LED Lights and Gundam!

Its been a while that I posted anything Gundam related mainly because there have so much happening, buying 3DS, Hawken’s new patch and a few other things that happened in the real world. However, I did also spend much of that time doing some reading on a few modifications to try on my new Gundam models I have yet to build. And one of the modifications that have been filling my head has been trying to add LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) to my Gundam models. I mean what Gundam fan would want all of their hard built models to have eyes and sensors light up in all its glory when taking photos of or just showing them to your friends as a new step in your Gundam building skills.

And while browsing the WORLD WIDE WEB (imagine me with a galaxy in the background), I found quite a few tutorials on this very topic, I mean its something extremely cool, why wouldn't anyone want to do this other than the fact it has a probability of ruining a perfectly fine Gundam model?! No other reason! So, based on my research, I have not tried this yet, will be getting to that soon, but back to topic, they usually only try this on models with clear parts for their eyes. A good example would be most of the new GM-type HG models. Many also recommend this because it is extremely easy compared to other methods. Basically, the main concern you have is the wiring and also how to maintain the mobility and articulation of the parts you will be adding the LEDs to.

(Above) LEDs, in case you don't know how these look like...

One of the main things I'm concerned about with this type of modification, is the type of LEDs you choose to use for it. To my knowledge, there are basically 2 types of LEDs you can easily obtain in the market, of course having a wide variety of sizes, the smaller ones usually being a tad bit more expensive, the first type being it produces orange light, but is covered by a clear plastic layer which will usually be its colour, as shown in the top left photo and the second being covered in a clear plastic layer but having different colours. The reason why this is a thing to be concerned about is that the first type, has pretty much the same rating of current and voltage (though I may be wrong about this) because basically the colour is the same, orange. And second of all, if you don't control or calculate the amount of voltage fed to these, they will burn out fast and worst of all light up orange (the light produced being so bright that the clear colour not having any effect, the reason I mentioned this is that it happened to me...) So you are most likely better of going for the second type, which has its own problems. For these type, the calculation of the colour having different ratings apply, blue being more current heavy compared to the others.

The above mentioned problem is mostly my concern, nothing big actually, but I like having the same colour light as the clear layer, just my own preference.

And my second main concern is what type of wire is suitable for such a project, and obviously, comparing HG models to MG models (which I would hopefully like to try later), the type of wire has to be thin enough to fit through the neck or some of the really tight areas in the model. Although I am considering a certain type of wire, the wire used in head phones or ear phones, since they are very, very thin. All of this have yet to be tested or course, and my first few guinea pigs are of course the SD models! Muahahahaha!

This post is getting pretty long, and I have just been talking about the LEDs, nothing to do with installation yet so I will continue on this topic in an update after I've tried this out myself. The few blogs I have read and provided quite good explanations for installing the LEDs are Play Evolution, Gamera Baenre and X Marks the Gundam Spot. Big thanks to these guys for posting these tutorials, check their blogs out, I also read a lot about painting through their blogs as well! That is all, till my next update!

Farid

My 3DS Game Wishlist and Recommendations!

I've spent quite a long time, on boring and cold night browsing through the eshop on the Nintendo 3DS and looking at all the games available for digital download and which are also eshop exclusives. And some other time, I look for reviews of games which I'm hoping to purchase or obtain (muehehehe~ nah, just kidding) one way or another, without breaking the law. And I am in a state in which I have to be careful with the rate at which I'm spending the money I have, and especially when there are much more important things I should spend my money on than games for my 3DS like a new keyboard! Hahaha, kidding but yeah, my wallets tight. Regardless, I don't post a wishlist, just for fun, I am going to promote some of these games, because based on the reviewers I watch, these people are trustworthy in most of their judgement, and in some cases think the same way about a certain amount of games. And secondly, they are based on the vast amount of demos I have downloaded from the Nintendo eshop.

Some of the games I will include in this list are :

 First and for most, although no demos are available, and my judgement is based off mostly the gameplay footage and reviews, is Steam World Dig!

Now while this game is an eshop exclusive, meaning you cannot purchase a retail copy, and the price is unlike the standard console games at around RM 90 +, the gameplay and concept of the game is highly praised. For some reviewers, the gameplay reminded them of the older Megaman, only in this game, you are allowed to dig underground to look for minerals and gems. I can't really say much about this game as I'm just making my opinion based on reviews and the overall look (pretty cool in my opinion), but it is one of the highest rated games on the eshop!

