tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385411672024-03-13T13:05:33.316-07:00Anjin Unleashedthe blog formerly known as bullet points, no longer in exileMarty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.comBlogger781125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-61121620806836116272023-06-14T23:36:00.000-07:002023-06-14T23:36:05.119-07:00Top Five: Video Games of 2022<ul>
<li>2022 was an interesting year for video games. I found myself with less time and less drive to play games. But also found that Xbox Cloud Gaming works really well, so I played more than I expected. Here are the five games that ended up occupying my time and headspace the most in 2022.</li><br />
<li><i>Elden Ring</i> - An understandable game of the year. It really deserves all of the rewards it received. That said, I mostly ended up playing this for my daughter. If I were writing this from a 2023 perspective, I'd have pulled it from the running because I'm kinda exhausted with it. (Look forward to my forthcoming post on why I need to stop hatefucking Fromsoft games.) As it stands in 2022, I can't deny that this game started out fun and gave me something to do with my daughter.</li><br />
<li><i>Conan Exiles</i> - One of the themes of my gaming this year was finding world live in rather than conquer. <i>Conan Exiles</i>, for all of its hardcore tendencies, is also a game that you can just nest in. I made a nice little house, outgrew it and started a bigger house, made some "friends", and generally had a good time. I eventually drifted away, but there was a lot to just enjoy about being in a world that was only as savage as you wanted it to be.</li><br />
<li><i>Arcade Paradise</i> - I love a good "out of nowhere" game, the kind that blindsides you and reminds you that you don't need follow every marketing post for a year just to enjoy a game. <i>Arcade Paradise</i>'s tale of a teenage parental disappointment who slowly transforms a laundromat into an '80s arcade is both sad and heartwarming. But under the story is just a fun collection of throwback arcade games and the compulsion to just put in one more quarter. Not every machine is a hit, much like at any arcade. But I was a lot of fun to play and work and see the arcade slowly grow.</li><br />
<li><i>Disney Dreamlight Valley</i> - Heh, this is like Disney's Anti-Conan. In many ways, this game scratched the same itch as <i>Conan Exiles</i>. There is the same exploration, playing dress up, and homemaking, but with a lot (A LOT) less bloodshed. If you have a fondness for Disney characters and just want to hang out with them, this is a fun way to do it.</li><br />
<li><i>Cyberpunk 2077</i> - The launch of Patch 1.5 did a lot to revitalize interest in <i>Cyberpunk</i>, with many taking the opportunity to finally venture into Night City, myself included. The game, well, is still the game. Many of the roughest edges have been filed down, and there is great fun to be had. In many ways, it feels like a much prettier <i>Borderlands</i> to me. But I'm not sure if I'll ever finish the game. And that's okay. I had a good run with it.</li><br />
<li></li>One game that I wish I could have placed on this list is <i>Tunic</i>. <i>Tunic</i>'s entire Zelda-like, meta-examination of the joys of discovering a new game hit me right in the nostalgia center of the brain. But then the all-to-frequent difficuly spikes pushed me further and further from that joy until I could not bring myself to even try to headbash my way through the next brick wall in front of me. /sigh<br />
<li></li>What's this? We're halfway through 2023 already? I can't wait to see what ends up on this year's list. (Or when I'll actually post it.)<br />
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-40179127224521465902022-06-23T22:09:00.001-07:002022-06-23T22:09:56.051-07:00Watched Lately: Skeleton Knight in Another World<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C5GsvLKaxyjfOoOOQa_bv2HQdYOIWKZVf1j65nyhPZQwSs0CnWc7JovAJqbRGUCFzXWHsfzWRMcRhYYEixKLLDTcYNSPyJnlOYNAOHmAc7BMupLQO-c37gEuLIAta9jki-TVivMNjodZFNVwJpzRD-pkZbvKS7ZRWrKj_VD5W2Shf65FBQ/s1600/skiaw.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C5GsvLKaxyjfOoOOQa_bv2HQdYOIWKZVf1j65nyhPZQwSs0CnWc7JovAJqbRGUCFzXWHsfzWRMcRhYYEixKLLDTcYNSPyJnlOYNAOHmAc7BMupLQO-c37gEuLIAta9jki-TVivMNjodZFNVwJpzRD-pkZbvKS7ZRWrKj_VD5W2Shf65FBQ/s1600/skiaw.jpg"/></a></div><ul>
<li>I didn't mean for this to become the anime blog, but I guess we play with the hand we're dealt. And my hand includes the most aggressively mediocre show that I have watched in I do not know how long.</li><br />
<li>Like, I don't even know why I did it. I bounced off of <i>Aharen-san wa Hakarenai</i> after just one interminable episode. I gave up on <i>The Executioner and Her Way of Life</i> and <i>Trapped in a Dating Sim</i> after just a few episodes each, once I realized I didn't actually care what happened to the characters. But <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost">for some reason</a>, I just kept watching <a href="https://myanimelist.net/anime/48760/Gaikotsu_Kishi-sama_Tadaima_Isekai_e_Odekakechuu"><i>Skeleton Knight in Another World</i></a> even though it's not a very good show. It's barely a passable show, but I kept watching.</li><br />
<li><i>Skeleton Knight</i> stars your standard overpowered isekai protagonist, Arc, who wakes up one day as his character in his favorite MMO. Only, his character was using a transmog to appear as a skeleton, which has carried over to this new world! Of course, none of that matters outside of a few gags. If you removed the skeleton conceit, it would have no effect on the story.</li><br />
<li>Not that the plot is any better. Arc quickly discovers that slavery is common in this new world and finds himself helping those in need of protection. He ends up assisting an elf warrior and a beast girl ninja in freeing various captives and striking down their captors, not out of any sense of justice, but because it's the cool thing to do. As I type this, I come to realize that this my largest issue with the series. It presents this world as full of injustice, but the protagonist could not care less. His companions may provide direction, but he's just a tool, in every sense of the word.</li><br />
<li>Don't be a tool. Don't watch this anime.</li><br />
<li>Rating: 1 1/2 stars</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-89895463429692249132022-05-04T17:00:00.001-07:002022-08-19T09:14:26.314-07:00Random Shots: My Predictions for Season 2 of My Dress-Up Darling<ul>
<li>SPOILER WARNING! This post is for a very small subset of people who have both watched <a href="https://beta.crunchyroll.com/series/GQWH0M9N8/my-dress-up-darling">the first season</a> of <i>My Dress-Up Darling</i> as well as (somehow, <a href="https://mangadex.org/title/aa6c76f7-5f5f-46b6-a800-911145f81b9b/sono-bisque-doll-wa-koi-wo-suru">mysteriously</a>) caught up with the current chapters of the manga, <i>Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru</i> (referred to as such because none of this is officially available in English yet). Which means I'm pretty much just writing this for me and several people who will never find this post anyway. Enjoy!</li><br />
<li>With the end of the first season of <i>My Dress-Up Darling</i>, we look ahead to what I'm sure everyone hopes will be a Season 2. Considering how closely the anime hewed to the manga, it's a safe bet that they will do the same with a new season. The first season covered Chapters 1 through 39. With the manga up to Chapter 74, let's break down how the next season could look.</li><br />
<li>These first three episodes seem pretty straightforward.</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Episode 1</i> - Chapters 40 through 43 - The first episode will likely cover Amane's introduction to the series. He is one of my favorite new characters and I'm excited to see him show up. Though I suspect they will have to compress the chapters a little to fit it all in one episode.</li><br />
<li><i>Episode 2</i> - Chapters 44 through 46 - The next episode would then cover Bunny Suit Arisa. It's a tight three chapter arc that would be perfect for the next episode.</li><br />
<li><i>Episode 3</i> - Chapters 47 through 49 - Then we get to Halloween, another three chapter arc that fits perfectly with how season one was plotted.</li><br />
</ul>
<li>Here is where it gets a little harder to guess. The School Festival runs for thirteen chapters. In addition, Chapter 50 kind of stands alone, so you could push it into the end of episode 3. If not, you have fourteen chapters to deal with. I can't see forcing the arc into three episodes or stretching to five, though the pros could figure it out. Considering how important this arc is to opening Gojo and Kitagawa's passion for cosplay to their classmates, it deserves quite a lot of time. If I was doing it, the Rei episodes would be:</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Episode 4</i> - Chapters 50 through 53 - Rei (part I) would start with Shizuku's birthday party precredits, then cover the choice of festival entries, Gojo's introduction to <i>Council Host</i>, and the reassurance that he needs to dedicate himself to making the costume.</li><br />
<li><i>Episode 5</i> - Chapters 54 through 56 - Rei (part II) would cover making the costume, the wig, and trying to make Kitagawa look like a man.</li><br />
<li><i>Episode 6</i> - Chapters 57 through 59 - Rei (part III) would cover costume try on (watch out for fan service!), manliness lessons, and making the rainbow rose.</li><br />
<li><i>Episode 7</i> - Chapters 60 through 63 - Rei (part IV) finishes with the makeup demonstration, the festival itself, and the karaoke party.</li><br />
</ul>
<li>This next one is a gimme, no matter how the Rei arc is paced.</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Episode 8</i> - Chapters 64 through 67 - This episode covers the "Marin got Fat" chapter as well as trying out her new camera. Poor Kitagawa. The girl doesn't deserve to be body shamed, but it's unfortunately something real teens have to deal with.</li><br />
</ul>
<li>And now, my confidence in the exercise comes completely off the rails since there are just not enough chapters to fill out the season.</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Episode 9</i> - Chapters 68 through 71 - This episode will introduce Akira and lead into the afterparty. If I were breaking this season for real, I'd absolutely want to end an episode on Juju picking up the phone.</li><br />
<li><i>Episode 10</i> - Chapters 72 through 74? - Here we have the ending of the afterparty with Akira's declaration about Marin and leading into the sleepover, because... </li><br />
<li><i>Episode 11 & 12</i> - Chapters 75? through ?? - ... because now we've run out of chapters.</li><br />
</ul>
<li>By my count, that leaves the creator, Shinichi Fukuda, very little room to tie up the sleepover and the Coffin event or whatever else they want to do. Maybe I'm wrong and the studio will speedrun the School Festival or maybe cut something. Or maybe the show will get a 13 episode order and enough room for everything to breathe. All I can say is that I'm glad I can armchair theorize the breakdown because I would be sweating if I was in their shoes.</li><br />
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-65087878104915530762022-04-25T23:30:00.003-07:002022-08-19T09:14:19.507-07:00Watched Lately: My Dress-Up Darling<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0hqTKBn4TRI9OnWRzRSBdsAa6Lm_FUyEr7p4Pd1c4AMURJHk1mG5iw7coRgIye7pAk0GKg7IRMxBWiBFOrtb-0RGRWc1oFMUtsItKr6XWH5p1TDK4NF4g7Hbb81kTktP0fkTAsfjRiTmaaqmYai2aOtmOS_Wi22wluSEpeFmZYAywDb59w/s1600/MDUD%20keyart.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0hqTKBn4TRI9OnWRzRSBdsAa6Lm_FUyEr7p4Pd1c4AMURJHk1mG5iw7coRgIye7pAk0GKg7IRMxBWiBFOrtb-0RGRWc1oFMUtsItKr6XWH5p1TDK4NF4g7Hbb81kTktP0fkTAsfjRiTmaaqmYai2aOtmOS_Wi22wluSEpeFmZYAywDb59w/s1600/MDUD%20keyart.jpg"/></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Have you ever felt that you had to hide something that you're passionate about out of fear that other people would not understand you? For me it was comics books, anime, manga, role-playing games, video games, miniatures.... I've certainly had my fair share of hobbies that I didn't feel confident discussing with others until I could find like-minded people to share with. And lucky for me that I did. Not everyone is. That's where we find our protagonists at the start of <i>My Dress-Up Darling</i>.</li><br />
