assorted zags from the past week. finally got back to krita! and then almost immediately was back on my phone again

Year in Review: Games Part 1

This is a series I've been wanting to do for a while. Whenever I finish a piece of media (books, games, movies, comics, maybe art and music in the future) I jot in down in a doc so I can look back on them at the end of the year. I wanted to write my thoughts on them as I finished them, but since you have to start somewhere, I'll be writing simple reviews in retrospect. This is just for fun, but I welcome any feedback.

Pokemon Scarlet

This game released with some controversy. It was an unfinished glitchy mess with graphics still not up to the standards of the Nintendo Switch six years into its lifespan, but tbh this game was fun as hell to complete. I loved most of all the new designs and managed for the first time in my Pokemon career to actually complete the Dex. I usually get worn down on that pretty quick.

The characters were also much more engaging than the previous generation, especially my best boy Arven. The environments were super fun to explore and I got a new favorite little guy (Slither Wings my beloved). Here's hoping the next game has an actual sane development cycle and we get this amount of creativity in a higher degree of quality with better paid developers.

Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations

If you thought I only played games that came out this year, sorry to disappoint. I don't manage to pick up even half of the blockbusters that pop up annually, and go after older games way more often. That being said, I see why AA fans hold this game up so high. I played the first and second Phoenix Wright games last year (which I won't review since that was too long ago now) and this is a nice cap to the original Trilogy.

You get Phoenix's background as a dorky bisexual art student, Mia's first case as a defense attorney, and an honestly heartbreaking quest for revenge through Godot while never stooping to melodrama. (I love his theme it sounds like the Mother 3 Magypsies). Also unlike the first two games, there were zero "filler" cases. Each one was thoroughly engaging and moved the plot forward in a meaningful way. Though, I don't begrudge the earlier cases that fuck around a lot more.

Pokemon White 2

When the OG Black and White came out, I was in the "everything new is lame" stage of adolescence, so when the sequels came out I didn't even bother. Turns out I was the lame one for doing so! In hindsight, Pokemon seemed to reach something of a peak with Gen 5 in terms of graphics and gameplay, and would seek to experiment with new artstyles and gimmicks for the next (looks at watch) 11 years damn.

With the first Black and White, it focused on remodeling classic Pokemon designs and gameplay into something new and modern, and these games add back in most of those classic Mons. The plot is also very action-packed and engaging, and gives a satisfying epilogue for a lot of the characters from the first games. You get to see how the region has changed after 3 years and even get to explore some new parts of Unova, similar to how the Gen 2 games handled Kanto. I hope Gamefreak does something like this again in the future.

Kingdom Hearts: Re:Coded

Prepare for a deluge of this series, and not in any conceivable order. Kingdom Hearts took over my heart, mind, and body Xehanort style for the better half of the year. This title is known for a fun variety of gameplay and an absolute dogshit story. I wouldn't really agree. The game switches up its playstyle pretty frequently, including side-scrolling platforming, railshooting, and turn-based combat but for the most part its classic hack-and-slash 3D platforming that feels kind of grindy, but there's multiple unlockable difficulty sliders that you can use to switch it up if you get bored.

Storywise, there's not a lot for newcomers and if you want to play through all the games as one overarching narrative, I wouldn't blame you for skipping this one. However, if you're already a fan of Sora and Riku's relationship, this has quite a bit for someone to dig their teeth into. The world's are all recycled from KH1, making this one of the two games where you can actually explore Destiny Islands, but they all feel pretty downgraded. The endgame gave me a headache.

Kingdom Hearts

Our best boy's first big boot step into adventure. I watched all of the KH cutscenes for all of the games during a particularly dry season of lockdown, so this was my first foray into the original. The story genuinely holds up to a surprising degree, leaning into the Disney elements more than its Squaresoft side for probably the last time in the series. Its really good groundwork for Sora's introduction as a hero, I especially love the assertion towards the end that it is Sora's choice to help others that makes him worthy of the Keyblade and not destiny. Its a theme that would be both muddied and compounded upon later in the series in a pretty interesting way.

I was almost astonished at how in-depth all of the worlds are, especially Traverse Town. There are a lot more little Disney references and sidequests, like the 101 Dalmation quest, that help the worlds all feel a bit more lively. Also NPCs, which later in the series would become a rare gift. I fucked up on the combat. Did not learn how to do spell shortcuts until midway through KH2. Despite that, it was still fun to wack Heartless with my keyblades six different ways, and it makes me excited to replay it at some point.

Kingdom Hearts II

This is the big boy that every KH fan loves to absolute death. Chain of Memories had already started the series tradition of experimental storytelling, but the mainline sequel takes it to an fascinating and well-executed degree. For the first three hours you are forced into playing a new protagonist with zero context and near zero Disney shit. Vivi is there though and we love him for that. Later on we would see this prologue as the tragic conclusion of another entry in the series, but its initial presence here is jarring in a way you have to piece together throughout the rest of the main game. It would also introduce many of the more headache-inducing plot aspects that are fun to dissect but a pain to explain, such as Nobodies. I see them as ghosts, and no one can tell me otherwise. I wrote a whole absurdist retelling about it.

The worlds are more quantity than quality, I'll be real. About half of them are made up of 4 or 5 flat maps with nothing to do except grind Heartless encounters, (e.g. Mulan.) The other half are a bit meatier but could have benefited from more sidequests and such. You revisit quite a few from KH1 to see how they changed and that's always fun. There's a theme to each of the Disney worlds that add to the narrative, in this title mainly being romance and identity. The identity aspect leans toward the relationship between Sora and Roxas, two separate people who are also one person, while the romance theme hints towards the relationship with Sora and Kairi. Oddly enough, both themes also seem to work towards Sora's quest for Riku, who is in the midst of his own identity crisis while Sora desperately tries to find him. Huh. Interesting.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep

This is my favorite Kingdom Hearts game. This was one of the few I was able to play as a teenager and even after all these years I still adore this game to death. It works without knowing anything else about Kingdom Hearts. You don't need to know about Ansems or Nobodies or Time Travel; none of that shit. This is the story of three friends that get torn apart by their own ignorance and one bitter old man on his quest to change the world. Its one story split among three perspectives, and each character you play through the game with you understand the grander narrative. You understand why Aqua's best friend snapped at her, why Terra's little brother is so ready to die. You also get to hear Leonard Nemoy yell "KEYBLADE" in the same cutscene three different times.

I love this game so so much dammit. The combat has a fun collection system where you earn action commands and combine them to make better attacks and healing moves. The worlds in the latter half of the game are also really creative and fun to explore, though you get a limited area to move around in for each character. If you have played previous KH entries, there's a lot of references to make you point at the screen and go "THAS AXEL THAS MY BOY HE'S A LIL GUY HERE." Anyway I'll shut up. Play this game.

Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance

Never ask me to explain the plot of this game. They added Inception to Kingdom Hearts and also Time Travel. And the story is mostly told through unlockable backstory cutscenes including the premise. Yes, the introduction to this game's story is an unlockable. Despite this, the story is pretty effective. This is Riku's second time in the spotlight since Reverse/Rebirth, though the game is once again split between him and Sora. It dissects Riku's character arc in a similar way to Re:Coded, except uhh this one isn't a computer simulation, he is a Dream. Completely different. It asserts his desire to continue as Sora's protector, and realizing this it is him who ultimately triumph's over Angst Teen Xehanort, saves Sora and passes the Key Test. He's no longer on his Way to the Dawn. He's in the light. It's sweet.

The worlds in this game are based around vertical movement. There's a new Parkour mechanic that lets you wall-step-flip around basically everywhere, and to compensate this the worlds are Huge. Since they're dreams, that also means they're pretty empty of anything to really do or explore. They are pretty at least. There's also a pokemon mechanic where you collect lil guys. I did not realize this mechanic also determines Riku and Sora's stats until the final boss, which caught me off guard. I see why this is a lot of people's fave KH game of all time, but its a little too busy for me.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages

This is an odd one. I first played this game two years ago at college alongside Oracle of Seasons in my spare time. Eventually my phone-I MEAN MY AUTHENTIC GAME BOY COLOR- broke and I thought I lost my save data for both. Turns out I did not and finished through the last few dungeons. This game makes solid use of the time travel mechanic, which is a mix of Ocarina's time travel and Alttp's world jumping. It's fun to jump sporadically between 1000s of years and see the world in different eras. That rock? Used to be slightly over to the left. Would you look at that.

The dungeons had a larger focus on puzzles in comparison with Season's love for combat, which is probably why this is the more beloved twin. Some of the dungeons had me waddling back and forth for too long until I figured out what to do. You can link these games up to get bonus items like the Biggoron's Sword which is fun to complete. After beating both games, you get an extra final boss against Ganon and a scene hinting towards the beginning of Link's Awakening, which is a nice touch. And then Nintendo declared them two separate Links, for some reason. Beh.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

Oh hey. One of the most beloved games of all time. I have played through this games more times than I know. Probably around like. 6 times I used to boot this game up and play all the way up to the Forest Temple and then restart for some reason, I don't know how many times I actually got to the end.

Its a game that eases you into its idyllic fantasy world before dropping you headfirst into the apocalypse you inadvertently caused in your quest to destroy evil. Its never a melodramatic game though. Its about the loss of innocence. Maturity. Learning that the evil was always there, before the King of Thieves took over the world, before you were even born. It even came from the place you are trying to protect. But there was always goodness too, there was always light. There are always friends to be found in dark places. The style and presentation are peak. The dungeons are rich in aesthetics and well made puzzles. The time travel mechanic is honestly a bit undercooked. But this game is fantastic. Quintessential Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure

I straight-up forgot I played this. Its fun though. Its a relatively short game, but compared to its predecessor, its a huge improvement. The game plays out in stages like the first Four Swords game, but usually in explorable environments, like towns and forests rather than generic volcano and cave themes. You control all Four Links at once, moving them into different formations to move rocks or put fires out. Or you can do it with friends controlling each Link. I did not. :(

I was mainly interested in this games story from a lore perspective. It features the return of Vaati, the Wind Creep who Lova Da Ladies, but with the addition of the Rise of Ganondorf. You are sent to stop him from a wise owl, Ganon allies himself with Deku Scrubs, attacks the Gorons, and is eventually turned into a monster by his own lust for power. It seems more and more like a retelling of Ocarina in a different light. Eh. Maybe I'll write about my Zelda timeline theories in a different post. Not here though

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

BACK TO KH BABY! This is a rhythm game, so I don't have too much to say. I've never really played any rhythm game before this, and I'm not sure if this one is on par with the more well-known rhythm titles out there, but I had a good time with it. Its great for people who like Kingdom Hearts music, lmao. You have a lot of unlockable character groups to play through the music with and level them up, but once I unlocked the Days trio I didn't really go for the others too much. Xion my beloved.

The story is hilariously shallow, almost insulted considering its Kairi's first solo outing, technically. She's on her quest to learn all the KH lore she missed out on, and eventually finds a repressed memory of a grown adult monologuing at a toddler for fifteen minutes. Also that her boyfriend is alive so that her boyfriend's boyfriend can go save him. Her boyfriend's boyfriend is also her boyfriend. Fight me.

Kingdom Hearts III

People were. So upset when this game came out. Acted like it was the biggest disappointment since the ill-fated economic crisis of '07. Sure, yea, that's a reference. Well this is the first time I've gone into it and I'm here to say this is probably among my favorite KH games of all time. Strong competitor with BBS. A lot of the criticisms of the story and gameplay weren't wrong per-say, but the issues with this game, such a goofy dialogue, bizarre pacing, and over complicated exposition dumps, are problems with the entire series that fans of the series, in my opinion, have come to see as endearing elements of Kingdom Hearts. Its funny to watch the big cloak guy point at Sora and say "Darkness Light Heart Darkness," and see Sora gasp in fear, while also realizing the importance of that dialogue to the story. It's a feature, not a bug.

The worlds in this game are its biggest asset. They are huge, heavily detailed, heavily explorable areas with tons to discover. Hell, the Pirates of the Caribbean world acts as a slightly smaller Wind Waker. The game adds in most of the mechanics from all the spin offs to give you a lot of toys to play with, such as parkour or sharpshooting, that are easy to forget but a treat to use when you actually remember them.

A central theme of each of the Disney worlds is happy endings. Hercules finally takes down Hades for good. Mike and Sully are able to visit Boo without risk to her safety. The dead Baymax from that one Disney movie gets a redemption arc. Frozen and Tangled play out exactly as their movie which is kind of boring. This correlates with the happy endings the rest of the supporting cast get to experience, including the initially tragedies of the BBS and Days trio in scenes that genuinely got tears out of me. But Sora doesn't get a happy ending. He sacrifices himself to strong-arm everyone else into their perfect circumstance. Literally breaks the rules of time and space to force the universe into saving his friends at the cost of his own life. And then Hell turns out to be Tokyo so its not all that bad. It makes you feel for the boy. This game also lets you play as Kairi in the DLC which makes me happy.

Alright ending this here. I've played way too many games this year this isn't even half. Also only including games I've finished, and games with definitive endings. I played Mario Kart 7 but that doesn't rlly end, ya know? Will try to write these weekly, even if no ones reading them. But if you do read them tell me what you think! Gonna switch over to books next week to even it out. I swear I don't just play games. This is the last Kingdom Hearts game on this list too I swear.

It's my 8 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

I uaually wouldn't post smth like this, but I'm honestly so appreciative for Tumblr these past 8(??) years. I was a very lonely kid growing up, and didn't have any friends, & wouldn't until going off to college in 2020; I didn't ever make friends on Tumblr (i had amino apps friends 💀💀💀😭😭😭😭😭) but for a long time, it would give me things to do. I had an outlet for literally every single fandom that I got into, especially Ace Attorney. I'm so, so happy that the series has matured with me, and even if we never get AA7, the localization of DGS 1 & 2 was an amazing note to end on. They are probably the best-written games in the series and I loved finally being able to play them after so many years.

When I was still making original content for Ace Attorney, I was kind of sad to think that when I grew up, I would stop my real-time playthroughs of Ace Attorney. I played through the entire first game in the original time that it happened back in 2016 (which is when the first game took place, canonically), and I knew I probably wouldn't do that by the time AJ rolled around in 2026.

Now those years are in reach. 2026 is only 2 ½ years away, and yeah, I probably won't play AJ like I did the first game. But I'm really happy that I never really grew out of my "phases" that I went through on Tumblr. I still love Ace Attorney, and it has remained my very favorite video game franchise through nostalgia alone, and have gone back to the series over the years. Getting into the series because of the announcement of PLvsAA was such a magical time. I had no idea that AA would become such a core part of my teenage years. I got into the series when I was 11 or so, and so I have literally spent half of my life alive loving Ace Attorney than not. And tbh, I'm really happy with that.

