Tuesday, January 6, 2004

Now Playing #21: Pokémon Season 1 - Main Theme

	Oh yeah, this--I forgot all about updating the midi, lol. Oh well, the SM64 ending theme is worth having up for a couple extra days... But anyway, this week's song is the Pokémon Season 1 main theme, which plays during the opening. I still think the original opening theme (this one) is the best. They just seem to keep getting worse and worse as time goes on, really. True, I haven't heard the newest season's opening theme yet, but I really doubt it'll be much better than the last couple. Yeah, new midi next Sunday if I'm not otherwise occupied, so come check it out. Pokémon Theme I want to be the very best Like no one ever was To catch them is my real test To train them is my cause I will travel across the land Searching far and wide Each Pokémon to understand The power that's inside Pokémon! (Gotta catch 'em all) It's you and me I know it's my destiny Pokémon! Oh, you're my best friend In a world we must defend Pokémon! (Gotta catch 'em all) A heart so true Our courage will pull us through You teach me and I'll teach you Pokémon! (Gotta catch 'em all) Gotta catch 'em all Pokémon!

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Friday, January 2, 2004

Sweet 16?

	Well, tomorrow (January 3) is my birthday, and I'll be turning 16. People say this is supposed to be one of the "big" birthdays, but I don't really see why. I'm still in the middle of highschool, nothing's changed with that. I'm still legally a minor, so nothing different there. (And heck, I doubt 18 or 21 will be that special either--I'm not going to be smoking, buying porn, or drinking, lol) So what's the big deal? I doubt this year will be all that much different from the last. It seems like lately I've just stopped caring nearly as much about holidays and whatnot. Sure, they can be fun, and it's nice to have the whole family around... But it's only a few days out of the year. Like Christmas this year; sure, it was enjoyable, but that after a couple days, things just went back to the way they were, like they always do. A few things are different, such as my new computer that I got, but objects don't really make that much of a difference. Everything still feels the same. I dunno, I guess I'll just chalk this post up for my tendancy towards the pessimistic side of things; part of me likes the fact that things don't change much, and part of me doesn't... So don't pay too much attention to it. The last couple months have been better than the few before them, so I guess I can't really complain.

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Tuesday, December 30, 2003

Metroid pwnz j00

	This is something that's actually been bugging me for a while, but I've just now gotten around to dealing with it; that is, Shinmaru's myOtaku picture. He's currently using an 80x80 avatar of a Metroid from Metroid Prime, which I made for use on OtakuBoards. Not that I mind, but it bugs me that it's only 80x80, when myOtaku pictures can be 120x120. Don't ask me why, but it does, seeing that tiny little pic in that big space, heh. So, on to the part where I deal with it. I finally got off my butt and made a full size 120x120 avatar out of the same pic that I made the 80x80 avatar from... And it looks so much better than that tiny little 80x80 one. Now Metroid really does pwn j00, heh. Consider this a late Christmas present, Shin. ^_^

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Sunday, December 28, 2003

Now Playing #20: Super Mario 64 - Ending Theme

	Well, this is the 20th Now Playing midi; a nice little milestone, eh? This time I've picked the ending theme from Super Mario 64, which is by far my favorite song in the game. Sometimes, when I'd be borrowing the game from a friend, I'd go beat Bowser just so I could listen to the ending theme. (I got quite good at running pretty much full speed through the Bowser in the Sky level, heh). This tune definitely brings back lots of memories of playing Super Mario 64, which just adds to my liking of it. Super Mario 64 was, and still is, a truly amazing game--especially when you consider that it was the very first game to be released on the Nintendo 64. Forget racing that giant penguin and slide back over here next week for another new midi. ~_^