<li>Wakana Gojo is a high school student with a true passion for traditional Japanese hina dolls. Ever since he was young, he's been enamoured with the porcelin beauties. But he has also carried the memory of his young friend berating him for showing interest something girly things. And up until high school, he has kept mainly to himself, bemoaning his loneliness, but afraid that someone might discover his secret.</li><br />
<li>Marin Kitagawa is, in many ways, Gojo's opposite. Outgoing and confident, Kitagawa is an otaku through and through. And she completely owns her passions, unafraid to stand up to anyone who might belittle the things she loves. The only thing she can't do is make her own cosplay, try as she might.</li><br />
<li>When the two finally meet and reveal their passions to one another, it is like two complimentary pieces coming together. Marin, instead of ridiculing him for his fascination with hina dolls, identifies with his passion. Wakana finds himself lowering his defenses, promising to use his talent for making doll clothing to help her achieve her cosplay dream.</li><br />
<li>Over the course of the series, the pair contend with the challenges of making cosplay and coming to terms with their emotions. Wakana barely believes that this girl could even have the time of day for him, much less enjoy his company. Marin, for her part, finds that her unexpected emotions have built to a point that she has trouble keeping her cool around him. But they face their challenges as we explore the world of fandom together.</li><br />
<li>According to her creator, Shinichi Fukuda, Marin is meant to be an ideal girl for fans to fall for. At the same time, she has some faults that test Wakana in ways he is not prepared for. One of which is her predilication to providing copious fan service for Gojo and the audience. There is a whole other blog post coming about that, but I have to temper my high praise for the show to set proper expectations.</li><br />
<li>And my praise for the show is high, indeed. <i>My Dress-Up Darling</i> is one of the best anime I have seen in years. From the lovingly rendered characters, to the perfectly cast voice actors, to the highs and lows of the story, and more. I didn't fall in love with Marin, as her mangaka hoped. I fell for this cute couple helping each other learn and grow together. And they reminded me that I could be fearless about my passions as well.</li><br />
<li>Also, I'm this close to asking my mother-in-law to teach me how to use a sewing machine, because how cool would that be?</li><br />
<li>Rating: 4 stars</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-42800770252203819192022-03-29T23:26:00.002-07:002022-03-29T23:26:35.961-07:00Top Five: Video Games of 2021<ul>
<li>Thought I would get this out in January. It's like I don't even know me. Anyway, here are my top five games of 2021, in roughly the order I encountered them. They're all even video games this time!</li><br />
<li><i>Tokimeki Memorial</i> - Is it weird to name a game that I have never played as a top five game of the year? Absolutely yes, but it is the right choice. On January 1st, Tim Rogers released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb-DtICmPTY">his review of <i>Tokimeki Memorial</i></a>, the game the jump started the dating sim genre in Japan, and then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZrG7myLpqk">streamed the game</a> to fans eager to see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6uaV-7pbic">more of the game</a>. To say that I've become enamored by the game might be an understatement, considering I went out of the way to <a href="https://anjininexile.blogspot.com/2021/12/random-shots-i-bought-game-i-cant-play.html">import a copy</a> for my collection. <i>Tokimeki Memorial</i> is simply a game about attending high school, juggling the attention of multiple girl, and, hopefully, finding the love of your life. It's not just a visual novel with a few routes to persue. Instead, <i>Tokimeki Memorial</i> is positively stuffed with possibilities. I've never followed through on my plan to learn Japanese to watch anime or read manga untranslated, but discovering this game got me closer than ever before.</li><br />
<li><i>Yakuza: Like A Dragon</i> - Anyone who has read more than one of these Top Five lists must have noticed a pattern by now: there is going to be a Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios game on it. As long as they keep putting out games this good, I'll be happy to reserve the space for them. <i>Yakuza: Like A Dragon</i> is a departure for the series, leaving behind the traditional brawler combat for an RPG system. In all other ways, this is every bit the Yakuza game, if not even better than before. Moving from a solo brawler to a party-based RPG also has story ramifications, ensuring there is a reason to have friends around wherever you go. That, I think, is what make this game so special. Instead of playing as a lone hero against the world, <i>Like A Dragon</i> puts you in a community and makes you care for it. When the game was over, I was excited for the future of the series. Not because I wanted to see what the next fight or next challenge would be, but because I am looking forward to hanging out with my friends again.</li><br />
<li><i>Control</i> - I've never spent much time with Remedy's games. A couple hours in <i>Alan Wake</i> aside, I just haven't been interested. That was at least until the folks at Giant Bomb got me very interested in trying it out. <i>Control</i>'s Oldest House is a fascinating environment to explore, though it was easy to get confused as to how everything fit together. I suspect some of that is by design, but confusion is a wily target to hit. I did eventually fall off the game, but I had enjoyed my time with it quite a bit.</li><br />
<li><i>Lost Judgment</i> - After playing <i>Judgment</i>, easily a top three Ryu Ga Gotoku Extended Universe game, my anticipation for a sequel shot through the roof. <i>Lost Judgment</i> did not disappoint. As with the earlier game, <i>Lost Judgment</i> tackles an important issue, this time the horrors of childhood bullying. This main story was a great driver for the game, with newer and greater stakes appearing over time. Some of the leaps felt a little disjointed, as though there was some uncertainty as to how to mess the escalating mysteries together. What save the overall game, though, is the School Stories. This massive overarching mystery encompasses nearly all of the sidestories and new minigames in a wonderfully satisfying second plot to follow throughout the game. All this might be for naught if the gameplay did not hold up, but <i>Lost Judgment</i>'s brawler combat is the pinnacle of their Dragon Engine games. Where in prior games I avoided combat once if because too tedious, here I sought out street fights just to test my fighting prowess. Once again, this side series faces an uncertain future, but I'm am eager to follow Yagami and his companions on their further adventures.</li><br />
<li><i>Cyberpunk 2077</i> - I waited nearly a year after launch to finally try <i>Cyberpunk 2077</i>, a game that I received as a Christmas gift in 2020. Patch 1.31 seemed like a significant enough number to dive in, and I'm glad I waited. <i>Cyberpunk</i> protrays a fascinating world to explore, its Night City a bleak projection of unrestrained capitalism and structural inequality writ large on the alluring and offputting sites of the future. Combat-wise, the game reminded me of <i>Borderlands</i> shoot-and-loot style. (I actually like that game, so the comparison is positive.) Unfortunately, I got distracted and moved on to other games, but I absolutely will be back to try again.</li><br />
<li>And that was my 2021. There are already a couple games that are sure to make my 2022 list, so I'm better get that started.</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-66668854485860810752021-12-30T06:00:00.002-08:002022-03-31T15:58:27.839-07:00Random Shots: I Bought A Game I Can't Play<ul>
<li>Back on the first day of 2021, I discovered a video game that (spoilers) is going to land on my Top Five list for the year. Only the game came out in 1994. And it has never been translated to English. And I haven't actually played it.</li><br />
<li>Maybe this will explain:</li>
</ul>
<iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="xb-DtICmPTY" width="560" height="504" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xb-DtICmPTY"></iframe>
<ul>
<li>Probably should have warned you that the video was six hours long. Sorry.</li><br />
<li>After watching the video a few times (I'm up to seven times by now), I knew that I had to own this game. So off to Amazon I went. For an astoundingly low amount of $40, this copy was making its way to me from Japan.</li><br />
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxz7x24Dr5A/YQM4P-h0gDI/AAAAAAAAbW0/oIi6R4WL8kYEnQ6ORKANhoP0s_BkDJ3hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/TMFWY%2B1%2Bcrop.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxz7x24Dr5A/YQM4P-h0gDI/AAAAAAAAbW0/oIi6R4WL8kYEnQ6ORKANhoP0s_BkDJ3hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s560/TMFWY%2B1%2Bcrop.jpg"/></a></div>
<ul>
<li>I was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the box. One corner was a little crushed, but the quality was still impressive for a 27 year old game.</li><br />
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TewqWT0hFdc/YQM4Pyv4LQI/AAAAAAAAbW4/U4Spl2xeStokTBeWkPqwWryfI2LvWpKZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/TMFWY%2B2%2Bcrop.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1244" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TewqWT0hFdc/YQM4Pyv4LQI/AAAAAAAAbW4/U4Spl2xeStokTBeWkPqwWryfI2LvWpKZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s560/TMFWY%2B2%2Bcrop.jpg"/></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Opening the box, I was happy to see that the contents are in great shape as well. That popout on the lid was at one time a music box. Of course a quarter century has killed the battery dead. If I was the adventurous sort, I'd try to restore it, but I'm too much of a coward.</li><br />
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4WRpEqs0FA/YQM4P4_LupI/AAAAAAAAbW8/Jell-5GTLoQXYlHjpuozY9c3TQnijbM3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/TMFWY%2B3%2Bcrop.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4WRpEqs0FA/YQM4P4_LupI/AAAAAAAAbW8/Jell-5GTLoQXYlHjpuozY9c3TQnijbM3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s560/TMFWY%2B3%2Bcrop.jpg"/></a></div>
<ul>
<li>The box comes with the game itself, a pair of mousepads, and a PS1 compatible mouse (that's it in the white cardboard box).</li><br />
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UcLhTSpu4wk/YQM4QQP2sfI/AAAAAAAAbXA/W6m8g_rcJ6MXFW5bFK6PH38zaHnHBWSJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/TMFWY%2B4%2Bcrop.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UcLhTSpu4wk/YQM4QQP2sfI/AAAAAAAAbXA/W6m8g_rcJ6MXFW5bFK6PH38zaHnHBWSJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s560/TMFWY%2B4%2Bcrop.jpg"/></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Opening the game case, I felt an immediate kinship with the prior owner. I found the various cards, stickers, and <a href="https://wiki.musicbrainz.org/Obi_Strip">obi strip</a> tucked into the manual just like I have done with my own games.</li><br />
<li>The box current sits atop my game cabinet, Shiori Fujisaki watching over me even now as I type this. It is a nice totem for a game that, although I can't play it, has meant a lot to me this year.</li><br />
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-80568582172545804702021-04-22T18:25:00.001-07:002021-04-22T18:25:04.556-07:00Theme Parking: Disneyland Part II<ul>
<li>Looking at this blog, you wouldn't know that COVID had happened. You wouldn't know that anything happened, honestly. But I passed the time in a number of ways, watching for the markers that life was returning to normal again. If there was ground for optimism, this set of annoucements is a company with hope for the future.</li><br />
