Merry Christmas, everyone!

Whatever way you enjoy this special day, whether in real life or in virtual life, remember that it's much more special when you celebrate it with people closest to you. Enjoy whatever gifts you had received!

Happy Holidays! ^^

Mari's 2nd class to emerge with a bang in GCPH

Well, here we go again with another update to make way for all Grand Chase PH players out there!

Shortly after the release of Sieghart's fourth job, the Prime Knight, Mari's 2nd job will come out after the server maintenance this coming Tuesday. From showing her mechanic prowess as an Ether Tech, Mari's abilities will evolve to the next level with long - range firepower and great speed. Yes, you got that right, Mari's next job will be the Gunslinger.

Mari about to show off long - range firepower with her gun as a Gunslinger

Let's sneak peek with a little info about the upcoming job class (based on the official statement in the official GCPH website): 

Ages ago, a legendary kingdom was at war with the magic tribes. While the kingdom’s magic users were instrumental in the war, their powers were exhausted and their resources slowly dwindled, which made sustaining the war with the magic tribes becoming more and more impossible by the day.

It was then that a skilled magic engineer developed a gun that could go on firing as long as the user’s magic powers endure. A special soldier was created to handle this gun, known today as the Gunslinger. With Gunslingers in the kingdom’s command, the magic tribes lost and the war came to an end.

Unfortunately, the legendary kingdom met its untimely end in a mysterious explosion and with it the secrets and technology to making Gunslingers.

But not all is lost. The Dwarves of Archemedia have been found to use rifles based on the ancient designs of the Gunslinger weapons! Soon, in a great pilgrimage to learn more about her past, Mari was given one of the dwarves’ designs and the title of the legendary Gunslinger!

As a Gunslinger, Mari makes use of magic and machines to dispatch enemies. Her long-range attacks are weakened, but at mid-range her power is unequaled. With Triple Missiles, Thermal Traps and her innate speed, Mari the Gunslinger is a force to be reckoned with in the battlefield. There won’t be anything left of evil once Mari’s finished with them!

The Grand Chase team now has extra firepower in Mari the Gunslinger.

Join them in their quest to rid the world of evil once and for all!

Yep, as usual, there will be events to celebrate the Gunslinger's release. But that's not all, Gacha Selion will be back, giving players another chance to complete the highly coveted Dark sets and weapons, and even the rare chance to obtain Selion itself. Plus, there will be special rewards if you purchase items using a certain amount of cash points, like the rare pet Lilith card.

Check out the official GCPH website for more info.


Ok, signing off now... It's late at night already and I need sleep... ^^

Kerida de Amor: Commotion on a Painful Discovery

We all know what we feel what is like to be cheated, to be replaced by someone whom he or she thinks to be more pulchritudinous than us. In fact, in the game of love, some boys and girls tend to look more on the physical appearance and environmental background rather than behavior. After all, what most people want is a rich, beautiful (or handsome) person as his or her significant other.

But secretly having someone else as a new lover while having a relationship with his or her first soulmate (or husband or wife if married) can lead to dire consequences, especially when it's discovered unexpectedly, just like in one video posted in Facebook showing a woman violently beating the hell out of her husband's second girlfriend. You can check out the video here.

After all, secrets can't be remained hidden forever, and since we're Catholics, adultery is a serious offense.

So remember, choose your soulmate wisely, and love him or her with all your heart, despite his or her imperfections.

Of closures and new stuff

Yep, it's me again, ready to deliver what's going on in the online gaming scene... ^^

Let me start with two new updates:

First up, I'm sure all Grand Chase players in the Philippines are excited about the coming of Sieghart's fourth job: the Prime Knight. 

The loading screen during the Prime Knight release in Korean servers

Here's some info about the class from the official news statement in the official GCPH website:

When the war against the forces of evil spread throughout Bermesiah and beyond, the gods soon realized that the mortal world was in peril. And so, they summoned the best knights from all over the world, looking for the few to be granted awesome powers for use against the coming threat.