I've come a really long way in these past 8 years, and I can better appreciate how the 7 year time skip in AJ did so much to Phoenix lol. I was a very lonely 14 y/o, stuck in an abusive home. I lived day by day, and my mom insisted that I be homeschooled K-12, despite having such an unstable household & her deteriating health so she didn't even get up out of bed most days so I rarely left the house, except to go grocery shopping with her.

But now? I graduated college an entire year early, earning summa cum laude this past May. I met some honestly amazing people, and finally started making friends for the first time since I was 9. I had some fabulous mentors during my undergrad, and not being their students anymore was the hardest part about graduating so early. I'm still actually at my college now, since I'm working a residence job over the summer, but once it's over, I'm finally moving out. I have no idea what's going to come next, but I'm tentatively looking forward to it all.

Tumblr, for its bad reputation, never actually negatively affected me in the same way other apps did (amino was fucking traumatizing 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭), and for me, was exactly the kind of platform that it promised to be. I have loved growing up with it, and coming back to this blog every so often feels like coming home.

I know some of the followers of this blog have really been with me from the beginning, and I really, truly appreciate you. I still recognize your @'s, and they make me happy when I see them in my notifs every so often :) unlike literally every other social media, I have not thought once about closing this account, so I'll be here a while longer.

Who else is going to reblog my yearly Amathatober 5th XC2 post? 🤭

But that is to say: thanks, Tumblr. This platform has been good to me, and I'm so glad I joined it.

AA7 Speculation Post: One Year Later

here we go again.

A year and a day ago, I made a speculation post about if/when we’d ever be seeing AA7. Obviously, my claim that AA7 would be announced in September 2020 did not turn out to be true, but later that year we did get a leaked calendar containing information on the new ports for Chronicles, and also plans for a new aa7, which I summarized in this post.

Now that we have Chronicles we can verify that the leaks contained legitimate information (as if a statement from Capcom saying they were hacked wasn’t legitimate enough). So that leaves us with one key question: is AA7 still happening? If so, when can we expect it? As well, what other information from the leaked calendar can we consider, especially with early sales data on Chronicles? In addition, what are the implications of this new survey on Chronicles from Capcom?

All of that will be discussed under the cut so that this doesn’t take up too much space.

Revisiting The Calendar

Once again, here is a rough translation of the calendar that was present in the leaks:

As a note, in this post, I’ll be referring to our new games as “Chronicles” to prevent this from being blocked by people avoiding spoilers.

So: this original calendar, generated before the pandemic, had Chronicles releasing in Q1 of FY2021 - and it’s also important to note that in Japan, each fiscal year starts in April 1st, so FY2021 is actually April-June 2021. This shows that Chronicles was pushed back about a quarter from their expected release date. However, Chronicles was a port of already existing games, therefore somewhat less work was needed on them - upscaling models and textures, adding in some new features like autoplay and story mode, and of course, the English translation and voicework were needed, which is still a lot of course, but less compared to development on an entirely new game. In addition to that, the pandemic hit AA7 in its early development stage, assuming this schedule was still being followed by the time the pandemic hit. That could cause more delays than expected.

So the original plan was for AA7 to be released in Q3 of 2021, which corresponds to October-December, aligning with the 20th anniversary of the series in October. While it’s a desirable goal, it’s quite likely the pandemic pushed it back at least a quarter, if not more, if not cancelled it entirely. ... haha.

We’ll only know the fate of AA7 for certain when it’s announced. Which it is possible it may never be. However, I have two theories for, if AA7 is getting an announcement, when it will be:

1) Sometime during September 2021, either in the leadup to or during Tokyo Game Show this year. These are for the same reasons as I outlined in my initial speculation post. It’s a popular time for Ace Attorney game announcements, after all. TGS, according to what I can find, will be held online this year from September 30th to October 3rd. If Capcom announces AA7 earlier in September through Famitsu, like they did with AA6 for example, then we can expect to get some information during TGS... 

2) Sometime during a 20th Anniversary Event, possibly in October 2021. I’m assuming AA is planning something for the 20th anniversary - Chronicles wasn’t really marketed as a 20th anniversary release, for instance. If they can’t release a new game for the 20th anniversary (which at this rate, seems unlikely, as we’re about two months out from that with no word about it) then an announcement would be just as good at generating hype for it.

Naturally, if we reach this time next year with absolutely no news on AA7, it’s probably safe to say it’s been cancelled or at least delayed so severely that anything we currently know about it isn’t worth much.

There’s one more point of interest on the calendar: reconsidering the porting of 456. I feel that this depends heavily on how well the Chronicles ports are doing; if it’s not financially viable to keep porting games, then why bother? So, let’s take a look at that.

The Success of Chronicles

As I write this, it’s about two and a half weeks since the release of Chronicles worldwide. So... how did the games do? It’s a bit hard to tell, especially as I am not a game marketer and don’t know the expectations for Chronicles. What is obvious is that, if Chronicles does much better than expected, porting 456 and possibly even the investigations games seems likely. (If Chronicles, indeed, does especially well in the West, than a porting of the investigations games and localization of investigations 2 after ten years could very well be possible.) If Chronicles does absolutely terribly, it damages the chances of porting, and possibly of continuing the series. If it does terribly especially in the West, where the games are essentially new, it could damage the chances of any new games being localized at all.

So, a lot is riding on this, and I don’t know enough to tell how well it did. Here’s what I have found, however:

Nintendo Enthusiast reports on Famitsu sales of Switch games, and overall thinks it’s not doing so great. Chronicles ranks third on the list of Switch sales in its first week, with 14,460 units sold, over 4000 less than NEO: The World Ends With You, which was released on July 27th. Keep in mind that Chronicles was released in Japan on July 29th, which is two days later, and that these are only Japanese sales (where they’ve had Chronicles for years on both mobile and 3DS) and only Switch sales, where NEO:TWEWY is currently only available on Switch and PS4 (Chronicles has the additional platform of Steam, where there could be many more sales). In the next week, Chronicles ranked 22 overall, with NEO:TWEWY at 23, though of course they’re still a little less than 4000 units behind NEO:TWEWY overall. Slightly closing the gap, I guess.  

How about overseas data, then? ... It’s hard to tell. I can find this report from gamespot which discusses the top 20 games sold in the US in July, and Chronicles is not on the list, while NEO:TWEWY is at 16. However, they don’t give any number for the units sold, and it seems that they aren’t considering digital sales for a lot of them, so it’s hard to tell how much of a hit that is.

However, let’s go back to Japanese sales for a bit, and look at the 2019 Trilogy re-release for a comparison against Chronicles. Allegedly, combined Switch and PS4 sales in the first week of the trilogy’s release only amounted to about 8000 units, a little more than half that of Chronicles’ Switch sales. It’s also important to note that the 2019 trilogy ended up being the only ace attorney game to sell over a million copies. Ace Attorney is not a big series; I’m sure Capcom takes this into account when considering sales data, especially for ports. If Chronicles does end up doing better than the trilogy overall, it’s definitely looking good for ports and especially so for Chronicles.

However, there’s more to this than just sales data.

The Survey

Capcom now has a user survey for Chronicles, which you can answer even if you’re partway through the first game. I believe it’s only open until September 30 2021, so if you think you can finish the game before then, I’d recommend filling it out once you’re done so that you can give the best feedback.

It asks you a bunch of questions like what platform you bought it on, why you bought it, your expectations, and all sorts of detailed questions on the various mechanics, difficulty and enjoyment of the trials and investigations, satisfaction of visuals, plot, characters, music, and even free response sections for what you liked and disliked about the game. It’s a very detailed survey that’s pretty long but I think is worth filling out. At the end they ask you to fill out some demographic questions (such as age, gender (male, female, other), country, what kind of things you like to spend money on, and what kind of games you like, what platforms you have to play games on). But what’s possibly the most interesting question is this:

“If a new [Chronicles] game is released in the future, do you think you would buy it?”

This means that, depending on the answers to the survey, they could very well decide to work on a third game to Chronicles.

This has huge implications for the future of the series. I’ll probably make a separate post on plot-related stuff later, but for now... let’s talk about logistics.

In my initial AA7 speculation post I said I highly doubted that they would ever make another Chronicles game. I also said that they probably never would be localized, so, guess who’s a clown now. 

Right now the AA series is in a bit of a dry period, with no new games having been released in the last four years. As well, with Yamazaki (the director of the investigations games and AA5/6) having left Capcom, the next director of the mainline games is completely unknown. As described in this video, the main reason Chronicles ever came about was because Capcom went ahead with mainline AA5 before Takumi could come back from the Layton crossover. Now, since 2017, we don’t really know what Takumi is working on. It’s possible he’s gone back to mainline to work on AA7 (though of course, there is absolutely no evidence suggesting that he has, so definitely don’t take that as any sort of confirmation).

However, if we do get a Chronicles 3, it’s quite likely Takumi would return to work on that, as he directed the previous two games. In addition, if Chronicles ends up being such a success to completely eclipse mainline (from what I’ve heard, though I have no serious proof, Resolve is considered as highly rated as T&T by many Japanese fans) then the series could permanently go down the road of writing more Chronicles games, leaving mainline stagnant (which, let’s be real, it’s already stagnating). The success of that is uncertain considering how neatly our current Chronicles duology wraps up, but... we’ll have to see how things unfold in the future.

For now, I highly recommend filling out the survey to give your input to the series’ future directions. Maybe mention that you want localized investigations 2 somewhere in the free response section because uhh I forgot to do it in mine. do that for me.

TL;DR

Main takeaways from this post are:

- I personally expect an AA7 announcement either during TGS or a 20th anniversary event

- If Chronicles does extremely well, then 456 ports are likely to happen, and I personally speculate investigations ports (along with localized investigations 2) will as well.

- Fill out this Chronicles survey before September 30th to give your input on the games and possibly the future direction of the series. I recommend completing the games before you do, but if you think you won’t before September 30th, you can fill it out at any time.

- We Very Well May Get Another Chronicles Game. Who saw that coming. Not me.

Thanks if you read through all of this, let’s hope September/October doesn’t leave me looking like a fool again.

I have no idea what critical role is but you reblog it a lot. Is it just a bunch of people playing video games or something?

Critical Role is an ongoing RPG game (D&D 5e) played by a bunch of notable voice actors from video games, including Ashely Johnson (The Last of Us), Liam O’Brien (idk, he voiced some guy named Illidan somewhere? I know very little about video games), and Laura Bailey (she’s Laura goddamn Bailey). The Dungeon Master is Matthew Mercer (blanking - Overwatch cowboy) who’s REALLY GODDAMN GOOD at being a DM, and indeed does it as part of his full-time job now, because at some point they all went “fuck it” and incorporated as their own company. Because fuck yeah. Last spring (my god it was only last spring) they did a kickstarter to fund an animated series of some previous RPG adventures, and it broke several records and now - slowed by the global pandemic - there’s gonna be 2 seasons of an animated show, hosted by Amazon I think? (Every time I think about that I scream softly in excitement in my mind.)

It’s currently on its second big, multi-year campaign, with the adventuring party The Mighty Nein. Their previous campaign starred Vox Machina. Some highlights, arbitrarily mixed together, include:

that time Vox Machina had a cannonball contest, displaying their distinct personalities and powersets really well, actually

that time the Mighty Nein accidentally got into a fight with some smugglers and then the city guard, accidentally stole a ship, and thus, and I cannot emphasize this enough, accidentally became pirates

“Take me instead, you raven bitch.”  - Vax’ildan of Vox Machina, half-elven rogue, offering his own life to the goddess of death in exchange for his sister’s and (unbeknownst to him at the time) beginning of long character arc of multiclassing as a paladin

Vox Machina’s archnemeses: doors, and also the elderly

the Mighty Nein’s archnemeses: chairs

Veth Brenatto, sometimes Nott the Brave, of the Mighty Nein regaining - with the help of her friends - her halfling form after years as a goblin, and immediately dip-kissing her husband and kicking all aforementioned friends (and her son) out so they can have sex

Taliesin Jaffe had eerie luck with nat20s in the Vox Machina campaign, but I maintain that Laura Bailey [harp music] actually has the best record for narratively on-point nat20s, including but not limited to:

two consecutive nat20s as Vex’ahlia of Vox Machina, half-elven ranger, to shoot the Briarwoods (sexy wizard/vampire couple) when they were about to kill her brother

True Love’s Nat20, rolling as part of the resurrection ritual to bring back Percy (Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III, human gunslinger of VM)

in the culminating moment of an episode in which the M9 one by one spoke with ancient, evil hag about what they might trade her in order to lift the curse on Nott, tiefling Jester Lavorre rolling at nat20 deception check to trick the into hag eating a cupcake laced with magic dust that lowered her ability to resist the Modify Memory curse Jester immediately cast, convincing the hag that she’d already agreed to the deal without demanding anything in return

not a Vex roll but Vex-enabled: dropping Grog (goliath barbarian) out of basically a magical pokeball with perfect dramatic timing for him to roll a nat20 final blow on his evil abusive uncle, cleaving him in twain

“Call me child one more goddamn time--”  - Keyleth of the Air Ashari, half-elven druid of VM, snarling at the ancient green dragon who’d orchestrated the destruction of 1/4 of Keyleth’s people

“You were not born with poison in your veins....Welcome to the Mighty Nein.”  - Caleb Widogast, human wizard, consoling/forgiving/welcoming aa lawful evil NPC who they’d caught playing a major part in creating a war between two empires for The Greater Ultimate Good (and kinda his own personal gain)...but he was their friend already at that point and Caleb had his own history with doing terrible things that he thought were right at the time, and actually someone else might’ve said the “Welcome to the Mighty Nein” part but that’s intrinsically part of it, and it’s...something they say to a lot of people; to a range of NPCs and guest characters. Which is interesting because Vox Machina DIDN’T; they were a tighter family unit but...well, they were a tighter family unit. And kinda...better people, more Heroes(TM)? Disastrous and often very fucked up inside and sometimes out, but Heroes(TM), on the whole. 

whereas the M9 are more trying to sort out their own personal problems, and stumble into international politics almost by mistake. Even their relationships with NPCs are different - they don’t trust, none of the M9 trust in a way VM did, the party took much longer to gel just with each other. Partly, admittedly, because by the time Vox Machina came to the YouTube screen, the cast had been playing at home for about a year, whereas we’ve been watching the M9 from level 1...but even accounting for that, they’re all much less trusting people. Most of them had big secrets in their backstory

which is why it’s all the more wonderful every time they invite someone new it, either outside the group or just with each other. And it pays off - I don’t have a whole meta, but I’ve been thinking idly for a while about how kinda...the big (DM-created) plot twists in the VM campaign were generally...disruptions, dissolutions, or betrayals? The deception of Raishan (aforementioned ancient green dragon.) Hotis’s assassination attempt on Vax, while disguised as a trusted NPC. When Emperor Uriel stepped down and before he’d even finished his speech, there was a sudden invasion of 4 goddamn ancient dragons. Whereas the M9...not only have no NPCs unexpectedly turned on them (the grievous actions of aforementioned lawful evil NPC were mostly pre-story), but it feels almost like a plot twist every time an NPC in authority is benevolent? Like, they arranged peace negotiations between the warring empires and I think every single fan and player was waiting with bated breath for it to all go wrong...and it didn’t. There’s a truce, now. Will it last? Who knows. Jester’s god turned out to not be a god at all, just an archfey in over his head, but he’s not trying to hurt anyone - he came clean and asked for help.