<li><i>Disneyland is reopening April 30, 2021</i> - It may not be the biggest news, but I think it's the most iconic: <a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/magic-is-back-at-disneyland-resort-theme-parks-plan-to-reopen-on-april-30/">Disneyland announced that they are opening April 30.</a> Although California Guideline allowed for reopening as of April 1 (and <a href="https://laist.com/latest/post/20210401/six-flags-magic-mountain-reopening-theme-parks-covid-19">Magic Mountain was right there waiting</a>), Disneyland set a date that gives them time to: 1) wind down the Taste of Disney event, 2) recall Cast Members and retrain them, and 3) give the county time to reach a better tier. That last part worked out because Orange County has already <a href="https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/">reached the Orange tier</a> and is swiftly moving toward Yellow at the end of the month. I was never one of the doomsayers who thought that Disney would pull up stakes because of onerous state guildlines (hah!). But it is nice to the the light at the end of the tunnel may be Tinkerbell.</li><br />
<li><i>DisneylandForward</i> - For as important as reopening is, <a href="https://disneylandforward.com/">this was the news</a> that got every Disneyland fan in a tizzy. On March 25, Disney announced... something. The most extreme fans immediately declared that Disneyland had annouced the mythical third gate and started trying to parse what rides and lands that the concept art was portraying. Thankfully it did not take long for more rational heads prevailed and the real story came out: DisneylandForward is Disney's public relations campaign to lobby the City of Anaheim to change the zoning of the Disneyland resort. Exciting, huh?<p>
As it is, the <a href="https://www.anaheim.net/1017/Disneyland-Resort">Disneyland Resort Specific Plan</a> was drawn up when Disney was planning California Adventure and pretty clearly lays out how each part of the resort can be developed. Although it ushered in a massive upgrade to the resort, Disney now find themselves too constrained by that same agreement. There are only so many backstage areas they can demolish while pushing out the margins before they finally run out of all available run. (Though Tomorrowland continues to be wildly underutilized.) So now Disney is asking for more freedom to develop what they have left however they see fit. It is an exciting development in that it shows that Disney wants to continue investing in their original park. But don't get hung up on a bunch of artwork in a zoning proposal.</li><br />
<li><i>Alcohol in the Blue Bayou</i> - Not nearly as big of news, but I'm still fascinated to see this headline. Disneyland announced that <a href="https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202103/8104/">they will start selling alcohol at the Blue Bayou</a> in New Orleans Square. When Oga's Cantina opened with Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in 2019, the alcohol ban was already done, but it stayed limited to a highly-thematic location. The Blue Bayou is the best place to expand the practice. And if following the example of WDW's Magic Kingdom, alcohol will stay limited to table service restaurants. Though considering how few of those there are in the park, maybe Disneyland will expand their dining options in order to expand their alcohol sales.</li><br />
<li><i>Annual Passholder Tears</i> - I was an annual passholder once upon a time, and I loved having that kind of freedom to go to the parks at a whim. But when Disney announced that they were cancelling the program, there was a part of me that was fascinated by the implications for the park. Not everyone was so thrilled and many have been very vocal online about their displeasure. I know I shouldn't be mean about this, but I was struck with the thought of buying a mug with the phrase "Annual Passholder Tears" if such a thing existed. Failing to find one on Etsy, I may have to source one myself...</li><br />
<li>April 30 is just around the corner and I'm excited to see what's coming in Part II of this grand Disneyland story.</li><br />
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-85731763876152153622021-04-07T07:00:00.002-07:002021-04-07T07:00:00.196-07:00Top Five: Video Games of 2020<ul>
<li>Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has owned my gaming time for the last few years and will own 2021 as well when I finally get to play <i>Yakuza: Like A Dragon</i>. (I'll have an Xbox Series X someday. Hopefully.) So I'm not surprised to find them on this year's list. But that's not all I played. What a year.</li><br />
<li><i>Judgment</i> - After playing through a number of <i>Yakuza</i> games over the last few years, <i>Judgment</i> was both familiar and a breath of fresh air. The game leans more toward a dramatic tone where <i>Yakuza</i> can weave wildly between extremes, but that focus gives <i>Judgment</i> enough distiction to stand apart from its predecessor. The main chararacter, lawyer-turned-hard-boiled-detective Takayuki Yagami, and his companions are much more grounded, but the story is as big as ever. I loved playing this game from start to finish and I hope RGG Studio keeps making side games like this.</li><br />
<li><i>The Yakuza Remastered Collection</i> - Yes, I'm cheating by combining three games into one slot so that they don't dominate the entire list. I have been infatuated with the <i>Yakuza</i> series since <i>Zero</i>. I knew that, once I finished that game, I would have to play all the rest. Since 3-5 were all Playstation 3 exclusive, I knew that might be difficult, but Sega seems to have anticipated my needs. I have now played to 3, 4, and I'm working on 5 as the year draws to an end. The series continues to be a delight in drama and creativity.</li><br />
<li><i>Fantasy Life</i> - There is a good chance that I bought this game on the recommendation of Austin Walker (formerly of Giant Bomb and Waypoint). There is so much to it, though, that I quickly ran into a "too-much-to-do" mental block and dropped the game. It wasn't until the pandemic hit that I had the time and desire to lose myself in a fantasy world. <i>Fantasy Life</i>'s simple gameplay, colorful characters, and inviting world was a welcome escape in the early days of the lockdown.</li><br />
<li><i>Hades</i> - I've never done the whole "follow a game through early access" thing before, but <i>Hades</i> was the exact right game to try it on. A lot of credit has to go to the team at Supergiant who had the game nailed from the start. All of the time after I started playing was just adding more and polishing the gem-like core that was already there. It was fun to watch the game grow over time, and it was amazing to play from day one.</li><br />
<li><i>Kingdoms Of Amalur - Reckoning</i> - It certainly is big game, which is why previous attempts at the game eventually faltered. (The studio name Big Huge Games should have been a giveaway here.) It is easy to fall into the completionism trap when the quests are so diverse and the stories so interesting. But there is so much of it and there is enough sameyness to the dungeons it can feel monotonous. But it's hard not to be drawn to the combat and, maybe, see a glimpse of the MMO that might have come.</li><br />
<li>Since this is going up in April, I'll totally admit that I have a Series X now. Also, I've already beat Like A Dragon. I really need to try harder on these posts.</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-55735033633706560372019-12-31T08:00:00.001-08:002020-05-18T21:36:23.540-07:00Top Five: Video Games of 2019<ul>
<li>It may have been a slow gaming year again, but some big titles found a way to overcome my inertia. Here are the games that refused to let me ignore them.</li><br />
<li><i>The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild</i> - When I first received my Nintendo Switch as a Christmas present, <i>Breath of the Wild</i> was the game I was most looking forward to playing. And... I didn't like it very much. I ran around a bit, followed the story line, but it just wasn't clicking for me. I thought it would go back on the shelf, unfinished.<p>
But then my brother played and finished the game himself and encouraged me to try again. I don't know what changed. Whether I was in the right headspace or I just figured out what the game wanted of me, it finally clicked in a big way. <i>Breath of the Wild</i> is an explorer's dream. The world encourages you to wander around and check everything to see what is hidden there. In a way, this is the closest a Zelda game has come to replicating the feeling of the NES <i>The Legend of Zelda</i>.</li><br />
<li><i>Hades</i> - I have been a fan of Supergiant Games since their inception. Their first game, <i>Bastion</i> captivated me entirely with its riff on the action-RPG and the studio's now-signature narrative and musical excellence. Unfortunately, although their next two games didn't hit me the same way, <i>Hades</i> has hit me just right. Its combat feels right out of <i>Bastion</i>, but with a run-based, Rogue-lite underpinning that has me always eager for "one more run." Even though <i>Hades</i> is in early access, it is stuffed with systems and content that, bar an ending they haven't completed, would be a release game for any other developer. It seems that Supergiant is not satisfied with "good enough" and <i>Hades</i> is all the better for it.</li><br />
<li><i>Zen of Sudoku</i> - I purchased <i>Zen of Sudoku</i> in 2007 and have played it for over 279 hours. When I need to unwind and let my brain take a rest, this is my go to game. It comes up on my list this year because 2019 just demanded it. (In looking up these stats, I see that I also purchased Bookworm Adventures around that time for three times the price and only played for four hours. Woof.)</li><br />
<li><i>Marvel's Spider-Man</i> - I'm a little surprised that I've never played a Spider-Man game before. Spidey is hands-down my favorite superhero. But a combination of platform issues and reticence to try something different has always kept me away. Thankfully, the praise for <i>Marvel's Spider-Man</i> overcame all of that and I was treated to a distillation of everything I love about the character. And although I am awful at the combat (even on the lowest difficulty), the joy of swinging through the city is enough to earn a spot on the list.</li><br />
<li><i>alphacross</i> - My affinity for crossword puzzles assuredly can be traced to my grandmother. She did the crossword every day, in pen as is proper. Just recently, I was looking for something to keep me occupied and discovered <i>alphacross</i> on the Google Play Store. It is everything I need from a crossword puzzler without a bunch of the crap you usually get from one of these apps. It's just a subscription to as many puzzles as you can manage and the tools to complete them. I have been rediscovering the special language of crosswords that comes from seeing certain clues repeat over time. I have also been cursing the puzzle designers who are always too clever by half. But from time to time when I work on another puzzle, I remember what it was like to sit at the kitchen counter and do the crossword with my grandma.</li><br />
<li>An honorary mention goes to the board game <i>The 7th Continent</i> which would have taken a spot had I need to fill out the top five. A survival adventure game about ridding yourself of a terrible curse, I spent countless evenings with my daughter learning the continent and dying horribly again and again. We're sure to win one day.</li><br />
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-84919855837037316862019-08-26T02:00:00.000-07:002019-08-26T02:00:01.988-07:00Theme Parking: D23 2019 Parks & Resorts Presentation Wrap-Up<ul>
<li>I woke up Sunday morning, made breakfast for the family, and tuned into whoever could get a stream up of the D23 Parks & Resorts Presentation. The biggest Disneyland rumors leading up to today revolved around a refresh of Tomorrowland. That did not happen, but there was still several things to announce.</li><br />
<li>Chairman Bob Chepak officially announced the new daytime parade, <i>Magic Happens</i>, a name that has been posted all over the message boards <a href="https://discuss.micechat.com/forum/disney-theme-park-news-and-discussion/disneyland-resort/8584375-new-disneyland-parade-coming-for-2020-magic-happens">because of an amazingly dishy leak over on MiceChat</a>.</li>
</ul><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ht5JZJ0aqmw/XWMXhBaQ-qI/AAAAAAAAVAA/BUTnbb4RqigHZLXUZVjAoOzEYAwZMToOACLcBGAs/s1600/magichappens.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ht5JZJ0aqmw/XWMXhBaQ-qI/AAAAAAAAVAA/BUTnbb4RqigHZLXUZVjAoOzEYAwZMToOACLcBGAs/s560/magichappens.jpg" data-original-width="1280" data-original-height="853" /></a>
