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randadrives · 2 months

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Salem - Witch City

"Still making history"

If you’re anything like me, a millennial spooky kid obsessed with Halloween, you probably also grew up watching the standard movies annually in October: Scream, Halloween, Beetlejuice, every zombie and Halloween (the franchise) movie possible, and the reigning classic, Hocus Pocus. If you’re one of those weirdos who hasn’t watched it, the family-friendly feature is set in Salem, MA – home of the famous witch trials of 1692. Thanks to the dense history, the town being a Maritime National Historic Site, as well as pop culture such as Bewitched, Hocus Pocus, and later the terrible Hubie Halloween (2020), the New England town of Salem has boasted an increase in tourism, causing an extra MILLION visitors just last October. Now I’m going to take you through my firsthand visit to this beautiful city I adored visiting.

An old friend of mine and I decided we wanted to take a long weekend trip somewhere we could drive in the spring of 2023. Several people who had already been to Salem suggested going at a different time of year than the normal September/October time to avoid the crowds of tourists, as it can be quite congested and the prices of everything goes up as well. Early May sounded perfect for decent weather to experience all the city had to offer, and yes – Ten hours (Pittsburgh to Salem) is a perfectly acceptable distance to drive for a 4 day trip, in my opinion. We found an Airbnb (which may or may not have been haunted) in Marblehead, which was a 15-minute drive from downtown Salem. Marblehead is where most of Hubie Halloween was filmed, which may be a severely poorly rated Adam Sandler movie, but I still watched it 5 times. This aesthetic coastal town is rich in history. It’s arguably the birthplace of the U.S. Navy, and a great deal of the original architecture is still present today. We had a great time walking the streets and seeing normal businesses, such as dentists and law firms, in buildings marked with their original purpose and the year they were built, the oldest being 1663! Our first stop on the evening we arrived was the restaurant Sea Salt, because you know we were looking for seafood. If I had not taken photos, I honestly might not remember our experience here. The service was great, and the atmosphere was very nice. The food was a little pricey, but that was expected. I remember having fantastic Brussel sprouts as an appetizer, and tasty cocktails, but can’t tell you that much more about it. My favorite places to look for when I’m traveling are locally owned coffee shops and bakeries/donut shops, so in the morning I pulled up Google and found a café called Maria’s Java Sun that was just a 5 minute walk down the street. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that we ended up walking down there 3 mornings in a row for coffee and a breakfast sandwich or pastry! They were delightful. We had opted for an Airbnb because of course my two adventure dogs were making the trip with us, and I had to be sure they would be comfortable while we were away for a few hours at a time. It was a goal of mine for them to experience the ocean, so I looked up a dog-friendly beach nearby. The second morning we were there we took them to Devereux Beach just a short drive away. It was a Saturday, so the beach was full of families with A LOT of dogs. Mine are dog reactive, but we were able to get to a more secluded portion for some waves and sea salt to ourselves. Another staple of Marblehead that sticks out in my memory is our trip to the liquor store. I have never before this seen a liquor store of this massive proportion. By the end of our stay, my friend and I agreed we would visit the Marblehead area again in the future. In May, it was serene, the landscape was gorgeous, and there appeared to be a plethora of things to do there, many related to boating and fishing.

Now the main, wicked event! On our first day driving into Salem, we had two main items on the schedule: the Satanic Temple headquarters, and a walking tour of the city. Other than that, we knew we would meander and do some exploring, as well as chow down on some seafood again. We drove to the Satanic Temple first because it was not in walking distance of other attractions. I take full responsibility for this idea, forcing my friend to play along with me, and I do not regret it. The towering, charcoal colored Victorian building was a funeral home before purchased by the organization. It was $13 each to enter as a non-member of the church, and we were not too sure what to expect. If you’re interested in who and what the organization is, I’ll let you do your own research as that could be a lengthy essay itself, but I’m a big fan. In short, the headquarters building is essentially an art gallery with some rotating and permanent exhibitions. I was enchanted by the art on display, captured many photos, and left with a few trinkets from the gift shop. I sat on the statue of Baphomet, I’m not sure what else could have made my visit any better! My friend was also pleasantly surprised by the experience, agreeing it was enjoyable and worth the stop.

Next was our walking tour, but first we had to tackle the issue of parking. The infrastructure of Salem is not necessarily built for the influx of tourists. We ended up parking in a parking garage near the Peabody Essex museum and decided that was it, we would be walking anywhere we needed to go from here, no matter how far. There was a visitor center across the street where I learned Salem is a Maritime National Historic Site. Pro tip: if you have the National Park Passport, you can get a stamp here! I didn’t bring mine, so I bought one of the .99 cent sticker sheets to take a stamp with me.

As much as I would have loved to do an after-dark, ghostly tour, we both knew at our big age we would be back at the Airbnb watching documentaries at that point in the night. I let my friend do the online research and choose the walking tour, so I can’t remember which it was, but there are so many that you probably can’t go wrong with choosing. We met our group at the Town Hall. It was a small group led by a Salem native who was knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the city. From here we saw key spots such as the Bewitched sculpture, the Witch House, several churches, buildings that had been used by affluent figures of society, where they would hold parties and meetings, the Ropes Mansion, ending at the old cemetery and monument dedicated to those that were killed for allegations of witchcraft. It was interesting to have someone who grew up here share the information, and she had so much to add we probably could not have learned from Google. And she shared with us all the ghost stories! As we walked the city, we also couldn’t help but gush over all the residents, not just the businesses, who seemed to embrace the culture and had witchy decorations up that time of year. At the end of the tour, we insisted she tell us the best spot to go for a lobster roll and she was happy to oblige.

This leads me to my favorite stop for food, The Lobster Shanty. Looking online, I believe there are two different restaurants called the same name, but this one appeared to be a dive bar, full of locals, cheesy coastal décor, and a boisterous bartender who seemed more than happy to have us there. The lobster rolls were amazing, as were the cocktails we ordered, and I’m grateful our guide suggested this little place over the best rated online, which was a fancy (and extremely expensive looking) restaurant we would not have been as comfortable in. Several other places we stopped for drinks while exploring that weekend were The Derby, a horse racing themed bar that we had just missed a drag show in, and Rockafella’s, a casual restaurant that claims many hauntings from local spirits, and not just the liquor type. My friend’s favorite restaurant we went to was the Howling Taqueria, where we enjoyed steak quesadillas and blood orange palomas at the suggestion of our waiter. We ended that evening with a couple episodes of “I Survived” and wine on the couch with the dogs, naturally.

The next day, after our Maria’s and beach stop, I had to be the nerd I am and go to the Salem Police Department to trade patches. So far, I believe they do have the most badass patch with a witch on it. Then we took in some of the Salem Witch Village shops. There were metaphysical stores, tourist traps of souvenirs, antiques shops, gift/specialty stores, art galleries, and very niche horror themed stores. One store I was upset with myself for passing on was Black Craft, as I didn’t realize the largest witch statue is actually within the building. I was afraid of spending too much money unnecessarily on clothing!

We cut off our browsing for a scheduled appointment time we had with the Salem Witch Museum. The museum seemed to be busy at every time of day, so if you make this part of your sightseeing, be prepared for large crowds. Tickets were $17.50 each for adults and nonrefundable. It’s a massive, visually appealing building, and not actually a museum but more of a theatrical production and history lesson. To be completely transparent, I didn’t learn anything new that I hadn’t already learned from our walking tour or just reading information around the city. Also, it was a rushed, guided tour. We were disappointed we did not get to take our time in the portion where there were artifacts to look at. The entire thing just seemed like they wanted to herd us in and out as fast as possible, and the only portion we weren’t pushed through was the gift shop at the end. I would not suggest this one for small children, as there are some graphic depictions of the hangings (and rock smashings) of the victims of the trials. I personally would not say this stop is worth the price and time.

We had seen most of what we set out to at this point, so we decided fuck it – we are in Salem, let’s go do something witchy. We chose a random metaphysical shop to go have our tarot cards read, and lucked out because the two mediums were available at the same time. It was roughly $40 each, which seemed to be the standard when I was comparing shops. I had a really fun reading with a young woman who was empathetic, bright, and obviously had a great time interacting with the people who came to her. She told me I could record my reading if I wished, and I regret not doing so! I encourage embracing being a tourist once in a while and support the local economy.

We went to Salem Common to take a walk and some photos, and then found an arcade/bar to have a drink and round off the night. It felt appropriate to shoot some zombies while in Salem, even if guns were not quite Winifred Sanderson’s style. Alas, we were physically exhausted and probably slightly overstimulated from being in public so much, so left right before another drag show started. I was pretty torn on staying for it, but wine and a movie, along with sweatpants, were just too inviting. It was a successful second and last full day in Salem. Due to the recent increase in tourism, the city is strongly urging visitors in September and October to NOT drive into Salem. Commuter rail services have been expanded upon, and there is also the Salem Ferry to utilize. If I were you, I would choose a different time of year. There is still just as much Halloween magic to experience in the area when it isn’t the spooky season, less lines, and lower prices for lodging. If you are going to drive or fly in, there are many Airbnb’s, hotels, and even an RV park to stay in. As always, I emphasize being kind to the locals. This is their home, even if it is a bucket list item or a novelty to you. It especially hit hard when we were at crosswalks and school buses full of children were passing by. I’m sure it can be frustrating, or even annoying, to always have so many people on the streets gawking and taking photos. Be kind, use your manners, and tip your servers! Travel can be a welcoming experience for all involved when every party puts the effort in, and maybe form a calming circle if you need to.

#travel #lifestyle #blog #salem #massachusetts #new england #nature #vacation #marblehead #hocus pocus #halloween #massholes #coffee #foody #history

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asgardian--angels · 4 years

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Recommend some good folk metal music please

:D i never thought i’d see the day when someone actually wants to know more about the music i listen to *cracks knuckles* my time has come

I apologize in advance for this novel. Feel free to skip to the recommended tracks lol.

