World War III: Nintendo 3DS vs Playstation Vita

     After dropping $250 on launch day for a 3DS, only to have the price drop $80, I figured I'd wait a while to get a Vita. That didn't last long. Here I am, one month post-launch, with a shiny new Vita, as well as my thoroughly used 3DS and able to make a comparison of the two. While they are two entirely different beasts, nobody likes that "everybody's a winner" crap, so there will be a winner here. First, I'll discuss the 3DS, then the PS Vita, and compare the two.
     As many people have stated, Nintendo fucked up the launch, but not as badly as people make it out to be. At launch, they had the most powerful handheld, as well as glasses-free 3D technology in a mainstream device. What they did not have, however, were games. For the first couple of months post-launch, all I had to play was Super Street Fighter IV. It wasn't until the recent releases of games such as Mario Land 3D and Mario Kart 7 that my launch purchase of a 3DS paid off. Also, the e-Shop has been slow to develop, consisting mainly of a few casual 3D games and old Game Boy and Game Gear titles.
     After researching the Vita heavily for a month post-launch, I decided to take the plunge. As o right now, it is far more worth its asking price than the 3DS was at $250. The lineup of games within the first thirty days is far more varied, with key first party franchises such as Uncharted making an early appearance, and third party franchises like Marvel Vs. Capcom also starting off strongly. So strongly, that I purchased eight titles in the first week of owning a Vita. The hardware is also top quality, with the OLED screen and PS3-like graphics truly impressing. Addition of a second analog stick to the core product was also a wise move, with the actual stick (not slider) design being a plus. Sony's implementation of PSN and Trophy support out of the gate is also leaps and bounds above expectations following Nintendo's offerings on the 3DS.
     Each device serves a different purpose. The 3DS is a natural extension of the DS line of products, with Wii-quality graphics, viewable in 3D. The Vita, on the other hand, is less of a PSP successor and more of an effort to put a current console in the palm of your hand. It succeeds in so many ways. While the 3DS is only now finding its identity, the Vita seems to have learned from the mistakes of the PSP, the PS3, iOS devices, and the 3DS and put out a product that addresses criticisms of all of them. As the owner of both a 3DS and a Vita, I don't want to see either fail. I  hope each company puts out the best games possible and inspires healthy competition.
   

The Political Truth Behind Racism

     The truth is, racism was not born out of hatred. Before you get outraged and call me crazy or a traitor, read on and inform yourself of the truth. In the middle ages, Europeans and Africans actually got along pretty well. Race was seen pretty much as it is today: just the color you happened to be. One thing would change the course of history, and it wasn't a random realization of hatred based on the color of one's skin.
     The beginning of 400 years (and counting) of racism was greed. Europeans realized the treasure trove of resources that Africa had and the prime seaports of western Africa that were vital to the slave trade, which was more based on class at that time. As people are more likely to get behind a cause when they are seen as "right," the view of Africans as subhuman savages was born. Complex family systems were broken up to provide slave labor. The Europeans also destroyed much of the historical records, including the killings of holders of the verbal history.
     The numerous religious beliefs throughout Africa were snubbed out in favor of the spread of Christianity and the resources were pillaged in the name of "helping" the people. Sound familiar? Today, the same greed-centric spread of racism befalls any and all people who those who stand to benefit from it can milk dry. Innocent men, women, and children are murdered every day in the Middle East, as well as Africa to stop so-called "terrorism." The people in power like to dress it up as patriotism and make those who question the senseless deaths of people on both sides of wars seem less than American, when our nation claims to respect other cultures.
     Those of us who want a truly colorblind society need to spread the TRUTH, which is that the biases we have about each other were put there relatively recently by people seeking to exploit those of us who are not outrageously wealthy, which is the majority.  The closest thing we had previously was our instinctual distrust of other "tribes," which were most likely other species, such as Neanderthals, (which all non-African  humans ended up being formed from as a result of inter-species breeding.) that we long ago lost the need for. We must put our LEARNED preconceptions of race aside. I, myself, come from both African and European lineage, and I refuse to believe that one side is somehow superior to the other, especially when the facts laid bare support my belief.

