Nich Maragos' Journal

2:04PM - The Etrian life

So as was recently announced, Etrian Odyssey II is coming to the US. We're still in the thick of production, and I'm enjoying it enough to wallow completely in the game. I'm now the proud owner of literally every Etrian Odyssey soundtrack album in existence, but the highlight of EO-related news for me was the recent revelation that the awesome destroyerzooey is enjoying the original. Even though I had no real role in making the actual game, knowing someone whose work I enjoy so much is enjoying something I worked on is a real kick.

2:27PM - V-Day

I don't often get cards on Valentine's Day for obvious reasons, but a coworker gave me possibly the best one I've ever received. The inscription read:

"Nich! Have a happy happy bloody nose Valentine's Day! I hope you feel beautiful like a Princess <3 <3"

10:08AM - Packing

There is nothing like an upcoming move to make you regard everything you own as an inconvenient lump of matter.

11:42PM - Support Megan's Law for the English language

8:01PM

I'm selling things. Mainly comics, western and eastern. Have a look?

12:36AM - Self-propelled Mario

(Cross-posted from my personal site, because I really don't think anyone reads it anymore.)

I'm fully aware that I haven't updated this blog in about eight months. So what is it that finally led me to break my silence? The most amazing gaming-related videos I've ever seen.

The Detteiu Mario series (available in eight installments so far: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight) is the work of a man who decided to hack his own levels of Super Mario World, the first 16-bit Super Mario game, in a way that allows the levels to be completed with no controller input whatsoever. This isn't so clever in and of itself; it wouldn't be so hard to construct a level that drops Mario onto a conveyor belt that takes him directly to the exit. What makes these videos so incredible to watch is the style, inventiveness, and wit that goes into the design.

Under the direction of the designer (one "daigam," whose real Japanese name I don't know) Mario becomes sort of a cross between Buster Keaton and Mr. Magoo, blithely making razor-thin escapes through impossible deathtraps. The videos keep getting longer and more self-aware; even the very first ones have a topper gag like reuniting Mario with Yoshi after the exit, but the capper gets more and more outrageous until Mario literally sleepwalks his way through defeating one of the game's major bosses. The videos are full of hilariously impressive bits such as that, where you can almost see daigam's wink at the viewer as Mario dodges bullets, hitches rides on enemies, and bounces around the levels like a pinball.

These videos are more than just technically impressive feats to wow videogame geeks. They're there to remind anyone, whether or not they've played a Mario game or even know what SNES stands for, of the joys of well-executed, impeccably timed physical comedy. The best part? Anyone who is familiar with Mario games knows from the introductory map screens that he's only on world 3--there's still as many as 5 worlds of this stuff to go, and I can't wait to see how inventive it can get before the end.

7:31PM - Deathly

I finished Harry Potter 7, and I feel like I should warn anyone who's trying to avoid spoilers that it's just full of them.

10:18AM - Cartography

Google Maps is the best!
True that? DOUBLE TRUE!

2:56PM - The $500 dilemma

Well, the software-only BC future of the PS3 is on its way with the new 80GB model, which dumps an irritatingly-timed choice in my lap: do I buy a 60GB model before they're phased out forever?

I don't want a PS3 right now. I don't have a TV that supports 1080p (and don't plan on buying one for years and years), there are no games currently out that I'm interested in, and it's awfully expensive for a lot of features I won't be using. But I will want one eventually, by early next year at the latest, so I have to think down the line. Bluntly, I suspect the current software-based backward compatibility will not be updated or fixed--there's not a lot of money in it, when Sony could be focusing on moving forward with next-gen-specific services. Now I'm a Megaten fan, and the PS2 Megaten games are known to be busted under software BC, which leaves me with two choices...

