DVD

DVD is a fantastic format. An entire movie on one disk in superb quality and usually loaded with extra features.

Though there are a couple of annoyances with the format.

Mainly how it's distributed.

My first little annoyance is when a DVD comes on two disks, why do they always but the second disk in front of the first? Everyone is going to go straight to the first disk therefore it should be in front.

My second big annoyance is Volumes. A bigger problem with Anime Volumes defeat the point of DVD collection. I really hate it when a series is released 3 episodes at a time on separate DVD's, each at full price. Take Sonic X, as a Sonic fan I want to get the full seasons for my collection.

Why then do they release in volumes instead of a big collection? It's stupid. I don't want to pay for each individual volume I want the full bloody thing.

Anime is particularly bad at this. I really want to try some anime but where to start. There are so many volumes of so many animes it's all very confusing. Further annoyances come with sales. Play.com has an easter sale with some good deals. I've heard good things about Azumanga Diogh (sp?) but the ones in the sale are vols 4, 5 and 6. What happened to Volumes 1, 2 and 3? I don't want to end up halfway through an anime series not knowing what's going on.

I don't know I just felt like ranting. May continue on with the 3 Shadows episode I started earlier later on tonight.

Sonic Riders: First Impressions

It's been a while since I updated so here goes.

Newswise it's looking pretty bad. I did get a pretty good data entry clerk job. Nice hours, easy to understand and when it was consistent a good chance to earn something good. But that looks to have ended, just waiting for an official confirmation or an awesome "you're still hired but we're going through some changes".

Either way I have an interview tomorrow at the general store around the corner. It's only 15 hours but it is around the corner and it's always worth applying to for that reason.

It was also my dads 50th birthday yesterday. The decorations are still up.

So onto Sonic Riders. Of course I got it, I'm a Sonic fan. It's alright. A lot like Shadow. Difficult to control at first and frustrates you to the point of throwing your joypad. With a bit of practice it all seems to work quite well, and what seemed like the devils excrement is actually quite enjoyable and challenging.

Story is very short and pretty pathetic even for Sonic. Essentially the new guys want to get to a treasure buried deep inside an ancient city. Eggman assumes this treasure is actually a legendary piece of technology that would help him take over the world. He needs the chaos emeralds though and so creates this whole racing thing to collect them. Sonic and friends naturally come to stop them.

OK SO NOW I'M ABOUT TO SPOIL IT SO SKIP THIS NEXT PART IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

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The treasure ends up being a magic carpet. That's it, ending plays.

How lame though completely unexpected. I assumed this treasure was in fact some sort of monster the guys would have to destroy. No, just a guardian and then nothing. No awesome Super Sonic vs massive monster moment. I feel a little cheated.

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Story mode seems tacked on though. The other modes make up for it. You have normal grand prix, free race and also a mission mode to make it last. Very arcady overall, don't expect a game loaded with stuff. Then again I haven't got all that far in it.

Visually the game is superb. Absolutely no arguements at all.

Soundtrack fits the game but it quite annoying. Especially if your doing a race for the fiftith time, that repetitive dance music will make you even more frustrated. And it may cause you some physical pain. Each race has a moment where you have to rotate the stick quickly. This leads to the skin on your finger scrapping off after repeating this motion for those fifty odd times.

Overall not bad, should consider at budget price. Not really worth it at full.

Also got the Crush 40 album. It's ace, even though all the best tracks are either in a Sonic game or on Crush 40's myspace. Never realised how much the songs are about car racing. Still awesome solos though, worth the asking price on Ebay.

I'll finish with another retarded Liverpool/press moment. This weekend Man Utd and Liverpool won, whereas Chelsea lost. Everywhere I had seen said that Liverpool were getting closer to Man Utd, despite us both winning so the point difference wouldn't change. We still have two games in hand too. Yet Chelsea's slip up only gave Man utd "slim hope".

