#if i survive the next few sessions the episodes will have fun titles | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

brokehorrorfan · 6 years

Text

Best New Horror Movies on Netflix: Winter 2018

There's an overwhelming amount of horror movies to sift through on Netflix, so I've decided to take out some of the legwork by compiling a list of the season’s best new genre titles available on Netflix’s instant streaming service.

Please feel free to leave a comment with any I may have missed and share your thoughts on any of the films you watch. You can also peruse past installments of Best New Horror Moves on Netflix for more suggestions.

1. Gerald's Game

IT was undoubtedly the most entertaining Stephen King adaptation in recent memory, but Gerald's Game may be the most tense. The novel - which revolves around a middle-aged married couple's attempt to spice up their love life - was seemingly un-filmable, but director Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil) takes a creative yet logical approach to successfully translate the story from the page to the screen. The direction is stylish, despite largely involving only two actors in a single bedroom. Carla Gugino (Watchmen) and Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek) star, both delivering brilliant performances, with Henry Thomas (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial) and Carel Struycken (The Addams Family) in chilling supporting roles. Its left-field epilogue won't work for some, but the film remains a suspenseful, dead-filled experience that includes perhaps the most cringe-inducing sequence of the year.

2. 1922

1922 is an adaptation of a little-known Stephen King novella, published in his 2010 collection, Full Dark, No Stars. Like much of King's work, it doesn't shy away from the supernatural, yet it's firmly grounded in reality. The always-reliable Thomas Jane delivers a transformative performance in his third King film (following Dreamcatcher and The Mist). He stars as Wilfred James, a conflicted man who confesses to murdering his wife (Molly Parker. Deadwood) with the aid of his son (Dylan Schmid, Once Upon a Time) in 1922. Akin to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," Wilfred's unbearable guilt manifests itself. Cinematographer Ben Richardson (The Fault in Our Stars) utilizes a lot of natural light, while Faith No More's Mike Patton composes an atonal score. Writer-director Zak Hilditch (whose previous film, These Final Hours, is also worth seeking out) delivers a brooding, character-driven slow burner.

3. Raw

Raw made waves on the festival circuit when it caused multiple viewers to faint. It is indeed a uniquely repulsive film in more ways than one might expect - depicting everything from animal dissecting to bikini waxing to eye licking in graphic detail - but it's much more than a mindless gorefest. The French film is a compelling, darkly humorous coming-of-age story... with cannibalism. The plot revolves around Justine (Garance Marillier), a young vegetarian, as she enters her first semester at veterinary school. She receives the full college experience: hazing, coed living, experimentation, partying, flesh eating. Marillier's fearless performance is matched by a strong vision from writer-director Julia Ducournau.

4. Super Dark Times

From the first act of Super Dark Times, you might expect it to be a coming-of-age genre tale in the vein of Stranger Things and IT, but by the end you will find a film that shares more in common with River's Edge and Stand By Me. It's set in the '90s, complete with scrambled "adult" channels, but it doesn't beat the viewer over the head with nostalgia. Owen Campbell (The Americans) and Charlie Tahan (Ozark) star as best friends with a secret that drives a wedge between them. Co-writers Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski (Siren) capture the adolescent banter better than most films, while director Kevin Phillips makes an impressive feature debut. Living up to its title, Super Dark Times is a dark, tense experience.

5. Cult of Chucky

Child’s Play is a rare horror franchise that has maintained its original continuity, thanks to having Don Mancini - who has written every installment and directed the latter three - as the driving creative force. Cult of Chucky, the seventh entry in the series, brings together the franchise’s three distinct story lines - Nica (Fiona Dourif) from Curse of Chucky, Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) from Child’s Play 1-3, and Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) from Bride/Seed of Chucky. Taking cues from A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warrior, the film takes place in a mental institution, where Nica bonds with the members of her therapy group. When they start dying one by one, Nica struggles to convince anyone that a possessed doll named Chucky (voiced, as always, by Brad Dourif) is responsible. Mancini’s well-paced script is fearless in its exploration of delightfully weird ideas, in addition to balancing the more serious tone with lighthearted fun. The result is as close as you can get to pleasing fans of all eras of Chucky. Read my full review of the film here.

6. The Bar

The Bar is the latest effort from reliable Spanish filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia (The Oxford Murders). It finds a group of strangers trapped in a seedy bar in downtown Madrid. Anyone that tries to leave is killed by an unseen assailant, with their bodies disappearing - blood and all - when no one is looking. Reminiscent of an episode of The Twilight Zone, suspicion grows and intrigue builds as the group must come together to solve the mystery. Iglesia does a fine job establishing an ensemble of quirky characters in a short time and then maintaining that momentum throughout the duration. He also injects his signature dark humor into the plot, helping to further set it apart from other contained thrillers.

7. Creep 2

2014's Creep (which is also streaming on Netflix and should be viewed first) was perhaps the last good, original found footage movie, made on a shoestring budget with copious improvisation. Star/co-writer Mark Duplass (Safety Not Guaranteed), whose eerie performance as an idiosyncratic murderer anchored Creep, and director/co-writer Patrick Brice return for Creep 2, which slightly expands the mythology without sacrificing the intimacy that made the first film so effective. Duplass' character now goes by Aaron, assuming not only the name of Brice's character from the first Creep but also his interest in filmmaking. Sara (Desiree Akhavan) responds to Aaron's Craigslist ad looking for a videographer, and it’s not long after their meeting that he admits to being a serial killer. But Aaron is going through a bit of a midlife crisis, so he employs Sara to film a documentary about him. Much like the first Creep, not a whole lot happens before the climax, but Duplass' eccentric character and vulnerable performance keep you watching with bated breath.

8. Killing Ground

Killing Ground is an unapologetic Australian thriller in the vein of Eden Lake, Wolf Creek, Deliverance, and The Hills Have Eyes. In other words, it's an intense punch in the gut. In the film, a couple's romantic camping trip is interrupted by unhinged locals against whom they must fight for survival. The familiar set-up is elevated by intriguing flashbacks to events a few days prior to the main story, the context of which adds even more weight to the harrowing situation. Although not the most original story ever told, Killing Ground is an effective, realistic debut for writer-director Damien Power.

9. Veronica

Verónica is a Spanish-language psychological thriller from Mexico. Co-directors Carlos Algara and Alejandro Martinez-Beltran opted to shoot the film in black and white with gorgeous, precise cinematography, bringing to mind the recent The Eyes of My Mother. A psychologist (Arcelia Ramírez) is offered a substantial sum of money to take on the evasive yet intelligent Veronica de la Serna (Olga Segura) as a patient. It's a simple set-up, consisting of little more than dialogue between the two characters, but the intriguing therapy sessions slowly reveal Veronica's deep-seated issues. The plot takes an unexpected, exciting turn for the final act, but it ultimately leads to a twist that is trite and, frankly, unnecessary. But don't let that deter you; the rest of the film is positively riveting.

10. Red Christmas

Red Christmas is a holiday horror film that - despite hailing from Australia - captures the typical Christmas season quite well, complete with the family drama it often entails. It also addresses the topical subject of reproductive rights, employs both a genre legend (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial's Dee Wallace, in one of her strongest performances in years) and an actor with Down syndrome (Gerard O'dwyer), and tells a decent horror story in the process. Similar to You're Next, the film features a killer interrupting a strained family gathering, blending home invasion and slasher influences. It won’t replace any of the classics, but Red Christmas is a fine addition to the Christmas horror pantheon. Read my full review of the film here.

