#it's all for aphelion I AM HYPED

[pedro-pedrito-pascalito]

if he looked at me like that i'd simply pass out

[tafferling]

Thank you, Techland. Thank you, Dying Light.

With a side of Thanks, CDPR!

Alright. Hear me out (or don't, this'll be a ramble). I'm posting it during off-hours though, so I doubt it'll bother anyone.

*clears throat*

I've had three notable rough spots in my life. I'm talking under the filthy floorboards kind of rough, at the bottom of the ladder rough and the ladder is on fire rough.

Rough Spot Number Two was the worst of them, all things considered. When I say Kyle Crane saved my life back then? That's not hyperbole. That's me being literal.

To be fair, that's a bit of a story old as time for me; Taff in distress, fictional character to the rescue. He wasn't the only one either, but I digress.

It's also a story relevant to so many other people and my heart goes out to anyone else who needed to be pulled from the darkness by a movie, game, book, you name it. You're valid. Your experience is valid. You're worth so much.

Anyway.

I wrote Latchkey Hero back then, a story that helped me sift through my trauma boxes and fight my demons. And a story that I have missed ever since I'd finished it, with a yearning deep in my soul to return to Kyle and Zofia that I didn't know how to satisfy.

One thing I tried to wrap my head around was how to turn it into an original novel, but nothing ever quite fit.

Then I played Cyberpunk 2077 and it clicked. I mean it clicked SO HARD, it took me an hour and I had hammered out a concept for how I could reboot Latchkey Hero in a Cyberpunk-lite setting situated right in my own world that I'd built since I was a kid.

Aphelion was born.

I'm never going to pretend Aphelion is anything else than a reboot of a Dying Light Fan Fic. And I am never going to pretend Varrett isn't 80% Kyle as I've written him in Latchkey Hero.

Because that is what I need.

I needed a story where a group of people is faced with unimaginable hardship but doesn't give up, and Varrett (just like Kyle) gave me that. Live or die trying; it's one of his (and by extension Aphelion's) taglines, it's the foundation on which the story is built.

But~ even as Aphelion took shape, Bad Times Number Three came. It wasn't just one thing, but a perfect storm that left me battered and grieving. That, ultimately, led me to almost dropping Aphelion right then, convincing me that I was undeserving (of Kyle, of Varrett) and that my integrity was compromised.

Yesterday, I was one more bad night's sleep away from putting the pen down.

I spent that bad night's sleep watching the Game Awards. And I caught the Dying Light 2 CGI trailer.

Now I sit here writing this because of a line painted on a fictional wall in a game that isn't even released yet and that I know very little about because I don't like getting swept up by the hype.

Now I sit here telling the void that Techland did it again. That, unintentionally, they've put the wind back into my sails.

And I'm grateful for that.

Because I need this story. I need it because I need to pay my respects and thank Kyle for what he's done for me. And giving him a second lease on life in my heart is the least I can do.

[commenter2]

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart trailer analysis

For those that haven’t heard yet, Insomniac Games has released a trailer for there new Ratchet & Clank game yesterday, called Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

I don’t think I need to say how excited I am for it but I’m going to anyway. IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS GAME ! For those that haven’t heard about it yet, here is a link to a video showing the trailer for the game as well as gameplay of it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsnG-3-r6-Q

The game looked so amazing that I did na analysis of the trailer last night and thought Id post it on my Tumblr page for anyone to read. HUGES spoilers ahead. Also I apologize or the spacing as for some reason I can't separate the paragraphs any longer then they are now.

First is the trailer

First off we get a shot of the amazing animation of the game till Ratchet & Clank drop in, literally, but did they just come out of a dimensional rift ? This has to mean the Dimensionator has to be involved in this somehow. We then see another amazing example of the games design and graphics of what looks like planet Sargasso (which would be cool to go to again) till Clank brings up how they need to get to something, the Dimensionator maybe ?, till he is distracted by an Antropod/Terratrope followed by another rift releasing robots shooting at them and though I’ve seen the trailer already, I quickly got a Dr. Nefarious vibe from them.

Then something unexpected happens as Ratchet RIDES the bug and uses it to take down the robots ! Now I haven’t played Spyro in years but that charging attack reminds me a bit of the charge attack Spyro uses in the games, did anyone else think that? If that was on purpose then its nice to see that Insomniac Games still remembers there roots which gives me comfort with them making awesome Spider Man games in the future without worrying about them ignoring there Ratchet & Clank fans.