Second on this list, is Liberation Maiden. I have to say, the thing that swayed me the most for this game was the gameplay footage they provided on the eshop. There aren't that many games with this third-person style of gameplay, and once I saw it, I knew I wanted to try this game out. Although trailers are made to make you want to play or buy something, I've always had a soft spot for these third-person shooter, fast paced action game like Virtual On (I always mention this game). Though I can't fully recommend this game, you should consider watching some gameplay footage and think about it.

For the third, it really doesn't need much of an introduction. I mean most of the Castlevania games I have played when I was really young by borrowing my cousin's gameboy have been some of the hardest and challenging games I have played, beating even most PC games (*cough* Call of Cuty *cough*) in terms of sheer difficulty, and I can say pretty much the same for this after trying out the demo myself. The bosses given in the demo took a few tries, I've always been quite bad at timing when playing these kind of games, but it kept me hooked for a while... and this was a DEMO!! Yes, this is on my to buy list, and I am waiting for a price cut. This might be my next game after Pokemon X and Y releases.

Now, this is one of those games where you have fun playing. A very nice and cool concept was introduced in this game, having to attack enemies and at the same time following a beat and music. Okay, maybe not a new concept, but few beat and music games get it right, and I played the demo available for this and enjoyed myself. It does have a small amount of tries given, mostly because it is a relatively cheap games compared to others. Try the demo, if you enjoy it and have the money to spend, consider purchasing this also eshop exclusive.

And last of my wishlist and recommendation, Sonic Generations! Now this might be a little late to purchase with Sonic Lost World coming out, and was released in 2011, but it is still the latest Sonic Platformer, so not to far behind I guess. And there haven't been too many good Sonic games lately, and this really kicks your nostalgia bone when playing since you have the older Sonic and the new Sonic get together to save their... worlds... I guess. A good game, and was praised with its level design. And if you're a Sonic fan, a must have while waiting for Sonic Lost World! I wish they remade Sonic R, its just an awesome game and not having those Airboards or Cars to show that Sonic is fast, I mean he can run fast already!

The games I mentioned above were mostly overlooked by the other extremely popular games for the 3DS like Fire Emblem Awakening, Mario and Luigi Dream Team, The Legend of Zelda Orcarina of Time the upcoming Pokemon X and Y (ermagerd! Perkermern Axe ernd Why) and Animal Crossing New Leaf. Those mentioned are great games, but that's mainly why a few other good ones get over shadowed. Well, that's all for this post, FINISH!!

Farid

The Fast Approching, X and Y!

With Pokemon X and Y coming up in a matter of weeks, I have to say Nntendo is really giving me a hard time in selecting which games to buy and hopefully, I can give my personal opinions on some of these extremely good games. And also if there's is one thing I realise is that you can't really choose to hate the designs of certain Pokemon until you actually get to play the game. The reason why I mention this is because there are some Pokemon which when I look at their design, I go "Couldn't they think of anything better?" but after a while, the design of those Pokemon start to grow on you. Another reason why I mention this is because there have been a few new Pokemon for this 6th generation which have been revealed, the second evolutions for all the new starters, a new ghost-steel type Pokemon, which I will explain more about later and also a few other new Pokemon. Now, there are many Youtubers I follow and am subscribed to who have given their own opinions on this. The Youtubers are TheJwittz, Dookieshed and Nate, check them out if you want.

 

 

 

Although I do think differently from some of them, as I have always, well, I don't like it when Pokemon look like items or weapons. There are some exceptions to this, and yes some of their designs did grow on me, so I don't really have a problem with them anymore. To mention a few, I never really liked or hated both Voltorb and Electrode. They were never the Pokemon I would look to and choose to add to my party and basically the main reason I was okay with them was the fact that they are very easy to draw... I know, cheap, but then there were more and more Pokemon they added on in the newer generations and suddenly, there were more Pokemon I had mixed feelings about.

(Above) The notoriously-simply designed, Voltorb and Electrode!

(Above) Also the other 2 I have really mixed feelings on... okay who am I kidding, I hated these 2... but not to the extend that I'm going to rant, they are a part of the Pokemon world, and who am I (wish they went extinct) to deny them.

But anyway, moving on. As much of my uncertainty with those kind of Pokemon, I have to say that the new added ones, have some of the best designs I've seen in a long time, especially after the 5th and 6th generations in which I didn't really like many of them, but this is just me. The two fossil Pokemon look extremely beautiful and cool, but I do like the Tyrannosaurus one, and now I'm already imagining my new party, with that as a new addition to it!

