Mad Catz has released numerous versions of their FightPads throughout the years. These included ones for Street Fighter IV; ones for Super Street Fighter IV; and ones for WWE All Stars, although those were called BrawlPads. For Street Fighter X Tekken, they have made a new reincarnation, the FightPad S.D..

One of the 2 major differences between the FightPad S.D. and older FightPads is that both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are wired. This made me happy when I found out, because traditionally only the 360 versions have been wired, while the PS3 ones have been wireless and run on 2 AA batteries. But no more!

The FightPad S.D. has the same shape as its predecessors, which is similar to the shape of the revised Sega Genesis controller. The (second major) difference here being that when compared to the original FightPads and the BrawlPad, the FightPad S.D. is 15% smaller. This is one thing that the “S.D.” in its name could stand for: Smaller Dimensions (the other could be Slimline Design). The sucker is ridiculously light too, even compared to a regular 360 FightPad, which is lighter than its PS3 counterpart.

As with its older brethren, the FightPad S.D. lacks analog sticks. This is because the controllers are for fighting games, in which the analog sticks are almost never needed or the directional pad (D-Pad) and the left analog stick have the same function. However, they do have analog stick functionality. On the back of the controller, there is a 3-way switch that allows you to set the D-Pad as the D-Pad, left analog stick, or right analog stick. This feature is useful for playing games that may otherwise be incompatible with a digital controller.

The D-Pad is also larger than those found on first-party controllers. In addition, there is a noticeable gap between the D-Pad and the body of the controller, giving it an appearance that it’s floating. This not only gives you ample room to perform circular or direct motions, but it also makes intricate motions easier to do. It is nowhere near perfect, but it’s a massive improvement over a standard D-Pad.

The FightPad S.D. features a 6-button layout, which gives the controller more of an arcade cabinet feel, something fans of fighting games will appreciate. By “6-button layout,” I mean that in addition to the 4 action buttons that you’d find on the face of a standard controller, the FightPad S.D. also has 2 shoulder buttons, which are located on the top of a standard controller. These are also larger than buttons on a standard controller, making them easier to press.

Another thing I like is the fact that the Start and Select buttons are a little raised from the body of the FightPad S.D.. This makes them easier to locate and press without looking down at the controller.

Like with its predecessors, the FightPad S.D. has Turbo or Rapid-Fire functionality. For me, this is especially useful in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, where button mashing during a super move double its hits and damage. (Note: The use of Turbo in tournaments is illegal, and the user is disqualified.) To enable the Turbo, you hold the Turbo button and press what button you want the Turbo to effect. To disable it, you just hold down the Turbo button until the Turbo light comes on.

I only have one problem with the FightPad S.D.. My initial concern when I heard about it being smaller was that the distance between the D-Pad and buttons would be shortened, which might give me trouble due to the fact that I play one-handed. Unfortunately, I was right in thinking this. Right now, I am having trouble executing moves that I have no problem with on a regular FightPad, although it’s probably just because I’m still not used to the FightPad S.D.’s compact size.

Regardless of the problems that I’m currently having, the Street Fighter X Tekken – FightPad S.D. is a well-built controller that emulates the feel of playing on an arcade cabinet. I would definitely recommend this controller to fans of fighting games. As of the writing of this review, the FightPad S.D. retails for $39.99 USD, and features different graphics with characters from Street Fighter X Tekken.

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. is a global provider of innovative interactive entertainment products marketed primarily under its Mad Catz, Cyborg, Tritton, Saitek, and Eclipse brands. Mad Catz also operates a video game content website under its GameShark brand, and distributes games and video game products for third parties. Mad Catz distributes its products through most leading retailers offering interactive entertainment products and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. They graciously sent me a PS3 FightPad S.D. for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

When you have the product on, the straps prop the tray up, making it into a desk that goes where you go. You can adjust the tray’s angle by adjusting the upper straps. The tray itself has grip liner covering it to keep things from sliding all over. The upper straps have a velcro strap around them to keep stuff from falling when you lean forward.

After adjusting the straps for the first time, I found the straps to stay where they’re put without having to readjust them each time you put the Connect-A-Desk on. Before I received it, that was my initial concern, considering that applying weight could theoretically loosen the straps. However, this isn’t the case.

In addition, the top straps can be moved so they prop the tray from either the top, or the sides. For me, it’s better to have the tray propped up from the front, because when the straps are on the sides, the top of the tray can fall down.

I don’t use my iPad without a physical keyboard such as the ZAGGmate, because I am so not a fan of the iPad’s on-screen keyboard. Products like the ZAGGmate turn the iPad into a touchscreen laptop almost. While not necessarily designed for physically challenged individuals like myself, the Connect-A-Desk does let anyone carry things like a laptop, tablet, or clipboard around without their hands.

Even though I have the straps prop up the tray from the top, I move them so they are on either side of my iPad so it can’t move unless I move it myself. With the straps like that, the iPad is very secure. So, I’ve went from worrying about if my iPad was going to fall when I moved my chair, to not even thinking about it.

Would I recommend the Connect-A-Desk? In a heartbeat, regardless of whether you’re physically challenged or not. You don’t need to be sitting at a desk to use your laptop or iPad, or to write. For me, that is a wonderful feeling, and with a price-tag of $34.99, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to other solutions.

ThinkGeek specializes in geek products, such as mini USB monitors, roll-up keyboards, and humping-dog USB flash drives. In addition, they have a “Security & Spy Stuff” section that has stuff like video-watches and hidden flash drives. They even carry t-shirts and edible stuff like wasabi gumballs and energy drinks. They gave me these products for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

P4 is set in 2011 rural Japan, where a high school student moves to the fictional town of Inaba to live with his uncle and cousin, while his parents work abroad. At school, rumor has begun to spread about a mysterious TV program, called Mayonaka TV (or as it was translated in the English dub of the game, the Midnight Channel). Rumor has it that watching a switched-off television set on rainy midnights will reveal a person’s soul-mate. However, days after the young man’s first viewing, unexplained murders begin to take place in the quiet town, where bodies are found dangling from television antennas and their cause of death unknown. He soon discovers he can enter the TV. What will he find?

Persona 4 The Animation, the acronym for which is universally P4A, premiered on Wednesday, 2011.10.06 with 3 channels airing the episode, one channel per night (the 6th on MBS, the 7th on TBS — no, not the American TBS, and the 12th on CBC). Due to Trinity Soul, there was skepticism regarding P4A. To help address fans’ concerns, beginning several months before the series premiere, roughly a dozen (I honestly lost count) trailers were released, each showing events from the game animated, with several trailers being released on important dates from the story, featuring that night’s Mayonaka TV. All the trailers told fans that P4A would follow the game’s story, unlike Trinity Soul.

I was really hoping P4A would be simulcasted, so I could watch it. To my dismay, there was no news about this… That is, until about a week or so before the premiere, when it was announced that the series was licensed for North American distribution by Sentai Filmworks, and that The Anime Network would be simulcasting the show every Thursday at 3PM EST (meaning we get the TBS airing). For a few weeks, around 3PM, The Anime Network’s site went wonky, which leads me to believe that a lot of people went there to watch P4A, causing server issues. This was a good thing, because the show’s popular, but it was still frustrating. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, the wonky-ness has since gone away.

Most of the music in the anime is from the game. In fact, the opening theme (OP) of episode 1, “Pursuing My True Self” was the opening theme of the game. This helped connect the anime to the game. The more recent episodes are introducing new music. The music was composed by franchise veteran, Meguro Shoji. The series’s OP, “Sky’s the limit” is performed by Hirata Shihoko, who did the vocal tracks for the game’s soundtrack, and the ending theme (ED), “Beauty of Destiny” is performed by Hirata and Lotus Juice, who is best known from the Persona 3 soundtracks. Lotus Juice also wrote the lyrics for both the OP and ED.

Character designs stay true to the game. They are pretty faithful to those of Soejima Shigenori. Also, the majority of the original Japanese voice cast from the game returned to reprise their respective roles in P4A. I personally verified this by playing the Japanese version of the game. So far, the only character whose voice is different is the gas station attendant in episode 1. While it was licensed before its Japanese premiere, there is no word on whether or not the game’s English voice cast will return, like their Japanese counterparts. Not as of the writing of this post at least.

Now that the facts are out of the way, let’s move on to my thoughts on the series. In MegaTen games, the main character is nameless and is named by the player. In its manga (Japanese comic), Persona 4‘s main character was named Seta Souji. For the anime however, it was changed to Narukami Yu. Personally, I’m not sure how I feel about the name change, but it is what it is.