Most folk metal comes out of northern Europe (Finland, heavily) though you can find it all over the world (Hu Band comes to mind but I mean, it’s on every continent). I am one of those people with like, a small handful of favorite bands that I listen to mercilessly so I am sure that I am only representing a miniscule percentage of what’s available out there. What’s great is that folk metal is much more versatile than many other genres in its sound; the essence of folk metal is simply to 1) utilize traditional (or rather, in the sense of a metal band, non-traditional) instruments such as violin, accordion, brass ensemble, bagpipes, what have you, and 2) have lyrical themes which revolve around regional folklore, mythology, cultural heritage, or place (what I particularly like is a frequent reverence and respect for nature). Other genres of metal (death, black) have the second element but not the first, and tend to incorporate darker overall tones and consistently harsher or lo-fi vocal styles and sounds. Folk metal can be a gateway genre into metal and can often be quite hopepunk (if you will). Because of these criteria, the actual sound of folk metal can range from sea shanties to ‘spooky walk in the midnight woods’ to scathing social commentary to SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SH

Basically you can find a range of styles within the genre that fit what you’re looking for, from those that have an orchestral, ballad feel, to things that border on death metal but have a hurdy-gurdy in there. There’s also a much higher percentage of female-led folk metal bands than other metal genres.

I’ll go through my top picks.

Turisas. These motherfuckers. My boys.

Turisas is based in Finland, but sing primarily in English (with occasional Finnish, a smidge of Greek and Swedish too). Four albums out to date, fifth in progress. Sound is absolutely fucking bonkers god tier shit, if I may say so myself. Every single song sounds like you’ve been transported into an Iliad metal musical. Heavy use of a full orchestra and choir, along with sick violin and accordion solos. Their lyrical themes focus heavily on ancient Greco-Roman and Viking military history - but before you raise any red flags, rest assured they’re liberal as fuck and trust me the tea is scalding when Mathias feels like making a Point about Then and Now. No seriously, I don’t know how to express the beauty and depth of his songwriting - Mathias Nygård is an incredibly talented composer, musician, and songwriter (nay, POET), and an extremely intelligent and down to earth guy. There are plenty of bands that are happy to write Viking songs about pillaging and glorious death in battle and all that (Alestorm comes to mind), those are a dime a dozen. Turisas makes history come to life in a way that transports you back in time and thrusts you into the living breathing world of the past. They deal with the horrors and tragedy of war from both sides, consequences and motivations, fears and pride and loss, home and family, despair and hope. They write songs about people, big and small, and their role in weaving the great tapestry of history. And the best part is that it’s informed - Mathias does his damn research and the tales he tells are rooted in fact. He brings them to life so we can experience what it must have been like for those real living people, with the goal of forcing us to confront our own selves in them. He’s a modern Homer, I shit you not.

Did I mention there’s a song about pirates that’s actually really complex and nuanced, about how the hypocrisy and vile colonialist deeds of emperors makes them no different than the criminals they persecute?

Or that they do a badass cover of Rasputin?? yeah?????

Anyway enough gushing. Their second and third albums (The Varangian Way, Stand Up And Fight) are consecutive concept albums that follow the story of the Varangian Guard (the legendary Viking battalion that defended Alexander the Great) so the songs are actually chronologically linked to tell this epic tale. It’s a fucking listen, lads. The Varangian Way is probably my favorite album. But all their albums are top notch.

My favorite songs: End of An Empire (this one comes for 2020 hard), Piece by Piece (AKA die fascists 2k20), Cursed Be Iron, Among Ancestors, Greek Fire, Miklagard Overture (you gotta earn this song tho, it’s the finale)

Good first listen picks/hits: Battle Metal, To Holmgard and Beyond, March of the Varangian Guard, Ten More Miles, One More

Finntroll. These other motherfuckers. My other boys.

Another big name in the Finnish folk metal scene. As you can see, their band revolves both aesthetically and musically around Scandinavian troll folklore. Yall weird elf-fuckers who like the really big ears? Here you go. Look at those ears. They’re good friends with Turisas. Both love their facepaint.

Musical style leans much more towards black and death metal influenced, with a heavier, fuller sound and growling vocals. But it’s an incredibly rich and creative aural tapestry, with layers of masterfully executed sound that’s a real delight to lose yourself in. Use of fiddle, brass, keyboard, accordion, and banjo, and strong folk melodies make their sound unmistakable and unique. They are known for their ‘black humppa’ beat, which basically gives the effect of feeling the primal need to stomp around loudly to their music. It’s great cardio. They also utilize orchestra in some great intro tracks. They know their stuff.

The majority of their songs are sung in Swedish (they do some English cover songs which are FANTASTIC holy SHIT), but don’t let that stop you. The mood and power and emotion of their music transcend language, and you can be sure the lyrics are about either trolls, witches, the dark woods, spirits, or something of that ilk. I think Swedish as a language works very well with this kind of music, and honestly having it in English would lose something.

They have been around a long time and so have many albums, but I personally have only listened to the last three which feature their current singer, Mathias Lillmåns, whom I adore. Those albums are Nifelvind, Blodsvept, and their recent release Vredesvävd (that i’ve had on repeat since I got it three weeks ago). I’m sure their other ones are great too, I just can’t make a personal recommendation since I haven’t heard them.

My favorite songs: Galgasång, Tiden Utan Tid, Ylaren, Skogsdotter, Två Ormar, Ett Norrskensdåd, Skövlarens Död

Good first listen picks/hits: Forsen, Under Bergets Rot, Häxbrygd, Trollhammaren (older song), Solsagan

I’ll go through these other ones a little faster, I haven’t heard quite as much from them but I do love them.

Korpiklaani.

Great, full folk sound, utilizes a lot of folk instruments including some less commonly seen ones like hurdy gurdy. Songs are mostly in Finnish but plenty in English too. Jonne Järvelä has a really unique voice that grows on you, but it’s not for everyone. The band started as Sami folk, and Jonne is trained in Sami yoik singing, which makes an appearance in a few songs. I prefer the Finnish tracks, as a lot of the English ones are drinking songs lmao. But again, really well-executed music with layers of sound that keeps you hooked. I haven’t heard enough of their discography to really recommend enough to cover everything.

Song picks: Minä Näin Vedessä Neidon, Metsälle, Ämmänhauta, Lempo

Moonsorrow.

Definitely a darker, black-folk band. Probably not a great pick if you aren’t accustomed to black metal - very long tracks (8-15 mins is standard), growling/shrieking vocals, a ‘thinner’ but encompassing wall of sound usual of black metal, but with the benefit of wonderfully entrancing dark folk elements and chants. It’s done really really well. Sung almost entirely in Finnish (apart from cover tracks). Lyrically, focuses on themes of Norse mythology, man vs nature and similar elements. Definitely one of those bands whose music gets you into a zone. I can lose serious time just putting a whole album on and letting my mind wander elsewhere. My favorite album is Jumalten Aika.

Song picks: Ruttolehto Sis. Päivättömän Päivän Kansa (my fucking FAVORITE), Suden Tunti (well known hit), and also uhh check out their cover of Non Serviam cause it’s a fucking banger

Other bands that I like what I’ve heard but really can’t say much about them, whoops - Tyr (from the Faroe Islands, great stuff, Faroese is a baller language), Ensiferum, Nightwish (female-led).... I’m open to suggestions. Like I said, there are folk metal bands all over the world, and each is intrinsically linked to a sense of place and cultural identity that makes them unique. I’d love to hear about more tbh.

#koschei-the-ginger #folk metal

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justdyingslowly · 4 years

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1. Name justdyingslowly obviously come on

2. Nationality Australian

3. Age 22

4. Birthday nnnah dont feel like it

5. Zodiac sign (or your primal zodiac sign) Libra/Scorpio cusp

6. Gender wamon

7. Sexuality very very hetero

8. Your looks (add a picture or describe yourself) androgenous

9. What do you/did you study? Psychology (focus on sexology) and art.

10. What’s your current job like?/What job would you like to have? I am disabled you think I can work ha sexologist would be awesome. When I was a kid I wanted to be a fireman but Australias always burning

11. Your birth order head first

12. How many siblings do you have? 1

13. Do you have good relations with your family? yeah dads finally out of his abusive relationship, nearing age 70 and his emotions and his sexuality are finally opening up for the first time and that makes me SO happy.

14. How many friends do you have? what kind of fucked up question is this.

15. Your relationship status relationshipped. Fiance? got the marriage papers in a drawer somewhere with the car rego but can’t be fucked filling them?

16. What do you look for in a SO? empathetic, mature, calm. Always open to discussion. Prefers to be blunt rather than secretive. Emotional age over 14 (incredibly fucking rare apparently). Puts an importance on context and understanding other views above all else.

17. Do you have a crush? Hellll yeah Crush on my partner and got a crush on a mutual friend of ours who don’t even know hes cute af hehe one day partners gonna accidentally spill the beans and embarrass me coz hes shit with secrets RIP me.

18. When did you have your first kiss? You think I can remember this bullshit? Its not that big a deal

19. Do you prefer serious and meaningful relationships or casual dating/one night stands? One night stand sex almost exclusively sucks. Just. SUCKS. Because neither of you know what the other likes and it ends up being an awkward mix of trying to please yourself while trying to also be considerate.

20. What are your deal breakers? Plugging your ears to anything that feels gross, uncomfortable or disagrees with you. How can you grow as a person without introspection? How can you mold what you think and believe without taking in other arguments and comparing them to your beliefs to see how they stack up? Its pathetic.

21. How was your day? cute mutual friend had a fall this morning and were both worried about him. His back is bad and he’s getting a little older, he can’t be getting dizzy and having falls like that. other than that im anxious about seeing my gastro. He’s lovely but... specialists are specialists. Good at knowing what they know but not always great at listening.

22. Favourite food & drink you think im allowed to eat or drink? water and... foods a touchy subject.

23. What position do you sleep in? Usually on my side with a body pillow to grip so I don’t end up choking my partner in his sleep.

24. What was your last dream about? uuhhh...going to italy and being unable to get into this tiny basket boat properly.

25. Your fears does PTSD to medical shit count haha

26. Your dreams ... going to italy and being unable to get into a tiny basket boat thingy?

27. Your goals - get some sort of diagnosis eventually. Its been 3 years of trying and im tired. - get back to studying art part time for my bachelors. - pass JLPT N3. - go back to university for psychology. - do the dishes when I get home.

28. Any pets? two budgies. we also take care of any orphaned or injured birds.

29. What are your hobbies? feeling nauseous drawing writing a little bit im making a little gameboy game in C atm too

30. Any cool places in your area? i live next to a national park with waterfalls and koalas and emus and stuff

31. What was your last awkward situation? mutual friend made a comment on his chest i playfully smacked it (related to the comment) it was surprisingly hard “O-oh wow, thats... I didnt expect that” my partner laughed at me. it was awful.