11. Don't Kill It

Don't Kill It is a fun amalgam of horror, action, comedy, and western from director Mike Mendez (Big Ass Spider). A rash of homicides - in which each killer murders the previous killer - lead FBI agent Evelyn Pierce (Kristina Klebe, Halloween) back to the podunk Mississippi town she once called home in order to investigate the case. She reluctantly teams with Jebediah Woodley (Dolph Lundgren, Rocky IV), a self-described demon hunter, to stop the body-hopping demon on the loose. There are a couple of big, bloody set pieces that make the abundance of exposition worthwhile. Clocking in at a lean 83 minutes, the film plays like a more charming and entertaining version of a Syfy original movie.

Bonus: Dark

Comparisons between Dark and Stranger Things are inevitable - both Netflix original series concern a mystery of a missing child in a small town in which supernatural elements are at play - but Dark approaches the material in am much more subtle, subversive manner. In addition to Stranger Things' coming-of-age through a genre lens, the German show has the mind-bending rhetoric of Donnie Darko and the mystique of Twin Peaks, with a touch of Back to the Future for good measure. There may be a few too many characters for its own good, but the story - in which a disappearance in the present is somehow tied to similar events that occurred in 1986 - is undeniably well told and well shot. I'm already eager to binge a second season.

Bonus: Mindhunter

Mindhunter is an original series from executive producer David Fincher (Gone Girl, Seven), who also directs several episodes, with Joe Penhall (The Road) serving as showrunner. Based on the true crime book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, it follows FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff. Glee) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany, Alien 3) as they conduct interviews with convicted murderers in the late '70s for their groundbreaking work in behavioral science. After an attention-grabbing opening scene, the show takes a couple of episodes to gain momentum, but it's virtually impossible to look away after that. There's an abundance of heady dialogue, in typical Fincher fashion, though it's never short of enthralling.

#netflix #gerald's game #creep 2 #super dark times #cult of chucky #mindhunter #1922 #best of netflix #article #list

97 notes · View notes

crasherfly · 3 years

Text

Weekly Update

It’s never enough.

Be it progress in a hobby, pages written, reps in a workout, miles run, dollars spent at local businesses, weight lost and gained back, video games completed or personal apologies issued to people I’ve been too brisk with online- the prevailing theme of 2020 has been IT’S NOT ENOUGH.

This is, on its face, ridiculous. We are in a pandemic. Whatever reservations you might have about the virus, the fact is economically, we will be in dire straits for some time. Surviving should be enough. Thriving should be considered a rare bonus.

Even so, this December, I’ve struggled a great deal with feeling like I’m bringing “enough” to the table in anything I do. If I play a video game, I lament that I’m not good enough at it. If I write, I mourn the words that go unwritten. In my friendships, I fixate on small arguments that I drew myself into, or a harsh word I shouldn’t have said, worried over their long-term impact. There’s a dozen anime shows I haven’t finished. I have a script that needs pages, an end of year anime blog that needs writing. I keep skipping meditation sessions and forgetting to brush my teeth. The NBA season starts tomorrow- will I watch it to have something to talk to other folks about, or will I settle into something easier to fill the time?

Time.

I have nothing but time. I’m off until January 5th. I’ve had more time off this entire year than I’ve had any year since college. I tell myself this means I should be doing something remarkable, and yet, with more and more time off, I find I’m just doing the same things I would normally do- just in bigger quantity.

My therapist tells me it’s cuz I grew up in a home where praise was hard won- if ever given. Growing up with this deficit, it is only natural that I’d rarely feel like anything is “enough”- and blame myself when I feel lacking.

We’re still working on a solution for it.

I do know there are Good Things that I have accomplished this year. I made new friends. I became more knowledgeable about my hobbies. I picked up some new healthy habits- running, kettlebells, core workouts. I lost a little weight. I disconnected from the violently angry media sources that had wormed their way into my brain since my Gawker days. I got out of a little debt. I developed a more positive relationship with alcohol. I got to therapy. I’m becoming more comfortable with speaking truth to how I feel, instead of burying my feelings.

I still fail in many things. I have a laundry list of moments I failed this week to review with my therapist. I’m still not in a place where I can be a functional adult while also working a full time job. I have lost friends this year because I am a hard person to endure. I have had to issue more apologies this year than perhaps in any year prior. And the people who know me best would still point out, rightly, that I sound like a very different person in online public spaces than I do privately.

As 2020 comes to a close, I’m thinking about the theme I want to bring into 2021- and my 32nd year on this globe. And I think the theme I want to embrace is vulnerability, which is, ironically, the theme I struggle the most with in my personal life. I am, by nature, a secretive person- reclusive, even. Without getting into a whole Thing here, I would just say “meet my parents” and you’d get why. This shit’s been wired into me.

But as I look back on many of my issues the past year- my breakowns and spirals, the arguments, the friends lost and stresses placed on my loved ones- so much could have been avoided if I was willing to just explain what was going on in my life.

I don’t mean the long stylized depression posts I was doing back in August. Those are helpful to a point, but they don’t actually drive toward a conclusion. I mean talking about how I feel in plain terms, and explaining the pressures that lead to those feelings.

‘Cuz I think we can all agree that after almost a full year of relating to each other almost exclusively through cynical tweets and mirthless retweets that we as humans are desperately deficient in nuance- an ingredient essential to understanding each other in actual human contexts. And the only way for nuance to be understood is to speak plainly and directly to one another.

I’m going to try and do more of that in 2021. Here’s hoping the results are good.

So lets talk some vidya games and anime, yeah?

Vidya Games

BlazBlue: Centralfiction and BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle (SWITCH)

Arc Systems was having a switch sale. I’d enjoyed my time with Guilty Gear and noticed the BlazBlue series was relatively cheap, so I picked them up. I’d seen some of the fighters on Spriteclub before, so I was excited to expand my fighting game knowledge a bit further.

BlazBlue is a 2d fighting game that uses drawn sprite fighters. The effect is a beautiful anime more reminiscent of Street Fighter or King of Fighters, but with modern mechanics that make them feel more approachable. The rosters are huge and the individual fighters varied. There’s a full “episodes” mode, as well as plenty of options for training and tutorials.

Of the two games, Cross Tag seems like the easier to pick up. I’m a sucker for tag systems so that one is an easier sell for me. It’s also fun to see the crew from Persona 4 on the roster, not to mention RWBY.

Centralfiction seems to be more mechanics focused, but also includes a “stylish” mode that plays like Capcom Vs. SNK 2′s EO mode, where supers and command list moves are tied to single buttons instead of complex commands, allowing you to see everything a character can do without being stuck in hours of practice. I’m still trying to learn those damn quarter circle moves, but it’s a nice fallback option for moments where I’m not looking to exhaust my brain and thumbs.

Mario Maker 2 (SWITCH)

I’ve built three levels in the last week for Super Mario Maker 2. One I built during a work meeting, the other two I did as morning exercises over coffee. They’ve all been moderately played since and feature clear rates over 25%, so I’ll consider them a success.

