ifirit
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Posts posted by ifirit
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If you haven't seen the movie "The Fall" yet. I highly recommend getting it on Blu-Ray. It's an absolutely visually-stunning film.
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Having recently purchased a Nintendo DS, I've realized how ideal it's set up for interactively learning a foreign language, being that it has a touchscreen, microphone and region-free game compatibility. I suppose that is why there is a proliferation of "My _________ Coach" games for NDS. However, one of the most common concerns/problems I've read about the My Coach games, particularly with My Japanese Coach, is that the software will sometimes provide incorrect translations, spellings, and/or pronunciations.
Assuming that there are others aside from myself that are interested in learning a foreign language this way, has anyone else used the My Coach series to learn a foreign language, particularly My Japanese Coach? More importantly, are there other Nintendo DS titles which more correctly, or more efficiently, teach a given language?
(I've heard excellent things about "200 man nin no Kanken" and "Kakitori Kun 1 & 2." But are they easy for non-Japanese speakers to pick up and learn from?)
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Not Tomorrow 1 has got to be one of my all-time favorite themes from not only the Silent Hill series, but from all video games. It was so fitting and the theme is entrancing. With this work, you seem to have intended to capture that rapturous nature.
The piano sample used here is idyllic for that purpose as it is one of the more realistic sounding samples, while still retaining a slight synthetic tone, which blends very well with the string pads that shortly follow. The overall timbre is clear and direct. I particularly liked the level of reverb used directly on the samples; the echo effect created by it gave off the notion that the song was intended to reverberate with the listener, emphasizing the sad and lonely mood.
The song quickly establishes the mood as somber and continues to retain that mood throughout the theme variations that follow. However, because the mood is so quickly established, the arrangement suffers heavily as a result, coming across as repetitive and invariant. It seems too greatly focused on the baseline of the song, overpowering and overcompensating for the subtlety of the flute theme/melody and string accompaniment. As such, the most noticeable aspect of the arrangement comes during the section beginning at 1:19, which substitutes the lyrical legato for a stuttering staccato.
However, that aspect of the arrangement is not the most lacking portion of this work. It is in fact the arrangement on the whole. Upon completing my third listen to this, I was continually put off by the general lack of variation on the whole. I realized that the overall structure was the problem.
You see, the song resembles almost exactly a rondo sonata, being that it is composed of two themes that alternate with variations in each passing. However, unlike a rondo, your work never seems to leave the first iteration of the theme. In fact, you overlay the variation onto the original theme midway through. So, while the structure of the song resembles a rondo: ABACBA (where
A = 0:00 - 0:56 Theme
B = 0:57 - 1:18 Melody Overlay
A' = 1:19 - 2:04 Theme Variation
C = A + A' = 2:05 - 2:48 Theme with Theme Variation Overlay
B = 2:49 - 3:11 Melody Overlay Reprise
A = 3:12 - 3:45 Theme Reprise
A" = 3:46 - 4:09 Theme Variant
as noted), the initial theme does not ever really stop, pause or even hesitate at any point throughout the work. This conservative structure in the arrangement creates the repetitive nature, which is very likely to warrant dismissal from the judges' panel. Therefore, it is my strongest suggestion to leave the comfort of the baseline as the source of variation in the work in favor of exploring some of the other aspects of the source, such as the melody portion and even the accompanying string/ambience portion, should you wish to retain the rondo sonata structure.
I'm warrant to cite Nay Tomorrow which chose to focus on the flute melody as the source of the arrangement and variation, adding a much needed human element, while not over-relying on it. (Remember: Silence is also a sound.) In other words, sometimes it's best not to hear one aspect of something in order to truly listen to it.
Additionally, the general EQ of the piece is also lacking, as the work feels too heavily concentrated panned in the center of the stereo field. I understand that the sound is intended to be focused in order to emphasize the mood and tone, but it seems as though the field is forced into such a state, sounding almost concave.
The work you've created is a very good tribute to the original, but overall, it lacks the arrangement level needed to be submitted to the main site. Hopefully, these notes will help you refine your ideas and strengthen your work.