After some animal handling gameplay, Ratchet and Clank are thrown into a rift and we see a series of shattered pink/purple glass images of places only for them to quickly grind and slide though two planets, maybe existing ones at the night one kinda looks like Veldin while the city one could be Metropolis or Meridian City, with Clank saying the dimensions are weakening which again backs up the idea of the Dimesinator being involved.  I do want to say that during the quick grind rail segment, the Grind Boots looked much better in design compared to there previous appearances, which were kinda lazy in my opinion. I hope this means they and the Gravity Boots will be different in appearance instead of in color. I should also say it shown that you can DOUBLE JUMP while grinding, which is a cool small change for the iconic mechanic.

We then see Ratchet ride another animal, this time with wings, on planet Torren IV which though I’m not 100% sure I think I saw a Hoverboot boost pad. Could the Hoverboots be in the game ? Before I continue I want to say the idea of Ratchet riding and controlling animals is a really awesome idea, not only would this be an interesting twist to combat in the game but it would also be another interesting way to travel throughout the levels, which Id be ok with doing IF the Hoverboots aren’t in Rift Apart.

Either way this ends quickly as Ratchet & Clank hop to another planet, a new one according to them but again teleport to planet Ardolis where Ratchet fights robot pirates (AWESOME) who are dealing with a creature. I wonder if Captain Slag and Rusty Pete will be in the game ? During a fight we see Ratchet uses a new weapons, specifically a new BLASTER like weapon that has a rapid-fire feature, which I am thankful for cause I couldn’t take another game with the Combuster.

The fight quickly ends as the explosive barrel explodes and Clank gets thrown through a dimensional rift and is separated from Ratchet, NO ! but also AWESOME cause it gives a A Crack In Time like vibe. The hype is then taken up a notch where its revealed that Clank is on a planet run by none other then DR. NEFARIOUS, Clank saying they are to late, meaning those robots at the beginning WERE his and he is somehow causing all of this, maybe.

Speaking of which Im not sure how I feel about Dr. Nefarious being the main antagonist of ANOTHER game. Don't get me wrong he's still an awesome character but it would also be nice to face a new villain for a change, plus it makes me nervous that this could mean Nefarious could be defeated once and for all which could ruin a big part of the story of the R&C trilogy finale I made some time ago.

HOWEVER I think we can all agree that the biggest thing about this trailer is that while Clank is calling for Ratchet a blue and gray/white colored female Lombax with a robotic arm appears wondering who Clank is talking about, which again gives off A Crack In Time like vibes and…..she’s carrying a hammer ? A bit odd since Lombaxes are affiliated with wrenches but its still an amazing idea. Then we get the name of the game which though I hate to say, the text makes it looks a bit bad as its looks poorly rendered especially at the "and" section and what’s that thing between the words Rift and Apart ? Is that a dimensional rift ?

Other then that the trailer is amazing.

Now for the gameplay

So Marcus Smith does confirm some things about Rift Apart like how this will be a full length game and how those things teleporting Ratchet & Clank were dimensional rifts that will allow them to teleport form planet to planet which though cool its goanna be a bit sad not being able to use Aphelion in the game, I wish she could have more speaking roles in games as she IS one of the last few things from the Lombaxes.

He also says that the new graphic allows them to put something called ray trace reflections on Clank, which along with some other people I’ve seen, I agree makes him look really odd. Hopefully before the game comes out they fix this by toning it down  and maybe add a bit of white in there like his older appearances. He then says that the planets are denser with new creatures and that Ratchet has a new arsenal, which sounds perfect to me. He then states that R&C is close to the company’s hearts and can’t wait to show more of it, which again gives comfort.

We get to the gameplay and immediately were introduced to a new mechanic where Ratchet uses a gadget called the Rift Tether to go through a yellow rift similar to that scene in Avenger: Infinity Wars where (spoilers) Thanos uses the stones to pull Dr. Strange closer to him, pulling the area around him towards him in the process. We then see Ratchet fight a Thug for Less enemy, which is cool but not surprising since there were many signs that this game would make references to there other games and this is confirmed seconds later where we see Ratchet fight some Sandsharks. We also get to see several new species of aliens here.

During the Sandshark section we do see a NEW comet strike as unlike in previous games the Omniwrench is thrown diagonally and it looks like it returns to your hand faster. I feel like this change was done for the new female Lombax as I feel like she can do the same thing but since her melee weapon is a a hammer, it wouldn’t really work (or make since) if thrown horizontally, and it would be confusing to have two character with two different ways of throwing there melee weapon. Though I’m not that big a fan of changes I don’t really mind it, heck maybe its a one time thing.