<center><aside><small><i>All images gleefully stolen from Disney Parks Blog and Twitter</i></small></aside></center><ul>
<li>He also showed the new entrance to <i>Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad</i> in Mickey's Toontown. Called The El Capitoon Theater, the queue will feature an historical (hysterical) exhibit of costumes and props from film history. This seems to be located where Toontown City Hall sits now. Since that part of the land is just a large outdoor seating area for a set of food vendors that I never remember exist. (Heck, the most recent park map just lists the three windows as Toontown Dining.)</li>
</ul><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-art0O0F11EA/XWMYHDP7KtI/AAAAAAAAVAM/CgpxNGSNEske92ejHXL0XoKJtBcd3AD6ACLcBGAs/s1600/mmrr.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-art0O0F11EA/XWMYHDP7KtI/AAAAAAAAVAM/CgpxNGSNEske92ejHXL0XoKJtBcd3AD6ACLcBGAs/s560/mmrr.jpg" data-original-width="1024" data-original-height="576" /></a><ul>
<li>We also got so see a little more of <i>Rise of the Resistance</i>, the ride the <i>Galaxy's Edge</i> really needs to open right now to keep the nerds happy. All of the new footage looks a little too much like CGI trickery, but we'll know for certain in about four months. Maybe.</li>
</ul><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hJhHR9unw5k" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><ul>
<li>Over in Disney California Adventure, all talk was about the coming <i>Avengers Campus</i>. The primary new attraction in the land (not the first though because <i>Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout</i> will be moved to <i>Avengers Campus</i> when the land opens, <a href="https://www.yesterland.com/oldmatterhorn.html"><i>Matterhorn</i>-style</a>), will be the currently unnamed Spider-Man ride. Rumors of it being yet another shooter ride seem to be founded.</li>
</ul><center><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDHkD2wI0jo/XWMYHECK68I/AAAAAAAAVAU/UT1zXjnxNTczQmYxCmabFmE1waBb59V_wCLcBGAs/s1600/spiderman.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDHkD2wI0jo/XWMYHECK68I/AAAAAAAAVAU/UT1zXjnxNTczQmYxCmabFmE1waBb59V_wCLcBGAs/s560/spiderman.jpg" data-original-width="1280" data-original-height="573" /></a></center><ul>
<li>Chapek also officially announced the long-rumored Avengers ride. It's described as a QuinJet ride to Wakanda that (say it with me) goes terribly wrong. The rumors have been that TDA (Team Disney Anaheim) sent the Imagineers back to the drawing board for this ride due to capacity issues, thus causing it to fall into Phase II of the expansion. Considering WDI's track record, this is the easier rumor to believe.</li>
</ul><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2GAVm0ROFw/XWMYG9kh6tI/AAAAAAAAVAI/be3kDcxX75EN1xpY-wQfBGa4voUcrFAowCLcBGAs/s1600/avengers.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2GAVm0ROFw/XWMYG9kh6tI/AAAAAAAAVAI/be3kDcxX75EN1xpY-wQfBGa4voUcrFAowCLcBGAs/s560/avengers.jpg" data-original-width="1024" data-original-height="468" /></a><ul>
<li>And that was it for Disneyland. Considering that we just came off the <i>Galaxy's Edge</i> launch and with <i>Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad</i> and Marvel Land already to announced, it really was too much to expect a new-new-new Tomorrowland. And since all of the most exciting expansions are taking place elsewhere, Disneyland still has plenty to finish before needing something new.</li><br />
<li>The rest of presentation focused on the other parks. We heard about Hong Kong's two Frozen rides, as well as the name of their redesigned castle. We got more info about Shanghai's new Zootopia land. They also announced what should be a pretty cool new Cirque du Soleil show opening at WDW's Disney Springs. And we heard more about the Star Wars hotel.</li><br />
<li>While they were at it, Chapek announced the name of the new Disney Cruise ship, Disney Wish. And it what was the most excruciating announcement of the day, they announced a new collaboration with Target.</li><br />
<li>But the best announcements were saved for Epcot, a park that has lost its way in recent years. The all-but-forgotten Future World will now be divided into three lands, World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature, seemingly to compliment the already strong World Showcase. They announced the names of <i>Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind</i> and <i>Space 220 Restaurant</i>. They announced a refresh of <i>Spaceship Earth</i> as well as the release of new shows, <i>Awesome Planet</i>, <i>Canada Far and Wide</i>, a <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> sing-along, and <i>Wondrous China</i>. They discussed the upcoming opening of <i>Remy's Ratatouille Adventure</i> and announced a new <i>Mary Poppins</i> ride. We also got a very nice new logo treatment for the park.</li>
</ul><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0qazXUVWsT4/XWMYHK1Kx_I/AAAAAAAAVAQ/L7BGThW-q_4W6Yd5hAKVWxr_g_3qEWQNACLcBGAs/s1600/epcot.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0qazXUVWsT4/XWMYHK1Kx_I/AAAAAAAAVAQ/L7BGThW-q_4W6Yd5hAKVWxr_g_3qEWQNACLcBGAs/s560/epcot.jpg" data-original-width="1178" data-original-height="670" /></a><ul>
<li>D23 might not have been everything that us Disneyland fans might have wanted, but there is a lot for others to be excited about. Now we wait for 2021.</li><br />
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-70828842130044983152019-08-19T02:00:00.000-07:002019-08-19T02:00:02.830-07:00Theme Parking: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum War<ul>
<li>About a year ago, I started casting around for a place to discuss all things Disneyland. Somewhere, I hoped, that I could find like-minded individuals who enjoyed the parks and would debate, theorize, and share gossip. I landed on the WDWMagic forums, specifically the Disneyland Resort sub-forum. It has its fair share of kooks, supposed insiders, and all around nice people. It felt like an internet home I had been searching for since the implosion of NeoGAF.</li><br />
<li>Fast forward to Sunday morning when <a href="https://medium.com/@snydergary310/the-dis-influencer-2ec902b53c77">someone has detonated a dirty bomb in the community in the form of a Medium post</a>. The gist of author Gary Snyder's claims is that Al Lutz, one of the earliest online critic of Disney and one of the founders of MiceAge, was posting articles provided by a Disney corporate writer starting in the early 2000's. The goal of all of this seems to be poisoning the community against Michael Eisner to help affect his ouster. (I see that I've never posted a review of James B. Stewart's <i>Disney War</i>. I should get on that.) The author further fingers WDWMagic forum member TP2000 as the Disney writer. This all seems to have been provoked by the recent MiceChat article by Lutz which this time portray Disney Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Products, Bob Chapek, as the current architect of Disneyland's woes.</li><br />
<li>MiceChat eventually punched back with a number of frequently re-edited statements, <a href="https://discuss.micechat.com/forum/disney-theme-park-news-and-discussion/disneyland-resort/8598936-al-lutz-really-is?p=8598954#post8598954">eventually landing on</a>:</li>
<blockquote>Folks, as we digest what was alleged in this nearly unreadable hit piece by Dusty's ex-husband and his friend (and banned MiceChat user), we can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that the entire gist of the article is wrong. In fact, it's slander. Anyone that has ever read the Al Articles knows the truth.<br /><br />
At this point, we ask that you please support us by not further spreading the falsehoods in this ridiculous article. Our thoughts and prayers are with Al Lutz, who has been so brutally and untruthfully maligned.<br /><br />
Al may now come to the Expo just to tell you in his own words. Please stop by the MiceChat booth to say hello.</blockquote><br />
<li>It comes out that Gary Snyder has made a career <a href="https://twitter.com/BenWszalek/status/1163215693191532545">writing hit pieces about Disney</a>, casting doubt on the veracity of this claims. MiceAge co-founder <a href="https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/expose-reveals-wdc-control-in-online-fan-community.957317/page-9#post-8833036">Kevin Yee eventually reveals</a> that Snyder is forum poster Spirit of 76, a long time antagonist of Lutz's. Along with the MiceChat post, it seems that Snyder and the ex of MiceChat's founder (the successor to MiceAge) concocted a revenge plot to bring down MiceChat.</li><br />
<li>(An alternate summary of everything up to here can be found in <a href="https://twitter.com/panzer/status/1163226891169361920">this Twitter thread from Matthew Panzarino</a>, Editor-In-Chief of Techcrunch.)</li><br />
<li>On the WDWMagic forums, TP2000 finally arrived to throw water on all of Snyder's claims. This everyone took in stride as the post had mostly been discredited. At least until MiceChat admin PhotoMatt showed up to accuse TP2000 of lying about all of this (in a now deleted forum post).</li>
<blockquote>This statement is not accurate. I have access to one of the emails you would have used and I have not received any emails. I also contacted Dustysage, and he has not received any emails from you. The claim you are conversing with him is not based on any facts.<br /><br />
Wrong. You registered on the forum I am an admin on with an email that belongs to Troy Porter. You did this in 2005, and you had no idea it would come back to haunt you. Your address matches what was posted previously by another member. Public records indicate your real age, so it's odd that you would enter a birthday on Micechat using the year 1974.<br /><br />
1974.<br /><br />
74.<br /><br />
Does that number ring a bell? WDW1974? Spirit of '74?<br /><br />
Troy, you and your buddies hurt my friends. Why? What did you have to gain from this? You are clearly lying. Stop lying. Tell the truth. Why are you doing this?</blockquote><br />
<li>PhotoMatt quickly apologized after all of this, that post was deleted, and TP2000 accepted the apology.</li><br />
<li>This, of course, leaves us with a lot of drama, but no actual substance. There is no way to trust any of Snyder's claims. And whether or not we do, we must come away with the same conclusion: we must always interrogate the agenda of any information with which we are presented. The reason why information is shared can be as illuminating as the information itself.</li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-3336376270520560172019-06-20T22:34:00.002-07:002020-09-20T23:23:34.208-07:00Top Five: Video Games of 2018<ul>
<li>Whenever I fall away from gaming, it's because I have become entranced with some other form of media. Whether it's comics or books or web forums, I usually have an excuse to not fire up a new game. This year is was streaming video, namely YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu. Ironically, my addiction to streaming happened soon after we finally decided to cord cut and go internet only. Nonetheless, I found the time to play a few games.</li><br />
<li><i>Yakuza 6: The Song of Life</i> - After my enthusiasm for last year's pair of games, I was ready to jump into another Yakuza game. Of course, the next available is the final Kazuma Kiryu story, but I did not find jumping so far ahead to be such a detriment. Kamurocho looks better than ever before. And with their Dragon engine allowing you to enter locations without load screens, it is more seamless and alive than before. Once again, Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio finds the right balance of drama, action, and comedy that fits my tastes to a tee.</li><br />
<li><i>West of Loathing</i> - I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud at a video game. <i>West of Loathing</i> is a genuinely funny game. Its light RPG and adventure mechanics are just the catalyst for its absurd take on the Old West. Players of the online Kingdom of Loathing will find a lot of similarities here. But as much as I enjoyed the game, what I will remember is its humor.</li><br />