It was then that Sieghart caught the eye of the gods because of his dedication to his cause, and his devotion to training and honing his skills to become the best that he can be. After a series of grueling trials and tests, Sieghart finally returned as a Prime Knight, wielding the authority of the gods as the most powerful kind warrior in the world!

As a Prime Knight, Sieghart uses the Executioner sword, blessed by the Sun and Moon. To wield Executioner, one must gain the approval of both Sol and Luna, and become the Primus of the Executioner, to use its full power. Don’t let its immense size fool you, it’s actually made up of two separate swords, allowing Sieghart to attack the enemy with quick swipes and strikes to catch evildoers off-guard!

In addition, Sieghart gets an upgraded Rage ability, increasing the number of hits he can do with normal and Rage attacks, and increasing the power of his attacks to staggering levels. Very few classes survive a battle with a Raging Prime Knight!

The Grand Chase has now tapped into the fury of Sieghart the Prime Knight!

Join them in their quest to rid the world of evil once and for all!

Yep, that description alone got all GCPH players all pumped up for the upcoming challenge, espcially with events to celebreate the Prime Knight's arrival... ^^

Check out this link for more info.

-----


Next on the list is the arrival of a new MMORPG, Battle of the Immortals, developed by Perfect World Shanghai and published in the PH by Cubizone Philippines. Currently in Open Beta, it boasts itself to be very different due to its unique avatar customization system, the pet & mount system, unique quests designed to give more than just exp. points, and even the wedding system and the so-called Realm of Love.






Check out the official website if you're curious and itching to know more... ^^

-----

But sadly, while there are new arrivals, there are also farewells, like Nostale Global going to shut down this month. As you all know, Nostale is one of the MMOs brought to us by E-Games, but it's actually on a global server and not the common misconception that E-Games is the one publishing it separately as a local game. According to the statement found in the Gamedok Chronicles, there will be a celebration of the server closing festival before the servers finally shut down for good.


Look here for the complete news regarding this matter.


Well, anyway, that's all for this day... Gotta hit the sack now! ZZZZzzzz

A new character to come for Grand Chase PH

I'm suffering from the damned cold & cough right now, and my throat's starting to kill me... T_T

But still, it doesn't stop me from posting what's new in the online gaming scene... ^^

Since all of Grand Chase players in the Philippines (including my younger bro) are anticipating for a new character to arrive after the extended server maintenance tomorrow (it was rescheduled due to the national holiday today), I decided to post about the new character. Yep, I'm talking about Mari the Ether Tech (Rune Caster in other versions).

Here's a little info about Mari (taken from the official news statement at the Grand Chase PH website):

Cownat was once a great and industrious kingdom, known for its advanced technology. No one knows what happened all those years ago, but what they do know is that a great cataclysm destroyed Cownat, leaving the kingdom in ruins, its people lost to memory.

Until now.

A survivor emerged from the depths of history, with no memory of how she got here or what happened to her home. A bit shy at first, she slowly warmed to her surroundings and became curious about the people of this age, about the technology, about magic, about…well, everything!

And so, to satisfy her curiosity, she agreed to join the Grand Chase in search of adventure and new things to discover. Her name is Mari, and she is the one and only Ether Tech!

As an Ether Tech, Mari uses gadgets and machines to turn the tide of battle. She can summon machines like turrets to attack her enemies, put up mana shields to protect her and her teammates, and use a jetpack to get to safety. Mari may seem shy and sweet, but never underestimate the amount of firepower she has up her sleeve!

The Grand Chase welcomes Mari the Ether Tech to their ranks. Follow them in their mission to rid the world of evil once and for all!

By the way, the Ether Tech is Mari's first class. In other versions (excluding Thailand and Indonesia), the second & third job classes of Mari were released (Gunslinger and Polaris respectively, names might change in the PH version). These two will be released perhaps next year (maybe after Sieghart's forth job) , while Mari's fourth job class will come out in the Korean servers sometime at the end of the year or in early 2011 (just a speculation, though). 


