Gray Matter

Our brains are such trolls. You may have seen or heard of many other examples, but here are some more...

For instance, we can be tricked into seeing three dimensions from two...

Or we see movement where there is none...

I CAN'T TRUST YOU, BRAIN!!

2014: Nintendo Gamer's Dream

2014 is set to be a banner year for video games. This month, we have gotten the long-awaited sequel to Chibi-Robo, and more great games are on the way. February will be home to both Bravely Default and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, while March is set to have Yoshi's New Island. We are also expecting a new Smash Bros. game and 2 new installments in the Shantae series.

And then there's my personal hopes. I really want to see a new Metroid game, because Other M is now more than 3 years old. Also, I have been long awaiting a Pokémon Ranger 4, because 2 generations have passed since we saw Guardian Signs. Shadows of Almia was my very first Nintendo DS game, so the franchise will always be special to me. But what about "Pokémon Snap U"? The GamePad would work perfectly as a camera viewfinder, and you know it. Game Freak, I beg of you to consider either one of these. Just as likely is a new PokéPark (oh, the horror!), though. Beyond my fantastical Pokémon dreams, though, I would like to see Dragon Quest X finally reach North America, as long as the pricing is not insanely high. Honestly, the Japanese version cost over $90, and then you still had to pay a $12 fee per month. But, there is the 2-hour window Square Enix is offering every day in Japan. We are also due for another New Super Mario Bros. title, which might be announced at E3 this year. If we want to get REALLY hopeful, I would like to see Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai make it to Western shores. Although vocaloids are not popular today in America, we can fix that...

Yeah, storming the MTV headquarters might have worked on Portlandia, but I don't think we can get away with it.

Well, that's all for today, folks. I sincerely apologize for these extremely long posts!

Intellectual Thoughts in Unintellectual Places

I have recently decided that life's greatest pondering occurs in three places: in the shower, on the toilet, and in bed as you are about to fall asleep. Honestly, that's where I make most of my important decisions! So, what I want from you all is your unlikely thinking spots. The comments are, again, still open to all viewers, regardless of if they have an account.

What is love?

MEOWssion Impossible

Within the Great Meadow Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison in Fort Ann, New York, the inmates have some new friends: four kittens. These felines snuck into the basement and have been living there recently. Prison staff and inmates alike help care for these cuddly creatures, who are currently slated to eventually find a home with some of the workers.

In other news... a group known as Crimestoppers has put together a pickpocketing awareness program. They have hired magicians and former criminals to place cards in the pockets, purses, and bags of unsuspecting civilians, letting them eventually find the card and discover they could have been robbed. The Crimestoppers will be "campaigning" all over the UK to let people know that if something could be put in their pocket, it could be just as easily taken out.

Well, that's it for your weird news of today. Stick around, though; I plan to do things like this more often.

Symphony, 8-bit Style

I have always had a passion for video game music, ever since I got the theme from LEGO Batman: The Video Game stuck in my head for hours. My personal favorites are from the Pokémon games, but after playing the Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy demo, I just have to enjoy The Man With the Machine Gun from FFVIII. Beyond that, the Mega Man series has proven to have some rocking music. The question is, though: What video game songs do you like the most? Let me know in the comments; I have now changed the settings so anybody can, even if they lack a Hatena ID.

  

Well, what are you waiting for?

The bus?

Indie Games: Why Aren't You Playing These?

I have noticed that games by smaller developers (also known as indie games) haven't recieved a lot of love, so I have decided to speak about my all-time favorites.

First off is the entire Shantae series from WayForward Technologies. The original was released on the Game Boy Color long after the system was forgotten due to the Game Boy Advance. Shantae is now availible on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console. Shantae: Risky's Revenge was released as DSiWare a few years ago, and it has also been brought to the 3DS eShop. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is coming out later this year, so now is the perfect time to get caught up on this genie's adventures!

Renegade Kid gave us Mutant Mudds, which is arguably one of the best platforming shooters (think Mario with a gun) on the eShop today. The 8-bit graphics create a nostalgic feeling, but the difficulty is certainly not that of 30 years ago.

For a hardcore challenge, try VVVVVV from Nicalis. Originally availible for PC, this title has been ported to the eShop. Captain Viridian cannot jump, but he can reverse gravity (I know, what the fudge), making a somewhat unique challenge.

Many of you may be wondering why I have yet to mention the notorious Minecraft, and I have a good reason not to. The problem is, I cannot stand such foolish nonsense I just haven't played the game because I lack a system to do so. My PC has limited memory and all, and I refuse to betray Nintendo even further by purchasing an XBox.

Well, that's all I've got today. Leave your own favorite indie games in the comments!

I would like to give a shout-out to all of you who saw my post on MiiVerse and chose to actually bother with checking this out. People like you deserve a (virtual) cookie. And I got a bit hungry...

Fastest Post in the West

I'm gonna try to keep this one short and simple. Shaun Tan wrote a book titled "The Lost Thing," and it has since been animated. It won the Academy Award in 2011 for Best Animated Short Film, and it has many other accolades. I highly reccomend you watch this; it is certainly an amazing peek into a dystopian world that we all need to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVV7kxQdolY

Just ignore the subtitles in another language (unless you speak that language, whatever it is).