I’m really glad that the original voice cast returned for the anime, because that makes it all the more authentic. The dialogue is very similar, if not the same in some parts, as that in the game. Narukami’s dialogue, while minimal compared to other characters, is very well done and at times, it is one of the dialogue options that you can choose, in the game.

The series can’t be an exact adaptation, so there are some differences. Some of these changes are good, while others notsomuch, not that they’re necessarily bad. One such example is that certain parts of the story are told much much better in the anime than in the game. Case in point, episode 4. We never experience the flashbacks that are in this episode, and in my opinion, the flashbacks make the episode more powerful.

The fights in the show are very well done, although they play out a lot differently than their counterparts. The major battles are much more emotional, and Personae stay out when summoned, whereas in the game where they go back into the character after taking action (either attacking or using magic). My only nitpick about this is that in the anime, the characters don’t fight Shadows (the blanket term for the monsters in Persona 3 and 4) themselves. They just use their Personae to do so. Then again, fighting Shadows with gollf clubs and such would look strange in the anime.

As someone who has played the game, the overall pacing of the series (especially the first 4 episodes) feels rushed, because stuff that takes us a while to do in the game, happens quickly. However, that is not to say that I don’t understand it. As just a viewer, I admit that it is a good pace so they can fit the story into 25 episodes, which according to The Anime Network, is how long P4A is scheduled to run. That said, I’m very curious to see which of the game’s multiple endings the series uses.

To break the series up from just fighting Shadows and such, there are episodes that focus on Social Link characters. In the game, S. Links are one way for you to get more powerful Personae. While this remains true in the show, that aspect isn’t as central. These, what I call “S. Link episodes” are more to show Narukami and other characters becoming friends, hanging out or what-have-you. These episodes can be anywhere from serious to funny, and while yes, they are basically just filler episodes, they’re also a good way to spread the story out.

My main concern with P4A is that the overall timing of the series seems too convenient. My reasoning is that in 2012, Persona 4 The Golden (basically Persona 4 Portable) and Persona 4 The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena (a fighting game) will be released, for the PlayStation Vita, and the PS3/360 respectively. The complete run of P4A will take the series into 2012, so while I’m glad we got P4A, I can’t help but to think that this is just to help hype those games. I’m hoping I’m wrong, but considering how the world works…

Would I recommend watching Persona 4 The Animation? Absolutely. It doesn’t matter if you’ve played the game, or want to but just can’t commit to a 50+ hour game, you’re given all you need to understand.

Persona 4 The Animation is produced by AIC ASTA, distributed by Aniplex, and simulcasted every Thursday at 3PM EST, on The Anime Network. Registration may be required later, but it is free.

I first came across these cases while window shopping. When it came apparent that I was going to purchase an iPad for my job, I took a look at them again. While still window shopping, I noticed some potential problems with both cases, but were my initial assumptions correct, or are these cases actually good?

Both of these products have some similarities. They both double as carrying cases for your iPad, and they have Bluetooth keyboards built in. The keyboards are charged by micro-USB, which is becoming more and more universal. They also have pretty insane battery life — about a week of constant use per charge. Also, in both cases your iPad can stand/be propped up. At the top of the keyboards, where the F-keys are, there are iPad function keys, like Home, Search, Play, Volume, etc.. With the keyboards being Bluetooth, they can be used with other devices, not just iPads. The cases actually came a couple days before I purchased my iPad, so for my initial testing, I used them with both my phone and my PS3, and both worked perfectly.

The similarities end there however. Now, let’s continue on to the differences. First the ZAGGmate Aluminum iPad Keyboard Case.

Please note that ThinkGeek was out of the ZAGGmate case for iPad 2, so my iPad is a little loose in the case, and I can’t comment on how well it works as a carrying case. It is made by ZAGG, a company best known for producing accessories, the invisibleSHIELD screen protectors, and such. The outside of the case is aluminum which helps protect your iPad from being damaged if dropped. The case features a pull-out back-stand for your iPad to rest against while you use the keyboard. The power switch for the keyboard is inside the case, just above the keyboard. The interior of the case around the keyboard is covered by rubber to help protect both the keyboard and the iPad. The keys themselves feel like ones that you would find on a laptop. The only real problem I have is that the arrow keys are arranged strangely — left and right are next to each other, next to right is down, and above down is up. This makes moving the cursor just as confusing as it sounds.

Like with much of the products that ThinkGeek sells, I’m unable to find a brand name or manufacturer for the Bluetooth Keyboard Case for iPad, which I’ll call “the BKC,” henceforth. The case is designed like a book, helping to protect your iPad, which slides into the front cover. The case itself is mostly leather, while the keyboard is covered in rubber, making it waterproof. The power button for the keyboard is located on the right-side of the case. Right above the keyboard, there is a lip that runs the length of the keyboard. To prop your iPad up in the BKC, you pull the iPad sleeve, which pivots, towards you and rest the bottom on the lip. When you’re done using your iPad, The BKC folds into a nice leather portfolio that looks like a notebook. I only have 2 issues with this case: 1) While propped up, the iPad doesn’t feel all that stable, like it can fall off the lip; and 2) the rubber covering on the keyboard makes it really awkward to type on. These were also my initial assumptions about this case.

Overall, my initial assumptions were indeed correct, but only in regards to the BKC. My initial assumption/concern about the ZAGGmate — that the keyboard was too close to the bottom — turned out to not be a concern, after all. Would I recommend these products? The short answer is yes, but the more lengthy answer is if you are only doing minimal-to-light typing on your iPad, get the BKC. If you’re doing extensive writing however, I would highly recommend the ZAGGmate, because it makes your iPad feel more like a laptop. So much so, that I’ve only gone on my actual computer, maybe 4 days since I got my iPad. Also, this review was typed up exclusively on my iPad using the ZAGGmate, while I mostly use the BKC as a keyboard for my PS3.

As of the writing of this review, the Bluetooth Keyboard Case for iPad, and the ZAGGmate Aluminum iPad Keyboard Case retail for $59.99 and $99.99 USD respectively on ThinkGeek. While the ZAGGmate case is more expensive, I think the overall convenience and functionality justifies spending that extra $40.

ThinkGeek specializes in geek products, such as mini USB monitors, roll-up keyboards, and humping-dog USB flash drives. In addition, they have a “Security & Spy Stuff” section that has stuff like video-watches and hidden flash drives. They even carry t-shirts and edible stuff like wasabi gumballs and energy drinks. They gave me these products for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

Bunraku is a difficult movie to categorize, but if I had to, I’d call it a Western/Martial Arts film. I don’t know if I would call it an “all-star cast,” but it definitely is star-studded. The film stars Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Sugata Shun, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, and GACKT.

In a future where firearms are banned, a mysterious drifter (Hartnett) arrives in a strange town ruled by the ruthless Nicola (Perlman) and his army of thugs, headed by nine deadly assassins, which is topped by the vicious Killer #2 (McKidd). The drifter is soon forced to trust a young samurai (GACKT) looking to restore his family’s honor, and the local bartender (Harrelson) who has been secretly awaiting a dream team to help overthrow Nicola’s regime.

The title of the movie comes from a 400-year-old form of Japanese puppet theater. This actually plays a huge part in how the movie is presented. A prime example of this is the sets – They’re mostly computer-generated, and look over-the-top, giving them the illusion of being set-pieces that you’d find in a stage play. This helps to recreate the feeling that you’re watching a play, rather than a movie. This also limits what can happen in one particular scene, giving the movie a faster sense of timing.

The first scene is an absolutely amazingly choreographed fight sequence that plays more like a dance than anything else. What’s really interesting is that no fight is quite the same. In some, it’s nitty gritty, and in others it’s just fun to watch.

One thing I really enjoyed was how they handled subtitles. Although the movie is mostly in English, there are still a couple scenes with Japanese dialogue. With that said, instead of doing subtitles the traditional way — In the middle of the screen at the bottom — Bunraku does them in comic book text boxes. This helps to immerse the audience in the film’s unique world and atmosphere.

The most interesting aspect of the film though is its cinematography. From turning the normal way phone conversations are shown to scene transitions that make your head spin. This film’s director chooses to explore a completely over stylized approach, and somehow makes it work.

The music in the film was done by Terrance Blanchard. It’s dramatic when it needs to be, and at times, big-band-esque, but during fight sequences, it reminds me of the 1960s Batman series, where (almost) every impact makes a musical note. In my opinion, it helps to accentuate the picture’s theatrical sensibility.

While predictable at times the movie’s incredible sense of style carries it through. I recommend this movie if you’re looking for something with unique visuals, and can stand an almost-cliche plot. The DVD also contains a commentary audio track featuring Guy Moshe and Kevin McKidd.