Anyway, aside from the release of Mari, GC PH players will witness another new event in the form of Gacha Selion. Works the same as the Gacha Ariel event, except that once you open the sealed beads using the Spell Book, there's a chance you'll receive Dark Flame, Dark Inferno & Dark Volcano armor sets, capes & weapons, plus you'll get a new pet once you complete all Gacha bead (Sealed, Ancient Sealed & Epic Sealed) items: Selion, the Master of Flames (as awesome as Ariel, trust me!). 


That's all I have to report for now. Visit the official Grand Chase PH website for more info... ^^

EDIT: Added Indonesia to the not available list... Sorry, my memory's getting so rusty... ><

Craving for more

I just wish I could go back to play online games again but before, but because of me having limited Internet time right now, I had no choice but to be in hiatus mode. But still, I just sure hope I'll go back to playing Cabal or Runes of Magic, or rather, go back to my good ol' Ragnarok days, since my older sis came back to playing the game. If not, I'll just continue to satiate my curiosity for new online games that would soon be competing in the online gaming market.

Speaking of curiosity, here are some of the new online games that I suggest you try out:

Card Monster Hero - homepage

It's currently in closed beta phase for the global server of this game, but still, try it out if you like the playing card format: cards are used to summon minions or mercenaries, use skills, and even as materials to create new items.

 

Aika Global - homepage

If PVP and castles war are your thing, then this game's for you, for it has castle wars and even a full - scale 1000 vs 1000 nation war. Plus, if you want to have a companion for your adventures, then you must get a Pran, which evolves and grows stronger as it levels up, and it even has its own inventory, skills and equipment.

Mission Against Terror - homepage 

If you want an MMOFPS with a twist, then check this out, for it has some nifty cool features, like dancing to replenish lost HD during battle; polymorph grenades for transforming enemies into animals when they get hit; voice chat for easier communication to teammates; and even a "mummy mode", in which you'll end up becoming a bandaged zombie if you get bitten by one.




Rappelz Online Philippines - homepage


I know it's like the usual MMORPG, but it manages to boast itself to be different through its pet system: pets will be undergo a three-stage evolution process until it becomes an adult, with unique classes, skills and equipment . Plus, its character customization system is almost like Perfect World, but on a bit smaller scale.

 












Oh, and here's another game you might be curious about: With Your Destiny Global. But I would rather not talk about it, since I found out that it was actually the global version of Supreme Destiny, which was once published by IP e-Games but unfortunately ended up biting the dust after quite some time.


So there you have it, I'm back from the hiatus of discussing online games, and I might come up with more blog posts about once I find more updates and interesting info about the online gaming market.


That's all for now! Signing off... ^^

Spirit day? What's that?!?

Ok, this is very weird. I was on my usual routine of checking my DeviantArt messages when I see this:

Color change on the top horizontal strip of dA

 At first, I was very skeptical on what exactly happened, until I saw one of the pictures tinted with purple, indicating that it was an important event of the day. It was known as "Spirit Day".

I never heard of the day before, so I did a little research and even checked out PJ Punla's latest blog (she's one of the former writers of GAME! Magazine as far as I know it) for some details. Finally I checked out this website: 

http://www.glaad.org/spiritday

That was when I found out that "Spirit Day" was an important day dedicated to gay, lesbians, homosexuals and other kinds of transgenders who fight for their right to live normal lives. Can you imagine being mistreated just because you're having a different sexual orientation? That day was worse, for lives were even lost during that time.

As you can see, this post was typed in light purple color. It's because people are asked to wear purple shirts to show support against hatred and discrimination against gays, lesbians, & other people with unique sexual orientation. Purple was said to be the color of "spirit" according to the rainbow flag, which is on reason why purple became the official color for the Spirit Day.

So remember, never discriminate people just because they look and act "different". Instead, welcome them with open arms despite differences.

That's all for now! ^^

About separation

Last night, I watched another Inazuma Eleven Pokemon DP Battle Dimension episode. In the former, Nathan a.k.a. Kazemaru (the green - haired ponytail guy) was very downcast with the Raimon Eleven's latest defeat in the hands of Genesis (another team from Alieus Academy)and Shawn's (Fubuki's) serious injury that he decided to lay low from the team for a while. As for the latter, Jessie had to say goodbye to her Dustox so that it could be together with another Dustox (the one with brown wings that belonged to another random trainer) as they went to the so - called "Dustox Crossing", the time when the Dustox fly off in a form of a golden archway to Mt. Coronet so that they could start a new life and have a family in a flower field there.

