or CD from a store, the artist don't get the respective royalty from that product (unless they have another distribution method), so if you rip a DVD or CD, yeah you might say you rather copy it than stealing...BUT yo uare not buying it, you get to enjoy the product without never buying it, meaning that the original product remains on the store shelf. You might think, oh well if I don't buy it, doesnt matter its only less than $20 they don't earn, but...BUT if hundreds, or thousands, or millions of people do the same... do the math... that is how much the original artist never earns... on his or her's hard worked CD or movie. It applys the same thing with video games, on my earlier blogs I talked about emulation (a program that palys ROM versions of the original game) and how I restric that emulation in only HARD TO FIND OR RARE consoles that are OBVIOUSLY OVER PRICED by rip off Ebay sellers (most of them dont even work they are sell AS IS) for the rest I rather buy it, and guess what I even enjoy it more, beacuse I earned it, I appreciate it. So, next time if you are on a store, and you think a DVD is over priced (cause yeah I agree they are), come back another day for a special or something, or look on the internet for better offers (because you can find better offers) but dont just copy it, that is being fucking cheap (unless is something so stupid that is not even worth buying, then again why you want something like that). By the way, people might say "OH how contradictory aa so called pirate talking agaisnt pirated products..." I'll say even pirates had a code of honor. So Fuck you, cheap bastard. ;)

Reviving the Nostalgia element!

This last couple of days I've done couple interesting things that haven't mentioned.

1- Beowulf = fucking great movie. If in high school you got the opportunity to read the Beowulf story, well this is it, only 18385% better. I read Dave Jaffe's (God of War original game director) blog and he is right, the movie uses elements of games such as God of War and Shadow of the Colossus. As a matter of fact that same weekend I watched the movie, I did fought against a boss in Shadow of the Colossus taht was a dragon look alike. The sequence was very similar, and the attack sequence something straight out of God of War. Its funny, games took inspiration form movies, now is backwards. If you have palyed this games before and you get to watch the movies...you will be surprised how similiar it is, for the rest of the public, you will think its groundbreaking, still good 3D, more interesting in story telling but not groundbreaking. Watch it in theaters, fuck pirated DVDs (this pirate theme motivated me to write an extra entry today).

2- Recorded vocals for La Virgen del Pozo (thrash band)= I recorded vovals for 3 songs of the band. It went pretty smooth there was like 10 people on the studio so it was kind of distracting and at a not so concentrated situation but it worked out. I liked the dynamic how everyone contributed and were into it, now I have 3 more songs left..I just need to write the lyrics.... again.

3- Item farming in Castlevania: Symphony of the night = Many people have played this game and just finished it, guess what?, I did that same thing months ago too. But thanks to my friend Jolge, I did enjoy the game 200% more. Why? He taught me the art of hunting for items all over the castle. It takes time, but the rewards is rather fun, actually I had more fun hunting for items than progressing into the game. Last night I finished the game without any efforts, since I had these amazing weapons that made the last boss Dracula a piece of cake. Now I can replay the game as 2 other characters or just continue using Alucard and keep hunting for more items, that will be interesting.

4- Back to Skate = Jolge had this urge to buy a skateboard, so I wnt with him to a store to help him get the right one, and he bought it. I think this is just amazing since I was gettig back into it too, but was losing hope in it recently, until now. I will get a skateboard preferably old school and start rip and shredding along wtih Jolge on the streets...of a neighborhood. Actually I was so motivated that when Jolge and I were talking in Messenger we did skateboarding art work, here was my best piece:


It shows me skate jumping into an abyss with a two hand Chaos Hammer about to Mortal Strike a Demon straight out of the gates of hell who kidnapped my girlfriend.... Beat that trick noob.

That is why this post is entitled Reviving the nostalgia element, I feel like I am back to middle school all over again, with a band, video games and skating, of course watching epic movies too. I love it, cause I am reliving one of the things I love in my life along with responsabilities as an "adult".

Well I guess thats pretty much it, besides an earthquake that happen yesterday and a reunion in Leo Burnett (which is an agency I sent a hateful email months ago). Keep posing.

Where we all were?

I need to be honest I used to hate facebook, in fact I don't totally agree with the website, because I think it puts a social pressure and addiction to some people who really need real friends outside the computer... but.. BUT... In my case and as many people too, it helped get in touch with people form the past. I graduated in 1999, and by that time only a couple of the people in my class had internet, not everyone, now years later we got the tools to easily get in touch with others, it is actually really interesting. This last couple days, I got in touch with many class mates from elmental, high school and college. Talking about high school, I wasnt that social thou, I was more of an outsider but yet everyone knew me and I knew everyone and I could talk to any of them without any trouble, I was like a person that didnt stick to a specific group of friends so in school that helped me to interact with every group of friends..but at the same time stay outside even though I was called a freak sometimes..yeah I am a punk. I know too complicated. But now, we are all getting in touch again and treating each other as a sole group. We all matured now..(well what mature really means?) well, now that we have more responsabilities we tend to appreciate the past, and remember those people that we went to school with. I mean damn, I spent easily 10 years of my life with many of them. But havent seen them in the last 8 years. A lot can happen in 8 years, a life time can happen in 8 years... short one but still. Many of us area proud parents which is cool and career wise, I dont know of it, I told them what I do on a group they formed in the networking website, but I'll see when I get to talk to them. I think a reaunion will be different, we all will look different, we all lived through many stuff that I think it wont be even worth it talking about. Just see each other, remember the past laugh about it and keep going on living our lives.