Buy a $500 PS3 now
Pros: I get all the EE functionality I need, and a more-than-good-enough system to play PS3 games on when the time comes.
Cons: I'm not really flush with cash, and a purchase now would mean I'd be stuck with the crappy Sixaxis rather than whatever Sony might introduce down the line now that they're playing nice with Immersion. (Either way, I won't be able to use proper Dual Shocks for older games.) Plus, on the outside chance Sony really is going to get its software BC right, I'd feel pretty silly on rushing.

Wait until later
Pros: I'd be able to save until I really could afford PS3, and take advantage of it right away with games I'm looking forward to.
Cons: I'd have to keep a PS2 hooked up to the TV for older games, and I could be waiting a long time for Sony to drop the system price in any meaningful way, forcing me to spend $600 for an extra 20GB of memory I'd never have the patience to fill up.

Either way, it's not really an ideal situation. Oh, Sony... -_-

6:51PM - It's real, and it's fantastic

My first game is out!

6:56AM - wii post

so it turns out wii opera is really useful when you've had a 15-hour workday and you just want to lie bonelessly in bed, but you also want to check your webcomics.

Current mood: guh

Current music: the delgados

3:19PM - SF visit II

Coming back up to SF again for the long weekend. I am interested in seeing people and/or things!

11:46AM - SF visit

I'm coming up to San Francisco this weekend to see the Minibosses and hang out with folks; if anyone reading this is interested in doing either, let me know!

4:03PM - Other blog

I'm not sure everyone on my friends list is aware -- if you are, ignore this post -- but I don't do much updating of my LJ. It's mostly a dumping ground for stupid memes and whenever I get the overpowering urge to whine about something. My real blog, which I seem to be updating regularly once more, is at Skellington Parade and you can subscribe to its LJ feed here. It syndicates the full article from the site, so if you want to comment on any of the syndicated posts, please click through to the actual site!

12:53PM - So

Who's up for seeing BloodRayne today? Come, it'll be awesome!!!

1:44PM

From ferricide:

A list of the 50 most influential SF films, according to John Scalzi's Rough Guide to Science Fiction. The ones I've seen are bolded.

( science )

3:13PM - Flint (for the Unemployed and Underpaid)

Since the first of June
Lost my job and lost my room
I pretend to try

9:55PM - iTunes meme

Oops, forgot to put behind a cut.

( Read more... )

4:10PM - Meme-a-matic

1. Go here.
2. Pass it on.
( my answers )

8:13PM - Comics sale

In the vein of the DVD sale (thanks to everyone who bought something), here's a look at the comics I'm getting rid of before I stick them up on eBay. All comics are trade paperbacks unless noted; if you're interested in something or just want to know what it is, email me (nich$maragos-org) or AIM me to work out a price. These are generally going cheap (I'm as interested in getting rid of stuff as I am in making money), so don't be afraid! (Nothing on this list is superheroes, for the phobic.)

Manga
Adolf vol 1-5 (complete set)
Akira vol 1
Cinderalla (Junko Mizuno)
Princess Mermaid (Junko Mizuno)
Pure Trance (Junko Mizuno)
Hino Horror #1: The Red Snake
Hino Horror #2: The Bug Boy
Icaro vol. 1-2 (complete)
Offered vol. 1-2 (complete)
Parasyte vol. 1-4
Apocalypse Meow vol. 1

Western comics
100 Bullets vol. 4-6
Ariel Schrag: Awkward, Definition, Potential
Astronauts in Trouble: Live from the Moon
Kyle Baker, Cartoonist vol. 1-2
Days Like This
Doll and Creature
Hellboy: Seed of Destruction
Hellboy: Wake the Devil
I Am Legion vol. 1
Jinx
Last of the Independents
Love and Rockets vol. 1: Music for Mechanics
Orbiter (HC)
One Bad Day
The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion (Will Eisner)
Red Rocket 7
Squee's Wonderful Big Giant Book of Unspeakable Horrors
Strangehaven: Arcadia
Strangehaven: Brotherhood
True Story, Swear to God vol. 1: Chances Are