.Hack

Lately, I have been playing so much of the playstation 2 game series, .Hack.

I originally started playing them a few years back when I was still in college. I had saw the anime on Cartoon network a few times in the past and thought the idea of it in game form would be so cool. Finding out there were games really made my day! I think my parents bought me the first 2, Infection and Mutation. Unfortunately, it was hard to track down the last two. Part 3 (Outbreak) I managed to find in the used bin at ones of the game stores that weren't transformed into Game Stop yet, but it was months before I could find the final one, Quarantine. By the time I found Quarantine though, I had already beaten Outbreak for awhile now and had gotten a bit bored. So I figured I'd go back to it eventually.

Years later, I got back to it (about at most, 3 months ago). Except I didn't feel like continuing the progress I made before; I barely remembered what happened, plus I missed a lot of stuff in my first playthrough. Going through it all again was a lot of fun, and as I finally beat Quarantine, I noticed it mentioned save data that could transferred. What? But... wasn't Quarantine the last in the game?

No. There's another series on PS2 called .Hack G.U. So...  went a hunting for it! I checked my ever so trusty Amazon and... it's fucking 30 bucks for the game USED!

Fuck that shit, I'm not shelling out that much money for the game, USED! If it was New, I'd probably bend over and take it, but not USED! Looking around, i eventually find a few places that sell it for reasonable prices... except most are freaking sold out. Then i finally find the first two games for 19.99 on gamestop and sigh in relief, and bookmark the page. I decided to put off buying them until the next day cause... well i was feeling lazy. The next day? Website said they were unavailable.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE

But luck was on my side! I checked the site again a few days later and they were back in stock. Well, just the first one. I bought, played it, loved it, and bought the second one just before I completely beat the first. I now am missing on one more in the .Hack GU series... and its price is ridiculous. 29.99 is the lowest i can find that currently has the game in stock. Used. Everywhere else is ass loads more expensive or no longer available. I'm sad that Best Buy shows Volume 3 at 24.99 but has been unavailable for weeks. Don't get me wrong, 24.99 before shipping and handling is still ridiculous, but I'm willing to deal with that.

Now the request for assistance: If anyone can find Dot Hack G.U. Vol 3 Redemption for at MOST 24.99 used, please let me know! I'd like to complete the game! If I cannot, I may just end up renting the final game from Gamefly. Hell of a lot cheaper, but more hassle since it's a subscription service and all that I'd have to cancel right afterwards... Plus I'd rather own the game, personally.

Women's World Cup, Part 2

My prediction of the winners had almost came perfectly true. Japan made it to the finals with USA, and when Sweden and France played, Sweden won. But today, Japan beat USA in penalty shoot outs because USA choked.

There is no reason to be angry with Japan for how they played; they were excellent and took advantage of our mistakes just like any team should do. I am happy for them as this has to be a monumental moment for their country after the earthquake related disasters. It even turns out their original coach had died because of the Earthquake. They won it for their country and for their lost coach.

USA played well throughout the main game. It was when they made it to penalty kicks we just choked. They put the goalie, Hope Solo, in an awkward position by missing 3 kicks. She managed to save one goal to keep us dangling, but it wasn't enough, nor should have been relied upon. I'm proud of them for making it so far, however, and will hope for their success in their next big event... I believe it's the Olympics. I think that their showing in this World Cup garnered them a lot of attention, so perhaps more people will watch their games.

I realize many people say, "it's just women's soccer, it doesn't matter," but that because of the stigmata the media portrays, in my opinion. There much more support for male leagues, which is sad but true, thus gives us less interest in the game. Hell, soccer alone in our country is not exactly popular either (though it's gotten a lot better in terms of interest over the years).

However, I really have no interest in watching most sports. Basketball, Baseball, and (American) Football are completely boring to me (ESPECIALLY american football). Soccer does something different, though. It feels much more exciting to watch with a lot more pressure. It's probably because I grew up playing soccer, though I also did play a little basketball and baseball.