So, yeah I am using a website that I used to hate, at least Ill leave it that way just to find old classmates, old bandmates...old friends.

Gonna keep palying Castlevania Symphony of the Nights on the PSP... great game... got the runesword last night...after 2 hours of looking for it...now is PWONAGE time.
Noob.

Not Enough time.

Its been couple days since I have not put and entry here, maybe because I don't have enough time sometimes. Some people after work when they get to their houses they relax, some have other duties to do, but they relax later on. I get anxious. Why? Because there are so many things I need to do that when I get the opportunity to do them..they .. how can I explain it, I jsut cannot do them all at the same time (of course) but for an example, I need to finnish like 3 freelance, when I get off work I don not want to sit on my computer again and work, I rather play video games resting on my bed, or do exercise, or go to Borders, or go to hte movies, talk to my uncle about scary movies, watch some of my isolated Dvds, read, spend time with my girlfriend and so on. Maybe Ill get some time available cause I will be probably move in with my girlfriend, so she lives like 10 minutes closer where I work and Ill get a room for all my stuff. I dont know, I just dont have anough time, right now I am doing 3 things at the same time, lifting weights, playing Shadow of the Colossus and writting this, (I take turns while the game is paused). Actually I woke up today at 6am because there was something uncomfortable on my bed and it was the Playstation 2 controller, it happens that I fell asleep while trying to find a giant in the Shadow of the Colossus game, I hate when that happens. Christmas is almost over us, so that means I have vacations at the end of Decemeber, I need to talk to my boss JUST TO MAKE SURE those days are still on agenda. I am sure I wil get them I was suposed to take those vacations months ago, as in summer. Anyways gonna go to work. Mars Matrix is a cool game, I jsut keep playing it to get more scores for power ups, anywas fuck it.

I decorated the office

Well, I decorated the office without help on the first hour, and for the last couple minutes I got help of 2 co-workers who worked on the strings of the snow mans to hang. Here is some half assed pics.






Its funny how people are. When I was working on it I was ignored only to be told negative comments of how I might mess it up, or how I should be careful with my boots cause I was standing on the desks. After I finished it was oh it looks so pretty. Yeah, no thanks to you.

I wanna go home now. At least I will eat sushi tonight.

Why do I collect?

Why do I collect? It’s a question I ask myself when I found myself spending money on something that can be either found somewhere else digitally instead of its original condition. The answer is right there, “its original condition”. I only collect certain items from the following categories: video game consoles, video games, vinyl records and old toys. People might think that I collect any video game, or any console, but I already have a wanted list on my mind, even thou like I said earlier, nowadays you can find everything digitally on the internet, you can find music, games, emulators, well except toys since that is a physical thing, but still most of the things are immortalized on the computer, but still for me is not enough.

Vinyl records

I remember I did a writing about why I prefer Vinyl records over the other music like over a year ago, but I will review it again. First of all I am not dismissing the new technology and its advantages because in some ways it makes things easier, but those same advantages in a way are killing an aesthetic essence of the music taking away a important part of it.

I love Vinyl records because they are a work of art, is not the same downloading a digital album or just selected songs from it, than having the actual album in your hands were you can see all the artwork, its something physical you can see it, have it, feel it and even smell it. In a way, you learn to appreciate the album even more, if is digital you just listen to it (only certain songs) and that’s it.

I remember those days when I used to do mix tapes, I took songs from vinyl, radio and cd (those days CD-R didn’t exist) and made my perfect mix to take everywhere. That same mix tape would deteriorate through the years, making it have a personality like a living thing that aged with you, trust me I appreciate more mix tapes than a folder on my computer with mixed mp3s. It is interesting, when I started recording mix Cds, it was easier to make than mix tapes, but still I didn’t appreciate them as much, but just for couple years later people started getting the IPod or Mp3 Players and everything changed. Like I said, you can buy albums on the internet, and not even that, people sometimes just download couple songs or just the main songs and that’s it. There will be a point were artist won’t bother on making extra music for an album because people think of them as fillers; “if it wasn’t a hit or doesn’t have a video it sucks” they might say. An album is not just songs, it’s a whole piece of artwork that involves planning a theme for it, photo shoot, graphic design, lyrics layout, packaging everything. People are overlooking that now, and a generation is growing up not really appreciating it.