Idk, man. Critical Role streams on Twitch every Thursday at 7pm, or at least, it’ll keep doing so if public health concerns don’t make it take a break again, and it makes me unironically happy to watch, pretty much every time. The cast has great friend chemistry and, now that they’ve all warmed up to each other, so do the characters.

Episodes DO tend to be 3-4 hours long, shaving off maybe half an hour in the podcast versions, so be aware of that. But I just kind of set Thursday evenings aside and I love it. 

it’s funny bc I told my roommate I probably wasn’t going to go on a long emphatic ramble in response to this but Here We Are

THE DEGENERATE’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL TV WATCH ‘EM UPS 2021: WEEK TWO, A MUDDLED AND MAUDLIN WEEK OF MAYHEM IN HONOR OF THOSE WE LOST

RTARL would like to extend our warmest holiday wishes to those who celebrate and, even if you don’t, happy 9/11. Now who’s ready for some FOOTBALL!!!!?!?!

So after two weeks of games that combine to count as only one official week even though some teams have already played twice we have only one real question answered: is Alabama still good? Yes, they are. Everything else is still liquefying vapor.

I am assuming everybody is waiting with baited breath for an RTARLsman but I don’t have anything yet. I guess the not-Master Teague RBs on Ohio State are the frontrunners for now. Or that one guy from that one team who was good. You know who I mean.

Saturday, September 11

Matchup    Time (ET)     TV/Mobile

Illinois at Virginia   11:00am   ACCN

Jeff George won Citrus Bowl MVP for the Illini against the Hoos in his last game as a student athlete before becoming the #1 overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. Based on this history it is safe to presume that whoever the QB is for Illinois today will be the #1 pick in 2022.

VMI at Kent State   11:30am   ESPN3

I’m not sure on this but maybe this game is cancelled.

WKU at Army    11:30am   CBSSN

Army is favored by 6. I bet this game is boring.

Norfolk State at Wake Forest    12:00pm   ACCNX

I don’t see a line listed but whatever it is bet against Wake covering.

Indiana State at Northwestern     12:00pm    BTN

This game is an act of terrorism.

Alabama State at 25 Auburn     12:00pm    SECN

Real body bag season starts today, huh?

Youngstown State at Michigan State  12:00pm   BTN

The Michigan State running back is the guy I was trying to think of earlier! He’s pretty good. Not good enough to make me watch this but I will check on his stats every so often.

Tulsa at Oklahoma State   12:00pm   FS1

I bet Mike Gundy has some really salient thoughts on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and I can’t wait to hear them.

South Carolina at East Carolina   12:00pm      ESPN2

South Carolina is a two point favorite against an East Carolina team that is, per my understanding, not exactly good. So I can only extrapolate that South Carolina is likewise not good.

Pitt at Tennessee  12:00pm   ESPN

Look, I’m not going to pretend this is good television but if Pitt rocks their classic yellow helmets and Tennessee wears non-alternates the colors on the screen will at least be pleasing. The thought of the actual football involved hurts my brain but it’s interesting that the points have gone from a consensus pick ‘em to Pitt -3 over the course of the week. Does Tennessee have any players that are good enough that by missing the game they could impact the gambling that much? Or are people just squaring themselves with the fact the the Vols are really and truly a ruined burnt out hole of a football program? Pound the latter.

12 Oregon at 3 Ohio State  12:00pm   FOX

Losing Kayvon Thibideaux certainly isn’t going to help Oregon but he’s not usually on the field as a run stopper anyway and if Ohio State learned anything last week it’s that they can just run until they feel like throwing a pass. Oregon actually has some legit talent on the d-line besides Thibideaux but the Ducks are gonna be hard-pressed to keep things within two scores here.

Miami (Ohio) at Minnesota   12:00pm   ESPN

If Oregon can’t make a game of it in Columbus look out because this time block is an absolute wasteland. There is scant reason to turn the TV on for the early schedule other than gambling purposes.

Kennesaw State at Georgia Tech   12:00pm    RSN/ESPN3

Georgia Tech probably should have closed up shop after Paul Johnson retired. Either that or just absolutely slathered the football program in dollars. The Yellow Jackets being unable to land any big time recruits while playing in Atlanta is a real mindfuck. They aren’t a AA program playing dress up in a “power” conference they’ve got actual history. I don’t mean to give the impression I want them to be good but I don’t understand how they can be such fodder for so long.

13 Florida at USF    1:00pm    ABC

Remember that year when USF was the best program in the state? Wild stuff. Weird, wild stuff. I know the deal with UF is that they don’t go out of state for contract games but it’s actually kind of surprising they even bothered to keep this trip to Tampa on the schedule. Like the area recruits would probably be happier to go see a game at The Swamp than to kick around their hometown for a pile of shit like this.

Wyoming at NIU    1:30pm   ESPN+

I’m not gonna open the ESPN app for this but if it was on ESPN2 I’d probably check in on it during commercials. Aesthetically pleasing trash with an upside for actual entertainment.

Middle Tennessee at 19 Virginia Tech    2:00pm   ACCNX

Virginia Tech’s home crowd scene was the normie story of last week’s games. People that don’t watch college football were either aghast or frantically waving their blue lives matter flags in response. Us in this space just ate the shame and forgot it happened by the time Saturday’s games kicked off. My theory is that VPI is not actually any good but UNC’s 2020 season was a well-timed fluke and the last hurrah of Mack Brown’s storied coaching career. The Hokies are at home, though, and MTSU is almost certainly not on the same athletic level as the Turkey Gobblers so I’d probably take the home team -20 if I were so inclined to wager on this particular game that is being broadcast on the ACC’s new pornography channel.

Rutgers at Syracuse    2:00pm    ACCN

Holy fuck does this game suck. Reuniting former Big East, uh, rivals (??? does Rutgers have any natural enemies?) in a cross-conference classic betwixt the B1G and the ACC.

Duquesne at Ohio   2:00pm   ESPN3

I don’t think I need to explain to you all the national title implications riding on this game.

Toledo at 8 Notre Dame    2:30pm     Peacock

Just remember that if you subscribe to Peacock you are at the very least tacitly supporting Notre Dame. If for some reason you’re watching this please report back on how many of those defensive pick plays Notre Dame runs. They were doing that shit constantly against Florida State last week and it drove me nuts. I think the idea is that you are so flagrantly illegal so often that the refs grow numb to it and just don’t call it at all.

Robert Morris at Central Michigan     3:00pm    ESPN3

Not to be outdone by the early games, the 3 o’clock set is equally terrible.

Purdue at UConn    3:00pm    CBSSN

I bet Edsall still gets bonuses for stupid shit even now that he’s retired or whatever the official designation was for him no longer coaching.

Boston College at UMass    3:30pm    FloFootball/NESN+

I don’t know what FloFootball is but I know it isn’t anything to do with the state of Florida.

Ball State at 11 Penn State    3:30pm    FS1

It surprises me to see Penn State as only -22.5 favorites. That seems very kind to Ball State. Hopefully I’m wrong and the Ball State Lettermans take it to the Sanduskys.

Murray State at 7 Cincinnati    3:30pm    ESPN+

Practice week continues.

Temple at Akron    3:30pm    ESPN+

Pound the under.

Georgia Southern at Florida Atlantic   3:30pm   Stadium

There is really nothing going on this week.

Air Force at Navy   3:30pm   CBS

Middies vs. Fly Boys in the first leg of the Commander’s Cup on the twentieth anniversary of 9/11. I can’t imagine the amount of emotional manipulation that’s going to make its way onto this broadcast. Normally I watch these games but I don’t think I can do it this year.

UAB at 2 Georgia    3:30pm    ESPN2

Georgia may well be absurdly talented on the defensive side of the ball but I’d be surprised to see them make it through the regular season with fewer than two losses.

5 Texas A&M at Colorado     3:30pm     FOX

This is only interesting if the Aggies spring a leak.

California at TCU    3:30pm    ESPNU

Things most certainly are not looking up.

Buffalo at Nebraska    3:30pm    BTN

Nebraska is in an interesting position because if they buck the odds and end up being good after we’ve all been so ready to see a National Championship-winning coach get fired that would be funny but if they end up being really bad it’s even funnier. Go Bulls!

Mercer at 1 Alabama    4:00pm   SECN

I’ll cry a little if Saban pulls the starters in the first half and the Tide beats Mercer by less than they beat Miami.

South Alabama at Bowling Green   4:00pm    ESPN+

10 Iowa at 9 Iowa State    4:30pmABC

This is not the kind of top 10 matchup I can just sit idly by and let it happen. Your silence is complicity in this monstrous display of modernity.

SC State at 6 Clemson    5:00pm      ACCN

Clemson dropped all the way to #6 and they’ll hang around the top of the polls because they don’t have the toughest conference schedule in the world but my confidence in them is not high right now. I think the new QB is just a guy. He’s talented as hell but I don’t see him being great.

Illinois State at Western Michigan     5:00pm   ESPN3

This is either MACtion or MACtion adjacent and I have only one word for this midwestern trash: abhorrent.

LIU at West Virginia   5:00pm    ESPN+

LIU plays football?

Lamar at UTSA      6:00pm    ESPN3

Downside: You’re watching one of the least important games of the year. Upside: You’re really not missing anything.

Portland State at Washington State    6:00pm    P12N

Washington State was a perfect spot for the stupid pirate fuckhead and his leaving has ruined the program and, eventually, his reputation. Not relevant to this game necessarily but this game isn’t relevant to anything else, either.

Gardner-Webb at Charlotte   6:00pm    ESPN3

Oh, yeah, feel the excitement.

Bethune-Cookman at UCF   6:30pm   ESPN+

Go Cats.

NC Central at Marshall    6:30pm    ESPN+

The hits keep coming.

Houston at Rice   6:30pm    CBSSN

I’ve always had a soft spot for Holgo and for Houston football but somehow I really don’t like seeing him coach the Cougs. This is SWC magic but with no magic. UNLESS! Houston can put up 100. I don’t think they even have the guys to do it but this is Rice we’re talking about here.

Nicholls at Louisiana    7:00pm    ESPN3

Keep the energy up.

North Texas at SMU   7:00pm   ESPN+

I bet is MS621 were still alive he’d be at this game giving Spencer’s boys hell. Sadly he died doing what he loved, curing his COVID by eating ivermectin paste out of a horse’s butt. R.I.P., friend. Neigh to you wherever you are.

Southeastern La. at Louisiana Tech   7:00pm    ESPN3

Even the low tier stuff is geared up for annihilation. This is a bodybag week for all time.

Memphis at Arkansas State    7:00pm    ESPN+

Memphis getting less than a touchdown against Arkansas State seems like easy money but I have no real concept of either of these teams just yet. Maybe the end is nigh for the Tigers glory years? I sure hope not but it’s possible.

NC State at Mississippi State    7:00pm     ESPN2

This game should be as fun as a parents funeral.

Southern Illinois at Kansas State   7:00pm      ESPN+

Over the past week I experienced derision for referring the the guys in purple and silver as “Kansas State” instead of “K State” and that stung because it always surprises me that anybody cares about them enough to have a strong opinion about them.

Stephen F. Austin at Texas Tech    7:00pm    ESPN+

Shrugs

15 Texas at Arkansas    7:00pm   ESPN

Let’s see if Texas is ready to run with the big boys of the SEC! Arkansas is given a decent shot to win this game and that makes the “15″ next to Texas appear extremely suspect in my eyes.

Texas Southern at Baylor    7:00pm   ESPN+

This week Texas Southern is the people’s champion.

Texas State at FIU   7:00pm    ESPN+

Oh, Butch, why have you done this to yourself?

Western Carolina at 4 Oklahoma      7:00pm     PPV

All the Westen Carolina fans are buying this PPV to see their guys score 40.

New Mexico State at New Mexico    7:00pm     Stadium

I looked up the historic rivalry last year to figure out why it was played early in the season instead of at the end but I’ve forgotten and don’t feel the need to look it up again. I figured out how to watch Stadium on my TV but I also forgot that and don’t feel the need to look it up again.

Appalachian State at 22 Miami (FL)  7:00pm   ESPNU

My gut tells me Miami is probably legitimately about the 14th best team in the country but I still would never advise you to bet actual money on the Hurricanes. Are they 9 points better than App State? Easily. They should win by 20+. Are they liable to fuck around and lose or scrape out a win in the final seconds? Absolutely. Let’s fuckin’ go.

Morgan State at Tulane    7:00pm    ESPN+

A lot of people learned to love the Green Wave last week but it’s hard to keep that going with their schedule. Don’t forget them later in the year when the CBSSN glow is really shining.

Liberty at Troy   7:00pm   ESPN+

Liberty -4 is maybe my surest advice of the week. If Malik Willis is as good as his press the fake school should have this game on ice early.

Eastern Michigan at 18 Wisconsin   7:00pm    FS1

I find Wisconsin’s losing effort against Penn State last week to be a personal affront against me and all of nature.

Eastern Kentucky at Louisville    7:00pm   ACCNX

I think this game being broadcast at night on ACCNX means they’re playing naked.

Grambling State at Southern Miss    7:00pm    ESPN3

This is the kind of game that belongs on an app.

Hampton at Old Dominion    7:00pm    ESPN3

This is the kind of game that belongs on a well-worn high school football field.

Austin Peay at 20 Mississippi   7:30pm     ESPN+/SECN+

This is a pretty big OOC game for an SEC team.

Georgia State at 24 North Carolina    7:30pm    RSN/ESPN3

One of several GSUs, I think this is the one I most hope emerges victorious this week.

Idaho at Indiana   7:30pm    BTN

Wait, wasn’t Indiana like #10 last week? What the hell happened to them? No, don’t tell me. Seriously, don’t.

Missouri at Kentucky     7:30pm    SECN

When the SEC hits 24 teams the “S!E!C!” chants are gonna seem really stupid.

Howard at Maryland    7:30pm    BTN

There’s no official line for this game but I hope the Bison can pull off the upset in this classic local rivalry game.

Jacksonville State at Florida State    8:00pm   ACCN

Still shaking my head at FSU icing their own kicker. Jesus, Norvell. Get your shit together.

