#you guys should play the beginners guide its a good game.

[metanarrates]

inexplicability/unknowability in art is not often understood as an intentional artistic decision, let alone respected as one. I'd almost call it entitlement on the part of audience, but it's not even that, really. it's a complete inability to ask - was this ever meant to be understood in full? is there a reason why it wouldn't be? is it uncomfortable to think about? maybe it is supposed to be uncomfortable to think about.

[vaadazen-codes]

How To Get Started Making Visual Novels

Wanna make a visual novel? Or maybe you've seen games like Our Life, Blooming Panic, Doki Doki Literature Club, etc. and wanna make something like that? Good news, here's a very basic beginners guide on how to get started in renpy and what you need to know going in! Before you start, I highly recommend looking at my last post about writing a script for renpy just to make it easier on you!

LONG POST AHEAD

Obviously, our first step is downloading it from their website

thankfully, its right on the home page of their site. Follow basica program installation steps and run the program. I highly recommend pinning it to your task bar to make it easier to access.

From there, you're met with the renpy app, it's a little daunting at first but let's talk about what all these buttons are for.

Projects

This part is simple, it just lists the current projects in the chosen directory. You probably won't have any in there of your own. You should still see Tutorial and The Question!

Both of those default projects are super helpful in their own ways, i highly recommend testing out the tutorial and playing around with it just to get comfortable with some of the basics.

Create New Project

The first step to actually making your game into a game!

You'll be met with a prompt letting you know that the project is being made in English and that you can change it. You can click Continue.

From here, you'll be asked to input a project name! Put in your games title, or even a placeholder title since this Information can be changed later! (this is also the title the folder will be in your file browser, be sure to name it something you won't overlook)

Now we get to choose our resolution!

If you have no idea what to choose, go for 1920x1080! This is the standard size for most computer monitors and laptops, but it will still display with moderately decent quality on 4k monitors too!

You can choose 3840x2160 as well. This is 2x the measurements of the default, with the same ration. These dimensions are considered 4k. Keep in mind, your image files will be bigger and can cause the game to have a larger size to download.

Now we get to choose our color scheme!

Renpy has some simple default options with the 'light mode' colors being the bottom two rows, and the 'dark mode' colors being the toop two rows.

You can pick anything here, but I like to choose something that matches my projects vibes/colors better. Mostly because depending on how in depth you go with the ui, it minimizes the amount of changes I need to make later.

Click continue and give it a minute. Note: If it says "not responding" wait a moment without clicking anything. It can sometimes freeze briefly during the process.

Now we should be back at our home screen, with our new project showing. Let's talk about allll that stuff on the right now.

Open Directory

This just opens that particular folder in your local file explorer!

game - is all the game files, so your folders for images, audio, saves, and your game files like your script, screens, and more.

base - this is the folder that the game folder is inside of. You can also find the errors and log txt files in here.

images - takes you to your main images folder. This is where you wanna put all of your NON gui images, like your sprites, backgrounds, and CGs. You can create folders inside of this and still call them in the script later. EX: a folder for backgrounds , a folder for sprites for character a, a seperate folder for spirtes for character b, etc.

audio - Takes you to the default audio folder. This is empty, but you can put all your music and sound effects here!

gui - brings up the folder containing all of the default renpy gui. It's a good place to start/ reference for sizes if you want to hand draw your UI pieces like your text box!

Edit File

Simple enough, this is just where you can open your code files in whatever text/code editor you have installed.

Script.rpy - where all of your story and characters live. This is the file you'll spend most of your time in at first

Options.rpy - Contains mostly simple information, like project name and version. There aren't a ton of things in here you need to look at. There is also some lines of code that help 'archive' certain files by file type so that they can't be seen by players digging in code however. Fun if you want to hide some images in there for later or if you just dont want someone seeing how messy your files are. We've all been there

Gui.rpy - where all of the easy customization happens. Here you can change font colors, hover colors, fonts, font sizes, and then the alignment and placement of all of your text! Like your dialogue and names, the height of text buttons, etc. It more or less sets the defaults for a lot of these unless you choose to change them later.

Screens.rpy - undeniably my favorite, this is where all of the UI is laid out for the different screens in your game, like the main menu, game menu, quick menu, choice menu, etc. You can add custom screens too if you want, but I always make my own seperate file for these.

Open Project - this just opens all of those files at once in the code editor. Super handy if you make extra files like I do for certain things.

Actions

last but not least, our actions.

Navigate Script - This feature is underrated in my honest opinion, it's super handy for help debugging! In renpy you can comment with # before a line. However, if you do #TODO and type something after it, it saves it as a note! You can view these TODO's here as well as easily navigate to when certain screens are called, where different labels are (super great if your game is long, and more. It saves some scrolling.

Check Script (Lint) - also super duper handy for debugging some basic things. It also tells you your word count! But its handy for letting you know about some errors that might throw up. I like using it to look for sprites I may or may not have mispelled, because they show up in there too.

Change/Update GUI - Nifty, though once you start customizing GUI on your own, it isn't as useful. You can reset the project at any point and regenerate the image files here. This updates all those defaults we talked about earlier.

Delete Persistent - this just helps you delete any persistent data between play throughs on your end. I like to use it when making a lot of changes while testing the game, so that I can reboot the game fresh.

Force Recompile - Full disclosure, as many games as I've made and as long as I've been using Renpy, i have never used this feature. I searched to see what it does and this is the general consesus: Normally renpy tries to be smart about compiling code (creating .rpyc files) and only compiles .rpy files with changes. This is to speed up the process since compiling takes time. Sometimes you can make changes that renpy don't pick up on and therefore won't recompile. In these cases you can run force recompile to force it. Another solution (if you know what file is affected) is to delete that specific. rpyc file.

The rest of your options on this right hand side are how you make executable builds for your game that people can download to extract and play later!

Sorry gang! that was a whole lot of text obviously the last button "Launch Project" launches an uncompiled version of the project for you to play and test as you go! Hang in tight because my next post is about how to utilize github for renpy, so you can collaborate easier!

[alongtidesoflight]

in wake of yet another wave of people being turned off by windows, here's a guide on how to dual boot windows and 🐧 linux 🐧 (useful for when you're not sure if you wanna make the switch and just wanna experiment with the OS for a bit!)

if you look up followup guides online you're gonna see that people are telling you to use ubuntu but i am gonna show you how to do this using kubuntu instead because fuck GNOME. all my homies hate GNOME.

i'm just kidding, use whatever distro you like. my favorite's kubuntu (for a beginner home environment). read up on the others if you're curious. and don't let some rando on reddit tell you that you need pop! OS for gaming. gaming on linux is possible without it.

why kubuntu?

- it's very user friendly

- it comes with applications people might already be familiar with (VLC player and firefox for example)

- libreoffice already preinstalled

- no GNOME (sorry GNOME enthusiasts, let me old man yell at the clouds) (also i'm playing this up for the laughs. wholesome kde/gnome meme at the bottom of this post.)

for people who are interested in this beyond my tl;dr: read this

(if you're a linux user, don't expect any tech wizardry here. i know there's a billion other and arguably better ways to do x y and/or z. what i'm trying to do here is to keep these instructions previous windows user friendly. point and click. no CLI bro, it'll scare the less tech savvy hoes. no vim supremacy talk (although hell yeah vim supremacy). if they like the OS they'll figure out bash all by themselves in no time.)

first of all, there'll be a GUI. you don't need to type lines of code to get this all running. we're not going for the ✨hackerman aesthetics✨ today. grab a mouse and a keyboard and you're good to go.

what you need is a computer/laptop/etc with enough disk space to install both windows and linux on it. i'm recommending to reserve at least a 100gb for the both of them. in the process of this you'll learn how to re-allocate disk space either way and you'll learn how to give and take some, we'll do a bit of disk partitioning to fit them both on a single disk.

and that's enough babbling for now, let's get to the actual tutorial:

🚨IMPORTANT. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS ON A 32BIT SYSTEM. ONLY DO THIS IF YOU'RE WORKING WITH A 64BIT SYSTEM. 🚨 (win10 and win11: settings -> system -> about -> device specifications -> system type ) it should say 64bit operating system, x64-based processor.

step 1: install windows on your computer FIRST. my favorite way of doing this is by creating an installation media with rufus. you can either grab and prepare two usb sticks for each OS, or you can prepare them one after the other. (pro tip: get two usb sticks, that way you can label them and store them away in case you need to reinstall windows/linux or want to install it somewhere else)

in order to do this, you need to download three things:

rufus

win10 (listen. i know switching to win11 is difficult. not much of a fan of it either. but support's gonna end for good. you will run into hiccups. it'll be frustrating for everyone involved. hate to say it, but in this case i'd opt for installing its dreadful successor over there ->) or win11

kubuntu (the download at the top is always the latest, most up-to-date one)

when grabbing your windows installation of choice pick this option here, not the media creation tool option at the top of the page:

side note: there's also very legit key sellers out there who can hook you up with cheap keys. you're allowed to do that if you use those keys privately. don't do this in an enterprise environment though. and don't waste money on it if your ultimate goal is to switch to linux entirely at one point.

from here it's very easy sailing. plug your usb drive into your computer and fire up rufus (just double click it).

🚨two very important things though!!!!!!:🚨

triple check your usb device. whatever one you selected will get wiped entirely in order to make space for your installation media. if you want to be on the safe side only plug in the ONE usb stick you want to use. and back up any music, pictures or whatever else you had on there before or it'll be gone forever.

you can only install ONE OS on ONE usb drive. so you need to do this twice, once with your kubuntu iso and once with your windows iso, on a different drive each.

done. now you can dispense windows and linux left and right, whenever and wherever you feel like it. you could, for example, start with your designated dual boot device. installing windows is now as simple as plugging the usb device into your computer and booting it up. from there, click your way through the installation process and come back to this tutorial when you're ready.

step 2: preparing the disks for a dual boot setup

on your fresh install, find your disk partitions. in your search bar enter either "diskmgr" and hit enter or just type "partitions". the former opens your disk manager right away, the latter serves you up with this "create and format hard disk partitions" search result and that's what you're gonna be clicking.

you'll end up on a screen that looks more or less like in the screenshot below. depending on how many disks you've installed this might look different, but the basic gist is the same. we're going to snip a little bit off Disk 0 and make space for kubuntu on it. my screenshot isn't the best example because i'm using the whole disk and in order to practice what i preach i'd have to go against my own advice. that piece of advice is: if this screen intimidates you and you're not sure what you're doing here, hands off your (C:) drive, EFI system, and recovery partition. however, if you're feeling particularly fearless, go check out the amount of "free space" to the right. is there more than 30gb left available? if so, you're free to right click your (C:) drive and click "shrink volume"

this screen will pop up:

the minimum disk space required for kubuntu is 25gb. the recommended one is 50gb. for an installation like this, about 30gb are enough. in order to do that, simply change the value at

Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB: to 30000

and hit Shrink.

once that's done your partitions will have changed and unallocated space at about the size of 30gb should be visible under Disk 0 at the bottom like in the bottom left of this screenshot (courtesy of microsoft.com):

this is gonna be kubuntu's new home on your disk.

step 3: boot order, BIOS/UEFI changes

all you need to do now is plug the kubuntu-usb drive you prepared earlier with rufus into your computer again and reboot that bad boy.

the next step has no screenshots. we're heading into your UEFI/BIOS (by hitting a specific key (like ESC, F10, Enter) while your computer boots up) and that'll look different for everyone reading this. if this section has you completely lost, google how to do these steps for your machine.

a good search term would be: "[YOUR DEVICE (i.e Lenovo, your mainboard's name, etc.)] change boot order"

what you need to do is to tell your computer to boot your USB before it tries to boot up windows. otherwise you won't be able to install kubuntu.

this can be done by entering your BIOS/UEFI and navigating to a point called something along the lines of "boot". from "boot order" to "booting devices" to "startup configuration", it could be called anything.

what'll be a common point though is that it'll list all your bootable devices. the topmost one is usually the one that boots up first, so if your usb is anywhere below that, make sure to drag and drop or otherwise move it to the top.

when you're done navigate to Save & Exit. your computer will then boot up kubuntu's install wizard. you'll be greeted with this:

shocker, i know, but click "Install Kubuntu" on the right.

step 4: kubuntu installation

this is a guided installation. just like when you're installing windows you'll be prompted when you need to make changes. if i remember correctly it's going to ask you for your preferred keyboard layout, a network connection, additional software you might want to install, and all of that is up to you.

but once you reach the point where it asks you where you want to install kubuntu we'll have to make a couple of important choices.

🚨 another important note 🚨

do NOT pick any of the top three options. they will overwrite your already existing windows installation.

click manual instead. we're going to point it to our unallocated disk space. hit continue. you will be shown another disk partition screen.

what you're looking for are your 30gb of free space. just like with the USB drive when we were working with rufus, make sure you're picking the right one. triple check at the very least. the chosen disk will get wiped.

click it until the screen "create a new partition" pops up.

change the following settings to:

New partition size in megabytes: 512

Use as: EFI System Partition

hit OK.

click your free space again. same procedure.

change the following settings to:

New partition size in megabytes: 8000 (*this might be different in your case, read on.)

Use As: Swap Area

hit OK

click your free space a third time. we need one more partition.

change the following settings to:

don't change anything about the partition size this time. we're letting it use up the rest of the resources.

Use as: Ext4 journaling system

Mount Point: /

you're done here as well.

*about the 8000 megabytes in the second step: this is about your RAM size. if you have 4gb instead type 4000, and so on.

once you're sure your configuration is good and ready to go, hit "Install Now". up until here you can go back and make changes to your settings. once you've clicked the button, there's no going back.

finally, select your timezone and create a user account. then hit continue. the installation should finish up... and you'll be good to go.

you'll be told to remove the USB drive from your computer and reboot your machine.

now when your computer boots up, you should end up on a black screen with a little bit of text in the top left corner. ubuntu and windows boot manager should be mentioned there. naturally, when you click ubuntu you will boot into your kubuntu. likewise if you hit windows boot manager your windows login screen will come up.

and that's that folks. go ham on messing around with your linux distro. customize it to your liking. make yourself familiar with the shell (on kubuntu, when you're on your desktop, hit CTRL+ALT+T).

for starters, you could feed it the first commands i always punch into fresh Linux installs:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

sudo apt-get install vim

(you'll thank me for the vim one later)

turn your back on windows. taste freedom. nothing sexier than open source, baby.

sources (mainly for the pictures): 1, 2

further reading for the curious: 1, 2

linux basics (includes CLI commands)

kubuntu documentation (this is your new best friend. it'll tell you everything about kubuntu that you need to know.

and finally the promised kde/gnome meme:

[myuntachi]

[18Trip Seasonal Event Story Translation] The Silver-Winged Paladin - EP

tl: dimi

proofreading: aca, niri, aera, jelly

📍 Flashback

King: Ah, well done!

King: You defeated the Dark Dragon that was under the Demon King’s control… What an incredible feat.

King: The Demon King still remains at large, however…  And I’m certain you can put an end to him once and for all!

King: By all means, do continue your adventure. I wish you the best on the rest of your journey!

📍 Town

Yodaka: And so, it seems we’ve finished the first chapter of this game.

Renga: So this really wasn’t the final Dungeon… I guess it was too early, after all.

Kafka: And it seems that from here on out, the difficulty will be adjusted so both beginners and gamers will be able to enjoy the game.

Tao: I’m kinda… how do I put this, I’m glad to hear that. I won’t deny that it was fun, but there were lots of unreasonable things implemented.

Yodaka: But I hadn’t expected you to be the one to land the finishing blow, Tao. It was quite dashing.

Tao: Well, that was mostly because the weapon was too strong, but I’m glad I got a chance to show off.

Kafka: No one had noticed, but that was a weapon meant for Heroes to use, so when Tao equipped it, its offensive power increased.

Renga: We were going to make one for each of us at first, right? I’m so glad we changed our minds…

Tao: That’s true. It may have been a strong weapon even when it wasn’t equipped on a Hero, but it wasn’t the most suitable for everyone.

Yodaka: I assume that means each job has its own strongest weapon.

Kafka: While searching for them all would be fun… That weapon broke after slashing the dragon once.

Tao: That part really makes you question whether they’re even worth crafting to begin with. But, well, I’m glad we noticed that when we did. And–

Dark Matter: …

Tao: It’s all thanks to you that we did. Thank you very much.

Dark Matter: You got lucky this time. However, your lives are hanging by mere threads that I may sever as I so desire. You would do well to not forget as much..

Dark Matter: When our stories next intersect, show me an even more unsightly and disgraceful despair. Amuse me. I’ll be sure to listen to your agony as you perish…

Renga: I’ve got no idea what any of that was about, but it was kinda cool…

Kafka: I was worried about what would happen when Toi disconnected, but I’m glad he joined us.

Yodaka: I am worried about Toi, though. As we’ve finished this story, shall we head back?

Tao: Yeah, we should.

Tao: Okay, good work, everyone!

📍 HAMA House, Living room

Kaede: Wait, so Toi-kun disconnected in order to call for help?

Kafka: Seems like it.

Renga: To think Toi knew such a strong guy… Wish he’d told us so earlier.

Yodaka: He had a certain air about him. I’d like to play with him again, if possible.

Kaede: Sounds like you guys had fun! I'd like to give it a try next time too.

Kafka: You should join us when you have the chance, then, Chief-chan.

Renga: Well, next time, Tao’s gonna be the one supporting us.

Kaede: Huh, really? I thought his Level was still lower than everyone else’s…

Yodaka: No, I believe he has probably overcome the difference in our levels. After all, he has been playing tirelessly together with him, night after night. 

Kafka: Right, Chihiro did mention something like that before.

Kaede: Night after night… with him?

📍 Meadow

Tao: Alright! This Raid Boss is done, too!

Dark Matter: … Hmph, what child's play. How disappointing to have put up no struggle as we robbed it of its life. There is no satisfaction to be had from this.

Tao: How about we head to the East Cave next, then? According to the guides, there’s a pretty strong Area Boss there!

Dark Matter: Kuku… Fine by me. Putting an end to all those small fries with you is not so bad.

Tao: I’m having a blast after finding a fellow gamer to play with, too! I’m glad we met, Dark Matter-san!

Tao: Oh, if you’ve got time tomorrow, let’s meet here at the Meadow at 11 PM as usual!

Dark Matter: …

Dark Matter: I’ll come if I feel like it.

[previous]

[matthewbeilschmidts]

It’s been a long while since I’ve posted but I’m so glad that I am :’)

This is for Day 1: of @prucanweek - Ordinary

Apologies for spelling errors, it’s a little short but I hope you enjoy 😭💞

-

Matthew doesn’t mind that he’s living an ordinary life. Really.

He grows up near the coast, two parents, a fraternal twin brother, and their gangly hairless cat, Tony (picked curtesy of Alfred). Their parents take them everywhere they can during their childhood, the beach, museums, sports game. They focus on their interests, figuring out what the two like and dislike, as they encourage them both to be themselves and do what they love no matter what. Alfred debates between whether he likes wrestling or football more, while Matthew settles into hockey. In between family get togethers, community festivals, and endless sports training, they somehow have time for homework. (The two share answers a lot.)

He and Alfred each have their own rooms when they enter their teen years, a space to decorate and fill with their own mementos and awards. The sports continue, but later their parents find themselves a little bit busier than before. They do though, give them as much time as they can during the school year, never wanting them to go without someone by their side.

Matthew fades into the background a little bit as they get older, while Alfred puts himself front and center. Matthew watches once with a hand over his eyes as Alfred auditions for the school musical, and surprisingly he read and sings the lines well. “It’s always the rowdy ones!” their theater teachers says after he’s finished performing, a mix of anticipation from planning on putting Alfred on stage and dread at the thought of having to manage him.

Matthew silently supports him, after all he has his own things to do.

He’s the co-caption of the hockey team, the coach giving him the position to give him a little more of a voice, and his teammates verbally agree, considering on the ice Matthew has a lot more to show than he does in person. He accepts, albeit hesitantly.