That is why I collect vinyl, every time I put a record I enjoy it, knowing that I had to browse for it from the box, take it out, look at the artwork, carefully slide the record out, put it on the turntable, let it roll then putting the needle on top of it, and hear the audio noise that sound like Rice Krispies, until the music starts… and yes it’s true it sounds better than digital stuff.
Of course I don’t collect any vinyl just because it is vinyl, I mainly collect Hardcore, Punk, Thrash, Crust, extreme music in other words. People might think that vinyl is only for old bands, but most of the vinyl I have comes from current bands that they rather prefer release their material on vinyl instead of CDs. But yes I do some gems likes the Danzig I and II original pressings, along with the 3 SAMHAIN albums original pressings, I know if I sold those records in a bundle I might get couple hundred dollars. Getting vinyl records like that is not easy, sometimes is necessary to invest on the bidding to get what you want, even thou the same music is a download way, is not the same. Actually one of the SAMHAIN records got the guitars redone so is not original, the only original mix was found on the record I managed to get on Ebay, so that is good I guess.

Video games and consoles

Yes, I know the existence of emulators but still…; I say that because that’s the response I give when I tell someone I am trying to get an specific game from a certain console from the past and they just say “Why do that if you can download it?”.

Well again, yes I know I can download emulators and I’ve done it but emulation is not a perfect technology. The pros of playing games using an emulator on the computer for me is: The possibility of Net play, the option of saving game positions, the easy access of most of the games from different consoles, and that you can take it anywhere that there is a computer. The cons for me are the same as the Pros. For an example, saving the game position is an advantage, but takes away the challenge of the game, taking away the use of lives, because if you lose instead of losing a life you just load the saved position and start it again, which makes it easy to beat. Also the graphics, sound might not be the same in many cases. Trust me I do use emulators to this day but I only use 3 of them for the following reasons:
1- MAME because it’s the emulator for arcade games and getting the real arcade card and cabinet is really expensive and needs work too, so is out of the question.
2- Magic Engine (Pc Engine emulator aka Turbo Duo) Most of the actual consoles are over hundred dollars and are from Japan and I usually don’t trust the shipping and the time it takes, also the games for it tend to be very expensive for the short play they have. The only reason that got me close to get one was for the Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, I managed to get a real copy of the game from a friend, (which I played it with the emulator), but since the game was released in the Castlevania Dracula X chronicles wasn’t necessary, also considering the game was almost $300.
3- Neo geo emulator, same as the Pc Engine, but the games are worth it since they are arcade quality. But then again, high price and import from Japan to get the best shipping possible you will need to invest in $70 extra, unless I am rich or a real hardcore collector yeah, but not yet.


For the rest of the video games and its systems I rather get the original stuff, get the console and then hunt for the game, it is actually a fun thing to do. Everything started when I remembered one of the things that motivated me years ago to do extreme inline skating, and that game was Skitchin, then that game triggered many more memories, then I downloaded a Genesis Emulator and the game itself but didn’t work properly so I thought how hard it would be to find the real thing, so I happen to encounter in Ebay a Sega Genesis Bundle that had the console and couple games and among the games was Skitchin and one of my all time favorites Streets of Rage 2 and everything for less than $40, so it was a great deal. After that I started searching for many video game consoles that I always wanted but never had the opportunity to have when I was a kid. Many people will disagree with me saying that still is the same as playing an emulator, but other differences can be pointed like the control pad are designed uniquely for each system, some games can’t be emulated at all so you have to get the real thing, also I spend most of my day working on a computer, and the last thing I want is to get home and entertain myself with my computer, with a TV, at least I can lay on bed and the screen is bigger and less harmful to my eyes and the game resolution and colors are how it meant to be. Again is the same reason in comparing an MP3 with a vinyl record, you are missing the whole experience, and you learn to appreciate the game even more when you know all the hassle you went thru to get it.

Currently this were I spend of my most collecting time into, browsing good deals on Ebay, constantly checking the Play n Trade store for any new/old arrivals to get for the cheapest price possible, its cool because were I live many gamers don’t know the real value of some games, and they just give them away for trade in stores without knowing they could’ve sell that game in Ebay for like hundreds. Sometimes still is hard for me to get some games. Right now I have around 10 video game systems most of them from the last generations (even thou the PS2 and PSP are considered current gen): a Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Atari Jaguar, Panasonic 3D0, Gameboy SP, PS2 and PSP. Most of the games I won on each system are sought by collectors and are rare to find, some day I’ll make lots of money when I happen to sell them. Collecting is addictive indeed, like stripping.