McNeese at LSU     8:00pm      ESPN+/SECN+

LOLSU was my lock of the week last week if you’re considering taking gambling advice from me.

Washington at Michigan    8:00pm    ABC

UDub lost to a 1-AA team last week and now they have to go on the road and beat Michigan. Which seems inevitable, to be honest.

Cal Poly at Fresno State    10:00pm    CW59

The murder rate will continue to increase as the day progresses. I always kind of like it when a local broadcast shows up on the sheet. So pretty much none of us have legal access to this game. It makes it more special.

San Diego State at Arizona    10:00pm    P12N

Pac-12 Network is similar to CW59 in that almost nobody in the country has legal access to their broadcasts. If you’ve read enough of these posts you are aware that SDSU is my weird very deep backup team. I don’t have a reason to align myself with the school or program, I just tend to enjoy watching their games.

Vanderbilt at Colorado State     10:00pm    CBSSN

This is an abomination.

21 Utah at BYU     10:15pm    ESPN

This is a lowkey fun rivalry. I’m pretty sure I write the same thing every year but it’s still true. Go Utes.

Stanford at 14 USC     10:30pm    FOX

I think USC could win a national championship and I’d still be baffled that Clay Helton is their coach. Of course, they won’t win a national championship as long as Clay Helton is their coach but they apparently won’t ever get embarrassing enough to fire him, either.

Idaho State at Nevada    10:30pm    Stadium

This is the lowpoint of the week’s schedule and you have to stay up late to watch it on a network that only exists as an app or as part of a hidden unlockable download-only level of cable subscription. This is the beauty of the college game.

UNLV at 23 Arizona State    10:30pm   ESPN2

Herm Edwards figured out the trick to looking good in the Pac-12 without having a particularly great team and I can’t make up my mind if I’m rooting for him to keep sliding on that rail or to fall off it. I think I’ve come around to rooting for him but it’s a very dynamic and fluid situation.

Hawaii at Oregon State   11:00pm    FS1

Hawaii gets to play at their normal time for a game against the bottom of the barrel of the Pac-12 but they’re an 11-point underdog. If you’re ever going to take Hawaii, this is the stars lining up for you to do it. It’s still a big “if” but I’m saying there’s a chance.

it’s been a while since i posted about aa but i just finished soj in its entirety tonight. here’s my new list so far

i still have to give thoughts on cases 4 5 and dlc so that’ll be under a cut. spoilers!

6-4: this was such a filler case, almost shamefully so. i don’t know why they thought they could manage to do this in the 4th case when every game with 5 cases has been pretty consistent about making the 4th case plot relevant, sometimes literally just a preamble to case 5. so yeah i think this one was kinda ass

the two things it had going for it: one, athena. in 6-2 i actually got confused about why i ever liked her, because in that case she felt like she was just acting the part of the Peppy Teen Girl With a Rowdy Streak that makes up almost every assistant character. But then as SOON as she started bantering with Simon in 6-4 i was like “oh, THAT’S why i liked her!” was nice to take control of her again.

two, uendo toneido. while i don’t think you can say the DID was portrayed with quite the necessary respect or kindness, it was handled better than i’ve seen other media handle it-- at least it’s not completely demonized. other people have written more on that in better detail so i’m not really the judge, but the basic point is that this witness was mad fun to read, and even the dumb jokes like the changing number of floor cushions were entertaining. thus why this case is in the “hard carried by one side character” tier.

especially since there was like nothing else going on. no connection to the main plot, only two other characters besides uendo, and for some reason the clown tits girl was here instead of the magic show case (and to be honest, she wasn’t enjoyable for me even BEFORE she did the standard aa female villain thing and changed her speech pattern as soon as she fell under suspicion). just a weird, nothing case stuck right around the point aa games usually enter endgame. And especially weird because...

6-5 part 1: inexplicably there are two separate cases in the final chapter and each gets one day of investigation and trial. such a weird setup, and it really shouldn’t work... but i think it kinda barely does. barely. it would still have been better to split it into case 4 and case 5 though.

i have a hard time articulating much on the first case bc it sort of blends together for me. the main thing is that the concept of it being a civil case where apollo and phoenix face off is really good. it was a good change of pace, even though you knew it was gonna be a murder somehow anyway. sarge was reasonably nice, i guess, paul atishon had some good animations and quirks (my favorite being when he tries to just walk away from the stand to avoid answering a question), and the logic of the actual murder was good enough.

but i especially got those strong “oh this is a FINAL case!” vibes during the segment in the cave, and that added so much to it even if not much of it was relevant in the first half of the case. the adventure feel reminded me of some of the (out of context bc i still havent played it) scenes i know from 3-5, which is a good association to invoke imo. and it did a lot to give apollo and dhurke time to bond.

speaking of which, dhurke, holy shit. what a KING. i don’t think i’ve ever liked a dad character in ace attorney this much. he’s so genuine and like down to earth that it’s impossible not to start liking him and believe how much he cares for his sons. the bit where he rescued apollo from the cave flood... i felt it in my heart

6-5 part 2: let me just get this out of the way: ga’ran sucks. her design after she goes full evil is so bad, she’s so malicious that it’s immediately obvious she’s going to be the culprit, her breakdown is ridiculous and just embarrassing to watch, and inga had already established way more charisma as a villain when he did the “those were orders of execution actually” bit in 6-3. with that said,

i actually liked it for the most part. the spirit channeling stuff was excellent imo-- they probably use it to similar or greater effect in 3-5 but as someone who again has not played that, i was surprised and almost impressed by how well it was applied. maya was relevant for something! it feels like it’s been ages!

rayfa was a little underutilized, i think-- her moment of determination where she stops letting ga’ran have control over her was alright but it fell flat bc it didn’t have any weight during the moment. i kept hoping she would like, wordlessly take of her shawl and do the little verbal preamble to the divination seance while ga’ran kept yelling at her to stop, but no, the script can’t be good like that, i guess. and since she didn’t get to be the investigation assistant for long, none of her charm in that role carried through.

but DHURKE!! oh my god! in a game almost devoid of emotional impact, his involvement in this case really hit. the way they painstakingly animated his death, the scene where he makes a promise with maya, and then the weight of knowing in hindsight that everything he did in the first part of the case was after he’d already died and just wanted to see his son again before passing on for real....... it hurt. i felt something during that section. this case would also be hard carried by him if not for the fact that i really liked the murder bits.

amara was good too--liked how they made her suspiciously serene and accentuated it with the lightning strikes to make her look like a hidden murderer character about to reveal herself, only to walk it back and confirm she was being forced to act that way. i thought it worked. nahyuta was boring though, i’m sorry-- i get the motivation with having to be a bastard bc his sister and mom were basically held hostage, but the only time i found him compelling in that mess was the bit where he removed his one fingerless glove and revealed he still has the dragon tattoo. that was it. athena was also completely unused the whole case (not even a single mood matrix? really?) and trucy one again went without any role of importance.

the ending also... yknow, a friend said they had to end it this way bc they never figured out what they were going to do with apollo (since following up on what they started in aa4 clearly wasn’t an option???) and just threw him on a bus to get rid of him. i agree with that-- he really feels thrown to the side, and with that i think trucy’s officially stranded with no hope of any character advancement. and the way they ended the game with phoenix and lamiroir deciding “yeah, maybe NOW we should finally tell those two they’re related” honestly felt insulting lol

but maybe the dlc case will let things go out on a high note...?!

6-6: it was okay.

it would’ve worked pretty well as a filler case in an older aa-- honestly i think it’d be one of the better filler cases, certainly worth replacing the shitty ones like 2-3 or 3-3 or, hey, 6-4. but whether i’d say it was worth paying for... eh.

the time travel conceit was done well enough, i think. the way they tied it back to sorin and pierce’s backstories was nice, and the twist about having two receptions was good, although they needed to treat that as a real twist with much more gravity. when the truth comes out it just feels like “oh of course that’s what happened” rather than a big surprise worthy of the Confessing the Truth theme. it’s sort of important because the case becomes a lot less interesting when you take out the time travel element.

far as characters are concerned, i think they needed more side characters to sell the whole thing-- another sprocket family member or another servant of the household. it felt a little limited-- sorin and pierce are pretty good witnesses and i like their quirks and their secrets, but the only alive woman (ellen) has very few traits and no connection to the deeper story of the case, so she falls really flat. the old aa characters didn’t add much- maya and edgeworth were just there for fanservice, ema didn’t get to do much other than acknowledge for the first time in years that she’s a big edgeworth fan, and larry is annoying as hell like he always is.

and oh my god i actually forgot while i was writing that, how they put in athena and trucy but only used them for brief slapstick where trucy would try to set athena on fire and shit. again-- no mood matrix? couldn’t even try once to fit those two characters into something?

i did like pierce’s transformation into his surgeon form though-- that was really cool. loved him doing surgery on a robot, taking xrays of the lawyers, and his breakdown was fantastic-- he would make a really good culprit if they didn’t whiff the last bit of pathos at the end. i don’t think he should’ve been aiming for revenge on sorin; it would have hurt much more if he was still loyal to the guy and never intended for him to be in danger, but the final “why’d you do it?” talk in the trial just felt flat and one-note, much like the one in 6-4.

... so that’s spirit of justice! not a super positive experience but i’m happy to say it’s done. as much as i want to go and replay dgs, i think when i do go back to ace attorney i’ll be replaying the trilogy for the first time since high school

Name: Hecate Maran Ames

Gender: Female

Age: 16

Birth Date: October 31, 1972

Species: (Human, Lycanthrope, Metamorphmagus, Vampire, ect): Human

Blood Status: (Pureblood, Half-Blood, Muggleborn): Pureblood

Sexuality: Straight

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Ethnicity: English/Irish

Nationality: English

Residence: North Devon, England. Was born in County Kerry, Ireland and lived there until she was ten years old.

Myer Briggs Personality Type: ISFJ- The Defender

THE MAGE

1st Wand: Acacia Wood

A very unusual wand wood, which I have found creates tricky wands that often refuse to produce magic for any but their owner, and also withhold their best effects from all but those most gifted. This sensitivity renders them difficult to place, and I keep only a small stock for those witches or wizards of sufficient subtlety, for acacia is not suited to what is commonly known as ‘bangs-and-smells’ magic. When well-matched, an acacia wand matches any for power, though it is often underrated due to the peculiarity of its temperament.

2nd Wand: Silver Lime

The reasons for these wands’ desirability lay not only in their unusually handsome appearance, but also because they had a reputation for performing best for Seers and those skilled in Legilimency, mysterious arts both, which consequently gave the possessor of a silver lime wand considerable status. When demand was at its height, wandmaker Arturo Cephalopos claimed that the association between silver lime and clairvoyance was ‘a falsehood circulated by merchants like Gerbold Ollivander (my own grandfather), who have overstocked their workshops with silver lime and hope to shift their surplus’. But Cephalopos was a slipshod wandmaker and an ignoramus, and nobody, Seer or not, was surprised when he went out of business.

Animagus: Black and White cat.

Misc Magical Abilities: (Legilimen, Seer, Parselmouth, Obscurial, ect): Seer. Somehow linked with inherited Legilimens abilities but its not certain how or why.

Boggart Form:  

Pre-Hogwarts- 1st year: The Hidebehind.

2nd-4th year:The Dullahan. She saw him once before her grandad died.

5th year- onward: The Dullahan as Rakepick standing over her friends dead bodies

Riddikulus Form: The Hidebend turns into a monkey symbol toy. The Dullahan flees as her friends bodies turn into bars of gold.

Amortentia: (What do they smell like?) Pumpkins, Hot Chocolate, and the seaside.

Amortentia: (What do they smell?): Old books, Tea, and broom wood (Andre).

Patronus:  Dapple Grey Stallion.

Patronus Memory: Her older sisters taking her, Sean, Bryn, and Jacob to feed the ducks.

Mirror of Erised: Depends. As a child and 1-5th year its her family together again. Later its herself, secure in her relationships with those that love her and not needing the ones that don't.

Specialized/Favourite Spells:

Incendio: Hecate likes fire more than she should.

Bombarda: See above explanation.

Alhmohora: Hecate is like a cat. If a door is closed, she wants in.

APPEARANCE

Faceclaim:

Adult/Teen- Molly Quinn

Voiceclaim: Christen Mooney

Game Appearance:

Height: 4 ft 10

Weight: 94 pounds

Physique: Wiry build.

Eye Colour: Brown

Hair Colour: Copper Red

Skin Tone: Light

Body Modifications: Gets her ears pierced and that's it.

Scarring:

Long Thin Scar on her hand from devil's snare in her first year.

Claw scar on her shoulder from her duel with Chiara.

Scars on her arms from where the Giant  Spider grabbed her.

Deep ugly scars on the back of both her legs from the Horntail.

Inventory: (what do they carry on them?): Wiggenweld Potion, Epilambanein Potion (a potion meant to treat Seizures),  an Adder stone she got from her sister Fiadah, creature treats, and a photograph of her and her friends.

Fashion: Really loves robes. When she has to wear Muggle clothing its usually either boring and practical or overly girly.

ALLEGIANCES

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff

Affiliations/Organizations: Circle of Khanna, Hogwarts, and her family

Professions:

-  Becomes a Quidditch Commentator alongside Murphy McNulty after graduation.

- Teaches Herbology after Retirement.

HOGWARTS INFORMATION

Class Proficiencies:  Flying, Charms, and Transfiguration.

Astronomy: T

Charms: E

DADA: AA

Flying: O

Herbology: E

History of Magic: P

Potions: A

Transfiguration: E

Electives:

Divination: T.

COMC: AA

Quidditch: Chaser alongside Skye Parkin. Later becomes a commentator alongside Murphy McNulty.

Extra Curricular: Quidditch, Sphinx Club, and Frog Choir

Favourite Professors:

Professor Flitwick: Hecate really looks up to and respects him. Cares a lot about his opinion, maybe even more than McGonagall's, and is afraid to let him down. One of three adults she trusts at Hogwarts.

Professor McGonagall: Respects and fears the woman, has never lied when asked a direct question. The second of three adults she trusts at Hogwarts.

Professor Kettleburn: The man is, without a doubt, barking mad but he is sincere in his love for animals and for teaching. Hecate respects that.

Professor Trelawney: Doesn’t like her much at first. However she does help Hecate learn to manage her seizures and understands how hard Seeing can be. She reminds Hecate of her Great-Grandma.

Least Favourite Professors:

Professor Binns: He's so boring. Hecate learned more from Rowan, The House Ghosts, and the entirety of Ravenclaw House than from Binns.

Professor Rakepick: Distrusts her instantly. Hecate only does what she says so she can keep an eye on the woman.

Relationships:

Brother: Jacob ‘Danny’ Ames.