I also have to say, despite this being a Women's World Cup, I felt it was a hell of a lot more exciting than the men's last year. I suppose it is because two phenomenal teams I was rooting for made it to the finals this year. I think I shall be watching more of the Major League Soccer matches on TV though, both men's and women's. I sort of wish we had a co-ed World Cup, but I suppose it could be a bit too much, especially how people would react if a man fouled a women... Still, I think it would be amazing to have and would stop dividing our sexes.

Little tangent aside, congratulations to Japan for your well deserved win in this year's World Cup! :)

Women's World Cup

I have been watching the Women's World Cup since it first started, and it has been absolutely excellent. Last year with the Men's league, every team I rooted for was knocked out (usually to shitty refs, though a few was team's faults). There was also a shitload more drama, because they dive more than the women do for calls.

Women's league, despite not being as popular as the men's has been more true to the sport and the amazing plays. When they get knocked down, they usually won't just hold onto an injury for a call (exception: Brazil), it's get the fuck back up and get back in the game.

At this time, the teams fighting for the gold is USA, Sweden, Japan, and France. Well... it was France, but USA just recently beat them in a great game.

Out of nowhere, Japan managed to beat Germany to make it here, which I am just thrilled about. Japan is my second favorite to win next to USA. Normally, I root for North American teams (cause... I live here :P) and then I root for the Asian countries since I don't recall seeing them in the finals usually.  It also depends how the teams play, if we have sore sports I'll drop them. Japan has been proving to be not only good sports, but offering a completely different playstyle. Unlike teams who specialize in offense or defense... this team relies on tactics. Their offense and defense are rather... average to say the least, which makes every match a tough fight. But they have such good handling on the ball, it gives them a different style of play. In some ways, I wonder if this style was the perfect counter to beat Germany.

USA has been showing so much heart, it's not funny. Our team is so well rounded with all players being of good value (though some have had some bad days) and being very fit gives makes us a force to be reckoned with. I think our strengths have to be about being well rounded, but that might be a biased comment to be honest. We barely beat Brazil, but the ref also went into super retard mode with some calls. It was so bad that the stadium booed Brazil (especially their star player, Marta) every time they had possession. And people were chanting for USA, even the other countries in the stands. It honestly felt like the world was coming together against the enemy (in this case, was Brazil). Oh... and one other thing great about the USA? The goalie, Hope Solo.

This woman is not only nice to look at, but she has such a great demeanor in goal, it's almost like she's a sociopath (and I mean that in the best way possible). Even when doing penalty shots, she stays calm. When she is scored upon, she remains calm too, or brushes it off. The only time I really saw her emote in game was when super retard mode ref in the Brazil game gave her a yellow card for something she didn't do (replay proved, not that it matters to FIFA).

France and Sweden are also in these final games, but I wasn't really rooting for them. I do respect them both, though, and I'd not have too big a problem if they had won (Brazil is the only one I did not want to win because of their attitudes and dirty playing), but I like Japan and USA more. My ideal end ranking for the world cup would be USA in first, Japan in second, Sweden in third, and France in last (I like Sweden a little more than France). I will say I liked how France played today; they had good sportsmanship, played fiercely (2nd half they were dominating us for awhile), and overall did well... I think the rain through them off some though, because in an earlier match with England, they were so freaking fast, I was very worried about them.

As for Sweden, I'm mostly indifferent to them; they beat out Australia, which i was slightly leaning towards over them, but they are good players and I would not be surprised if they beat Japan right now. I do want Japan to beat them, but I'm not going to get my hopes up. 

If USA goes against Japan in the finals, of course I'll root for USA, but I will not have any shame against losing to Japan. I'm sure with all the shit they went through with the Earthquake and all, it would be a great pick-me-up.

Father's Day

My father and I have had a weird relationship throughout my life. Growing up, I hated him and resented him, even at times wishing death on him. Today, we have more of an odd buddy and annoyance thing going on. We're not exactly close, just when we get along, we crack some of the funniest jokes with each other. When annoyed with each other, it's either passive-agressive anger, or angry for the day, then tomorrow we forget about it. Or at least he does.