After some more chaos like a giant tentacle creature coming out of the portal, similar to the one in the trailer, and what looks like an Ultra-Mech Unlimited crashing through a walkway Ratchet and Clank were in we get some interesting content in the next cut. One is Ratchet saying something about “break reality” again telling reality is coming apart because of theses rifts, quickly followed by Clank saying Dr. Nefarious has come out of hiding after years of hiding to take over the universe again which means that this IS a post Into The Nexus game, as I’ve seen some people debate about if it is or not.

We get another new game mechanic during the fight with some thugs. It seems that Ratchet can now jump to his left or right in order to avoid incoming damage by using a thruster on his boots, could this mean the Hoverboots are really in the game but are damaged ? It would be cool if during the game Ratchet & Clank or Ratchet goes to Azimuths house on Torren IV to find something about the Dimensionator but also find a part needed to fix his hoverboots thus letting Ratchet use them to get around, especially if the part of the trailer of Ratchet and Clank getting separated IS true.

Were also introduced to new weapons here. One is called a Shatterbomb, the bomb glove weapon, The Enforcer a shotgun like weapon and the Burst Pistol which is the blaster shown in the trailer and would explain its rapid fire ability. The most interesting weapon shown so far is the Topiary Sprinkler, a weapon that when thrown forms into a sprinkler that can project plants around it and shoots out a stream of water that can stop enemies in there place, plus I bet the plants around it is a form of defense system to protect the sprinkler for a time.

The gameplay ends with Ratchet destroying some Robomutts and going though a hallway where a statue of Dr. Nefarious or a mech in his image can be seen but also there is a moment where a purple energy ways rushes through the surrounding areas, just like in another R&C game but that’s for another post, no spoilers now.

Wow that was a lot to write but that’s because there was SO MUCH going on in theses trailers and I’m pretty sure I missed some things. I’m already working on a theory on what’s going to happen in this game, which will most likely come out during the weekend so stay tuned for that.

What were your thoughts on the trailers ? What was your favorite moment in them, and did you noticed anything in them I didn’t talked about ?

[lunare-sims]

Sul, sul, simmers! Yes, your eyes are not failing you, Lunare-sims has made a post! 

My hiatus is officially over, and I’ve returned to simblr after a few mental crises, the deletion of all my posts, and lack of motivation. 

However, I recently stumbled upon @volcano-pasta​‘s Milky Way Legacy Challenge, and I’ve been playing it non-stop since I found it! 

So, here I am to start a new gameplay following the challenge. Our founder is Aphelion Dawn, and her traits are neat, hot-headed, and self-absorbed. 

Look out and get hyped, gameplay posts will begin tomorrow! (11.30.19)

[toboldlywrite]

10 Questions tag

Tagged also by @sp00kysid thank you these are interesting questions!

1. Have you ever been excited to read a book but then ended up being disappointed? What was it?

Oooooh boy I just tried to read the first Dark Tower book a couple months ago. I was excited to read it because hype and movie but tbh (stop reading here if you like the series and don't want to be offended) I thought it was awful. Interesting world, but the main character was so boring and I hated how SK portrayed female characters in this book. I really hope that's not how he writes female characters in general, because it made me uncomfortable. I got halfway through and couldn't continue.

2. If you had legally change your name to one of your ocs’ names, which name would you pick?

Hmmmm I’d probably go with Dawn or maybe Echo. Names that aren’t too crazy but are still cool.

3. Do any of your ocs have an 'unusual’ hair or eye color?

Hahahahahahaha I mean half my ocs are aliens. But theirs are still normal for their species. Dawn’s, on the other hand, look like opals (black opals, not the light-colored ones).

4. What genre do you like least?

Book genres or tv? Is comedy even a book genre? Because that is my least favorite. Second hand embarrassment and anxiety affect me a lot to the point that anything with social drama is hard for m to watch. I have to read synopses before hand to feel comfortable watching a lot of things. Not so much a problem in books. In terms of book genres, my least favorite is romance. Yes, I know romance stories have value and aren't all shallow and even if they were that doesn't mean anything because books don't have to be "deep" to be entertaining or meaningful. But I still don't like the genre. Personal preference.