32. What is your last regret? getting embarrassed at friends pecs stop making me think about it 33. Language/s you can speak english. N4 Japanese.

34. Do you believe in astrological stuff? (Zodiac, tarot, etc.) of course not what the fuck

35. Have any quirks? Quirkless. I do wiggle when im happy though apparently.

36. Your pet peeves open doors.

37. Ideal vacation spend a months chilling in an old japanese house in autumn hokkaido oooooof that sounds nice

38. Any scars? internal? yes

39. What does your last text message say? peepee poopoo ustinky

40. Last 5 things from your search history how do i find this

41. What’s your [device] background? Sam Porter Bridges walkin around Sam Porter Bridges cuddling BB-28 Louise while he sleeps my chicken

42. What do you daydream about? all might

43. Describe your dream home an old japanese house in autumn hokkaido oooooof that sounds nice

44. What’s your religion/Your thought about religion its a comforting thought having a parent-figure who cares about you and looks after all the big things you can’t manage yourself, but institutionalizing it runs a severe risk of becoming harmful cults. And it often does.

45. Your personality type me

46. The most dangerous thing you’ve done i saw the lost bunny that was on all the posters in the neighbourhood looked thin and patchy so i grabbed him to take him home. im allergic. sent me to hospital and I almost died.

47. Are you happy with your current life? feeling sick sucks and partners having a depressive episode but things are pretty good

48. Some things you’ve tried in your life living

49. What does your wardrobe consist of? blacks, reds, whites and pinks

50. Favourite colour to wear? at the moment pink. Red is always comforting though.

51. How would you describe your style? mix between lazy alternative punk, teenager with band shirts and harajuku peach kawaii uwu

52. Are you happy with your current looks? kinda wish i was a bit shorter but what can you do

53. If you could change/add something to your appearance - impossible or not - what would it be? bit shorter

54. Any tattoos or piercings? lol no PTSD

55. Do you get complimented often? by who? partner constantly, family haha are you kidding im australian so a friend’s version of showing affection is calling you a cunt and slapping your ass in public

56. Favourite aesthetic? all might

57. A popular trend that you dislike blocking because you disagree or find them distasteful. Ignoring all context to opposing thoughts and arguments. taking a personal feeling of disgust to mean something is evil. Blocking your ears to anything that isn’t a circlejerk of what you already think - and trying to isolate anyone who even just listens to something other then the noise of your sloppy dicks to have a thought of their own.

58. Songs you’re currently obsessed with? The Machine by Low Roar

59. Song you normally wouldn’t admit you like. why wouldnt i admit i like a song

60. Favourite genre? probably enka haha

61. Favourite artist/band/genre? probably enka haha oh and tatsuro yamashita

62. Hated popular songs/artists? why the hell would I hate something like a song? I hate aspects of the music industry as a whole I guess?

63. Put your music on shuffle and list first 5 which playlist they aren’t all together in one place

64. Can you sing or play any instruments? piano, saxophone... uh... partners good at making music and playing shakuhachi

65. Do you like karaoke? no.

66. Own any albums? yes? many?

67. Do you listen to radio? What stations? no. but triple J, ABC Jazz and Classical. sometimes they even play final fantasy and JRPG music on classical which is pretty neat. -

68. Favourite movie/series? can i make this about games because then the answer is Metal Gear Solid

69. Favourite genre of movies/books/etc ...shounen?

70. Your fictional crush/es if they’re over 40yrs old, male and happy and bubbily or grumpy and sad then there’s a big ol fat chance I wanna bone. Solid Snake from MGS4, All Might and pretty much anyone drawn by Tarou Madoromi.

71. Which fictional character is you? uh

72. Are you a shipper? List your otps, if so what does this even mean what language is this

73. Favourite greek god? idk hades seems chill

74. A legend from where you live that you like the story of Tjilbruke is funny and good. all Kaurna stories are good.

75. Do you like art? What’s your favourite work or artist? im in a big egon schiele mood atm.

76. Can you share your other social media? no i am incapable

77. Favourite youtubers? many

78. Favourite platform? not too high up. actually i like being a little lower than ground level in corners.

79. How much time do you spend on the internet? too much

80. What video games have you played? Which one’s your favourite? look i just want to say that MGS4 is the best one in the series and Death Stranding is phenomenally engaging.

81. Your favourite books (manga also counts) these are all so goddamn definitive how can I pick? Oh wait the answer is One Piece

82. Do you play board/card games? I play DnD atm and know 15 yr old rules to Yugioh

83. Have you ever been to a night marathon in cinema? that shit dosn’t happen here

84. Favourite holiday golden week coz its a week also easter because thats when all the glucose based sweets come back

85. Are you into dramas? what kind

86. Would you use death note, if you had one? no. thats called being a murderer.

87. What changes would you make in the world, no matter how impossible, if you had the power to? chill people out a bit. when people feel unsafe they get really depenfive and territorial and block their ears to everything, making in-and-out groups for themsevles that end up putting them in more harm.

88. Could you survive a zombie apocalypse? im disabled with a disabled partner. we arent funny sure we can survive normal everyday life when society is angled so sharply against us.

89. If you had to be turned into a paranormal being, what would it be? id like to be a mimi spirit

90. What would you want to happen to you after your death? spooky time

91. If you had to change your name, what would be your pick? toshinori yagi

92. Who would you switch your life with for a week? anyone healthy

93. Pick an emoji to be your tattoo that cursed one with the intense eyes and the hand

94. Write 3 things about yourself - only one of them must be true im me im not me im pee

95. Cold or hot? cold.

96. Be a hero or be a villain? both are distasteful ideas in reality

97. Sing everything you want to say or rhyme? i can’t do either partner speak sin bad puns and its hell, these both sound about equal

98. Shapeshifting or controlling time? shapeshifting. controlling time is eithe rmanipulative or lonely. shapeshifing is every other superpower at once.

99. Be immortal or be immune to everything aside from natural death? both are deeply upsetting ideas

100. ….. or …..? jiji or ossan? generally Jiji, but ossans can be lovely too.

#personal #stupid

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glitterblazercalum · 4 years

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seventeen questions, and a much lower number of people game! thank you to sam ( @tirednotflirting) and cam ( @haikucal ) for tagging me! love lives in the -am names <3

nickname: well,,, iba is a nickname to begin with. my best friend will try telling you that I wanted people to call me riri in fifth grade but she’s lying don’t listen to her

zodiac: libra sun/ virgo moon/ scorpio rising, and I finally have a tentative grasp on what this means thanks to mel! thank u mel I love u <3

height: like so tall. so so tall. if u consider 5′ 1 and a half tall

hogwarts house: this question keeps me up at night honestly. I’ve taken the full test twelve times and gotten slytherin six times and ravenclaw six times. I think I definitely used to be very identifiably slytherin but in one of my many existential crises over the topic I realized I’ve kinda lost some of my ambition,,, so uh... yeah let’s not get that deep. how about u all Perceive me instead,, do u think I’m more ravenclaw or slytherin?

last thing I googled: like cam, I always clear out my search history but I currently have a tab open for “can drones be used to deliver blood” bc I thought I was on to something but apparently this already exists and has been in use for a while :(((( not as innovative as I thought I was

song stuck in my head: nice to meet ya by niall horan,,, uh no explanation really

number of followers: 55 we are a baby blog here at glitterblazercalum headquarters

amount of sleep: ha. hahahaha. what a great joke. three and a half hours usually, although I try to be in bed for at least four-five hours. BUT when I get super duper tired, either physically or emotionally, I am able to pass the fuck out and sleep for like fifteen hours at once

lucky number: well I don’t think any number is lucky per se but my favorite number is 13 for two reasons: it’s the day I was born and I like to be contrary to the ppl who are like “oooh thirteen is unlucky” like bitch my sixteenth birthday was on friday the thirteenth in spooky month I guess I’m just too powerful for u

dream job: I’ll do u one better I’ll give you my entire career plan: first, I graduate a year early and get my master’s in the year that I save. next, I apply to law school, get in, and study intellectual property law and health policy. next, I become a kickass IP and health law lawyer. eventually, I will weasel my way into the supreme court and become the first muslim supreme court justice. but like, tomorrow I might decide I hate that plan and decide to become a surgeon or something idk

wearing: a shirt with obnoxiously flared sleeves I just keep whacking things by accident

favorite instrument: hmmm... probably piano? one of my best friends plays and one of my favorite memories from when we were a little younger is being at her house and letting her play me to sleep after I had been having a really bad day at home. honorable mention goes to any form of trumpet/ horn especially if it’s being played by jj from ajr <3

aesthetic: I have no idea what my aesthetic is I’m just going to do what bella did and list things I like: giant libraries late at night, neon lights bouncing off of my friends’ laughing faces, running across a room in stilettos, grand staircases and chandeliers, mosaic tiles in mediterranean houses, completely full legal pads with pages falling out, late night deep dives into random subjects, hearing my name announced for first place at debate tournaments, baking with my friends and it devolving into a competition for who can get the most flour and sugar on the others, bright laughter and twinkly smiles, curling up in a cozy armchair with the fire roaring when we’re snowed in, people talking to me about things they love and getting passionate and throwing hand gestures everywhere, people letting ME talk about things I’m passionate about, the split second of intense anticipation before the roller coaster shoots downwards, perfectly heading a soccer ball into the goal, watching the sunset and sunrise from my roof, and losing my voice after a debate tournament because I know that means I gave it my all.

favorite author: this is just a dumb variation of “favorite book” and I refuse to answer both on the basis that I CAN’T make decisions.

favorite animal noise: bro idk I guess a cat purring? I have very little experience with animals.

random: apparently when my little brother was born and I was first brought to meet him the first thing I did was ask the nurse who was in the room if we could return him

I have legitimately no idea who has or hasn’t done this I’m very sorry but my excuse is that I was avoiding tumblr anyways I guess I’ll tag @ashesonthefloor @cthlftv @calumcest @mashlums @blackbutterfliescal @ashtcnirwin and anyone else who wants to do it!! oh also @clumsyclifford bc cam’s right annoying u is fun <3

#tag games #about me #tagged

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skzshortcake · 3 years

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hey! i would like to get the ship thing too kk so basically aside from kpop i rlly like goth (like vampire and pirate aesthetics) and spooky things etc other than that i like museums and history and like conservative and restoration and learn new languages and mythology i also really into make up and fashion and art n poetry n mitski!!! im shy so don't rlly feel comfortable w pda. i like anime alot especially the untamed and i think im may be like the 'baby' of my group of friends??

hello! I ship you with seungmin!