4 out of 5 stars.

Bunraku was written and directed by Guy Moshe, based on a story by Boaz Davidson, and is rated R. The film stars Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, GACKT, Sugata Shun, Kevin McKidd, Ron Perlman, and Demi Moore. It was produced by Snoot Entertainment, Bergman Productions, and Picturesque Films. It was distributed in theaters by ARC Entertainment and XLrator Media.

I was given a DVD copy for review by ARC Entertainment, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

Atlus is one of, if not my favorite publisher. They are best known for releasing the Shin Megami Tensei, Persona, and Trauma Center franchises in North America. With so many unique titles in its bag, it’s safe to say that while you never know just what expect from Atlus, you can rest assured that it will be unlike any game you’ve played before. True to this, Catherine is yet another unique game, but being unique isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Catherine tells the tale of 32-year-old Vincent Brooks. Vincent and his girlfriend, Katherine have been together for several years. Thing is, she’s now talking about long-term commitment, something that Vincent doesn’t really want. It is around this time that Vincent begins having strange nightmares, and that perfectly healthy young men are starting to be found dead. Vincent frequently meets his friends after work at bar called Stray Sheep. One such night, he’s approached by beautiful bombshell named Catherine. Next thing he knows, he’s laying in bed the next morning with Catherine next to him. What did he do last night?

The “Sheep” theme is one of the things central to Catherine.

Catherine is an adult adventure/puzzle-platformer/survival horror game, the story of which is told in 3 parts – cut-scenes, night-time and Vincent’s nightmares. There are two types of cut-scenes – those are use the in-game graphic engine, and animated cut-scenes. The animated cut-scenes were done by Studio 4°C. Studio 4°C is best known Stateside for their work in such projects as the new ThunderCats series (which is awesome, I might add), The Animatrix (“Kid’s Story”), Batman: Gotham Knight (“Have I Got A Story For You” & “Working Through Pain”), and Linkin Park’s “Breaking the Habit” music video. On the other hand, much like with the Persona 3 and 4 games, Catherine’s in-game graphics are cel-shaded, giving the game an anime ascetic.

Your nights consist of hanging out and drinking with your friends at Stray Sheep, and navigating through your nightmares. While in Stray Sheep, you can meet and talk to other characters, all of whom are dealing with their own issues. You can also drink various alcoholic beverages, and work on your climbing skills by playing an arcade game called Rapunzel. You might not think they would, but every one of these things will help you in the nightmares. For example, the people you meet in Stray Sheep will appear in your nightmares, but as sheep with distinguishing features so the player can make the connection. In fact, to the other characters, everyone else is sheep except that character. Getting drunk will increase your movement speed, and your practice in Rapunzel with help you.

“With what?”

Each of Vincent’s nightmares have him climbing a Stage (or section) in a tower of blocks. These Stages have varying numbers of floors. However, it is not as easy as it sounds. As time passes, more and more blocks fall from the bottom, so you have to climb before you fall to your death. Obstacles, such as gaps and other sheep will try to impede your progress up too. You need to push and pull blocks to make it up each floor, so you will need to figure out how to use the blocks to make stairs and cover gaps. Your nightmares can be hell, if you’re not careful, because not only are there gaps and sheep to slow you down, but there are also trap blocks and a boss. However, there are also special blocks, like ice that makes you slide and a trampoline that bounces you up.

Don’t worry too much though. In-between each of the floors, you can save your game, talk to sheep to find out different techniques to help you climb and buy items with coins you discover while climbing. Before you proceed to the next level, you have to answer a question which is asked by a mysterious voice. Your answer to these questions will affect the outcome of the story, but I’ll get to that later.

The last floor of each night/Stage has you being chased by bosses that will kill you if you’re too slow. As the story progresses, the bosses get weirder and weirder. These bosses also have abilities to slow you down, such as making a group of blocks immovable and causing ice to fall and knock you down a few blocks.

As the nights pass, you ill be able to learn about the other characters while at Stray Sheep. Every one of them have their own issues, and you’ll learn more and more about them, each night. Also, like I previously mentioned, you’ll come across many of these same characters in your nightmares, but as sheep. None of the characters make the connection about who the sheep really are.

Catherine‘s replay value is quite high. Like the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona titles, Catherine also has a morality/choice system. Some of Vincent’s dialogue, actions and choices impact the outcome of the game. There are several different endings that you can obtain depending on the choices you made in-game. There are also several other modes to play, including Babel Mode, which features four large stages that can be played with up to two players, and; VS Colosseum, which lets two players simultaneously play a stage in order to reach the top first..

As far as the voice-acting goes, Catherine’s cast is pretty solid with several well-known actors, some returning to work on another Atlus game. Among these are Troy Baker, Laura Bailey, Michelle Ruff, Liam O’Brien, Travis Willingham, Yuri Lowenthal, Erin Fitzgerald, and Kirk Thornton. The mouth movements in the cutscenes were redone from the Japanese version to match the English dialogue.

The music was done by Meguro Shoji, Tsuchiya Kenichi, and Kitajoh Atsushi. Meguro and Tsuchiya have worked together prior to this, most notably on the Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne soundtrack. Kitajoh has also worked with Meguro before, notably on the soundtrack for the Nintendo Wii game, Trauma Team. The soundtrack varies in genres and styles. The game’s opening, “YO’ is performed by L-VOKAL and is hip-hop oriented, while the in-game music is more pop, easy-listening, rock, suspenseful, and orchestral. In addition to all that, there are arrangements of classical compositions. Catherine’s soundtrack has given my friends and I a new-found appreciation for classical music.

Art Direction is by Soejima Shigenori. As such, character designs look similar to those of the Persona 3 and Persona 4 games. In fact, as I mentioned in an previous article, Vincent made his first appearance as a cameo in Persona 3 Portable.

Over all, Catherine is a fantastic game that is very unique and unlike any you’ve played previously. It’s a puzzle game that is downright erotic at times, without relying too heavily on sex, although there is a good bit of nudity in the game. I highly recommend it because unlike most of today’s games, it forces you to think, or you’re unable to proceed.

Catherine was developed by Gamebryo and Criware and published by Atlus in Japan, and Atlus USA in North America. It was released in North America on 2011.07.26 for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. As of this writing, both retail for $59.99 USD new, and are rated M for mature.

Skills: Everybody has some, although they vary from person to person. Some people are good at writing, while others are good at drawing or music. Before, people who could not do something either were out of luck, or they learned how to do it. However, thanks to technology, anyone can do anything they want. People can publish books on their own or make their own songs using Vocaloid. Now software called ComiPo! has been released to assist people who want to create comics, and now it’s in English.

ComiPo! is described as being “aimed at consumers who want to create manga (or Japanese comics), but who lack drawing skills.” With the software, users can create their own manga with pre-created 3D characters and settings. It features character models, more than 100 poses as well as expressions, background images, items, sound effects in both English and Japanese and word balloons. In addition, users can also import their own images and use those as backgrounds, as well as create their own custom characters by mix and matching presets.

The Japanese version of ComiPo! was released in December of 2010. The English version has all the features of the Japanese version.

The interface of ComiPo! is fairly straight-forward. At the top, you have your usual File, Edit, etc etc. On the left side, you have categories for the character models, background images, items, sound effects. and word balloons (henceforth “assets”). In these categories, not only do you have the models, images, and such, but you also have drop-down menus for even more options, like classroom backgrounds or night sky ones. To use any object, you just drag and drop it into a panel. The assets are 3D-based, so you can rotate and resize them anyway you want. Background images are automatically set behind the other assets. In addition to all these assets, ComiPo! also has speed lines for dramatic shots, and stylized alphabets.

On the right-hand side, you have your expression and pose options. Like with the assets, the poses and expressions are categorized by position or gesture and mood. Also on the right side is the text input field for text bubbles and your panel/layer pane. Much like in Photoshop, in this pane, you can move assets forward or backwards behind the characters. To use poses and expressions, you just click on the ones you want.

As I previously mentioned, you can create your own custom characters by mix and matching various preset options, such as gender, eyes, hair and clothes. When you put everything together, you have near endless possibilities for your manga. Also, before anyone asks, the characters and poses are all tame, so unfortunately no, you can’t do hentai (or sex comics).

However, that is not to say that ComiPo! is perfect. There are a few things that I think could be better. Among these is the fact that the options for a custom character are limited, especially the male hairstyles. There are no longer styles, and only ponytails that you add on. Another thing that I believe should be improved is the poses. I think that having the ability to mix and match them (ie: Arms from Pose A, legs from Pose J) and better customization options would offer users more flexibility to create the characters and comics they want.