<li><i>Monster Hunter World</i> - I never once imagined that I would enjoy a <i>Monster Hunter</i>. All of the preparation, the grinding, the arcane systems... None of it sounded like actual fun. Then Capcom filed off (most of) the jagged edges and left a game that was downright inviting. I'll never pick up a mainline game in the series. But <i>World</i> let me have a glimpse of what all the diehard fans love.</li><br />
<li><i>Diablo III: Eternal Collection</i> - All I remember of <i>Diablo III</i> on the PC was Error 37. The zeitgeist was enthralling, but I haven't enjoyed an Diablo-like ARPG since <i>Torchlight</i>. Then they put it out on Switch and it was finally the right place, right time game for me. I much prefer the <i>Dark Alliance</i> style controls for these games that PC versions don't offer for some reason. So eight years (and two purchases later), I finally saw the game to its end and I had a blast doing it.</li><br />
<li><i>Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</i> - Having another person in the house who is interested in video games has been a change for me. My daughter will likely never be a "gamer" like myself, but she enjoys watching me play from time to time and has a few she likes to play herself. One of those that we overlap on is <i>Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</i>. Purchased in the waning days of 2018, I thought it might be the kind of thing she would enjoy, and oh she did. We often play split-screen together, me charging ahead while she fights in the mid-field. It might not have been the game for me, but it is the perfect game for us. And those few days at the end of December playing together was enough to propel it onto my Top Five for the year.</li><br />
<li>This is usually the part where I list honorable mentions, but it really was that slow of a gaming year. Here's to a more fruitful 2019. (Spoilers: it's pretty good so far.)</li><br />
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-10397298771639632802018-12-30T05:00:00.001-08:002020-09-20T23:23:51.501-07:00Top Five: Video Games of 2017<ul>
<li>As we come upon the end of the year, we take time to reflect on what made the year meaningful for us. And for gamers, that often means taking stock of the games we played throughout the year, preferably in some form of list. So without further ado... Wait, did I not put up a list for 2017. Uh oh.</li><br />
<li><i>Yakuza 0</i> & <i>Yazuka Kiwami</i> - My absolute favorite games of 2017. If I had any lingering doubts about choosing to go Playstation this generation, the new revitalized <i>Yakuza</i> series has affirmed I made the right call. The games' combination of crime melodrama, action brawler, and a densely packed explorable world are a perfect combination to keep me playing. And one of the neatest outcomes from setting each game in the fictional Kamurocho district is seeing out the neighborhood changes while maintaining its underlying familiarity. <i>Yakuza 0</i> is the decidedly better of the two, with <i>Kiwami</i> feeling more like an expansion pack. But I was excited to play both, and look forward to more in 2018.</li><br />
<li><i>Titan Quest Anniversary Edition</i> - Late in the year, I found myself returning to <i>Titan Quest</i>, this time the Anniversary Edition. The game is one of the few <i>Diablo</i>-style ARPGs that I actually enjoy. I didn't end up finishing it, but it was a nice respite in an otherwise odd gaming year.</li><br />
<li><i>Heroes of the Storm</i> - If you asked me at the beginning of 2017 what the chances were of me including a MOBA on my top I would have laughed. And yet, I found myself logging in to beat up on bots with some regularity throughout the year. I never wanted to play against other players, but I enjoyed the old comp-stomp a lot more than I ever expected.</li><br />
<li><i>Destiny 2</i> - The sequel to Destiny make it on to this list almost by default. It both is and isn't like the first game, which made my Top Five list in both 2014 and 2015. What it did wrong was its lack of stickiness. But I can't knock if for not being my new forever game. I was happy to have played it even if I may never play it again. (Spoilers: I didn't.)</li><br />
<li>Honorable Mentions: <i>Horizon: Zero Dawn</i>, <i>Persona 5</i>, and <i>The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild</i>. Each failed to connect with me in vary different ways.</li><br />
<li>I guess this means my blogging hiatus is officially over. Maybe I'll even get 2018's list up on time. Maybe.</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-11758456281005196522017-07-01T03:00:00.000-07:002017-07-01T03:00:20.802-07:00Theme Parking: The More Things Change - Disney Further Tinkers With Pirates<ul>
<li>When I opened Twitter after work Thursday, my first reaction was a deep sigh. <a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/06/new-pirates-set-to-join-the-crew-of-pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-disneyland-paris-july-24/">Disney announced changes coming to its <i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i> ride</a> in Disneyland Paris, some of which would be making their way to the rides in Disneyland and Walt Disney World. At first, I only noted the title referring to the Paris park. It wasn't until I reread the article that I fully comprehended their intentions for the American parks.</li>
</ul><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G01RuqWLvAI/WVYEe60aeCI/AAAAAAAANgs/EE8QsYvSMQ8vfAUJeEBAew9rtICiKZMZQCLcBGAs/s1600/Rev-Auction-900.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G01RuqWLvAI/WVYEe60aeCI/AAAAAAAANgs/EE8QsYvSMQ8vfAUJeEBAew9rtICiKZMZQCLcBGAs/s560/Rev-Auction-900.jpg" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="514" /></a><ul>
<li>It's hard not to feel jaded about more changes to <i>Pirates</i>. I have a draft post about my feelings on the ride that I'll get around to finishing some day. But to summarize, Disney has found it necessary to tinker with the ride with some regularity ever since 1996, starting with the chase scene. Then after the release of the Pirates movie, they could not move fast enough to jam Captain Jack Sparrow into a ride that didn't need him. At every turn, Disney damages <i>Pirates</i> in the attempt to improve it.</li><br />
<li>The auction scene is one of the most iconic in the ride. The Auctioneer is probably the best animatronic in the the park. And let's not forget mystique of the Redhead. (Another draft post I really need to get to.) Like the change with the chase scene that follows, Disney wants to purge the scene of its regressive themes. But based on their track record, it's hard to trust them to get it right, no matter how many times they trot out the hoary old "Disneyland will never be completed" quote.</li>
</ul><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-iUals7-lU/WVYEcf2w6yI/AAAAAAAANgo/2KLWSiQk_9YqaBI2BvxAMx2_CvYX0ArYACLcBGAs/s1600/ajdn313.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-iUals7-lU/WVYEcf2w6yI/AAAAAAAANgo/2KLWSiQk_9YqaBI2BvxAMx2_CvYX0ArYACLcBGAs/s560/ajdn313.jpg" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="322" /></a><ul>
<li>In reality, it is the movie related changes that committed the most violence to the ride. The story of the ride is all but incoherent now. Not that the original ride was perfect with the discordance between the villainy of the pirates against their happy-go-lucky "A Pirate's Life For Me". But whatever themes existed before have been entirely contracted by focusing on the treasure seeking adventure of Captain Jack Sparrow instead of the doomed pirates singing their way to the grave. To be fair, it was around this time that the music was added to the grotto, dramatically improving the atmosphere. So not all is lost.</li><br />
<li>Although I was initially hesitant, I will always second-guess my opinions when I find myself on the same side as the reactionaries. But my nostalgia for the auction was mostly challenged when my wife admitted that she never cared for the scene. Maybe some good can come of this change. Disney may not have my trust, but they have my best wishes for their success.</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-34068995192568464602017-03-19T01:30:00.000-07:002017-03-19T01:30:11.345-07:00Top Five: Video Games of 2016<ul>
<li>It's way too late for this, but let's do it anyway.</li><br />
<li>2016 has gone and it is once again time to look back on the games I enjoyed last year. In truth, I played very few. Time and priority shifted such that I couldn't dedicate many hours to gaming. But what I did play were some of my favorite of all time.</li><br />
<li><i>Persona 4 The Golden</i> - As a fan of <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/">Giant Bomb</a>, Persona 4 looms large as one of the defining games of the site. When the chance game up for me to get a PlayStation Vita and the game, I knew I had to experience it for myself. It is without any hyperbole that I say P4G is the best JRPG I have even played. It's funny that the actual dungeons, the mechanical RPG sections themselves, were my least favorite parts of the game. They never felt as grindy as I was led to believe. And the battle system with its use of weakness exploits was a lot of fun to manage. But the best part was clearly the visual novel side, where making friends and learning more about them turned the experience from a good dungeon crawler to a truly great game. <i>Persona 4 The Golden</i> lives up to its hype.</li><br />
<li><i>Firewatch</i> - I don't go out of my way to try "walking simulator" games. 2013's <i>Gone Home</i>, while amazing, was not some gateway to a new style of game for me. However, when the team at Campo Santo announced their first game, I was immediately interested. <i>Firewatch</i> is very much a first person adventure game, combining the best of environmental storytelling techniques with point-and-click adventure structure. It may not stick the landing on the big mystery, but the emotional arc is perfect. This is easily a game I would share with non-gamers to show what video games can do.</li><br />
<li><i>Pathfinder Adventures</i> - I'm a sucker for all kinds of tabletop games: board, card, RPGs. Even if I may never play them, I like reading about them. Occasionally, against my better judgment, I'll even buy one. I got lucky, then, with the <i>Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords</i>. I could play solo, with my brother, and even convinced my family to try it. So when the game made the transition to a mobile app, I jumped on it. <i>Pathfinder Adventures</i> does everything I want out of an video game port: making it easier to play the physical game while also taking advantage of the electronic medium. I have now played more on the app than I've ever played of the card game. And I got to play with my daughter which made it even better.</li><br />
<li><i>Hitman</i> - I never imagined myself playing a <i>Hitman</i>. They always seemed like too much work for too grisly a topic. Sure, there was fun stories to come out of the games (hat tip to <a href="http://rebelfm.libsyn.com/">Rebel FM</a> for piquing my curiosity about the series years ago. But I never actually tried one. That was until videos of the new game started coming out, showing off just how crazy things could go. <i>Hitman</i> lives up to the hype. If you want to see just how good it can be, <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/holiday-specialtacular-2016-hitsmas/2300-11776/">check out this video</a>.</li><br />
<li><i>Let It Die</i> - I did not expect to find myself enjoying a free-to-play game. Too often, the monetization strategy leads to degenerate design. And although it is said to be worse in the end game, I didn't see any free-to-play shenanigans in <i>Let It Die</i>. Instead I found an alternately morose or farcical dungeon crawler, resembling the Souls and Rogue games. It was simple fun to explore a ruined world, collect gear, and fight various psychos. I didn't make it all that far up the tower, but I enjoyed learning my way through new encounters and doing my best to survive just a bit longer. Also, Uncle Death is a great character, underused in the game.</li><br />
<li>Ironically, I've already started 2017's Top Five list with a great game I just finished. Hopefully you won't have to wait quite so long to read about it.</li><br />
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-75437274024762334372016-04-07T05:00:00.000-07:002016-04-07T05:00:15.785-07:00Theme Parking: Disneyland Resort Trip Report - 28 February 2016<ul>