(Above) The two new fossil Pokemon, I mean look at them! They're just adorable!

About the starters, their evolutions have taken a drastic change in terms of concept. This is clearly shown, I mean, in the previous generations, the concept was basically, what should be the next step in those Pokemon's design, mainly, in the end, turning the Pokemon into their respectively second-type, like Emporeon as a Water-Steel, and Torterra as a Grass-Ground type, just to name a few. But with these new ones, they are going for a different concept. They are going down the RPG route, where you have a Swordsman/Paladin/Warrior, a thief/pirate/assassin and a wizard/mage/sorceress. And I'm liking this new turn in concept, because they make the Pokemon look much more unique and the designers, very good at drawing the line between something being defined as a Pokemon or Digimon, which, in my opinion has been thinning with the 5th generation.

(Above) Now although its just a theory, I mean the game's not even out yet, but I really think they are taking this RPG style route. And the worst feeling I have, is I'm finally having a hard time picking whether or not to go for the Grass of Water type. I've always, well, usually picked the Grass type, but the Water type evolves into a thief-looking FROG! After watching Naruto, I think frogs are cool! NOOOOOO!!!!

(Above) And also the new Ghost-Steel type Pokemon, this design might grow on me, as they do look pretty cool, but, okay nevermind, I will give it time. The single-dagger-thingy is Honeage (if I'm not mistaken) and the evolution is name Doublade.

Hopefully you guys understand with what I meant, I'm having quite a hard time explaining my thoughts on this. And hopefully you guys understand that I have my preferences in design. That's pretty much on my opinions on this topic, they also added the Mega evolutions, which does shake my love for Pokemon a bit, but nothing much I can do about it. But as a consolation, the designs for the Mega evolutions don't look too bad. And that, is always a good thing.




Farid

Oh yeah, all photos I obtained from Bulbapedia, its a good site for Poke-Fans, if you have not heard of it, check it out!

Ascension? A complete make over!

The developers of Hawken, a game I'm going to post quite a lot in this blog, have finally released their new patch called the Ascension Patch! They're introducing quite a lot of new features in this patch, but for me to list out all of the new features would really cut it short. I will explain more about this later further in this post, so continue reading.

After you log in and enter the game, you will be immediately prompted to go through a tutorial. I'm glad they spent the effort to make it easy for new players to get used and be introduced to the new features Hawken brings to the genre of the first-person mech shooter. But after playing through the tutorial, the AI and stuff they explain to you really do give a full tutorial, so no complains about that, and I'm not sure whether you skip the tutorial so I can't really say anything more than that.

The layout they make now looks much more streamlined and clean. In all honesty, it actually reminded me of android layouts on smartphones. And also, they customisation options that have been added are much more interesting, also the colour editting is more solid (like this the most in a way) ~

They have also added mech ranks apparently, and I really appreciated that you could upgrade your ability more than before, and while I played the first game in the new patch, I really noticed the added effectiveness and longer duration. Unfortunately, you have to purchase each upgrade, but these upgrades don't cost that much, if you play regularly, it shouldn't be a problem purchasing them, unlike me who have left this game due to a public holiday (kind of two things that should go together) and because the internet I had back then was not stable enough to play on other servers (I get bored only playing on Asian servers, no offense, just they have the 20 player maps and also last I checked, very few players on them).

It's nice that they made the primary weapon selector more of a comparison type. Compared to before where you had to select each weapon before being able to view its stats. They new layout is just, just COOL MAN!

The new 'tuning' system, where you can change or add minor tweaks to the performance of your mech. Well, ok, not really minor, but you can add more of what you want now, before the patch, you had to go through upgrade you didn't really want, now you can go for what tweaks you want purely. Might shake the balance a bit, but they will work on keeping it balanced, so I think this will go well.

They have added more items and also something they completely changed which are the internals. The internals, which your mech (depending on the mech too I think) has a limited space, for my mech, 6 slots, and better internals take up more slots. This done, basically for balance, but I do like the new internals they have added. For example, an internal to allow you to side boost in the air and also one that adds regenerative health.

This was the first game I played, this first 30 seconds are before the patch and the later 30 seconds are after the patch, I'll let you find the new additions to the dashboard of your mech, I like some, an example being how clear your fuel is and also hitpoints, but I do miss how they integrated the health of the mech and other important information in the dashboard. I am still exploring the patch, also noticing it does run more smooth compared to before. This is not a complete explanation to the patch, that is widely discussed in the forums of the official website. That is all, finish!!