I’ve uploaded over 40 courses to SMM2 since its release. That’s far more than I ever uploaded with the first game. I think Nintendo missed some big opportunities to make this game a centerpiece for the Switch. I also think the diehard fans got in their own way (designing courses on your tv is honestly not that hard- in fact, I prefer it to the portable option now). But overall, I do think that SMM2 is a success- at least for casual fans like me who value standard level design and ease of access.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

My gaming has been somewhat hampered by the sudden implosion of my Samsung television, which houses my XBONE and Switch. About a week ago it shut down and began to flicker on and off. I unplugged it overnight and powered it on the next day to find a long black horizontal line across the panel and discoloration beneath the line. A call in to Samsung confirmed my fears- it was a wire defect and would require extensive service work. Because of the pandemic, it would take at least a few weeks before the part could make it.

The TV is still usable, so that’s a relief. I’m not dwelling on it much. Samsung was easy to deal with and they’ve promised this will come at no cost to me. There are many worse things happening in the world, so this is an easy thing to let roll off my shoulders now that I know what the solution is.

I also MIGHT have a Series X. Key word is MIGHT because I technically got my order in on the 18th, but Gamestop has yet to actually send a confirmation e-mail. However my order number appears valid and does pull up a processing page on their site, so I’m going to hang tight. I ended up pulling the trigger on a massive bundle that includes a very expensive headset and a second controller...as well as a copy of Assassin’s Creed. I can’t emphasize enough how NOT the primary audience I am for AC. However, I doubt I could pay anyone to take it off my hands at this point...so...whatever. At least there’s a chance I’ll have the new system.

My final bit of news on the technical front- I returned Cyberpunk 2077. I have zero regrets. Microsoft processed my refund in about 15 minutes without issue. I was on XBONE and yes, I tried the 1.4 update. Frankly, the update did seem to improve matters, but not so much as to be a game changer. And as I wrestled with the conundrum of powering through, or shelving the game in hopes of a future update that would magically fix everything, I finally opted to take the third option- and get off this damn train at the first possible stop. I will play Cyberpunk 2077 someday. Hopefully, when that day comes, this whole mess will be somewhat resolved.

ANIME

Jujutsu Kaisen

Season 1 has officially earned a “this show is straight fire” tweet from me. It’s just so good. The fights are thrilling. The emotional investment is real. The cast is outstanding. The design is imaginative, moody and the prettiest direction to behold this side of Fire Force.

Do yourself a favor and give this show a shot. It’s my top recommendation for the winter.

No Guns Life

I’ve almost wrapped the first half of season 1. This lovely noir continues to impress as its world unfolds. It is sure to please those itching for a cyberpunk or technoir story. The overall story still feels a bit unfocused, but I’m not minding too much. No Guns Life is one of those worlds that’s just a joy to be a part of, even when we’re unsure what its driving at.

END OF YEAR LISTS

Tis the season for LISTS. Oh man, so many lists.

I’ll be focusing my 2020 end of year stuff on anime and video games this year, because of course. I’ll also talk a little about media I’ve been enjoying. It’ll be a whole THING, either here or on wordpress.

But here’s a quick preview for those who are a bit curious about what titles I’ll be visiting for my Top Experiences list. Bear in mind that these are not confined to 2020 releases- this is purely about what I as a person dabbled in this year. Here’s what you can expect me to touch on in my end of year post :)

Games

Crusader Kings III Call of Duty: Warzone Yakuza 0 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel Fighting Games (genre) Consoles Oculus Quest 2 NEO-GEO Arcade Stick Pro Anime

Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World Gleipnir Jujutsu Kaisen No Guns Life Kaguya-sama: Love is War DECA-DENCE Tower of God

Manga

Berserk Fruits Basket

Tabletop

Dungeons and Dragons 5E: The Lost Mines of Phandelver/Ghosts of Saltmarsh

Streaming

Spriteclub Gawr Gura/Hololive WWE Network

Lifestyle

Kotatsus Sake

Music

Nightcore (genre) Personal Projects Alice and the Pale Horse (script) Legos (various sets) Like I said, this is gonna be a big ol’ THING. But I can’t wait to share it with you all :D

0 notes

rosehimelove · 7 years

Text

RTTE Season 5 Quick Thoughts

So, despite feeling nauseous and not getting any sleep the night before, I finally had to chance to watch the season. And, I really loved it. Though, like every other season, had its set of problems, there so many fun and great moments. My thoughts are under the cut.

Warning: major spoilers obviously

1. Hiccstrid: Unfortunately, I was right in that there was not going to be a lot of Hiccstrid moments. But, honestly, I’m not that mad about it because I feel like we got the right amount of Hiccstrid screen time without having it be front and center and taking over the show. Every moment they had together was perfect. The forehead kiss, Hiccup giving Astrid the betrothal necklace (which gets me in the feels no matter how many times I see it), their time alone on that island, and especially their little sparring session (which imo proves that they’re totally screwing :P) Also, they’re totally the parents of the group. And, they’re engaged! Praise the gods!

One little criticism that I had was that the betrothal wasn’t taken as dramatic and serious as I like. I would of loved to see Hiccup actually do a proper proposal, but that could just be because it’s something that I’ve wanted and imagined for a long time.

2. So Many Good Astrid Moments: Finally, they ditched damselstrid for a lot of Astrid character exploration and overall badassery. I mean, she fricken punches a poisonous snake-dragon in order to save Stormfly. What more could you ask for. Also, her scenes with Stormfly during “No Dragon Left Behind” and the death song (who name I forget) when it was believed that he would die had me in tears. (Though, at first I didn’t like how the death song survived, but was quickly made up for in “No Dragon Left Behind”).

3. The Twins: As usually, their scenes were hilarious. It was nice to see a lot more moments of them being smart. It just shows that’s they’re not just the stupid comic relief. Also, during the scene where Astrid is trying to find a betrothal gift, I burst out laughing when Tuffnut said “scarf flip.”

4. TuffnutxChicken: Also, hilarious as usually. I loved the episode “Searching for Oswald...and Chicken.” Not only is the name itself hilarious, but everything involving that plot was, too. Everything from Snoutlout’s narration to Chicken having a secret family. Couldn’t stop laughing. (The Hiccup and Dagur scenes were cool too)

5. Snoutlout: I adored his characterization this season. In a few moments, you can see him becoming a sort of stand in leader when Hiccup and Astrid are away. Also, I like his development in “Snoutlout’s Angels” (I don’t know whether to find this title funny or smack my forehead). It could be that I just like seeing him learning his lesson about not making disrespectful remarks and just being and overall douchebag to women. Also, I was wondering what he said to Astrid to make her that angry. I was thinking that it was something about her weight, but I feel that’s too stereotypical. (It also could be about her not so intimate relationship she has with Hiccup which I strongly now agree is pretty much canon :P).

6. Fishlegs: I love seeing both him as his usual adorable geeky self and as his pent up aggressive self. It makes his character be more than just the geek who doesn’t know how to fight. It’s why I liked seeing Thor Bonecrusher again. I also loved the added twist of having Thor Bonecrusher as an anit-hero just because of the conflict it made.