<li>Back in February, with only a couple weeks before we were planning to celebrate our daughter's birthday in the park, we decided it had been too long since we had been to Disneyland. Unwilling to wait any longer, we packed into the headed off. I thought I would share a few thoughts and highlights from the trip.</li><br />
<li>I have often wondered at the number of birthday buttons I see in Disneyland. On one hand, there have to be a bunch of people in the parks celebrating their birthday, on or near it. Why wouldn't you go to Disneyland for your birthday if you could? On the other hand, I've seen any number of buttons that are worn and faded, leaving me to wonder if people re-wear their buttons to the park for the attention. By the time of this visit, Disneyland had introduced their new button design, making the old buttons stand out. The charitable part of me wonders if the parks could be using up their old stocks. The not-so-charitable side wonders why people would do that.</li><br />
<li>At lunch time, I made a horrible blunder. In the ongoing fried treat wars going on between SoCal theme parks, Disney introduced the churro funnel cake. We had decided to eat at the Hungry Bear, partly to check out work on the Rivers of America, and partly because my picky daughter would actually eat something there. Along with my lunch, I thought I would try the new dessert. This was a mistake. Those things are massive. It was good, but it was also <i>way</i> too much. If you consider taking one down, I have a couple words of advice: either take a partner or don't eat anything else the rest of the day.</li><br />
<li>We finally had out first sighting of one of the famous Disneyland cats in the queue for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This cat was a cool customer. He was midway down the hillside below the train platform, alternately eyeing the line of people and completely ignoring everyone. My cats would have flipped out if a train went by but this chill feline did not care. It was adorable and I'm glad everyone knew enough to leave it alone.</li><br />
<li>One thing I observed while riding Its A Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean were the number of women who would trail their fingers in the water, and then immediately shake their hands like something was crawling on them. I know Disney does its best to keep that water clean, but make better decisions, people!</li><br />
<li>As we exited Its A Small World, our daughter spied the couple sitting behind us. They asked her if she enjoyed the ride and which ride was her favorite. (Today, it was Big Thunder Mountain and A Pirates Life For Me.) They were so friendly that I had to ask about them. It turned out that they were from Singapore, studying at UCLA. I asked if they had been to any of the other parks and they said that Disneyland was actually the last Disney park they had to visit, having been to all the others. They admitted to enjoying Walt Disney World most of all and added that the Hong Kong park is tiny. We soon reached the docks and disembarked, quickly going out separate ways. I was reminded that the magic of Disneyland isn't the attractions and shows, but the people that it brings together to share and enjoy the experience.</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-83404921157488221562016-03-08T05:00:00.000-08:002017-07-02T22:40:58.950-07:00Theme Parking: Disneyland Resort Trip Report - 26 November 2015<ul>
<li>It's time for another trip report, but I just want to hit highlights and impressions. Sure, I could run down the itinerary (actually I can't since I lost it), but this get boring pretty fast. Instead, here is what stood out about our Thanksgiving visit to Disneyland.</li><br />
<li>We ended up parking in the Simba lot that morning and had to walk to the park through Downtown Disney. Instead of making the full walk, we decided to ride the monorail into Tomorrowland. Since we arrived just after the last train left, I decided to show off to the family and asked if we could ride in the front. It was quite fun to share a very different view of the ride.</li><br />
<li>Once inside the park, I got the idea to get Fastpasses for Hyperspace Mountain, which had recently opened. By the time I was able to get tickets, the window conflicted with our dining reservations over in California Adventure. We would have to postpone our first ride on Space Mountain in years until our next visit. I still have those Fastpasses in my memorabilia folder for that visit.</li><br />
<li>Those plans involved an early Thanksgiving dinner at Ariel's Grotto. It was a crazy idea, made even crazier in that I just lost my job, but we intended to make the best of it. Our little four year old gave us all the usual food problems we had come to expect, but she was delighted to be visited by the princesses who came to visit our table. Ours was the second table on the princess rotation, the first with a child, so she did not have to wait long after each announcement. Our grown-up dishes were much better than I expected given my low opinion of theme park food. The whole experience will stand out as one of my favorite holiday meals.</li><br />
<li>Disneyland after dark is a magic of a different kind and DCA captures that feeling in similar ways. After the sun set, we found our way to Paradise Pier and the Jumpin' Jellyfish. Our daughter likes this simple ride and, even though I have a small fear of heights, it is mild enough for me to chaperon her. As we stood in line, we heard the music for an oncoming parade. DCA's parades aren't nearly as popular as Disneyland's Paint The Night, so there were no crowds to warn us it was coming. The parade reached us just as we ascended the tower. It was a fun perch to watch from even if I wouldn't want to spend the entire parade up there. </li><br />
<li>Our night ended with a trip to Olaf's Snow Fest. It is a poor substitute for snow play, but it is as close as our Southern Californian little girl has ever come to the real thing. She had a ball. And that is what Disneyland is all about for me.</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-41714418372378739722016-02-09T01:59:00.002-08:002017-07-02T22:42:07.083-07:00Theme Parking: Will Dynamic Pricing Come To Disneyland? [Updated: 2/29/2016]<ul>
<li>A pair of stories appeared on Theme Park Insider recently about pricing for <a href="http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201602/4935/">Universal Studios Hollywood</a> and <a href="http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201602/4937/">Shanghai Disneyland</a>. Though they are unrelated, they signal a shifting tide in theme park admission pricing. I would be very surprised if dynamic pricing does not arrive at the Disneyland Resort within a year.</li><br />
<li>The price offers differ slightly between the mentioned parks. Universal Studios is maintaining a constant gate admission price while offering a discount for online orders. Shanghai Disneyland is instead splitting ticket prices across the board for peak and non-peak days. The effect is basically the same, though you have to make a greater effort to take advantage of the Universal prices.</li><br />
<li>Two data points are not a trend. However with circumstances as they are at Disneyland, this seems like the exact solution Disney Parks will be looking toward in the future. On one hand, ratcheting up Annual Passport prices hasn't really lessened crowds at the park. That may slacken over time as some passholders allow their passes to expire. But attendance pressures are only going to increase when Star Wars Land finally opens. Adjusting annual passport prices can't be sufficient to prevent overcrowding.</li><br />
<li>On the other hand, the one day ticket for Disneyland is now $99.00. Crossing that threshold and making the price to visit the Happiest Place on Earth at least a hundred dollars will have huge psychological repercussions for visitors. Even now, as a middle aged man, I balk any time a price climbs into the triple digits. I suspect that I am not alone.</li><br />
<li>The obvious solution for Disneyland to meet these disparate needs is to institute dynamic pricing. The park can raise prices on peak days and leave off peak days at the current price. That would allow the park to say that they still have a sub-hundred dollar ticket while also encouraging attendance on lower traffic days. Blockout days for lower tier annual passports already serve that function. It's time that daily tickets offer the park the same tools.</li><br />
<li>From my point of view, this is an inevitability. When they decide to do so is anyone's guess. But if Michael Colglazier happens to be reading this, drop me a line. I'd be happy to put a proposal together for you.</li><br />
<li><b>UPDATE 02/27/2016</b>: I would say "Called it" if it hadn't been so blatantly obvious. Laughing Place and various Disneyland bloggers are reporting that <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2016/02/26/seasonal-ticket-pricing-coming-disneyland-walt-disney-world/">seasonal pricing is starting at Disneyland this weekend</a>. Pricing signs on the ticket booths have already been replaced with monitors, a necessary step to adjust prices from day to day. Good thing we have annual passes. Oh, those expire in April? Damn.</li><br />
<li><b>UPDATE 2 02/27/2016</b>: <a href="https://www.mouseplanet.com/11327/Disney_Parks_adopt_Seasonal_Pricing_for_oneday_tickets_ticket_prices_go_up_AND_down">It's official.</a></li><br />
<li><b>UPDATE 3 02/29/2016</b>: As long as I'm making updates to this thing, I might as well mention that it is not really dynamic pricing. It's not even seasonal pricing as Disney would have it unless we're talking the weekend and holiday season versus the early week season. It's really just tiered pricing. Any other name actually implies too much. So I was only mostly right.</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-19134246364659742702016-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:002019-08-18T12:53:21.420-07:00Theme Parking: Construction Begins on Star Wars Land<ul>
<li>As has been long expected, construction have gone up all over Disneyland. Between removal of holiday overlays, refurbishments, and the start of Star Wars Land, it feels as though it would be easier to count the attractions that are still open rather than name all those that are closed. <a href="http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2016/01/refurbishment-days-are-here-again-at.html">From the photographs MintCrocodile posted recently</a>, it would be hard to find a sight line that doesn't include a construction wall or barrier.</li>
</ul><center><a href="https://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-QS7z6Kf/0/O/i-QS7z6Kf-O.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-QS7z6Kf/0/O/i-QS7z6Kf-O.png" width="560"/></a>
<aside><small><i>Completely stolen from Magic Eye</i></small></aside></center><ul>
<li>As the work goes on beyond the walls, Disney Parks have given us some indication of <a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/01/first-look-at-new-rivers-of-america-waterfront-and-disneyland-railroad-at-disneyland-park-in-california/">what the new Rivers of America will look like</a>. Based on the posted concept art, it looks amazing. As much as I enjoy riding the train around Disneyland, there is far too much staring at foliage or the backside of buildings. Riding over a trestle along the northern end of the rivers will likely become the highlight of the loop.</li>
</ul><center><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sA9erPWKjog/Vqh86A64t2I/AAAAAAAAKps/pngUtf4tD6s/s1600/ROA-Rendering-900.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sA9erPWKjog/Vqh86A64t2I/AAAAAAAAKps/pngUtf4tD6s/s560/ROA-Rendering-900.jpg"></a>
<aside><small><i>Completely stolen from Disney Parks Blog</i></small></aside></center><ul>
<li>Theme park bon vivant Matthew Gottula pointed out one particular poster which recently went up on the construction walls across the Big Thunder Trail. Along with other Frontierland posters, the Disney Parks crew also hung a <a href="http://www.yesterland.com/minetrain.html">Nature's Wonderland</a> poster. It took me a bit to realize that this was not just a reproduction but an update, replacing "Via The Mine Train Thru Rainbow Caverns" with "Via The Disneyland Railroad" and removing the location labels. Could this be a hint that Imagineering has more in store for the railroad than they have let on. We can only hope.</li>