UPDATE 14/9/13

I played on continuing a little after playing a bit more, and apparently, you need to pay a small amount of meteor points to convert any experience to universal experience and enable it to be shared with your other mechs. I also found out that you could not change the position of the map layout in game, which at first was a bad thing for me, because I was so used to glancing up to view it, but now I have to glance down. However, it is a logical choice because the lower screen area is covered a little by the dashboard, so putting the map down there is understandable. I do wish they added a setting in the menu to change the position of the map. I played a lot more games than I thought I would, and more of a confirmation that they really optimized the code more, or my new graphics driver is so much better, either one.

I also managed to play on the new map, Last Eco and it is one of the most beautiful jungle maps I have seen. The map is also less straight and organized as the other maps on Hawken, logical because it is a jungle. This is one of the really big changes to your gameplay experience because the map is so... different. Well, that's all for this new update.

Also posted a 2 minute video of the map, I did participate in fights, didn't be a bad team mate and just move around in game to look at different parts of the map. Enjoy~





Farid

Esports... E, SPORTS?!?!

I'm not sure whether what I say is entirely true in this post of mine, titled with something that really makes you think right? Hahaha, nah, was trying to be, well, more elaborate than usual but that failed, but anyway, back to main topic. As I said before, I'm not sure whether what I'm about to post is completely true, but based on the conversations I had with those close to me, gaming as a competitive sport has yet to be accepted in the country I'm living in. And at first I didn't blame them, I was shocked to find competitive Starcraft : Brood War games be held live with commentators like, well, real sports, for example football, badminton, baseball, I mean basically, the Olympic Games have commentators as well, and with them, they make them legitimate, accepted and also more important in a sense.

No offense to whoever is reading this if I refer to them, but I'm only using them as an example. I had a talk with my cousin about how gaming should be accepted as a competitive sport. The main point I had was, sports, brought with it some other things like communities (which games have brought together), its own sense of fashion for the tools used during the sport, like badminton rackets, shoes (the most common of all), jerseys and many more that I am sure you can easily think of yourselves, it is a very widely known thing. And gaming itself has brought with is a sense of fashion, and also many premium looking tools used during gaming sessions made to withstand the sheer amount of pressure put on them during training sessions, or more importantly, the games themselves.  

(Above) The examples of some of my picks of cool looking shoes, I'm not much of a fan of football, but I am a fan of badminton (always loved that sport).

To be clear, I might sound biased to this, mainly because I am not an athlete, but if I base the definition of a sport on the Oxford Dictionary (UK not US because the syllabus I used in my studies have been that of the UK) :

noun

- an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

That pretty much fits in the category of gaming as well. It is a form of physical exertion and skill (e.g. player's coordination and capability in controlling their character or units in the game), and individuals or teams do actually compete against another or each other, for, of course, entertainment.

Not blaming or complaining about anyone, but I think that having gaming widely known as a competitive sport (it is in most regions, just not... here...) can actually give great benefits. I mean having gamers actually have a job opportunity to aim for if they really want it, will keep them off the streets as beggars if they succeed. I talked to my cousin a few weeks ago about this and the area we were going to was where a gaming event was held. And my cousin (no offense to him) was surprised that they brought their own gaming mice and keyboards, and I told him, quite sarcastic of me too, "I didn't know they couldn't use their own shoes or tools in other sports?" and he made an "oh yeaaaahhhhh" look. I just laughed.

And speaking I have yet to show any gaming gear, behold!

Might not be too cool looking, but these mice are some of the best in the market! 

So, this was kind of a my thoughts on a certain topic post, just making up for all the posts I left out last month. But gaming, in my country that is, are not really regarded as a possible sport or source of income, but slowly and hopefully, it will be, cause if sport is defined by a an activity where physical exertion and skill is needed, then by all means, gaming fits in just nicely.

Farid

At Long Last!!

It has been quite a while since I updated this blog. A few reasons to why, I have been ill recently due to Dengue Fever, thankfully it did not get any worse than bad fever, nausea and loss of appetite. Anyway, back to the main topic, the title I have specifically chosen as to refer to you, reader of my blog, whoever you may be, as you have a new post to read, and to the fact that I have finally come up with the funds to buy myself a dedicated handheld console, the Nintendo 3DS XL!! (while you imagine me, however way you may imagine me that is, holding the 3DS up in my hand while the background flashes with lights and fireworks!) You might think that was unnecessary, but I am very happy with it as the newly announced Pokemon X and Y is about to be released in a months time.