7. Krogan and Viggo: I really like Krogan as a villain. He has this sort of mafia boss mentality (or at least that what I thought of during his first scene which by the way was one of the more dark scenes I’ve seen in a kids’ show seriously holy shit ). I especially like him teaming up with Viggo because you get to see how they contrast one another and handle things differently. It’s one of the main reason why I love Viggo not being dead (which I know is an unpopular opinion).

8. Heather and Dagur: I loved their scenes that they had especially their scenes together. It was really great seeing Dagur being good while struggling with his beserky self. His scenes made me love him being a good guy which was something I was struggling with the past season. Also, him reading Oswald’s letter also had me in tears. As for Heather, I loved seeing the stubborn berserky side to her. The last episode especially imo really showed her being a more complex character than we’ve seen her in past seasons. I loved seeing how much she cared for Windshear. And anyone who says that she took over the show are just really biased as she was only prominent in the last episode.

9. ThrokxRuffnutt: I’m honestly not sure how to feel about it. I don’t totally love it, but I also don’t totally hate it. I thought the scenes of him trying to win Ruffnut’s affection were funny. It really weird, but I kind of ship it.

10. The Wingmaidens: To be honest, not a huge fan. I don’t hate them, but I glad they just had one episode. I liked the whole story of them taking in baby Razorwhips. However, there were quite a few moments that I feel weren’t really answered or handled properly. For example, I was sure how exactly they whole society worked. Like, were they really going to cook Snoutlout or did they have a change of heart that wasn’t shown well. It might have been that I wasn’t paying enough attention, but I feel like this episode was written the poorest in the season. Though I did still like it overall.

11. Alvin Returns: While I was excited to have him back, his few scenes were way too short. I would of loved to see him interact with Hiccup because we haven’t seen them interact since the end of DOB. Seriously, that’s all we get! I want more Alvin!

12. Stoick (and Gobber): As with Alvin, I like seeing them, but there were not enough scenes. I was seriously hoping for them to react to Hiccstrid. I’m disappointed we didn’t get even one little comment from them. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I think that’s the one thing I disliked the most about the season.

13. The Real Baddie that is Trader Johann: Not going to lie, I absolutely loved this twist. While I can see people not like it because it like it was out of nowhere, but that’s precisely why I think it’s perfect. You would’ve have never expected it but, at the same time, it kind of makes sense. I’ve always loved when the weak, annoying character turns out to be the bad guy. I now love and hate him at the same time.

Overall, I really enjoyed this season. It seriously had some really fun and intense moment. This was the only season that has had me in tears multiple times (though I was balling when Hiccup and Astrid finally got together). Was it perfect? Absolutely not. But, as with the other seasons, there was a lot more good than bad. Can’t wait for the next season.

#httyd #rtte #rtte spoilers #quick thoughts

9 notes · View notes

kintailscape · 7 years

Text

CONfabulation 2017

This weekend, I had a wonderful time at CONfabulation, a multi-fandom convention by the people who brought us Wincon. As always, it’s hard to adjust to real life again after several days of being a fangirl at the height of excitement and being uncensored around/among my people. So I thought I’d write it up while the experience is still somewhat fresh.

I headed out on Thursday morning a little earlier than I’d planned. There was a Penguins game that night and the hotel I was heading to was next door to the hockey arena in Pittsburgh, so I was worried about parking. Google said it would take me 4 hours to get there.I left at 10:30am and made it there at 4:45pm; I’m not so sure, but that seems like a little more than 4 hours. But it wasn’t all the fault of traffic or the weather. I did make one wrong turn and had to pay a toll for a road I didn’t even go onto (Grr!) but I got there without too much difficulty, especially once I left Northern Virginia. I was traveling alone this time, as my con friend was unable to get off work, which meant I could stop for snarfs I saw on the side of the road along the way. I earread Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riorden during the drive.

When I got to Pittsburgh, the traffic wasn’t all that bad, but it was FILLED with Penguins fans. As a Capitals fan, it was a bit stomach-churning to witness. Luckily, the hotel had self-parking spots available. So I checked in and then unloaded, realizing on my last trip that I’d left the giant bag of food I’d bought at home! Arg! I settled into my hotel room within two minutes (I never really unpack much). My room had a giant space in it (where another bed or a table once was, I assume, or else it was for playing Twister).

I headed down for the meet & greet and ended up sharing two fandoms (Carry On and Grantchester) during small fandom speed dating. I also wrote down several fandoms I now definitely need to put on the high priority list. Then I joined a few people who were heading out to a 7-11 in order to stock up on food. We learned a lot about Pittsburgh City Center during our exploration including: streets are layered, hilly, and confusing; alcohol cannot be purchased at 7-11, and all stores close ridiculously early. I stocked up on some protein bars, bananas, and cereal for the week, then we ventured out to find an open liquor store. Three stores later, we found one that was still open (it was 7:15pm). I also found a good handful of historical markers; my new friends helped me spot them.

We got back to the hotel and I knew from the sight of the downstairs and the streets packed with Penguins fans that I didn’t want to go back out (besides, everything seemed closed). So I spent the night in my room watching Doctor Who episodes, writing fanfiction, reading Outlander, and eating room service. Every so often I checked the hockey score and, when the Pens unfortunately won, the streets outside my hotel room exploded with noise. Ugh. Not where I wanted to be, that’s for sure.

I had a rough night sleep-wise, so I was glad to have my Always Keep Fighting hoodie to snuggle up in Friday morning.

Friday Morning Schedule:

10:00am–10:30am Dealer room I hit the dealer room and bought a few presents, items for future swaps, and something for myself. I also picked up the custom order I made from NightengaleNeedles for a pillow. It turned out so nicely! I had to run it back up to my room so that I wouldn’t fall asleep in panels with it. heehee

10:30am–11:00am Opening Ceremonies Yay! We made it here!

11:00am–12:00pm Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 20 years Later Panelists started by playing the theme song, which definitely got us in the Buffy mood. We had a good time talking about our favorite characters, moments, and episodes as well as discussing the uniqueness of the show itself. It was wonderful to find there were quite a few Spander shippers there, including among the panelists. We all pretty much agreed Spike is the fandom bicycle, but we meant it with love of course. I also liked the discussion about how the show highlighted the concept of inventing yourself and that change is possible without losing your friends.

12:00pm–1:00pm Plushie Workshop I We had to start from scratch as bodies weren’t pre-made, and deciding what to make took me a while, but this was a much needed fun crafting break up in the Quiet Craft room that happened to also be on my floor of the hotel.

I headed out with a new friend to find Jimmy Johns for lunch. After walking in the wrong direction and stressing about time, we ended up at a pizza place on the other side of the block from our hotel where several con attendees were also eating. I had a veggie hoagie, which I ate while walking back to the con and finished during the next session.

Friday Afternoon Schedule:

2:00pm–3:00pm Ohana Means Family This was the found family panel, and we started off by trying to define found families (does joining an existing family like Harry joining the Weasleys count? do they have to have a parental figure?). I adored the discussion of non-human species (like werewolves) who have a sense of otherness already who need to seek out others for a shared experience (I love a good wolf pack). We also discussed the many different ways they come about—choice, workplace, survivalism, world-saving, etc. Other discussion topics included how fandom is our found family, subsets within families, the greater diversity in a found family compared to biological family, how people with different skill sets help each other, and if there are any found families lately without tragic backstories. You get a tragic backstory! You get a tragic backstory! Look under your chairs, everyone get s a tragic backstory! I was THRILLED to get to talk Sense8 for a while! Squee!

