Archive for the ‘Japan’ Category
My Thoughts Are On Japan.
March 11, 2011Haru’s: The Fried Chicken Kings.
February 25, 2011Hey guys remember Street Wear? Remember that? Man those days bring me back. I think it would be a fun idea to look back at Street Wear when it was still the “in” thing, you know for nostalgias sake. And to serve as a cruel reminder to myself how how much money I spent on those clothes and more importantly, how stupid I must’ve looked in them.
Here’s a Swagger shirt I bought which featured Iggy and Big-O of the Japanese rap group Shakkazombie(and co-owners of Swagger)and Lupe FIasco. I wanted to get the white version of the shirt but all that was available through my endless searching was the gross neon yellow one. But more important than the color, was the fit as it would’ve been nice to get one in my actual size. The shirt I ended up getting was way too long.(The particular site I ordered from was one that didn’t display the measurements of the garment) It was so long in fact when I tried it on before I put on any pants, it looked like I was attending a birthday slumber party for a 9 year old girl.
I sold it shortly after that and now looking back at the pics I took of it for the eBay auction(that tag next to my shirt is my eBay user name) I still really like the art on it and think it holds up as one of the best designed shirts of this last “Street Wear” era.
Dark Souls Wants To Eat Your Children.
February 5, 2011That’s right mother fucker! Demon’s Souls “sequel” is coming for that ass and it’s coming to use your spine as dental floss. The spiritual sequel is called Dark Souls and this time, From Software is bringing it to the PS3 as well as the 360. So now even more people can experience the video game that’s the closest thing to self mutilation I can think of. All of you so called “hardcore” gamers who play nothing but Call of Duty, GTA and Madden need to understand what the word “hardcore” truly means . Dark Souls wants nothing more than to harm you and everyone you hold dear. It wants to batter you physically and rape you mentally.
The 60+ hours I spent on Demon’s Souls was a lesson in Stockholm Syndrome. My constant deaths were all my fault. After all, the game was just being itself. The game did no wrong. It was just being the abusive step-child smacking, wife beater wearing game it is. When I died it was all my fault. Yes, all…my…fault. *nervously looks around*
NO DON’T HIT ME! I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY! PLEASE, NO! I’LL REMEMBER NEXT TIME I PROMISE!
*cowers into fetal position*
PSP2: Electric Bugal…okay, okay I won’t say it.
January 28, 2011If you give me a new Hot Shots Golf and Monster Hunter 4 Portable with online co-op(not just local co-op) on release day I will go line up right now. RIGHT…NOW.
Anti “Azn” Movement: Jeff Staple.
January 27, 2011A Love Supreme Dreaming supports progressive asians, not superficial “Azn’s”. Far East Movement this is not, kids.
Talking about the beginnings of Staple, getting hustled on the streets of NY and where Darrin Hudson is at now:
On street wear trends and its eventual evolution away from “mens wear” and why so many asians are into street wear:
On Hip Hop’s influence, not knowing the names of Roots songs and being a backpacker for life:
On not drinking since 1993, touring with Nas and how “image” is part of the “business”:
W+K Japan: More With Google
December 5, 2010I have a new rule and it’s one I should’ve implemented a long, long time ago. If it’s by Wieden+Kennedy, I’m posting it.
I remember…
July 1, 2010
Rant start.
I remember a time when shooters were games like Gradius and R-Type.
I remember a time when there were no bald, burly space marines.
I remember not giving a shit about 3D in games. Oh wait, I still don’t give a shit about 3D in games.
I remember (and loved) when GTA was in 2D.
I remember a time when the east ruled.
I remember when JRPG’s were referred to as just RPG’s.
I remember when Final Fantasy games had towns in them.
I remember when the people who imported their games at a premium price and learned another language to read the dialogue text on the screen in an RPG were known as “hardcore gamers”, and not people who simply play Madden and FPS.
I remember a time before DJ Hero when there was just Beat Mania.
I remember a time before Rock Band/Guitar Hero when there was just Un Jammer Lammy.
I remember a time before Def Jam Rapstar when there was just PaRappa The Rapper.
I remember as a kid I thought it would be cool to control games with nothing but my body.
I remember being an idiot when I was a kid.
I remember when games came out faster due to developers not being forced to add online multiplayer to a game that has no reason to have it in the first place.
I remember when you challenged someone to a game, you stood right next to them so that when you called someone a “faggot”, you could and would get smacked in the face.
I remember when certain Snes cartridges cost $60-$80 when they came out.($60 games aren’t a new thing, “stop bitching” is what I’m saying.)
I remember when video game magazines mattered.
I remember when magazines mattered.
I remember when we played games with a controller.
I remember when I wasn’t a bitter old man.
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Rant over.
Skills.
June 3, 2010Warning! A Huge Podcast Is Approaching Fast
May 2, 2010
I am a big podcast nerd. I subscribe to 20+ podcasts and listen to them throughout the week. A majority of them are video game related podcasts which is ironic since I don’t play as many video games as I once use to. Oddly enough I still manage to follow everything going on in the scene. The one thing that I find sorely missing is in-depth coverage of Japanese imports. With the attention shifting more and more to western developed games, it feels like Japanese centric games are taking a back seat and the lack of coverage on them is proof of this.
Thankfully, former editors of the now defunct Play magazine Nick Des Barres aka “Nick Rox”, Casey Loe and Eric Patterson aka “Shidoshi” have a podcast that is strictly about import Japanese gaming entitled “Warning! A huge Podcast Is Approaching Fast” What’s great is that their prologue episode(#0) they talk about their history in the industry working for both Gamefan and Play magazines. Their little spat with EGM and Nick Rox goes into his frame counting prowess and how he got the legendary nickname “Blue Shadows”. In their official first episode they get into a more traditional routine and delve into 2 hours of straight import game talk. If you have any interest in the fading Japanese gaming scene, this podcast is for you.
Also keep an eye out for 8-4‘s podcast helmed by former EGM editors Mark Macdonald and John Riccardi which will also cover primarily Japanese games. Until then.
Magnetic Arts By Mos Def + DJ Honda
July 27, 2009“Travelin Man” by Mos Def and DJ Honda single handedly changed the course of my musical roadmap. Back in 97′, this was my first real introduction to underground/independent Hip Hop. If not for this very song, I’d probably be in the club wearing my white T-Skirt, popping my collar, getting Hyphy, doing The Soldier Boy(Yeah, I know this reference is played out already) with the rest of mainstream America and not the elitist music snob you have before you typing this. And for this, I thank you Mos Def and I thank you DJ Honda. From the bottom of my heart.
Ahhhhh, listening to this reminds me of the glory days of Rawkus.
“Magnetic Arts” by Mos Def + DJ Honda:
