Category: Amish Otaku

All the stuff I published when I ran a nerd blog

Amish Otaku, PC, Video Games

NCsoft Announces Gracia – Part 1 and New Game Mechanics in Lineage II

Fans of the very popular Lineage II MMORPG (19 million subscribers) need to ready themselves for some changes coming to their game. In the first of three new updates to the game, called Gracia – Part 1, NCsoft has changed up their game mechanics to basically make it easier to level up and thereby make it easier for newer players to more quickly advance and gain experience in the game.

According to NCsoft’s North American Producer, Tim Tan, “Gracia represents a huge change to Lineage II. The increase in leveling speed allows players to create new characters and advance nearly twice as fast as before.” But he’s quick to mention that “this game is still a hardcore game,” just easier for noobs. Continue reading “NCsoft Announces Gracia – Part 1 and New Game Mechanics in Lineage II”

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Amish Otaku, Anime, Production IG

Review: Library War

As anyone who knows me can attest, I am a huge fan of books. I’m a veritable bibliophile. So when I first heard about an anime about militant librarians protecting the freedom of expression from an oppressive government I just had to check it out.

The world of Library War is Japan in the year 2019. To combat growing government censorship of media and expression the libraries have militarized to protect the art and media of all Japan. The Media Betterment Act gave the government the authority to repress freedom of expression while the libraries act under the Freedom of Libraries Law.

In the year 1999 the Hino Library was attacked by a mob supporting the Media Betterment Committee and killed 12 people loyal to the ideals of the Freedom of Libraries Law. This act, known as the Hino Nightmare, was the impetus for the libraries to take up arms and defend themselves. Continue reading “Review: Library War”

Daniel Allen
Amish Otaku, DC, Features

Bat-mania: Batman: The Long Halloween

Guest Post

“I believe in Harvey Dent.”

The statement is briefly mentioned in Batman: A Long Halloween, but belief in all things hopeless and Gotham related is a theme in this book. Readers with Superman-tinged hearing will also remember the quote from permeating The Dark Knight, in case anyone has seen it. 400 million dollars later, the last statement is as dry humor as I can produce and after having written Bat-mania for three consecutive months, I have only now begun to get a little bored.

Anyhow, Long Halloween is a follow up to Batman:Year One, and the sequel you will note has not been crafted by Miller and Mazzucchelli as the first was, but be aware that Jeph Loeb and Sale did get permission from the legend to write it. This follow up chronicles a period of time after the original post-Crisis origin story and follows Batman on the hunt of a killer known only as Holiday since they only strike on holidays. In the meantime,every classic Batman villain becomes entangled in the plot including the Joker, Catwoman, Riddler and even the Mad Hatter. A mob war has also exploded between the Maroni and Falcone families keeping Batman, Dent and the police in general as busy as possible during the course of the 368 page book.

Having never read anything by Jeph Loeb or having ever investigated Sale’s artwork, this was a very pleasurable first experience, in which a highly structured story is enveloped in mythical, dramatic, Art Nouveau-esque visuals.

Continue reading “Bat-mania: Batman: The Long Halloween”
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Amish Otaku, Comics, DC, PC, PS3, Sony, Video Games, Xbox 360

Eidos and Warner Bros. Announce Batman: Arkham Asylum

You knew it was coming and now it is upon us. Eidos has just announced a new Batman game in partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The new game is titled Batman: Arkham Asylum which promises to be “a dark, action packed videogame adventure.”

The setup of the game is Batman is delivering The Joker to Arkham Asylum where a trap is set for him by the myriad denizens of Gotham’s madhouse. The press release says Arkham Asylum will deliver an “immersive combat gaming experience” with an original script by Paul Dini. Continue reading “Eidos and Warner Bros. Announce Batman: Arkham Asylum”

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Amish Otaku, PS3, Video Games, Wii, Xbox 360

Capcom Reveals Three Mega Man 9 Bosses

I don’t know about the rest of you but I’ve been eagerly awaiting the new Mega Man 9 soon to be available on all three current-gen systems. And today Capcom has released information on three of the new bosses to be featured in the game.

From their press release:

Magma Man:
Magma Man serves as the safety control robot at a large geothermal power plant. He is able to work in incredibly hot environments and loves to visit hot spas.