By the time graduation comes by, Matthew can barely believe how the time has passed. His team even wins a championship under his watch. Some of his fellow classmates look so ready to go out and experience the world, and it’s scary to him because weren’t they all going at the same pace?

His parents talk him through picking his college of choice, and he decides to go. He needs to do what everyone does and experience the world.

And if he decides he wants to come home, that’s okay because at least he tries.

-

He’s in his first art class during his third year at university. The time has been going well, he’s got pretty decent grades and has managed to join a few clubs. But he’s not done yet. Extra curriculars, can’t finish without them. He prioritizes his general education first, and even slips himself into a few major classes early on, but humanities is on record now and has to be completed no matter what one’s studying.

He can get through one semester, he hopes.

Next to him, a student is snickering and the professor doesn’t look amused.

“Gilbert.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“If you’re done, I can introduce myself now.”

The professor goes in with complete, in-depth introductory slides with her name and credentials, and a briefing of all they will overcome this semester.

He’s never been an artist, at least not one that picks up a pencil and creates a realistic masterpiece with nothing but that and a pad of paper. Maybe some poetry contests in high school, if that counts. The written word has its own impact, its own set of colors to breathe out for the world to see.

There’s another snicker, interrupting his internal monologue.

He doesn’t say anything, because he doesn’t know the student, and it’s not his place to control others. But, if it starts to hinder the class, maybe he’ll tell him something. He’s paying to be there, too.

The man catches him staring.

“Yes?” he asks Matthew without being spoken to in the first place.

“Oh,” Matthew flushes at being caught, not that he was trying to hide it anyway. “Well, she didn’t say anything funny?”

The guys waves a hand, making a “psssh” noise as he does.

“I’m just laughing because of how formal this all is. She won’t be this dignified later in the semester that’s for sure. She’ll be ripping her hair out.”

Matthew glances back, he doesn’t want to say anyone looks mean but, he would believe it if she was.

“You look scared,” the guy laughs, which is rude because isn’t he the one that just put the thought in Matthew’s mind? “She’s not too mean just a sticker to the rules. Will get real pissy if something doesn’t go right.”

“And you still set her off knowing that?”

The man laughs again, but this time around he’s actually trying to contain it behind the thin art easel. He’s not very hidden.

“She’s my cousin’s wife.”

Ah, that makes sense then? Messing with family is normal, but also he shouldn’t be bothering her at work.

“It’s no wonder you seemed casual.”

“She taught both of the lower division figure drawing classes, too. This is my third semester in her class. She’s the only one teaching this specific class I didn’t have too much of a choice.”

“Art major?”

“Yep! And you?”

“Psychology major. I have to get in some cultural classes.”

“Ever taken art?”

“Actually no, not even in high school. I got through that stuff by working backstage in the theater department.”

“Well not to worry my friend, because you picked the best one.”

“Is it easy to pass?”

“Nope. Well, maybe if she likes your work,” Matthew deflates at the blunt response, “but don’t worry because I’m here to be your guide.”

Matthew perks up, but it takes him a moment. This guy’s gonna help him?

“Are you any good?”

“Am I good?” He looks perplexed Matthew would even ask. Matthew has to cover his own amusement. “I may not look it but charcoal and I go way back. I’ll show you my work later as proof.”

“Deal.”

“Gilbert, since you’re adamant on talking, you can be the first to introduce yourself.”

Even if his name wasn’t said, Matthew feels just as guilty. Caught, for talking on the first day of all things.

“Gilbert Beilshcmidt. Fourth year. I’m an art major and my favorite breakfast food is pancakes.”

Matthew looks surprised that he was paying attention, even to the last addition of their introduction. Matthew’s not sure he would have known considering he was distracted.

-

And so their friendship starts.

-

Gilbert sits next to him again. And again.

Where ever Matthew sits in the art room, Gilbert follows not too long after.

Some days they take the sitting desks, some they stand and lean against the stools.

And despite not even talking much, Gilbert treats him like a friend.

-

“Do you have any plans this afternoon?”

“Nope, this was my last class.”

“Do you want to get some coffee and work on our sketch books.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

-

Matthew finds himself meeting Gilbert in his downtime. Every Thursday after drawing for three hours becomes the day they meet. At first, all they do is draw, little more.

Gilbert is animated in all moments, but he has short spurts where he focuses exceptionally on his work. Matthew is no art critic, but he thinks Gilbert expresses himself quite well on paper. Graphite, charcoal, and pastels, all the utensils glide easily without a single stroke missing its mark.

Watercolor though, could use some work, which actually happens to be Matthew’s favorite. Even if the intention is to guide the colors with a brush, it’s okay for them to take a life of their own spreading across the thick paper.

They share snacks, art supplies, and their time.

Gilbert proves himself very useful as he promised. Matthew though never planning to be the next Van Gogh, has to pass this class. And it would be nice to pass it with flying colors, but some concepts are harder to grasp than others.

It’s obvious to tell he’s a beginner, while Gilbert excels. Matthew finds out he only now needs the intro class since it’s the first semester it became a requirement.

Gilbert helps him find the shapes he’s comfortable with, explains the processing for hatching and how it relates to shading. And while he’s no expert, he sees a subtle improvement over the next few weeks that makes some pride swell within himself.

-

“Do you want to come with me and my friends to this cool bar for dinner on Friday?” Gilbert asks about a month into the semester.

It’s the first time Gilbert and him will have spent time off campus.

“Yeah, I’d love to.”

-

Gilbert’s friends are just as animated as he, it’s almost hard to keep up. Overwhelming as they are, they’re extremely welcoming. Matthew eases into the atmosphere, joining in when he can but mostly pleased to be out and doing something different.

He’s made friends during his time, but like him they’re a little more reserved and pick quieter places on the town.

It’s fun. And he wants to go out again.

Matthew invites Gilbert and his friends to watch his next hockey game.

After their shock in finding out he plays such a violent sport, they’re all agreeing and planning to find the best seats in the arena.

-

“Are you serious. Are you hiding muscles under that red sweater?”

Gilbert pokes at him, it tickles when he gets closer to his biceps, but he knows he’s only teasing.

“You think I’m playing but I’m serious! You should have been there, well you were there. On the stands, I mean. We all screamed after you sent that player flying against the wall.”

Gilbert recreates the motions, but only slams himself into the wall and whines after he bounces back. He then plays it off like it doesn’t hurt. Gilbert’s not a very good actor.

People tell him it’s so much different watching him on the ice, but it’s still him. He’s always wondered how much different, he feels like himself. He just knows he goes into the zone when he’s in his gear. He just wants to win. And he will.

“It’s like night day,” Gilbert continues. “You were ready to kill a man down there.”

“You’re not the first to say that. I guess maybe, I could be a little more out there in real life, huh?”

Gilbert stops walking.

“Nope.”

“Nope?”

“You’re perfectly fine the way you are. I like the way you are, so don’t go change. I don’t want to be at risk of dying during art class.”

And as silly as it sounds, he’s pleased. He likes Gilbert a whole lot, too. Just the way he is.

-

“Do you want to have dinner with me?” Matthew takes the initiative.

“Dinner?”

“Yeah, just you and me. I want to take you out.”

“Like you did to that guy on the court,” Gilbert laughs nervously.

“On a date. Gilbert, would you like go out with me?”

He says yes.

Later that evening when he’s heading home, Gilbert starts running through the courtyard cheering that “I have a date with the cutest guy I’ve ever met!”

Matthew’s window is open, he’s face is bright red and he slams head first into his pillow. He needs to plan the best first date ever.

-

Three months into dating, he’s finally heading home again for a school break. He wants to take Gilbert with him, who is waiting for the next major holiday to go back home. But isn’t it too soon? They haven’t been dating that long, after all.

But Gilbert surprises him, and jokingly says he wants to go with him because he’ll miss him too much while he’s gone. And then, Matthew asks if he seriously wants to go.

“I do.”

So they ride the 3 hours train down to Matthew’s childhood home. He’s a little bit nervous, because he’s had dates to school dances, and brought friends over, but this is entirely different. This is someone he wants to take a serious step with, even if the time hasn’t been that long. They’ll never get anywhere if they don’t, so they’ll both take the leap and pray it works out.

“Mom, dad, Alfred, this is Gilbert.”

It’s the most timid Matthew’s ever seen him.

“Nice to meet ya, I’m Matthew’s boyfriend.”

After he shakes all their hands, he takes his hand back to link pinkies with Matthew.

There’s not an once of regret in his mind as the long weekend passes.

-

Gilbert graduates the next year, and the year after it’s his turn. They’re going to move in with each other. Gilbert really has no irresistible urge to go back to his home town, satisfied with just visiting a few times a year. And Matthew thinks he would like to go back closer, just to figure out his next move. So, they go together.

It’s only a one bedroom, but is more than enough space for them both. Gilbert finds work as a docent while Matthew works for a second degree in education.

He still plays hockey for a local league, Gilbert becoming their number one fan. They find their own rhythm, a pace that works for them both, where they can settle down or speed up when they agree with each other. Dewey mornings, warm summers, chilly evenings they spend them altogether.

They decide move up North closer to Gilbert’s hometown. Matthew’s more nervous meeting his grandparents than he was introducing Gilbert to his own family, but Gilbert assures him again and again they’re just a stuffy old family who actually really care about each other a lot more than they let off.

Gilbert’s grandfather towers over him, despite being a hair above 6 feet. He’s silent, eyes boring into Matthew as he introduces himself. And to end all of Matthew’s worries, the elder man pulls Matthew into a hug and tells him he’s glad him and Gilbert are home. Gilbert, just as perplexed as he, stares, but he melts into a pleased laugh.

Yeah, this is his and Gilbert’s home now.

-

They stay, for a long while, contemplate moving a few times, but they’re satisfied for now.

Gilbert and him always make time for each other, continue their own respective interests with complete support of the other. They’re never afraid to complain, because they always work through it rather then let it simmer.

Gilbert’s vivacious spirit keep them going, and Matthew’s heart keeps them grounded.

His life at first seem a little bit ordinary, but how can he complain when the pieces of the puzzle fit themselves in and stayed locked in tight.

[lyteupthelyfe]

fun facts abt my newly-started, ongoing twelfth (12th) run of fe3h:

first time making liberal use of the dlc costumes!!!

first time dressing up byleth in the academy uniform + with the glasses!!! the fit suits him so well!!!

first time using the lord class ever

first time running fortress knight/GK dedue ever

first time running falcon knight ingrid

first time running ingrid in actually any physical class ever

3rd time playing normal mode. at this point i’ve run hard twice (runs 2 + 3) and maddening seven times (4, 6-11).

because of this i have caught myself several times anticipating nonexistent poison strike damage and made a fool of myself in ch5 by anticipating that the reinforcements would same-turn move LMAO

i got mad for a hot second because everyone was levelling faster than they were mastering their beginner classes??? (for some reason??? iderk man,,)

BUT

it has also been THE most fun i’ve had in a 3h run for a HOT second (literally since run 4. runs 5-11 were VERY prescriptive abt class promotions and even by halfway through run 11 i was just annoyed at the idea of doing very restrictive runs)

which has made me realise that this run has no reason to not be like. a catharsis run. who CARES if i’m playing on normal/casual ng+?? why should it MATTER to ME of all people if my units are so overpowered, huh!??!? YES i will take my dancer-to-be dimitri with his ng+ hair and YES i will take my brawler felix and archer mercedes. DEDUE WITH AN AXE HAS NEVER FELT SO GOOD.

i take the 3h class system and realise just how BROAD and expansive it is and realise that YES!!!! u can put anyone in ANY class!!! it doesn’t need to be their best class or worst class bc those dont exist!!!! 11 runs have taught me this!!! every unit is good in every class u just gotta take that shit w/ your heart forget the meta forget the memes and eat hero ashe and wyvern lord caspar and valkyrie annette for BREAKFAST bcause there r no rules!!! in any video game!!!

ppl will make videos and tier lists and strategy guides but its all bullshit!!! games dont need to be scientific they exist for you to have fun!!!! i see u funky guys on this webbed site that find maddening hard, or intimidating, or whatever!!! and take it from me, maddening’s just another way to play!!! “uR nOt a ReAL gAMeR iF u cAnT bEAt maddening” smh shush!!! maddening exists for the challenge + reward of beating it but literally nothing else!!! queen u don’t need to put yourself through a gamemode u hate, ever!!! u can spend just as much time putting your guys in the funkiest costumes to completely style on the battlefield!!!

bc i found out that YES what i love most about 3h is a) big numbers but actually ABOVE that its the costumes and outfits u get from class changes!!! post-timeskip dimitri (during pt 1!!!! did u know u can do that on ng+????) never looked so good with gloves, rolled up cuffs, a ponytail and the sexiest blue cape to match!!! put everyone in maid and butler outfits or silly little p.e. uniforms or picnic clothes or whatever mix of literally all of it!!! bc u just can!!!

3h was my “comfort game” but even when i had everyone in the wrong classes, over the six ‘contraclass’ runs on maddening mode it was just a slog!!! the only two class choices that i ever looked forward to were falcon knight lysithea and bow knight manuela!!!! one class for one character on two seperate runs!!! smh!!!!

bc i’ll let y’all know, when i was already close to finishing my 11th run, i VOWED to just…do a run of 3h where i wasn’t beholden to any rules or any standards or ANYTHING!!! and its completely injected a new love of the game into me! the hang-ups and restrictions and high-strungness have been a work-in-progress to get over, but it has been GENUINELY fun!!!

I also recently did like half of cindered shadows again!! it was so fun!! until it wasn’t!! but i put a pause on that go, and might just lower the difficulty!!! because i can!!!

so anyway! don’t ever let you get told by anyone how to play a game!!! find whats fun for you! do what’s fun for you!! bc you can do whatever!!! esp w/ 3 hopes releasing this week! i will SO enjoy wrecking absolute FACE w/ mercedes bc i find her so fun to play!!! will i solo w/ mercedes??? probably! but who cares! i can do it so why shouldn’t i!!!!

Anyway. yeah. fun fact about my twelfth run of three houses? i realised that i could simply have fun in a video game :D

[thiefnessman]

Crow’s List of Some IF I’ve played

I’m just listing off stuff here I’ll probably go more in depth in another post I suppose. this got real long so here we go, in no real logical order:

Birdland: technically the first IF work I played I guess, it’s funny and weird and I’ve played it many times. Stuff in Twine is often good to start out with imo because it’s more like CYOA which is more comfortable.

The Dreamhold: i have no memory of how i even got here in the first place but this was often listed as a good one for beginners bc it guides you through it. It’s got such beautiful descriptions and is very cool, though personally I’d recommend Bronze more for beginners to the text-inputting kind of games. I liked it a lot though, I named my ACNH island after it lol. One thing ppl say a lot about it is that it has all this stuff in it but leaves it unexplained, and while I’d like an explanation I also enjoy that it leaves it open-ended. I’ve only gotten one ending myself bc it took me so long to finish that i didn’t feel like going back and trying to get a new ending but it was a cool ending.

Bronze: someone whose url I forget atm told me this was a good game for beginners and I agree. There are also nice maps available and stuff which is helpful bc I’m bad w spatial awareness (i tried to map dreamhold on my own and it was a disaster). It’s got a good premise and I like Beauty & the beast (idk when i was a kid i loved belle bc she also liked to read!!! and i was in a production of the musical and that was fun) and it’s a cool twist on that and i like the different ending it gives. AFTER you play it you really should read Emily Short’s writeup about the inspiration behind the game and how she plotted it. It’s a good beginner game bc it has a tutorial mode, the puzzles aren’t too difficult (they mainly center around one thing) and it teaches you about things like reexamining rooms, examining things, using the different sense commands, solving puzzles by climbing on things and other stuff.

Shade: This is by the same guy who made The Dreamhold and is highly regarded and considered this really great work for its unnerving and surreal horror. I’m gonna be honest: it didn’t do it for me. Admittedly this was like the second (well, third) IF i played and i didn’t quite know the Tropes and stuff so essentially i felt like i was spamming commands until everything turned into sand, instead of trying to do things only to have the world crumble into sand around me. I don’t feel like replaying it now that I have more experience, but my advice is don’t play it until you’ve played more games, it’s not enjoyable as a newbie.

9:05: another short game that would not be enjoyable as a newbie. the joke is a twist on certain IF tropes and it’s probably not as funny if you’re inexperienced. I recently played this so I enjoyed it, it was funny, but the joke might’ve gotten lost on me if i played it a month ago. Sidenote: I’ve only been playing IF for about a month, so technically I am a newbie, but when I say newbie here i mean really new. Also ive hyperfixated and have nothing better to do so i have played a lot of IF in this short amount of time. 

De Baron: OOOH ok so this game i downloaded a little bit ago, completely forgot all the stuff i read about it (like that there was a twist and stuff) except that it was horror, and then played it. Because of this, and the fact that I’m still no veteran player, I didn’t see the twist coming and it really hit me hard. This is a cool game, upsetting but very intriguing but really not for everyone because it deals with some very disturbing material. I’ve seen people say the twist was obvious which kind of makes me feel stupid :( and like in hindsight when i replayed it i totally saw the hints so basically i think the obviousness of the twist depends on the person! 

Spider and Web: This is not the game for you if you really like the five zillion endings options, theres two (or three?) ‘real endings’ and they are both at the very end of the same path. It does have difficult and interesting puzzles, including this one that it’s famous for. It’s a good puzzle, but don’t let your opinion and enjoyment of the game hinge on this puzzle, bc it’s got other great puzzles and other great stuff going on. Save frequently and DO NOT attempt this without some experience, it’s fucking hard.

Blue Chairs: I didn’t like this game. It was one of the earlier games i played but I just didn’t really like it. it was cool in a mindscrew-y way and it’s got a bunch of endings and a lot to explore but i just didn’t find it fun to play. It took me forever to get several endings and this was probably partially due to inexperience but it just made it unenjoyable for me. Don’t let my experience ruin it for you but personally i just did not like it. It’s a very surreal game bc the PC is literally on drugs. There seems to be a bunch of symbolism and allusion stuff that I didn’t really get but could be cool. basically it is probably a very cool game for some ppl but i didn’t like it.

Galatea: lives up to the hype imo. there’s 70 different endings. It’s not a long game and it is centered around talking to a statue but it is a very interesting game and also one that isn’t that hard. I really like this one.

Glass: by the same person who wrote Bronze, it’s another twist on a fairy tale. It’s very short and you can’t do anything but talk. Another good beginner one because it’s not too complex, and it does a good job with using the reader’s familiarity with the tale. Read her writeup about creating it after you get a few endings it’s interesting. 

Little Blue Men: I just played this one and it’s weird and sinister and has a great built-in hint system. it’s really fucking weird though and like the author says, it doesn’t have a nice neat satisfying ending. 

ok im running out of steam i’ll come back to this later

[belovedfinch]

Re-watch of Veronica Mars & Movie

“I used to be cool” -keith   “when” - veronica

lol veronica putting a bong in logan’s locker

“i suddenly feel like I’m in a scene from the outsiders” - wallace

“be cool soda pop” - veronica 

I love that my favourite book is referenced

“the people you love let you down” - veronica

I forgot paris hilton was on veronica mars 

Duncan and his antidepressants and side effects and hallucinations of lily, I never liked duncan but please never go cold turkey off prescribed meds!

the fashion 😂

when veronica was 12 and logan first saw her he said he thought she was hot - love at first sight ? 😜

dude where’s my car joke

“change had a tendency to walk up and punch me in the face” - veronica

you can tell logan is afraid of his dad straight away 

his mum sits on the couch drinking wine while her son is getting belted cool cool cool cool....

Never underestimate the size of my cahoeneys😂Logan is my fav

“what is so great about living?” - Logan

Mac is awesome, I forgot her name was cindy, I named my cat after my favourite barbie doll whose name was Cindy r.i.p beautiful ❤️

“I guess we remember it differently” - Logan, me to my brother about our childhood

leighton meester, monique coleman from high school musical, Adam Scott!

logan put his gum under a chair in the police office! yuck

“there is also a tribe that worships Donald trumps hair” - veronica

“what, did he loose a puka shell?” - weevil about logan😂

when logan starts crying in the lobby after he mistakes his step-sister as his mum😭

meg with her pretty in pink dress up for the 80s valentines day dance and duncan is ducky❤️

I wish my school had an 80s theme dance, but I would be too indecisive about who to go as tbh.