Programs like ComiPo! won’t replace manual instruments – such as pencils or a guitar – to create art, but it is very helpful for people unable to draw.. You can create some fantastic looking manga using it, and it’s easy to use. Would I recommend the software? Even though there are things that could be improved, I’d say yes, because not only does it cut down on time actually drawing comics, all you really need are an idea, a mouse and a keyboard, which can be a big plus for physically challenged individuals.

The English version of ComiPo! was released on 2011.09.15, retails for US$49.95 and is available on Crunchyroll, Comradz and Comipo.biz. It’s only available for Windows computers — Sorry Mac-heads. It is developed by ComiPo LLP. which was founded in 2010 to plan and develop the ComiPo! software. Several big names are involved with ComiPo LLP, and the software is currently being used by a popular video game company for development on a new project. I was given the license key by ComiPo LLP to review the English version of ComiPo! and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

I received the Lilliput UM-70/C/T USB Touch Screen Monitor, which comes with the monitor itself, the power cord, the manual, and a driver CD for Windows 98 users. Everything is fairly straight-forward. You plug the power cord into the monitor then plug it into your computer via USB and install the drivers, which you can conveniently get at ThinkGeek. The power cord unfortunately consumes 2 USB ports, one for the display itself, and the other for power.

The monitor is 7”, is a little thicker than a regular CD jewel case, and has a move-able leg so you can stand it up. It can also be orientated in Portrait (vertical) and Landscape (horizontal) mode, each allowing for more but different screen size, although the resolution is locked at 480×800 and 800×480 respectively. You can also adjust the brightness. Unfortunately, I’m unable to use the Touch functionally because it isn’t supported by my operating system (Windows 7 64-bit) yet.

However, that does not take away from the monitor’s main use: being an extra monitor. It extends your main monitor so you have more space. Right now, I’m using it for my instant messages. My computer, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 are all hooked into my TV. With the Lilliput, I can watch TV or play games and still see my IMs. I leave my IM window as the active window so I can type without switching TV modes. Before I had to switch back and forth to see my messages. It’s awesome!

Also, because it registers as a small monitor, you can set it up to extend any part of your main monitor that you’d like — Top, middle, bottom, or in-between. That is an interesting option. You have to set it up via your computer’s Control Panel, but I like it. However, I’m having trouble with my web browser extending past the Lilliput’s screen, even when maximized. The side-to-side scroll bar doesn’t show up. It is due to this fact that I do not use the Lilliput for my web browser.

All in all, even with the OS incompatibility issue, the Lilliput Mini USB Monitor is an amazing product. It has come in handy on a number of occasions. I have shown people stuff while still gaming, and because I use it for IMs, I can still see and talk to my girlfriend. Would I recommend this product? Oh, absolutely! At the writing of this review, the Lilliput Mini USB Monitor retails on ThinkGeek for $99.99 USD. The price isn’t bad for a portable monitor.

ThinkGeek specializes in geek products, such as mini USB monitors, roll-up keyboards, and humping-dog USB flash drives. In addition, they have a “Security & Spy Stuff” section that has stuff like video-watches and hidden flash drives. They even carry t-shirts and edible stuff like wasabi gumballs(?! o.o) and energy drinks. They gave me this product for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

These are my thoughts on the newest Power Rangers series, Power Rangers Samurai.

And here’s a good comparison video of Shinkenger and Power Rangers Samurai. Please keep in mind that the morphed fighting is from Shinkenger just with English dialogue.

Here’s a continuation of the above video, that features Mega Mode and the Zords

When you get the Digital Voice Recorder, you get; the Voice Recorder itself; earbuds; an external microphone; a line-in wire; a phone-jack cord; an AC adapter; and the manual. Maybe they forgot to send it, but I didn’t get an USB male-to-female wire, which is used to connect the Voice Recorder to the AC adapter. Luckily, I had one laying around however.

The wires are all pretty straight forward. You can plug the earbuds in and listen to your recordings; use the external mic to amplify your recording; use line-in to record straight from a computer or other audio device, and; use the phone-jack cord to record phone calls (but, please, check your local laws regarding recording of phone conversations).

The Voice Recorder itself looks like an USB flash drive, although it is a little big bulkier. The function buttons — On/Off, Play/Pause, Next, Previous, Menu, Record, Volume Up, and Volume Down — are on either side of the unit, with a display screen on the front, and an internal mic on the top along with the external mic and headphone jacks.

The Voice Recorder is also multi-functional. In addition to its titular function, it can also act as an USB flash drive, MP3 player, and FM radio, although the last one is optional and not in the unit I received. There are also a bunch of other settings and features, such as a hearing aid function. You can add or remove audio files from the device by plugging it into a computer, like you would with any flash drive.

It comes with 2GB of memory built in. It also has 3 recording modes (LP, SP, and HP, which remind me of VCR recording modes). LP is for recording long things, SP is “good quality” with Voice Activated recording, and HP is “high quality” recording. You can choose which mode you record in by pressing Previous or Next and pressing the Menu button.

Each of the modes record in a specific format: LP records in ACT, SP in WAV, and HP in MP3. Depending on the recording mode you use, you can record anywhere from 34 hours (with HP) to 560 (with LP). Not that I use it, but you also get software to convert ACT files to WAV format.

The only drawback I can think of is the horrendously low bitrates, although that may be because I’m an audiophile. In LP mode, the Voice Recorder records in 8 kbps (or kilobits per second), in SP, it records at 32 kbps, and 128 kbps in HP, I’m sorry, but that’s too low for me. They could at least bump the HP bitrate up to 192 if not higher, rather than 128.

I tested the Voice Recorder at Anime North, over the Memorial Day weekend, recording panels and such, and overall, the recordings came out decent, although the volume was low because I recorded them with only the internal mic. I haven’t had a chance to test the external mic, but considering how good the recording are with the internal mic, I don’t see any problems.

I would recommend the USB Digital Voice Recorder for the unit’s size, the memory capacity, and overall quality, even though it’s lower than what I’d personally prefer. The price-point is another plus. At the writing of this review, the USB Digital Voice Recorder retails on ThinkGeek for $49.99 USD. The price isn’t bad for a Voice Recorder, flash drive and MP3 player combined into one device.

ThinkGeek specializes in geek products, such as mini USB monitors, roll-up keyboards, and humping-dog USB flash drives. In addition, they have a “Security & Spy Stuff” section that has stuff like video-watches and hidden flash drives. They even carry t-shirts and edible stuff like wasabi gumballs(?! o.o) and energy drinks. They gave me this product for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

14. Yubiwa – Sakamoto Maaya (Escaflowne The Movie)

With a haunting melody that will make you remember it, this particular song also reminds me of something you’d hear during the end credits of a Disney animated feature. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. Many Disney songs are epic in and of their own rights. However, for Yubiwa hits it home as Sakamoto Maaya and the composer come together to perform just one of many many audiotastic offerings. I highly suggest that anyone check out anything that Sakamoto Maaya and Kanno Yoko has ever done together. You will definitely not be left wanting.

13. Ash Like Snow – the brilliant green (Mobile Suit Gundam 00)

I have no idea where to even begin for this song. It’s one of the many amazing offerings done by pop/rock group the brilliant green. This song is special for many more reasons as it was the third single release of the group after they came off of their hiatus. This such a great rock song with stunning vocals and a guitar riff that seems to make you feel the music, its sure to leave an impression with you.

12. Period – Chemistry (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

Okay let’s put aside the fact that Chemistry is going to be at Otakon this year. (My girlfriend is extremely excited for this fact alone.) That is not why Period is such an epic song. Period has that power to it that just makes you feel what an epic song it is. But don’t take my word for it, go youtube this song and find out for yourself. Also take a moment to find the collaboration between Japanese music star Crystal Kay and the group called “After Love -first boyfriend-”. If it were in an anime, it would be on this list – hands down.

11. Rolling star – YUI (Bleach)

This. YUI is an amazing artist. And before this song’s release, she didn’t do anything of this sort. All of her songs were of an acoustic nature that fit really well with her almost robotic sounding voice. This song bridged a gap that YUI had in her catalogue and helped propel the rising music star from popular to very popular. This is YUI’s first foray into using an electric guitar and you can’t even tell. She knocks it out of the park with a song that just knocks it out of the park.

10. God knows… – ENOZ feat. Hirano Aya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Insert Song)

I will admit right here and now. I’ve never watched the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. No, I don’t know why. And for this song, nor do I really care to know why. I found this song when someone had sent me the link to it via youtube. And like love at first sight, I was hooked. I couldn’t believe that the animators had done such a great job animating the girls as they sang the song. And equally so, I couldn’t believe that the song itself was so amazing.