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Saturday, December 27, 2003

New Computer

	Well, turns out instead of giving me money for Christmas to get a new PC, one of my brothers found some good parts and got everyone to go together and get them for me. I ended up getting everything that I was looking to get, in fact: A new motherboard, new CPU (Intel Celeron 1.7 GHz), new RAM (256 MB DDR-SDRAM), a new graphics card (Nvidia GeForce FX 5200), and a new case and power supply for it all. So, I'm pretty much set for any games that I'd want. I'd like to get another 256 MB of RAM and bump it up to 512 total, though, which would make things run smoother. Maybe for my birthday, eh? So yeah, now I'm finally able to run Final Fantasy XI, which I've been wanting since it was released. But the question is, will I really be able to afford it? I kind of doubt I'll be getting a whole lot for my birthday, since all those new PC parts I got for Christmas had to cost a fair bit. And right now, as I mentioned in my last post, I only have a few dollars. So unless I can a decent amount of money for my birthday, I'm going to have to save up for a couple months before I can get it. (I'd like to have a month's payment or so in reserve before I sign up, in addition to everything else). And on top of that, there's the $13 monthly fee. If you add that to what I'm already paying on the DSL, that's $26 a month, which is more than half of what I usually get each month ($40). Now that I really look at the numbers, I'm not sure I want to spend that much. On one hand, I think I'd really love FFXI. I have a feeling that if I do get it, I'll be spending way too much time playing it. However, getting it means I won't be able to get nearly as many other games for my GBA and GCN. I'd only be able to get a GBA game about ever two months, or a GCN game about every four months... But then again, I'd have FFXI, a game that would fill in the gaps between other games... Really, the question is, would I have more fun with FFXI and fewer other games, or without FFXI and more GBA/GCN games? And what an agonizing question it is. Maybe I'll just flip a coin. ~_^

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Wednesday, December 24, 2003