“whoever said it’s a mans world, didn’t know how easy it is to be a girl” - veronica, you can tell a man wrote that line

horned mascot from riverdale - veronica and calls herself betty when she goes to the other school

kinda forgot how relatable veronica is, loner, pushes people away

that black beanie with the flames

the flashbacks or hallucinations that show lily speak to people/mostly veronica, remind me of allison in pretty little liars

aussie guy - from home and away i think

never really liked duncan

logan punching the fbi agent

love how mac and keith both say “earth to mars”

logan step-sister trina when she asks him for money reminds me of my brother

veronica had a slider and so does wallace in the second season, my sister had a purple one and i wanted it so bad

logan’s smirk at veronica when she found his step-sisters boyfriend

wow aaron’s father being an abuser, then himself, glad the cycle stopped with logan

thats amore playing whilst aaron beats up his daughters abusive boyfriend

I always felt bad for leo as much as I love LoVe. Veronica basically just used him

sean from degrassi is on veronica mars

“i like what i see in him when he’s with you” - aaron echolls

I think i could love her plays as veronica stands logan up on his boat

“the thought of you breeding? ugh” - logan to dick

logan’s allergic to shell fish

“All i care about is you” - logan

“just evaporate or something” - logan

why didn’t aaron get rid of the tapes? did he not think someone would find his secret ?

sucks that veronica spent her savings for college on her mum to go to rehab and her mum didn’t even last

logan on the bridge where his mother committed suicide, about to jump

when keith saves veronica from the fridge and his on fire and his in a gurney and says “who’s your daddy?”

I’m glad she realises her mum as much as she loves her she is better off without her, that’s what alcoholics do, they are liars.

“don’t forget about me veronica” - lily

greenhouse academy has the same cliffhanger as season 1 of veronica mars

logan shows up at 3am beat up and framed for stabbing someone, then he hears on the radio that his father killed his girlfriend and that his father was sleeping with her

it’s was always duncan right? breaking up with logan making any excuse, all because you finally find out your not brother and sister. ugh

like logan said everyone in his life was gone, the one person he opened up to. also left him. Not cool veronica

the bus crash reminds me of degrassi

“you must chill” veronica says to a girl that has just lost her father in a bus crash and is being bullied and blamed just because her dad had mental health issues and the good ol sheriff feeds the press that it might have been a suicide attempt

curly dude washed up on the beach with veronicas name on his hand, is that like twin peaks, or the guy in australia that was found on the beach with something on his hand but they he had no ID and all the tags were off his clothes

PLL writers should take notes on veronica mars on how to tie up loose ends

“what conspiracy have you pulled out of your ass today”- logan

“my day is complete veronica mars has accused me of evil” - logan, as he twists the ends of his imaginary moustache

veronica is very selfish if you think about it, she asks for favours all the time from her friends but she is never there to hear their problems, she thinks the world does actually revolve around her.

lol logan in the line-up

eye roll aaron blaming duncan and then saying he snapped

cameo by that chick off of america’s next top model

aaron got a psychology degree in jail lol

omg able coonz dying thinking his only daughter is alive but she got killed and shoved into an ice machine holder thingy at a stingy motel

lol when veronica lays down onto logan thinking its duncan

“3rd wheel beginners guide” - logan

“nobody likes an eager beaver” logan to cassidy, was rob waiting a whole season to make that joke and thats why the nickname beaver was given to him?

singer maybe billy idol?

I feel like megs death was a crappy ending, like did she just die so that once again duncan and veronica are split up because of circumstance and they are star-crossed true lovers (eye roll)

“whats your poison” - veronica (breakfast club reference)

“sorry we are all out of liquid evil” - veronica to logan

michael cera

when logan pretends to get burned by the bible when interning for woody

gia says logan uses humour and sarcasm to something something, dance episode

we used to be friends along time ago, but i haven’t thought of you lately at all

logan not taking any of his fathers bull shitting when he was on trial on the stand

“So, apparently, if you're handsome and famous enough, you can just lie under oath, and that's cool.” - veronica

when woody finds veronica on the computer he is creepy af

can we just talk about how much logan went through and how mentally that would fuck you up, yet he never resorted to violence

“it was worth getting taped to a poll” - wallace

lol veronicas dad when she graduates

dicks “trust me I’m rich” shirt

keith says “Carol channings still alive isn’t she?” and I’m like no she died 6 days ago

season 3 

don’t like the new intro

“Back ups in charge? what about the bitch he’s been seeing” - V

WHY THE F IS KEITH HELPING CASABLANCAS WHEN CASIDY HIS SON RAPED HIS DAMN DAUGHTER

MAC “hey i know that guy’ (wallace)

there is no one else, i only want you - logan

fracking

victoria from twilight is in a sorority

I love when logan comes over for dinner and he just smirks at keith and veronica’s banter

i forgot logan had a brother

lol the clerk calls condoms “raincoats” so does my great aunty

diana from glee is on here

veronica is pretty selfish, like her dad was in a car accident and she is annoyed and disapproving of him having a relatioship , she can’t just trust logan?!? ugh

but for logan to run away from the burning motel, it’s just what douchebag pukashell wearing logan would do, not the actual logan

holy crap veronica was SOO damn lucky logan was there at that moment she would be baled and raped, like is once not enough for gods sake?

guy from the nanny

when logan calls veronica from the other side of the cafeteria and she ignores it and he is basically crying :(

logan and i broke up , “are you okay?” keith, “it was unexpected” -v wtf bitch you didn’t trust him, you had a fight, how was it unexpected

dude from waynes world

I love the hooker story line, max & wendy aww

I’ve always hated maddison far out she is a piece of work

ep13 “where are your heads?” basketball coach, me “Obviously not in the game”

lol how dick locks logan on the balcony

logan is yoshi in mario cart!! so am i

“how is it you have so many friends? you don’t even like people” v to l

Lafayette from true blood is a child solider

why did logan invite parker to be with him over break when he obviously wasn’t happy or didn’t want her to go, was it just to prove veronica wrong that “that’s just the way he is” like v said is true, to prove that he has changed.

like it just seems logan and veronica are denying their feelings for each other

that writer from once upon a time is in here, he is in everything

mars uses venus razor

oh the logan piz fight…

such a crap ending to an amazing show

movie

I just love the scene where logan is leaning up against the car like jake from 16 candles (i did post a comparison of the two ages ago)

I like how logan went out with the crazy chic, he was so nonchalant about it, because he wanted to pay veronica back for coming back to neptune when he called even though they hadn’t spoken like 10 years.

kind upset that it wasn’t leighton meester that played carrie

comeback always

logan isn’t supposed to remember the epic quote because he was drunk?

I have so much love for logan, I relate to him so much and it was honestly the best day of my life when I met Jason ( i also met percy and michael) he was so kind to me and I gave him a letter I had written and he was just so down to earth.

How else is pumped for the return?!? 

[emsysquared]

Top 10 Things I Learned From Artist Alleys

Hi guys! I thought I’d write a post on some things I’ve learned from selling my own art at artist alleys over the years & talking to fellow artists, as it’s something I’ve wanted to discuss and thought people would be interested. This isn’t really an Artist Alley 101 guide, as I wrote this in mind for both for beginners and veterans, because even if you’ve been tabling for years, there are things about the artist alley scene that can keep changing, or things you never knew about. Hope this helps!

LONG POST IS LONG WARNING

10. Bigger doesn’t always mean better – people keep thinking this, but it’s not always true.

Smaller conventions are easier to talk to attendees/artists because there’s often slow periods, and are good if if they’re local and you need a place to start. You can also get away with having only a few things to sell and if it doesn’t go well it won’t be a huge loss. Smaller cons tend to also have a lower table cost, and because the artist alley is smaller, it’s easier to “stand out”. Probably because of this, I’ve heard some cases where some people have made the same amount of profits from certain small cons vs. big cons, meaning, they actually got more sales per person at the smaller con.

Bigger conventions CAN command big bucks and keep you busier with sales because there’s more attendees and potentially more money to go around. However, they are also more competitive: if all you have is ONE print when everyone else around you has huge displays, you risk people passing by you because they may think you don’t have anything of interest to offer. As an example, maybe at the small con, your Overwatch solo D.Va print was the only one there and it did well, but at a big con, 20 other artists could also have similar D.Va prints and are now competing with each other, which is something you should consider.

Every con is different so when researching, you want to take into consideration the ratio of artist/vendor tables available in conjunction to attendee count, events/guests, and the con environment.

With both cons, if you frequent the same ones, try to keep things fresh and make new stuff or else you risk oversaturating your market and having people come up to your table thinking “I’ve seen that same poster 3 years already, and I already have it. What’s new?”

9. Just because something is popular doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll sell right away – there’s a fine line between “it’s popular so fans will buy it” and “it’s popular but it’s oversaturated because everyone and their mom drew it and it won’t sell unless you differentiate your work from everyone else”. I’d argue if you’re passionate about a series and it just happens to be popular, go for it! You should draw what you like, because it’ll show in how you interact with other fans and the effort you put into it.

If you’re only drawing for the popularity, well, there’s a bit of debate about this. And let’s be honest, some of us need to pay bills. I’ll argue if you ONLY draw whatever is popular to sell out, it can reflect in the quality of your work and make you unmemorable (and you can still risk it not selling), but hey, you do you. But drawing only niche things may also be tricky, since the fans are probably very passionate, but few in number. Sometimes finding a balance between both can work, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide what path you want to take. Most artists start out doing fanart as it’s easier for someone to walk up to your table if they recognize their favorite character than a table full of random OCs standing in a backgroundless void. But that’s not to say originals can’t sell because....

8. Originals sell! Don’t be afraid to make original content – this might shock some of you but original merchandise DOES sell, according to many successful anecdotal stories from artists and art friends who’ve done it, and a lot of people have said it is very rewarding, especially when you consider how prevalent fanart is. However, originals can be harder to sell – it will highly depend on the subject matter you’re drawing and attendees at certain cons may be more or less receptive to them than others, so you may have to try different cons to find your market. What has worked for others may not work for you. You might even need time to develop a consistency with your work so people know what to expect from you.

There are also a few conventions out there, such as Otakon, which do require you to have a certain % of originals when you apply for their artist alley, so there’s that.

7. Have stuff with different price points at your table – my personal opinion is “Do not do print-only tables” but I know there are artists out there who DO command good profits only selling prints and posters of their artwork.

But why I say this is because (especially at anime cons) there are usually younger kids who don’t have much disposable income or don’t have a lot of wall space and thus, can’t always afford big $20 posters, which is where having smaller items like charms and buttons can help as impulse purchases. It may take you 10 purchases of $2 buttons to reach that equivalent amount, but if you do get enough sales they’ll add up. Plus, it’s easier for some people to make use of charms and buttons. 

Prints are still good because the profit margin is better and they're a way for your audience to see your "portfolio" and art style from afar. At larger cons where there’s a sea of artists, having many prints can help others see what you have or help find your table from a distance. Try and stick to common print sizes such as 11x17 inches, 8.5x11, 4x6 or 5x7, mostly on the basis that they’re easier to frame.

One thing - unless you plan on traveling to many conventions in your life, you do NOT need to print 50+ copies of each print if all you do is table at your small local con once a year. You will regret it and be stuck with them until you die (I’m not kidding). Unless a piece has proven to you it’s a best seller, I recommend printing 5-10 copies a print, 2-4 if you aren’t confident. You can always reprint more if they sell well, or replace them with newer prints.

Comic cons I hear are a little different, as their audience is usually older, but I can’t say much about them since I never actually vended at one before.

6. You gotta spend money to make money – You wanna make cool stuff like charms, lanyards, enamel pins? A button maker to make your own buttons? A dealer’s room spot instead of a regular artist alley table? Travel to cons outside your city? Heck, just buying table display stuff and getting new prints? That all costs money, bruh. This might require you save up, and some people I know even use their day job to help fund them to afford nice things. But artist alley IS also a business, and if you want your business to grow, you’ll need to take risks and invest in it. However, know that this should happen gradually over time and NOT overnight. If you literally have no previous experience selling your art and knowing what worked for you, do NOT carelessly throw down money to make every fancy merchandise imaginable.

5. Talk to people and engage with attendees! I say this because I’ve seen quite a few artists who are great at their craft, but aren’t good at business at all. Even if you aren’t confident about your work, still strive to be as professional as possible. And be your own cheerleader/salesman to your art! If the con is slow, don’t ignore customer’s questions by playing mobile games on your phone. People get energy off of you, and if you happen to seem like you hate people, attendees pick up on that. A lot of people who go to anime cons can be introverted/shy as well, so just saying hi and ask how they’re enjoying the con is a good start to engage with them! If you notice they’re cosplaying a character, tell them you like their cosplay or happen to have that character as a button! You’d be surprised some people may not know you offer a product because they overlooked it.

I usually let customers browse the table without bothering them, as people get uncomfortable if you’re being too desperate with sales.

4. Displays and Table Placement matter- Your table placement at a convention can dictate a HUGE majority of your sales, and how you display yourself also counts as well. You could have amazing art, but maybe your table is in some back corner where it’s not getting enough foot traffic compared to the people in the front. Additionally, if you have merchandise hidden behind other merch, other people can’t see it as they walk by. Presentation is important, there are so many possibilities you can do to make your table look nice.

The most common way people display their prints are usually either by using grid cubes, photography stands or PVC pipes with clamps. All of these have their pros and cons, and some artists even use a combination of the 3.

3. Cons are extremely volatile. Artist alley is NOT a place to “get rich quick” – To be blunt (and unfortunately, speaking from personal experience), you can’t predict when you’ll get dicked over by a badly-run con. No two cons are the same, and the same convention can even vary from year to year, depending on things like how it was run by staff, its location, when it was held, etc. At one con, you may sell out of prints. At another, only your commissions do well. Even something as simple as a venue change and increasing the amount of artist/vendor tables can affect sales. You can only prepare as much as you can and hope you survive the rainy days.

I used to think as you got older and sold at more artist alleys, your profits could only go up and boy was I wrong with that notion. The realest piece of advice I’ve learned is seeing seasoned veterans (who are used to making 4-digit profits or artists who have done this for over 7 years) having times where they hit a bad con and don’t even break even. If you’ve never had a terrible con before, you are either very lucky or you have not vended at enough different cons to experience this. 

A lot of different factors can come into play, and while some you can’t control, think of the ones that you can – was your setup bad? What do you see other attendees buying? Or maybe was this your first con in a completely different area and it caught you off guard?  If you feel your art was lacking, don’t lose confidence. Look at it as an opportunity to find yourself again, and work hard on your craft so you can show everyone at your next event “hey, this is the new and improved me! Look at how far I’ve come!”

2. Artist alleys can be stressful and are getting more competitive, but it’s important to develop a thick skin to keep moving on – I should clarify this, AA should NOT be a sea of cutthroat competition because every con has its mix of those starting out, the veterans who have been doing this for 10 years, and everyone else in between. And everyone has something different to bring to the table. However, the fact is… artist alleys are getting competitive each year just to GET IN. At some popular cons, there’s always more applicants than tables available, and you can’t take it personally when 1,000+ people are in a lottery for 90 tables.

As artists, we are always our worst critics as well, just because art can be highly personable to us. There’s a lot of things that can go wrong in the moment. Maybe you got more commissions than you can handle. Your new merchandise didn’t arrive on time. Or you worry your art isn’t “sellable”. All of these can be pretty frustrating and question your self-worth as an artist. But just know you are not alone, all of us have had those moments at least once, maybe even multiple times in our lives. Sometimes you just have to keep marching on, despite things. And if you need time to step away to take a breather, go ahead and take care of yourself first.

1. … But you keep wanting to do them because they are also one of the best experiences you can have as a creative – despite the above, artist alleys have been an integral part of my growth as an artist. Seeing what everyone has to offer has challenged me to keep improving my art and helped me meet fellow artist friends thru our comradery of shared experiences, interests, and stresses. It’s very easy to feel dejected, but if you can keep pushing thru, you’ll probably benefit the most than those who give up at the slightest hint of being butthurt. The artist alley life isn’t exactly easily, but it’s heartwarming when you have moments where “doing what you love” and “drawing what you like” feel like it paid off.

Don’t feel bad if your first shows don’t go logistically or financially great! I never realized how lucky I was that my first AA, I broke even AND made profit, because many apparently don’t. Go into it as an opportunity to market your work, meet other artists and customers, and figure out what people like about your art. Artist alley is not for everyone, but if you find that you’re growing to love it despite the hiccups, keep going! My AA experience isn’t as extensive as others, but I hope with this, this is my way of giving back to the artist alley community that helped me grow as an artist.

 If you’re still worried if you’re “good enough” to do artist alley, here’s my final advice: just do it, bruh. 

[tweakedouttexan]

5 Best Webcam For Streaming 2019 Plus Buyer’s Guide

I am convinced that technology is becoming bigger and bigger part of our lives. Knowing this, we must admit that communication has gone as far as using visual technology when two people are trying to connect. The most important aspect here is playing the webcam. There are a number of things one person can do with the webcam when it is attached to his/her computer. Just by using or installing some software you can do a lot more with your camera than just the regular video calls or checking your make-up or hair. These things sound great, And if you are a guy seeking a webcam for streaming, This Guide: Best Webcam For Streaming 2019, will set you on a right path.

Top 10  Best Webcam For Streaming 2019

# Preview Product Price 1

Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam – Full 1080p HD Camera – Background Replacement Technology for… $72.46 Buy on Amazon 2

Logitech BRIO – Ultra HD Webcam for Video Conferencing, Recording, and Streaming $176.80 Buy on Amazon 3

Pro Stream Webcam 1080P HD Video Auto Focus Camera for Streaming, Game Recording, Conferencing, USB… $59.99 Buy on Amazon 4

Logitech 1080p Pro Stream Webcam for HD Video Streaming and Recording at 1080p 30FPS $84.95 Buy on Amazon 5

Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam 1080P Camera for HD Video Streaming & Recording 720P at 60Fps with… $79.63 Buy on Amazon 6

Spedal Full HD Webcam 1536p, Beauty Live Streaming Webcam, Computer Laptop Camera for OBS Xbox… $42.99 Buy on Amazon 7

Razer Kiyo: Full HD 1080p 30FPS / 720p 60FPS - Built in Adjustable Ring Light - Advanced Autofocus… $87.80 Buy on Amazon 8

Logitech C920S Pro HD Webcam with Privacy Shutter - Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p… $69.99 Buy on Amazon 9

Spedal Full HD Webcam 1080p, Beauty Live Streaming Webcam, Computer Laptop Camera for OBS Xbox… $32.99 Buy on Amazon 10

Dericam 1080P Full HD Live Streaming Webcam, USB Desktop and Laptop Webcam, Mini Plug and Play Video… $24.95 Buy on Amazon

Why You Should Buy a Webcam

You can get your own camera for the price of 50$ up to 100$, and there are many places where you can get them. If you are asking yourself what are the cool things you can do with your camera here are some examples that might help you: •    You can use your camera as a surveillance system in your home or even your office. •    You can use your face to log in to windows. •    Optical character recognition. •    You can create cool time lapse videos. •    Turning your boring PC into a photo booth. •    You can use it to watch the birds that visit your bird feeder. •    You can even create your own fonts. •    You can do live streaming. •    You can use it to make your gaming sessions more fun.

How I Picked These Top 5 Webcam for Streaming

When it comes to streaming cameras I have 5 favorites that happened to be liked by other users as well. The first one is Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 with its 1080p Camera. The second one is Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam, then the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000, then the Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam and the last, but not least, is Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910.