3:00pm–4:00pm A Galaxy Far, Far Away We started off by sharing our own Star Wars origin stories, and it was neat seeing the diversity in the group (and also finding others who like the Ewoks). We talked about ships and ships as well. I’m clearly going to have to properly make my way through the Darths and Droids Webcomic. And we ended with discussion of The Last Jedi (SPOILERS!!!!!!) including how even though Finn is wearing Poe’s entire outfit it doesn’t necessarily indicate that Poe is naked, though there is a strong case for such.

4:00pm–5:00pm Vid Show The vid show was wonderful; I’d seen only two of the vids before (and as one was Leverage with my OT3 and to an Ingrid Michealson song, I certainly didn’t mind seeing it again). I was utterly destroyed by Darcy’s SG-1 Jack/Daniel vid entitled “Living Alone” and had to break out the tissue pack almost at once. So good!

As I had no one to do dinner with, I worked on my plushie a little and then went back to the only food place I knew was open and ordered a salad (healthy) and onion rings (my weakness). I sewed through dinner and got the body done (even though I had to reinforce the crotch better after stuffing him).

Then I got ready for the masquerade. I wore my Marauder’s Map dress with Marauder’s Map pin on my badge, Marauder’s Map bow in my hair, and the actual Maurader’s Map as a necklace. (I maybe like the marauders a bit, you know) I also had a black mask I bought with the cape I wore to the Walk to End HIV a few years back when the theme was superheros. I discovered upon arrival that I had taken the masquerade title too literally and I was only one of a few who had masks. Still, it went with the outfit and made me feel a little bolder to be hiding behind a mask, so I kept it on. There was a mashed potatoes bar and a dessert bar as well, and the decorations were wonderful. I had a lot of nice conversations with people, including getting to geek out on Classic Who (and ask some questions about it… and get some lovely audiobook recs) and catch up with one of my favorite fellow hurt/comfort writers. I don’t like dances much and attempted to retire to the fandom lounge for button-making with friends like last Wincon, but it was locked up. Drat! So we headed back to the dance. I did dance to the Time Warp, because that one has scripted dance moves. And I danced to the last song with everyone, which was Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” (so perfect, though were were a little iffy on which verse was which LOL).

Oh, the movie never ends It goes on and on, and on, and on … Don’t stop believin’ Hold on to that feelin’

I went back to my room after the masquerade and worked for 2 hours on my plushie while watching Doctor Who. I finished up watching the Fifth Doctor’s episodes! I also discovered I cut the underwear too small for my plushie. Then I went to bed at 2am.

I got up at 9 in order to eat breakfast and get down to the dealer room as soon as possible.

Saturday Morning Schedule:

10:00am–10:30am Dealer’s Room My friend put in a request for merch and I was hoping to squeeze it in before the morning panels. However, the dealers didn’t all get there early, so I ended up missing half of the first panel. I also dropped a few BookCrossing books on tables in the fandom lounge to give away. Worth it, though. The dealer had the thing my friend wanted AND I ended up buying things from pretty much all the other dealers. Good start to a morning indeed!

10:30am–11:00am Disability in Media A LOT less angry and complainy than most of the disability panels I’ve attended at other cons. There was a lot of talk of positive examples and analysis of things. That was refreshing to hear. I’m sorry I missed the part where they discussed Bashir because, I mean, Bashir, right?

11:00am–12:00pm Invisible Unicorns I had the HARDEST time figuring out this time slot. It was up against Book Recs for the People (I adore books) and Totally 80s Toons (possibly my only chance to talk about my first fandom with people: Pound Puppies). I asked the panelist heading from Disability in Media to Totally 80s Toons to please NOT discuss Pound Puppies because missing such a discussion would break my heart. Then I stayed in the roundtable room for Invisible Unicorns, where we talked about bi, ace, pan, etc. representations in fandoms. The session was so well attended we had to keep grabbing more chairs. LOL It was wonderful. I came out with a LOT to think about. We talked about the whole “prove it!” thing and the problematic usage of “born this way.” One thing I had never heard put into words before was how there is a shorthand for sex onscreen but no shorthand for things like asexual romance (YET!). There were also some hilarious moments i.e. “Once you cross the het barrier at knotting…” “That is NOT where the het barrier is.”

12:00pm–1:00pm Plushie Workshop II I was considering going to MCU, but I’m behind on S.H.I.E.L.D. and haven’t seen the second Guardians yet, so I decided to craft. I had big plans: Finish the head, make new underwear, make the suit jacket, sew the head on to finish it. I managed the first 2 of 4. I made the suit jacket then discovered it’s just a little too small. Drat! I’ll have to redo part of it. But it was definitely another nice break. Except now I have what looks like a headless Morman and not a Ianto Jones yet. One lovely attendee brought a ton of little figures, and we had fun going through them, sorting them by property, and selecting a few. I got a couple for myself and one for a friend. At the end of the day, after everyone else had a chance to look through them (and they were no longer sorted) I took a few more.

I worked on my plushie through lunch (thanks to snacks from 7-11) then headed to afternoon sessions.

Saturday Afternoon Schedule:

2:00pm–3:00pm OT3: A Love Story We listed our favorite OT3s in fandom (Leverage, Force Awakens, White Collar, Haven, Marvel, Sense8, etc.) I ship some very rare OT3s so I didn’t bring them up (Wolverine/Iron Man/Captain America; Sherlock/Watson/Lestrade) but it was fun hearing about other people’s ships. We discussed why OT3s are the best (solves love triangle problems, avoids ship wars, solves problem of killing off awesome female characters). We also talked about dynamics of OT3s (relationship negotiations–swoon!, soulmate AUs, imperfect moments, overlap with found families, inviting someone to join, etc.). And, of course, this lovely quote “My fandoms have orgies all the time” which pretty much sums up my writing style. LOL

3:00pm–4:00pm Fandom as Genre This one was interesting, and I’m very glad I went. What’s unique to fandom that makes it its own thing and makes it special? Some topics of discussion included: ability to have different versions of the same character, ability to have different settings/situations with the same characters, ability to explore minor characters, having less exposition (already know the shared universe, history, appearances, etc.), POV differences, how much of the community aspect is needed to make it fanfiction, the difference between authorized tie-in novels and fanfiction, why we write fanfiction (for ourselves or for a certain population that knows certain things already about the source material), what we’re allowed to write in a fandom vs. what is taboo, how A/B/O originated in fandom, and the concept of headers/tag wranglers. Some quotes I liked included “Fanfic is the only place characters go into the bedroom and come out as the same people,” “We need to make supernatural disgusting again!” and “We’ve come a long way from ‘we’re not gay, we just love each other.'” There was also a question raised regarding what is at the core of a character that makes him recognizable and feel like the same character when everything around is different?