9. Hitohira no Hanabira – Stereopony (Bleach)

Stereopony is an all-girl rock band and this is the song that really made them break out. Yes it’s from Bleach. So what? The series has some kickass music, even if the show makes you die a little inside every time you even see a picture of the show somewhere online. This particular offering really makes you want to jam out. Go on, I know you wanna. Go on and headbang to your heart’s content.

8. Rain – SID (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

It must be the haunting melodies that really tug at me. This offering has just that same haunting melody that’s combined with a rock undertone to create one of the most memorable songs there is. And definitely not in the Disney way. The vocalists shine with the power and professionalism that is seen is so many Japanese artists. Sometimes, I wonder where this quality has gone in the American music industry.

7. 19sai – Suga Shikao (xxxHOLiC)

If it weren’t for the fact that xxxHOLiC had this song as its opening I likely would never have even gotten into Suga Shikao. This was an entry for me that has stayed for me through most of his career since this song. And I always keep coming back to it. Nevermind, the fact that the video for this song should not be shown on American TV. (Ah, Japan…) In fact, the video for this song really had my friends and I talking for a few days. (Go on. I know you’re going to Youtube it.)

6. Aozora no Namida – Takahashi Hitomi (Blood+)

The first time I heard this song in its entirety was when I was watching Blood+ (CANNOT WAIT FOR THE REMAKE BY CLAMP) I about nearly fell out of my chair, if that were possible. Takahashi Hitomi had this as her debut single and did so amazingly well with it. A well produced hard pop song that makes you think twice at times.

5. Fukai Mori – Do As Infinity (Inuyasha)

This was probably the first JPop song that I heard in an anime. And it remains one of my favorites, even though sometimes it feels as though I’ve overplayed it. What is not to like about a familiar melody and a vocalist who just hits it home with almost everything she touches? (No, we’re not going to talk about her solo career here.)

4. COLORS – FLOW (Code Geass)

Raise your hand if you want to rule the world! That’s exactly what the opening to Code Geass made you think was going to happen when this song was played along with the opening animation. (I know I know he about nearly DID rule the world!) Every time I hear this song I cannot help but to replay the opening credits of Code Geass in my head. And that is exactly what an opening theme song should do. Never mind that FLOW is a well pronounced Japanese rock band with quite a number of best sellers under their belts.

3. synchronicity – Makino Yui (Tsubasa TOKYO REVELATIONS)

The reason this song is here? Kajiura Yuki. Everything that Kajiura Yuki touches is gold. She even managed to turn Makino Yui and her squeaky low voice and turn it into this amazing offering that just makes you sit there with your mouth hanging open. And with that I’m through with this song. I’m scared that if I say too much more, I’ll tarnish it.

2. chAngE – miwa (Bleach)

Oh, this. This song fits right along the same vein as YUI’s Rolling star. Another acoustic artist that goes from the acoustic to the electric and nails it. That’s why the A and the E are capitalized in the song title. In fact this is the best offering from miwa that we have yet and it shines.

1. Alchemy – Girls Dead Monster (Angel Beats! Insert Song)

Okay, I’ll admit it. I have a thing for animated bands. Did anyone watch Angel Beats? This song wasn’t the opening or the closing (though those are both really good songs), but made the series shine with its debut of its distraction music group. And it continues to be one of the best songs out there now. Shame its just an insert song and just a fictional band. I’d love to hear more than just the Keep The Beats album.

The original Persona 3 (P3) was released in Japan on 2006.07.13, and in North America on 2007.08.14 for PlayStation 2 (PS2). Persona 3 FES, also for PS2, was released in Japan on 2007.04.19, and in North America on 2008.04.22. Does P3P go with the flow, or should it have been left on the PS2?

A teenager who was orphaned as a young child returns to the city of their childhood. Shortly after transferring to their new high school, they’re attacked by Shadows— creatures that feed on the minds of their victims. The teenager soon discovers that they share a special ability with other students at school. From the fellow students, the teenager learns of the “Dark Hour,” a hidden time that exists between one day and the next, swarming with Shadows. The teenager joins the Special Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES), and with their new friends, confronts the threat of the Shadows.

While P3P is a PSP version of FES, this isn’t a straight port. P3P’s graphics are a little downgraded from its console brethren, but that was to be expected as this is a hand-held version, and some things were added, while others were removed. Unfortunately, what was removed was things that help to make P3 and FES so great. These being animated cut-scenes, and (specifically in FES‘s case) The Answer.

(Note: To make it easier on everyone, when referring to P3, FES and P3P, I’ll call them “P3’s Company,” which yes, is a play on the title of the TV show Three’s Company.)

Events that were originally animated now play out with (mostly-)still portraits (the eyes blink but that’s it), and dialogue boxes, although they are still fully-voiced. The removal of the animated cut-scenes is a shame in my opinion, because events don’t have that impact without being animated.

The Answer is a second part of the story that was created specifically for FES, as a thank you to the Japanese fans who made P3 such a hit. It’s about as long as the the first part/P3, which is called The Journey, in FES. The Answer has a whole other dungeon, and gives closure to the story.

The cast of “P3’s Company” is so large that it has a multitude of characters, with each one being so varied from the others that it’s unlikely you’ll find 2 alike. Their personalities are very unique — from the head-strong Mitsuru and the aggressive Akihiko, to the goofball Junpei.

There are a number of things new to P3P, mostly minor but some are significant to the story. The main thing that was added is the option to play as P3P‘s exclusive female protagonist, rather than the PS2 versions’ male protagonist.

(Note: While both protagonists are nameless and named by the player, I’m going to call them by their most-canon, but unofficial names. In the manga, the male protagonist is named Minato, while the majority of the P3 community has dubbed P3P‘s female protagonist, Hamuko.)

The game is split into 2 sections, daytime and night. During the day, you go to school, hang out with your friends, do stuff normal teenagers do. At night, however, you explore a mysterious dungeon called Tartarus. Both sections play almost exactly like their PS2 counterparts, with the main difference being that now instead of moving Minato or Hamuko, you move a blue or pink cursor respectively, when not exploring Tartarus.

A typical day in the P3 (and P4 for that matter) universe is unlike in most other RPGs. Whereas in other RPGs, you just control the main character at certain times throughout the day, in “P3’s Company,” you control them, pretty much the whole day. You go to school, can attend clubs, make friends and lovers. Hell, you can even pee! You have an absurd amount of freedom for a RPG.

By hanging out with your friends, you build and strengthen Social Links (S. Links). These S. Links are the emotional ties you have with others, and they are also an integral way of obtaining more powerful Persona. Minato and Hamuko have their own S. Links, with different people. Each S. Link has a specific Arcana tied to it. These Arcana are of tarot’s Major Arcana, and are: The Fool, the Magician, the Priestess, the Empress, the Emperor, the Hierophant, the Lovers, the Chariot, Justice, the Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Strength, the Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, the Devil, the Tower, the Star, the Moon, the Sun, Judgment, and the World. The Arcana plays a vital role in “P3’s Company.”

There are certain S. Links that you can’t build unless you have a high enough level in one of 3 stats: Academics, Charm and Courage. There are a number of ways to raise these stats. For example, to raise your Academics, you need to study and do well on exams (yes, you take exams); to raise your Courage, you can watch horror movies; and to raise your Charm, you can go to a cafe or whisper an answer when your friend is called on in class.

On the other hand, exploring Tartarus is pretty much your standard RPG fare. You move your party throughout the towering structure which changes day-by-day, as you explore it. Each of the floors is littered with Shadows wandering, with powerful Boss Shadows after so many floors. Shadows are visible while exploring, so you can try to avoid them, or you can try to sneak up on them and land a blow, which grants your party first strike in battle. However, Shadows can sneak up and do the same, so be careful. As with other RPGs, defeating enemies will give you Experience Points (EXP). As your EXP grows, you become stronger (or level up), as do your Persona.

P3P’s battle system is really an amalgamation of P3’s and P4’s battle systems. At first glance, it looks like every other turn-based RPG’s battle system. You have the usual command set of Attack, Magic, Item, and so on, but as I’ve previously mentioned in my SMT post, you can’t just attack blindly. That will land you in a world of hurt.

Almost every enemy has a weakness and a strength. Exploiting a weakness (let’s say you’re fighting an enemy that uses fire. Its weakness would be ice. So you’d use an ice-based attack) gives that character an extra attack. So keep exploiting weaknesses. However, if you use an attack an enemy is strong against (ie: you use a fire-based attack against that same enemy), you get one of 3 adverse effects: 1) the enemy will absorb the attack and regain health, 2) it will repel it back at you, or 3) it will nullify it altogether.