</ul><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This attraction poster may hold a clue for the future of the Disneyland Railroad <a href="https://t.co/u13SdoBkDh">https://t.co/u13SdoBkDh</a> <a href="https://t.co/OTu6U2LH17">pic.twitter.com/OTu6U2LH17</a></p>— Matthew Gottula (@DLthings) <a href="https://twitter.com/DLthings/status/693902080759574528">January 31, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<aside><small><i>Can't really steal a tweet</i></small></aside></center><ul>
<li>Finally, along with its usual histrionics, MiceAge recently reported on the proposed layout for Star Wars Land. On the face of it, it looks exactly like what I would expect. Whether this map is the real thing or an educated guess, it remains to be seen. But, I would not be surprised if Star Wars Land looks a lot like this.</li>
</ul><center><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bwASSZGXIOQ/VqXBzX_glRI/AAAAAAAAKpU/P8sTjndXzkI/s1600/ZZ71516B78-700x597.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bwASSZGXIOQ/VqXBzX_glRI/AAAAAAAAKpU/P8sTjndXzkI/s560/ZZ71516B78-700x597.jpg"></a>
<aside><small><i>Gleefully stolen from MiceChat</i></small></aside></center><ul>
<li>It will be interesting to watch construction unfold over the coming years. It is an exciting time to be a fan of Disneyland.</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-19936006616607390442015-12-31T07:00:00.000-08:002015-12-31T07:00:10.069-08:00Top Five: Video Games of 2015<ul>
<li>2015 has been a year of highs and lows for me. One of the highs was definitely all of the great games that came out this year. Without wasting any more time, let's get to the list:</li><br />
<li><i>The Witcher III: Wild Hunt</i> - Probably the best game I played all year. I found the Witcher books to be engrossing and I'm glad I had that background going into this game. Although I had some frustration with the combat, the world of the Witcher was so beautiful to explore. Everything from the countrysides and cities to lonely hovels and corpse strewn battlefields were amazing. Best of all were the quests and the well-written characters that drove them. As the game intends, I spent a lot of time in the first act taking on contracts and completing side missions while I investigated Ciri's whereabouts. Eventually though, I mainlined the main quest, if only because I had to see it through to the end. I was very happy after the ending to find that I could return to the world and resume taking on side quests and the DLC after the main quest was done. Also, I though Gwent was an amazing addition to the game. I spent many a night avoiding monsters and bandits so that I could find the next gwent player.</li><br />
<li><i>Destiny: The Taken King</i> - I was one of those weirdos who actually liked <i>Destiny</i> when it was initially released. <i>The Taken King</i> has made it even better. The original content has been reorganized into a much more coherent series of quests. And the new content to so much more exciting. I am so happy that Bungie learned from their early mistakes and was able to reforge the game into something that I don't have to feel embarrassed to admit enjoying.</li><br />
<li><i>Shadowrun Returns</i> - I'm not sure why it took me a couple of years to finally try <i>Shadowrun Returns</i>, but I'm glad I did. <i>Returns</i> is the tactical RPG I've been waiting for since the Gold Box games and <i>Fallout</i> games. Once again, great stories and great characters carry a straightforward tale of investigation and revenge into and exciting challenge. That there are two more games in the series available gives me such joy. If you miss tactical combat in your role-playing games, you have to try <i>Shadowrun</i>. They got it right.</li><br />
<li><i>Bloodborne</i> - From Software played a key role in my decision to purchase a PS4. I was infatuated with <i>Dark Souls</i> and, to a lesser extent, <i>Dark Souls II</i>. <i>Bloodborne</i> may deviate from the Souls games, but the lineage is clear. The quick, aggressive combat was an interesting change of pace. But although it did not achieve the same high as with <i>Dark Souls</i>, <i>Bloodborne</i> was a memorable experience that had me on edge through the end of the game. It was a worthy successor to the series.</li><br />
<li><i>80 Days</i> - I feel a little more comfortable including <i>80 Days</i> because it didn't release on Android until early 2015. I'm not sure I've seen a more impressive model of interactive fiction. Modeled after Jules Verne's <i>Around the World In Eighty Days</i>, this steampunk infused adventure gives the player freedom to travel all over the world, meeting people and visiting strange places. As the valet Passepartout, you must care for your master, Philias Fogg, and direct the journey. But you are given absolute freedom to explore and make connections that may or may not advance your goal. I love how the game evokes Verne's science fiction worldview while also keeping a modern eye toward those around the world who might not take kindly to the eurocentric point of view of the original work. I've been around the world a couple times now and I was much more satisfied when we lost the wager than when we won. But I could not stop there. Adventure awaits.</li><br />
<li>Honorable mentions go to <i>Rocket League</i> for its fast, fun, and completely infuriating gameplay and <i>Tales of the Borderlands</i> which might have breached this list if I had only finished it in time.</li><br />
<li>I can't wait to hear what you think are the best games of the year. Here is to a great new year!</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-8231838320408281642015-11-11T17:04:00.001-08:002017-07-02T22:50:55.877-07:00Theme Parking: Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler<ul>
<li>In the days leading up to PBS's <i>American Experience</i>, I found that I did not want to wait to learn more about Walt Disney. I did a quick Google search and eventually decided upon <i>Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination</i> by Neal Gabler. All of the reviews pointed to a thorough, modern examination of the man. With a handful of Audible credits available, I decided on the audiobook edition, read by Arthur Morey.</li><br />
<li>Gabler's biography is a mostly linear affair, from laying the groundwork for Disney's birth until his death. Some of the threads overlap, especially later in his life when Walt had multiple projects going at once. However, Gabler does a good job of reminding the reader of various milestones from other threads, so I never felt lost by the narrative. Gabler's prose is descriptive without being overly flowery. The book is more concerned with details than mood setting.</li><br />
<li>As one would expect, Disney's animation work takes up the majority of the narrative. From his initial shorts, through the creation of Mickey Mouse, to the feature films, Gabler devotes a lot of time describing the process of creation for each work. And, as expected, the triumph and setbacks of his business are a major component to the story.</li><br />
<li>Since I'm a huge Disneyland fan, I was very interested to see how the biography would describe its conception and construction. A couple times I fought the urge to skip ahead, especially during the Fantasia section. I came away slightly disappointed by how the subject was handled. That is likely my fault as that may be a better topic for a more Disneyland focused book than a biography could hope to provide.</li><br />
<li>My major issues with the biography are the facile conclusions Gabler draws to explain Walt Disney's personality. Each of Disney's actions either stem from a yearning for a childhood lost at the hands of his father or a personal drive to assert control over his life and environment. The way certain moments, right up until his death, were plucked to prove one of these assertions felt very Psych 101. By the end of the book, I found myself rolling my eyes whenever Gabler strayed from the narrative into analysis. The Walt Disney Family Museum has stated time and again that it supports fact-based examinations of Walt Disney's life. While there is run for interpretation in biography, I think Gabler would have found himself in better standing had he followed that advice.</li><br />
<li>That aside, I found <i>Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination</i> to be a fascinating, well written examination of the man's life and work. I have no reservations recommending it to anyone interested in the subject, as long as they are forewarned about its one shortcoming.</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-63895406937300555312015-10-08T07:00:00.000-07:002017-07-02T22:58:27.749-07:00Theme Parking: Disneyland Resort Trip Report - 9-11 September 2015<ul>
<li>As opposed to the spontaneity of <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com/2015/08/theme-parking-disneyland-resort-trip.html">our August trip to Disneyland</a>, this trip has been planned for a long time. We wanted to spend a couple days in the park in celebration of my wife's birthday. Instead of making hard decisions about what to ride and what to skip between the two parks, visiting multiple days in a row would finally allow us to relax and see everything we would want to see. There was just one small, but growing, monkey wrench that changed our plans.</li>
</ul><center><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EhwZccOc0S8/Vg700kE65QI/AAAAAAAAIpU/Hfz7DLSikT8/s1600/20150909_101244.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EhwZccOc0S8/Vg700kE65QI/AAAAAAAAIpU/Hfz7DLSikT8/s560/20150909_101244.jpg"></a>
<aside><small>Even the turnstiles are festive.</small></aside></center><ul>
<li>Wednesday was devoted to Disneyland. The park was already decorated for Halloween when we arrived. It was fun seeing the blue anniversary bunting replaced with orange. And of course, there were jack o' lanterns up and down Main Street. After a quick stop at City Hall for a birthday button for my bride, we made our way to Carnation Café for a birthday breakfast. (Aside: I am now addicted to making dining reservations online. That's how we ended up with Thanksgiving reservations in the park.) During breakfast, I noticed on the Disneyland app that the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters had a ten minute wait. The wait times for the ride are usually so long that I mentally wrote it off months ago. But with miniscule line and because Midway Mania was such a hit last visit, I convinced my family to give it a try. It ended up being a big hit.</li>
</ul><center><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeIhT3o9PpQ/Vg71jalhTtI/AAAAAAAAIpc/S4v9xgLVztY/s1600/20150909_132612.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeIhT3o9PpQ/Vg71jalhTtI/AAAAAAAAIpc/S4v9xgLVztY/s560/20150909_132612.jpg"></a>
<aside><small>I haven't seen this in a long time.</small></aside></center><ul>
<li>After the ride, we found ourselves in Tomorrowland, trying to figure out where to go next. Across the way, we saw Star Tours and decided to give it a try. We walked over to the entrance and asked the cast members there if we could measure our daughter. It was a near thing, but she could finally clear <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com/2015/08/theme-parking-almost-forty-inches.html">forty inches</a>. In that instant, all of our usual plans went out the window and a whole new world of possibilities had opened. That first day we could finally returned to a couple of our favorite rides, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Star Tours. I can't even remember that last time I rode them. While we were trying new rides, we even hopped on Gadget's Go Coaster for the first time. It may be small, but it was a lot of fun.</li>
</ul><center><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acvBBXnr0Co/Vg74FVY95qI/AAAAAAAAIpo/YWn0drDrFpU/s1600/20150909_201242.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acvBBXnr0Co/Vg74FVY95qI/AAAAAAAAIpo/YWn0drDrFpU/s560/20150909_201242.jpg"></a>
<aside><small>The lights. So pretty.</small></aside></center><ul>
<li>With our first day winding down, I volunteered to camp a spot on the parade route while my wife and daughter visited the princesses in Fantasy Faire. They has so much time that they also rode on the Mad Tea Party and Alice In Wonderland. When they returned, it was time for Paint The Night and the Disneyland Forever fireworks. We ended the night with a stop at Wetzel's Pretzels and opening birthday presents in our hotel room.</li>