Peace, Love and Good Luck!
Additional Note: Please remember that a rondo sonata form is not grounds to dismiss a submission, but that rondo sonata form is intended to emphasize an individual's solo performance, i.e. live performance. If that is not your intention, then it is suggested that you focus on a different song structure.
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Same thing goes with "Dissidia Final Fantasy."
Are you counting games that feature Final Fantasy characters as a predominant part of the story? Because you can then start counting the Kingdom Hearts games.
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Anyone wanting to see Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! What Did I Do to Deserve This? in UMD format, you can place a pre-order for it here. If pre-order sales reach 1000 (orders), the game goes into production. If not, all orders are cancelled and you aren't charged anything. Also, the game only costs $19.99.
This seems like a completely no-lose situation to me.
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Saw this thread over at CAG.
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240052
For anyone whose either played the demo of Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! What Did I Do to Deserve This? or purchased a digital copy the PlayStation Network game, this is your chance to help get the game a much needed release on a physical format, namely UMD (for PSP).
Didn't see any mention of this, and I know it's not technically a "deal", I didn't know where else to put it and thought it was worth a mention for anybody who might be interested.Found on Rosenqueen's website: they're gauging interest in a UMD version of Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman!, which has only been available on PSN as a download thus far. The UMD version will be $19.99 (which aside from shipping appears to be the same price as the downloadable version), but they will only actually produce the game if 1,000 preorders are placed. The info on the site says that they will not charge until orders are actually shipped, and to not place orders purely to increase the "votes" for the game's production (i.e. multiple orders by one person only count as one "vote").
Preorders stop being taken on November 13th, and the game ships in mid-December if it's actually going to happen. Orders will be cancelled if there aren't enough to begin production.
Anyone who was wanting a physical copy of the game (like me), this seems like basically the best chance for it to happen, and there's really no loss for placing a preorder (assuming they REALLY don't charge until it ships; this is Rosenqueen after all!) Either they cancel your order and you never get charged, or you end up with your copy of the game.
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For the love of God, when is the damned soundtrack going to be released!?
Silent Hill Homecoming Update:
SHH Promotional Soundtrack Released in North America via GameStop Retailers:
While it was originally reported that the soundtrack for Silent Hill Homecoming was to be released at the same time as the home console versions of the game on September 30, 2008, as stated by Akira Yamaoka (executive producer and lead composer), the soundtrack failed to appear in stores or from distributors of the game at said time. Information about the soundtrack's release date from Konami Digitial Entertainment, Inc. or from retailers was not available and many people assumed that the news about the soundtrack release date being congruent with the game release was a mistranslation on the reporters' end.*[1]
However, later, Gamestop, GameCrazy and EB Games Canada retailers in North America ran an advertisement, distributed via email promotion*[2], stating that a limited supply*[3] of promotional copies of the soundtrack for Silent Hill Homecoming would be distributed with in-store purchases of either console version of Silent Hill Homecoming (XBOX360/PlayStation®3)*[4] during the week of Friday, December 5, 2008 and Thursday, December 11, 2008.
The promotional CD features 21 tracks from the game's soundtrack and was packaged in a shrink-wrapped jewel case with a front cover image insert and back image insert. A tracklisting of the soundtrack is listed below. Like previous iterations of other original soundtracks in this series, the promotional soundtrack is composed of arranged and extended versions of the original music pieces from the game.*[5] The tracks were mixed from the original 5.1 surround sound scheme, so it is recommended that you listen to the music via headphones or a sound system with surround sound capabilities.*[6]
Because the soundtrack was only released as a promotion from GameStop, physical copies of the soundtrack are not available from retailers, meaning that if you are searching for a copy of the promotional soundtrack you'll have to search peer-to-peer sales or auction sites, i.e. ebay, amazon, etc.*[7]
SHH Soundtrack Tracklist:
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One More Soul To The Call
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Witchcraft
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Mr. JOY
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Cold Blood
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The Terminal Show
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Elle Theme
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4 Pattern
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Snow Flower
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Attitude #70
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Regards
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Total Invasion
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The Real Love
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Voodoo Girl
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Living In Fear
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Dreams of Leaving
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Who Knows
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Slave 2 Death
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The Thing
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Dead Monks
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This Sacred Line
- Alex Theme
*[1] Footnote: Previously reported by Original Sound Version.