In “P3’s Company,” when you hit the weakness of an opponent that you’re fighting, you’ll knock it down. If you knock down every opponent, you’ll be granted a chance to perform an All-Out Attack, which is basically your party ganging up and beating the crap out of the opponent(s).

“P3’s Company” is a little controversial, in regards to how you use such skills. To do so, a party member puts a gun-shaped device, called an Evoker, to their head and pulls the trigger, momentarily releasing their Persona, which uses said skill. An Evoker is a symbol used to ‘kill off’ your old self, to free your true mind, your Persona.

By default, you only control Minato or Hamuko in battle, but in P3P, you can now control your party members yourself (direct commands) which was first an option in P4. Also taken from P4 is party members’ ability to take a blow for you (see: they’ll run and act like a shield).

“P3’s Company” features what Gabby and I call “semi-learning AI.” If a party member uses an attack and it doesn’t work, they announce that to the rest of the party and no one else uses that attack. The same goes for hitting a weakness. If a member uses an attack that hits a weakness, they remember it and continue to exploit it. However, P3P‘s AI was seemingly reverted back to P3’s — Instead of knocking multiple Shadows down, like in FES, that party member who hit the weakness, will hit the exploited enemy. That said, you can switch from AI-control to direct commands, and go for an All-Out Attack, yourself.

You obtain new Persona two ways: By winning them in Shuffle Time, a post-battle mini-game where you choose a face-down card, or by fusing 2 or more Persona you already have, in the Velvet Room, a room that only Minato and Hamuko can see and enter.

Persona are also categorized into Arcana. The strength of your S. Links comes into play during Persona fusion. For example, let’s say you’re fusing 2 into a Persona of the Lovers Arcana. If your Lovers S. Link is strong, that new Persona will receive a hefty amount of extra EXP, but if that S. Link has not been built when you fused that Persona, it will receive no extra EXP.

“P3’s Company’ has a lot of replay value. Once you beat it, you have the ability to start a New Game+ (NG+), which carries your level, stats, money and inventory over to a new game. You can also do a NG+ with the other protagonist, ie: Say you beat the game with Minato, you can do your NG+ with Hamuko instead, and vice-versa.

All of P3 and FES’s voice cast returns in P3P with 2 new additions: Laura Bailey to voice Hamuko, and an unconfirmed voice actor as Theodore, P3P’s exclusive male attendant in the Velvet Room (I can’t find any solid proof that confirms or dismisses it is who we think it is).

To be honest, the battle system as well as the voice cast are 2 of the things that have kept me so engrossed in the P3 games. Atlus knows what’s good.

There are number of small things added to P3P, including generally not-loved stuff like needing to pay to be healed and needing items to do what were originally dual-Persona attacks (The former doesn’t bother me, because that’s how it is in other SMT games). However, there are a few Easter Eggs, like a cameo from a mysterious man named Vincent, who is one of the main characters of the upcoming Xbox 360 and PS3 game, Catherine.

The music was composed by series veteran, Meguro Shoji, with Fujita Mayumi coming on for the soundtrack for Hamuko’s version, along with the returning Lotus Juice. Most, if not all of the original P3 soundtrack is present in Minato’s side. Along with its PS2 versions’, P3P’s soundtrack is pretty varied between rock, pop and hip-hop. Kawamura Yumi and Lotus Juice do a great job on their tracks, as does Fujita Mayumi. P3P‘s theme song, Soul Phrase (above) is performed by Kita Shuuhei, who performed Breakin’ through, the first opening theme of Persona: Trinity Soul.

“P3’s Company” is one instance where character designs were done by someone other than Kaneko Kazuma. In the case of the Persona 3 and Persona 4 games, they were done by Soejima Shigenori. While not quite as good as Kaneko’s, Soejima does a great job.

P3P is a game that once you get into it, it will not let you go. On just P3P, I’ve put in about 70 hours, and I’ve played it til my PSPgo’s battery died on a number of occasions. This is even with my 120+ hours on P3 and FES as well. Even if you’ve played P3 and/or FES and know the story, I still recommend you play P3P, if just for Hamuko’s version.

Rating: **** 1/2 (4.5 Stars)

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable was developed by Atlus, and published by Atlus USA. It was released on 2010.07.05 as both a physical retail version on UMD disc, as well as a digital download on the PlayStation Network. As of this writing, both retail for $39.99 USD new, and are rated M for mature.

The Megami Tensei (commonly shortened to MegaTen) franchise of role-playing games (RPGs) has a deep and rich history. The first game was released in 1987 for Famicom (what we call the Nintendo Entertainment System, in North America), and the franchise has since come to be hailed as the third most popular RPG series in Japan, after Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.

The MegaTen franchise has many entries in its main series and spin-offs, most of which never saw domestic releases outside of Japan. The number reaches the mid-40s, which rivals the number of Final Fantasy titles, many of which, again, never saw domestic releases outside of Japan, although Europe has seen more of those than North America.

Megami Tensei can be translated as “Reincarnation of the Goddess,” although I’m partial to the alternative term “Goddess Metempsychosis,” myself. Wikipedia states that “the heroine of the first game was actually a reincarnation of the Shinto goddess Izanami. Despite their retaining of this part of the title, this story feature does not occur in most of the other games, although there are always characters who could be considered to be said goddess.”

The first two games in the main series, 1987′s Digital Devil Monogatari: Megami Tensei (“Monogatari” roughly translating to “Story”) and 1990′s Digital Devil Monogatari: Megami Tensei II, although developed by Atlus, were published by Namco. In 1992, Atlus developed and published Shin Megami Tensei (“Shin” meaning “True” in this case. It can either mean “True” or “New”), and Shin Megami Tensei II in 1994, both for the Super Famicom.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne was released 9 years later, for the PlayStation 2. A director’s cut of this game was released 11 months later, under the name Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Later that year, Maniax was brought over by Atlus USA, and was released as Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne. Nocturne was the first main MegaTen game to get a domestic release.

It’s worth noting that while Nocturne was the first main game to be domestically released, we did get 4 spin-off titles prior to it: 1996′s Revelations: Persona, released in Japan as Megami Ibunroku Persona (“Alternate Tale of the Goddess: Persona”), later re-released as an enhanced port for the PlayStation Portable in 2009; 2000′s Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, both for the PlayStation; and 2003′s DemiKids: Light and Dark, for the Game Boy Advance.

Another thing worth noting is that after the release of Nocturne, Atlus USA began giving all following MegaTen releases the Shin Megami Tensei prefix, regardless of whether or not it’s a spin-off. That said, the only other true Shin Megami Tensei game we’ve gotten, besides the MMO Imagine, is Strange Journey, released for the Nintendo DS, in 2009 in Japan, and 2010 in North America.

Okay, but what makes MegaTen games stand out from all the other RPGs out there?

One such factor is its games’ settings. Unlike the genre’s usual pseudo-Medieval settings and sword and sorcery elements, MegaTen games, more often than not, are set in modern or near-future Japan and are centered around the occult, at times combined with cyberpunk elements. The only 3 games that I know of that are not set in modern or near future Japan are Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army which is set in the 1920s, Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon, set in the 1930s, and Strange Journey, which takes place at the South Pole.

While at their core, MegaTen stories are your usual fare of “Shit happened, fix it,” the games approach it in such a way that they’re unique, dark and/or mature — something not often seen in other RPGs.

Another thing that sets MegaTen apart is the mechanics typical of the franchise. Each and every game in the series features some type of communication between humans and demons. In most games, players can persuade demons to join the battle party, although this is not the case in the Digital Devil Saga (Japanese title was Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner) games. In addition, the player is often asked to make moral or philosophical choices that affect the game’s storyline and ending.

The enemies in MegaTen tend to be called “devil” or “demon” (“demons” in this article), as opposed to the term “monster” which is used in so many other RPGs. In most MegaTen games, demons can be recruited by the player, allowing them to fight alongside one another and/or fused with other demons to create a more powerful one. MegaTen is also heavy in mythological references, as it features deities and creatures from Graeco-Roman, Norse, Celtic, Judeo-Christian, Egyptian, Chinese, Hindu and Japanese mythologies.

The battle system (in most games) is the biggest difference, in my opinion. At first glance, it’s your average turn-based battle system as in other RPGs. However once you look closer, you realize that it’s more cerebral.

Almost every demon has a weakness and a strength. Exploiting a weakness (let’s say you’re fighting a fire-based demon. Its weakness would be ice. So you’d use an ice-based attack) will, in most games, give you an extra attack. So keep exploiting weaknesses. However, if you use an attack an enemy is strong against (ie: you use a fire-based attack against that same demon), you get one of 3 adverse effects: 1) the demon will absorb the attack and regain health, 2) it will repel it back at you, or 3) it will nullify it altogether, Also, in Nocturne, Digital Devil Saga and Digital Devil Saga 2, attacking with an enemy’s strength would also make your turn end. However, enemies can also exploit your weaknesses. So, be careful, pay attention and exploit.