How come when Liverpool win they are getting closer to a position and when they lose it's only 3 points plenty of games left. Whereas when Man utd win it's nothing more than a consolation, they can't possibly catch Chelsea, and when they lose they've blown it and Fergie should get the sack. Nice to see you staying neutral guys.

Fics will come in time. Work is getting in the way.

Almost reached 1000 pageviews on DeviantART (it was 999 last time I checked, I also have 99 deviations so I have an image planned). Keep watching it.

Another footy rant.

Hmm long time since I made a blog post.

I've been busy doing a run through of my Sonic art techniques. There's a link on my DeviantART Jade Falcon 2 submission.

Anyway what's been bugging me recently has been football. More specifically how supposedly neutral journalists and commentators are clearly liverpool fans.

Tonight Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League (How do your feet taste liverpool fans, I thought you were going to suceed where we failed!). Though I'm betting none of the papers are going to be saying "Benitez out", "Liverpool crisis", blah blah blah!.

Contrast to when Man Utd were knocked out. The next day the papers were already lining up replacements for the god like manager that is Sir Alex Ferguson. This is nothing new. Any time Man utd slip up and show they are not perfect journalists jump on the team, trying to get Alex Ferguson the sack.

They are of course mad. We may not be in first place but we're second, and if we win our game in hand will be second by five points. We were ruled out after that exit, with journalists jumping at the chance to say their favourite team Liverpool will take second.

There's no chance for Man Utd to take the title though Liverpool are still in it, despite us being closer to Chelsea. How many times have I heard "Surely Man utd are out of it now", compared to the "It's only three points, there's still plenty left in the season" comments you get for Liverpool.

Yes Commentators are just as bad. Take a look at these gems:

1) "There are probably more chelsea fans in madrid than there are on Merseyside tonight" - Last night during Chelsea vs Barcelona.

Like Liverpool are Chelsea's only rivals.

2) "Liverpool need to be patient if they are going to win this game" - about 3 hours ago , Liverpool vs Benefica, Benefica are 2-0 on aggregate and Liverpool need two goals to stay in the game.

Patience? That implies they will win. Despite there only being 45 minutes left and Liverpools strikers have missed the target so much it's laughable.

3) "After all Liverpool made the greatest comeback ever seen in the Champions League last may" - Same game.

This is debatable though IMO the Man utd comeback in 1999 was the greatest I've ever seen. The difference between the two is while Liverpool scored three, our two goals sealed the game in the dying seconds. No extra time, no penalties, unlike Liverpools.

4) *Gerrard shoots a mile wide* "That was a great strike" - same game

What are they mad. It completely missed the target by a mile. How can that be considered "Great". Now Alonso's strike soon afterwards, that was "Great".

5) "Liverpool fans are so great. Unlike most other team's fans they're singing their heart out and not booing the players" - same game, couple of minutes from full time. Liverpool fans singing their anthem "You'll never walk alone"

Wait until the final whistle. What happened. Boos rang through Anfield. Oh Dear I guess they hate it when they lose too. Liverpool fans will still sing that song even if they're 20-0 down and they'd probably still boo the team afterwards. Sounds strange but it's true.

6) Finally if you want to hear the longest most fanboyish drivvel from a supposedly neutral professional listen to the commentary over the tunnel scenes at the Liverpool vs Chelsea game (first meeting in Champs League this season). It was unreal.


Maybe they're just anti-Man Utd not just pro Liverpool because it's not as if they were giving cries of "Mourinho out" after Chelsea crashed out of the champs league too.

I know that's the case for Danny Fullbrook. He was supporting Souness, saying Newcastle shouldn't sack him, despite Newcastle facing relegation when they were champs league material not too long ago. Yet I'm sure he was one of the many that called for fergie's resignation despite Man Utd being 2nd, top scorers, and generally winning bar a couple of blips.

In summary I really hate the Liverpool Bias supposedly neutral profesionals have. They may as well just admit they're Liverpool fans and be done with it.