5. When describing physical appearance, are you more detailed or vague?

I'm probably too detailed tbh. Writing from Dawn's POV is handy because she pays so little attention to physical appearance it really helps me step away from it.

6. Most difficult book you’ve read?

My organic chemistry textbook. It counts, right?

7. Most recent book you’ve read?

I tried and stopping reading the Dark Tower book. I'm also trying to re-read So You Want to be a Wizard but my motivation to read lately is meh at most

8. Favorite film adaptation of a book?

No matter how much they left out/changed, I do still love the Harry Potter movies. But I do think they make a nice supplement to the books rather than a replacement, if you know what I mean.

9. Book or book series you would love to see a film or TV adaptation of?

I know it's already been done but I am so excited for the Wrinkle in Time movie. I'd love to see the other books in the Time Quartet on a screen someday, too.

10. Favorite word?

Oh I love this question! Aphelion is the answer, and also probably a future book title but don't tell anyone.

I just did questions/tags on another one so forgive me for skipping it here. (but feel free to answer these and say I tagged you if you wish)

[patricksilvrrozartistry]

Current Music Obsessions: August 17 - 31, 2017

Ho lordt. I have A LOT of obsessions to get through for these past two weeks of August! I listened to A LOT of stuff and purged my watch later playlist big time. So let's start out with the MANY honorable mentions.

Glass Idols - Thema Alwaid - Idle Riddles and Rhymes Alessia Cara - Scars to Your Beautiful Nyxx - Diabolical Arise - Sin Fin Temperance - At the Edge of Space (live) Thy Art is Murder - The Son of Misery Belly - Feed the Tree Accid Reign - In the Dark Mount Salem - Lucid Clouds - Nothing but a Name feat. Mihu Glare of the Sune - Groundwater AL1CE - Looking Glass Nostra Morte - Persefone White Skull - Will of the Strong Dreamspell - Твой Выход Rage of Light - Mechanicals Sirenia - Sister Nightfall Angie - Smoke Weed Eat Pussy Septicflesh - Enemy of Truth Lorn - Acid Rain Tacere - Voice in the Dark MaYaN - Enemies of Freedom MaYaN - Paladins of Deceit Sheer - My Wicked World In the Silence - Ever Closer Eihwaz - Delusion Beyon-D-Lusion - Sweet Surrender Veil of Delusions - Together for Glory Mechina - Creation Level Event Evanescence - Bring Me to Life (Synthesis) Zolita - Fight Like a Girl Orden Ogan - Come with Me to the Other Side feat. Liv Kristine Azathoth Circle - In My Mind

Now let's see those MANY real obsessions.

1) Season's End - Our Prayers Fall Back to Earth

It's been 12 years since these guys dropped any new material and they released this awesome track. It's so good and haunting. I always love it when music talks of the struggles of the real world, ESPECIALLY when it get political. It opens your mind to what is really going on outside.

2) A Sound of Thunder - Who Do You Think We Are?

These guys are amazing. This track is low key a diss track to people always trying to define metal bands and put them in small boxes. A metal band is still a metal band no matter what subgenre they fall under. I love their campy songs like this one. They're always so fun.

3) Serpent & Seraph - Tears of Naviane

I discovered these guys through a compilation video on YT one day and fell in love. There's something about this track that is so hypnotic and amazing. It goes from being extremely aggressive to being extremely beautiful rapidly and the transition practically non-existent, but that's what I love about it.

4) Garbage - No Horses

This is the second song I've heard from these guys and it is completely different from Magnetized. It has a bit of a 90's industrial kind of vibe to it and I love it. Another song that is charged by the evils of the world around us. More specifically: police brutality.

5) Micky Huijsmans - New Horizons (Textures cover)

This is one of my favorites off Phenotype, and Micky put such an epic spin on it with this cover. I never expected her to do growls and I hope she brings them to a future End of the Dream album. It really shows multiple dimensions to her voice that EotD doesn't show and is amazing.

6) Synkvervet - Aurora

Another song I discovered from a compilation video on YT, this is a blackened symphonic metal band. This song is so beautiful and lovely. The contrast between their female singer and their male vocalist are so epic. Also, their female singer looks STUNNING in this video. Definitely am gonna check out more from these guys.

7) Little Dead Bertha - Cry of Mankind (My Dying Bride cover)

This was a random discovery on the recommended videos on YT and I need to hear more from them. It has a blackened doom metal vibe to it and their female singer's voice is so lovely. Not only do I need to check out more from these guys, but I need to finally listen to My Dying Bride. I still haven't listened to them yet!