The art and music are the final things that I’ll talk about. For the most part, character designs are done by the rather mysterious Kaneko Kazuma, about whom very little is known. More often than not, the music of MegaTen games is composed by Meguro Shoji. While they do have a signature rock style, each soundtrack runs the gambit of styles, including orchestral, electronica, jazz, rap, R&B and hip hop. My friends and I continue to be impressed with every MegaTen (and Meguro Shoji for that matter) soundtrack.

MegaTen is by far not your average RPG franchise. So much so, that trying to describe the appeal, other than just saying “It’s different,” is very hard. I suggest you pick a MegaTen game up and try it. Then you’ll get the appeal, and thank Atlus.

As technology progresses, we are getting stuff that, not-so-long ago, was out of science fiction stories. Mobile devices, MP3 players and DVD players were all things we could only dream of, 15 years ago. Now ThinkGeek now sells Spycam Video/MP3/Camera Sunglasses, but are they a dream come true, or a nightmare?

I first saw the Spycam Video/MP3/Camera Sunglasses (“Video Sunglasses” for the remainder of this review), while reviewing the 1.3 Megapixel Spy Camera Sunglasses (“Camera Sunglasses”). Being able to only use one hand, I’ve never been able to use a video camera, although the desire has been there since high school. Having a lot of success with the Camera Sunglasses, I decided to give the Video Sunglasses a try.

Much like with the Camera Sunglasses, you get the glasses, which have 8GB of storage built-in (though the manual states that they come with 2GB, 4GB, 8GB or higher), a remote with a strap, a mini USB cable, a storage case, a cleaning cloth, extra clear lenses, and the manual.

The case is identical to the one for the Camera Sunglasses. It opens like a book, stores everything, and is pretty sturdy for plastic. This time, there was no hinge-popping, which is good.

The remote is also identical — A little bigger than the Eisenhower/original silver dollar (or for you Pokemon fans, it’s about the size of the PokeWalker), and having 2 buttons: one in the middle to capture images, and one near the strap to play/skip MP3s.

Both glasses (Camera, and Video respectively) are nearly identical, with the latter having some differences. Both are quite lightweight, and yet very durable. The lens-frame and temple arms are one piece, while the earpieces fold. The lens flip up, and the sunglasses lens, at least are UV400 which is said to protect your eyes from 99-100% of UV rays.

As with the Camera Sunglasses, the Video Sunglasses also have MP3 playback with built-in earbuds. The earbuds are corded and can be hooked to the earpieces of the glasses when not in use. Audiophiles may say the sound quality of the earbuds is lacking, but for the average music listener, they do just fine.

The temple arms are still a bit bulky, due to the cameras, the battery, storage media and MP3 player being housed in them. As with the Camera Sunglasses, there are 3 buttons, but for the most part, the similarities between the 2 pairs of Sunglasses end there.

This time, all 3 buttons — the power button, which also plays or pauses the current MP3, the button to capture images/raise the volume in the earbuds/skip to the next MP3, and one to lower the volume/skip to the previous MP3/record video, are on the left temple arm. This causes trouble for me, because I can only use my right hand. The power light is still in a spot where you can’t see it, at least not in well-lit places.

The photo cameras have gotten an upgrade since the Camera Sunglasses. They now come in resolutions of 1.3, 2.0 or 3.2 megapixels, depending on your storage size. Capturing still images is exactly the same process as it was with the Camera Sunglasses: You press the button and wait for the signal that tells you the image has been captured. This time, it’s more instantaneous. You press the button and soon after, you hear the shutter-click sound.

Video-recording is the same process, except when you start, and stop recording, a voice says “Start recording” and “Recording finished” respectively. The only thing that disappoints me is the fact that you can’t record video via the remote. That would be cool.

There is also a microphone built-in somewhere, where I’m not sure but sound is also recorded along with video. The videos are recorded in 640×480 resolution, at 12fps (frames per second), and in AVI format. It’s not HD video, but videos turn out quite well. See for yourself:

I took this video the night I received the Video Sunglasses, just to try them out. The video shows me playing the PS3 demo of Vanquish, using the XCM XFPS Rateup Adapter and a standard DualShock 3 to play. As you can see, it’s not perfect, but it came out very well, in regards to both the audio and visual aspects, especially considering my PS3 is currently hooked up to my SDTV.

The battery again is polymer li-ion and rechargeable via mini USB, which is also used for data transfer. The total amount of time needed to fully charge the glasses is 2 hours. However, all the aforementioned improvements come at a price, this time that price being battery life. Whereas the maximum battery life without recharging the Camera Sunglasses is 9 hours, the max of the Video Sunglasses is 3 hours. That’s one hell of a decrease.

The mini USB port is still in the same spot — On the bottom of the left temple arm, next to the earbud cord, and covered by a flexible piece of silicon. I still have trouble with it. I can do it myself, but it’s still a bit of a pain.

All in all, the Spycam Video/MP3/Camera Sunglasses, which as of this review, are on sale for $99.99 for the 8GB model on ThinkGeek, are an awesome product, one that I’d recommend not only for other challenged individuals, but for anyone that doesn’t feel like lugging an actual video camera around. Well, almost anyone. Film-makers, these glasses are not what you’d want to use, because of both the quality, and the battery life, but I digress. The sense of freedom and power I’ve gotten from these glasses, more than justifies the cost.

ThinkGeek specializes in geek products, such as mini USB monitors, roll-up keyboards, and humping-dog USB flash drives. In addition, they have a “Security & Spy Stuff” section that has stuff like video-watches and hidden flash drives. They even carry t-shirts and edible stuff like wasabi gumballs(?! o.o) and energy drinks. They gave me this product for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

Yay… More deaths…

On August 24, we lost another great mastermind, Kon Satoshi. The famed director of such works as the psychological thriller Perfect Blue as well as Tokyo Godfathers, and Millennium Actress, lost his fight with pancreatic cancer.

Satoshi is survived by his wife Kon Kyoko. He was 46-years-old. The good ones always die young. He was working on his next movie, Yume-Miru Kikai.

Trailers for his works, below:

Japanese music (J-Music), much like American is categorized into numerous genres — JPop, JHip-Hop, JRock, etc. I listen to a lot of J-Music, so I’ve come across quite a few artists and bands with bad names over the years. I decided to make a top ten list of some of those names. Narrowing it down to ten was difficult, because there are so many that come to mind.

This was inspired by a recent post by fellow contributor Dan.

Note: Much like Dan’s post, this does not reflect on their musical abilities. In fact, I’m a fan of some of these artists and/or bands; I’ve marked those with a *.

(Click on the artist/band names to go to their Wiki page.)

10. SEX MACHINEGUNS

I’m not particularly a fan of this group. But the name. The name just spells all sorts of trouble. Is it machine guns having sex? Or is it people having sex with machine guns?

9. KICK THE CAN CREW

Not a fan of this group either, though they’re gaining in noteraiety in various circles of the J-music fandom. I really want to know how they come up with the name, KICK THE CAN CREW? Did they come up with it during that Kick The Can song? Are they just all fans of that song?

At any rate, I suppose we don’t have to really think about it much as the group broke up in 2004.

8. BUMP OF CHICKEN*

Mmmm… Chicken…

No. Wait. Not supposed to be thinking about food. I’m supposed to be thinking about this group. BUMP OF CHICKEN. Where did they get that name from? Is it supposed to symbolize a chicken with a cancerous lump?

7. MONKEY MAJIK*

Now, MONKEY MAJIK is a great band. I’m not saying that EVERYTHING they put out is solid gold, but they have a number of really good gems out there. According to the Jpop Stop wiki the name MONKEY MAJIK was derived from the English dub of the 1970s drama Saiyuki called Monkey. The theme song from that was “Monkey Magic” by GODIEGO and the band took that. Apparently, it was supposed to be Monkey Cosmic but the rest of the band decided that MONKEY MAJIK related more to Japan.

I’m not sure how they came up with that. But more power to them for that leap of logic.

6. FUNKY MONKEY BABYS

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS is a hip-hop group under the Dreamusic label that’s known for producing other artists such as Hirahara Ayaka and MELIN. I have a hypothesis on how they got their name. Or at least how they got half of it. The leader and one of the MC’s of the group is called FUNKY Kato. The other MC is called MONKICHI. So we know where FUNKY and MONKEY come from. Where on earth does BABYS come from? Seriously? I really want to know where it came from!