Weapon: Magma Bazooka
Magma Bazooka shoots a cluster of fireballs that spread out after launching. It can also be charged by holding down the shot button. Continue reading “Capcom Reveals Three Mega Man 9 Bosses”

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Amish Otaku, Comics, Image

Review: Elephentmen: War Toys

In the year 2239 war rages across the European continent as Africa and China fight a bloody and brutal conflict. A deadly virus known as FCN, “the deadliest pandemic that the world had ever known,” has killed untold masses of people across the world. The survivors are left to try to live through a war they neither asked for or deserved.

Whereas the Chinese fight with human soldiers, the African soldiers are transgenetic creatures made by the shadowy company Mappo which rules Africa in all but name. In other words Europe (the backdrop for War Toys) is being overrun by an army of African animals genetically modified into humanoid forms.

War Toys is essentially a prequel to the larger Elephantmen universe. It’s the story of how that world came to be born out of the ashes of the world we know. Aside from just being a very engaging sci-fi war story, War Toys is also a thoughtful exploration on what it means to be “human.” Continue reading “Review: Elephentmen: War Toys”

Daniel Allen
Amish Otaku, DS, Nintendo, Video Games

Preview: Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure

Guest Post

Have you ever found yourself playing a platformer and thought to yourself “This game could really use some puzzles right about now,” or conversely been playing a puzzle game and acutely felt the urge to run, jump and shoot stuff? If this sounds like you then EA may just have the game for you.

The game has been tentatively titled Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure and it’s being developed by EA Casual Studios for the Nintendo DS. While the press release doesn’t go into the puzzle gameplay very deep other than to call them “combo puzzles,” the platformer side of it seems pretty straight forward. From the press release: “Jump, fight, and shoot your way through more than 30 levels, including nearly a dozen hidden levels and take on outrageous world-ending bosses.” Continue reading “Preview: Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure”

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Amish Otaku, Video Games, Xbox 360

Review: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2

One of the most successful Xbox Live Arcade titles of all time has finally got a true sequel and, not surprisingly, it’s just as awesome as the original. Of course I’m talking about Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2. Not content with the two game modes available in the first game, GW:RE2 ups the ante with six very addictive new game types.

In addition to the new game types, Bizarre Creations have also tweaked the gameplay in subtle but significant ways. After an enemy is destroyed there will be small “geoms” floating about in the debris. Pick these up to increase your multiplier and start racking up the points. Also be on the look out for new enemies with new attack patterns to learn. Finally, there are no gun upgrades in the single player mode. You’re always going to have the same gun you start out with.

When you first download the game only one of the modes is open to you, but the other five modes are easily opened up by after playing for a few games. The first mode is Deadline. You have unlimited lives and a limited number of bombs to rack up the highest score possible in three minutes. Continue reading “Review: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2”

Daniel Allen
Amish Otaku, Nintendo, Video Games, Wii

Wii Virtual Console Releases for 8/11/08

Telltale Games

The most exciting thing to ever happen to WiiWare is finally upon us. Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner has finally hit the Wii for 1000 points and fanboys everywhere are surely up in a tizzy. I know I’m kind of excited.

From everything I understand SBCG4AP is a point-and-click adventure in the same vein as Roberta Williams’ King’s Quest games. I’m curious to see what state-of-the-art cell shaded graphics will do for the genre, but I’m more interested in how the developers will take advantage of the point-and-click interface given Homestar Runner’s predilection for Easter eggs.

Other releases after the jump.

Continue reading “Wii Virtual Console Releases for 8/11/08”

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Amish Otaku, Video Games, Xbox, Xbox 360

One-of-a-Kind Halo Sculptures in Silver

Guest Post

How much of a Halo fanatic are you? Do you own all the games. Did you just have to buy the Legendary Edition of Halo 3? Did you just need the scale model helmet?

If this sounds like you then you might want to check out the new Halo sculptures from Weta. If you were at the San Diego ComicCon this past month you’ve probably already seen the one-of-a-kind silver-plated Halo sculptures but now you’ve actually got a chance to own these one-of-a-kind items.

The only way you’re going to get your hands on these beautiful figures is by winning them in an auction on Ebay. The current bid for the Master Chief and Arbiter sculpture is currently at $898 and the reserve has yet to be met. So yeah, these aren’t for just anybody. In case you’re wondering the Master Chief and Grunts is currently bidding at over $1,600. Continue reading “One-of-a-Kind Halo Sculptures in Silver”

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