Top 5 Picks Reviews: Choose Your Best Webcam For Streaming

All of these webcams have 1080p camera, which is probably the main reason why I picked them. Another important thing when choosing a webcam is how fast and compatible with most of the computers they are and these 5 stand strong on that point. You will also want a camera that is easy to use, so easy that even beginners can use it, out of all these 5 the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 is probably the easiest to use. Of course, when I invest my money in something I want quality products and all five of these have great quality for a relatively fair price. Another thing is that these five webcams have similar design and they are easy to install on the monitor. Therefore, low price, great picture, good sound, handling dark and light settings with ease, fast installation, looks good on your monitor what else can you ask for a fairly priced webcam? For me personally, these are the main characteristics that I look for when I buy a webcam.

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 Reviews

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 has no bounds with self-expression. No matter if you use it for Skype or video blogs, this webcam will offer you lifelike HD picture. For Skype video calls this camera offers you full HD 1080p up to 1920 x 1080 pixels same as the video recordings. This webcam also has built-in microphones, which has an automatic noise reduction and that will ensure natural stereo sound. The webcam has a lens that has a five-element glass with very precise auto-focus that will give you amazingly clear and detailed picture. It also has a low-light correction and it can be used with a tripod and it has a universal clip for LCD monitor and laptops. This webcam is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 or later, Mac OS 10.6 or later, Android v 5.0 or above, Chrome OS, Available USB port, and Internet connection.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People, who have bought this webcam, say that it is more than what they expected from a webcam that does not cost much. They are surprised by the quality and the wide view that this webcam offers. Another thing that the users like is that you are able to adjust focus, color, white balance, zoom and so on, the way you prefer it. Buyers are also pleased with this webcam’s monitor mouth, which can be clamped at any monitor. Probably the biggest pro for this webcam will be the low cost, and then the quality and clarity of the view and that it can be put on any monitor. The only con might be the auto-focus meaning  when you use this camera for streaming the auto-focus will constantly try to find focus and that might make the stream unwatchable.

The Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam Reviews

The Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam is the webcam you need if you what your YouTube or Twitch videos to have a professional quality. The recordings or the stream will have a very lifelike view with this webcam with its HD 1080P video at 30Fps/ 720P at 60FPS. This webcam has full HD glass lens with premium auto-focus that will give you clear video. This product also has built-in microphones that will capture the voice in rich Stereo Audio. You do not have to worry if you are recording in dim or poorly backlit settings as this webcam has an automatic light correction.�� For all the streamers out there by purchasing this webcam you will receive, for free, a six-month Xsplip license, an app that can help you make your streams as professional looking as possible.  If you are streaming games, lagging will never be an issue with the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. The performances that this webcam offers will simply give you a quality that will raise you above the others and that will be possible from your very own home. The webcam also has technology that offers background replacement and you can use it without the need for a green screen.  This webcam is compatible with Windows 7-10, Mac OS X 10.9 or later, Chrome OS, and Android v5.0 and above, all you will need to start broadcasting is a USB port.

People find it easy to set up this webcam and they are very pleased with the quality of the view. The con would be that some people have experienced difficulty when streaming music due to the sound phasing when you use it in stereo.  Anyhow, once you figure out how to work with this webcam the possibilities that it offers are endless.

The Microsoft Life Cam HD-300 Reviews

The Microsoft Life Cam HD-3000 offers you a widescreen with 720p HD recording and video chat. The built-in microphone has noise reduction, which is always a good thing. Thanks to the True Color technology your videos will be colorful and bright. You can attach it to any laptop, desktop or notebook thanks to the universal attachment base. As its manufacturer would say ‘your picture or video is worth 1,000 texts’ and this webcam will interpret that with HD view. Another thing is that this camera is easy to use that you do not have to be a professional to make good videos.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

Users have reported that you get your money worth with this webcam. They are satisfied with the clarity of the picture, as well as with the wide angle lens which allows for a better picture. Users have noticed that this webcam handles dark and light settings with ease and the attachment that comes with it is easy to put on any monitor without damaging it.  The video is stutter free on record and the microphone offers crystal clear audio. There have been noticed some flows like Windows 7 might not support this webcam and so far there has not been found a solution for this problem. Also, some people have reported that the webcam is not compatible with Windows 10. Knowing that this is a relatively cheap camera you cannot expect a long working period, but it is a good webcam that, for a low cost, can give you a good starting point with your streaming hobby.

Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam Reviews

The Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam is a business grade HD video webcam that offers full 1080p HD videos at 30 frames per second for the purposes such video conferences on your PC or Mac. This camera has the widest field of view of 90 degrees and it is the perfect tool for face to face video collaboration or whiteboard presentations in any office. This camera comes with a universal clip that fits laptops, CRT or LCD monitors. The webcam has HD 1080p H.264/SVC UVC 1.5 encoding, this frees up system bandwidth and your video stream will be smoother by putting video processing in the camera. Other features are pan, zoom and tilt functions as well as the advanced light correction technology which will deliver you the best video experience that you can ever fish for. The autofocus is smooth and it will keep your video image razor-sharp, even in close up situations. This webcam is compatible with Microsoft Lync 2013 and Skype and it is compatible with the of most UC and web conferencing applications.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People who have bought this camera are pleasantly surprised by how wide the screen actually is. Another pleasant feature, that its users found, is how professional the image looks with this camera and no need to mention that the clarity of the image was impeccable. When it comes to this webcam’s flows some users have noticed that the autofocus can get jumpy at times. Every single time something moves the camera will try to readjust the focus and you end up with a few frames of defocus before everything becomes sharp again. You can get around this issue by setting the focus to manual.  Also, the camera sometimes might not be recognized by your computer even after you have unplugged it and restart it several times. And finally, some of the users have found that the sound is not so great and the recording capacity of the microphone is poor.

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 Reviews

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 has a Logitech Fluid Crystal

Technology which gives you Full HD 1080p video recording and smooth HD 720p video calling. With this webcam, it will take you only click to upload a video on either YouTube or Facebook. The webcam also has 5 MP HD sensor and precision Carl Zeiss lens. For crystal clear videos and awesome 1- MP photos this webcam has autofocus and an intelligent auto light correction. The built-in microphones have noise-canceling properties which will make your sound be heard in clear and rich HD quality dual stereo.  This webcam works with Logitech Vid HD, Yahoo Messenger, Microsoft Live Messenger and Skype. The wide HD 720p screen will is with no doubt a nice feature.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People that had the chance to try this product have reported that the installation is very quick and easy and they find the menu easy to understand. Users are also satisfied with how sharp the picture is with this webcam and the longevity of the camera is also quite long. The users have also noticed that the built-in microphones are capable of picking up even the quiet voices. About the flaws, some have noticed that the quality of the picture is not as good when they have used the webcam for video chats. Also, the clip that comes with the camera might not fit some laptop monitors.

If I Were You, I Will Choose Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam, Here Are the Reasons

Now comes the question which one out of these five should you buy. Since we are mainly interested in streaming my personal favorite is the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. This is the webcam that will make your videos look very professional, even if you are only a beginner. The audio is impeccable and it will capture even the quiet voices and the auto-focus will make every frame look crystal clear. Plus, we can forget that by purchasing this webcam you will receive, for free, a six-month Xsplip license, this the app that can help you make your streams as professional looking as possible. So, if you are about to start career or hobby with streaming, this is the webcam that I would strongly recommend for you.

5 Important Features when Choosing a Webcam

The functionality of the camera you choose has a direct correlation with the sum of money you are ready to spend on that camera. Naturally, if you need a webcam for the sole purpose of video chatting with your friends and family, then you will need one that cost less and that does not have high quality. But, if you are in search of a webcam for professional purposes, then you might want to check one with functionality such as video conferencing, because those are the ones that offer more features and higher picture quality.

The market is offering thousands of different webcams that have different sizes, shapes, prices, and specifications. Here are the 5 main tips you should pay attention to, and that will help you select the one that will meet your own needs:

The megapixels – Those tiny color dots that when they are combined they make the resulting visual picture are named megapixels. Naturally, the more megapixels one webcam has the more vivid and clear picture it will deliver. Nowadays, there is no big issue with the quantity of megapixels as there have been in the earlier period. The majority webcams on the market today are providing a realistic image quality. You are advised to for one that has 640X480 or 320X240 pixels as it will give you a good picture. You should pick a better specification for your webcam of 1280X720 pixels if you have the HD functionality.

The frame rate – First we saw that the megapixels are responsible for the image and its color vividness, and the frame rate is the one responsible for the smoothness and quality of the video. The amount of images that are displayed per second is decided by the frame rate. For a webcam that you will need for standard use 30fps (or frames per second) is more than fitting for you. But, those who are looking for with higher quality moving image and also one that is smoother should pick a webcam with the capabilities of 60 frames per second.

The lens quality – the video processing comes in stages and the first one is the lens. Naturally, it is very important for you to buy the exact lens to cater to your needs. Here you are advised to get a webcam with glass lens and not with plastic one because the glass one has more quality.

The continuous autofocus – Many times you will want to record with your camera scenario where there is a significant amount of movement in the background and the autofocus will enable the webcam to maintain you as the central focus and not diverting to another movement inside the frame.

The low light quality – You will with no doubt end up with very poor image quality if you use your camera in low light surroundings or in the evenings. In case you try interfering with the screen contrast and brightness, you will create a foggy and continued bad image on the screen. Some of the Logitech webcams have created ‘Right Light’ in the webcam. This will enable the image quality to be optimized in the reduced light conditions.

Other important thing you should consider when you use a webcam is your Internet connection’s speed. The speed of your computer processor and Input/Output ability is also an important issue. The video images take up lots of the capacity of the computer’s communications, therefore the faster it is the better it will work. I would suggest the fastest broadband speed you can find for the money you have, to avoid jumpy, start and stop video images. A lot people have bought webcams and very soon have faced a disappointment because of the bad video quality that resulted from the communications and computer limitations.

Choosing Webcam? It’s your turn now!

Just like when you want to buy a computer, there are many models of webcams available on the market. The prices start from low and very affordable to extremely pricey ones. You have to figure out what you need and want from your webcam so that you will not end up buying some extra features that will cost you more and you will never need to use.

What You Definitely Need

You need to pay attention to the webcam’s resolution; you will want one with high resolution. If you buy one with a lower resolution you will end up with an image that will look grainier on other’s screens. Your starting point for a good resolution should be 640 x 480.

Just like with the resolution the frame rate is also crucial, so you should look for a high FR. The reason for this is that high frame rates mean that the webcam will produce images will not periodically freeze or stutter on the viewer’s screens. Just look on the webcam’s packaging and find the fps (frames per second) a good frame rate starts at 15 fps and above. The higher you go the better you streams will be. Try to get as close as you can to 30 fps if you can afford higher than that it’s going to be even better for you.

What You Should Get

When it comes to the lens of the webcam you should always go for the glass lenses and try to avoid the plastic ones. This is because the glass ones will offer you a better performance and the price for them is not so much higher than the plastic ones. Needless to say, the lens is a crucial feature for the webcam’s performance.

If you are going to use your webcam in a room with a poor light that the auto-focusing, as well as the auto light adjustment, are the technologies that will come very handy to you.

Other standard webcam features are the ability to take still images and the built-in microphone. Also, make sure that the webcam you choose is able to take at least 2.0 megapixels images.

Bells and Whistles

Some webcams come with the feature like motion sensor and this is useful if you want to use your webcam as a security system. This feature can be built into the webcam or you can later download the software for it.

Some webcams have the abilities that include special and video effects; this will come handy if you want to include those kinds of things into your streams and videos. These features can also be downloaded as software.

High-Def Considerations

Another popular feature that a webcam can have is the ability to capture videos in high-definition. This feature will come handy if you plan to use your webcam for video streams to the YouTube or Twitch sites. You must be aware that this feature will also make the webcam cost a lot more; therefore, if you do not need it then it is better to not spend your money on it. Capturing video in 720p or higher is considered to be an HD.

What You Should Get

You will want a webcam with high resolution and high FR fir better images that do not tend to freeze or stutter. A glass lens for better performance alongside with auto-focusing and auto light adjustment. Your webcam should be able to take at least 2.0 megapixels images and to have a built-in microphone.

Pricing

When it comes to the prices, just like I mentioned above, they can be from very affordable to the high-end ones. Usually, the prices start from $9.97 and go up to $299 on websites like Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com. What you must figure out is exactly what you want and need from your webcam so that you will not end up buying or not buying the features that you need or don’t need.

Conclusion

Read 5 Best Webcam For Streaming 2019 Plus Buyer’s Guide on Game Roe.

source https://www.gameroe.com/best-webcam-for-streaming source https://sheepmone.tumblr.com/post/183955438267

[ken-harrison]

5 Best Webcam For Streaming 2019 Plus Buyer’s Guide

I am convinced that technology is becoming bigger and bigger part of our lives. Knowing this, we must admit that communication has gone as far as using visual technology when two people are trying to connect. The most important aspect here is playing the webcam. There are a number of things one person can do with the webcam when it is attached to his/her computer. Just by using or installing some software you can do a lot more with your camera than just the regular video calls or checking your make-up or hair. These things sound great, And if you are a guy seeking a webcam for streaming, This Guide: Best Webcam For Streaming 2019, will set you on a right path.

Top 10  Best Webcam For Streaming 2019

# Preview Product Price 1

Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam – Full 1080p HD Camera – Background Replacement Technology for… $72.46 Buy on Amazon 2

Logitech BRIO – Ultra HD Webcam for Video Conferencing, Recording, and Streaming $176.80 Buy on Amazon 3

Pro Stream Webcam 1080P HD Video Auto Focus Camera for Streaming, Game Recording, Conferencing, USB… $59.99 Buy on Amazon 4

Logitech 1080p Pro Stream Webcam for HD Video Streaming and Recording at 1080p 30FPS $84.95 Buy on Amazon 5

Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam 1080P Camera for HD Video Streaming & Recording 720P at 60Fps with… $79.63 Buy on Amazon 6

Spedal Full HD Webcam 1536p, Beauty Live Streaming Webcam, Computer Laptop Camera for OBS Xbox… $42.99 Buy on Amazon 7

Razer Kiyo: Full HD 1080p 30FPS / 720p 60FPS - Built in Adjustable Ring Light - Advanced Autofocus… $87.80 Buy on Amazon 8

Logitech C920S Pro HD Webcam with Privacy Shutter - Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p… $69.99 Buy on Amazon 9

Spedal Full HD Webcam 1080p, Beauty Live Streaming Webcam, Computer Laptop Camera for OBS Xbox… $32.99 Buy on Amazon 10

Dericam 1080P Full HD Live Streaming Webcam, USB Desktop and Laptop Webcam, Mini Plug and Play Video… $24.95 Buy on Amazon

Why You Should Buy a Webcam

You can get your own camera for the price of 50$ up to 100$, and there are many places where you can get them. If you are asking yourself what are the cool things you can do with your camera here are some examples that might help you: •    You can use your camera as a surveillance system in your home or even your office. •    You can use your face to log in to windows. •    Optical character recognition. •    You can create cool time lapse videos. •    Turning your boring PC into a photo booth. •    You can use it to watch the birds that visit your bird feeder. •    You can even create your own fonts. •    You can do live streaming. •    You can use it to make your gaming sessions more fun.

How I Picked These Top 5 Webcam for Streaming

When it comes to streaming cameras I have 5 favorites that happened to be liked by other users as well. The first one is Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 with its 1080p Camera. The second one is Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam, then the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000, then the Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam and the last, but not least, is Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910.

Top 5 Picks Reviews: Choose Your Best Webcam For Streaming

All of these webcams have 1080p camera, which is probably the main reason why I picked them. Another important thing when choosing a webcam is how fast and compatible with most of the computers they are and these 5 stand strong on that point. You will also want a camera that is easy to use, so easy that even beginners can use it, out of all these 5 the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 is probably the easiest to use. Of course, when I invest my money in something I want quality products and all five of these have great quality for a relatively fair price. Another thing is that these five webcams have similar design and they are easy to install on the monitor. Therefore, low price, great picture, good sound, handling dark and light settings with ease, fast installation, looks good on your monitor what else can you ask for a fairly priced webcam? For me personally, these are the main characteristics that I look for when I buy a webcam.

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 Reviews

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 has no bounds with self-expression. No matter if you use it for Skype or video blogs, this webcam will offer you lifelike HD picture. For Skype video calls this camera offers you full HD 1080p up to 1920 x 1080 pixels same as the video recordings. This webcam also has built-in microphones, which has an automatic noise reduction and that will ensure natural stereo sound. The webcam has a lens that has a five-element glass with very precise auto-focus that will give you amazingly clear and detailed picture. It also has a low-light correction and it can be used with a tripod and it has a universal clip for LCD monitor and laptops. This webcam is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 or later, Mac OS 10.6 or later, Android v 5.0 or above, Chrome OS, Available USB port, and Internet connection.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People, who have bought this webcam, say that it is more than what they expected from a webcam that does not cost much. They are surprised by the quality and the wide view that this webcam offers. Another thing that the users like is that you are able to adjust focus, color, white balance, zoom and so on, the way you prefer it. Buyers are also pleased with this webcam’s monitor mouth, which can be clamped at any monitor. Probably the biggest pro for this webcam will be the low cost, and then the quality and clarity of the view and that it can be put on any monitor. The only con might be the auto-focus meaning  when you use this camera for streaming the auto-focus will constantly try to find focus and that might make the stream unwatchable.

The Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam Reviews

The Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam is the webcam you need if you what your YouTube or Twitch videos to have a professional quality. The recordings or the stream will have a very lifelike view with this webcam with its HD 1080P video at 30Fps/ 720P at 60FPS. This webcam has full HD glass lens with premium auto-focus that will give you clear video. This product also has built-in microphones that will capture the voice in rich Stereo Audio. You do not have to worry if you are recording in dim or poorly backlit settings as this webcam has an automatic light correction.  For all the streamers out there by purchasing this webcam you will receive, for free, a six-month Xsplip license, an app that can help you make your streams as professional looking as possible.  If you are streaming games, lagging will never be an issue with the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. The performances that this webcam offers will simply give you a quality that will raise you above the others and that will be possible from your very own home. The webcam also has technology that offers background replacement and you can use it without the need for a green screen.  This webcam is compatible with Windows 7-10, Mac OS X 10.9 or later, Chrome OS, and Android v5.0 and above, all you will need to start broadcasting is a USB port.

People find it easy to set up this webcam and they are very pleased with the quality of the view. The con would be that some people have experienced difficulty when streaming music due to the sound phasing when you use it in stereo.  Anyhow, once you figure out how to work with this webcam the possibilities that it offers are endless.

The Microsoft Life Cam HD-300 Reviews

The Microsoft Life Cam HD-3000 offers you a widescreen with 720p HD recording and video chat. The built-in microphone has noise reduction, which is always a good thing. Thanks to the True Color technology your videos will be colorful and bright. You can attach it to any laptop, desktop or notebook thanks to the universal attachment base. As its manufacturer would say ‘your picture or video is worth 1,000 texts’ and this webcam will interpret that with HD view. Another thing is that this camera is easy to use that you do not have to be a professional to make good videos.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

Users have reported that you get your money worth with this webcam. They are satisfied with the clarity of the picture, as well as with the wide angle lens which allows for a better picture. Users have noticed that this webcam handles dark and light settings with ease and the attachment that comes with it is easy to put on any monitor without damaging it.  The video is stutter free on record and the microphone offers crystal clear audio. There have been noticed some flows like Windows 7 might not support this webcam and so far there has not been found a solution for this problem. Also, some people have reported that the webcam is not compatible with Windows 10. Knowing that this is a relatively cheap camera you cannot expect a long working period, but it is a good webcam that, for a low cost, can give you a good starting point with your streaming hobby.

Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam Reviews

The Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam is a business grade HD video webcam that offers full 1080p HD videos at 30 frames per second for the purposes such video conferences on your PC or Mac. This camera has the widest field of view of 90 degrees and it is the perfect tool for face to face video collaboration or whiteboard presentations in any office. This camera comes with a universal clip that fits laptops, CRT or LCD monitors. The webcam has HD 1080p H.264/SVC UVC 1.5 encoding, this frees up system bandwidth and your video stream will be smoother by putting video processing in the camera. Other features are pan, zoom and tilt functions as well as the advanced light correction technology which will deliver you the best video experience that you can ever fish for. The autofocus is smooth and it will keep your video image razor-sharp, even in close up situations. This webcam is compatible with Microsoft Lync 2013 and Skype and it is compatible with the of most UC and web conferencing applications.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People who have bought this camera are pleasantly surprised by how wide the screen actually is. Another pleasant feature, that its users found, is how professional the image looks with this camera and no need to mention that the clarity of the image was impeccable. When it comes to this webcam’s flows some users have noticed that the autofocus can get jumpy at times. Every single time something moves the camera will try to readjust the focus and you end up with a few frames of defocus before everything becomes sharp again. You can get around this issue by setting the focus to manual.  Also, the camera sometimes might not be recognized by your computer even after you have unplugged it and restart it several times. And finally, some of the users have found that the sound is not so great and the recording capacity of the microphone is poor.

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 Reviews

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 has a Logitech Fluid Crystal

Technology which gives you Full HD 1080p video recording and smooth HD 720p video calling. With this webcam, it will take you only click to upload a video on either YouTube or Facebook. The webcam also has 5 MP HD sensor and precision Carl Zeiss lens. For crystal clear videos and awesome 1- MP photos this webcam has autofocus and an intelligent auto light correction. The built-in microphones have noise-canceling properties which will make your sound be heard in clear and rich HD quality dual stereo.  This webcam works with Logitech Vid HD, Yahoo Messenger, Microsoft Live Messenger and Skype. The wide HD 720p screen will is with no doubt a nice feature.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People that had the chance to try this product have reported that the installation is very quick and easy and they find the menu easy to understand. Users are also satisfied with how sharp the picture is with this webcam and the longevity of the camera is also quite long. The users have also noticed that the built-in microphones are capable of picking up even the quiet voices. About the flaws, some have noticed that the quality of the picture is not as good when they have used the webcam for video chats. Also, the clip that comes with the camera might not fit some laptop monitors.

If I Were You, I Will Choose Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam, Here Are the Reasons

Now comes the question which one out of these five should you buy. Since we are mainly interested in streaming my personal favorite is the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. This is the webcam that will make your videos look very professional, even if you are only a beginner. The audio is impeccable and it will capture even the quiet voices and the auto-focus will make every frame look crystal clear. Plus, we can forget that by purchasing this webcam you will receive, for free, a six-month Xsplip license, this the app that can help you make your streams as professional looking as possible. So, if you are about to start career or hobby with streaming, this is the webcam that I would strongly recommend for you.

5 Important Features when Choosing a Webcam

The functionality of the camera you choose has a direct correlation with the sum of money you are ready to spend on that camera. Naturally, if you need a webcam for the sole purpose of video chatting with your friends and family, then you will need one that cost less and that does not have high quality. But, if you are in search of a webcam for professional purposes, then you might want to check one with functionality such as video conferencing, because those are the ones that offer more features and higher picture quality.

The market is offering thousands of different webcams that have different sizes, shapes, prices, and specifications. Here are the 5 main tips you should pay attention to, and that will help you select the one that will meet your own needs:

The megapixels – Those tiny color dots that when they are combined they make the resulting visual picture are named megapixels. Naturally, the more megapixels one webcam has the more vivid and clear picture it will deliver. Nowadays, there is no big issue with the quantity of megapixels as there have been in the earlier period. The majority webcams on the market today are providing a realistic image quality. You are advised to for one that has 640X480 or 320X240 pixels as it will give you a good picture. You should pick a better specification for your webcam of 1280X720 pixels if you have the HD functionality.

The frame rate – First we saw that the megapixels are responsible for the image and its color vividness, and the frame rate is the one responsible for the smoothness and quality of the video. The amount of images that are displayed per second is decided by the frame rate. For a webcam that you will need for standard use 30fps (or frames per second) is more than fitting for you. But, those who are looking for with higher quality moving image and also one that is smoother should pick a webcam with the capabilities of 60 frames per second.

The lens quality – the video processing comes in stages and the first one is the lens. Naturally, it is very important for you to buy the exact lens to cater to your needs. Here you are advised to get a webcam with glass lens and not with plastic one because the glass one has more quality.

The continuous autofocus – Many times you will want to record with your camera scenario where there is a significant amount of movement in the background and the autofocus will enable the webcam to maintain you as the central focus and not diverting to another movement inside the frame.

The low light quality – You will with no doubt end up with very poor image quality if you use your camera in low light surroundings or in the evenings. In case you try interfering with the screen contrast and brightness, you will create a foggy and continued bad image on the screen. Some of the Logitech webcams have created ‘Right Light’ in the webcam. This will enable the image quality to be optimized in the reduced light conditions.

Other important thing you should consider when you use a webcam is your Internet connection’s speed. The speed of your computer processor and Input/Output ability is also an important issue. The video images take up lots of the capacity of the computer’s communications, therefore the faster it is the better it will work. I would suggest the fastest broadband speed you can find for the money you have, to avoid jumpy, start and stop video images. A lot people have bought webcams and very soon have faced a disappointment because of the bad video quality that resulted from the communications and computer limitations.

Choosing Webcam? It’s your turn now!

Just like when you want to buy a computer, there are many models of webcams available on the market. The prices start from low and very affordable to extremely pricey ones. You have to figure out what you need and want from your webcam so that you will not end up buying some extra features that will cost you more and you will never need to use.

What You Definitely Need

You need to pay attention to the webcam’s resolution; you will want one with high resolution. If you buy one with a lower resolution you will end up with an image that will look grainier on other’s screens. Your starting point for a good resolution should be 640 x 480.

Just like with the resolution the frame rate is also crucial, so you should look for a high FR. The reason for this is that high frame rates mean that the webcam will produce images will not periodically freeze or stutter on the viewer’s screens. Just look on the webcam’s packaging and find the fps (frames per second) a good frame rate starts at 15 fps and above. The higher you go the better you streams will be. Try to get as close as you can to 30 fps if you can afford higher than that it’s going to be even better for you.

What You Should Get

When it comes to the lens of the webcam you should always go for the glass lenses and try to avoid the plastic ones. This is because the glass ones will offer you a better performance and the price for them is not so much higher than the plastic ones. Needless to say, the lens is a crucial feature for the webcam’s performance.

If you are going to use your webcam in a room with a poor light that the auto-focusing, as well as the auto light adjustment, are the technologies that will come very handy to you.

Other standard webcam features are the ability to take still images and the built-in microphone. Also, make sure that the webcam you choose is able to take at least 2.0 megapixels images.

Bells and Whistles

Some webcams come with the feature like motion sensor and this is useful if you want to use your webcam as a security system. This feature can be built into the webcam or you can later download the software for it.

Some webcams have the abilities that include special and video effects; this will come handy if you want to include those kinds of things into your streams and videos. These features can also be downloaded as software.

High-Def Considerations

Another popular feature that a webcam can have is the ability to capture videos in high-definition. This feature will come handy if you plan to use your webcam for video streams to the YouTube or Twitch sites. You must be aware that this feature will also make the webcam cost a lot more; therefore, if you do not need it then it is better to not spend your money on it. Capturing video in 720p or higher is considered to be an HD.

What You Should Get

You will want a webcam with high resolution and high FR fir better images that do not tend to freeze or stutter. A glass lens for better performance alongside with auto-focusing and auto light adjustment. Your webcam should be able to take at least 2.0 megapixels images and to have a built-in microphone.

Pricing

When it comes to the prices, just like I mentioned above, they can be from very affordable to the high-end ones. Usually, the prices start from $9.97 and go up to $299 on websites like Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com. What you must figure out is exactly what you want and need from your webcam so that you will not end up buying or not buying the features that you need or don’t need.

Conclusion

Read 5 Best Webcam For Streaming 2019 Plus Buyer’s Guide on Game Roe.

source https://www.gameroe.com/best-webcam-for-streaming source https://sheepmone.tumblr.com/post/183955438267

[cecilvandekamp]

5 Best Webcam For Streaming 2019 Plus Buyer’s Guide

I am convinced that technology is becoming bigger and bigger part of our lives. Knowing this, we must admit that communication has gone as far as using visual technology when two people are trying to connect. The most important aspect here is playing the webcam. There are a number of things one person can do with the webcam when it is attached to his/her computer. Just by using or installing some software you can do a lot more with your camera than just the regular video calls or checking your make-up or hair. These things sound great, And if you are a guy seeking a webcam for streaming, This Guide: Best Webcam For Streaming 2019, will set you on a right path.

Top 10  Best Webcam For Streaming 2019

# Preview Product Price 1

Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam – Full 1080p HD Camera – Background Replacement Technology for… $72.46 Buy on Amazon 2

Logitech BRIO – Ultra HD Webcam for Video Conferencing, Recording, and Streaming $176.80 Buy on Amazon 3

Pro Stream Webcam 1080P HD Video Auto Focus Camera for Streaming, Game Recording, Conferencing, USB… $59.99 Buy on Amazon 4

Logitech 1080p Pro Stream Webcam for HD Video Streaming and Recording at 1080p 30FPS $84.95 Buy on Amazon 5

Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam 1080P Camera for HD Video Streaming & Recording 720P at 60Fps with… $79.63 Buy on Amazon 6

Spedal Full HD Webcam 1536p, Beauty Live Streaming Webcam, Computer Laptop Camera for OBS Xbox… $42.99 Buy on Amazon 7

Razer Kiyo: Full HD 1080p 30FPS / 720p 60FPS - Built in Adjustable Ring Light - Advanced Autofocus… $87.80 Buy on Amazon 8

Logitech C920S Pro HD Webcam with Privacy Shutter - Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p… $69.99 Buy on Amazon 9

Spedal Full HD Webcam 1080p, Beauty Live Streaming Webcam, Computer Laptop Camera for OBS Xbox… $32.99 Buy on Amazon 10

Dericam 1080P Full HD Live Streaming Webcam, USB Desktop and Laptop Webcam, Mini Plug and Play Video… $24.95 Buy on Amazon

Why You Should Buy a Webcam

You can get your own camera for the price of 50$ up to 100$, and there are many places where you can get them. If you are asking yourself what are the cool things you can do with your camera here are some examples that might help you: •    You can use your camera as a surveillance system in your home or even your office. •    You can use your face to log in to windows. •    Optical character recognition. •    You can create cool time lapse videos. •    Turning your boring PC into a photo booth. •    You can use it to watch the birds that visit your bird feeder. •    You can even create your own fonts. •    You can do live streaming. •    You can use it to make your gaming sessions more fun.

How I Picked These Top 5 Webcam for Streaming

When it comes to streaming cameras I have 5 favorites that happened to be liked by other users as well. The first one is Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 with its 1080p Camera. The second one is Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam, then the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000, then the Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam and the last, but not least, is Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910.

Top 5 Picks Reviews: Choose Your Best Webcam For Streaming

All of these webcams have 1080p camera, which is probably the main reason why I picked them. Another important thing when choosing a webcam is how fast and compatible with most of the computers they are and these 5 stand strong on that point. You will also want a camera that is easy to use, so easy that even beginners can use it, out of all these 5 the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 is probably the easiest to use. Of course, when I invest my money in something I want quality products and all five of these have great quality for a relatively fair price. Another thing is that these five webcams have similar design and they are easy to install on the monitor. Therefore, low price, great picture, good sound, handling dark and light settings with ease, fast installation, looks good on your monitor what else can you ask for a fairly priced webcam? For me personally, these are the main characteristics that I look for when I buy a webcam.

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 Reviews

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 has no bounds with self-expression. No matter if you use it for Skype or video blogs, this webcam will offer you lifelike HD picture. For Skype video calls this camera offers you full HD 1080p up to 1920 x 1080 pixels same as the video recordings. This webcam also has built-in microphones, which has an automatic noise reduction and that will ensure natural stereo sound. The webcam has a lens that has a five-element glass with very precise auto-focus that will give you amazingly clear and detailed picture. It also has a low-light correction and it can be used with a tripod and it has a universal clip for LCD monitor and laptops. This webcam is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 or later, Mac OS 10.6 or later, Android v 5.0 or above, Chrome OS, Available USB port, and Internet connection.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People, who have bought this webcam, say that it is more than what they expected from a webcam that does not cost much. They are surprised by the quality and the wide view that this webcam offers. Another thing that the users like is that you are able to adjust focus, color, white balance, zoom and so on, the way you prefer it. Buyers are also pleased with this webcam’s monitor mouth, which can be clamped at any monitor. Probably the biggest pro for this webcam will be the low cost, and then the quality and clarity of the view and that it can be put on any monitor. The only con might be the auto-focus meaning  when you use this camera for streaming the auto-focus will constantly try to find focus and that might make the stream unwatchable.

The Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam Reviews

The Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam is the webcam you need if you what your YouTube or Twitch videos to have a professional quality. The recordings or the stream will have a very lifelike view with this webcam with its HD 1080P video at 30Fps/ 720P at 60FPS. This webcam has full HD glass lens with premium auto-focus that will give you clear video. This product also has built-in microphones that will capture the voice in rich Stereo Audio. You do not have to worry if you are recording in dim or poorly backlit settings as this webcam has an automatic light correction.  For all the streamers out there by purchasing this webcam you will receive, for free, a six-month Xsplip license, an app that can help you make your streams as professional looking as possible.  If you are streaming games, lagging will never be an issue with the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. The performances that this webcam offers will simply give you a quality that will raise you above the others and that will be possible from your very own home. The webcam also has technology that offers background replacement and you can use it without the need for a green screen.  This webcam is compatible with Windows 7-10, Mac OS X 10.9 or later, Chrome OS, and Android v5.0 and above, all you will need to start broadcasting is a USB port.

People find it easy to set up this webcam and they are very pleased with the quality of the view. The con would be that some people have experienced difficulty when streaming music due to the sound phasing when you use it in stereo.  Anyhow, once you figure out how to work with this webcam the possibilities that it offers are endless.

The Microsoft Life Cam HD-300 Reviews

The Microsoft Life Cam HD-3000 offers you a widescreen with 720p HD recording and video chat. The built-in microphone has noise reduction, which is always a good thing. Thanks to the True Color technology your videos will be colorful and bright. You can attach it to any laptop, desktop or notebook thanks to the universal attachment base. As its manufacturer would say ‘your picture or video is worth 1,000 texts’ and this webcam will interpret that with HD view. Another thing is that this camera is easy to use that you do not have to be a professional to make good videos.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

Users have reported that you get your money worth with this webcam. They are satisfied with the clarity of the picture, as well as with the wide angle lens which allows for a better picture. Users have noticed that this webcam handles dark and light settings with ease and the attachment that comes with it is easy to put on any monitor without damaging it.  The video is stutter free on record and the microphone offers crystal clear audio. There have been noticed some flows like Windows 7 might not support this webcam and so far there has not been found a solution for this problem. Also, some people have reported that the webcam is not compatible with Windows 10. Knowing that this is a relatively cheap camera you cannot expect a long working period, but it is a good webcam that, for a low cost, can give you a good starting point with your streaming hobby.

Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam Reviews

The Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam is a business grade HD video webcam that offers full 1080p HD videos at 30 frames per second for the purposes such video conferences on your PC or Mac. This camera has the widest field of view of 90 degrees and it is the perfect tool for face to face video collaboration or whiteboard presentations in any office. This camera comes with a universal clip that fits laptops, CRT or LCD monitors. The webcam has HD 1080p H.264/SVC UVC 1.5 encoding, this frees up system bandwidth and your video stream will be smoother by putting video processing in the camera. Other features are pan, zoom and tilt functions as well as the advanced light correction technology which will deliver you the best video experience that you can ever fish for. The autofocus is smooth and it will keep your video image razor-sharp, even in close up situations. This webcam is compatible with Microsoft Lync 2013 and Skype and it is compatible with the of most UC and web conferencing applications.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People who have bought this camera are pleasantly surprised by how wide the screen actually is. Another pleasant feature, that its users found, is how professional the image looks with this camera and no need to mention that the clarity of the image was impeccable. When it comes to this webcam’s flows some users have noticed that the autofocus can get jumpy at times. Every single time something moves the camera will try to readjust the focus and you end up with a few frames of defocus before everything becomes sharp again. You can get around this issue by setting the focus to manual.  Also, the camera sometimes might not be recognized by your computer even after you have unplugged it and restart it several times. And finally, some of the users have found that the sound is not so great and the recording capacity of the microphone is poor.

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 Reviews

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 has a Logitech Fluid Crystal

Technology which gives you Full HD 1080p video recording and smooth HD 720p video calling. With this webcam, it will take you only click to upload a video on either YouTube or Facebook. The webcam also has 5 MP HD sensor and precision Carl Zeiss lens. For crystal clear videos and awesome 1- MP photos this webcam has autofocus and an intelligent auto light correction. The built-in microphones have noise-canceling properties which will make your sound be heard in clear and rich HD quality dual stereo.  This webcam works with Logitech Vid HD, Yahoo Messenger, Microsoft Live Messenger and Skype. The wide HD 720p screen will is with no doubt a nice feature.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People that had the chance to try this product have reported that the installation is very quick and easy and they find the menu easy to understand. Users are also satisfied with how sharp the picture is with this webcam and the longevity of the camera is also quite long. The users have also noticed that the built-in microphones are capable of picking up even the quiet voices. About the flaws, some have noticed that the quality of the picture is not as good when they have used the webcam for video chats. Also, the clip that comes with the camera might not fit some laptop monitors.

If I Were You, I Will Choose Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam, Here Are the Reasons

Now comes the question which one out of these five should you buy. Since we are mainly interested in streaming my personal favorite is the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. This is the webcam that will make your videos look very professional, even if you are only a beginner. The audio is impeccable and it will capture even the quiet voices and the auto-focus will make every frame look crystal clear. Plus, we can forget that by purchasing this webcam you will receive, for free, a six-month Xsplip license, this the app that can help you make your streams as professional looking as possible. So, if you are about to start career or hobby with streaming, this is the webcam that I would strongly recommend for you.

5 Important Features when Choosing a Webcam

The functionality of the camera you choose has a direct correlation with the sum of money you are ready to spend on that camera. Naturally, if you need a webcam for the sole purpose of video chatting with your friends and family, then you will need one that cost less and that does not have high quality. But, if you are in search of a webcam for professional purposes, then you might want to check one with functionality such as video conferencing, because those are the ones that offer more features and higher picture quality.

The market is offering thousands of different webcams that have different sizes, shapes, prices, and specifications. Here are the 5 main tips you should pay attention to, and that will help you select the one that will meet your own needs:

The megapixels – Those tiny color dots that when they are combined they make the resulting visual picture are named megapixels. Naturally, the more megapixels one webcam has the more vivid and clear picture it will deliver. Nowadays, there is no big issue with the quantity of megapixels as there have been in the earlier period. The majority webcams on the market today are providing a realistic image quality. You are advised to for one that has 640X480 or 320X240 pixels as it will give you a good picture. You should pick a better specification for your webcam of 1280X720 pixels if you have the HD functionality.

The frame rate – First we saw that the megapixels are responsible for the image and its color vividness, and the frame rate is the one responsible for the smoothness and quality of the video. The amount of images that are displayed per second is decided by the frame rate. For a webcam that you will need for standard use 30fps (or frames per second) is more than fitting for you. But, those who are looking for with higher quality moving image and also one that is smoother should pick a webcam with the capabilities of 60 frames per second.

The lens quality – the video processing comes in stages and the first one is the lens. Naturally, it is very important for you to buy the exact lens to cater to your needs. Here you are advised to get a webcam with glass lens and not with plastic one because the glass one has more quality.

The continuous autofocus – Many times you will want to record with your camera scenario where there is a significant amount of movement in the background and the autofocus will enable the webcam to maintain you as the central focus and not diverting to another movement inside the frame.

The low light quality – You will with no doubt end up with very poor image quality if you use your camera in low light surroundings or in the evenings. In case you try interfering with the screen contrast and brightness, you will create a foggy and continued bad image on the screen. Some of the Logitech webcams have created ‘Right Light’ in the webcam. This will enable the image quality to be optimized in the reduced light conditions.