Kony 2012: Invisible Children's Invisible Cause and Visible Lie

     Over the past few days, Americans have come out in full force to support the Kony 2012 movement, which seeks to capture the leader of the LRA and liberate Ugandan children. That would be nice if he was actually in Uganda and an actual threat to children. While young people being passionate about the world is a nice concept, the reality is we have been fooled, much like a celebrity is "killed off" of Twitter every other day. Some may forsake the skeptics and say it's a good thing to be involved, but blindly following a YouTube video does far more harm than good.
     When getting behind a cause, you should know who you are lending your money and support to. Invisible Children is more of a video production company and merchandising outlet than an actual charity. Of the roughly $9 million they raked in last year, less than a third actually went directly to improve Uganda. The Kony 2012 video was slick, but not "six million dollar" slick. Let's not even get into their $30 "Action Kits" containing posters and other crap, which is all sold for profit. IC is an evangelical group, which basically means they believe God somehow favors them and it is upon their shoulders to tame the unholy "savages" of Africa. It's the same old "heroic white man saving the blacks from themselves" story.
     Even the people of Uganda are critical of the whole thing. They feel like they are being exploited and misrepresented, and rightfully so. While I would lead you to believe the children of Uganda are out being child soldiers, they are actually attending schools. The REAL issues are bigger than Kony, a man who hasn't set foot on their soil in six years. Outdated facts and outright lies are being perpetuated as the truth.
     As I said before, people standing up for something is a good thing, but while we're focused on a nation that can handle itself, we are facing larger problems in the US that deserve our attention. The NDAA bill was passed, which means any of us could be detained without cause for no reason forever. American troops are killing innocent people in the Middle East for sport. These are facts that are readily available, yet none of the brain dead fucks on Facebook or Twitter are spreading the word. We are being led like sheep to the slaughter, yet we'll hod on to the false idea that "they" are worse off than us, when we are the ones who need help.

Used Game Backlash and "Premium" DLC: The Death Of Gaming

     In recent months, used games have come under fire from game developers like never before. Even Microsoft is rumored to be working on "new game only" tech for the next Xbox. The used game market has been around since gaming itself, and losing it will take away a signifigant portion of gamers. This, along with the poor quality of paid DLC will insure the death of console gaming.
     First and foremost, developers have the right to be paid for their work. That much is certain, but their attacks on used games are born out of greed. With the price of a new game at $60 on consoles and $40 on handhelds, most people do not have the option of purchasing new. In the current economy, that is the lion's share of a phone bill or a week's worth of groceries that the average family cannot spare. The devs need to realize that its not money they're missing out on due to used games, but money they would never get in the first place.
     The Playstation Vita has imposed an easily-bypassed technology in game cards to prevent trophies from being unlocked. Such tech could be perfected to lock games permanently to one console. Gone would be the days of loaning your friend a game. The proposed solution is a paid trial, which may one day replace demos. If developers and publishers only make one copy of a game, they should only be paid the cost of one sale. One of the worst things to happen to the industry is the Online Pass model which makes users pay for features that were previously free, which brings me to my next point.
    "Premium" DLC has harmed gaming. Ever since Oblivion's horse armor, the disc shipped to retail has been lacking in the name of profits. With the exception of GTA 4 and a select few other titles, nothing substantial has came from any paid DLC. Outfits and gear that should be on disc are instead sold as a separate product. Often, they actually are on the disc and you just download a small "key" file to unlock content.
     It saddens me to see gaming turn to the same cash-grab techniques as other forms of media. Gone are the days where accolades and a comfortable salary were all developers needed to give us complete products. We are in threat of losing the choice to purchase games we otherwise would not have access to. What happened to gaming?
   

Thank Me Later.

The Death Of Television

     The days of TV are numbered. This is coming from a guy raised on The Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, MTV (when it played music) and numerous other networks that either no longer exist or have changed their format so drastically, they do not resemble my childhood memories of them. Quality scripted shows are being axed in favor of "reality shows" that require the same amount of writers to place low-rent amateurs in situations that look juicier in the "On next week's episode" promo spots than they actually are. Each fad comes and goes, and the current one of depending on shows that will be out of style before you finish reading this may take over 60 years of history down with it.
     Take, for instance, The Walking Dead, a show that rivals most movies in terms of buzz, scope, plot, violence, and atmosphere. Before the second season even had a chance to begin, major changes were implemented, such as the firing of show-runner  Frank Darabont. This was due to his lack of compliance with budget cuts that would harm the show and which the producers are free to do now that he's gone. Why such changes on a SUCCESSFUL show? They saw what happened to The Sarah Connor Chronicles, another great show that pushed TV boundaries, yet network politics forced it out as brain-melting shows like Jersey Shore and Bad Girls Club take over.
     After these shows run their course, all of the quality shows will have been cannibalized and we will be left with nothing.  Do not give these corporations your viewership. Don't even tune in to see how stupid these shows are. Show your support to ART.

Things You Can't Do When You Don't Drink

As many of you (or none of you) know, I was recently hospitalized for Pancreatitis. Due to not wanting to cause a flare up (cuz that shit really sucked), I have sworn off alcohol. To celebrate, I have compiled a list of things I will never again do due to this decision. Depending on how you read it, it could be a gift or a curse. 

1. Blame it on the a-a-a-alcohol.
2. Die as the driver of a DUI crash. Bummer.
3. Smoke after you drink. Now you just smoke. And that's sad...
4. Feel half of Drake's songs.
5. Justify a sexual liaison with an ugly person.
6. Piss in the corner of a living room. Unless you REALLY have to go.
7. Call or text your ex at 4 am asking if it's really over....5 years after the fact.
8. Wake up vomiting and hot. Then drink another beer.
9. Have Taco Bell as your first pick of late night eats.
10. Think of a 10th item on Top 10 lists