Misc Siblings: Sean Ames (Twin), Rubin Orn, Wren Ames, and Fiadah O’Faud.

Father: Henry Ames

Mother: Saoirse Ames (Maiden Name: O’Malley)

Love Interest:

Murphy McNully: Dates briefly for a month before breaking it off- Mutual loss of interest. They stay friends.

Andre Egwu: They both admire each other mutually and become good friends. They go on TWO DATES but don’t really realize they’re in love until Duncan Ashe is forced to explain it them, much to his chagrin.

Best Friends:

Rowan Khanna

-Ben Copper

-Liz Tuttle: They knew each other before Hogwarts. Liz was Rubin’s neighbor and they used to play gobstones together through a gap in the fence and they would explore both of their gardens together. Became much closer over their mutual love of animals. 

-Skye Parkin: 

-Murphy McNully: 

-Bill Weasley and Orion Amari

-Charlie Weasley: 

-Tulip and Tonks

Rival:

Merula Snyde: Mostly at the Slytherin’s insistence. Hecate is over competing with her and just wants Merula to be better.

Diego Caplan: He will Not Leave Hecate Alone Ever. 

Enemy: Rakepick and R.

Dormmates: (Who’s in your MC’s dorm with them?):

Rowan Khanna/ Skye Parkin after Rowan's death.

Chiara Lobosca.

Tonks.

Pets: A tabby named Freddie, a Europeon Horned Owl name Persephone, and a crup named Pagur Ban.

Closest Canon Friends: Yes.

Closest MC Friends: Robbie Donavan @amerrymystery

PERSONALITY:

- Loves Animals. 

- Good at thinking on her feet but is generally bad at planning. Better in the moment.

- Stubborn and overly blunt.

- Good at putting herself in others shoes, even if she doesn’t like them.

- Gets frustrated with her physical inability very easily. 

- Is a bit of a smart aleck and is very sarcastic.

- Blames herself for everything that happens after the first vault is opened.

- Teaches herself new things all the time and learns by doing.

- A hard worker and tends to be a workaholic. Like so:

- Well aware of her limits. Can and will ignore them.

- Brave. Isn’t afraid of anyone or anything even when she should be.

MISC

- Is closest to her older sisters and Bryn

- Originally wanted to be a Herbologist (Since Magizoologist and Keeper for the Holyhead Harpies were both out of reach due to her epilepsy) but fell in love with Commentating. Decided to do Herbology after she either retired from commentating or got sick of it, whichever came first.

- Jacob calls her Pip or Mouth depending on his mood. Fiadah calls her half pint. Rubin and Wren call her Redbird. 

- Wasn’t allowed to have her own pet growing up. Her Grandma (who lived with them up until her death in Hecate’s Seventh Year) had a pet spider named Shelob that HATED children and would often terrorize Danny, Sean, and Hecate.

- Adopted as many pets as she could when she got to Hogwarts, because her mother made the mistake of telling her she could have as many animals as she wanted once she got to school.

- Hecate’s great-grandmother invented the Epilambanein Potion specifically for the Ames family, as seizures after waking visions had been quite common for centuries.

- Hecate’s waking visions are terrifying and usually end in an epileptic  fit. Additionally, she often has nightmares. Fortunately, those do not end in a seizure.

- Pangur Ban can sense when Hecate is about to seize/have a vision and alerts her so she can take the potion.

- Joined Frog Choir because she thought there would be frogs. Merula teases her about it mercilessly.

Credit for the profile goes to @hogwartsmysterystory​

AAWS-NOVA Around Half of Sun-Like Stars Could Host Potentially Habitable Worlds By Astrobites When we look up on a clear night and contemplate the seemingly innumerable stars, it’s difficult not to wonder just how many other worlds like the Earth might be out there. In ancient times, long before the first unambiguous discovery of an extrasolar planet (a planet orbiting a star other than the Sun), it was believed there were essentially two possibilities, both put forward by philosophers during the Classical period in Ancient Greece: Aristotle (384–322 B.C.) declared “There cannot be more worlds than one”, while Epicurus (~460–370 B.C.) held the opposing view that “There are infinite worlds both like and unlike this world of ours”. Over two millennia later, and thanks to the painstaking work of countless generations of astronomers, we now know for sure which of these views is closer to the truth. Now, a team of astronomers led by Steve Bryson of NASA’s Ames Research Center have taken us one step closer in our quest to discover other worlds like the Earth, using data obtained with the Kepler Space Telescope and the Gaia mission. Their results suggest that around half of Sun-like stars in our galaxy might host rocky, potentially habitable planets within their habitable zones. NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope was launched in 2009, and one of its primary missions was to discover rocky planets in or near the habitable zones of their host stars (roughly, the region where liquid water can exist on a planet’s surface), and to estimate the fraction of stars that might host such planets. During the nine and a half years over which it was active, Kepler detected 2,393 confirmed exoplanets around the 530,506 stars it observed — and for most of that time it stared at a single patch of sky only about the size of a hand at arm’s length. To detect planets, Kepler made use of the transit method, which relies on measuring the tiny dip in brightness that occurs when a planet passes in front of its host star as we view it from the Earth. As can be imagined, this dip in brightness is pretty small: about 1% for a giant exoplanet similar to Jupiter, and only about 0.1% for a rocky, Earth-like exoplanet. NASA retired the space telescope in 2018 after it ran out of fuel, but that hasn’t stopped astronomers from continuing to pore over the data and make new discoveries. The number of potentially habitable planets per solar system in our galaxy is a key term in the Drake equation, which is a probabilistic formula used to estimate the number of detectable civilisations residing within the Milky Way. None of the terms in the equation are known exactly, and most are only rough estimates based on observation. For this reason, much of the research carried out at The SETI Institute (The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) focuses on finding reliable constraints for these terms. Bryson and collaborators performed a detailed statistical analysis after combining the Kepler planet candidate catalogue with data from ESA’s Gaia mission. Previous studies that attempted to estimate similar planet occurrence rates have only considered the planet’s distance from the star, whilst this is the first study of its kind to consider the “instellation flux”, or the amount of energy falling on a planet from its host star. This was possible thanks to the inclusion of data from Gaia, which was designed to construct an ultra-precise 3D map of the positions and motions of stars in the Milky Way, and also to provide information on stellar properties — such as their luminosity and effective temperature. This allowed the researchers to carry out their analysis in an entirely new way that was more representative of the actual diversity of host stars in our galaxy. The researchers then estimated the occurrence rates using a range of models, stellar populations and computation methods. They limited their analysis to exoplanets similar in size to the Earth (radii between 0.5 to 1.5 times that of the Earth) and therefore likely to be rocky, and stars with a similar age and temperature to the Sun (between about 4,800 K and 6,300 K). They also considered two scenarios using either a conservative or optimistic definition of the inner and outer habitable zone boundaries. From their analysis, the authors estimate that the average number of planets per star with a planet radius between 0.5 and 1.5 Earth radii, and within the star’s habitable zone, is between 0.37 and 0.60 for the conservative habitable zone. For the optimistic habitable zone, they estimated between 0.58 and 0.88 planets per star. This means that, even using the most conservative estimate, there could be as many as 300 million potentially habitable planets in our galaxy, and most likely many more! They also showed that there are likely to be at least four potentially habitable planets within about 30 light-years of the Sun, and the closest is likely to be at most about 20 light-years away. Although the team carried out a very careful analysis of the data, the uncertainties on their estimates are still quite large due to the small number of rocky planets actually detected by Kepler. Future work will likely help to refine these estimates even further. Knowing just how common different types of exoplanets are could help guide the design of future space missions searching for potentially habitable exoplanets. Original astrobite edited by Will Saunders. TOP IMAGE....An illustration of the near-Earth-size exoplanet Kepler-452b, the first to be discovered residing in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star. [NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle] CENTRE IMAGE....An illustration of the various terms in the famous Drake equation. The number of potentially habitable planets per solar system is one of the key terms in the equation. [University of Rochester] LOWER IMAGE....The resulting distributions of the habitable zone occurrence rate for a range of models and stellar populations. The medians and 68% credible intervals are shown above the distributions. The top panels incorporate uncertainties on planet radius, stellar instellation and stellar effective temperature, whilst the bottom panels do not incorporate these uncertainties. Left panels consider the conservative habitable zone; right panels, the optimistic habitable zone. The plots show how very similar Title: The Occurrence of Rocky Habitable Zone Planets Around Solar-Like Stars from Kepler Data Authors: S. Bryson, M. Kunimoto, R. Kopparapu et al. First Author’s Institution: NASA Ames Research Center Status: Accepted to AJ Editor’s note: Astrobites is a graduate-student-run organization that digests astrophysical literature for undergraduate students. As part of the partnership between the AAS and astrobites, we occasionally repost astrobites content here at AAS Nova. We hope you enjoy this post from astrobites; the original can be viewed at astrobites.org. About the author, Jamie Wilson: I am a PhD student at the Astrophysics Research Centre, Queen’s University Belfast. My work focuses on the characterisation of exoplanet atmospheres in order to better understand their chemical compositions, formation conditions and evolutionary histories. When not doing science I can usually be found playing drums and touring with my band.

This Is Us Q&A

Thanks @madsdefencesquad for tagging me. :)

1. The first character I first fell in love with:

Dr. Nathan Katowski. He just seemed to be such a charismatic, generous, wise and kind person and the way he comforted those two nervous young people (Jack and Rebecca) who were entering parenthood for the very first time was simply beautiful. Specially because nowadays some doctors are so arrogant and cold that make you feel so bad to the point of almost apologizing for needing their care (not most though, we have real life heroes out there on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic and I’m forever thankful for them!). Anyway, it was pleasant to see a character with so much heart. Now the first regular character I fell in love with was Randall. He was just so relatable and Sterling and the writers really managed to show all the affliction he kept inside from early on. All the things he had accumulated through the years, with the questions about his biological parents, his identity, finding out that William was dying the same day he met him and everything... Even before we got to dive into that story, you could see it in his eyes. And I empathized with him immediately.

2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now:

Kevin. I used to find him very annoying and self-centered and now I’m eating my words, but I guess that’s always been the writers intention: to show a character that came off as really shallow and immature and slowly change our minds about him. It definitely worked. My opinion about him started to change on the ‘Number One’ episode. It broke my heart to see what he was going through, specially when he lost the only thing he had left from Jack. That was hard to watch. And now that I’m rewatching the show, I can get his actions a lot better now and see that a lot of the stuff I used to hate came from his insecurities. So I’ve changed my mind about his behavior on the first episodes and I’m enjoying seeing him back then as well. I can see the bigger picture now.

3. The character everyone else loves that I don’t:

Cassidy. I don’t really believe there’s a consensus about her, it looks like the opinions are pretty balanced, but I’m not a fan of her. I wouldn’t say I hate Cassidy, but I don’t really like her. Like, the other characters can get me to laugh and cry so easily, but she doesn’t make me feel anything? She looks kind of cold to me, which I can understand it probably has something to with being in the military and the things she had to experience and do, but even with the whole drama with her son and husband... It's just never given me the same emotion I use to get from the other characters. Also, I really wanted the first half of the season to be only about Kevin and his uncle, but they threw a stranger in it and played with the idea of putting Kevin and Cassidy together the whole time. I just wanted to see their dynamic without anybody’s interference, specially because I haven’t got the point of her presence yet. I believe Kevin and Nicky would’ve done just fine in their journey to sobriety without her and I don’t really think the woman will marry any of them. I hope there’s something bigger planned for her that will explain her addition to the show, because I don’t really get it. So far it just looks like she’s there to mislead us with the whole “who is Kevin’s wife?” mystery.

4. The character I love that everyone else hates:

Madison. I wouldn’t say everybody hates her, for me the public has mixed opinions about her? I’ve seen people who hate her, who are indifferent, who like her and think she’s funny and people who love her. However, I do believe she deserves more praise. I think she’s kind of in the same situation Kevin used to be a few years ago. A lot of people have a pre-fabricated idea of Madison and see her as someone shallow and immature. Madison has always been there for Kate, even when she was nothing but rude to her. When Kate hit her car (I know it was accidentally, but still), Madison got over it the second she learned Kate was pregnant. She immediately forgot about her car and was filled with nothing but joy after hearing the news. Madison also helped Kate to enjoy the process of finding her wedding dress, staying positive with her second pregnancy after the previous miscarriage... She’s been there through thick and thin. And she is so loving, selfless and strong that was willing to raise her twins and go through all of that by herself to avoid getting in the way of Kevin finding his great love story. How can somebody not admire that? Even if you don’t like her, because that’s understandable and sometimes a character just doesn’t resonate with us, there’s absolutely no reason to hate or criticize her personality and actions. Madison is very underrated, but she is an amazing person. I just don’t understand why people have changed their minds about Kevin after seeing his struggles and evolution, but won’t do the same with her. The only difference here is the amount of screentime they have and the gender, because they’re both great people. I really don’t get it.

5. The character I used to love but don’t any longer:

One of the great things about this show is that I’ve never stopped loving any of the characters. There are characters I don’t really like, there are characters that have grown on me, but the opposite has never happen. However, I am a little angry with Randall and Kevin after that fight. I won’t defend any of them. They were both terrible to each other. 

I get where they’re both coming from when it comes to how they deal with Rebecca’s health. It’s understandable wanting to save your mother. It’s understandable wanting her to enjoy the time she has left. There is no right or wrong decision in these situations. And a lot of how they deal with it comes from their personalities and traumas. They both have this hole in their lives because of losing Jack. Randall blames himself and thinks about what life would’ve been if he hadn’t died every single day. His anxiety also plays a role in how he process everything. It’s consuming. On the other hand, Kevin regrets not having spent as much time with his father as he could’ve had. He’s also already gone through therapy, is a year sober and attending the AA meetings regularly... He can see things more clearly than Randall right now. So I don’t judge either of them for how they approach to the situation. Still, Randall should’ve respected Rebecca’s decision. Period. He was selfish and I can’t defend what he did. I can understand why he did it and I didn’t really see it as him manipulating his mother, for me it was more of a desperate moment, when he was telling Rebecca he cannot handle losing her. Not that Kevin and Kate can handle losing their mother, but he’s clearly overwhelmed with the whole situation, while Kevin and Kate are at a better mental state and looking at things with more serenity.

However, regarding their fight, Kevin’s got some fault too. I’m sure they didn’t mean anything they said to one another, they just happened to know each other’s deepest wounds and wanted to rub them. It was painful to watch. Kevin knows Randall feels guilty for letting Jack walk back into the house. Randall knows Kevin feels guilty for not being there. Kevin knows Randall have never felt liked he completely fitted in, because he was abandoned by his biological father and adopted only after Rebecca and Jack lost a child. He’s always felt a little lost or as a replacement to Kyle. And Randall knows Kevin is self-conscious and feels like people don’t take him seriously or believe he can be responsible. It was heartbreaking and cruel. And I’m rewatching season 1 and recently saw the episode where they finally begin to grow closer and there is this scene where Randall says:

“[Mom] showered me with attention. Took my side more often than not. And I ate every bit of her love up. Ate it up like Pac-Man. You know why? Because the one person I wanted it from the mo..