Other important thing you should consider when you use a webcam is your Internet connection’s speed. The speed of your computer processor and Input/Output ability is also an important issue. The video images take up lots of the capacity of the computer’s communications, therefore the faster it is the better it will work. I would suggest the fastest broadband speed you can find for the money you have, to avoid jumpy, start and stop video images. A lot people have bought webcams and very soon have faced a disappointment because of the bad video quality that resulted from the communications and computer limitations.

Choosing Webcam? It’s your turn now!

Just like when you want to buy a computer, there are many models of webcams available on the market. The prices start from low and very affordable to extremely pricey ones. You have to figure out what you need and want from your webcam so that you will not end up buying some extra features that will cost you more and you will never need to use.

What You Definitely Need

You need to pay attention to the webcam’s resolution; you will want one with high resolution. If you buy one with a lower resolution you will end up with an image that will look grainier on other’s screens. Your starting point for a good resolution should be 640 x 480.

Just like with the resolution the frame rate is also crucial, so you should look for a high FR. The reason for this is that high frame rates mean that the webcam will produce images will not periodically freeze or stutter on the viewer’s screens. Just look on the webcam’s packaging and find the fps (frames per second) a good frame rate starts at 15 fps and above. The higher you go the better you streams will be. Try to get as close as you can to 30 fps if you can afford higher than that it’s going to be even better for you.

What You Should Get

When it comes to the lens of the webcam you should always go for the glass lenses and try to avoid the plastic ones. This is because the glass ones will offer you a better performance and the price for them is not so much higher than the plastic ones. Needless to say, the lens is a crucial feature for the webcam’s performance.

If you are going to use your webcam in a room with a poor light that the auto-focusing, as well as the auto light adjustment, are the technologies that will come very handy to you.

Other standard webcam features are the ability to take still images and the built-in microphone. Also, make sure that the webcam you choose is able to take at least 2.0 megapixels images.

Bells and Whistles

Some webcams come with the feature like motion sensor and this is useful if you want to use your webcam as a security system. This feature can be built into the webcam or you can later download the software for it.

Some webcams have the abilities that include special and video effects; this will come handy if you want to include those kinds of things into your streams and videos. These features can also be downloaded as software.

High-Def Considerations

Another popular feature that a webcam can have is the ability to capture videos in high-definition. This feature will come handy if you plan to use your webcam for video streams to the YouTube or Twitch sites. You must be aware that this feature will also make the webcam cost a lot more; therefore, if you do not need it then it is better to not spend your money on it. Capturing video in 720p or higher is considered to be an HD.

What You Should Get

You will want a webcam with high resolution and high FR fir better images that do not tend to freeze or stutter. A glass lens for better performance alongside with auto-focusing and auto light adjustment. Your webcam should be able to take at least 2.0 megapixels images and to have a built-in microphone.

Pricing

When it comes to the prices, just like I mentioned above, they can be from very affordable to the high-end ones. Usually, the prices start from $9.97 and go up to $299 on websites like Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com. What you must figure out is exactly what you want and need from your webcam so that you will not end up buying or not buying the features that you need or don’t need.

Conclusion

Read 5 Best Webcam For Streaming 2019 Plus Buyer’s Guide on Game Roe.

source https://www.gameroe.com/best-webcam-for-streaming source https://sheepmone.tumblr.com/post/183955438267

[sheepmone]

5 Best Webcam For Streaming 2019 Plus Buyer’s Guide

I am convinced that technology is becoming bigger and bigger part of our lives. Knowing this, we must admit that communication has gone as far as using visual technology when two people are trying to connect. The most important aspect here is playing the webcam. There are a number of things one person can do with the webcam when it is attached to his/her computer. Just by using or installing some software you can do a lot more with your camera than just the regular video calls or checking your make-up or hair. These things sound great, And if you are a guy seeking a webcam for streaming, This Guide: Best Webcam For Streaming 2019, will set you on a right path.

Top 10  Best Webcam For Streaming 2019

# Preview Product Price 1

Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam – Full 1080p HD Camera – Background Replacement Technology for... $72.46 Buy on Amazon 2

Logitech BRIO – Ultra HD Webcam for Video Conferencing, Recording, and Streaming $176.80 Buy on Amazon 3

Pro Stream Webcam 1080P HD Video Auto Focus Camera for Streaming, Game Recording, Conferencing, USB... $59.99 Buy on Amazon 4

Logitech 1080p Pro Stream Webcam for HD Video Streaming and Recording at 1080p 30FPS $84.95 Buy on Amazon 5

Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam 1080P Camera for HD Video Streaming & Recording 720P at 60Fps with... $79.63 Buy on Amazon 6

Spedal Full HD Webcam 1536p, Beauty Live Streaming Webcam, Computer Laptop Camera for OBS Xbox... $42.99 Buy on Amazon 7

Razer Kiyo: Full HD 1080p 30FPS / 720p 60FPS - Built in Adjustable Ring Light - Advanced Autofocus... $87.80 Buy on Amazon 8

Logitech C920S Pro HD Webcam with Privacy Shutter - Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p... $69.99 Buy on Amazon 9

Spedal Full HD Webcam 1080p, Beauty Live Streaming Webcam, Computer Laptop Camera for OBS Xbox... $32.99 Buy on Amazon 10

Dericam 1080P Full HD Live Streaming Webcam, USB Desktop and Laptop Webcam, Mini Plug and Play Video... $24.95 Buy on Amazon

Why You Should Buy a Webcam

You can get your own camera for the price of 50$ up to 100$, and there are many places where you can get them. If you are asking yourself what are the cool things you can do with your camera here are some examples that might help you: •    You can use your camera as a surveillance system in your home or even your office. •    You can use your face to log in to windows. •    Optical character recognition. •    You can create cool time lapse videos. •    Turning your boring PC into a photo booth. •    You can use it to watch the birds that visit your bird feeder. •    You can even create your own fonts. •    You can do live streaming. •    You can use it to make your gaming sessions more fun.

How I Picked These Top 5 Webcam for Streaming

When it comes to streaming cameras I have 5 favorites that happened to be liked by other users as well. The first one is Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 with its 1080p Camera. The second one is Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam, then the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000, then the Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam and the last, but not least, is Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910.

Top 5 Picks Reviews: Choose Your Best Webcam For Streaming

All of these webcams have 1080p camera, which is probably the main reason why I picked them. Another important thing when choosing a webcam is how fast and compatible with most of the computers they are and these 5 stand strong on that point. You will also want a camera that is easy to use, so easy that even beginners can use it, out of all these 5 the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 is probably the easiest to use. Of course, when I invest my money in something I want quality products and all five of these have great quality for a relatively fair price. Another thing is that these five webcams have similar design and they are easy to install on the monitor. Therefore, low price, great picture, good sound, handling dark and light settings with ease, fast installation, looks good on your monitor what else can you ask for a fairly priced webcam? For me personally, these are the main characteristics that I look for when I buy a webcam.

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 Reviews

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 has no bounds with self-expression. No matter if you use it for Skype or video blogs, this webcam will offer you lifelike HD picture. For Skype video calls this camera offers you full HD 1080p up to 1920 x 1080 pixels same as the video recordings. This webcam also has built-in microphones, which has an automatic noise reduction and that will ensure natural stereo sound. The webcam has a lens that has a five-element glass with very precise auto-focus that will give you amazingly clear and detailed picture. It also has a low-light correction and it can be used with a tripod and it has a universal clip for LCD monitor and laptops. This webcam is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 or later, Mac OS 10.6 or later, Android v 5.0 or above, Chrome OS, Available USB port, and Internet connection.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People, who have bought this webcam, say that it is more than what they expected from a webcam that does not cost much. They are surprised by the quality and the wide view that this webcam offers. Another thing that the users like is that you are able to adjust focus, color, white balance, zoom and so on, the way you prefer it. Buyers are also pleased with this webcam’s monitor mouth, which can be clamped at any monitor. Probably the biggest pro for this webcam will be the low cost, and then the quality and clarity of the view and that it can be put on any monitor. The only con might be the auto-focus meaning  when you use this camera for streaming the auto-focus will constantly try to find focus and that might make the stream unwatchable.

The Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam Reviews

The Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam is the webcam you need if you what your YouTube or Twitch videos to have a professional quality. The recordings or the stream will have a very lifelike view with this webcam with its HD 1080P video at 30Fps/ 720P at 60FPS. This webcam has full HD glass lens with premium auto-focus that will give you clear video. This product also has built-in microphones that will capture the voice in rich Stereo Audio. You do not have to worry if you are recording in dim or poorly backlit settings as this webcam has an automatic light correction.  For all the streamers out there by purchasing this webcam you will receive, for free, a six-month Xsplip license, an app that can help you make your streams as professional looking as possible.  If you are streaming games, lagging will never be an issue with the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. The performances that this webcam offers will simply give you a quality that will raise you above the others and that will be possible from your very own home. The webcam also has technology that offers background replacement and you can use it without the need for a green screen.  This webcam is compatible with Windows 7-10, Mac OS X 10.9 or later, Chrome OS, and Android v5.0 and above, all you will need to start broadcasting is a USB port.

People find it easy to set up this webcam and they are very pleased with the quality of the view. The con would be that some people have experienced difficulty when streaming music due to the sound phasing when you use it in stereo.  Anyhow, once you figure out how to work with this webcam the possibilities that it offers are endless.

The Microsoft Life Cam HD-300 Reviews

The Microsoft Life Cam HD-3000 offers you a widescreen with 720p HD recording and video chat. The built-in microphone has noise reduction, which is always a good thing. Thanks to the True Color technology your videos will be colorful and bright. You can attach it to any laptop, desktop or notebook thanks to the universal attachment base. As its manufacturer would say ‘your picture or video is worth 1,000 texts’ and this webcam will interpret that with HD view. Another thing is that this camera is easy to use that you do not have to be a professional to make good videos.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

Users have reported that you get your money worth with this webcam. They are satisfied with the clarity of the picture, as well as with the wide angle lens which allows for a better picture. Users have noticed that this webcam handles dark and light settings with ease and the attachment that comes with it is easy to put on any monitor without damaging it.  The video is stutter free on record and the microphone offers crystal clear audio. There have been noticed some flows like Windows 7 might not support this webcam and so far there has not been found a solution for this problem. Also, some people have reported that the webcam is not compatible with Windows 10. Knowing that this is a relatively cheap camera you cannot expect a long working period, but it is a good webcam that, for a low cost, can give you a good starting point with your streaming hobby.

Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam Reviews

The Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam is a business grade HD video webcam that offers full 1080p HD videos at 30 frames per second for the purposes such video conferences on your PC or Mac. This camera has the widest field of view of 90 degrees and it is the perfect tool for face to face video collaboration or whiteboard presentations in any office. This camera comes with a universal clip that fits laptops, CRT or LCD monitors. The webcam has HD 1080p H.264/SVC UVC 1.5 encoding, this frees up system bandwidth and your video stream will be smoother by putting video processing in the camera. Other features are pan, zoom and tilt functions as well as the advanced light correction technology which will deliver you the best video experience that you can ever fish for. The autofocus is smooth and it will keep your video image razor-sharp, even in close up situations. This webcam is compatible with Microsoft Lync 2013 and Skype and it is compatible with the of most UC and web conferencing applications.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People who have bought this camera are pleasantly surprised by how wide the screen actually is. Another pleasant feature, that its users found, is how professional the image looks with this camera and no need to mention that the clarity of the image was impeccable. When it comes to this webcam’s flows some users have noticed that the autofocus can get jumpy at times. Every single time something moves the camera will try to readjust the focus and you end up with a few frames of defocus before everything becomes sharp again. You can get around this issue by setting the focus to manual.  Also, the camera sometimes might not be recognized by your computer even after you have unplugged it and restart it several times. And finally, some of the users have found that the sound is not so great and the recording capacity of the microphone is poor.

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 Reviews

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 has a Logitech Fluid Crystal

Technology which gives you Full HD 1080p video recording and smooth HD 720p video calling. With this webcam, it will take you only click to upload a video on either YouTube or Facebook. The webcam also has 5 MP HD sensor and precision Carl Zeiss lens. For crystal clear videos and awesome 1- MP photos this webcam has autofocus and an intelligent auto light correction. The built-in microphones have noise-canceling properties which will make your sound be heard in clear and rich HD quality dual stereo.  This webcam works with Logitech Vid HD, Yahoo Messenger, Microsoft Live Messenger and Skype. The wide HD 720p screen will is with no doubt a nice feature.

What Current Owners said This Webcam

People that had the chance to try this product have reported that the installation is very quick and easy and they find the menu easy to understand. Users are also satisfied with how sharp the picture is with this webcam and the longevity of the camera is also quite long. The users have also noticed that the built-in microphones are capable of picking up even the quiet voices. About the flaws, some have noticed that the quality of the picture is not as good when they have used the webcam for video chats. Also, the clip that comes with the camera might not fit some laptop monitors.

If I Were You, I Will Choose Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam, Here Are the Reasons

Now comes the question which one out of these five should you buy. Since we are mainly interested in streaming my personal favorite is the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. This is the webcam that will make your videos look very professional, even if you are only a beginner. The audio is impeccable and it will capture even the quiet voices and the auto-focus will make every frame look crystal clear. Plus, we can forget that by purchasing this webcam you will receive, for free, a six-month Xsplip license, this the app that can help you make your streams as professional looking as possible. So, if you are about to start career or hobby with streaming, this is the webcam that I would strongly recommend for you.

5 Important Features when Choosing a Webcam

The functionality of the camera you choose has a direct correlation with the sum of money you are ready to spend on that camera. Naturally, if you need a webcam for the sole purpose of video chatting with your friends and family, then you will need one that cost less and that does not have high quality. But, if you are in search of a webcam for professional purposes, then you might want to check one with functionality such as video conferencing, because those are the ones that offer more features and higher picture quality.

The market is offering thousands of different webcams that have different sizes, shapes, prices, and specifications. Here are the 5 main tips you should pay attention to, and that will help you select the one that will meet your own needs:

The megapixels – Those tiny color dots that when they are combined they make the resulting visual picture are named megapixels. Naturally, the more megapixels one webcam has the more vivid and clear picture it will deliver. Nowadays, there is no big issue with the quantity of megapixels as there have been in the earlier period. The majority webcams on the market today are providing a realistic image quality. You are advised to for one that has 640X480 or 320X240 pixels as it will give you a good picture. You should pick a better specification for your webcam of 1280X720 pixels if you have the HD functionality.

The frame rate – First we saw that the megapixels are responsible for the image and its color vividness, and the frame rate is the one responsible for the smoothness and quality of the video. The amount of images that are displayed per second is decided by the frame rate. For a webcam that you will need for standard use 30fps (or frames per second) is more than fitting for you. But, those who are looking for with higher quality moving image and also one that is smoother should pick a webcam with the capabilities of 60 frames per second.

The lens quality – the video processing comes in stages and the first one is the lens. Naturally, it is very important for you to buy the exact lens to cater to your needs. Here you are advised to get a webcam with glass lens and not with plastic one because the glass one has more quality.

The continuous autofocus – Many times you will want to record with your camera scenario where there is a significant amount of movement in the background and the autofocus will enable the webcam to maintain you as the central focus and not diverting to another movement inside the frame.

The low light quality – You will with no doubt end up with very poor image quality if you use your camera in low light surroundings or in the evenings. In case you try interfering with the screen contrast and brightness, you will create a foggy and continued bad image on the screen. Some of the Logitech webcams have created ‘Right Light’ in the webcam. This will enable the image quality to be optimized in the reduced light conditions.

Other important thing you should consider when you use a webcam is your Internet connection’s speed. The speed of your computer processor and Input/Output ability is also an important issue. The video images take up lots of the capacity of the computer’s communications, therefore the faster it is the better it will work. I would suggest the fastest broadband speed you can find for the money you have, to avoid jumpy, start and stop video images. A lot people have bought webcams and very soon have faced a disappointment because of the bad video quality that resulted from the communications and computer limitations.

Choosing Webcam? It’s your turn now!

Just like when you want to buy a computer, there are many models of webcams available on the market. The prices start from low and very affordable to extremely pricey ones. You have to figure out what you need and want from your webcam so that you will not end up buying some extra features that will cost you more and you will never need to use.

What You Definitely Need

You need to pay attention to the webcam’s resolution; you will want one with high resolution. If you buy one with a lower resolution you will end up with an image that will look grainier on other’s screens. Your starting point for a good resolution should be 640 x 480.

Just like with the resolution the frame rate is also crucial, so you should look for a high FR. The reason for this is that high frame rates mean that the webcam will produce images will not periodically freeze or stutter on the viewer’s screens. Just look on the webcam’s packaging and find the fps (frames per second) a good frame rate starts at 15 fps and above. The higher you go the better you streams will be. Try to get as close as you can to 30 fps if you can afford higher than that it’s going to be even better for you.

What You Should Get

When it comes to the lens of the webcam you should always go for the glass lenses and try to avoid the plastic ones. This is because the glass ones will offer you a better performance and the price for them is not so much higher than the plastic ones. Needless to say, the lens is a crucial feature for the webcam’s performance.

If you are going to use your webcam in a room with a poor light that the auto-focusing, as well as the auto light adjustment, are the technologies that will come very handy to you.

Other standard webcam features are the ability to take still images and the built-in microphone. Also, make sure that the webcam you choose is able to take at least 2.0 megapixels images.

Bells and Whistles

Some webcams come with the feature like motion sensor and this is useful if you want to use your webcam as a security system. This feature can be built into the webcam or you can later download the software for it.

Some webcams have the abilities that include special and video effects; this will come handy if you want to include those kinds of things into your streams and videos. These features can also be downloaded as software.

High-Def Considerations

Another popular feature that a webcam can have is the ability to capture videos in high-definition. This feature will come handy if you plan to use your webcam for video streams to the YouTube or Twitch sites. You must be aware that this feature will also make the webcam cost a lot more; therefore, if you do not need it then it is better to not spend your money on it. Capturing video in 720p or higher is considered to be an HD.

What You Should Get

You will want a webcam with high resolution and high FR fir better images that do not tend to freeze or stutter. A glass lens for better performance alongside with auto-focusing and auto light adjustment. Your webcam should be able to take at least 2.0 megapixels images and to have a built-in microphone.

Pricing

When it comes to the prices, just like I mentioned above, they can be from very affordable to the high-end ones. Usually, the prices start from $9.97 and go up to $299 on websites like Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com. What you must figure out is exactly what you want and need from your webcam so that you will not end up buying or not buying the features that you need or don’t need.

Conclusion

Read 5 Best Webcam For Streaming 2019 Plus Buyer’s Guide on Game Roe.

source https://www.gameroe.com/best-webcam-for-streaming

[nihongolike]

How to Start Learning Japanese

Hello everyone! Thank you for 1000 followers. To celebrate, I have put together this post with various resources to start learning Japanese, or continue if you’re stuck! This is a long post, so hold on for the ride.

Step 1: Learning Hiragana and Katakana

You’ll never get anywhere with Japanese if you can’t read it. Reading sentences with romaji can be helpful at the very beginning, but the truth is Japanese is easier to read with kana, and the faster you learn your kana, the better. 

Unfortunately, kana is all about rote practice and memorization. You should be learning kana while working on your most basic grammar skills, such as learning to introduce yourself and greetings. 

Once you’ve got a little bit of practice in, it’s okay to reference your kana charts once in a while. Your memory will learn them as you use them. It took me a week to learn hiragana, and a month to learn katakana, but I still checked my hiragana sheet occasionally until around the time I finished Genki I, and I still check katakana charts sometimes, and I’ve been studying Japanese for two and a half years!

Here are some resources to get you started:

Hiragana and Katakana Printable Practice Sheets

This website supplies blank practice sheets, or sheets with stroke order information for of the kana. Writing is a great way to memorize new symbols, in general!

Hiragana and Katakana Drag n Drop Game

This game from the Genki self study room diversifies the way you’re studying your kana. It’s great to break up the monotonous aspect of learning to write in Japanese!

RealKana

This website was the main one I used to learn to read in Japanese. You can select any group of kana, from either syllabary for each subject, in any combination, and it also has various fonts to help you recognize kana in different type faces. 