8) Cradle of Filth - You Will Know the Lion By His Claw

This is their best single they've released for their upcoming album and probably one of the best songs they've released in the past 10 years. It's like an evolved form of classic CoF and I fucking love it. The last two minutes are absolutely INSANE. Dani's low growl is everything. So hyped for the new album!

9) The Great Discord - Omen

Everything these guys have released in line with their new album has been amazing. This song is pretty and so cool. They've really stepped their game up with this album. Not saying that Duende wasn't a good album, it was amazing, but they're definitely putting their names out there with this one and I can't wait to see what amazing opportunities come their way from it.

10) Russkaja - Alive

Really weird, bizarre, amazing, glorious, cheesy ska fused with punk and rock. I've heard a few songs from them, but haven't really gotten that deep into their works. I really need to change that. I love bands that don't take themselves seriously. Also, that EDM breakdown was extremely unexpected and dope af.

11) Aly & AJ - Take Me

This is their first song (under their names) in 10 YEARS and it's wonderful. When I found out that they dropped a new single, I nearly screamed. These girls were my childhood. I'm so hyped for the upcoming album and to see what direction it's gonna go in, because this is a blend of indie rock and 80's styled synthpop and I love it.

12) Corvyx - I Got You (Bebe Rexha cover)

I never heard the original, but I am OBSESSED with this guy's cover of this song. I've been a big of this guy for a minute now and I think this one is on the same level of favorites as his cover as I Don't Wanna Live Forever. His voice is so lovely in this song and I love the slight distortion. This song is such a fun one to just blast while driving.

13) Kari Rueslatten - Spellbound

This song is so pretty. It's such a simple song, but it's so pretty that you get hooked on it instantly. Such a great song to put on and just chill to. I can't wait to get around to listening to her new album.

14) Tristania - Aphelion

I've been on a big Tristania kick lately and this has been one of the songs I've been obsessed with by them. I really need to listen to their full discography again, because I'm not familiar with Morten's era with them. This song is just so beautiful and intense. The last two minutes are probably my favorite. It just escalates so quickly and ends on such a beautiful note.

Crushed Dreams

After getting a copy of World of Glass, when this song came on, I knew I would be listening to it non-stop for a hot minute. The intro, the choirs and the exit are so amazing and beautiful. This is definitely my favorite album from Vibeke's era with the band. It's so beautiful, raw, haunting and in your face.

15) Qveen Herby - Busta Rhymes

Amy is definitely reinventing herself with this new project. Karmin dabbled with hip hop a little bit, but this project is pure trip hop/hip hop and I'm loving it. And homegirl goes IN on the second verse. I really need to listen to their debut EP.

16) The Naked and Famous - All of This

I can't remember how I came across this song, but nonetheless, I love it. It wasn't all that interesting to me at first, but then it grew on me and became an obsession. It's such a simple pop rock track, but it's so fun and catchy and has a bit of a punk-ish flare to it. Really digging it and am gonna check out more from them.

17) Crimfall - Until Falls the Rain

I discovered these guys through Helena (I'm a big fan of her old project Tacere), but have only listened to Wildfire Season. This song is so powerful and beautiful. I know how cheesy this sounds, but this song is amazing to listen to when it's raining/storming outside. Such a perfect blend of symphonic and folk metal. Can't wait to hear their new album.

18) End of the Dream - Who Do You Think You Are

Finally listened to their new album, Until You Break, and I really enjoyed it. This and the track below are ones that definitely stood out to me on the album. This song has such a hard and raw proggy vibe to it and is so in your face. I also love the vocal lines in the chorus.

I Am Nothing

This song is so beautiful. It starts out so simple and pretty, but then it starts to escalate and it gets so powerful and raw near the end. I haven't heard a song like this one in a very long time and am so pleased with it. It really shows off just how much this band has grown since their first release.

19) Exit Eden - Rhapsodies in Black

I couldn't pick a particular song that I was obsessing with from them, so I just put the whole damn album on here! This album is absolutely AMAZING and I listened to it non-stop for little over a week. My two favorites are their covers of Paparazzi by Lady Gaga and Frozen by Madonna which features Simone Simons of Epica. Paparazzi is so unexpectedly heavy and intense and Frozen is just as beautiful as the original, but with a symphonic metal flare to it and I love that they kept the original vibe of the song with this cover.

Those are all my obsessions for the last two weeks of August. I promise the next installment won't be as long!