I think whoever he ends up with will be one of two things, either very soft just like him, or literally exactly the opposite

and I think you’re kinda the opposite!

he totally hones in on you always being the baby (we know how he acts with jeongin) and takes any chance he can get to mess with you

he loves how your aesthetics crash, and wants as many pictures of it as possible

i’m talking like he wants to try to do your makeup (he does pretty well!) and dress up in halloween costumes together, but they’re completely the opposite

literally loves it so so much

wants to hear about anime all the time, he loves sitting with you and hearing you talk about your interests because he feels like he learns a lot about you and about what you’re talking about!

seungmin loves to learn, and I think you both would totally bounce off of each other with new knowledge all the time!

is totally fine with you not liking pda, he just wants you to be comfortable!

but he will also let you know that he’s there for you! probably through tapping you to try and get your attention only for him to stare at you then go back to what he was doing

but if you’re ever in need of some attention he’s very happy to give it to you!

“tell me more about that museum we went to, I think I missed that last part...”

y’all totally learn a language together!! couple goals!!

nicknames he calls you:

pumpkin, flower

a date you would go on:

shopping date!

mostly you two pretending to be like siblings who only want to mess with each other only for him to be very focused as he helps you pick out makeup, letting you test products on his hands. he really doesn’t care that his whole arm is covered in lipstick, he just wants you to be happy. seungmin will give you his opinion whenever you ask for it, he’s trying to be helpful I promise!

honorable mention: jisung

#from may!#skz ship #stray kids ship

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thirteen-jades · 4 years

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22, 29, 43, 45, 51, 56, 57, 60 (referring to video games), 71, 80, 96.

22. Favourite food & drink

I love meat. I did this sticky steak stir fry thing once that was wonderful. I should do that again. Orange chicken is really nice too, but just… juicy meaty meals in general are my favorites. Pretty much the only things I drink are water, lemonade (American), and apple juice. Mostly water.

29. What are your hobbies?

Writing, video games, and D&D, mainly. I do school/research stuff too but those aren’t really hobbies.

43. Describe your dream home

I don’t really think about this sort of thing much, to be honest. My apartment is small, basically undecorated, and built for one. I’d not mind living with or near friends, but I kinda like that. Maybe I should get around to decorating a little, but my living spaces tend to be spartan. Good news is that if those living with me want to decorate, I’ll rarely dispute it.

45. Your personality type

I guess “quiet nerd with an autistic bent and a Troubled Past” is probably a good wat to put it. People are a little stressful sometimes, and there’s some dark stuff in my personal history that colors my personality, but I do have friends I love deeply and have more or less recovered from the worst of it. So I can be pleasant, if a little grim sometimes, and I get really excited about the things I love, like physics and engineering and fiction.

51. How would you describe your style?

In practice? I haven’t bought new clothes in ages and literally still have shirts from middle school. I guess “comfy, low-key, and black” is probably mostly accurate. Ideally? Dramatic.

56. Favourite aesthetic?

Favorite is hard to say, as I have a great many aesthetics I hold dear, often in conflict with each other. I really like mechanical and kinda bulky stuff, but I don’t feel that really totally conveys the thing. Some of the mechs from Battletech are really great, and the Meklar from the MoO reboot. A lot of fantasy stuff is really nice too. Regal or royal looks are nice, if they’re not ostentatious, and big plant cities are lovely too. Cybernetics are excellent. Mashups are cool too, things like magical cybernetics, or plant creatures with mechanical components. “Unusual” eyes are one of my favorites, be they digital/computer/robotic, dragon/snake-slit, cat eyes, oddly colored, or what have you.

57. A popular trend that you dislike

I dunno if it’s a “popular trend”, but I don’t like how many people are prone to making sweeping generalizations of people they don’t like and attacking people for things that absolutely do not matter. I still staunchly disagree with e.g. making fun of Trump’s appearance, or mocking someone who happens to be both autistic and a neo nazi for their autistic traits.

60. Favourite genre? (Video Games)

Hard to narrow it down to one. I guess broadly speaking I like games with significant roleplaying options, but there’s a wide variety I love. Hard to find the common thread between things like Total War, Quake, Battletech, Code Vein/Dark Souls, and Shadowrun: Dragonfall.

71. Which fictional character is you?

Outside of some of my D&D characters, it’s hard to say, honestly. I feel like I struggle to find that many that I totally relate to, if perhaps because I often struggle to recognize the “main points” of my own characterization. If you’ve got any ideas though, either for what sort of a character I’d be or any that fit me, I’m always open to suggestions.

80. What video games have you played? Which one's your favourite?

I’ve played a lot of video games. Starcraft, XCOM, Battletech, Total Warhammer 2, Code Vein, Dark Souls, Minecraft, Shadowverse, Quake, Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005), Endless Legend, Civ 4, Transistor, Crypt of the Necrodancer, Deux Ex: Human Revolution, Doki Doki, Fallout 3/NV, Diablo, FTL: Faster Than Light, MoO 2 and the reboot, Metro 2033, Shadowrun Returns and Dragonfall, Skullgirls, Knights of the Old Republic, Starbound, Path of Exile… probably more, but I’m forgetting them offhand. It’s hard to pick a favorite; there’s been many I’ve loved dearly.

96. Be a hero or be a villain?

Spooky side character that knows things she shouldn’t, is ambiguously aligned for much of the story and works with the hero out of convenience. Over the course of the story it’s revealed that I have utterly alien goals and morality, but nonetheless try to avoid hurting people I don’t have to. Says something ominous right at the end of the story and vanishes into the night sky, hinting at some greater plot yet uncovered. By the time all’s said and done you’re still not sure whether I’m a good or bad guy, or what my deal even is/was at all. The place where I vanished from smells faintly of chemicals.

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theparanormalperiodical · 5 years

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A Short History Of Halloween

It’s the most wonderful timeeeee of the yearrrrrr.

Yep - it’s cold enough in the mornings to put on a jumper, but too hot for it as we reach lunchtime.

That can only mean one thing: October is officially here!

As we hurtle towards the spookiest day of the year, we prepare for the sugar-fest that is pulling on a polyester costume and failing to act your own age.

But pushing the various sexy costumes aside, and looking beyond the hyper kids and greedy teens, the history of Halloween is actually just as interesting as slapping on a Claire’s prosthetic to achieve that flawless zombie look.

(If that’s even possible.)

Ever wondered where trick-or-treating comes from?

What about the intricate historical cogs of time that gave birth to the tradition of dressing as a sexy cat? Or a sexy catholic schoolgirl? Or a just-as-troubling alternative?

And did you know that apple bobbing has an origin story set to rival most X-Men films?

No?

Don’t worry, my little ghoul - I’ve got ya covered.

Today’s post is going to take you through the basic-bitch history of Halloween, all the way up to it’s modern-day American influences, and look at some of the wacky traditions we do - and do not - celebrate.

So, whether you're getting ready for that partay, or settling in for a scary movie, buckle up.

Let’s get spooky.

It all starts with All Hallows’ Eve

Yes, we know Halloween is actually “All Hallow’s Eve”.

(And yes, we also know that The Exorcist is based on a true story.)

But today we are going to out-edge the edgy kids. We are gonna go all the way back to the beginning of Halloween.

And it starts here, with the Celtic festival of Samhain. Turns out, it wasn’t all that different from the celebrations we have today:

Samhain occurred annually on November 1st, and they believed that this night blurred the lines between the dead and the living. But you can keep your Robin Thicke references to yourself - Samhain meant more than the outdated lyrics of this hit; the blurred lines referred to the seasons, as well.

Essentially, the end of the summer and the start of the winter was literally a time of death.

And as they relied so heavily on the predictions made by druids – their ‘priests’ – they believed that the spirit realm could be entered during this time, and that the troubles soon to be experienced during the harsh winters could be foreseen.

To encourage contact with the deities and spirits that would help them prepare for the winter ahead, they had bonfires that would be used for sacrifices to the deities, and wore costumes to ward off ghosts.

Sound familiar?

And it was from these bonfires that they would relit their hearth fire, officially signalling the change in the seasons.

A bit like the pumpkin spice latte hitting the Cafe menus, again.

So, we’ve established the root of, like, the bestest day evah - but what makes Halloween so intriguing is how much it has been twisted to what we celebrate now.

Take the merging of Roman traditions with Samhain:

The Romans had this similar celebration - All Saint’s Day. This also occurred on November 1st and was considered a time to honour the saints, so naturally it included some of the Samhain traditions.

But it’s the evening before that we should be most interested in; the evening before All Saints Day was known formally as All Hallow’s Eve.

In less mystical terms this means ‘the eve of honouring all those that are holy’.

It was only when the Celts were finally conquered by the Romans that the true merging of the Roman and Celtic traditions occurred. But it was the collaboration of two other Roman festivals together with Samhain that set in place a celebration of the dead that would really create Halloween.

These two festivals were Feralia, which commemorated the death, and Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees. And so - just like bonfires and costumes witnessed at Samhain - another Halloween tradition was born:

The symbol of Pomona goddess was an apple, and it is believed that apple bobbing was been founded here, forging a link with today’s spookiest night of the year.

This new celebration was firmly set in place by Christianity’s domination overtime, and All Saints Day’s new date of November 2nd became a church-sanctioned holiday for celebrating the dead.

It’s ‘Murica That Makes Halloween

The USA - together with influences from its colonial era - really made Halloween what it is today.

And in some classic-geography-GCSE terms, is a brilliant case study for the development of the traditions that are still practiced today.

In the colonial era, All Hallow’s Eve wasn’t really celebrated - they were strict protestants, and this was a catholic holiday. But, just like the Samhain celebrations, they focused on the changing of the seasons.

For example, the main activities involved were play parties from which they celebrated the harvest and told stories of the dead.

But this all changed in the 19th century.

It was when the Irish migrants travelled to the USA that Halloween really began to take shape.

In fact, this is where it got its sugary coating.

Irish migrants brought over new traditions like costumes, and going from house to house to ask for money and food - you can thank the Irish for trick-or-treating.

Yet thanks to this tide of change which included a greater focus on the scarier aspects of the dead, there were attempts to remove the spookiness from this spooky holiday right up until the 1950s.

And so we turn up at the early 20th century, from which trick-or-treating was revived as a tradition, and it became a fun celebration of the potential ghosts and ghouls that could wander in the dead of the night, just like the one we all know and love today.