It's indeed very painful when we experience separation, whether it's going to another place for a while, or watching a friend depart to somewhere else without turning back. But still, changes are permanent, and we have no choice but to accept it, if it's necessary.

Whatever it is, it's important to keep memories of friends in our hearts, so that it will always be worthwhile.

That's enough ranting for now... Signing off... ^^

Black Rock Shooter, one - of - a - kind

I first heard of Black Rock Shooter from the show entitled "Culture: Japan" by Danny Choo. There was a company known to produce excellent figurines (known as GoodSmile Company), and the figure details are very good. The main protagonist there was a hit, especially with that cool pose. Here's the pic:

Ok, enough ranting about the figurine, for I'm now talking about the anime show itself.

For the unitiated, Black Rock Shooter focuses on two sides of the coin: the real world, and the alternate world. In the real world, two girls meet and become friends, but later on, one of the girls disappears and her friend becomes worried about what will happen to her.


Meanwhile, in the alternate world, the main protagonist (the girl with back hair tied into pigtails and pale blue eyes with the left one blazing with a blue flame, wielding a oh - so - big cannon which can change into any weapon) is at constant warfare with the villain (the girl with the same hair color but with a somehow wavy hairstyle and pale green eyes, with the Grim Reaper scythe as her weapon and can control black skulls with glowing eye-holes). Later on, with a warm hug, the menacing spirit is finally defeated and the real person turns out to be the main character's friend who vanished from the real world. Eventually, the main protagonist crosses paths with her look - a - like and merges with her. In the end, the two friends go back to their normal lives, but things don't look as they seem in the end, with another girl acting strangely again.


Want a clearer picture? Look here.


But still, it's a great show to watch, especially with the fight scenes and the tensions going on. The drawings are indeed very gorgeous and neat, but not that original, since some speculate that the gun-wielding girl may be similar to Vocaloid's Hatsune Miku in terms of the hairstyle.


Here's another pic of the gunslinger, this time it's from an artist in DeviantArt:

If that's interesting for you, put Black Rock Shooter onto your watch list. I'm sure it's worth the hype!


See ya later, fellow readers! ^^

When vigilance is a must

Anything can happen even when we least expect it, whether it is good or bad. In my mom's case, it was bad, really bad. Her golden - color bag was stolen by a thief while she's in a restaurant in Bacolod. One minute, she was enjoying the food, and then, she realized that her bag's gone missing once another minute was passed. Now she lost all the important stuff: her purse, house keys, ATM cards, EVERYTHING!

We all know that stealing other people's things is a crime, but still, there are other people who still do it, usually due to poverty or even problems that involve money. It's very traumatic to experience being stolen by someone, and for those who do the deed, it may be fun at first, but in the end, karma can be unforgiving.


That's why it's important to always watch our backs and keep on guard. After all, the signs that read "Please keep an eye on your valuables" is always posted for this. And if you see someone stealing, don't hesitate to report. It may be worth the trouble... ^^


So remember, I repeat, always be on guard! Now signing off...

 

Mendoza hostage taking, a tragedy indeed

Up to now, I could still remember the recent hostage taking in Quirino Grandstand, with Rolando Mendoza being the mastermind of it all. The pictures were indeed still clear in my mind: poor tourists being held hostage inside the bus, police shooting guns like mad, and even the cries of people who were mere witnesses of the tragedy. It was indeed a tragedy that will forever be marked in the pages of Philippine history.

In case you haven't heard of it, check out this video:























I mean, what the heck is wrong with the hostage taker? All I know what he was indeed very desperate and hysterical about having his plea of clearing up his name not answered up to now. But still, I hope he had to come up with another way to discuss the problem, the one that does not involve putting innocent lives in danger.