</ul><center><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-en6DJ3ZJ_xA/Vg78ipsT1cI/AAAAAAAAIp0/W_WVpyBqjwQ/s1600/20150910_100322.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-en6DJ3ZJ_xA/Vg78ipsT1cI/AAAAAAAAIp0/W_WVpyBqjwQ/s560/20150910_100322.jpg"></a>
<aside><small>I'm not sure what I was going for with this shot, but I like it. DCA is a weird place.</small></aside></center><ul>
<li>Thursday was our California Adventure day, for the most part. I wore my new We Wants The Redhead shirt and we walked to the park for our second day. Now that our daughter was the appropriate height, we could finally ride Radiator Springs Racers. Our first stop for the day was the Fastpass station. Even picking up passes soon after opening, we still received an afternoon return window. We also picked up passes for World Of Color, a show we have never stayed late enough to see. After finishing our scheduling, we could finally make our way to the rides. Our daughter's first choice was <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com/2015/06/theme-parking-ariels-undersea-adventure.html">Ariel's Undersea Adventure</a>. Afterward, it was time to visit the princesses again. You read that right. So that our daughter could see some of the other princesses, we crossed the esplanade long enough to visit Fantasy Faire.</li>
</ul><center><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3OdXOTvBmQ/Vg7-nnVnKgI/AAAAAAAAIqA/pwtCJT_QI68/s1600/20150910_170922.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3OdXOTvBmQ/Vg7-nnVnKgI/AAAAAAAAIqA/pwtCJT_QI68/s560/20150910_170922.jpg"></a>
<aside><small>I'm so happy that Condor Flats was merged into Grizzly Peak. It looks so good now.</small></aside></center><ul>
<li>Upon returning to DCA, we had two goals. First, we wanted to try new rides that we hadn't tried before. We ended up on Monster's Inc., Radiator Springs Racers (finally!), Soarin' Over California, and Jumping Jellyfish. Second, we wanted to see several shows. I think it was the announcement the prior night that <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com/2015/09/theme-parking-out-with-old.html">the Aladdin musical would be replaced by Frozen</a> that prodded us in this direction. We saw Aladdin, the Frozen Sing-a-long, and World of Color. Again, I was stunned by how much we could do in the park that we had not before.</li>
</ul><center><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEHbI4tUylw/Vg8B1hkXUVI/AAAAAAAAIqM/q5bWfdWgocM/s1600/20150911_100339.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEHbI4tUylw/Vg8B1hkXUVI/AAAAAAAAIqM/q5bWfdWgocM/s560/20150911_100339.jpg"></a>
<aside><small>What did they do to my Haunted Mansion?</small></aside></center><ul>
<li>Our original plans for this trip called for one day at Disneyland, one day at California Adventure, and then off to home. As we woke up Friday morning, we did a quick calculation and decided to head back to Disneyland for the opening of Haunted Mansion Holiday. It was our first time seeing the overlay. While it was well done, I have no affection for The Nightmare Before Christmas and it felt disorienting to see the ride that way. On the way out of the park, I picked up <i>The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering A Disney Classic</i> by Jason Surrell and we all chose treats from Candy Palace. All in all, it was a great mini-vacation that left us all exhausted and happy.</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-48352743846771282042015-10-05T07:00:00.000-07:002015-10-27T22:22:26.892-07:00Played Lately: The Witcher 3<ul><li>Geralt left the deserters behind to nurse their wounds in the ramshackle cottage. The hound outside watched him warily as he passed. Although the witcher has been hired to find the lost man, it was the dog who eventually led them here. But no matter; the job was done.</li><br />
<li>Roach cantered up at his whistle. Geralt. climbed into his saddle and they rode back across the corpse-strewn battlefield. Broken engines of war jutted from the mud and filth. The witcher steadied his steed with a pat on the neck.</li><br />
<li>Down the road, the witcher could see the burned out remains of the village ahead. There were bodies here too, though the survivors were disposing of the dead. A good thing too, Geralt thought. The corpse eaters would find the battlefield soon enough. There was no need to draw them to the village as well.</li><br />
<li>Not that there was no fear from the necrophages. The witcher had noticed signs of drowners the first time he passed through. No one was going to pay him for the job. These people barely had homes much less the money necessary to hire a monster hunter. Nonetheless, the witcher could not leave these people to even greater misfortune for lack of coin.</li><br />
<li>As Roach cantered down the lane, a shout rang out from above. Geralt turned toward the sound only to be met with an arrow to the arm. Before he could react, a second arrow struck, knocking a full quarter from his vitality bar. The witcher paused the game and checked his world map. An icon nearby indicated that he was near a bandit camp in the middle of the village. "Oh, I have to fuck these guys up now."</li><br />
<li>Actually now that I think about it, that last part might have been me. <i>The Witcher 3</i> is a really good game everyone.</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-41334453131279952962015-10-04T22:49:00.001-07:002015-11-13T01:11:17.089-08:00Theme Parking: Paying More For Less - Disneyland Annual Passport Prices Increase<ul>
<li>Sometime Saturday evening, rumors started spreading that annual passports would be increasing in price. Within a few hours, those rumors became a reality for both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. The biggest change for Disneyland was the abolition of the Premium passport and its 365 day access. In its place are two new passes, the Signature and Signature Plus passes. The Signature is $50 more expensive than the old Premium pass, but now includes fifteen blockout days over the holiday season. The new 365 day pass, the Signature Plus, is now $1,049, a full $270 higher than the prior version.</li><br />
<li>The one announcement that was not made was any change to standard ticket prices. The one-day one-park ticket is still $99 and I don't see Disney wanting to break the hundred dollar barrier lightly. Instead, this increase is primarily targeted at annual passholders, especially those who fill the park on their busiest days.</li><br />
<li>It is for that reason why I find myself so confused about the comments I see about the increases. The common troupe is that Walt built the parks as a family vacation destination. While increasing ticket prices does have an effect on vacation planning, annual passports are not targeted at vacationers. While Walt was alive, the parks were still selling ride tickets. Annual passes did not show up until the mid 1980's when attendance was falling. There is no way to tell what he would have thought of people who return to the park repeatedly.</li><br />
<li>It will cost my family an extra $150 next year if we choose to renew our Deluxe passports for roughly the same amount of access. Thankfully, it's a decision we don't have to make until next April. We have already spent nine days at the resort during the first half of our passes and foresee spending several more days there. At this point, the passes have more than paid for themselves even at the new prices. When we decide whether or not to renew, our decision will come down to how much more we will want to visit Disneyland over the coming year.</li><br />
<li>In the meantime, something must be done about the massive crowds who seem to show up no matter what the prices are. Until the parks become too expensive for the value they provide, people are continue to flock to the park in droves. And even this price increase will not be enough to keep people away.</li><br />
<li>For more thoughts on why prices keep going up, here are articles from <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disney-686110-pass-visitors.html">Robert Niles from the <i>OC Register</i></a> and <a href="http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20150221/29975/price-hike-disneyland-ticket-timeline-and-why-price-rose-again">Brian Krosnick from <i>Theme Park Tourist</i></a> (from earlier this year, but still relevant).</li><br />
<li>UPDATE 10/07/2015: Here is one more link, this from LA Times report Brady McDonald, titled "<a href="http://www.latimes.com/travel/themeparks/la-trb-disneyland-annual-pass-20151007-story.html">7 reasons why Disneyland raised its annual pass prices</a>". There has been a lot written about Disney's greed (by the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disneyland-prices-20151005-htmlstory.html">LA Times</a>, <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/annual-686250-disneyland-passes.html">OC Register</a>, <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/10/05/did-disneyland-and-disney-world-go-too-far.aspx">Motley Fool</a>, and <a href="http://www.frommers.com/community/blogs/arthur-frommer-online/_one-percenting-of-disney-loses-wins">Frommer's</a>). And although that is a factor in this change, it is not the only one. I would have written my own blog post, but Brady McDonald covered everything I wanted to say in much better fashion.</li>
</ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38541167.post-72494417467602812682015-09-29T18:41:00.000-07:002016-01-31T00:07:39.085-08:00Theme Parking: Stirring The Pot - Will The Rivers of America Be Shortened?<ul>
<li>The talk of Internet Disneyland today is MiceAge's rumor that the upcoming Star Wars Land addition will be accompanied with a massive redesign of the Rivers of America and the route of the Disneyland Railroad. According to those rumors, about one quarter of the length of the waterway will be excised to make room for the expansion. The north end of Tom Sawyer's Island will have to be removed to make room for the new waterway, taking Fort Wilderness with it. And along with change will be a rerouting of the railroad along the new waterway, cutting much closer to Big Thunder Mountain before cutting back toward Fantasyland Station.</li><br />
<li>It is difficult to take anything MiceAge reports as face value. Such rumors have the tendency to evaporate as reality encroaches. As writer <a href="http://www.dlthings.com">Matthew Gottula</a> stated on Twitter, "Then again, this is the same source that kept telling us a few years ago that an Ewok Village would uproot the submarine Voyage and Autopia." Here are a few of the highlights from MiceAge from the recent past:</li>
<ul><li>As recently as August 11, still forecasting that <a href="http://micechat.com/108619-disneyland-rumors-starwars/">Mickey's Toontown would be demolished</a> to make way for Star Wars Land</li><br />
<li>Here's a rumor that <a href="http://micechat.com/97462-princess-power-hub-bub/">Sleeping Beauty Castle would be moved deeper into Fantasyland</a> and replacing Pixie Hollow with Disney Power Princesses</li><br />
<li>Are the <a href="http://micechat.com/26081-disneyland-tron-monsters/">Hollywoodland Backstage to become Monsteropolis</a> and Shanghai's Tron Lightcycle ride is coming to Tomorrowland?</li> <br />
<li>How about Cars Land coming to <a href="http://micechat.com/16904-cars-land-in-tokyo/">Tokyo Disneyland's Rivers of America</a>?</li> </ul>
<li>Again, rumors are just that. Something to talk and laugh about while there is no real news to discuss. Maybe this is all true. But I'm not going to bet my Disney Dollars on it.</li><br />
<li>UPDATE 09/30/2015: I should have bet my Disney Dollars.
<blockquote><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/DisneylandToday/status/649071186236866560"><b>Disneyland Today</b> @DisneylandToday</a><br>
@ZachTWB Hi, Zach. The Rivers of America will have a new route when it reopens.</blockquote>
Congratulations of MiceAge for getting this one right.</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1">If you're reading this on a site other than <a href="http://anjininexile.blogspot.com">Anjin Unchained</a>, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.</font></div>Marty Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.com0