We’ve Heard The History - Let’s Talk Traditions

No discussion of my favourite holiday would be complete without discussing the twisted traditions that make this day quite so special

And we start with probably the most famous: ‘trick or treating’. It all started back when All Saint’s Day was the cool kid on the block.

In England in particular, All Soul’s Cakes were given out during the parades. But this wasn’t to partake in enjoying the sticky-sweet goodness that still dominates our celebrations; it had more of a charitable meaning back then.

These cakes were given out to the poor, but the cakes came with a condition: the receiver had to pray to the giver’s deceased relatives. This practice was even encouraged by the Church as it was an alternative to leaving out food and wine to bribe the spirits into not entering the home.

So, even at its core, Halloween combines my two favourite things: food and ghosts.

Thankfully, this is still central to our modern interpretation of October 31st.

Another modern tradition - or rather, the mascot for the spookiest night of the year - is the Jack O Lantern.

No, literally, that’s the picture on the Wikipedia page.

But carving pumpkins actually has a much darker origin story than just creating an aesthetically-autumnal candle holder.

The irish folk tale behind it goes like this:

A man trapped the devil in a tree and told him that he couldn’t claim his soul (classic saturday night, right?). However, when the man died, he wasn’t allowed into Heaven - turns out he wasn’t a very nice bloke. So, when he asked the devil if he could stay in the alternative dwelling of Hell, the devil threw a piece of coal at him in protest. He took that piece of coal and put it in a pumpkin, making the very first Jack O’Lantern. He used it to try and find his final resting place.

In true folk-tale fashion, other traditions also claim they were used to ward off spirits from the home, or that they represented the souls in purgatory which relates to All Saints Day.

Either way, it’s pretty damn deathy.

Like, it fits Halloween.

Nevertheless, some traditions have been lost to history - and for good reason.

Most of them are pretty out-dated, and centre around women finding their future partner which was all that really mattered back then. But if you're in need of ‘the one’ cause you are actually in a teen rom com, it’s time to buy some hazelnuts!

Oh and be a dorky-clumsy-totally-relatable-girl that’s not in the popular crowd and you see through that shit but have an obsession for the popular guy and you fall in love with him cause you’re just not like any other girl oh just fuck off.

Okay - back to the hazelnuts.

Grab a handful, and name them after your potential suitors. So, all the guys and/or gals you like.

Throw ‘em into the fire, and the one that doesn’t burn to ashes is the one!

Then again, in other cultures, the one that burns first is the one…

Well if you don’t trust that all you have to do is peel an apple.

Toss the peels over your shoulder, and it should show your future husbands initials. Or something less heteronormative. This is also another origin story for apple bobbing - the first to win was the first to get married.

#goals?

There we have it - the historic, the hellish, and the heteronormative.

Who doesn’t love Halloween?

So, now it’s time to hear what you think:

Are you ready to get your Samhain on?

And what tradition are you ready to bring back from the dead?

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falsewolf-a · 4 years

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GETTING TO KNOW THE MUN :

NAME : Just call me Sats NICKNAME : Sats / Fluffghost FACECLAIM : Kosuzu Motoori, from Touhou Project ~ Forbidden Scrollery PRONOUNS : She / Her HEIGHT : 5′5"-ish BIRTHDAY : June 7th AESTHETIC : Ghosts, folklore, & spooky things. libraries & old books. cottagecore and faeries. abandoned castles and sleepy towns. that sort of atmosphere. LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO : Dirty Palm - Oblivion (feat. Micah Martin) [NCS Release]

GETTING TO KNOW THE ACCOUNT :

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE ON THIS MUSE : She just kinda happened, i’m not actually sure what prompted it. Started playing Arknights and looking into the characters and story, and next thing I know I have a Crownslayer muse and she’s got me in a headlock.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ASPECTS OF YOUR CURRENT MUSE : Her character type is just one I’m actually quite fond of, though I admittedly don’t play it often - most of the villains I pick up are usually very morally gray, or they hold no capability to feel remorse about their actions, or they don’t think on a human morality scale. Crown, on the other hand, is just an angry teenager/young adult who desperately wants to be doing the right thing, but got so far off track from her original goal (or got mislead away from it) that it’s debatable whether or not she can find her way back to safer waters. She’s a villain, but she got a lot of potential with where she can go. That’s the aspect I really like about her.

WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING : Thinking about how the Arknights world setting works, and the conspiracy theories regarding the plotline is what keeps most of my inspiration going. In terms of things that help me get words onto paper, though, I typically just need the right soundtrack in the background to help things flow. With Crown specifically, I usually just listen to Aviator’s songs for a while and things sort themselves out.

FAVORITE TYPES OF THREADS : Most of my threads so far have been ‘A wild Reunion Leader has appeared!’ or haven’t had the chance to really take off into their own plots yet, so i’m not quite sure yet with Crown. But I do enjoy threads which go into her history and her wavering loyalties, or ones which force me to put her in interactions where she isn’t immediately at odds with whoever I’m interacting. Fight scenes are still going to happen, of course - I don’t normally get to write them, so I’m happy that I’m able to mess with them again.

BIGGEST STRUGGLE IN REGARDS TO YOUR CURRENT MUSE : Unfortunately for me, also fight scenes. Crown’s the type to fight first and ask questions later, so all of the Really Good Stuff is almost guaranteed to be locked behind at least one blatant fight scene or murder attempt, before other interaction options can open up or make themselves apparent. So the struggle is mainly to find a balance. Also finding time to write, but that’s less an issue with the muse and more with my low energy levels.

TAGGED BY : stole it from @witchofdoma

#⚔ OOC #crown's muse just kind of happened without me knowing #i'm still not sure where she came from #but i also do enjoy threads which break away from canon too #things like Rhodes actually succeeding in catching her #or possibly recruiting her #things like that take time to set up though so i haven't had much chance to dabble in them

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metalgearkong · 4 years

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MediEvil 2019 - Review (PS4)

10/28/19

Developed by Other Ocean Emeryville / Sony Computer Entertainment, released October 2019

It has risen again! The original MediEvil from 1998 is one of my favorite games of all time, and one of the games I have completed the most. Like other games from the PS1 era, I discovered MediEvil on a demo disc and replayed it constantly. I loved the Nightmare Before Christmas aesthetics and music, and liked that it stared a cowardly bumbling skeleton. The late 90′s was a time of experimentation for 3D action/adventure games, and while some people hold Ocarina of Time or Super Mario 64 as their favorites of the genre, MediEvil has always been my personal favorite. MediEvil II released two years later, but lost a lot of its appeal for me because it took place in Victorian London instead of the graveyards and spooky locations of the original. MediEvil: Resurrection was made in 2005 for the PSP, but was more of a re-imagining of the original game, and not a true remake.

I had heard about MediEvil being remade yet again a couple years ago, but tried to have tempered expectations, and not buy into what could amount to be rumors. I imagined it would be akin to a big screen version of MediEvil: Resurrection, or at least the developers would butcher the original game. Last year was when I saw the trailer for this MediEvil remake, and I felt more confident in it. While most people were anticipating big triple-A or franchise games for 2019, my sights and hopes were dead set on this. Finally, after all this time of waiting, MediEvil 2019 has released exclusively for the PS4, and I couldn’t be happier with the final product. Other Ocean Emeryville has created a deeply loyal and extremely faithful remake of the original game I cherish so much, but I feel like only true fans will be able to truly appreciate it for the accomplishment it is.

Before I talk about the game proper, I have to elaborate on the unexpected odyssey it took to actually get the game going. Not only do I have to make a three hour round trip to the nearest Gamestop to get a copy, the game had to immediately download a day one patch: version 1.01. This update was a massive 16GB, and with my super slow mountainous wi-fi speed, my PS4 predicted it would take at least 50 hours. There was no option to begin the game without this update. I was floored. It put me in a state of blue-balled depression and denial. So I took my TV, PS4, and all the necessary cords, and physically hooked in my PS4 to my work’s ethernet cable in a public building, hoping no one would disturb it. The estimated time dropped to a meager four hours, and it made me feel a lot better. Ironically, my PS4 only realized I didn’t have enough storage space to download the update, and somewhere along the line it quit. Thankfully, it let me play after giving up.

Expectations mean a lot, and leading up to this MediEvil releasing, I intentionally did not do a lot of research on the game in order to discover it in person as I was playing. I didn’t realize this was a fully committed remake of the original. MediEvil: Resurrection disappointed me because it changed a bunch about the game and left out a lot of my favorite levels. 2019′s MediEvil recreates every inch of the original game with modern graphics. I was so thrilled I can’t even describe how cool it was to see one of my favorite games of all time with a new coat of skin, especially because I never thought THIS game would be chosen to be remade. Not only that, but the game uses the same exact audio for most of the dialog; each and every gargoyle head and character Dan meets plays the same audio as I’ve had engraved in my skull for over twenty years, only with new character models and more elaborate animations.

The developers even used the same music for each level, only re-recorded it with only small differences or flourishes. Even insignificant things like textures on a doorway or on the ground were recreated in 3D to look just like they did. I would have been perfectly okay with the developers simply using modern graphics and textures to remake certain pieces of architecture or focal points in this game, but no, every corner of Gallowmere represented the original locations, and I constantly had to pick my jaw off the floor (no offense Dan). Cinematics also play out exactly the same, with the same camera angles and movements. Part of me thinks about how maybe Other Ocean Emeryville could have taken these short cinematics sprinkled throughout the game and elaborated slightly on lore, but that would veer dangerously close to a “re-imagining” territory, and I’m just thankful everything is kept so faithful in the end.

The banished necromancer Zarok has raised an army of the dead to conquer the realm of Gallowmere. Unwittingly, Zarok also brought back to life Sir Daniel Fortesque, King Peregrine's captain of the militia, who perished embarrassingly years prior in an earlier battle against Zarok and his armies. After Fortesque’s death, fables, songs, and legends told of his false bravery and battlefield accomplishments, but now he has the opportunity to live up to his own mythical status as the hero of Gallowmere. I’ve always loved this story, wherein the bad guy accidentally raises the very hero who would thwart him. I’ve always loved Dan because he’s so unlike most knights and heroes. He has to live up to his own reputation, and prove those wrong who know what truly happened. We play as Dan and travel from the hum drum graveyards of Gallowmere all the way through more exotic levels such as a pumpkin gorge filled with demonic pumpkins, crystal caverns filled with Minotaur-like monsters, an enchanted forest containing a demonic prison, and much more.