[...]

You know, back there with those people, it's the first time in 36 years you've said the words, ‘he's my brother’, [as] claiming me.”

I’ve also just finished the episode where it shows young Randall having a nervous breakdown and Kevin ignoring him. Kevin and Randall did have some good moments growing up, but for most of it they weren’t close and Randall was the one who tried the harder to change that. It took them over 30 years to get to a place where they finally acted like brothers on a regular basis and now they have both ruined all of that progress. So I can’t really pick sides and blame one of them when it comes to that fight. They were both terrible. However, I’m just a little more disappointed with Randall because he interfered in Rebecca’s decision.

6. The character I would totally smooch:

Kevin. Justin Hartley just happens to be on my Male Celebrity Crush Top 2, so...

7. The character I’d want to be like:

Beth. She’s smart, successful, funny, wise and beautiful, I’d like to have at least 30% of that awesomeness. 

8. The character I’d slap:

Marc.

9. A pairing that I love:

Jack and Rebecca. Their love story, even with its ups and downs, remains epic. One for the ages, indeed. 

Still, I really miss a slowburn ship. We’ve had Jack and Rebecca, Kate and Toby, Randall and Beth since the very beginning. They were all love at first sight. They got together pretty quickly. I miss a ship that I can see go through all of those basic stages, like meeting, becoming friends and falling in love. I miss seeing a character pining for another and being a little bit jealous of them. I miss watching the scenes with the lingering looks, deep breaths, both staring at each other when the other isn’t noticing... All this tension building up until the moment it just explodes. Like, give me angst scenes! Give me a scene where they are hugging so tight and not wanting to let go and Character A can’t resist it anymore and kisses character B as if their his/her depended on it. Give me rain kisses. Give me character A pining for character B, but doubting that B feels the same way. Give me B being just as insanely in love as A and feeling frustrated whenever they’re around someone else. Give me character B being unconsciously jealous and fighting with character A. Give me A blurting out that he/she is in love with B and a passionate kiss. I know it’s cliché, but there is a reason why everyone loves scenes like these: they work. And This Is Us needs stuff like that. Hopefully Kevin and Madison can fill this gap, since I’m already in love with their potential. ;)

10. A pairing that I despise:

Kevin and Sophie. I genuinely have nothing against Sophie, she is a good person and she deserves happiness. If anything, Kevin was the one who wronged her. However, I can’t help sighing and rolling my eyes whenever she shows up or her name is mentioned on the show. I’m just tired at this point. I’ve never saw the appeal of it. I’m usually a slowburn kind of shipper, but I still have my ‘love at first sight’ otps. This one, however, never really convinced me. First, I don’t see the chemistry at all (in any timeline). Second, he’s cheated on her twice. Plus, the second time they were together, Kevin had fallen back into drinking and she didn’t even realize the seriousness of the situation. I’m not saying it was her fault or responsibility, because that’s a real problem and what Kevin needed was professional help. Also, he lied to her and broke Sophie’s heart again in the process, so I can empathize with her. Still, the fact that Sophie couldn’t see what was going on and they were never able to go through it together, whether it was his treatment, or the long distance or any real obstacle just proves to me they don’t work. They simply couldn’t work together. And Kevin has moved on. He moved on from her and genuinely fell in love with Zoe. They broke up because they wanted different things, but their relationship was real. So, the way I see it, the fact that he suddenly wants another ‘crack at it’ with Sophie, it’s just a result of his frustration. Kevin is so desperate to have his own great love story and children, that he is trying to get it from strangers on coffee shops or any ex-girlfriend that will reach out to him. He’s not thinking things through, but hopefully he will let life takes it course and find find them naturally, without forcing anything or insisting on relationships that have proved multiple times that weren’t the right fit for him. I also don’t really like when characters appear with the solely purpose to be someone’s love interest, I like seeing them in their own element and their dynamic with other characters. Like, even though each Pearson has their immediate family, we’ve seen bits of Beth and Rebecca, Toby and Kevin, Beth and Zoe, Kate and Madison (who at this point I’m pretty sure is Kevin’s fiancée)... Sophie wasn’t fully integrated into the family during their second attempt at a relationship, so that’s another reason for me not to like this ship.

I don’t wanna tag anyone specifically because I’m afraid I might forget someone, so anyone who wants to do this thing, just go for it. I’d love to see your answers. :)

 In  LAS VEGAS, NV I found EMRYS CROSS, a child with the ability of TELEKINESIS / TELEKINETIC BLASTS. At first HE came off as STANDOFFISH but they also seemed RESOURCEFUL. I was unable to procure the child, as an adult, they should resemble SAM CLAFLIN.  ( c, she/her )

hey hi hello everyone!  back at it again with a new muse.  this is my trash son, emrys/rhys, and i hope you guys like him skgshsgss.  hmu here or on discord if you want to plot !!

       TW: description of war, PTSD, description of violence, alcoholism. 

&. basics

full name: emrys arlo cross

nicknames: rhys, cross

age: 29

sexuality:  bisexual

relationship status: single

date of birth: october 1

place of birth:  reno, NV

gender & species: cismale, enhanced humanoid(?)

current location:  brooklyn, ny

&. more basic info

languages: english, french, spanish.

religion: christian - united

education: high school diploma, 12 weeks at the police academy, 1 year EMT-B training. 

military service: 3 years active duty, 2 years desk duty.  

occupation: personal security / paramedic / EMT

drinks, smokes, & drugs: no, yes, no.

&. personality

zodiac sign: ( references: one, two ) libra

mbti: ( reference link ) intj

likes:  breakfast for dinner, pokemon go, board games, trashy romance novels, game of thrones, motorcycles, crossword puzzles.

dislikes:  city driving, the bar scene, city traffic, jaywalking, ebooks, coffee, sour candy. 

bad habits:  neurotic over-analyzing

secret talent:  he can recite the entire ‘ to be or not to be ‘ monologue from hamlet 

hobbies: restoring classic cars, doing puzzles. 

fears: persecution, loss of loved ones, discovery of his abilities on a broad scale.

five positive traits: determined, honest, loyal, resourceful & strong-willed.

five negative traits: standoffish, reserved, indecisive, stubborn.

other mentionable details:   rhys is a recovering alcoholic.  he has been sober for about a year. he went through AA and attributes his sobriety to the program. 

&. appearance

tattoos: n/a

piercings: n/a

faceclaim: sam claflin

&. family information

parent names: sarah & serena cross ( birth mom: arlo cross )

parent relationship:  rhys is close to all of his mothers.  his birth mother arlo was 18 years old when she gave birth to him.  as such, her older sister sarah ( and her wife serena ) legally adopted him.  he was raised by all three women, though his birth mother was more of an aunt figure than a mother. 

sibling names:  he has a younger half sister and a half brother.  his sister is 8 years younger than him, and his brother is 6 years younger.  

sibling relationship: rhys tried to stay in contact with his siblings, even when life took him out of NV, but it wasn’t always easy.  the three siblings are closer now that they’re adults but as kids they weren’t the closest. 

other relevant relative: uncle ( arlo’s husband ), and a sister-in-law ( married to his younger brother )

children: n/a

significant other / spouse: n/a

pets: n/a

&. biography

        emrys was born on the rainiest day of the season.  his mother was at home, watching television, when he arrived.  to say the cross family were shocked would have been an understatement.  since arlo was only 18 years old, her older sister sarah ( + her wife serena ) agreed to adopt the baby.  arlo knew she wanted kids, knew she felt some sort of love for this baby that had been placed in her arms, but at 18 she knew that she wasn’t ready.  so serena and sarah moved in nearby, arlo played the role of doting aunt, and the three ladies raised emrys — or rhys, as he preferred to be called — to be the strong, loving, and kind person he turned out to be.  

     at 18 years old, rhys surprised his entire family by announcing his intention to enlist in the army.  when the twin towers fell in 2001, rhys could remember the way his stomach plummeted.  seeing such devastation on US soil, seeing a country in ruin, stuck with him even at a young age.  he joined ROTC in high school and eventually went on to enlist in the army.  he made it through basic training and was deployed in iraq for 2 years before an injury saw him medevaced home.  he spent the greater part of the next year recovering from a blast that had nearly killed him when his convoy was attacked.  as one of the only survivors, rhys lived with a lot of survivor’s guilt and struggled to find his place.  he finished out his desk duty and left the army on good terms.  he was officially diagnosed with PTSD and made the choice to move away from nevada to start over.

     so here’s the thing about rhys’ powers.  they didn’t manifest until late in life.  like, very late.  there were a few moments when he was younger that strange things happened, things he couldn’t explain, but when he TRIED to replicate what had happened ?  nothing.  it was only when pieces of shrapnel were about to rip through his face that he was able to throw his hands up, the pieces halting in mid-air as he was thrown through the window of their military vehicle.  his back was ripped to shreds, pain nearly suffocating him.  but he was alive.  he was alive, and they were dead.  somehow, he’d managed to stop the shrapnel from hitting him, long enough to crawl out of the wreckage and the line of fire.  it was there, on his stomach, that he wondered if this was god’s mercy or god’s wrath.  he’d been given the ability to save himself, but not to save the others.  it was too late for them.  it didn’t seem fair.  

     but new york was a fresh start.  new york didn’t remind him of the funerals, of flags handed over to grieving families while his own rejoiced that he was alive.  he’d survived, but alive wasn’t something he necessarily felt.  new york was an opportunity to do things better;  to be better.  so he decided to figure out what the FUCK these powers were and how he could use them to help people.  he enrolled in the police academy but ended up leaving the program.  it was more politics than he wanted to deal with and he knew there were more efficient ways he could use his powers - and his skills - to help people.  he ended up taking a temporary job as personal security for a tech guru and ended up enjoying the job so much he deferred education for over a year.  then he scaled back to part-time while he studied to be an EMT and completed the training program.  currently he is a paramedic / EMT in new york and has an apartment in brooklyn.  i say he has an apartment  but he spends most of his time working, at the gym, or picking up extra shifts and hours as part of ariella bellefleur’s personal security team.

      when the academy called, at first rhys thought it was a joke.  of course he’d read the news articles, knew about the umbrella academy, but he’d never thought for a second that HE might be one of them. sure, he had powers, and over the years he’d finally figured out how to control them, but the idea that there were 42 people out there who were just like him? it seemed insane.  seeing it in person was even more insane, honestly.  if he hadn’t seen the other 42 with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it.  seeing as he already lived in the city it hasn’t been uncommon to see him stopping by the academy just to take a look behind the curtain.  he imagines its what people would feel if they sat on the iron throne;  a part of something bigger, something that just might be kind of wonderful. 

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Pakistan made fervent appeal to international community including the US to put pressure on India to reverse its decision to abrogate special status to Jammu and Kashmir. But the US, that has reversed its policy of chastising Pakistan that President Donald Trump began after assuming power three years ago in return for bringing Taliban to negotiating table, has played neutral over the matter. Responding to the development in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s complaint, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said there was no change in the country’s policy on Kashmir. The US called for restraint and appealed to both India and Pakistan to maintain calm in the Cancel Cancel Culture Tyson James Funny Shirt. The US policy on Kashmir has been consistent – in spite of bloopers from Donald Trump – that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.

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Go to the Salvation Army on their 50% off everything but furniture and jewelry day, Wednesday here in Florida. Plan to spend $5 per child for Christmas. Hard bound books are all one dollar; paperback books are all 50 cents, and all children’s books are 50 cents. For older boys, look for small wooden or wood and Cancel Cancel Culture Tyson James Funny Shirt boxes to empty their pockets into at night or to keep treasures in, half off of anywhere from $1 to $3, so at most $1.50 each, and each one will be different. Find crystal candy dishes with lids for the girls to keep on their dressers for jewelry or treasures, for a dollar or a dollar fifty. Look for fancy brass frames for the boys and glass or porcelain picture frames for the girls, again $1 to $3 and half off. For younger kids find new stuffed animals with torn tags donated by stores, take them home and wash and dry them and put a new ribbon around their necks, $1 for small and up to $5 for giant stuffed animals, then half off the marked price. Bigger stores have all kinds of toys, VERY cheap prices for electronic toys like kids’ keyboards, $1.99 to $4.99 usually, (and half off). Take AA and AAA batteries with you to check things out. Jewelry is at counter and is not half off, but most bracelets and necklaces are $1.99. I almost always find new, unopened boxes of puzzles, which I buy for Toys for Tots. I shop probably 40 Wednesdays a year there, same day I do my grocery shopping, and have found some remarkable buys. You might go to Dollar Tree and buy small boxes of chocolates or half size bags of name brand candies to wrap with their gifts since you are getting such great deals. 20 bags of candy for $20 at Dollar Tree.

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Put exit only signs on all the doors of a building. Military people will read the sign and probably heed its direction. So I liked to print off exit only signs and put them on doors that are NOT exit only doors. I would put them on all doors and watch O4s and higher walk up and then walk around entire buildings. They normally tear the signs down but it’s still funny and pretty harmless. I wouldn’t put anything on the sign about “by order of whomever “ as that could get you in real trouble. When people realize the signs are a Cancel Cancel Culture Tyson James Funny Shirt they may get mad but it doesn’t last, you made them walk a bit more and it was harmless. Also if they can’t take a joke they normally won’t listen to a sign which is a good prank filter. I used this prank both in the US and Afghanistan. It’s more affective in Afghanistan due to a more fluid structure.