4:00pm–4:30pm Charity Raffle The charity was Planned Parenthood, and people were generous both in the donating of items and in the buying of raffle tickets. I bought $40 in raffle tickets, so I was expecting to win a few things (especially as a few things I put tickets in for only had one or two tickets in the cup). I didn’t get the Ace scarf I really wanted and put a lot of tickets in for, but I did get a bunch of things, including a Martha plushie (who can hang out with Ianto, once he’s done–the Joneses!), tons of comics (including some Archies, Buffys, Marvel, and more), a Donatello figure (he’s my turtle), a Spider-man hat, and some gorgeous fannish jewelry. I was also super happy to see the items I donated to the raffle go to people who will love them. One super nice new friend gave me something she won in the raffle and had two of. Squee!

After the raffle, I bought a few things from the other vendor I hadn’t purchased from yet (I’d frankly been avoiding her booth because I wanted every single thing she had for sale and didn’t trust myself). I ended up with a few buttons I’d never seen before and a super soft Kaylee Bear. I thought about also buying the Jayne Bear, but I just couldn’t do it without a Simon Bear to ship with him. #noregrets.

A few of us stayed in the fandom lounge to finally take advantage of the button machine. Making buttons was one of my favorite parts of Wincon, and it was fun to have one of my button-making friends back as well as some new button-making friends joining the crew. We had a great time going through stickers and magazines, looking for things we wanted. I made a kickass perfect RuPaul button that is sort of now my favorite. I also made an Alexander Hamilton button and a kitty King George button to go with him. And some others, of course. We were at it for a little over 2 hours. It was such fun seeing the creative things people made!

I had just enough time to pop over to Jimmy Johns (found it this time!) before it closed (it was only 7:20, mind you!) and get back to the con in time for the trivia contest. I’d planned on just watching, but I got roped into playing. Glad I did; I even knew a few of the answers, like what century Outlander was in. However, I feel SHAME forever for saying “Flashverse” instead of “Flashpoint.” I will never shake off that shame. I was proud to be able to answer the question about all the Weasley siblings (including next generation) and probably could have done the hockey siblings one, but two people on my team JUMPED at that, so I let them have at it. I’m also sad I couldn’t remember the names of the Hansons! Terrible fangirling on my part; I’m just not good at remembering things when there are time constraints! In all, we had a great team and we came in second… though later I heard we misgraded another team’s paper and actually came in third. Just like the Puffs play says “Third or nothing!!!”

After trivia was Badfic Idol. My fic “Five Times Something Happened and One Time Something Else Happened” was read at the beginning. It was my first attempt and it didn’t win first place or even second. But it did get some laughs. And my friend appreciated the Picard on a Horse inside joke from Wincon I threw in there. Actually, 80% of the fic was thought up during Wincon a few years back, so it was fun to share it. Instead of the judges giving their thoughts after each fic like last time, they gave them all at once at the end, which was a little more confusing, but we got there in the end. The winning fic had no words and was written only in emojis starting with policeman knife fireman and ending with sailboat. I mean… sailboat, you know? That’s a damn powerful ending. Definitely deserved to win! It was a great event; all the stories were hilarious; I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. And the judges’ comments were amazing!

After Badfic Idol, I stuck around for a game of Cards Against Humanity. I actually won a round, which was great. I played some fantastic cards but just the one win. Everyone was bringing their best to the game, and it was definitely a hoot.

I headed back to my room and packed up so everything would be ready the next morning.

On Sunday, I woke at 8:45 sleepy but fine (one nice thing about never drinking is not worrying about con morning hangovers). I finished packing and, once again, headed to the dealer’s room for a morning purchase. I had forgotten a button I HAD to buy a friend and, luckily, there were still a few left (in various styles). Score! I’m not posting the photos of things I bought for people, BTW, because that would spoil the surprises.

Sunday Morning Schedule:

10:00am–11:00am The State of Fandom I had to ask but, yes, everyone agreed that LJ is DEAD. Someone suggested Pillowfort, which is like Tumblr only fixes all the problems Tumblr has and lets you have actual conversations. Someone else suggested Pinboard for bookmarking. We talked a lot about building our “brands” and the differences between us oldtimers and the new internet generation in terms of privacy concerns. We also talked about things like how releasing whole seasons at once erases that anticipation we once had for week-to-week shows, how there used to be a fannish code and norms that get passed down but are being challenged now culturally, and how freakin awesome Fanlore is.

11:00am–12:00pm Hamilton: Who Tells Your Story? We started off talking about race and how it puts so many marginalized groups back into the narrative of our country. Then we went into discussions about gender (how women are in the war scenes and how it’s kind of Eliza’s story, or would be if she were in it more). I loved the point one person made about how in Revolutionary War times, a person’s writing style was uniquely identifiable just the way the musical styles for each character are uniquely identifiable for us today in the musical. I was shocked that more people hadn’t read the Ron Chernow book, and I was going to recommend it for people who write Hamilton fanfic, but then the discussion moved on (it’s filled with amazing details like the fact that Hamilton & Eliza had a dog named “Old Peggy” and how Washington’s aides usually shared beds at camp). But we did talk about how the American narrative actually wasn’t as rose-colored as we thought and how the musical humanizes history. Some recommendations included the book Colony in a Nation by Chris Hayes, the Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast, and a Sleepy Hollow crossover where Alexander Hamilton comes forth into modern day and is stuck here. Also, I was given a rec that has Asexual!Dom!Washington and subby!Hamilton that is currently my favorite Hamilton fic EVER!

12:00pm–1:00pm Family Affairs: Incest in Fandom Was great to end the con with a good ol’ incest panel! We talked about our first and favorite pairings. I asked about Bates Motel because I LOVE me some Bates Motel and was told the fanfic is not good, which wasn’t too surprising. We also talked about what makes incest fic good and the different kinds (I’m in love with the term Gencest now!).

1:00pm–1:35pm Closing Ceremonies I had to leave during the closing event, because of my hotel checkout time and because I wanted to get home before it got too dark, but it was nice being there for part of it. And people waved to me as I left, which made me feel all warm and fuzzy. The con com did an amazing job putting this together and making it special and unique. I really hope the next Confab Con is somewhere close to me so I can attend it!

On my way home, I attempted to find some postcards of Pittsburgh to send to people and struck out everywhere I looked. I picked up a grilled cheese with onions and some more onion rings (did I mention I was driving home alone?) as well as a frozen slushie drink at Sheetz. My GPS wanted me to go one way that was blocked off with a detour, so I took the scenic route out of Pittsburgh and quite enjoyed the drive. Then I ended up on 40 heading to a big snarf stop I’d seen when I was driving up but couldn’t stop for because I’d been worried about Penguins game parking. I finished earreading Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer and put on In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord, which I also ended up finishing on the drive. So then I started Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.

I found the historical markers (snarfs) I’d been looking for and discovered it was General Braddock’s grave. Just down the street from that was Fort Necessity. I thought about just doing a drive-by with it and coming back some other time. I even went into the park, drove around the lot, and then went back to the highway again. Then I decided to just do it and went to the fort. I was still on a Hamilton high, and what better way to end my con weekend but with a George Washington fuckup? The park ranger was sad to inform me that the reenactments were all done for the day and that there was only one showing of the film left; I didn’t really care about either. I went through the museum and headed out to the fort. Apparently the Braddock Road by my home is, actually, the very same one I’d been driving on for an hour up in Pennsylvania. I snarfed all the signs and took some nice shots of the fort, the tavern, and the monuments. Hopefully no one thought less of me in my wearing my Hamilton/Harry Potter mash-up t-shirt.