The first advantage to the modernization of this game was being able to see the Hilltop Mausoleum (the 2nd level) from The Cemetery (the 1st level). It would make sense if you had an expansive cemetery, and the very next level, adjacent to that level, had a massive building on top of a hill, and you could see it from far away. As a PS1 game I’d never expect to see something like that, but with this remake, they had the care to include things such as this, which only helps the world feel that much more real and connected. The controls and mechanics are nearly the same as the original as well, only made slightly more convenient. Dan can still equip a one-handed weapon and a shield, and switch between weapons in a menu. He can block attacks, but only as long as the shield’s HP holds out, until you need to find a new one. Dan has all the same moves as the original, but the more free-form camera makes the game a bit more convenient to play by making platforming and seeing things easier.

As you slay enemies in each level, you fill a chalice, and bringing back a full chalice to the end of each respective level grants you a visit to the Hall of Heores before the next level begins; this world’s version of Valhalla, where the most accomplished heroes of history drink, feast, and arm wrestle for eternity. A side goal of this game is to collect the chalice from every level so Dan can also become a member of this ethereal warrior’s afterlife (twenty in all). This is something I struggled with as a kid, but in the past many years I’ve always gone out of my way to make sure Sir Fortesque gets into the Hall of Heroes where he rightfully deserves to be. Sometimes items can be found in a level which are to be used in entirely different levels, something the game only hints at. Case in point are the Ant Caves, which is a maze-like level hidden within a level that is completely optional to complete (but not if you want all twenty chalices).

Some of the original game’s drawbacks could be regarded as similar drawbacks for this remake. Criticisms like haphazard combat and imprecise platforming are somewhat the same case here, but I would argue that’s half the point playing as a gangling hero who hasn’t yet earned his stripes. I honestly can’t take an unbiased position on some of the game’s more objective problems, not only because I’m such a fanatic and have played the original so many times, but also because it’s impossible for me to have a fresh perspective on the game. I can’t tell you how hard the puzzles are or how tough the game is simply because I’ve played the original so many times, I’ve gotten used to any perceived problems and solved all the puzzles so long ago. Reviews for this game seem to be lukewarm, and it’s an opinion I can’t share because I’m so impressed by how faithful one of my all time obscure favorites has been recreated.

In fact the very few changes the developers did make I could count on one hand. Mostly these changes have been made to a few of the game’s boss fights. Most of the bosses have always been very easy, especially compared to today’s obsession where bosses are meant to be extremely punishing. I can honestly say the changes are for the better and improve on these boss fights. For example the fight with the captain of the ghost ship has been improved, allowing you to manual aim a canon before firing it at him, rather than running back and forth between two fixed canons, hoping one of your shots hit the captain as he paces back and forth. Another addition are the “Lost Souls” which are hidden collectibles, one in each level that can be found by Sir Dan. This basically makes you replay every level to find the Lost Souls, as they only appear once you’re already near the end of the game. I can’t say I was motivated to find them, at least not right now, since it appears to be a shallow fetch-quest.

Besides getting the game booted in the first place, I did a have a few technical problems while playing the game. These are probably because the version 1.01 patch never actually downloaded and installed, and I may have been experiencing what the developers were trying to fix. One example was a door not opening once I had defeated all the enemies in the room, effectively trapping me there forever, forcing me to restart the level. The problems were mainly things such as this, and I bet I’m the only person in the world who had to complete the game from beginning to end raw without the day one patch. Otherwise the game ran great, and looks good as Hell.

I’m so glad Other Ocean Emeryville didn’t try to subvert expectations or put a clever twist on certain things, leaving it as is. MediEvil 2019 constantly impressed me, and I don’t think I’ve felt this much fan service and satisfaction since the Shadow Moses chapter of Metal Gear Solid 4 from 2008. The music, dialog, weapons, level design, aesthetics, enemies and controls have been painstakingly remade, giving this cult classic an impressive new look. Its the restrictive nature of the developer’s design philosophy I appreciate the most; this is simply a game for the fans, and very obviously by the fans. MediEvil was my most anticipated game of 2019 and I am deeply satisfied and surprised about how well it turned out. Annoying day one patch download aside, I had an incredible time experiencing this remake. While some gameplay flaws might still exist, and those who don’t already love the original may not see it in the same level of reverence, this was a big payoff for me and I’m sure other dedicated fans feel the same. Thank you Other Ocean Emeryville, this has been a wonderful gift.

9/10

#otheroceanemeryville #other ocean emeryville #medievil #ps4exclusive #ps4 exclusive #1998 #2019 #cult classic #remake #sir daniel forestque #fortesque #sirdanielfortesque #excellent #brilliant #faithful

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thetygre · 6 years

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30 Day Monster Challenge 2 - Day #19: Favorite Minions/Henchmen

1. Minions (Overlord [Video Game])

There is only one creature we call ‘Minion’ in this house, and it is the Minions from Overlord. (The game, not the anime.) The Minions are the perfect… well, minions. They’re design is mostly goofy, but there’s also something kind of horrible to them; they’re like somebody threw an imp, a spider monkey, and a goblin in a sack and didn’t open it up again until the screaming stopped. Those buggy yellow eyes, the hunched backs, the crooked tails, the shrill voices; this is what pops into my head when I think of what an evil minion is supposed to be like. They are utterly and totally devout to their master; they have one purpose in life, and that is to serve you. They think absolutely nothing of throwing themselves into a forge just to upgrade your weapons or taking on a monster just because you tell them to.

Watching them swarm over a cyclops like a nest of army ants is always fun, but that hivemind mentality shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of individual. The Minions are kind of precursors to the uruks from Shadow of Mordor; the longer they live and the more fights they survive, the more unique they become. They’re given names and titles, and they start gathering weapons and armor. It’s never made clear what exactly the Minions are in Overlord, but the implication isn’t that an Overlord chooses them; they choose the Overlord. Without the Minions, and Overlord is just some spooky adventurer in a suit of armor. The Minions make the man, and the fact that you need them as much as they need you is a pretty interesting power dynamic.

2. X-49 (Samurai Jack)

Just… do I really have to say anything? It was one of the best episodes in Samurai Jack, one of the best animated series of all time. And the music and the writing and the cinematography and oh god it’s all coming back at once

3. Igor (Young Frankenstein)

There never was an Igor in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; he’s a fabricated character at least partially concocted from Edgar Allan Poe’s Hop-Frog that somehow wormed himself into horror mythology. And honestly, thank goodness for that or we wouldn’t have had Marty Feldman’s fantastic performance for Young Frankenstein. Feldman looks like he was born for the role; his exophthalmos was a problem he dealt with his entire life, but Igor is just one example of how he incorporated his condition into his comedy personas. Igor is a good comedic counterpart to Gene Wilder’s Frankenstein in a classic double-act kind of way. Where Wilder’s Frankenstein is driven to escape his destiny or conform to it, Feldman’s Igor is committed to his role from the beginning, with no real perspective on it in the grand scheme of things. Igor undercuts Frankenstein’s deliberate melodrama to remind the audience that it’s all a joke.

4. Kobolds (Dungeons and Dragons)

Kobolds are one of the greatest success stories in tabletop roleplaying monsters. Kobolds have been in Dungeons and Dragons since the beginning, but they spent 1st and 2nd edition as basically another kind of goblin. Outside a few rare exceptions, kobolds were just an adventurer’s in-between step as they transitioned from clearing out rats in cellars to goblins in caves. For 3rd edition, the designers felt they needed to give kobolds something; a hook, a feature, a raison d’etre. So the design team though, “What if the littlest monsters had dreams about being the biggest? What if kobolds thought they were dragons?” The rest is history; kobolds became dragon minions, cultists who firmly believe that they are descended from the great wyrms they worship. Inside ever little kobold beats the heart of a mighty dragon, and their pluck and determination pushes them to reach for heights most humanoid races never even dream of. Kobolds are not only great examples of how to make a monster interesting from a game design perspective, but also of how endearing characters can be when you give them goals.

5. Pleiades (Overlord [Anime])

It always bothers me when evil overlords leave their castle staff of their minions list. A great villain should have their power displayed in everything around them, from their captains to their cooks. That’s why Ainz Ooal Gown’s Pleiades are so great; the castle maids for an evil fortress, each on is an individual fighter with her own superpowers. Following organization rules, each of the maids is also a monster; werewolves, shapeshifting oozes, a sentient swarm of insects, etc. And that’s the kind of creativity and attention to detail I love to see in an evil overlord’s forces. Look at where there isn’t a superpowered minion, and say, “No, this will not do. More evil.”

6. Hunchbacks (Castlevania)

I remember that my mind was blown when I finally realized the ‘fleamen’ from Castlevania were supposed to be hunchbacked Igors. While I was kind of disappointed that bizarre insect men hybrids, I am still happy that Castlevania didn’t neglect a favorite horror trope. Castlevania actually has a pretty unique staff; undead maids, zombie butchers, a plague doctor groundskeeper, and skeleton butlers. But it wasn’t until the Lords of Shadow games that the hunchbacks started being explored. One of the good things about Lords of Shadow was the implication that Castlevania itself is alive; the castle has always existed, and can’t even really be fully pulled through to our world. When the castle needs repairs, though, someone to repair it and expand it, it summons the hunchbacks out of nowhere. The hunchbacks are tied to the castle; they’re like cells in its body. They might know more about Castlevania itself than even Dracula, but they aren’t letting on. Their only job is to serve their master, whoever or whatever it might be.

7. Maleficent’s Goblins (Sleeping Beauty)

Maleficent’s goblins are little bundles of medieval monstrosity with enough character to be charming. They’re like the Minions, where I honestly can’t imagine them existing without a master. It wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out they were just demons conjured up by Maleficent from her firepit. The odds and ends of medieval armor and weaponry on top of their gargoyle aesthetic makes me think of very early Tolkien, like the first covers for The Hobbit and Return of the King. These little guys were the forerunners to orcs, uruk-hai, parademons, and every other evil monster army. Sometimes I still wish we could go back to minions like these.