But unfortunately, it's too late now. He was already dead, and his poor brother, Gregorio, was coerced to explain what exactly happened in the court. Even his family members couldn't help but to witness that incident helplessly.


But the worst of all, tourism here in the Philippines would slowly go down the drain... ><


I sure hope such things would never happen again, for the country's reputation would indeed be tarnished with a stain that would be hard to clean.


Ok, that's enough ranting. Now signing off...


EDIT: Put up the name of the hostage taker. Sorry if my memory's not clear... ^^;

About the growth (and demise) of MMORPGS in the PH

Nowadays, MMORPGS are one of the popular sources of entertainment for Filipinos, as well as one of the most popular business opportunities, with the growth of Internet cafes and game publishers. Online gamers would flock at their favorite gaming spots and spend lots of time grinding and doing quests to fortify their characters, no matter what attack style they would be. More importantly, MMORPGs are also a way to socialize, with chatting and forming parties with friends and fellow players.

The MMORPG phenomenon started with Ragnarok Online, published by Level Up! Games, way back in 2003. Although not many people play the game like it used to be back in the early years, it was still marked as a unforgettable memory and still garnered a strong following, with lots of updates to keep it going.

More importantly, Level Up! Games now has a long list of online games for players to enjoy, including Flyff (formerly under NetGames Inc., which is now disbanded), Grand Chase, Hello Kitty Online, Perfect World, Rohan Online, and even KOS: Secret Operations, its first MMOFPS. It even brings international games to Pinoys, like Neo Steam, Silkroad Online and Deco Online.

From one online game publisher, others decided to step up to the competition, like E-Games. E-Games also managed to attract attention like its predecessor, with RAN Online as its debut MMORPG. And now, it still continues to entice gamers with Cabal Online, Dragonica, Runes of Magic, Nostale, Granado Espada, Audition Dance Battle, OP7, and its newest titles, Superstar (karaoke) and Band Master (instruments). And so there you have it, many more publishers will soon be coming, and still counting.

But if there are more online games coming into the spotlight, there are other online games reaching their end, which led to their ultimate demise. If you ever checked Alcarcalimo's post about the closing of Lineage 2 SEA here, and even the latest news about ZX Online's upcoming shutdown here, you'll get my point. I know it's melancholic, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.


So there, now you understand what is like to be a customer in the online gaming market, whether you're a hardcore gamer, casual player, or itching to try something new. I hope this will open your eyes to enjoy the life of an online gamer

Discovering more about Japan's culture

With so many things to love about Japan, the country has become a popular place for people to flock in. One would just wish he or she would live there to relish the delicacies of Japanese culture.

Speaking of Japanese culture, I just watched the TV show entitled "Culture: Japan", hosted by popular blogger Danny Choo and K-On voice actress Satomi Oda. The show features some of the stuff that make the land of the rising sun very famous. Here are a few of them featured in the episode:

Cosplay: Popular Pinoy cosplayer Alodia Gonsiengfiao was featured there, with a sneak peek about her home which is also a workshop for her cosplay sorties.

Anime Figures: Mr. Choo was granted permission for a tour about Good Smile Company, the guys behind some of the most renowned anime figurines. The show even featured a few of the figure collectors and Amiami rated the top 10 best figurines to look out for.

Anime: DigitalHolywood was included there also, which served as a training ground for all future animators all over the globe.

Student Life: Fujisawa High School was indeed a school of its own kind, which allowed students to create their own time tables to suit their interests. 

I sure hope there will be another episode of the show, so that viewers everywhere would savor more about the Japanese pop culture. I hope this will spark your interest... ^^

For more about Danny Choo's blog, you can visit dannychoo.com

Oh, and here's Alodia's website for an added bonus: alodiagosiengfiao.com

Of sibling relationships (in anime)

One of the plots you would usually see in anime shows is family relationships, particularly towards siblings. Most of them have featured characters that have either brothers or sisters, or even both. The closeness between them are somehow similar in real life, wherein it differs depending on the situation. It's somehow complicated, but let me simplify this: either they became allies or enemies, and, in some cases, they remained close even though they could not reunite due to unfortunate circumstances.