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Tilting Uranus AAS NOVA A New Approach to Tilting Uranus By Astrobites Problems with the Current Theory The conventional wisdom for many years has been that one or more giant impacts must have turned Uranus onto its side when it was very young and giant impacts were common. The authors of today’s paper outline four potential problems with this theory. 1. If Uranus were impacted many times but Neptune were not, one would expect their rotation rates to differ significantly. The reason is that some of the impacts might have sped up or slowed down Uranus’ rotation. Instead, a day on Uranus and Neptune only differs by 6% (17.2 hours vs. 16.2 hours, respectively). 2. Giant impacts would disrupt the satellites orbiting Uranus. If this were true, the authors argue, the total mass of Uranus’ moons should be lower than we observe; instead, Uranus has the “appropriate” amount of moon-mass. 3. It’s extremely hard to design one impactor large enough to tilt Uranus. That doesn’t mean multiple impacts are out of the question, but it is a challenging scenario to model. 4. Giant impacts would have heated Uranus so much that a lot of the interior ice would have sublimated to gas and been ejected into space. If this occurred, Uranus’ satellites would be mostly ice, but they are actually mostly rock and only a little ice. The authors propose a different way to tilt Uranus: spin–orbit resonance caused by a massive circumplanetary disk. To determine if this is possible, they simulated a young Uranus and Neptune evolving, each with a large orbiting disk of dust and gas. What Is Spin–Orbit Resonance? Resonance is when two periods are integer multiples of each other. Think of pushing a kid on a swing. If you push with the right frequency, the swing will go high; if you push at other times, it won’t be as much fun. An example of orbital resonance is the system of Neptune and Pluto. Pluto orbits the Sun twice for every three times Neptune orbits, so Pluto’s orbit is reasonably stable. Spin–orbit resonance is a type of secular resonance, meaning the precession of Uranus’ spin axis resonates with Uranus’ orbit. Orbital precession means that the orbit changes orientation over time, causing the pole to point in a different direction, as shown in the animation in image 2. Normally, precession happens way too slowly to resonate with orbits. For instance, Earth takes 26,000 years to precess once, but its orbital period is only one year. In this paper, the authors impart Uranus with spin–orbit resonance by increasing its precession rate — a consequence of having a circumplanetary disk. Growing a Tilted Ice Giant As the ice giants formed, they each had a circumplanetary disk. Disks are relatively short-lived and only hang around for about 1 million years before the material either falls into the planet or forms a moon. That means Uranus only has one million years to turn on its side before the disk dissipates and the tilt is permanent. In order to determine if different types of disks are capable of tilting Uranus or Neptune, the authors built computer models that capture the physical interactions of the disk and the planet. Three of the most relevant models are summarized here. Model 1 is the simplest. It has a disk with constant mass for 1 million years before dissipating instantly. The result is shown in image 3, where the obliquity (top panel) can be seen changing from 0º up to about 65º and then back to 0º. The authors find that a constant disk could cause Uranus to tilt, but it could just as easily undo the tilt, making it too unpredictable. Model 2 contains a more realistic disk that slowly dissipates over one million years, as shown in image 4(bottom panel). The obliquity (top panel) reaches a maximum of about 55º and then settles to about 45º. A dissipating disk does a better job of keeping Uranus tilted, but 45º is not even half of the tilt seen today. Model 3 is the same as model 2, but Uranus grows in mass as material from the disk falls onto it, shown in image 5. Here the obliquity (top panel) reaches a maximum of about 70º and settles to 60º once the disk is gone. This model gets closest to the current value of 98º, but is still not tilty enough. One Last Tilt The authors find that model 3 is the most realistic because it accurately captures orbital physics while plausibly tilting Uranus up to a maximum of 70º. They conclude that this supports the hypothesis that spin-orbit resonance could be responsible for Uranus’ high obliquity. They add that it would still take a massive impact, most likely, to push Uranus from 70º up to 98º, but a single impact is significantly more likely than a series of giant impacts. The authors created many more spin-orbit models than shown here in their attempt to explain the evolution of Uranus and Neptune. As encouraging as it is that some of these models reproduce observed effects, understanding a process that occurred nearly five billion years ago, with only extremely limited observational data, will always be challenging. IMAGE 1....Perhaps Uranus's most striking feature is that its axis is tilted by 98°. What might have caused this? [Lawrence Sromovsky, (Univ. Wisconsin-Madison), Keck Observatory] IMAGE 2....Animation showing precession of the Earth’s spin axis. [Robert Simmon/NASA] IMAGE 3....The first model with a constant disk (bottom) showing changing obliquity (top) over one million years. Obliquity changes are sensitive to the exact lifetime of the disk. The middle plot shows how close the system is to perfect resonance (dashed line). [Rogoszinski & Hamilton 2020] IMAGE 4....The results of the second model, in which the disk slowly dissipates over one million years (bottom). Uranus’ obliquity increases and then settles around 45º (top). [Rogoszinski & Hamilton 2020] IMAGE 5....The result of the final model, which contains a slowly dissipating disk (second from bottom) and material falling onto Uranus. After one million years, the obliquity of Uranus settles at around 60º (top). [Rogoszinski & Hamilton 2020] Title: Tilting Ice Giants with a Spin-Orbit Resonance Authors: Zeeve Rogoszinski and Douglas Hamilton First Author’s Institution: University of Maryland Status: Published in ApJ Songs about the solar system were a significant part of my childhood. These songs taught one fact about each of the nine planets (these were the pre-Pluto’s-demotion days) and yes, I find myself singing them in the shower every now and then. The fact about Uranus is always the same: “Uranus spins on its side.” Not only is this bizarre and memorable to a child, it happens to be true. Uranus has an obliquity (tilt) of 98º, making its axis of rotation closer to the ecliptic plane than any other planet. And yet, nobody knows how it got that way. Editor’s note: Astrobites is a graduate-student-run organization that digests astrophysical literature for undergraduate students. As part of the partnership between the AAS and astrobites, we occasionally repost astrobites content here at AAS Nova. We hope you enjoy this post from astrobites; the original can be viewed at astrobites.org. About the author, Will Saunders: I am a second year Ph.D. student at Boston University, where I study planetary atmospheres. I work with Prof. Paul Withers at BU and Dr. Mike Person at MIT using stellar occultations to measure waves and climatic changes in the atmosphere of Mars. I received my Bachelors in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania. I am also excited about co-hosting the new podcast astro[sound]bites. Check us out on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Soundcloud, and Spotify. In my free time I enjoy traveling, visiting museums, and tasting new wines.

My current thoughts on Ace Attorney’s Future

So by now you are most likely aware of the recent Ace Attorney news Capcom put out, and also some stuff that’s been leaked, ill give a brief rundown before going into my thoughts in case you missed it(excuse the poor grammar , I didn’t have that much time to spell check lol)

-Capcom has announced that Ace Attorney games will be moving to the switch and that they will be releasing one between April 2018-April 2019

-Leaks from Kotaku UK: First half of next year will have two Switch releases of compilations, one for AA123, other AA456. And a third brand new game feat. Phoenix Wright will release before April  2019 worldwide launch for Switch and smartphones

(ALSO take this with a grain of salt like all leaks, im just more trusting with this once since I don’t Kotaku would try and fake AA news since it is a niche series and there isn’t that much to gain from it, and the person leaking has been correct with that huge Mario Rabbids leak)

Now this news came outta nowhere but here are my brief (not really lol )thoughts on them

-Ace Attorney Games no more on 3ds

This was always in the cards, given franchises like Pokemon, moving away from it and the Switch’s mobility. It was very good of them to announce that they still plan on releasing new games for Ace Attorney and that the series isn’t over in my opinion . 

I personally thought that if AA7 came out on the 3ds it would be the last one in the franchise, like no more AA afterwards(I expand on this below). 

But this Switch news made me reconsider that theory, as now I believe Capcom is going to keep on pumping them out because the profits they make on it must be pretty decent in their eyes., like the cost of making them must not be as expensive as we would believe.  So expect some “brand new” plotlines that will be expanded upon in AA8 etc

-Compilations

Very smart move given the next news on AA7. AA6 led to a big issue, in that, you probably wouldn’t enjoy the game as much if you never played the first 5. If they just released AA7 on the Switch straight away, they would be assuming every switch owner has played the other 6 AA games, so this would at least bring everyone up to speed. 

Given some stuff I go into further below, I would be thinking, Capcom would be looking into the sales of these very closely in regards to DGS and AAi2…

-what about AJ on 3ds

Apollo Justice is still coming to the 3ds at the end of the month, and now im thinking, what is the point? The above leak is actually incredibly damaging to sales for this as most people can just wait for the compilation on the Switch to then play it. 

There are ofc people who don’t have a switch (like me) and some who want to play AJ on the 3ds but I feel like this leak has made a few people reconsider their purchase of AJ (which is gunna do so much damage to Capcom’s sales forecast for that game…. :/ ). 

Like you know how quiet the AA twitter is usually, they might have announced the compilations early next year after people already bought it (and maybe that might have angered a few more people to rebuy it again lol)

-Featuring Phoenix Wright

Now ill try and keep this spoiler free but the “feat. Feenie” leaves a big question, where is Apollo? Does that mean all 5 cases are playing as Phoenix? Dlc cases with Apollo? Or are they going to release an Apollo game later (because in an interview for SoJ, they were toying with the idea of SoJ being two separate full games like Pokemon Red and Blue, where one only with Phoenix, and the other only with Apollo). So maybe a game featuring just Apollo in 2019? 

Now im not sure what the reaction to that is on this site, but I know a lot of people on Twitter have been rolling their eyes that the whole game is once again only Phoenix, when they feel his story is done. Me personally, I don’t really mind, as I view AA456 Phoenix as a different character to AA123, so im happy there’s at least an AA7 game coming, regardless of who you play as. 

Earlier I mentioned how I thought AA7 would be the final AA game ever if it was on the 3ds, and with that I was thinking it would be the biggest fanservice game ever (like Gumshoe, Kay, Franziska coming back, and other past characters returning in the biggest best(est) sendoff ever, like maybe even a dlc case where you play as Edgeworth with Kay helping and gumshoe, Franziska all there, and like the crime scenes being old places but with new twists, and just finalising every plotpoint ever (Iris and Kay where are you??). 

But since it ISNT the final game, I think it will be kind of like Dual Destinies, instead of answering questions, they will pose new ones, and introduce even more new characters to the already bloated cast which im not too happy about. Prepare for a new colourful Maya clone that has a new gameplay ability to turn the tide in court! (I still love Athena mmmmmk?),  Also, wanna bet that one dialogue we want between Phoenix, Trucy and Apollo about a certain relationship wont be revealed til postgame AGAIN? :P

-Worldwide launch

This is probably the ABSOLUTE BEST NEWS to come out of all of this. No longer will we need to wait through the months, wondering if we bought enough copies to make them consider localizing. Now we can play them game at the same time as Japan! Although with this series, I never had a big issue with spoilers unlike Danganronpa, like people weren’t going out of their way to spoil SoJ like they did with V3. But its stil great news that we know that AA7 will be coming west!

-Digital

-The switch has a big digital only library, -games are not tied to your console anymore, -they are tied to your account, so if you Switch dies, -you wont lose the games purchase. SO yes I do think all 3 of the Switch games will be digital only, this is clearly the route Capcom wants for us westerners and I don’t think anything short of a miracle in sales will change that :(

-Smartphones

Now this is an issue for me personally. Hearing AA7 being on the switch made me so happy, as it opens up the endless possibilities to the gameplay. 

SoJ had so many improvements to character model movements and what they did with the 3ds hardware. So thinking a Switch only AA7 game would be amazing in terms of what they could do with the models, UI, gameplay etc.

 Deep down I always wished Capcom would try and be like Spike Chunsoft and add extra gameplay to their visual novel hybrids, like danganronpa. As in, its honestly absurd at how much extra content is in v3 considering they are both just murder mystery VNs, and they is clearly no reason for them to add so much extra content. Like AA has never even had post game content at all, so maybe on the switch they can try some things like danganronpa, like an AU mode, or some silly board game thing, just stuff that doesn’t harm the main story, but is nice for diehard fans to keep opening up the game. 

HOWEVER since its apparently on mobile I don’t think any of that will happen. Yes Im happy people who like mobile gaming can play it, and yes not everyone can afford consoles, and yes phones are like mini computers these days in terms of power. But from Capcom’s point of view, if they want to sell it to as many people as possible, they need to consider a lot of people will still have old phones, so trying anything amazing in gameplay features might not work on an old phone, leading to loss of sales in the mobile side. And we all know how much Capcom likes money. So personally im disappointed but not that much, this is just a deep feeling ive always wanted from AA, just more in game content and extra things to do. And seeing how SoJ improved SO MUCH on the DD models, I just wanted them to go even beyond that. But hey maybe now at least they can do 3d models for investigating and pretend its an investigation game , RIP Kay’s return :’)

-localizedgs and aai2

And ofc the usual, LOCALIZE DGS AND AAI2. Considering all the news, and given how poorly Marvel vs Capcom Infinite sold(it’s actually shocking at how bad it sold, maybe because no Phoenix in it? :P ), and how long it took for RE7 to reach its sales goal(1.5years), I don’t think DGS will ever be localized, at least not for a few more years. The cost of licensing to Sir Arthur Conan Doyles Estate is clearly too much for Capcom to release an even more niche game than AA(the average person will see it doesn’t have Feenie and wont buy it). 

HOWEVER given their love of compilations and ports recently, there is STILL a chance they will port a DGS1&2 game to the switch, maybe around 2020. This being after they see the sales to the first 2 compilations. So don’t buy Battlefront 2 and support bad lootbox behaviour, save that money to buy AA on the switch ;) And regarding AAi2, look im probably the biggest fan who wants a new AAI3 more than AA7 (I even made a video about it lol), but considering AA7 will be made by the AAi team, that aint happening. Now all hope would be lost, if not for the simple fact that, in 2017, just recently, AAi had an encore stage play performance in Japan . Meaning even though this play ran last year, they had enough demand to do it again this year. So Capcom clearly has some plans with Miles and crew, and hopefully if the compilations sell well, they will make a Switch port of AAi and AAi2, and hopefully Kay will live once more! :P

-Takumi

And finally to the man himself, Shu Takumi(creator of AA if you didn’t know). After spending time making DGS 1 and 2,  and with how poor their sales were, I don’t think there will be a DGS3. And I don’t think he will come back for AA7 (if it was the final game like my earlier theory, I was hoping he would come back for some fanservice lol, like he would bring his charm back and work it on the new characters which might have been fun). This is disappointing as his writing with the characters is on another level compared to the new games . 