Step 2: Get a Textbook

I’ve ripped pdfs of some textbooks to give you access to them. Please let me know if these links go down!

Genki I + Workbook || Genki II + Workbook || Genki Answer Key

While I know not everyone likes Genki, I learned Japanese with Genki and I highly recommend it. Most of the vocabulary in the books is useful, and the grammar lessons provide a mix of casual and formal grammar, both of which you will use if you go to Japan.

An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese + Workbook

While not a direct continuation of Genki, this textbook is continued the spiritual successor of Genki. 

Tobira: Gateway to Advanced Japanese

This textbook is targeted towards high-intermediate learners and has excellent reviews. 

Step 3: Start Learning Kanji

Kanji may be daunting, but if you really want to learn Japanese you need to start learning Kanji as soon as you know your kana. Most textbooks for beginners offer a kanji section of each chapter, but here are resources to learn kanji.

Kanji Look and Learn + Workbook

This kanji textbook is a companion to Genki. Each chapter offers the same kanji that are given with the corresponding Genki I chapter, plus a few more. It also offers good reading exercises and lots of mnemonics. 

The Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Course

I purchased this kanji textbook in print and try to work with it as much as I can. It is an excellent resource, giving mnemonic and historical information about a kanji to help you remember it. This course is specifically designed for second language Japanese learners in the order in which it introduces kanji. Unfortunately, you have to come up with the tools to learn this kanji yourself. 

Stroke Order Information

This website will identify the strokes of any kanji that you give to it. I find this stroke order information very useful because sometime stroke order information in textbooks is too small.

Step 4: Select a Dictionary

jisho.org

Most people probably consider jisho.org a classic. It is completely free and available online to anyone, as well as having lots of search tools to help you find what you’re looking for.

Shirabe Jisho

If you have an iOS device, I can’t put into words how highly I recommend downloading this app. Unfortunately, this dictionary is not available to Android users. I hope they do come out with an Android version in the future.

This app is absolutely free, and stores all of its information locally on your device. That means if you don’t have wifi or service, you can still use it! This app came in so convenient when I was in Japan, as I did not have a very good phone plan there.

On top of being a standard dictionary, this app also have a LOT of word lists, various kanji lists, and stroke order information for all Japanese characters. If you are learning Japanese and have an iOS device, Shirabe Jisho is a must have!

Step 5: Practice 

Now that you have your references and your curriculum, its time to learn, and learning requires practice. Everyone has different ways to study, but here are some ideas and resources.

StudyBlue and Quizlet

Both of these websites let you make your own custom notecard decks with various ways to study them.

JapaneseClass.jp

This website offers a curricula of kanji and vocabulary to practice. It uses leaderboards and statistics to gameify learning. While I don’t use it everyday, I do log in to practice once in awhile myself.

Duolingo Japanese Course

Duolingo uses various strategies to teach basic grammar and vocabulary that may be effective if you need a more guided approach.

Genki Conjugation Practice

This online resource from Genki grades your conjugations of various grammar forms in Genki I and II. 

JLPT Boot Camp

This website offers various resources to help study for the JLPT, a standardized test that evaluates Japanese proficiency.

Online Japanese Tests

This website offers various online tests (also aimed at JLPT preparation) to evaluate your Japanese.

Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese

While I don’t follow Tae Kim’s course, this website is an amazing resource, and is always useful for a second explanation for a grammar concept you may be struggling with.

NHK Easy News

From NHK, this website offers the news in simple Japanese, with a lot of tools to help you learn. 

Step 6: Speak Japanese

This section might be more aptly titled “Use Japanese”. Once you’ve learned grammar and vocabulary and all the rest, it’s time to start using it in novel sentences. Here are some ideas to help you do that.

HelloTalk (App Store, Google Play)

HelloTalk is a language exchange app that is very popular among Japanese people studying English. It offers voice messaging and recording within the app, and has many ways to connect you with different users. It’s not always easy to make friends there, but getting a reliable language partner is always worth the effort.

lang-8

Lang-8 is a language exchange website centered around writing blog posts in your target language and correcting other user’s posts written in your native language. It’s a great way to get feedback on your written Japanese.

Visit Japanese cultural events in your city

If your city has a Japanese Association, they likely organize different cultural events throughout the year. Attend them! It’s a great way to meet other people who are interested in Japan, or Japanese people. Japanese people are very kind, and if you ask politely will likely speak Japanese with you, even a little bit. 

Find a study buddy

Even if you’re both just beginners, having a friend who is also learning Japanese is super helpful, and there’s lots of people learning Japanese here on Tumblr, just to start! Likely you guys will be able to help each other cover your weaknesses. Even if you’re making mistakes with no one to correct you, just using what you learn helps your brain store information in long term memory and hold on to it. 

I hope these. resources will help you get started if you want to learn Japanese, but are feeling daunted by it. So buckle up and strap in for the ride! 

As always, if you have any additional questions, please feel free to message me!

[scripturehomosexuality]

This Blog’s Guide to Male-Male Sex Without Anal

To aid men who read their sites, the g0ys and the Man2Man Alliance have created guides to help men experience same-sex activity. These guides have plenty of good information in them, and have helped many men including me. However, I thought that there were some blind spots in both of these. So this blog has decided to make its own guide.

This is meant primarily for “straight” guys who want to explore their same-sex attraction. However, LGBT-identified guys who are tired of the “gay” world (or are repulsed by it) are also invited to read along.

Again, this is meant to supplement the guides provided by the g0ys and the Man2Man Alliance. With all three of these guides, I’m sure that you will be unstoppable.

Please note in this page, the phrase “male-male sex” doesn’t refer exclusively to anal. It refers to any and every sexual activity possible between men - mutual masturbation, frot, anal, oral, intercrural sex, 69ing, etc.

If you’re trying to trick a guy into doing anal, THIS GUIDE IS NOT FOR YOU.

If you’re going to use this information to help convince a guy that they’re “gay”, THIS GUIDE IS NOT FOR YOU.

If you’re interested in neither, read on.

Do Your Homework

In writing this guide, I’m assuming that you read most of the articles linked in the page “For ‘Straight’ People (but not exclusively). If you didn’t, I strongly recommend that you go back to the page, some of the articles attached, then come back. At minimum, I recommend three articles from the blog, three from the g0ys, and three from the Man2Man Alliance. If you’re Christian, I also recommend reading the first six articles in the “Scriptural Commentaries” page.

In saying this, it might seem like I’m spoiling your fun. There is a reason why I’m asking you to do so much reading.

In having male-male sex, you will be coming toe-to-toe with the power of modern sexual philosophy. It is a convoluted and contradictory philosophy, with all kinds of rules and regulations for “straights” and “gays”. It seeks to constantly reinforce itself at every opportunity, and works hard to bring rebels back in line. If it ends up destroying those under its power, it merely shrugs and carries on.

Anything like that requires intelligent and well-calculated resistance. You will need to know what you’re dealing with, and that knowledge can’t be superficial. Those articles will help ready you for the system you’ll be facing. The more the read, the better off you’ll be.

As such, before you take any action, you should probably abandon identifying yourself as “gay” or “straight”. After all, through your actions, you’ll be rebelling against modern sexual philosophy. You can’t rebel against it and use its labels at the same time. Instead, identify just as a Man, a normal and regular Man. That will make things much simpler for you, and will be one of your greatest weapons, as we will discuss later on.

At the same time, realize that you’ll probably know much more than your sexual partners. You’ll know that same-sex activity is natural and normal. They won’t, which will affect how they interpret male-male sex. You will need to be their guiding light to a new conceptualization of sex. You can’t do that if you aren’t prepared to do so.

While we’re on the topic, let’s establish some other ground rules.

Because “gay” porn is so pervasive, and because much of it features anal, that porn might inform your expectations on same-sex activity. Throw all of those away, because they will be useless for this. The content here will explain non-”gay” homoeroticism, which bears little resemblance to “gay” homoeroticism.

“Gay” homoeroticism is focused on results only. It’s driven by the mantra that relationships exist for the sake of sex. It is focused on getting sex by hook or by crook, particularly anal. It’s also focused on getting as much sex as possible, in the shortest time possible. Contacts are made solely on the possibility of speedy sex. For those immersed in “gay” homoeroticism, they establish what they want quickly, and get down to business immediately. Once the deed is done, there’s no perceived obligation to develop the contact into a relationship.

Non-”gay” homoeroticism is entirely different. For that kind of eroticism, sex exists for the sake of relationships. It’s focused on making the journey enjoyable, rather than obsessing over results. It’s much more playful and casual, and doesn’t force things if it doesn’t feel natural. It thrives on spontaneity and fluidity. If two men have sex, the purpose is to bring ultimate closeness to the relationship, and expressing affection in the rawest sense possible. As such, sex is not a guaranteed outcome of these relationships.

That’s not meant to be discouraging. While sex isn’t guaranteed, most guys are attracted to guys on some level. So the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor.

Think of it like tending a field. When you put seeds in the ground, you’re not going to see produce right away. Farming takes patience and effort. It will take time for the seeds to grow, and you can’t stand on the sidelines. You have to pay attention to your crop, constantly watering it and caring for it. It won’t be in vain though. In a short time, you’ll start seeing buds sprout up. Those buds will soon turn into shoots, and before long, full produce will abound all over the field.

The point is, like farming, non-”gay” homoeroticism takes time and effort. Because sex happens in the context of relationships, you’ll have to take time to develop them. Plus, there’s no way to predict how long the process will take. It could take a few days or a few months, depending on the circumstances and the people involved. However, if you put in the effort, you’ll see some measure of results.

Lay The Groundwork

This first point is important. If you’re looking for a friend to get close to, you might think of exploring the “gay” world and community. I don’t recommend that. If you do so, be very careful. It’s not necessarily because of the people in there, as much as the underlying culture.

Remember what I said before. In “gay” homoeroticism, relationships exist for the sake of sex. Additionally, as far as the “gay” world is concerned, only anal sex is real sex. If you’re looking for a stable relationship without anal, you probably aren’t going to find it there.

There are LGBT-identified men who don’t conform to “gay” culture, and who might completely avoid anal, but they might also be few and far between. Furthermore, as long as they exist in the “gay” world, its culture will always exert some influence on them. Even if you find a “gay” man who initially doesn’t do anal, voices in that world will cajole him to do it, and those voices might win out.

I’m not saying to avoid LGBT-identified men completely. Again, I’m saying to be careful, and be discerning. If you find a “gay” man who isn’t interested in anal, you’ll have a double challenge. Not only must you teach him that same-sex activity is natural and normal, you’ll have to get him away from “gay” culture and its obsession with anal. Be prepared for that.

Otherwise, you can look among whatever “straight” friends you have. They’ll be better able to meet you where you are. I realize that such a suggestion seems crazy. In that case, remember what this blog said before - that at least 50% of people carry same-sex attraction inside them. This means that every other man you meet can experience same-sex attraction, and that’s a conservative estimate.

Thus, looking for a homoerotic friendship doesn’t require an expedition. It’s more like looking through your own backyard.

The thing is, “straight” guys usually don’t make it obvious if another guy strikes their fancy. They don’t act like some “gay” guys who practically announce their interest. That’s partially because they don’t want to be labelled “gay”, with all the stereotypes that come with it. However, that’s also because of the relationship’s nature - it’s a friendship that grows more intimate (and more erotic) with time.

So whether with existing or future “straight” friends, carry on those friendships as you otherwise would. Go out with them, talk with them, exercise with them, play games with them and so forth. Visit each other’s homes, discover your friend’s likes and dislikes, and go on adventures together. It’s during these times that your friends will signal if they want to get closer, and where you can signal the same.

For beginners, here’s a handy way to signal interest while weeding out your pool of sexual partners. This comes from the G0ydar article, but I’m repeating it here because it’s effective. In normal conversation, make it clear that anal turns you off. You don’t need to mention it in terms of “gays”, because their community and anal are so welded together, most people will make that connection on their own. You also don’t need to make a big deal of it, but instead just casually mention your opinions. Say something like “I love my friends too, but it doesn’t mean I want to enter him”, or “I can’t see how anyone would want to play with someone’s butt...too filthy for me”, or anything that puts anal play in a critical light.

Two things will happen. Guys who also dislike anal (whether “straight” or “gay”) will make a mental note of that and will relax in your presence, or might even seek out your company. They’ll know that if they end up getting close to you, nobody will get penetrated. At the same time, “gays” who adore anal will take your remarks personally and will keep their distance from you.

If that seems confusing, know that most guys aren’t firmly opposed to getting close to another guy. They’re opposed to the spectre of anal in same-sex activity. Because anal is so associated with same-sex intimacy, they prefer skipping that intimacy completely. Meanwhile, anal is one of the most sacrosanct topics in the “gay” community. Even a mildly critical remark will make some “gays” go ballistic.

However, if you’re looking for “straight” guys to respond “I want you now”, you’ll probably be disappointed. Signs of attraction are more subtle than the brazen displays common in “gay” homoeroticism. You just need to pay attention, and to tune up your powers of observation. If you know what to look for, it won’t be hard to see who wants to get sexual.

Touch is one of the strongest indicators of attraction. When a guy feels comfortable enough with another guy, he won’t limit the contact to chatter. If a guy touches you at times that are unnecessary - like when you’re just talking - it’s definitely a sign of friendliness. If those touches become noticeably frequent, consider the possibility that he’s interested. If those touches become longer in duration, or become varied in location, the probability rises that he’s interested in more.

Horseplay is another indicator of attraction. Guys usually rough play with guys they really like as friends. They often do so with guys they’re familiar with, though that’s not always the case. As the Man2Man Alliance aptly put it, attraction feeds healthy male aggression, and vice-versa. It’s an innocent pretext for prolonged physical contact while learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Pay attention if the horseplay becomes regular. It’s definitely a sign of attraction, and might signal that he wants to fool around in other contexts.

Exhibitionism also signals attraction. I’m not necessarily talking about stripping completely naked in front of you. I’m speaking of more subtle forms. For example, if the opportunity arises, he might take off his shirt in your presence. Or he might talk about his latest exploits at the gym, and show off the latest body parts he worked on. Or he might find some reason to lift up his shirt and expose his abs. Or as a joke, he might flash his penis or butt at you. Through these actions, he’s trying to make you notice his body. If these are frequent occurrences, it’s a pretty good indicator that he’d like to show you more, much more.

As it turns out, sex talk could be a sign of attraction in itself. That would include discussing masturbation habits, descriptions of one’s sexual experiences with girls, or trading sexual fantasies. It’s a blatant expression of one’s horniness, and that he’d like to share some of that with you. If that talk becomes frequent, or if physical contact is made during it, he might want sex to be more than a conversation topic.

If you’re interested too, feel free to reciprocate as you see fit. If a guy touches your shoulder while talking with you, respond by touching his arm sometime later. If he playfully tackles you one day, do the same thing to him on another day. If he shows you how he worked on his arms, talk along similar lines (if you work out too). If he takes off his shirt around you, maybe do the same thing sometime later. Be sure to be subtle too, and your friend will get the message loud and clear.

Of course, these are only a few signs, and there are more that aren’t mentioned here. Sometimes, it might not be any kind of sign. It might just be a sexual “vibe” you perceive from a guy, and if you do discern one, it’s probably accurate. Plus, while all these are likely signs of sexual interest, it’s up to you to tell if those really are sexual signals. Just exercise your powers of perception, and as you use them more, they will guide the way.

Lastly, you might feel that all of these sound like everyday male behaviors. Indeed they are normal male behaviors, and that’s the point. I’m not identifying them so guys can start curbing them. Instead, I’m showing how natural same-sex attraction really is. Because it’s natural, it’s impossible to completely eliminate, and it will find some way to express itself. Whether observers realize it or not, guys may often express their same-sex attraction through these behaviors. As such, while this isn’t always the case, these actions can be the first steps to sexual interaction. When same-sex attraction is impossible to suppress, there’s no logical reason to restrain it so strongly.

Continuing to Up The Ante

When you perceive that another guy likes you, you probably won’t be satisfied with leaving it at that. You’ll want to capitalize on it, and develop it into actual sex. The aim is to steadily develop the intimacy of the relationship, so that sex becomes a natural outcome. How you proceed depends on the guy involved, and the circumstances you’re working under.

Guys might differ on the method of escalation. For example, there are some guys who they will engage in explicitly sexual escalation. In this case, it’s perfectly clear to both friends what they’re heading for. Your friend might respond quickly to physical contact, and that response would be unambiguous expressions of affection (hugs, caresses, groping, kissing). As time goes by, you’ll feel more comfortable expressing your affection more openly. As a result, the inevitability of sex becomes ever clearer. It would be hard to disguise the behavior as anything but sexual.

Meanwhile, other guys prefer less obvious ways. They prefer having sex with guys “accidentally on purpose”. As such, they increasingly express their affection for you while doing these activities. Sex happens within this context, where while those activities generate genuine fun, they are also thinly disguised conduits for eroticism.

For example, two guys might sleepover one night, and both strip down because they say that they sleep naked. While feigning sleep in bed, wandering hands might lead to each other’s penises, and a mutual masturbation session begins. Or two guys might wrestle, and because it makes them hot, both might progressively strip to their underwear or total nudity. In that case, penises might end up enmeshed against each other, and a frot session begins.

Guys might also differ in how much they participate in the escalation. Both friends might equally participate in it. With them, the escalation becomes mutual, where both engage in a “tit for tat” exchange. One might take off his shoes, while the other takes off his socks. Another takes off his pants, while the other takes his shirt. One might massage a guy’s back, and the other reciprocates by massaging his upper legs. In that case, you don’t have to do that much, because you two are both doing the work.

Other guys might be more passive. Blatantly seeking same-sex intimacy might be too “gay” for them to do. That doesn’t mean that they don’t want sex as badly as you do, because they probably do. In fact, they might blatantly signal that they’re into you. It’s just that, given the rules of cultural masculinity, they can’t see how they can openly seek same-sex intimacy and keep their dignity. However, they also don’t rule out receiving affections from another guy, or being led by him into potentially sexual situations. While he might not want to take the lead, he’ll be more than willing to follow.

As a result, he’ll rely on you to take the driver’s seat, and be the one who moves the escalation forward. You’ll have to be the one who comes with ideas, and the one to make the first move. He’ll likely put up some resistance for the sake of appearances, then quickly relent and follow your lead.

For example, at that same sleepover, you might ask if you can sleep naked on his bed, because that’s what you’re used to. Your friend might raise some concerns, but ultimately let you do it. A few minutes later, he might quietly do the same thing. Or during wrestling, you might decide to take off some clothes, while your friend decides to keep his on. A few minutes later, he might take off some clothes too, and match your state of undress.

As you can see, there is no uniform approach to escalation. It completely depends on who your friend is. You’ll need to be nimble, adaptable, and discerning. You’ll need to perceive your friend’s positions, and read whatever signs that they give you. You’ll know how to proceed from there.

As such, there are many activities that help facilitate escalation of intimacy. To me, communal nudity is among the best. Nudity creates a deep bond that can be developed into a sexual one. Plus, if you and your friends are comfortable being naked in one setting, it’s much easier to be naked in others. Most of all, if you or your friend want to get sexual, there won’t be much clothing around to stop you.

Thus, if you and your friend happen to use a communal shower room, feel free to use it naked. If the shower room has curtains, keep the curtains open, and talk with your friend in his stall while naked. If you feel up to it, you can walk up to his stall and talk to him while nude. While in the locker room, freely talk with your friend while naked, even facing him while doing so. He might not join you in being naked the first time, or even the first few times. However, when he sees that you don’t care about being naked, soon he might not care either.

If you want to do sexual stuff in that shower, make sure it won’t cause problems. A few decades ago, guys could jerk and suck each other off in a communal shower without much complaint. That’s simply not the case now, so you’ll have to be perceptive. In some showers, you can do stuff and not get caught. In others you might get caught, but nobody would care because anal isn’t involved. In yet others, you might get caught and be charged with indecency. It entirely depends on the attitudes in the establishment, and it’ll be up to you to figure out what to do. Just make sure your fun doesn’t earn you a rap sheet.