Desbreko's Christmas Eve Post

	Yeah, I felt like writing a post for myOtaku, so here I am on Christmas eve, typing away. I actually have a few things to talk about, so that's why I don't have a more specific title. First off, it's Christmas eve and what do I wake up to? A sore throat and a sick stomach. Yeah, that's right, I'm sick--again for the 5th or so time this year--but also again, not bad. I think it's pretty much just a cold, since my stomach isn't really that bad. It's mainly when I stand up quickly or make sudden movements and get dizzy, which makes my stomach a bit woozy when my head is plugged up. Other than that, though, I'm just draining and have the aforementioned sore throat. Mainly just a nuisance, and besides, I knew I had it coming to me; going on so little sleep during late fall/winter, it's hard to keep from getting at least a little sick. But hey, I got my schedule back on track, so I think it's worth it. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Next up, something that just popped into my mind a few minutes ago, and partly inspired me to write this post. It's a little bit of a rant, but not all that much, and before I start, keep in mind this is not aimed at anyone in particular. It's just general observations from my time talking to people over the net and my point of view for those observations. So if I offend anyone, the problem's on your end, not mine. ~_^ But anyway, I find it kind of sad/amusing that some people get so worked up or are affected so much by arguments with people over the net when they have differeing views. I think some people take the internet way more seriously than they should. Really, think about it; think about it for what it is. You're not even actually talking to the people you interact with--it's all just written words. Really, you have very little actual connection with the people you talk to over the internet. Sure, you can make friends and have a good time talking with people from all over the word--and that's good. But still, think about it. If you start to get worked up over an argument or something, look around you. What do you actually see? A computer, a monitor, keyboard and mouse? Great, you can use these things to talk to other people, but there's one major difference between talking to people online and talking to them in person. A computer, you can turn off and walk away from--you can't always do that with people you know in person. So what's my point? Well, basically, arguments and disagreements with people over the net can only affect you as much as you yourself let them. Again, think about it: You get in an argument and you get mad, but why? Really, why? Simply because the other person doesn't agree with you? I'm sorry, but that's a rather stupid reason. It can be quite hard to change someone's mind on certain issues, and I think it's rather presumptuous to believe you're going to be able to do so when, again, you're not even talking in person. Is it because the disagreement affects your friendship with that individual, maybe even to the point that you no longer want to talk him/her anymore? Well, I know it's a rather blunt way of saying it, but get over it. There are always going to be people like that, online or in person, and besides, their views would be the same whether or not the argument came up. And if you don't want to talk to them after the disagreement became apparent, it stands to reason that you only talked to them beforehand because you didn't know of your differing views. Nothing gained and nothing lost, unless you yourself choose to let it affect you so much that you do lose something. Before you met that person, you didn't have him or her as a friend; after you stopped talking to him/her, you again didn't have him or her as a friend. In the end, there's really no change unless you choose to hold a grudge or remain angry or something. Again, this comes back to my main point: Dealings with people over the internet affect you only as much as you let them. With people you know in person, it's harder to not let things affect you because, obviously, you're actually interacting with that person. Like, say, at school; if you get in an argument with a friend and are no longer friends afterwards, that's going to cause a bit of tension since you're both going to be seeing each other almost every day, unless you go out of your way to avoid that person. There is no such thing as a "block" or "ignore" button in the real world. (Unless you count earplugs. ~_^) I've seen so many arguments and disputes during the time I've been going to online message boards and using AIM, and so many people getting pissed off or getting upset. And I keep wondering, why? Why do people let things like that get to them so much? I mean, arguing your point of view or your opinion is fine, but what good does it do to get upset? It doesn't change the way the person thinks, and it certainly doesn't make your opinion seem any more credible. When I disagree with someone, sometimes I'll engage in an argument, but I never take anything personally unless it's a direct insult aimed at me. Just because someone else thinks something different from me doesn't mean I have to change my thinking, and vice versa. And after the argument is over, I go on the same as before, because I don't get upset. I don't get mad, I don't hold a grudge, I just accept that that person has a different opinion from me and go on being friends. So there, that's my little rant. I hope you've all enjoyed it, and for those of you that didn't, please keep the flaming to a minium. Because again, this was not written with anyone or any particular argument that I've witnessed or been a part of. I don't want to see comments citing various arguments and relating them to this post. One particular argument did bring the idea for this to mind, but this is certainly not aimed at that argument. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Coming back to the Christmas stuff, since I don't really want to end this on the previous subject, it's finally starting to feel like Christmas around the house. We've started wrapping presents and putting them under the tree, and my brother drove up from Santa Clara and got here today. My brothers were out just now doing some last minute shopping, in fact, so me and my parents wrapped some more presents during that time. There's always a nice good sized pile of presents under the tree since there are eight of us (me, three brothers, two parents, and two grandparents), but this year it's looking to be a bit smaller. A lot of us are going in together to get people bigger, more expensive things instead of getting a bunch a smaller, seperate things. Which is nice, because we can get things that we really want, and there's not nearly as much shopping to do. I only had to actually buy two presents myself. Oh, and one last thing that I thought was kind of cool, before I end this post: I ended up having pretty much exactly enough money for everyone's presents. Before I bought Mario Kart: Double Dash!! I figured out how much money I'd probably have between then and Christmas to spend on gifts, and it's come out pretty much exactly how I figured. Currently I only have a $1 bill left plus a few coin rolls, heh.

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Tuesday, December 23, 2003

Now Playing #19: Starship - We Built This City

	Found this song while browsing through my brother's "oldies" mp3 folder, and I've found myself listening to it quite a lot lately. Enough for me to not mind overly much trying to find a good midi of it, and then trying to find a site with correct lyrics to post... Which I didn't end up actually finding, and I had to edit them a bit. But it's up now, and this post is over, so enjoy the midi. (And by the way, it's late because I was in a chat that lasted over 24 hours during most of Sunday). The search for a new midi begins--and ends--next Sunday, so be sure and check back to see what I find. Starship - We Built This City We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll Built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll Say you don't know me, or recognize my face Say you don't care who goes to that kind of place Knee deep in the hoopla, sinking in your fight Too many runaways eating up the night Ma Coley plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don't you remember We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll Built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll Someone's always playing corporation games Who cares they're always changing corporation names We just want to dance here, someone stole the stage They call us irresponsible, write us off the page Ma Coley plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don't you remember We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll Built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll It's just another Sunday, in a tired old street Police have got the choke hold, oh, then we just lost the beat Who counts the money underneath the bar Who writes the wrecking ball in two wild guitars Don't tell us you need us, 'cause we're just simple fools Looking for America, coming through your schools (I'm looking out over that Golden Gate bridge On a gorgeous sunny Saturday, and I'm see'n that bumper-to-bumper traffic) Don't you remember (remember) (Here's your favorite radio station, in your favorite radio city The city by the bay, the city that rocks, the city that never sleeps) Ma Coley plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don't you remember We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll chorus repeats 2x (We built, we built this city) built this city (we built, we built this city) (repeats out)