8. Lurch (Addams Family)

The quintessential creepy butler. I feel like Lurch parallels Marty Feldman’s Igor in some pretty interesting ways. They’re both essentially half a joke, part of a comedy routine that requires someone else to land the punchline. The difference is that while Igor undermined Frankenstein to lighten the mood, Luch is deadly serious to contrast the Addams’ playfulness. Lurch wasn’t just a straight-man; he was a brick wall that you could throw anything off of. To be honest, I always kind of wondered what exactly Lurch was; I never really thought of him as human. My favorite theories are either that he was a flesh golem (since he was clearly based off Karloff’s Frankenstein), a homunculus grown for the family and passed down through generations, or just some really tall guy in a suit.

9. Dwergi (Van Helsing)

The Dwergi in Van Helsing have an unnecessarily cool design for what amounts to being Dracula’s grunts. The goggles, spines, and full leather outfits make me think of aliens or something that would be working for Clive Barker’s Cenobites. I can’t help but think of the ‘jawas’ that were through the gate in Phantasm. But I think that I love the Dwergi most as concepts for evil dwarves; ‘dwergi’ most likely derives from ‘dvergar’, a German word for dwarf. There are even evil dwarves in Dungeons and Dragons named duergar and derro. And that connections opens up so many possibilities for me. Imagine a dwarven sub-race mutated to be classical Igor characters, or adventurers encountering derro dressed all in mad scientist gear underground. The Dwergi have hidden depths when you know where to look.

10. Stormtroopers (Star Wars)

Out of the standard henchmen armies, Stormtroopers are still my favorite. Stormtroopers are up there with Red Shirts in terms of incompetence and mortality rates. Every now and then some random Stormtrooper manages to stand out and look like a badass, but even they usually have a lifespan of however long until the heroes arrive. I’ve heard some people argue that the humanizing elements of Stormtroopers, the way they talk about their day or are just trying to do a job, makes the very Nazi-coded Empire too sympathetic. But I would argue the opposite; the human aspects of the Stormtroopers make it clear how actually farcical the whole Empire is. The Stormtroopers aren’t some elite kill-force, they’re bumbling idiots. Whatever brutal efficiency they’re ascribed usually happens off-screen, and it quickly gets drowned out by the chorus of Wilhelm screams heard while trooper after trooper dies ridiculously. The Stormtroopers make it clear how fascism doesn’t raise the individual up but uses them as a disposable resource. The Stormtroopers as human characters make the Empire look inept, not empowered.

#30 Day Monster Challenge 2 #30 Day Monster Challenge #overlord #samurai jack #star wars #addams family #dungeons and dragons #long post

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squatlord-draws · 6 years

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Oh dude I'd love to hear you talk about vulcan chara! I don't really know much about star trek but I still dig this au

i debated on them being cardassian b/c the smile and duplicitous nature, plus i fucking love garak, and i could just rip off garak w/ chara to be totally honest, because FUCK that’d be so fucking good

but that meant drawing a cardassian a lot so fuck that lmao

a lot of it has to do with considering how i write chara, how chara appears in game, and elements of chara i’ve skipped over to not be constantly mired in their more hateful traits. as it is now, i almost always write a chara who has gone through an entire reconciliation process off screen, which involves them being happier, and helps them to be far more familiar with the people around them.

it’s self indulgent, but it’s fun.

however, it is more within the game canon for them to have a more subdued personality. they can be goofy and make bad jokes, but they also have a kind of dry, deprecating wit about them. that mostly goes out the window when they are in the middle of a murder run. they become far more withdrawn.

so that’s where we start with vulcan chara.

i wanted them to be subdued. highly motivated toward a rather perverse goal in a way they perceive to be ‘logical’. a person who can make biting remarks, who is emotionally detached from any action they take (or are made to take). i could have made them human, but i like the idea of chara always being an alien within their adopted home. in this instance, they are quite literally alien, having only been partially raised on vulcan before being adopted by the dreemurr family.

they weren’t taken from vulcan for a particularly happy reason.

i especially like the idea of chara being put into a situation where they can take a cultural idea like ‘logic’ to its most ideological extremes, like they did in the game, to some horrifying results. i’ve always felt this was a flaw that chara shared with toriel, an almost inherited trait of “eschews ideas so far that there are no other alternatives” . it’s one of my favorite aspects of these characters -- a loathing they can have for certain ideas, but the unwillingness to actually change or confront these issues.

within the vein of ‘subdued chara traits’, i think one of the less appreciated aspect of chara is the fact they quote obscure japanese novels in game canon. it’s all spooky and for aesthetic, but ive never been able to get past this idea of a kid who read, like, old books translated from a foreign language. it’s so WEIRD. they like reading obscure things enough for it to be what they go to quote when killing two people. that, paired with the genuine excitement they get over realizing what a water sausage is, it dont think it goes against their nature to cast chara as a species that has almost exclusively been portrayed as inquisitive and well read. chara is in game a huge fucking nerd so ofc vulcan chara is too. their room is probably littered w/ books about martyrs throughout history, the iconography of demons across intergalactic species, and, dare i say it, naruto?

i like them being vulcan since vulcans harbor a great deal of shame about their emotions, and their relationships… i have always approached chara as having deep shame for feeling things, so they already had that in common with vulcans in general. i like them being vulcan for the fact you’d think it would help assuage their god complex, yet instead reinforces their megalomaniacal tendencies for some very specific story reasons im gonna keep to myself for now.

i like them being vulcan because it gets rid of their smile, which is a shitty place for chara to be.

in general, i dont really write them all that different than how i write possessed frisk. the circumstances surrounding them is a lot different than the ones in game, but i try to have elements run parallel, and i dont really want to make them an entirely differently personality. i like how chara acts in game. i like how i try to emulate that in my own comics. i like them being smug, and a genuinely dangerous person, because i like them trying to be just a little less shitty (if at all possible).

also if they’re vulcan everyone they’ve ever loved is going to die and leave them behind because they live so much longe so lmao

#not an art post #ask

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noxian-rose · 7 years

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tagged by: no one, i stole it from @general-darius :^)

name/nickname? Lily/Luna

how old are you? 18 going on to 19 haha.

relationship status?

what are you talented at?

i suppose you can say i’m good with archery , writing (of course) , somewhat in art, and learning languages here and there. i’m also fond of playing the piano u w u

what is a big goal you are working towards (or have already achieved)?

hopefully getting my degree in computer science and going somewhere from there, and finally learning how to juggle multiple blogs at the same time :^)

what is your aesthetic? dark, spooky, and overall macabre shit ™ but i’m also a huge sucker for cute things.

do you collect anything? lily, a personal collector of cute plushies and pretty journals that i never use.

what is a topic you’re always up to talk about?

philosophy, art, writing, history, deeper things in life ™ , spoopy scary things, memes

what’s a pet peeve of yours?

people :) using :) repetitive :) words :) in sentences :) , loud noises , huge crowds , writing and art blocks

worst thing you’ve ever eaten/tasted? can’t honestly remember LOL

favorite place? my room, bookstores and libraries, a park alone. tagging: anyone who wants to do it really but @ionian-storm-chaser , @noxianmercy , @deadnotdull , @crownvowed

#(in a blink..ooc)#hiding in the shadows | ( mun.)

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sandytree1 · 5 years

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youtube

I wonder what inspired this games; where the hell did they get their ideas?? What world did this imagery escape from? Little Big Planet level designers, WW2 pile of shoes, Coraline, Spirited Away gluttons and chase scene, waves cradle the ship back and forth, they were considering adding storm to this effect but worried about making the player too sea sick, Limbo and Inside, Alice of Wonderland bookshelfs,

What people behind the game has expressively cited as their inspiration is: Nightmare on Elm Street, Tim Burton films, Stephen King: The Dark Towers, City of Lost Children, Alien Isolation, Heart of Darkness.

Little Nightmares, a dark whimsical tale that will confront you with your childhood fears. Help Six escape The Maw – a vast, mysterious vessel inhabited by corrupted souls looking for their next meal. As you progress on your journey, explore the most disturbing dollhouse offering a prison to escape from and a playground full of secrets to discover. Reconnect with your inner child to unleash your imagination and find the way out!

Simple, to the point, leaves plenty to the imagination.

Christer Johansson is credited as lead artist and level artist in the game, but I couldn’t find much on him otherwise on the web.

3D artists Kristofer Ling og Sebastian Bastian Claesson. Technical artist: Ella Svahm. Additional artists and animators: Andreas Karlsson, Robert Calinescu, Petrus Johansson, Vykintes Kardailis, Erik Eneback, Marie Dahlen.

Narrative designer: David Mervik. Lead AI designer: Hilda Liden. Designers: Matthew Compher, Andreas Palmgren, Simon Rosenkötter, Björn Sunesson. Additional designers: Daniel Dalebjork, Viktor Lidang.

Per Bergman (art director): After wrapping up my work on LittleBigPlanet 3 at Tarsier Studios, I got the chance to join the pre-production of this game (called Hunger at the time) due to my previous experience with Unreal Engine 4. At this point I got to experiment with scripting components enabling a faster level design workflow as well as having input on the game’s design on a more fundamental level. https://anders-bergman.squarespace.com/little-nightmares/

Jonas Steinick Berlin (concept artist, level artist) has worked on Amnesia: Dark Descent and Justine before. He drew initial sketches for the game. Think I found some of his work here, but couldn’t find much else online. The concept art comes bundled with the game itself in the Extras section. See them all here.

Little Nightmares minner deg på hvordan det var å være redd som barn. Tenk på monstrene under senga. Stygt men vakkert; grotesk.

Gustaf Heinerwall worked as an environment artist, taking care of 3D modeling and environment visuals like scene layout, composition, effects and lighting. He then did the creative direction for the DLC Secrets of the Maw bundle. Since 2018 he’s been associative creative director at Tarsier Studios in Malmö, Sweden. He studied Game and Interactive media design at Blekinge Institute of Technology: game design methodology, 2D and 3D graphics, level design, game history, game aesthetics, cultural studies. LinkedIn He was credited as level artst and UI designer in the game itself. See photos of the game UI here.

The figures you encounter in Little Nightmares are grotesque. Disproportioned and baggy in places they shouldn’t be, the way they look is one thing, but it’s the way they move that really clinches the deal. Their staggering, shuffling and lumbering captures the flavour of the Czech stop-motion cartoons I spent a great deal of my childhood feeling unnerved by. They’re great.

The animators Marcus Ottvall (lead animator) and Mattias Göransson (animator) and some animation by Patrik Johansson (cinematic artist) has said in an interview with fz.se that they consciously steered away from “perfect” animation as seen in Pixar movies, but instead bet on crooked and stuttering movement inspired by stop motion works, to heighthen the horror aspect of the game. They mention the following as sources of inspiration: Nightmare on Elm Street, Japanese horror, Resident Evil, Silent Hill. They say they gathered a huge collection of works to find out what made characters so creepy/crummy/nasty.