E.g play SoJ and the professor Layton crossover game, back to back, and notice how different the dialogue is with Phoenix and Maya. Takumi (who wrote the Layton game) clearly understands his characters so well, and you can feel Maya and Phoenix’s personality just flow seamlessly with each other, like the professor game honestly felt like a case from the trilogy even though I played it waaaay later.  He has stated he is done with the main line AA games(iirc), and how he would hate making more cases than needed (like him not wanting to make the fifth case in AA1 when Capcom first localized it, since the GBA game had only 4 cases and Capcom wanted him to make one more case to sell again). So I don’t think he will make AA7 or DGS3, which means HOPEFULLY he is free to make what he wants, and we can get another amazing separate game like Ghost Trick ANYWAY that’s been my rambleeeeeeeeeeee

TL;DR Ace Attorney isn’t dead, Capcom loves the franchise but not as much as you want, please buy the compilation ports, even if you have the games, money speaks to this company that runs our favourite game franchise :/

And final silly point: I don’t have a Nintendo Switch, Zelda BOTW, Mario Odyssey, Splatoon2, FE Warriors didn’t convince me to buy a Switch. I will now be buying a Switch for AA7, THIS SERIES WILL BE THE END OF MEEEEEEEEEEE

CANTLON'S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOLUME 17

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - With Labor Day coming this weekend signaling the traditional end of summer, hockey fans, especially Hartford Wolf Pack and New York Rangers fans, are gearing up for what should be an exciting season. PLAYER & COACHING MOVEMENT The Wolf Pack have added a ninth and tenth defenseman for the Pack roster with the inking of Jeff Taylor to a one-year AHL deal. Taylor, a left-handed shot out of Union College (ECACHL), played the last two years splitting time between the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) and the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL). Zach Tolkinen, a six-year pro who played his collegiate career at Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) was on the Wolf Pack roster for nine games on a recall assignment from the Maine Mariners. Tolkinen signed a one-year AHL deal. Both Taylor and Tolkinen were signed as part of AHL organizational depth for the Wolf Pack. Ex-Pack defenseman and assistant captain last year, Rob O’Gara, signed a one-year AHL deal at $75K with the San Antonio Rampage. He missed the final third of the regular season with a herniated disc injury that required surgery. He joins ex-Pack Josh Wesley who signed with the Rampage last week. Ex-Pack, TJ Hensick, signs up for another season with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). He also spent the second half of the season with the San Jose Barracuda last year. Two Bridgeport Sound Tigers from last season signed contracts.  Michael Del Colle put his name on a two-year, one-way deal paying him $700K. Josh Ho-Sang sees just $11K in his NHL salary increase and gets none at the AHL level ($70K) on a one-year, two-way deal with the New York Islanders. Following a buyout from the Philadelphia Flyers, an ex-Sound Tiger, Andrew MacDonald, will attend the Calgary Flames training camp on a tryout deal. Another ex-Sound Tiger, Eamon McAdam, a goaltender who split last year with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and Newfoundland Growlers (ECHL) signs with the Binghamton Devils (AHL) for this upcoming season. Tanner Pond leaves the Providence Bruins to sign a one-year, two-way deal with the Sound Tigers and Islanders. A new signee with the Stockton Heat is another ex-Sound Tiger, Matt Gaudreau, the brother of Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau. Columbus renewed its affiliation with the Cleveland Monsters for five years. In what is becoming more of a trend in the AHL, not only do the NHL teams own their AHL affiliate, (currently, 18) they are also taking over the management of their respective arenas as well. The latest is the Anaheim Management Group being selected by the San Diego City Council to become the new arena operator at Pachanga Arena effective on July 1, 2020. They are replacing the building's current operator, AEG. The Anaheim Ducks' top farm team, the San Diego Gulls, are the primary tenant of the arena. One time Wolf Pack, Justin Salvaggio, who split last year with the Pack's ECHL affiliates, the Maine Mariners and the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL signs with the Allen (TX) Americans. Two more AHL’ers sign and head for Europe. Eric Tangradi of Binghamton signs with Barys Nur Sultan (Kazakhstan-KHL), while Austin Fyten, who was traded to the Belleville Senators at the trade deadline by Providence, signs with ETC Crimmitschau (Germany DEL-2). That makes 67 AHL’ers who have signed for Europe. New names have popped up as possibilities for the yet to be approved AHL 32nd team in Palm Springs, CA to be the affiliate for new 32nd NHL team the yet named Seattle franchise. Read about that HERE. Several NCAA transfers. After two years at Boston College (HE) Chris Grando is heading to Arizona St. (Division I-Independent). He is sitting out this year. Another senior grad transfer as Thomas Berretta, 24, heads from Michigan Tech (WCHA) to the University of Vermont (HE) to play this year. After spending a year with Penticton (BCHL) following two years with Michigan (Big 10), goalie, Jack LaFontaine (no relation to Islander great, Pat LaFontaine) is on the move again, this time enrolling with another Big 10 school, the University of Minnesota. Two players head to the Niagara University Purple Eagles (AHA). They are Croix Evingson UMASS-Lowell (HE) and Walker Simmer of Air Force (NCAA Division I Independent). They also get 24-year-old Ryan Cook on a transfer from Merrimack College (HE). Then Will Scherer transfers from Brown University (ECACHL) to Canisius College (AHA). Goalie Conner Ryckman takes the leap going from Division III at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WIAC) to Division I at Northern Michigan University (WCHA). Goalie Dylan Schoen leaves Division III SUNY-Geneseo (SUNYAC) and goes to Stevenson University (WIAC). He played for the Connecticut Nighthawks for two years. A nice story makes its way to the public as Penn State adds senior William Holzforster. He will be the Nittany Lions third goalie after playing three years on the Penn State ACHA club team. The Post University Eagles (NE-10-W) of Waterbury has tabbed Lauren Wash, a four-year varsity player from RPI and 2018 Isobel Cup winner for the NWHL New York Riveters, as their new assistant coach. Ted Hart of Yale University (ECACHL) leads a list of eight more college players to sign pro deals. Hart signs with Maine (ECHL) while Chase Priskie of Quinnipiac University signs a two-year, two-way deal with the Carolina Hurricanes. Priskie gets $832,500-NHL/$70K-AHL. He will likely start in Charlotte with the AHL Checkers next year. Stephen Baylis Bowling Green (WCHA) signs with Ontario and Alec Marsh of Penn State signs with the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL). The University of New Hampshire's (HE) Ara Nazarian signs with Binghamton. Brendan Smith leaves Cornell University (ECACHL) to head to Wichita (ECHL). John Wiitala leaves Ohio State (Big 10) for Rochester and Beau Starrett of Cornell University (ECACHL) is off to Bakersfield (AHL) to join his brother Shane, a goaltender for the Condors. These signings make it 202 Division I players to sign pro deals and 272 collegians overall to sign deals in both North America and Europe. Jacques Bouquot (South Windsor/Salisbury Prep) rescinds his commitment from Boston College very late and will attend the University of Vermont (HE) in the fall. He had an injury-laden season last year primarily playing a bit with the Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) but played most of the year with the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) contributing 28 points in 31 games. Mike Posma from Kent School (CTPREP) will play for Cedar Rapids (USHL) this season and has committed to Boston College (HE) for 2020-21. Yale University's Ingalls Rink is going with new NHL high tech boards for this season. Read about it HERE. North Dakota (NCHC) announces a new ten-year lease running until 2030 at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Ex-Sound Tiger, Kris Mayotte, leaves Providence College (HE) quite late to take the opening for the Assistant Coach's job at Michigan (Big 10). St. Lawrence University (ECACHL) is inducting five new players into their Hockey Hall of Fame. The group is led by former New Haven Knights (UHL) goalie Eric Heffler. Three of the five are all former AHL’ers in T.J. Trevelyan (Providence/Worcester), Drew Bagnall (Manchester, Houston, and Rochester), Erik Anderson (Milwaukee) and Ron Waske. Luke Loheit, the grandson of late New Haven Nighthawk and former Ranger, Bill Goldsworthy, will be a freshman for the two-time defending national champion, University Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (NCHC). Nolan Volcan, the nephew of former Hartford Whaler, Mickey (Mike) Volcan, finished his major junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). He is heading to Canadian college hockey with the University of Alberta Golden Bears (CWUAA). Hunter Fargey of Sacred Heart University (AHA) becomes the third US collegian to transfer to a Canadian college as he heads to the University of Toronto (OUAA). After the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL) folded, ex-Sound Tiger/Danbury Trasher, Doug Christiansen, lands on his feet as the new GM/Head coach of Indy (ECHL). Ryan Verbeek, the nephew of former Whaler great, Pat Verbeek, goes from HC Lyon (France-FREL) to Toledo (ECHL), the Red Wings Double AA affiliate. The Red Wings new assistant GM is his uncle, the aforementioned Pat Verbeek. His other uncle is Tim Verbeek who played in Toledo (ECHL) when they were called the Storm from 2000-2003. Former New Haven Senator Jason Firth is an assistant coach with Lakehead University (OUAA) in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Under the headline your never too old. Former New Haven Senators head coach, Don MacAdam, who just celebrated birthday number 69 will return to Europe this year with UTE (Hungary-ELH) as a coaching mentor. At age 61, former center Rob McClanahan, of the Miracle on Ice 1980 US Olympic Hockey team, and who played 17 games with the Whalers, as well as several years with the Rangers, was named interim head coach at the Blake School in Minnesota. Good for him and the kids. Jake Taylor, the ex-Wolf Pack, after spending six years as an assistant coach will be the head coach of Lakeville North (MNPUB) this year. Ex-Nighthawk, Mark Vichorek, will be doing double duty as Director of Player Development for the Wisconsin Lumberjacks (SIJHL), a Junior A team, and will also be the head coach for Duluth Marshall HS (MNPUB). Former Wolf Pack and Nighthawk goalie, Robb Stauber, has new coaches in his family. Brother Dan and niece Emma will be coaching Proctor HS (MNPUB) this winter, boys, and girls respectively. Ex-Sound Tiger Ryan Kraft was named head coach for Moorhead HS (MNPUB). Former Yale Bulldog, Andy Weidenbach, won his 500th game as a head coach for Cranbrook Kingswood (MIPUB) this past season. Congrats to Nolan Schaefer, now a Milford resident, on his induction to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) Hall of Fame. Schaefer had a distinguished collegiate career at Providence College (HE), as well as an AHL career with stops in Cleveland, Hershey, Houston, Worcester, and Providence. He had the leagues best GAA with the defunct Houston Aeros at 2.08 in 2007-08. He played in seven NHL games with a record 5-1 and a 1.88 GAA before he went to Europe and had a standout career in Switzerland with HC Ambri-Piotta and SC Bern. He earned his SJHL honors having played with the Nipawin Hawks. Schaefer now works with former Ranger, Wolf Pack, and Sound Tigers goalie and present MSG-TV Analyst, Steve Valiquette on a hockey goalie development camp called Clear Sight Development. Pro hockey in the Southern Hemisphere is coming to a close and the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) with the CBR (Canberra) Brave the best of the short season with 79 points within an astonishing 28 games with 26 wins, one regulation loss, and one overtime loss. They will play in the fourth place team, the Sydney Bears next week in one of Goodall Cup semifinals in Meilbourne next weekend the winners will meet for the title on Sunday August 31st. The second place AIHL team will be the Newcastle NorthStars finished 16-9-0-3 for 54 points and second place a mere 25 points behind CBR will be playing the Perth Thunder in the other semifinal. Cheshire’s Rob Malloy helped the NorthStars in their final weekend of play as he scored a third-period goal 54 seconds in to lead a rally and assisted on the overtime game-winner by leading scorer Sammy Banga for a 3-2 win. Malloy ends the season with 10 goals and 19 assists in 25 regular season games Newcastle ended their season on Sunday with a lopsided 14-2 win over Adelaide. Francis Drolet (Salisbury Prep) who finished 6th in AIHL scoring in 28 games with 20 goals 34 assists and 54 points, scored a goal and three assists in the last game. The league’s leading scorer was the Sydney Ice Dogs Tim Crowder, the brother of current teammate, and ex-Pack, Paul Crowder. He had 33 goals and 41 assists for 74 points in 24 games. Paul Crowder played in just 14 games with 15 goals and 49 points Other players with CT connections include; ex-Pack Jordan Owens Melbourne Mustangs (22-9-16-25, former UCONN goalie Garrett Bartus with the Sydney Ice Dogs went 9-14-0 in 23 games with a 4.34 GAA. Then the Melbourne Ice second-leading scorer is ex-Yale Bulldog, John Piotrowski who had 12 goals and 26 points in 20 games and former UCONN Husky Jesse Schwartz played just 10 games with 10 assists and 14 points in 10 games. In New Zealand, the Birgel Cup playoffs are getting set to begin with the West Auckland Admirals looking to capture a second straight title. There is also a big hockey clash when the New Zealand Blacks will take on the Australian National Team the Mighty Roos in the 10th edition New Zealand Winter Games in a three-match for the Trans-Tasman Cup on September 5th, 6th, and 7th. Read the full article

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Pakistan made fervent appeal to international community including the US to put pressure on India to reverse its decision to abrogate special status to Jammu and Kashmir. But the US, that has reversed its policy of chastising Pakistan that President Donald Trump began after assuming power three years ago in return for bringing Taliban to negotiating table, has played neutral over the matter. Responding to the development in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s complaint, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said there was no change in the country’s policy on Kashmir. The US called for restraint and appealed to both India and Pakistan to maintain calm in the Cancel Cancel Culture Tyson James Funny Shirt. The US policy on Kashmir has been consistent – in spite of bloopers from Donald Trump – that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.

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Go to the Salvation Army on their 50% off everything but furniture and jewelry day, Wednesday here in Florida. Plan to spend $5 per child for Christmas. Hard bound books are all one dollar; paperback books are all 50 cents, and all children’s books are 50 cents. For older boys, look for small wooden or wood and Cancel Cancel Culture Tyson James Funny Shirt boxes to empty their pockets into at night or to keep treasures in, half off of anywhere from $1 to $3, so at most $1.50 each, and each one will be different. Find crystal candy dishes with lids for the girls to keep on their dressers for jewelry or treasures, for a dollar or a dollar fifty. Look for fancy brass frames for the boys and glass or porcelain picture frames for the girls, again $1 to $3 and half off. For younger kids find new stuffed animals with torn tags donated by stores, take them home and wash and dry them and put a new ribbon around their necks, $1 for small and up to $5 for giant stuffed animals, then half off the marked price. Bigger stores have all kinds of toys, VERY cheap prices for electronic toys like kids’ keyboards, $1.99 to $4.99 usually, (and half off). Take AA and AAA batteries with you to check things out. Jewelry is at counter and is not half off, but most bracelets and necklaces are $1.99. I almost always find new, unopened boxes of puzzles, which I buy for Toys for Tots. I shop probably 40 Wednesdays a year there, same day I do my grocery shopping, and have found some remarkable buys. You might go to Dollar Tree and buy small boxes of chocolates or half size bags of name brand candies to wrap with their gifts since you are getting such great deals. 20 bags of candy for $20 at Dollar Tree.

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Put exit only signs on all the doors of a building. Military people will read the sign and probably heed its direction. So I liked to print off exit only signs and put them on doors that are NOT exit only doors. I would put them on all doors and watch O4s and higher walk up and then walk around entire buildings. They normally tear the signs down but it’s still funny and pretty harmless. I wouldn’t put anything on the sign about “by order of whomever “ as that could get you in real trouble. When people realize the signs are a Cancel Cancel Culture Tyson James Funny Shirt they may get mad but it doesn’t last, you made them walk a bit more and it was harmless. Also if they can’t take a joke they normally won’t listen to a sign which is a good prank filter. I used this prank both in the US and Afghanistan. It’s more affective in Afghanistan due to a more fluid structure.

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