Here are a few examples:

First on the list is Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha from Naruto. I know how you guys feel when you discover that Itachi's the one responsible for the extermination of their clan. The usual reaction would be anger and retribution for the dead, and it goes the same for Sasuke against Itachi.

Another is Makoto and Kyoichi Shido from Idaten Jump. At first, Makoto wondered if the masked rider is really her brother and why she could not see him immediately, but after rediscovering her MTB bike and removing the masked man's helm, it was indeed a miracle that her guess was right, and she understood the reasons as to why Kyoichi had to conceal his face and go on separate ways from her and his friends, especially if it involves Team ST.

Lastly, there goes Tyson and Hiro from Beyblade G-Revolution. Hiro may seem to be a bad guy at first, especially when he defeats Ray and watches Tyson battling against other beybladers, much to the Tyson's chagrin, but at the regional finals, when he reveals his face to Tyson at last, it was indeed a tearful reunion. After all, one must sometimes camouflage to keep an eye on the person he or she loves most.

So there you have it, folks, the application of real - life sibling relationships in anime shows. Whether it's sibling rivalry, discord, or close bonds, what matters the most is that family is one important factor in one's life, and one must be glad to have grown-up with family members.

That's all, folks! Gotta continue my Beybade G-Revolution marathon! ^^

Interest in Beyblade rekindled

I first discovered Beyblade years ago through watching adventures of Tyson and his crew of beybladers. When you hear the word 'Beyblade', the first thing that would come into your mind would be spinning tops on the field striking against one another until only one top remains spinning with the others being rendered to standstill. What got me hooked on the series was the intense action, the competition to see who will stand the best among all, all while imparting lessons of sportsmanship, friendship and fair play.

And so once again, I was drawn again into the world of spinning tops through the latest Beyblade spin-off, Metal Fight Beyblade. It was first aired last Wednesday through Cartoon Network, and boy, I was once again hooked with the action that was brought by the battle that Tyson and his friends first commenced. Only this time, a new protagonist emerged, by the name of Ginga Hagane, together with his Beyblade, Storm Pegasus.

 


























I really adored Ginga and considered him as my most favorite character there because of his extraordinary skills in beyblading, especially when Storm Pegasus unleashed its most powerful attacks. More importantly, he taught Kenta, the short kid who's also a beyblader, that a beyblade's true strength lies within the heart. No wonder he would sometimes stare at the stars during his usual strolls and considered Pegasus as his comrade (Yep, the bit beasts are based on constellations, different from the previous Beyblade shows wherein the four Chinese mythology beasts were the bit beasts of the main protagonists.)


I'm really getting hooked on it right now! I can't wait to see more of the action! Yeehaw!


That's all for now! Ciao! ^^

Witnessing a lot of endings

They say that all good things must come to an end, and it does happen all the time. In my case, I have seen some anime shows that I've watched in both Animax and Cartoon Network reaching their final moments. Good thing they turn out to be enjoyable, although not that happy and not that bittersweet.

The first on the list in Tengen Toppa Gurren Langann. The main antagonist was finally defeated and both Simon and Nia were finally married, but sadly, her life was put to an end. On the final scenes after the ending song, the characters had grown and aged, but they had become better persons, especially Simon who passed on some words of wisdom to the kid as they watched the robots fly off into space.

Next is the latest season of Pokemon, Diamond and Pearl. Although Ash and his latest rival were still in each other's throats during the tag team battle, they managed to win the championships and win the prize. I couldn't wait to see what will happen next! ^^

Then there's Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood. The main villain finally got the taste of its own medicine by being brought into despair, and Ed and Al were back to their normal selves. Can't tell you how, but it's worth the trouble. The last episode will be shown on Friday.

In Romeo x Juliet (Yes, there's also an anime version of the Shakespeare classic), the tides were turned to the Capulets and Lord Montague finally confessed the truth to Romeo about the tree that held the world in place that was about to wither, that once it is dead, the apocalypse will happen. I would say that the ending will be heart-stopping and shocking.

Well, that's all I could remember. What's important is that whatever the result will be on the grand finale, we must accept it as it is.