I found a few more historical markers on the drive home, stopped for gas in the little town that literally has an interstate running right through its middle just above it, and got home around 8:30. My cats were happy to see me, and Ozma kitten has already claimed my CONfabulation bag as her own.

CONfabulation 2017 was originally published on The Fangirl Project

#thefangirlproject

1 note · View note

gamingnewskotaku · 6 years

Text

The Best of March 2018 in Videogames

Say goodbye to another month more loaded with great video games, which have made us enjoy some last weeks also exciting information. In the Best of the Month of March we are talking about Far Cry 5, Sea of Thieves, Ni no Kuni 2 ... and also the announcement of the new Tomb Raider and Call of Duty: Black Ops, by Smash Bros for Nintendo Switch and much more! It is already becoming a habit. In one of the good !, which we like, because one more month, we have to praise the large number and variety of video games that have come to the stores to make us enjoy with epic action adventures, fun strategy games, exciting RPG or frenetic racing games. In the special Best of the Month of March, we will talk about the new episodes of Far Cry and Warhammer: Vermintide, the formidable sequel to Ni no Kuni, the fun Pit - People or the fantastic Ghost -of a Tale. And they are not the only news in a month that has brought us great joys with video games for all tastes and for all platforms. Do you know a little? Also at an informative level, March has been a very interesting month. We have seen the new Call of Duty and Tomb Raider, the release of Smash Bros. has been confirmed on Nintendo Switch, Ubisoft has surprised us with the announcement of the sequel to The Division, and we have had time even to discover the future of graphics in the world of video games with Microsoft and its DirectX Raytracing. With all this hustle and bustle, if any of you have missed any of these issues, in this special Best of the Month we review the big headlines and releases of March, waiting to continue enjoying more and more games in the coming weeks. TOP MARCH NEW RELEASES Pit People Platforms: XOne, PC By The Behemoth

youtube

Rating (8.5) A chaotic festival of death and destruction. There is no better way to describe Pit People, an incredibly funny video game that surprises with its crazy sense of humor and its exciting turn-based combats. With a great design of missions and extensive customization options so that we can create the most absurd army there has been and to be, the new creators of Castle Crashers is a work that you can not miss, whether or not you are fans of strategy games by turns. Chuchel Platforms: PC By Amanita Design

youtube

Rating (8.0) The Amanita Design team does not fail. The new graphic adventure of the creators of Machinarium and Botanicula is another one of those video games with a special charm that is worth trying. His great sense of humor, the ingenious design of some of his puzzles and, of course, his beautiful artistic section make Chuchel a work worthy of praise for his ability to make you feel like a child. Final Fantasy XV Platforms: PC By Square Enix

youtube

Rating (8.5) Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition is a very good PC conversion that not only focuses on optimizing the product well and providing a good handful of options. It has also taken advantage of the unique technologies of the platform to create the most complete edition to date of its classic saga. Burnout Paradise: Remastered Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One By Criterion

youtube

Rating (7.5) Although it is fair to recognize that in some aspects Burnout Paradise has aged a little, the truth is that its formula of speed and freneticism is still quite current. The Criterion maintains its status as "life insurance" to ensure a session of laughter and fun with the brain in neutral. However, we talk about a remastering and there the remodeling work is not up to the original. There is more resolution, we have all the DLC and we also find some slight increase in the detail of the textures ... Enough? It's up to you. Warhammer: Vermintide II Platforms: PC By Fatshark

youtube

Rating (8,5) The entry into action of the Army of Chaos helps to make Warhammer: Vermintide II a video game more exciting if possible than the original title. His exciting and spectacular pitched battles are the pure addiction, thanks above all to his ability to surprise again and again with tougher and tougher challenges. The five heroes, with their respective variants and special abilities, also provide an interesting RPG style that feels really good. Whether or not you are fond of the bloody Warhammer universe, you will enjoy this frantic cooperative action game. More if you do it accompanied by three more friends. QUBE 2 Platforms: PS4, XOne, PC By Toxic Games

youtube

Rating (8.0) Although it keeps intact the playable base of the original, QUBE 2 manages to surprise thanks to the ingenious and intelligent design of some puzzles that, while not particularly difficult, do stand out for their ability to offer increasingly elaborate challenges and spectacular With a great staging and an attractive plot background, if you like puzzles to video games, you should not lose sight of the new work of Toxic Games. Kirby: Star Allies Platforms: Switch By HAL Laboratory

youtube

Rating (7.5) Kirby Star Allies adds one more adventure of the pink ball to his long career, but ... does he justify his presence? Maybe it does not contribute much, and it is conservative in its proposal, becoming a somewhat flat video game, with no challenges for the lonely user. However, it is a recommendable experience if you play in the company, thanks to a cooperative that gives for a few afternoons of enjoyment, more if you like the character of Kirby and all that it represents. Sea of Thieves Platforms: PC, XOne By Rare

youtube

Rating (7.0) The thrill of living great adventures is the engine that drives the action of Sea of Thieves, a video game with great potential that however, right now, does not end up exploding as it should. Rare's video game is one of those works with which it is easy to have fun; the follies that you can do in the company of other players make anybody's day and, at the helm of the ship, the feeling of freedom is extraordinary. Right now it is a good video game that sins of lack of content and a simple combat system in excess but, with time, with the additions that will arrive free of charge during the next years, Sea of Thieves can become a must. I hope it is soon! AOT 2 Platforms: PC, PS4, XOne, Switch By Omega Force

youtube

Rating (8.0) Omega Force has created a second very remarkable installment of Attack on Titan, an adventure that shows a development that is totally different from the specialty of that studio, the musou, to host a very diverse gameplay, although quite focused on the action. A title that far from wasting the license on which it is based, offers a good combination of possibilities both to enjoy alone and in the company. A fairly complete and well-done game. Ghost of a Tale Platforms: PC By SeithCG

youtube

Rating (8.5) Ghost Of A Tale is a special game. A very personal work with an incredible level and artistic design that immerses you perfectly in the world you propose. He has some technical faults and could be more round in the final stages, but his proposal is so original and well taken that it leaves amazed any player who approaches him knowing what he is looking for. A game full of magic and charm, that flees like its own mouse protagonist of the fast action, to expressly and deeply focus on exploration. Surviving Mars Platforms: PS4 By Fast Travel Games

youtube

Rating (8.0) Surviving Mars offers exactly what it promised. An experience that is more like a long learning process where we will suffer some displeasure due to our lack of foresight but, in general, it is a pleasant and pleasant experience. There is work to be done in the game of Haemimont Games, for many hours, and sometimes neither the catastrophes nor some inconveniences of the interface will help us, but nobody said that it would be simple, right? Ni no Kuni 2 Platforms: PC, PS4 By: Leve-5

youtube

Rating (8.5) Ni no Kuni 2 is a great work of Level 5, not content to make a worthy sequel to the first video game, has taken the opportunity to add a lot of different extra activities that enrich the experience. There are chiaroscuro in the development of characters and their main story and could have gone deeper into their battle system, but even these points also have their strengths, which is accompanied by an artistic design of the most beautiful we have seen so far. A different JRPG with personality. A Way Out Platforms: PC, XOne, PS4 By Hazelight