Plus, communal nudity doesn’t need to be limited to locker rooms. If you’re alone with your friend at his house, see if you can strip down your underwear or completely nothing. If he’s at your house, just hang around in your underwear, and in the future, test wearing absolutely nothing. As usual, they might not join you, and may even raise concerns. Soon however, they may relax about seeing you naked, and may let you see them naked too.

Wrestling is also a good way to simultaneously have fun and get closer. It allows heavy physical contact while testing each other’s strength. The physical contact creates a bond that’s hard to break. Plus, since it involves heavy exertion, clothes will have to come off. As layer after layer is taken off, you’ll end up wrestling in your underwear. If your friend feels close enough to you, you might end it up doing it naked. If your friend is turned on by the wrestling, a telltale erection will definitely emerge. Make it clear that the erection hasn’t escaped your notice, though in a joking way so you don’t embarrass him. Then, the door is open to mutual masturbation, frot, or other stuff.

Massage is another way to up the ante. If it’s done in a tone of mutual respect, guys usually won’t mind getting a massage from another guy. In fact, the friend might actually appreciate the favor. It signals that he trusts you enough not to hurt him. Furthermore, because of its nature, clothing will have to be removed. So as you move from area to area, ask to remove clothing that will get in your way, and he’ll comply. Eventually, he only have underwear on, and if he trusts you enough, he’ll let you massage him completely naked. He’ll inevitably get erect, at which point you can offer to jerk him off and relieve his tension.

As a way to break the ice, watching porn together is another activity that can lead to sex. One day, get a laptop and an isolated space, and turn on porn that both of you will like. Because it’s porn, both of you will get aroused. Say that the porn makes you want to jerk off (because it’s true), drop your pants and begin masturbating. He’s going to be horny too, so he’ll do the same thing either immediately or a few minutes after you. Then, see if you can trade hands, where he jerks you off and vice versa. Then the porn will become mere background noise to the main event happening between you. Next time, you might not even need porn to do it all over again.

You may or may not have noticed a running theme. All the activities mentioned involve some kind of undress. That should show you what other activities can escalate the sexual tension, because these certainly aren’t the only possible ones. Really, any activity that combines two or more of these elements,

Involves physical contact, preferably heavy contact

Requires some kind of undressing

Creates an uninhibited atmosphere

can make the bonds of friendships deeper, and bring them closer to sexual expression. It could lead directly to sex, or be a strong prelude to more private events later on. It could be a game of shirtless water tag, or a game of strip poker. It could be as simple as a round of Truth or Dare. Be creative and spontaneous. When opportunity comes knocking, open the door with all gusto.

The Risk of Upping the Ante

Now, there is something that must be said. None of these behaviors come without risk. All of them may make people try to label you “gay”. It could be observers doing so, trading rumors among themselves that you’re deeply closeted. If they’re religious or gay-identified, they might loudly insist that your actions are “gay”, and angrily demand that you identify as such. Because of this risk, you might restrain yourself from doing things you want to do. You simply fear giving anyone a reason to call you “gay”.

To be honest, there’s nothing you can do to stop that from happening. It’s simply the world we live in, where ever more things are interpreted as signs of being “gay”. Since it’s impossible to avoid, you just can’t care about that possibility. Don’t fear it either, because fear gives that accusation power it doesn’t deserve. Instead, focus on how you’ll respond to the suggestion. Your answer will determine how that accusation will affect your self-image, your overall quality of life, and how your peers view you.

When someone accuses you of being “gay”, flatly and calmly deny it because you’re not. You’re not lying. Remember what was recommended earlier - that before you started down this journey, you should abandon identifying as “gay” or “straight”. Instead, you should simply identify as a Man. So when you say that you’re not “gay”, your statement is 100% true. Keep in mind that those labels represent identities and not sexualities. Identities can be assumed or rejected at will. So for that accusation to be true, you have to agree with it first.

Plus, by denying that you’re “gay/LGBT/queer”, you’re not denying that you’re into guys (too). Make that clear in your answer . As far as you’re concerned, your attractions are not the issue, because you already know you’re into guys (too). Instead, the issue is that an unwanted identity is being imposed on you. It’s an identity that ties in with “gay” culture - drag, imitation of opposite gender mannerisms, anal - that you have no interest in. In fact, it’s an identity that totally pivots on anal, which you can’t stand. Most of all, it reinforces the notion that same-sex activity is abnormal and aberrant, which you know isn’t true.

When you disagree with it so much, why should you voluntarily take on that identity? In truth, you don’t even need those labels to define yourself. You can do that perfectly well without them.

If they insist that you should call yourself “gay”, ask them to explain the word’s many inconsistencies, like

Its contradictory meanings

How, if the word only refers to sex, a “gay” man can be validly called “straight” acting

How mutual masturbation, oral and frot are “gay” sex, but only anal is real “gay” sex

If “gay” only refers to sex, why swimming, musicals, and pop music (which are nonsexual phenonema) can be validly labelled “gay” even by the “gays”

Given all of these contradictions, how can the word “gay” only refer to sex? If it doesn’t, why should you base your identity on it? I guarantee that they won’t be able to give a good answer.

At some point, your accusers will see that they’re losing, and will give up for the time being. They probably won’t give up though, and may try again in the near future. In that case, stand your ground and stick to your guns. You are asserting who you truly are, and you don’t need their labels to do it. People around you will have to recognize that you are unique. The “gays” and the religious will have to admit, albeit begrudgingly, that you’re different.

Through such concerted action, you’ll be doing many things. First, you’ll be challenging the dominance of modern sexual philosophy. It is a very jealous system, insisting that people see sex through its own lens. Thus, most people spend their lives trying to shoehorn themselves into being “gay” or “straight”, which both represent obtuse sexual categories.

By adopting neither label, you’ll leave modern sexual philosophy in total confusion. In its mind, a person who isn’t “gay” must be “straight”, and vice-versa, but nobody can be neither. It doesn’t let people realize that there are other ways to conceptualize sex. By identifying only as a Man, you’ll demonstrate that people can validly exist outside of its labeling system and its rules. You’ll show that modern sexual philosophy doesn’t have a monopoly on sex.

Furthermore, you’ll show other guys that the word “gay” need not have power on them. For fear of being labelled “gay”, many men have hemmed themselves into a steadily shrinking box. They have driven themselves into utter misery as they ran away from wearing briefs, shunned supposedly “gay” sports, and avoided musicals like the plague. They felt like they had no choice, since they couldn’t see how any man could successfully deny being “gay”, yet openly love men or those activities. Through your example, they will see that it can be done, and that they can do it too.

Even while you’re making your friendship more intimate, a friend might suggest that the activities are somewhat “gay”. In that case, truthfully say that you’re not “gay”, and that you’re just doing what you enjoy as a Man. Or just pay it no attention, because after all, they’re involved in the supposedly “gay” activity too. When they get an erection from all the fun, call it out in jest. Say something like, “You're calling me ‘gay’ but you're the guy with the stiffy? The pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think?” They won’t be able to respond to that, at least not effectively.

Again, these are guidelines to help you. In your own life, you might find additional methods to fight the accusation of being “gay”. To do that however, you’ll need to know modern sexual philosophy inside and out. That’s why I said that you should read the “For ‘Straight’ People” page. That will give you links to see what makes the philosophy tick.

How to Have Sex With A Guy and Not Get An STD

So the escalation worked, and it seems that you and your friend will end up having sex. Most guys avoid it because they think all male-male sex is disease ridden. In truth, it’s relatively easy to lower STD risk to miniscule levels. These are simple rules that will take the risk down to almost zero.

Totally avoid anything anal. Despite anything that the “gay” leadership preaches, the anus is not a vagina. It never has been, and it never will be. Thus, there’s absolutely no reason for you to shove your penis up your friend’s butt, or vice-versa.

However, avoidance isn’t limited to anal penetration. You should also avoid any anal-oral contact (like rimming), and anal-digital contact (like fingering or fisting). The anus isn’t a vagina, so it wouldn’t make sense to do those actions anyway.

Here’s the dirty little secret of the “gay” community: most of its diseases are spread through anal play. It’s what helped drive the rapid spread of AIDS during the 1980s and 1990s. It’s probably what drove in the jump in STD infection during 2016. As such, condoms have virtually no effect on stopping STD transmission. There’s nothing to gain from playing in your friend’s anus, or him playing in yours.

By avoiding anal play, you’ve already cut down STD risk by a lot. With other forms of sex, it’s harder to spread an STD or receive one. Through that one simple action, you’ve made one large step in preserving your health and that of your friend.

Be careful with oral. Make no mistake: oral sex doesn’t come close to anal in terms of risk. However, it does have risks that can’t be discounted. This blog isn’t saying that you should avoid oral sex. Instead, it’s saying to exercise care in deciding when to do it and how.

A few decades ago, oral wouldn’t have been as risky, because there weren’t as many STDs in circulation. Those that existed were much more treatable and harder to catch. So guys received and gave oral as they pleased, and sometimes as the first sexual act done between partners. That was the case with this guy in the 1970s American South, as well as this man in a 1970s YMCA.

Unfortunately times have changed, and oral can transmit quite a few STDs. There are cases of HIV that have been spread through oral. HPV can be spread rather easily through oral, which can cause oral cancer. It can also spread syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

If you and your buddy are having sex for the first time, I wouldn’t recommend doing oral. You’d need to know that your friend isn’t carrying something that will harm you. Good communication is vital to facilitate oral. Ask in a way that preserves his dignity. This is a good example (taken from the g0y website): "Because I'm into dick2dick, it really isn't a big issue; --But have you had STI's or anything in the past or are still being treated -- that we might want to wait to clear up before doing more than some rod-rubbing & ball-bonding?"

Keep this in mind - if your partner doesn’t have a disease, you won’t get one either. You can’t catch what your partner doesn’t have. This is why I recommended dealing with “straight” guys, because they’re less likely to carry an STD. Since a change in quantity means a change in quality, “gays” are more likely to carry STDs, because they’re encouraged to be more promiscuous.

Furthermore, don’t be selfish. If you have an STD, let your friend know. This has to go both ways. If you can’t trust each other to be honest when it counts, you’ll be endangering your relationship. Do you want to live knowing that you infected your friend?

Plus, even if STDs aren’t a concern, that doesn’t mean the coast is clear. Even as guys go through their day, guys sweat in their crotches. As the Man2Man Alliance explains, “some dysentaries can be transmitted through eggs borne in sweat -- and the eggs go wherever the sweat goes.” It explains further, “For example: you're with a guy who's sweating, the sweat runs down his ass crack and picks up whatever fecal matter is on the exterior of his anus, and gets on his balls.” If he scratches his crotch, as most guys do, that can easily transfer to his penis.

Thus, I’d recommend doing a blowjob at a specific time - during or after your friend swims, showers, and bathes in a Jacuzzi. The running water will cleanse the penis, which reasonably ensures that the skin isn’t carrying anything unpleasant. A document from the website “Straight Talk for Boys About Sex with Males” puts it best: “there is no real difference between having a finger or a penis in your mouth, if both have been freshly washed...The penis itself has no taste unless it is not clean.” While its advice on anal is highly questionable, its information on other sex acts is mostly accurate.

For more vital information on fellatio, please see this page from the g0y website, and read the subtitle “Fellatio”.

Remember that sex exists for the sake of relationships. I realize that I already said that, but I’m repeating it for a reason. This phrase will help cancel out any remaining STD risk in your sexual behavior.

Outside of anal and oral, other forms of male-male contact are quite low risk. If the anus or mouth isn’t involved in sex, semen will land on skin. If there’s no open wound, skin is an excellent barrier against most diseases.

Note however that I didn’t say no risk. Take frot as an example. Though the probability of infection is very low, frot can theoretically transmit pubic lice and genital herpes. Thus, it’s worth noting this quote from the Man2Man Alliance: “If Men into Frot become as promiscuous as males into anal have been, Frot will lose its innocence and joy and become yet another vector for STDs.”

In the “gay” world, a “gay” man might have sex with several men in one night. If two “gays” hook up for sex, they may otherwise be strangers. They might have hooked up just because they liked each other’s looks. As such, they had no relationship before sex, and may feel no obligation to establish one afterward. After sex is over, they may wipe each other out of their minds, and move on to the next conquest. That may happen several times in one night. In such an environment, even low-risk sex can be a conduit for STDs.

That’s why the above phrase is so important. Because of it, you’ll realize that sex isn’t the priority. Instead, relationships must take first place. Sex is what brings those relationships to their highest potential.

That mantra will make such promiscuity less likely. Since relationships are the focus, you’ll be more judicious about who you get sexual with. You’ll think more about who you have sex with. As a result, even if you have sex with more than one guy, your activity won’t approach the levels reached in the “gay” community. This assures that low-risk methods will remain low-risk.

What To Do During Afterglow

So you and your friend end up having sex. It might have been after an hot frot session, a good handjob, or some mutual masturbation. In the afterglow of the climax, you can’t just say nothing about it and leave. At this point, your friend will need you more than ever.

Remember the ironclad grip that modern sexual philosophy has over millions. Remember that its central message is that same-sex activity is inherently abnormal. Up until that point, that philosophy might have an ironclad grip on your friend. So after the pleasure fades away, his head might fill with fear. He’s just done the unthinkable - he just had sex with another man. In the world of modern sexual philosophy, he can no longer call himself a legitimate male. He must either repudiate the desires he’s just uncovered, or else identify as “gay” (aka “abnormal”) from then on.

If he’s Christian, he might believe that he’s just committed a grave sin. He might now believe that he is beyond God’s mercy, and must await his judgement. He might think that he is now an abomination. Under such thoughts, he might even contemplate self-harm or suicide.

You need to reassure him that there’s nothing wrong with him. You need to show him that his urges are normal, natural, and extremely common. You need to show him that his urges for men (too) don’t impugn on his masculinity. You need to show him that his urges don’t necessitate immersion into “gay” culture, or experimentation with anal. You need to show him that God doesn’t care how much he likes men (too).

Thus, you need to show him some of what you’ve seen. Show him some of the contents of this blog, particularly the Scriptural Commentaries. Show him some of the pages from the g0y website. Show him some of the content of the Man2Man Alliance, especially those showing that sex between men is simply an activity that men do. Then, when he gets the point, watch as internal relief sweeps through your friend.

For pointers, look at this story and this story from this humongous catalogue of g0y stories. They do a great job of showing how you can educate your friends. And continue seeing each other after that. You two might become each other’s support, and together you might help other men become free to pursue their own desires for men.

You two had sex because you like each other a lot. In another world, you two could do it without much afterthought. But given the power of modern sexual philosophy, that’s simply impossible right now. Through sex, you have to save others from becoming condemned in their own minds. It’s part of the altruism that natural same-sex activity helps support.

Conclusion

As you might have gathered, this guide doesn’t exist just to improve your seduction skills. Instead, it introduces a different way of life. It exposes a world where same-sex activity is just as valid as opposite-sex contact. The sex model it promotes inculcates a different mindset and outlook in those who follow it. It is one where masculinity is not a monolith, where sex exists for the sake for relationships, and where same-sex bonds are viewed as sacred.

In many ways, the values of this sex model run counter to those which dominate today. This is not to be taken lightly. Instead, it shows why it is suppressed so much. It also shows why it must be fought for. It promotes valuable principles - community, fraternity, equality - which we need so badly today.

I hope that this guide strengthens you. I hope that it is one that you will consider valuable. Most of all, I hope it is one that you will use to the full.

Thanks for reading.

[sportstotobog]

A sports betting beginner’s 메이저사이트목록 guide to baseball betting

Baseball is unlike any other 안전 메이저사이트목록 sport in terms of capturing the public’s attention. While baseball may no longer be the undisputed “America’s favorite pastime,” it is certainly giving football a run for its money.

Baseball is also a great sport to start betting on if you’re new to the game. With each team playing 162 games, the baseball season is extremely long. Different players will take the field in each game. That means there are hundreds of different combinations to bet on, giving beginners a good chance to develop a winning strategy. 메이저사이트목록 바로가기 메이저사이트 – sportstotobog.com

You’ll go through a bit of a learning curve before you can nail down those winning strategies. We’ll look at some tips and information in this article to help those who are just getting started betting on baseball smooth out the rough spots.

Bets come 메이저사이트목록 공유 in a variety of shapes and sizes.

When betting on baseball, there are three different types of bets to consider. The money line is the most popular betting option. Simple bets on one team to win a game against another are known as money lines. Beginners should always start with the money line because it is the easiest type of bet to understand in terms of guesswork; the better team will usually win the game.

Even on a team that is superior to another, the run line increases the risk of a bet. To win a bet, a team must win by a specific number of points. While predicting the winner of a game is simple, predicting a win by two runs or more is more difficult. As a result, when betting on the run line, the payout is usually higher.

The total bets come last. You bet on whether the total score of a game will be over or under the 검증된 메이저사이트목록 total set by the sportsbooks in this type of wager. If you bet on the Overline and the final count is 8 runs in a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks, you will win if the two teams score 9 runs or more. If you wager on the under, you will win if the total score is 7 or less.

Beginners’ baseball betting advice:

All of the rules apply to baseball betting, as we’ve already written an article with general sports betting tips for beginners.

Here are 최상위 메이저사이트목록 some more pointers to help you get through the learning process faster:

Avoid betting on heavy favorites: Favorites are affected by the long season once again. As some teams demonstrate their superiority over others, the lines will shift, and a loss can be devastating. Focus on slight underdogs and slight favorites instead of heavy favorites.

Pick a series to bet on. One of the best aspects of baseball betting is the opportunity to improve your odds slightly by betting in series. Even the best teams can lose to a bad team on any given night; however, betting on the favorites in a three-game series rather than game by the game will significantly increase your chances of winning.

Another Approach to Sports Betting Victory

There is no one-size-fits-all method for winning a bet or ensuring that what you believe will work. What you can be certain of, however, are some sports betting tips that you can use to improve your odds of winning. Here’s a step-by-step guide to winning sports bets that will help you climb the sports betting ladder to the top!

The first thing that comes to mind for anyone is to place a wager on the appropriate sportsbook. You’re mistaken if you think they’re all the same. By picking the 메이저사이트목록 토복이 right one, you can improve your chances of winning by 3%. Don’t be fooled by the percentage; when it’s converted to money, it’s a much larger sum. Also, do not risk your entire bankroll on a single game. The risk isn’t worth it. Increase your betting amount if you’re having a good run.

Another trick takes a little longer but is well worth the effort. In this game, you wager against the odds. If you read in a magazine that Team A (+5) has a 90% chance of winning, look for a sportsbook that has Team B minus five. Of course, this isn’t always simple, but it is unquestionably advantageous.

There is a subtly important factor that is probably more important than anything else. Make sure you’re not swayed when you bet. Some people will pay you compliments and provide you with other advantages. This essentially shifts your focus to something else, and you develop a bias as a result. You should also think about this other technique. Keep an eye out for the crowd’s general mood. They’re the underdogs. This has been proven over many years of data. Betting this way for big games like the NBA has resulted in huge winnings.

You can do something that no other sports magazine can. That’s how you’re going to fine-tune your study. You’re only interested in what benefits you. Those 오래된 메이저사이트목록 guys have to keep an eye on every sport and game that takes place. You are not one of them. You only need to be concerned about your game and your chances of winning. Your ally is the internet. You can and must conduct research online, keep track of trends, and only then make an informed decision.

When it comes to being wise, there is a method that allows you to track games with high betting percentages. What matters now is that these don’t stay the same. Different factors cause the sides to shift. The psychology of side shifting is something you should be aware of.

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You can also place bets on games that are out of the ordinary. These can be extremely difficult, and there is always the risk of losing money, but with enough research and thought, you can make a lot of money. Some bets allow you to place another one if the first one wins. Although they are conditional, they have the potential to double your money.

In short, betting on sports is all about using your instincts to their full potential while also not pushing your luck too far. A good start can be achieved through careful planning, and as the saying goes, a good start is half done.