*[2] Footnote: Only those signed up to receive emails promotions from GameStop and its affliates were informed of the in-store only promotion.
*[3] Footnote: According to Original Sound Version, in a later article about the status of the Silent Hill Homecoming Soundtrack, they reported that supply shipments of the promotional CD were received in late November 2008. As such, most websites are reporting the receive date as November 24, 2008, though this is only an approximate date.
*[4] Footnote: According to user posts, while the promotion was restricted to purchases of Silent Hill Homecoming, some were able to obtain the game with purchases of Silent Hill 0rigins (PlayStation®Portable/PlayStation®2). Others were able to obtain a copy from their local GameStop retailers with a copy of their pre-order receipts for Silent Hill Homecoming.
*[5] Footnote: Many of the tracks from the soundtrack are changed from the original game music files, either slightly or heavily in terms of arrangement and/or EQ. (Personal Note: An example of a significant change made can be seen in the track "The Terminal Show," which plays when Alex first enters the town of Shepard's Glen, which originally contained a breakbeat, synthetic percussion section half-way through the piece in-game, while the promotional soundtrack version contains a jazzy, acoustic drum kit section in its place.)
*[6] Footnote: Many fans have complained about issues dealing with a lack of musical elements in the latter portion of the promotional soundtrack, but without the proper listening device(s), you cannot hear a large portion of the music in each song. (Personal Note: For example, the song "Regards" features a heavy synthetic bassline that plays throughout most of the song, but listening to the song over a 2 speaker system, the section was completely absent.)
*[7] Personal Note: Because of the the high number of physical copies released by GameStop, finding a copy of the promotional soundtrack is not difficult and because it was essentially free, it is not recommended that you purchase a copy for over $20.
Silent Hill: Lost Memories.net (English Branch) - Music - Silent Hill Homecoming Soundtrack
He can always write the script from prison. They are allowed pen and paper, aren't they?It's not a question of whether or not he'll be able to write the script while in prison, but a question of whether or not the project as a whole will suffer because of the lack of a direct collaboration with the producers and film makers on what will essentially be the narrative structure of the entire film.
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One More Soul To The Call
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J is for Jade Cocoon
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I know that the article says that the film sequel has Samuel Hadida and Roger Avary attached, but I wonder if production is going to be a problem after Avary is sentenced for Vehicular Manslaughter on September 29. Prison sentences for this are about 2-3 years in most states.
The New York Times - Arts - "'Pulp Fiction' Writer Pleads Guilty in Crash"
Additionally, Avary has previously stated that he would not do a sequel to Silent Hill if Christophe Gans was not also attached to the project. I wonder if he has changed his mind since 2007.
Shock Till You Drop.com - Exclusive: Avary Skips Trip to Silent Hill 2
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D is for D
Better rules were needed to establish a higher level of difficulty, such as all the words within the title to start with the same letter (i.e. Mega Man, Wario's Woods), titles following the subsequent letters in the series (i.e. Super Tetris, Legend of Mana) or titles following backwards succession (i.e. Tales of Symphonia, Castlevania: Bloodlines). Points could also be awarded for the number of letters in each title, multiplied if a pattern were used (same letter multiplier, sequence multiplier, reverse sequence multiplier). Challenge bonus would be added if a single-word title with 3 or fewer letters is used.
The next person would pick up off the last letter used in the previous title. The round would end when the last letter used is Z. Points would be added at the end of the round and a winner determined by most points.
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Companies sometimes reuse their own music in games of different series.
Nintendo is guilty
Super Mario Bros. World 3 Map and Legend of Zelda's File Select and Great Fairy Fountain music
It doesn't count as stolen if the same composer wrote both pieces.
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If these songs were to play on the radio, they'd probably classify them as soft rock or soft pop.
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The VAs demanding $75,000 an episode are just greedy.