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Friday, December 19, 2003

1ST PLACE BABY!

	I did it! I got 1:47:247, putting me in 1st place in the time trial competition! I can hardly believe it, but it's true! I decided to sit down to play one last time to try and beat that "invisible wall" time, and I did! Then I was so pumped up from beating that, I kept playing...and playing...and playing... So admitedly it did take a while, but I finally beat that time and got this one. Booyah! Now, as long as no one else posts a better time in the six and a half hours or so before the contest is over, I'll win the NTSC competition. Dang, this is nerve racking... I'm still shaking a bit from getting that 1st place time, and now I have to deal with the stress of hoping no one else beats my time during the rest of the day. Gah, I've never been in such an intense gaming competition before. Oh yeah, and check out the myOtaku 10,000 banner below the Now Playing midi. I'd say more, but I'm still kind of...well, I don't know what to call it. But it feels good now that I'm in 1st, lol. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to try and find something to eat before I leave to go over to a friend's house.

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An Invisible Wall

	You know, the invisible walls in games, put in place to keep you inside the designed areas while still making it appear that the area goes out to the horizon or wherever? Yeah, well, it seems I've hit one of those. No matter how long I sit and play (one and a half straight hours just now), I can't beat my 1:47:907 ghost. Every time I've come close to beating it, I screw up and lose. One time I was ahead on the last lap, right before the finish line, and my powerslide didn't want to work... So I fell off into the water. Before that, I had done everything about as close as I can get to perfect, but not applying a tiny bit more pressure on the R button screwed everything. I could've had 2nd place, possibly even 1st, but no, I screw up. Every. Single. Time. I don't know what to do. There are obvious places to improve upon my time, and there've been plenty of times where I've been ahead of my ghost during the race... But I just can't maintain that lead. I really don't know how these other people do it. It's like they don't have basic human error, almost. I know it's possible to shave off those .554 seconds I need to catch up to 1st place, because as I said, there are obvious places where my ghost could improve. I can't even seem to keep up with my ghost anymore, though, let alone improve on it. As the title says, it's an invisible wall. I can see the potential time that I should be able to achieve, but I just can't get to it, no matter how hard I try. And it's pissing me off. I feel like completely beating the crap out of something with my bare fists--whoever thought up those pain in the ass mini-turbos would be my first choice.

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Moving Up!

	New time again: 1:48:130, which puts me in 3rd place! Now I'm only .767 seconds behind 1st place. I'm going to play some more later tonight, and I'm hoping to get down into the 1:47 range. I think I can get into 1st if I can manage to do a good race without any mistakes whatsoever... But that's a royal pain in the *** to do, so we'll see if I make it. I've switched characters, also. I was using Toadette and Koopa, but after switching to Baby Mario and Baby Luigi I got a better time almost right away, and then another better time after that. So now I'm using them, still on the Barrel Train. It seems like their mini-turbos give you more of a boost. I wish this contest lasted a few days longer. It ends at 12:00 AM EST on Dec. 20, so I don't have much time left. I think if I had a couple days longer I'd be able to get down to the 1st place time without too much problem. Only about 23 hours remaining... Edit: Argh, so close! I got 1:47:907 just now! I'm only .544 seconds behind 1st! So close, yet so far away... Gah, I'm going to take a break for a while and play more later. That GBA SP and Fire Emblem will be mine!

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