To be honest, I've harbored extreme resentment with him for a very long time. I still resent him today, but it's just easier to forget about it then delve into it. As much as I hate some of the things he's done in the past, it just seems stupid to start an argument about it.

Once when I was around 5-7, my sister and I shared a small room together, bunkbeds and all. She was keeping me out of the room when I wanted to play in there, and I was pissed off that she wouldn't let me in. I don't think anyone was home at the time, or if they were, outside, so I couldn't tell on her. Instead, I got a metal baseball bat and hit the door with it. Dad see's the damage to the door, and slaps me upside the face. While I'm on the ground he's yelling obscenities at me for doing something so stupid. I tried arguing but all I could do was babble out incoherent things... I think I managed to say what happened but I was the one to get fully blamed for that in the end... I deserved to be punished, don't get me wrong, but I hated how he handled the situation.

One time around 7-9 years old, it was summer time. I had been enjoying sleeping in a lot. My sister barged in (we had separate rooms by now) and said mom wanted to talk to me. I yelled back I just want to sleep, but she kept pestering me. I even started giggling out of frustration because being half asleep, everything is kind of funny. Mom apparently heard that too... Later in the day, I was hanging out with some friends at the park near my house. Dad came up from behind me, grabbed me by the hood of my jacket and ran me back home, yelling at how I should talk to my mother when she asks it. I don't think he hit me this time, but I cannot be sure. Definitely was grounded for retarded reasons. My best guess is I should have called mom when I actually "woke up." Mom took me giggling though as being awake and just not wanting to talk to her and lying or some shit...

In the Middle school years, I was going to a psychologist since I was quite depressed. They suggested I take an IQ test for some reason or another (I tried very hard to block out a lot of the middle school years, so minor things tend to get hazy). In elementary school, I had gotten a pretty good IQ score, I can't remember what it was. When I took this VERY DIFFERENT psychology IQ test the results came back pretty bad. My father called me out to the living room, and yelled at me. He believed I didn't try hard enough since the test results said i was retarded. He then made me feel i was a complete idiot and useless, then grounded me for such a thing. Dad mentioned something like an IQ doesn't go down, therefore it had to be my fault. From what i remember of that test, however, it was just recognizing images and making stories about them and some computer test where I had to hit a letter that quickly flashes across the screen. The IQ test in elementary school actually had problem solving and such, so I really don't think you can compare the two.

Unknown age, we were visiting New York City at a toys r us. We had gone to many places and this was the last stop. I wanted to look around, but all I got was 5 minutes and then they said, okay we're going. I through a tantrum (Maybe I was 8 at the oldest then?) and stomped my foot saying how unfair this was and dad got a death threat look on his eyes and yelled "Don't you dare ever stomp your foot at me." This was more of a minor thing, but this became a catchphrase of his for a short period of time and the punishments were more than a simple yelling to.

We were setting up the Christmas tree one time and dad was making me  I think trim the bottom of the tree, or filling it with water... I can't remember. The annoying tree kept getting in my hair and down my back or something otherwise uncomfortable, and I still had really bad allergies at the time. I yelled saying I'm done with this, and stomped away. Suddenly I heard dad getting up and he had that death look on his face, and so I ran to the only place with a lock on the door; the bathroom. He banged on the door demanding I finish dealing with the tree or he'd knock down the door. I yelled back, "Only if you don't hit me." He yelled obscenities some more but eventually said yes. I went back, crying and cringing to finish the tree, but he kept his word on not hitting me this time.

Back to middle school years, I was pretty much terrified of my dad by now. So every time he raised his hands, I cringed from him. He noticed and yelled at me for cringing, saying if i keep doing that, he might just smack me for it... This was a bit of a boiling point for me, where I was slowly not just fearing him, but resenting him in totality. If I'm starting to cringe around you, doesn't that say maybe you have done something wrong? Not to him, though.