I think the article meant that the show's budget was reduced to $75,000 an episode. Which makes sense when considering why the producers couldn't meet the cast salaries.
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My grandmother is in critical condition in an out-of-town hospital right now, so I won't be able to attend the concert this month. We're not sure if she'll pull through or not. In either case, I can't really justify making a trip to Cincinnati for a concert right now. Sorry, I can't make it, but have fun anyway, guys.
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The music from Everyday Shooter is on last.fm.
Also, while this isn't the music from Everyday Shooter, per se, Jonathan Mak did release an album of music made in a similar vein, fiveonefivefour. One of the songs was used in his newest game, Gate 88.
There are also a couple of YouTube videos with the game music included.
Everyday Shooter - Level 6 - The Angry Pieces
(Sorry, poor quality, but the only one available)Everyday Shooter - Level 8 - So Many Ways
There are also a few guitar tabs available, so that you can play the music yourself, if you wished.
Everyday Shooter Tab - Main Menu
Everyday Shooter Tab - Training Level
Everyday Shooter Tab - Level 1 - Robot
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Happy birthday!
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Just out of curiosity and for the benefit of others, I'd like to know if there is anything that you're planning on doing during the weekend before the show on Monday night.
Is there also an event of some sort going on, or a place of interest that a group of us could go to? How would in-town travel work out?
Considering the unusual date of the concert, I'm just wondering if this is going to be a formal meet-up or something more casual. It's looking like I might definitely be going, but I think knowing whether this will be formal or not will effect my level of enthusiasm.
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WHAT
WHAT
WHAT IS THIS
I DO NOT HAVE THE PROPER MENTAL FACULTIES TO COMPREHEND
WHAT THE HELL KIND OF DRUGS THEY ARE TAKING
THEY MUST BE TAKING ALL THE DRUGS
holy shit.
You cannot grasp the true form of Burton's film.
Ferret could not stop crying.
ifirit got hurt and collapsed.
It didn't work on OCRemix Forums.
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If you guys haven't checked it out, download the Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! demo from the PS Store.
It's an incredibly unique dungeon-building game with a funny sense of humor that has you playing as the bad guy in a "Final Fantasy"-style JRPG. While the graphics are a throwback to NES era gaming, the game mechanics are really complex and defending the dungeon takes some good strategy and planning.
Also, on the website, you can sign-up to win a free copy of the game on release. You have to enter 5 codes on the contest page to sign-up. I'll list the codes below.
#1) BM579842LM
#2) BM978261WT
#3) BM351209LP
#4) BM758345SC
#5) BM568271FX
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I've been pretty excited about the PS Store expansions. Just got Metal Gear Solid on my PSP and have been playing the crap out of it. Forgot how tough it was on Hard Mode.
Keep up the good work, Sony! (Hopefully we'll see Silent Hill, Xenogears and Vagrant Story in the PSOne Classics section later on.
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While I can't make a definite plan right now, put me in the maybe catagory. I can give a better estimate by July 1st.
It was a lot of fun the last time in Louisville. However, I felt like the whole thing was a little rushed. So, hopefully, if I attend, I'm looking forward to hanging out for a little longer and getting to know some people better.
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It's essentially a griffin with a hyena's head.
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This latest one has a nice atmosphere, but is rather repetative and doesn't do a whole lot of developing. It feels like it's looped over and over again.
Actually, I think the mixing is a key problem. The base melody on the harp-like instrument is placed too closely in the foreground, while the more varied and expressive organ melody is placed behind most of the rest of the instruments. If the two tracks were switched in their placement (EQ-wise), then I think all the rich undertones and subtle expressions would rise up to the foreground. I can hear them, but not clearly enough.
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It was indeed naive of him to allow strangers into your parents' home, but I suppose the gung-ho lawyer and his group were pretty intimidating. He was smart to get counsil while they were still there. It's important to understand your rights as a person, especially when there are people willing to take matters to an extreme.
Zero Punctuation (Hilarious) Game Reviews
in General Discussion
Posted
I'm really surprised that people haven't figured out that it's not Yahtzee doing the voice-over in this one. The end credit comments even allude to it.