That's all! ^^

Depression mode... again

Something really bad happened to me, and I really don't want to talk about it right now...

Because of that, I don't feel like I'll draw or write stories anymore, for that bad experience really destroyed the imaginative part of me. So there, I'll be back to my normal, uninspired self, and I don't care if I'll suffer from both artist's and writer's block, just to make my mom happy... T_T

I'll be in indefinite hiatus and leave behind the artistic side of me, and I'm sorry if anyone would not be happy about my decision. I hope there will be solace, so that I might be back to being imaginative and artistic...


Sorry about my ranting. Thank you and good night...

Too late for coming back

I had mentioned in one of my previous posts that I decided to leave my Lineage 2 SEA characters in indefinite hiatus because I couldn't afford to update to the Final Gracia patch due to intense system requirements and that it'll eat up a lot of hard drive disk space. I was hoping that I'll come back once I upgrade my PC or at least buy a new one with compatible specs for the game, and that I may enjoy the adventures in Ether again.
 
Until I checked out Alcarcalimo's blog and saw this.

It's stated there that i AM Interactive decided to shut down its operation on both L2 and Exteel due to termination of its contract with NCSoft. And since it already happened, I realized that it's already too late for coming back. *Sobs*
 
I will miss my Paladin, my Silver Ranger, my Soul Breaker, and all my other characters who became part of my journey in Ether. I still had my fanfics about my Paladin with his Doombringer lover, and I was hoping to rekindle my interest in L2 so that I could come up with new stories for my other avatars, but I guess the flame went dead already.

Good thing I still had some screenshots, though. Here are some of them:






My Paladin (back at the Heaven's Oracle days)





My Paladin and her Doombringer lover (main characters in my L2 stories)





 
My Soul Breaker (also from the HO days)






My Silver Ranger






My Artisan (I just wish she would be a Warsmith)






My Dark Elf Wizard (future Spellhowler)
 
Well, that's all I could have for my L2 memories. I will always remember those days.


Ciao! ^^

The 39 Clues: A dangerous hunt

 If you ever heard or watched The Amazing Race before, then you've been familiar with the scene: teams competing for clues which serve as keys to reach their destinations, accomplishing various tasks. It serves as a test to see who gets there first, because those who get left behind will be eliminated.

 But what if the competing teams are composed of relatives who will do more than just get the clues, obliterating every obstacle that comes in their way, even if it means to strangle their other relatives who aim for the same goal? After all, treachery and distrust are abounding in the competition, and that's what happens in the series entitled The 39 Clues, a series introduced by Scholastic Inc. 

The 39 Clues focuses about the Cahill family, the most influential lineage in the world. Yes, you may have heard of famous people like Benjamin Franklin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, George Washington, Edgar Allan Poe, and others, but in The 39 Clues, they all have Cahill blood. The family is split into 5 branches. There are four known branches: Ekaterina (scientists and inventors), Janus (artists, painters, composers, dancers), Lucian (leaders and spies) and Tomas (athletes and explorers). The remaining branch, the Madrigals, were a group of Cahills with unknown intentions as of now, although they are also involved to stop the other branches from getting the Clues.


But the main event commenced when after Grace Cahill died, during her funeral, it was stated in her alternate will that in order to find the secret to the Cahill lineage's ultimate power, one must accept in joining the competition to search for the 39 clues (hence, the title). But in order to do so, one must surrender the check containing $1,000,000. Among the group of people who were selected to hear the will, only seven teams accepted the challenge.

Amy and Dan Cahill were orphans under the care of Grace's sister, Beatrice, who was strict and overprotective. They were considered as the underdogs due to the fact that their competitors looked down on them, thinking that they're just a bunch of rag-tag travelers who won't stand a chance to survive in the dog-eat-dog competition. But still, it was due to their talents and strengths that they managed to overcome obstacles and go in the lead, accompanied by their au pair Nellie Gomez and Grace's Egyptian Mau, Saladin.