Even when i was 18 and older, we have had shouting matches, but he wouldn't dare hit me in these years. When I was younger, I never attacked my father back, because besides having very poor self image of my strength, I also was weak armed. My legs were very fit though from playing soccer and running around for years, as well as I knew how to kick from karate class for years too... I could have actually hurt him back if I was able to will myself to. However, once when I was 17, dad once tried to just put his hand on my arm about something (nonviolently), and I quickly batted it away before he could even get close (thank you karate and paranoia). He told me to relax, but noticed how quick I was, and I believe learned just not to do anything (or he just was getting old and knew it was actual assault). I also developed a bit of a touching phobia by now, which I still have today.

Still, he managed to yell at me bad enough to make me do things in my adult hood. For instance, my sister used to take the train to work some years back, and occasionally needed a ride back home. We were in walking distance of the train, but it WAS a little bit of a long walk. I think I had not slept very well or had work earlier in the day and did not want to pick her up this time because I was tired. I talked to my sister and she said it's okay, she'll walk this time. Dad woke up from his nap and asked why I wasn't picking her up and I told him why and how we already talked it over and he flipped his shit demanding I go pick her up because I was being lazy. By this age, i was a lot more stubborn however, and yelled right back at him at how exhausted I was from work (or possibly college?) and I just wanted to rest this time, but he wouldn't hear of it. By now, I was so angry, I couldn't relax so I told him fine, drove off like a maniac and picked her up and dropepd her off, then went off somewhere in anger since I couldn't deal with him at the time.I waited until he went to sleep before coming home that night.

I blame a lot of my anger issues on him really. It pisses me off I can't do anything about it either... Well, rather, I can, but besides being pointless and wrong, I owe him too much to do something horrible like beat him up (which I believe I could). Plus even if I didn't owe him, I've stopped myself from doing dramatic things like attacking him or calling police on him because I knew it would hurt my mother on the inside. In fact I know she would get upset everytime we fought. I do have a little resentment in her not stopping some of his little acts, but it's easier to forgive her for that.

In any case, I doubt I'll ever do something to my father unless he attacks me first. I still do love him too and we are able to get along these days still... It just eats at me any time I think of things he did. But these days, not only does he have MS, but has other related pain problems. I don't know if I'd call it karma really and I really don't enjoy the fact he has problems like this either... In a way, though, I suppose I could say it is punishment for overreacting in the past, but i don't consider it like that. Hopefully I'll be able to let go of this anger sometime.

Haha! Finally!

A silly thing, I know... BUT! I finally beat Super Smash Brothers Brawl's All-Star mode on Intense... with no continues.

For those who don't know, All-Star mode is where you play as a character and must fight the entire roster of fighters in SSBB. Whatever damage that was inflicted on you stays throughout the entire thing, and one death = game over/use a continue. You do get three hearts which will restore you to full that you can choose when to use them or not. I did use them all, but was able to spread them out pretty well.

My last battle was with Olimar and I was at a pretty unhealthy amount of % (67 I think, which is a possible death percent, but not guaranteed). I had a bit of a scare during the fight at one point, where Olimar got a good shot on me and it tossed me far left of the screen. I managed to recover-roll to save myself luckily. I am just glad I managed to beat it with someone after getting so close in the past. I'm just surprised I managed to do this with Ness instead of characters that have an easier time like Peach (who is my best and also has an alternate way to heal herself with her smash ball) or Zelda (Din's Fire allowing her to play keepaway and a very good crowdcontrol upsmash).

Dragon Warrior: Hero's Destiny 3/Shadows of Erdrick 2 Guide

Just like my Nestalgia and Archipelago Remastered guides, I'm making another BYOND game guide. This one is a lot less popular than either of them, but recently came back and one of my preferred fangames to play despite some bugs.

Game link - So you know where to find it.
Class Information (90% accurate) - Link is dead, use the info found in the guide below.
The Old Message boards (Still works, but hardly used)
Mekan's Accurate Personality Bonuses Currently down.

YOU MAY NEED TO RIGHT CLICK-VIEW IMAGE THESE SO YOU CAN ZOOM BETTER (Or save them)

Adding now an easy way to search the page so you can find the map or guide you want easier.

Osama Bin Laden is dead.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110502/ap_on_re_us/us_bin_laden

I want to be cheering and celebrating, but I just don't feel that. rather paranoid of retaliation attacks. Plus feels weird to celebrate the death of one man compare to so many lost.