youtube

Rating (8.0) A Way Out is a joy for those looking for something different in the world of video games, especially for those looking for an experience that can only be enjoyed cooperatively and that brings out the best in the game. The creator of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons returns to surprise us with another very personal story in which what really matters is that, what we are told. Along the way, there is a gameplay not too deep, but very varied and perfectly capable of maintaining our interest during the six hours that will take us to overcome it. Far Cry 5 Platforms: PC, XOne, PS4 By Ubisoft Montreal

youtube

Rating (9.0) Far Cry 5 is a very good example of what the shooter saga wants to achieve and, surely, also of where it wants to go. The new video game of the series becomes strong in all the elements that characterize the brand and, although it does not risk too much in its ideas, it achieves a very good result. Many hours of entertainment, lots of fun and, above all, the most spectacular and explosive action you can find right now. Other featured releases Detention Rating (8.5) - Originally on PC, now on PS4 and Switch TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge Rating (6.5) - PS4, XOne Bravo Team Rating (6.0) - PS4 Frantics Rating (6.0) - PS4 Scribblenauts Showdown Rating (6.0) - PS4, Switch, XOne Pure Farming 2018 Rating (7.0) - PC, PS4, XOne Ash of Gods: Redemption Rating (7.0) - PC Detective Pikachu Rating (7.0) - 3DS The Pillars of the Earth (last episode) Rating (8.0) - PC, PS4, XOne TOP MARCH PRESENT

The Division 2 announced by surprise

Activision announces Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

The classic Luigi's Mansion of Gamecube will adapt to 3DS

Super Smash Bros. announces its release on Nintendo Switch!

Crash Bandicoot will also be available on PC and Xbox One

Artifact, the new Valve, discards the free to play

Shadow of the Tomb Raider announced and with a release date

Geralt de Rivia will be a character from Soul Calibur 6

Sonic Mania Plus announced with new characters and physical launch

The Elder Scrolls Online presents Summerset, its new expansion

Microsoft presents DirectX Raytracing: Its great graphics revolution

Follow here, in Gaming News 24.

#game news websites #gaming news ps4 #gaming industry news #pc gaming news #gaming news kotaku #gamin

0 notes

loririnehart-blog · 6 years

Text

How Your Worst Nightmare Could Actually Help You

No, it isn't a monster hiding in your closet or under your bed, it's complete silence while darkness surrounds you, suddenly you are weightless while your senses take control. Sounds fun, right?

That's the exact thought Jennifer LeFrancois had before she decided to enter a sensory deprivation tank for the first time. Francois, an aromatherapist and a master herbalogist from Florida, visited a sensory deprivation tank for the first time a few months ago.

“One of my step sons and I decided we wanted to give it a try after reading about it for a while,” said Francois. “I was curious of it myself.”

“When we first saw the building, we were a little worried. A hole in the wall, but, oddly some of the best places are holes in the wall and we were right,” said Francois. “We walk in to some beautiful Buddhist music playing. It was very relaxing and it had a relaxing smell, likely lavender,” noting the calming atmosphere surrounding her as she entered the deprivation tank.

Sensory deprivation tanks are often used to help people who suffer from chronic stress, back pain, joint pain, anxiety, depression, and a magnitude of other things. They also can be used as a way for someone to enjoy peace and quiet while floating in warm salt water.

“It's very salty and it was hard to relax at first,” said Francois. “I'm a natural floater, but this seemed different.”

Sensory deprivation tanks have been around since the '50s, but they are just now starting to gain more popularity.

“I went in with a headache and came out with a little less of a headache,” said Francois, who stayed in the tank for about 40 minutes. “You can't hear or see a thing, but it was so relaxing, I would definitely do it again.”

Despite the claims of being able to treat things such as anxiety, depression, joint & muscle pain, and chronic stress, sensory deprivation tanks are not backed by any scientific data. However, this does not mean that the technique is not helpful.

Robbie Adams, who graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's in Psychology, seems to agree with this form of therapy.

“I think that good therapy establishes coping mechanisms,” said Adams. “You don't cure anxiety or depression, you learn to manage it, sometimes with medication and sometimes without.” Adams visited an older model of a deprivation tank located at the University of Cincinnati while he was a student.

“I'd imagine that you could practice mindfulness much easier in a tank like that because you're having your external sense practically stripped from you so that you're left with your mind and probably some slight feeling,” said Adams. “Even using the tank to learn mindfulness techniques, that could be a great method of therapy.”

Jenna Morgan visited TAO Float Loft in West Chester, Ohio in hopes of finding a way to manager her depression and anxiety. Morgan became interested in flotation therapy after hearing about sensory deprivation tanks and their health benefits.

“I was able to just fully let my body go, like I didn't have to use a single muscle and it was incredible – I couldn't tell where my body met the water during some points,” she said. “There got to a point where I really didn't know if I was asleep, awake, or hallucinating; there was just so much happening and it was just such a feeling I had never experienced.”

Once her 60 minutes was up Morgan climbed out of the tank, instantly noticing the differences in her body and her mind.

“I felt so relaxed, so calm, no pain, I felt like my anxiety had chilled out and I could actually take a deep breath in,” she said. “I just can't say better things about it and I am hoping to start going at least once a month.”

While many people seem to enjoy sensory deprivation tanks and all that they have to offer, that was not the case for Allison Davis, who wrote an article titled “I Survived My Terrifying Hour In a Sensory Deprivation Tank” for The Cut. Davis visited the Lift/Next Level “float spa” in Brooklyn.

“My entire understanding of sensory deprivation tanks was limited to an episode of The Simpsons,” she said. “At first, all was well. My body floated around like a little buoy. I felt like I was headed someplace spiritual, someplace deeper. I decided to turn off all the lights and enter full sensory-deprivation mode, which is when things started to go to hell.”

Floating away, Davis wrote about the wild thoughts she started experiencing as she was laying in the pitch-black room.

“I started thinking about how many thoughts my brain was able to form in mere seconds. A voice from somewhere else in my brain started commenting on those thoughts, and judging me for not being able to stop thinking them, thereby forming more very loud thoughts,” she said, while having no recollection of how long she had actually been in the tank.

Davis finished off her article by saying that she finally figured out how to “find peace and calm in a situation that feels very much like dying” by reminding herself of the benefits of flotation therapy.

Laying in a warm saltwater bath, with no sound or no sight, seems almost insane. I often wonder to myself, “who would ever try something like this?,” but for people like Stephen Guise, who also suffers from anxiety, sensory deprivation tanks could be extremely beneficial.

“You float in complete darkness and silence for 1-2 hours. It’s the most relaxing experience I’ve ever had, but what blows my mind is that relaxation is not limited to your time in the pod. It follows you home,” said Guise in an article titled “My Life-Changing Experience In A Sensory Deprivation Tank.”

Guise claimed that his 60 minutes spent in the sensory deprivation tank taught him how to relax once again after battling with his anxiety for a little over a year. Guise referenced a study in his article that found that 12 sessions in a float tank caused full remission in 37% of people who had been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

“It’s potentially life changing for people trapped in a cycle of worry and anxiety. Meditation has changed many lives by this same mechanism; the tank just makes it an easier and more powerful process,” said Guise.

1 note · View note