Resident Evil and Silent Hill made use of slow controls which made it sometimes too difficult to reach their goals, which they say they tried to keep away from. So instead of dumbing down the controls, they tried doing the opposite: the player’s movements should be very responsive and tight. Partly to avoid frustration and partly to highlight the MC’s strenght as a small and quick. The enemies’ animation became a contrast to that, even when some movements made the animation extra complicated.

Asger Kristiansen (lead designer) from Denmark says in an interview with gamerslounge.dk that a challenge has been making sure the whole team had the same understanding of the project has been a big task. Now with their own IP, Tarsier Studios had the freedom to adjust the property. They also made 4 different iterations of the opening scene. They decided to use Unreal 4 which is a ripe product. This meant they among other things has used a visual programming language to test things out.

Even if it can seem like a horror game at first glance, it’s actually a suspense adventure style. The game is meant to surprise and instil discomfort, without being decisively spooky. We show an area where the camera consciously doesn’t reveal too much. This encourages players to explore and create their own image of what is happening there. As the game is completely without dialog, sound is an especially good device to convey a holistic impression of what’s going on.

How do you approach things when you’re building the fantastic atmosphere that Little Nightmares contains? It’s mostly about how our art director dreams up large parts of our game worlds. He’s a strange man who sits on so much inccredibly fantastic design. Our audio guys also have a lot to do with how we build our atmospheres and moods too. We put a lot of emphasis on sounds in our games. (Source: Gamreactor.se interview)

Henrik Larsson says in an interview with Gamreactor.se it’s difficult to say where the inspiration comes from, as there’s 50 people who’s been playing video games for over 25 years, and who all use inspiration from hundreds of games, movies and books. Personally he loves Tim Burton’s movies, Stephen King’s The Dark Towers, City of Lost children, and games like Alien Isolation and Heart of Darkness.

See Tarsier’s own site on the game here.

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plenilune · 7 years

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tagged by @saintapathis!

How old are you? twenty-six. dear God. What’s your current job? nearly everything you can do on the floor and on the register at Michael’s Crafts. What are you talented at? irreverently recapping things like the history of MKULTRA or Jane Eyre. analysing media. surviving. decorative clutter. sitting in chairs incorrectly in new and inventive ways. Instagram. thrift store shopping. pancakes. What is a big goal you are working toward (or have already achieved)? get well(er). go to school someday. make art again. (achievement unlocked: LIVE IN OWN HOME?????) What’s your aesthetic? hot queer punk Lorraine Warren? abandoned Victorian houses filmed on bad 90s tv cameras? that one corner of St Marks Place with the eroding angel statue whose face has been repainted by street artists? folk music played by grimy glampunks? Addams Family Values but also Whip It? Un semaine de bonte? Tom Waits? Time-Life’s Mysteries of the Unknown and also the tv commercials for Time-Life’s Mysteries of the Unknown? idk, “spooky but also cosy, like curling up in a faded armchair in your ruined family home while the wind howls but pale sunlight falls across the book in your lap and your hand, with impeccably black-painted nails and intricate silver rings and linework tattoos, and there’s a fireplace and cats and mysterious portraits and artifacts covering the walls”. Do you collect anything? Doc Martens. artifacts. mugs and teacups, but that’s sort of just being a person. does “weird thrifted trinkets” count as a collection? X-Files memorabilia? weird jewellery? neuroses? states lived in? dog hair? What’s a topic you always talk about? DID THIS PIECE OF STORYTELLING MEDIA WORK OR NOT WORK HERE IS WHY HERE IS HOW LET ME ANALYSE THIS CHARACTER’S DECISIONS BOTH DOYLISTICALLY AND WATSONIANLY ALSO LOOK AT THE INFLUENCES THAT WENT INTO HOW THIS SHOT WAS FRAMED AND WHY THIS SENTENCE IS WORDED THIS WAY. also: cryptids/aliens/ghosts/weird history/urban legends/media-as-cultural-myth. also: dumb stuff my dog has done. also: politics discussed through extremely black humour as coping mechanism. (Jo, is there anything you don’t discuss through a filter of incredibly black humour? UH.) What’s a pet peeve of yours? customers who have that thirty-two cents and spend fifteen minutes digging through their wallet to get that EXACT CHANGE as though this is somehow important. also, SHALLOW LAZY READINGS OF MEDIA. (alternately, shallow lazy readings of social justice theory.) Good advice to give? listen to people. make compassion a practise -- but use it wisely. compassion does not mean “both sides to every story are equally valid and nobody is wrong and both sides are always on equal footing”. it means: find the person who’s being hurt and fight for them. What are three songs you’d recommend? AT TOTAL RANDOM, “Hopeful Hearts”, Sarah Slean. “Famous Monsters”, Ford Theatre Reunion. “O Tu Illustrata”, Hildegard von Bingen. bonus: “White Squall”, Stan Rogers, “Dancing Close Again (In Karin’s Warm Kitchen”), Linford Detweiler.

#about me #the diary

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philcoulsonismyhero · 7 years

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I got tagged in an ask meme! I got tagged twice, and I’m lazy, so I’m not going to come up with my own questions or tag anyone, but if you want to answer these questions then go for it and say I tagged you!

Tagged by @hanchewie (Thanks!)

1. Do you have a favorite book? (Or book series?)

I have A Lot of favourite books, but the first series that comes to mind is the Scarecrow series by Matthew Reilly. The best technically-military action thrillers I’ve ever read, with ridiculous actions sequences and some excellent characters.

2. What is your favorite type of weather?

Cool, clear and bright. (And by ‘cool’ I mean in the vicinity of 8-12 degrees C. Not cold enough to actually be cold, and still well below 15 degrees, which my family designates as “officially warm enough for ice cream”.)

3. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate. I don’t actually drink coffee or tea.

4. What would be your dream job?

Does Starfleet science officer count?

5. Do you prefer writing in pen or pencil?

Pen.

6. Cats or dogs? (Or neither?)

I love dogs, but cats.

7. What character(s) do you most relate to?

Oh boy. This is a complicated question. Because the truthful answer is Eobard-Thawne-as-Harrison-Wells and also Eobard just in general, and it’s a weird concept relating to a villain. But the way that Eobard processes the world is very relatable, and I’m 110% sure that he’s autistic in a very similar way to me. Imagine Eobard’s personality, but attached to a much better set of morals and with fewer reasons to be angry, and that’s pretty much me. It’s marginally spooky.

8. Do you read more fiction or nonfiction?

Definitely fiction. I should probably get in the habit of reading more science literature, though.

9. Do you have a favorite holiday?

Not particularly.

10. What was/is your favorite subject in school?

Look. I was that kid that loved school. I did six subjects in a year where you’re only supposed to do five, because I liked maths, English, chemistry, physics, history and Latin too much to consider dropping one of them. I don’t think I could pick a favourite from that list.

11. What are some of your favorite music artists?

I’m not generally big on artists. I’ll like specific songs, sure, but I’m really picky about lyrics so it’s rare that I can genuinely claim to like an artist properly. That said, there’s this band called The Mechanisms who do sci-fi re-tellings of myths and legends and fairytales, and I’m very fond of them.

Tagged by @squireofgeekdom (Thanks!)

1. Favorite place in your home?

My bed, to be honest. But my bed back home is really cool, because it’s a loft bed, ie. basically a top bunk without the bottom bunk. Yup, that’s right. I’m 20 years old and I still climb a ladder to get into bed. It’s great.

2. Is there a book you’d love to see adapted into a tv show/movie/play?

There’s loads of them. But the first one that comes to mind is for slightly petty reasons, and that’s Star Wars: The Approaching Storm by Alan Dean Foster. I first read it more than ten years ago, and it’s always been one of favourite Star Wars EU novels. I’d love to see an animated adaptation of that story in the style of The Clone Wars, but only if it’s faithful to the characters. Because (and this is why this is slightly petty) it’s got Barriss Offee in it, and she was always one of my favourite EU Jedi. In fact, I’d call her a childhood hero. So I was Deeply Angry when the version of her that showed up in TCW was only her in name only, and was not only the wrong age and had a different personality, but also lacked literally everything I loved about the character. So I want to see her done justice in animated form, and adapting this book (which is awesome, and also has Obi-Wan, Anakin and Luminara as main characters) would be a great way of doing that.

3. Country you’d most like to visit?

New Zealand for the scenery, America for the friends.

4. What’s something you’re really excited for this upcoming year?

All the superhero TV shows and a whole bunch of movies.

5. Do you have a favorite piece of clothing?

I have a Reverse Flash t-shirt that I wear slightly too often, but my ultimate favourite has to be my Captain Marvel hoodie. It’s obnoxiously brightly coloured, and I wear it literally every day. It’s great.

6. Favorite place to vacation?

Up north, in the Highlands. It’s really pretty, and also it’s quiet. And there are big rocks that are good for climbing on. I have a huge fondness for both rocks and climbing things.

7. What superpower would you like to have?

Telekinesis. Let me be a Jedi, dammit.

8. Talk about your #aesthetic?

Spaceships. Dragons. Space. Robots. The night sky in places with no light pollution. Superheroes drawn with realistic proportions and practical suits, especially when they’re women. Brightly coloured and unashamedly nerdy graphic t-shirts. Green-brown hills dotted with exposed rock. Small rocky countryside streams. Greyscale drawings in graphite pencil. Sky blues and light greys and white. Platonic hugs. People who aren’t blood relatives referring to each other with family words.

9. If you could steal the wardrobe of a fictional character, who would you want to dress like?

Well, I already own several t-shirts entirely because Cisco wore them on Flash, so it has to be Cisco. I’m actually genuinely using his wardrobe as a vague guideline for finding slightly more formal clothes that I’m comfortable with. Unfortunately, one apparently can’t wear t-shirt and jeans for every situation in adult society. Who knew?

10. Any goals for the new year?

Draw more and write more. And figure out what the hell my plans for the future are because I currently have no idea.

11. What’s a song that always cheers you up?

Probably ‘Love is Gonna Find You’ by JD Eicher and the Goodnights. It’s just nice, and also it gives me warm feelings because it’s relevant to the story arcs of several characters that are important to me.

#i got tagged #this is me #personal stuff #hanchewie #squire

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