BE MY VALENTINE...

It's Valentines Day! That time of year where you show appreciation of the one you love more so than any other day...

...so why not take a guide from the Pumpking to score in the ways of love?

Late to the Party about a Defining Moment...

So the thing with the Fine Bros has bled in to my videos now...well, let's have a chat...

The Fascinating Rise (and possibly Fall) of the Fine Brothers

Wow, woe is to be the Brothers of the Fine. There's a part of me that wishes to feel sorry for them but the more I see, the more I can't help be entertained.

Ok, first off, I won't say I know all the ins and outs of the story as the Fine Bros are not my biggest of priorities on my subscribers list. If anything, I HATE reaction videos.

I have never understood why I should be watching a person watch something else and how they react to it when I can just watch the fucking thing and I'll judge it for myself. However, the Fine Bros have made a living out of it so...kudos.

So a little story, watch this first and come back...

Wow, the word "muddled" comes to mind. Now I am a simple man but the video is confusing, awkward and, at one point, condescending to an entire audience of almost 15 million people...or so it was at the time.

The video sparked outrage but to me, it was pure fascination. This massive channel suddenly decides to say to everyone that they are going to change the world...and you can be part of it!

Now in honesty, the first time I watched it, all I heard was a massive circle jerk rather than an actual video. My vision glazed over in to the haze of heavy smelling bullshit with a permanent sneer upon my face.

It was when the guy said the following that I took an interest and I had to watch it again:

"Then what is wrong with you?"

The sheer arrogancy, the big headed nature of this abhorrent little man who, for the most part, thought that people's reactions could change the world was asking what was wrong with ME!?

I was suddenly fascinated with these two and began to realise that they had trademarked the word "React" and they were trying to get more as well...as you can see below:

http://ryanmorrisonlaw.com/attorneys-react-the-fine-bros-react-trademark/

However the most interesting part was when a YouTuber decided to do a reaction video to React World announcement and...wow...he only had 10 subscribers and they copyright claimed him! A manual submission no less! (See below as the guy now has something like 5000 now!)

So it's a strange situation and I will be watching with interest. The general public of YouTube don't seem to want to take it anymore and the Fine Bros are now suffering...

As for me, I won't tell you my thoughts and feelings on it...I'm quite happy to watch this one unfold. Needless to say, if the Fine Bros had an honorable intent...it's been lost now...

UPDATE: And the Fine Bros folds! The scheme will no longer be happening: https://medium.com/@FineBrothersEnt/a-message-from-the-fine-brothers-a18ef9b31777#.li5sfvj7i
The subscriber count continues to fall though...

http://www.livecounts.x10host.com/?channel=finebrothers

How to (not) play Bloodborne...

 I attempted a livestream on Friday night with my microphone in and I enjoyed it quite a bit considering it was really my first good attempt at talking whilst playing live. These were some of the better bits...

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Whilst I understand that "livestreaming" is the new big thing and people seem to be doing it a lot but I just can't get my head around it. I get the whole community aspect of it all but I found it very difficult to be talkative generally and to talk to the actual audience.

So maybe I will do it again, I'm not sure but I must admit, I'm not entirely certain on the whole dynamic and whether or not I was actually entertaining.
 

When is it a waste of time?

So as I promised (to those that actually read this page as it has been a dumping ground for animation tests), here's a blog that has been on mind. Since time is going to be scarce with becoming a teacher in Games Design, I thought I would attempt to process some of my thoughts in to electronic scratchings.

A long time ago, I made a video about the top five most annoying game characters that put me off playing. I mean, it was three years ago, my video quality wasn't great (and it still isn't in honesty!) and I ranted about a lot of things. You can see this below with slight spoilers to the game we're about to talk about:

Now strangely enough, one particular game raised its head that was discussed in the video; that being "Metal Gear Rising".

Ok sure, it looks cool but I still stand that it raises my blood pressure like a fat kid wanting chocolate

 Now, I actually really enjoyed the game itself but I appear to have a built in mechanism that I wish I could just turn off. If a game has a potential bad storypoint or douchebag mechanic that just gets introduced to the story, it makes my piss boil.

 "Get over it, you sack of monkey vomit." I hear you say.

"Well, that was rude, and what are you doing in my house wearing nothing but a tea cosy over your nether regions?" I retort back

"I was making you a cup of tea. Milky, milkyyyyy..."

Oh my, what happened there?

But yeah, the final boss battle of Metal Gear Rising is the most unbelievable mess I've seen and it ruins what is basically a good game. Sure, the game itself is a ridiculous fun-filled ride of silly twists and characters that we don't give a fuck about.

It, in it's greatest wisdom, decides to bring back a character from Metal Gear Solid 4 which was Sunny. 

 

"I'm cheerful, intelligent and a total fanny face!"

This borderline asinine fettid character RUINED the experience with the most ridiculous bits of dialogue I have ever seen. The premise behind her character is that she owns and runs an entire business and makes stuff for no reason apart from furnish Raiden with some cool shit.

Then for some odd reason, after all is said and done - and if you didn't watch my video - I will paraphrase the ending with her that just makes you wonder why you bothered suffering through the whole noisy affair:

(Oh and I'll do it in a Yorkshire accent because why not?)

"Here, that Raiden, he were a bad 'un, and he did a lot of bad stuff tha knows. But I knows him, tha knows, and he's a good 'un. In fact, he's a reyt good 'un."

CUE DRAMATIC HORN AND ENDING FANFARE

 IT'S HORSESHIT.

This is something that modern gaming seems to be parading throughout their narrative. It's like someone forgets to put that final bit in to say: "Well done."

Shadow of Mordor, Batman: Arkham Knight, Mortal Kombat X (I know, seems silly) and a host of others over the past two years have been pretty awful.

So why does this sour my experience? Why do I take it to heart?

Because I feel that there's some sort of bond between us Mr. Video Game. 

"Oh shucks, really?"

 Why yes, "Generic Video Game Box With Nothing In It", I feel that you and I have a bond. It's the age old "We started this so we'll finish it together." I DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PISSED ON AND THEN FOR YOU TO RUN OFF WITH THE FUCKING POSTMAN BECAUSE YOU GOT BORED OF ME.

And it seems to be that we're accepting this as the norm, that it's something we've come to expect and it has to stop! Seriously! 

Why should I pay a good amount of money in a job that I really dislike to then play a game that seems to give me the same courtesy at the end.

You may as well have left some money on the bedside table and walked out on me, Mr Video Game, because then we won't be in eachother's lives anymore once it's over.

So yeah, when is it a waste of time? Why can't I just enjoy the game for what it is? WHY DO I TAKE IT SO PERSONALLY?!

Maybe I've been spoilt by some genuinely great narrative experiences. Maybe one day I'll get over it...

...probably not though.

Secondary Action

This animation is about secondary action. So essentially it's an idle pose where a character will do things such as twitch, scratch their face, take a look around, etc. Now this particular animation is what I have got so far...

...but I got to admit, that bit where it scratches his face is doing my head in. What do you think to it?

Punch Animation

This particular animation is a punch. Originally, this had an even longer build up than before so it was a bit monotonous.

However, what do you think to this at the moment? What else could I do with it?