There will be 10 books that focus on the their adventures. Each book contains 6 cards that, if one types the code printed on the bottom, will appear on the online card gallery, and unlock the same clue mentioned in the book. Yes, one can also collect cards to unlock combos and get more clues, by buying more books and card packs.

If you want to know more about the series, and to see more of the good stuff, check out this site:


The 39 Clues Official Website


Oh, and in order to do the unlocking stuff, card collecting and all that jazz, you must register for an account there. It's worth trying it out.

So far, I've finished reading Book 1, and started reading Book 2. Gotta buy more books and card packs to unlock more combos and get more clues... ^^


That's all for now... Time to unleash the inner Lucian within me now! *evil laugh*

Monochrome - Blue Sky

I hate to admit, but I'm starting to like Vocaloid music, because of so songs which were interesting and the voices which were pleasing to my ears. My favorites are Magnet (sung by Megurine Luka and Hatsune Miku) and Dark Alice (also sung by Miku).

And now, I'm talking about my current favorite, Monochrome - Blue Sky, also sung by Miku. The reason why I love this song is because of the fast upbeat tempo and lyrics. Miku's voice does breat in singing the song.

Here's the original music video of the song:




 And here's the fan made video, sung and interpreted by Spark Enjel:



By the way, Spark Enjel is an UTAUloid created by none other than Felicia-Val, who also brought Hoshine Stella to life. You can check out more about their songs there:

Hoshine Stella blog 

Hope you enjoy the videos and unleash the Vocaloid/UTAU fan within you! ^^

Changes to my blog + My new favorite anime

Yeah, I know your eyebrows are raised because of the changes I made to my blog. I decided to upgrade my template because I'm somehow bored with my previous template. It really took me a short time to revamp this blog to a new level, but I'm happy with it. Oh, and I changed the title a bit because somehow, my post does include not only about my life and online games, but also about anime as well. So there, the new title is shown on my brand - new blog.

Well, speaking of anime, I'm now a fan of To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (A Certain Scientific Railgun). I first discovered it in my March issue of GAME! magazine, and it's only a few days ago that I decided to give it a try. Indeed, I was impressed with it.

Well, just in case you haven't heard of it, To Aru Kagaku no Railgun is a side story of another anime entitled To Aru Majutsu no Index. It focuses mostly on Makoto Misaka, one of the Level 5 users in Academy City, the place devoted on training its students to fortify their supernatural abilities. Misaka is reputed to be the ace of Tokiwadai High School (one of the prestigious elite schools in Academy City) due to her powerful talent of controlling electricity to her liking, like launching coins at a fast rate and giving those who cross her a excruciating electric shock, which might even cause massive destruction at the surroundings. No wonder Shirai Kuroko, another Tokiwadai student and a member of Judgement (the police department) always shows affection to her, much to her chagrin.

Aside from Misaka and Kuroko, there are other two interesting characters that I like: Kazari Uiharu and Ruiko Saten (both students from Sakugawa Middle School, another school in Academy City). Uiharu is a shy female teenager with a flower wreath on her hair, who is also adept in using computers for research and surveillance for Judgement, while Saten-san, despite having no abilities, is a cheerful female with a happy-go-lucky attitude (although there's also another side of her, which was painful and depressing). Together with Misaka and Kuroko, they form a group of friends who stay strong despite the obstacles coming their way.

But despite the action, comedy and humor made to lighten the mood, there are also sides of horror and depression. One proof would be the ability users who used their gifts for bad means, with a sad story behind the motives. Another would be a scientist who acted as a cerebral psychologist, but in fact, has even more sinister plans. But the more shocking would be illegal means to upgrade supernatural powers, with a heavy price in exchange.

If you're interested, check out the ff. videos (sorry, I won't put the episodes... You have to discover it for yourself):

First Opening Song (Only My Railgun by fripside)




First Ending Song (Dear My Friend by Elisa)



Second Opening Song (Level 5 - Judgelight by fripside):



Second Ending Song (Real Force by Elisa):




All in all, it's indeed worth checking out. Gotta check out To Aru Majutsu no Index once I'm done watching all 24 episodes of Railgun... ^^


That's all for now... Ciao! ^^