Back to the main topic. Now, I have actually bought this console quite some time ago, last month to be exact, but due to the reasons I have stated earlier, only now have I come with the time to actually post about it on my blog, Muahahahah!! And also, its mainly because I wanted to make sure I played both 3DS games I own thoroughly to actually talk about it a bit.

(Above) The console, looks very nice! The main reason I wanted to buy the XL instead of a regular 3DS was because I have large hands, and having played the 3DS a lot (1 was given as a present to me and my bros) it became uncomfortable for me as it was small (the size of a DS Lite if you're not sure about how big it actually is). And also as you can see in the first picture above, I have the 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land, which I will explain more later. I have always liked the DS's design in general, played with the original DS a lot (the most time spent on it being during Pokemon Diamond, posted about that a long time ago) but I love the design of the 3DS XL the most compared to the others, one of the main reasons are because of the matte colours and blacks of the XL as compared to the glassy/glossy look of the 3DS. Fingerprints are the main problem, and glassy/glossy attracts them... so, so well...

The 2 games I own, Super Mario 3D Land (as mentioned above) and Mario Kart 7! (if you own the game, you can say it the way Mario says it when you start up the game~) 

Now for the first game, the one that came pre-installed in the 3DS I purchased. I spent almost 3 days to complete the first section of the game, being the 8 worlds before you save Princess Peach (the story doesn't change much for Mario... so its pretty much what you'd expect and come to remember in the previous games) and then the later 8 special worlds to save Luigi (your bro in the game!) and then later, Princess Peach again...

To be clear about this before I continue, I have no screenshots or in game footage to show you, as it is on the 3DS and apparently there is no way to capture screenshots using the 3DS, unless you purchase 1 that can. And yes, I could a video of me playing, but its pretty hard as I don't have a decent camera with me, the one I have doesn't really do a good job of capturing videos of LEDs being turned off and on... Back to the game, now the first 8 worlds are extremely fun, but quite easy compared to the standard set by the previous 2D platformer for the original DS, New Super Mario Bros.

(As shown above)

The reasons for this might be because they want to introduce newer players to the game, and also because the new games these few generations are making it easy for players, with autosaves and check points and all that kind of stuff. The Super Mario 3D Land, if your character dies too many times, they start giving you the new power up, the Tanooki Leaf (or Super Leaf based on the main website) which also renders you invulnerable to enemies (basically like how you would be if you got a star), now this does make you think that the game becomes too easy, and it does, dealing with Bowser becomes a breeze, but in the other section, or the 8 special worlds, you get no special treatment (and those worlds are some of the hardest, nail-bitting, almost-throwing-your-3DS-XL-hard and leg-slapping (I almost slap my leg whenever I lose a life) type of platformer you might expect from this franchise, which is also more in line with the above game, New Super Mario Bros.

(Above) Video of the extremely catchy tune you will be playing to~ Just let it play while you read this post~

For, power ups you have the standard Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, above-mentioned Super Leaf, Boomerang Flower (which I like a lot) and Propeller Box (which is also cool). Note that I also smiled like a weird person as I played some of the stages with the Propeller Box, cause its so much fun!! 

Now, to the second game, Mario Kart 7, is just like how I imagined it to be with a few changes, other than the main changes being the Air and Underwater areas in each circuit you will run through in the game. The most, well, for me disappointing change would be to the Drifting Mechanics of the game. They made it harder to perform the Power Drift or Turbo Drift. In the older Mario Kart DS, you could perform it by simply, pressing left, then right and repeat it about 2 times, and you get the orange sparks you all know and love. But in Mario Kart 7, you only get the orange sparks after holding the drift or turning to the direction of the drift for a few moments.

(Above) Mario Kart DS!! (duh...)

The changes I like, were of course the cleaner look (graphical changes, people love them regardless), though I have mixed feelings on the kart customisation options, I like them. The added characters though are a bit of a let down for me, I liked that they added Koopa, Princess Rosalina (from Super Mario Galaxy) and Metal Mario (as a cooler and different sounding Mario) but the other characters like Lakitu (which I think should stay on being the guy who picks you up) and Wriggler (I think I spelled that right). I miss Waluigi and Dry Bones. But this is a game they continually patch and update due to it having online multiplayer, which I also like very much as to giving competitive players a challenge and also keeping the game from getting old, so I hope, although the chance of it is very low, that they add more characters, especially with the launch of Mario Kart 8 (next year I think).

So that's pretty much it for this post, I have a lot more planned to post on this blog, let's just hope procrastination and laziness don't get in the way.

Farid