Whatever the case, I hope this means we can take the troops home now.

House (expect spoilers)

So I finally caught up on some TV shows. Some have gotten a lot better, others devolved into their norm after making a dramatic change (just like every friggin series seems to love to do).

House did the latter. For most of this season, they had Dr. House in a relationship with his boss, Dr. Cutty. Then not too long ago, they suddenly decide it won't work out. Sad for awhile, and then House goes back to his vicodin addiction, and EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL! Fry from Futurama called this sort of thing the secret to television: by the end of the episode, everything is back to normal. Personally, I find it incredibly lazy. They tried something new, got scared, and so brought things back to normal. Granted, at least it wasn't just one episode like Fry's theory, but really... couldn't even last the end of the season.

 And even more annoying, they recently got rid of the new female doctor, Masters, who is freaking cute!

Yeah, she isn't downright hot or anything, but her character (and actress) was rather refreshing to me. Being a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and being little miss moral was a welcoming, different role to add to the cast. However, thirteen finally comes back and then they had to shove off Masters next episode right away.Quite the piss-off.

Show-wise, it's not absolute she'll never return, but she is done with House's team. Maybe she'll work in the hospital and pop up occasionally or something, but doesn't seem like that'll be happening.

Long time no see!

I know I haven't been very active. To be honest, not much exciting is happening here. I mainly been playing NEStalgia. Here have a list-update:

-Still into Homestuck. Shit keeps getting real.
-Got a Nintendo 3DS. There's something awesome about having a dragon pop out of your bed.
-No job still; no word back on my applications.
-Probably mentioned this but I will be graduating sometime in May.

That's it. Nothing too fascinating which keeps me demotivated from updating to be honest. I do have a new update for the NEStalgia guide now that a new expansion has come. I been delaying uploading maps since things are bound to change and all. No new secret passasges as of yet, but will continue searching.

I gotta thank all the traffic coming to my blog though, a lot of people been searching here and linking to me. :)

Birthday post!

Sorry for not posting much lately, I been essentially working on my guide or just generally playing NEStalgia, as well as a few other things keeping me busy. But today is my birthday I have a few plans for today!

First, my best friend might come over and just chill with me. She hasn't said it, but hinted at it very hard.
Second, two of my cousins are taking my out for an awesome pancake dinner at their church. the church part doesn't particularly thrill me, but it's just a dinner. I can survive that. Besides... pancakes!

As for what has been going on, well... My sister was kind enough to take a day and a half off from her job to help organize the mess that is my life. She was going to help me with the summer college class fiasco, help me get my car inspected, and help me apply to jobs. I was applying slowly on my own, but to be honest, I was not very motivated. I was trying to ask some of my unemployed friends if they'd want to come with me and look for jobs together, but they didn't care to which made me apathetic to my own problem.

In any case, we were about to go to the college when I decided to check my grades. I needed to be sure the stupid incorrect F was still there and was planning to print it out as reference. After logging in, and looking at it... It finally fucking changed! After nearly HALF A YEAR, the grade was finally changed to its correct value: B. I now can officially say I will be a college graduate in May. :)

In slightly less great, but still good news, my car actually passed inspection! I can drive without worry of ticket, and now I will park in front of the bitch of a neighbor who insisted on calling the police because a car with an expired inspection ticket was NEAR her house. Since we live on a public street I was actually fined too... But now I may have a small bit of revenge. She doesn't like people parking in front of her house, so my friends and family have been purposefully parking in front of her house. Now I can join in on that.

Also, I finally got new glasses. I had my old ones for... almost 9 years! Over that 9 years, they had been sat on and dropped countless times, gotten loose with lenses falling out even more, and because of all the wear and tear, the arms of it were lopsided! When I wore them, they would be crooked and I looked like a mad scientist that just failed an experiment.

Sort of like that, though this is a really cheesy picture.

Heh, I just had pizza for breakfast. I guess I can say I had Dinner for breakfast, and having breakfast for dinner today. :P