Toys

Well my toy collection is rather poor, but I am concentrating on getting toys from the 80’s and early 90’s I think the most entertaining toys are from that era, I just collecting for nostalgic purposes and use them as decoration. Some people buy paintings or pictures, other sculptures, and other people use modeled figures of characters, I use old toys. My favorite is Captain Power, I liked the show and its action figures resemble the essence of the show. My most precious toy is Steve Irwin Crocodile hunter still brand new on the box. Some day I will start collecting more toys..actually I think I will start now.

Video game hunting: Search and Acquire

Since thrusday I've done lot of things like I said I will do on my earlier post, I did went to a Mima show, she is like this Fionna Apple singer that mixes also some reggae stuff into her charismatic music. I am not a fan but still, respect what she does. Besides that, on friday I was finishing some divorce stuff, everything went smooth, I mean I'll do a post about it, because it was all a postive experience, no one is mad at each other it was just a mutual decision, that happens when you realize in the long run that you married to a predon totally different than you, and then both people realize it and decide to keep goin on with the lives. After all each of us have already different partners. ANYWAYS during the weekend I did some other stuff and others I couldn't but one of them wasn't on my plans, it just happend; I got to do some console and video game investment again.

ON my way on the highway to the country house with my family I got a call from the Play n Trade video game store, telling me that they got a Sega Dreamcast for $40 (of course I had to detour, I deceived them taking them to Marshalls); I mean the Dreamcast is not that old, but is hard to find, I know I've seen it in new conditions on a pharmacy like 2 hours away from here, but the price is well over $260, so I am like ...well I won't buy it. So, I told the store that whenever a Dreamcast arrives to call me, actually I was the third on the list but since I know the guy on the counter Randy, he called me fiert so in less than 30 minutes I was there ready to buy it. The thing is, right now I am collecting video game consoles, not current ones, but former ones, right now I have a: PS2 (I still play psone titles on it), Gamecube, Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Atari Jaguar, 3DO (still need to fix it all right), Sega Saturn and well besides my Gameboy SP and PSP that is pretty much it. People say I could play many of those console games on Emulators, but still is not the same experience, I am even so serious about it that I did a 2 part story on the newspaper talking about it. Here is the links to the web version of the story which is in spansih:

Part 1: Emulando tu Diversion

Part 2: Emulando tu diversion 2

Maybe one day I'll do an english version of it, becuase I do talk about some interesting issues like were the line draws regarding collecting and emulating.
Anyways, going back to the Play n Trade store where I got the Dreamcast, I also found 2 other jewels by accident. Saturn Bomberman and Mars Matrix for Dreamcast. I've been looking for Saturns Bomberman for quite sometime now, this version of Bomberman is classified as the best yet and its over 10 years old. Its a game sought by many video game collectors as I. The game in Ebay is around $50 (THE CHEAPEST) and that doesn't include shipping and handling that some sellers put like $10 extra or even more! Actually I jsut looked and there is a cheaper one around $25 plus shipping, but it is from Japan so is not that trust worthy. That means, to get that game you need to invest time and money to get it, so for me it was shocking, going to Play n Trade looking for the Dreamcast I was promised when suddenly I saw on the display a pack of Sega Saturn Games and there it was... Saturn Bomberman as new, I had to interrupt the guy and said.. HOw much is it?.. he said $2.99. ..... I can't even explain... I jsut love this store and ignorance from the person that gave it to the store. If that person sold that game on Ebay he could've gotten over $30 easily but instead, I got it for $3 plus tax. So right now I have a collectors game actually sitting on my bed cause I was reading the date to write it on the blog. And it is like new. Anyways, the other copy I got like I said earlier was Mars Matrix, this is one the ost entertaining Shoot em Ups I ever played. I did played the game on MAME but is not as fun on a console where you get limited credits plus other features to enhance the gameplay durability, like using your score points to go to an ingame shop and buy, lives, credits, speed, levels, graphics etc. The game is really fun, actually I was playing it and now it is on the menu screen as I write this. The price for this game was the same one as Ebay minus the shipping, so I think it is all right, it is worh it.

I love this old ivdeo game consoles they work as checkpoints of my past, even thou I didnt even owned any of them (All I had back then was a Nintendo, Super Nintendo and Playstation) they were on the magazines I read, and I did wanted them at the time but didn't have the money. Now I do, So I am getting many of them when I can. Still, I put prices for the consoles that I am looking for, as an example I wouldn't pay more than $100 for a Dreamcast (luckily I found mine for way less than that), or I wouldnt pay more than $40 for a original Nintendo, so I just wait (still waiting actually), until I find the right price and then I acquire it. Now, things will get tigher on my budget so Ill be more cautious when collecting the video games. But still I have over 100 titles here to play in the mean time. Some day Ill write a blog more in deph regarding the video game collecting, since there are some real HARDCORE video game collectors in the world. Well thats it for now..fuck I am late for work.