5. S.O.A.P. (SONS OF ALL PUSSYS)

This group, to me, has the weirdest name. This rock group is headed up by Ken and Sakura both of L’Arc~en~Ciel fame. They created this group as a no frills rock group. The perverted sense of humor, however, makes me question their sanity every time I see the group’s name.

4. MAXIMUM THE HORMONE*

Great group, bad name. I wonder if this is one of those cases where Engrish and drunkenness coagulated into someone coming into this idea. You’d think that they would figure out how bad it is once they all sobered up.

Personally, I believe that someone is holding blackmail over someone else. You never know what you get up to when the drinks start pouring.

3. TERIYAKI BOYZ*

TERIYAKI BOYZ. How on earth does this supergroup get its name? Not only do they have their international recognition from the soundtrack for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, but they get a weird name to boot? I think it has something to do with a member liking Teriyaki just a little too much. Maybe even a member liking “Boyz” just a little too much as well.

Ah, well… I guess all the great groups have strange names.

2. school food punishment

Let’s just say that I love love love love school food punishment. I never get tired of their ambient fusion sound that’s produced a number of great gems.

But the name? I wonder if they all disliked school food and thought that lunch every day was punishment?

Or could it be that perhaps they have some sort of secret group punishment that’s made up of school food? That has to be it! They must employ a legion of cafeteria workers that makes the worst school food possible and forces it on those who hate their music.

1. OGRE YOU ASSHOLE

This.. This is just too weird, even for me. In my mind, so that I don’t die from thinking too much, I’ll just say that they got really really drunk before they signed the contract and their record company thought it’d be funny for a hard rock group to invoke a chorus of insults.

I pity you if your name is Ogre.

The central umbrella of discipline in the world of TLA is called Bending, the ability to manipulate an element. There are 4 main types of bending: Airbending, Earthbending, Waterbending and Firebending, each based on a specific real-world martial art. Much like anything else, bending can be used for good or evil — Firebenders can warm cold tea, or they can burn down a village, Earthbenders can dig ditches, or they can create small earthquakes, etc.

The film’s story itself felt very rushed, to the point where it felt like I was just learning the story and then the climax occurred. This is because they tried to cram 500 minutes of story into 103 minutes. By doing so, Shyamalan effectively lost the spirit of the series. Quite a few key points from Book One were also absent from the movie. For instance, the Kyoshi Warriors that play a major role later on in the animated series were left almost completely out. Some people feel that the adaptation should have been in the form of a television series portrayed by real live people.

Myself and many other “fans” of the animated series do not agree with the changes that were made. One of the changes that’s really grated on everyone’s nerves is the pronunciation of a lot of the characters names. It’s so far off. For example, the main character’s name should be pronounced “Ang”, not “Ahng” like it is in the movie.

The other change that really bothered me is that the Firebenders needed pre-existing fire to bend it. This change makes sense as water, air and earth are everywhere, but fire is not. You cannot control something that isn’t there, so in order to control fire, you need to already have it. However, this isn’t true to the source material. In the animated series, Firebenders can create fire from their movements, without needing a pre-existing fire.

The bending motions in the film were every bit as intense as martial arts should be, although they did tend to take too long, specifically Earth. There were a few times where I saw prolonged motions without any Bending. I was like “Uh, guys, what are you doing?”

Casting was pretty good, as was the dialogue, aside from pronunciation. Mind you, this was the first time that I had seen any of the castmembers’ work. Noah Ringer (Aang), Dev Patel (Zuko), and Jackson Rathbone (Sokka) all portrayed their characters well. Rathbone in particular played Sokka well: funny, sarcastic, and a bit of a goof. But in my opinion, the best performance would have to be that of Shaun Toub. He really nailed the role of Uncle Iroh, very knowledgeable but extremely easy-going and friendly. The worst is Nicola Peltz, who played Katara, she wasn’t anything like her animated counterpart! She completely butchered the outgoing, cautious, and stubborn character from the animated series.

Locations and costumes were very true to the series. From the Air Temples to the Northern Water Tribe. The only thing I would change is that Zuko’s burn needed to be more defined, although I’m not sure if that’s even possible, given Patel’s complexion in the movie.

As a fan of the series, I wasn’t all that impressed with The Last Airbender. It missed some major points in the story that needed to be delved into, rather than just mentioned in passing. About the only thing the film is good for is a children’s action movie. You do not want to see this film if you have any shred of respect for the animated series. Several people that I know have gone on and on about how the movie could’ve been done so much better. Let’s hope that if and when they do another movie, that they kick M. Night Shyamalan in the balls with a nice fat paycheck and tell him to leave “his life’s work” alone.

The Last Airbender was produced, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It is based on Avatar: The Last Airbender, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The film stars Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone and Dev Patel, and was distributed by Paramount Pictures. Released on 2010.07.01 in North America. The film was watched to completion.

Preferences: we all have them. Whether you like Coca-Cola over Pepsi, subtitled anime over dubbed, or dogs over cats. As gamers, some prefer to play shooters with a controller, while others prefer to use a keyboard and mouse. However you can’t use a keyboard and mouse (to play games) on a console… Or can you? The XCM XFPS Rateup Adapter for PS3 aims to change that. Still, the question remains: Does it hit its mark, or does it shoot itself in the foot?

Better known as XCM, Farmer has been in the business for roughly 10 years, making such products as converters, peripherals and cases. Their first popular and arguably their best-known product is the Xtender Case Mod for the original XBox. Most people now refer to their products as XCM (short for “Xtender Case Mod”) and not Farmer. So, they’ve went by the letters XCM ever since. I discovered the XCM XFPS Rateup Adapter for PS3 (Rateup) while trying to figure out some way to play games that have more complex control schemes, such as Demon’s Souls and Batman: Arkham Asylum.

When you get the Rateup, you get the adapter itself and the instruction manual. While I’ve seen some people say the manual leaves things to be desired, I find it to be clear and straight to the point. It explains the adapter in diagrams and how to set it up.

The Rateup boasts the ability to map any part of the controller to any key of the keyboard and mouse, including both analog sticks and the buttons underneath them (L3 and R3). It has 2 USB ports, 2 PS/2 ports and one PlayStation/PlayStation 2 port, so the keyboard and/or mouse you use can be USB or PS/2. The Rateup comes with a preset/default mapping for the keyboard and mouse, but you can also customize the mapping to your liking.

To set your keyboard up how you want it after you’ve plugged it in to the Rateup made sure it’s set to port 1 (by pressing F1 on the keyboard), reset your PS3 controller and plugging that in is: You press the “P” (program) button, press what button on the controller you’d wish to assign, and push the desired button on the keyboard or mouse. It saves your mappings to the adapter itself, but certain things are not saved, such as your right analog settings. You can use a PlayStation 2 controller, but unlike the keyboard/mouse, you can’t remap the buttons.

The Rateup also has built-in Turbo/Rapid-Fire — 8 instances, actually. One for each action button. This is very useful in action games like Dante’s Inferno, or God of War. In addition, it lets you adjust the sensitivity of your mouse with 2 dials, one for the X axis and one for the Y. XCM also says that the Rateup is compatible with 95% of different kinds of mice and keyboards, not every one.

While it says it is compatible with all PS3 games, I haven’t had a chance to try the Rateup on games that use motion controls so I cannot say whether or not it works with those games. However, XCM has made a similar product that they say “supports Playstation 3 Sixaxis [motion control] games.”

As a physically challenged gamer, some games are difficult for me to play, even using BenHeck’s Access Controller. While I don’t play First or Third-Person Shooters (“FPS” or ‘Shooter” respectively) like Call of Duty, I’ve tried the Rateup with my wired HP keyboard, playing several titles, including Trine, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Soul Calibur 4. Although I had to re-program the Rateup for each game (because I play one-handed), it was a tremendous help in Trine and Batman: Arkham Asylum. I am now able to play more efficiently, having the ability to remap the control to the keyboard, giving me full access to it.

In Trine and Batman: Arkham Asylum, I can pull off moves that require the shoulder buttons to be pressed, without having to contort my hand to press 3 things all at once. For example, I can do the Wizard’s magic in Trine, and stealth takedowns in Batman. The fact that you have to press 3 things at once was the only thing that stopped me from actually putting time into those titles. However now that I can have full access now, I don’t foresee anything stopping me, unless there are hidden motion controls that I am not aware of. Soul Calibur 4, however, I’m having trouble getting used to, mostly because I’ve spent years and years playing fighting games on a controller, not a keyboard. I can do it but I have a little trouble.

There are a few drawbacks with the Rateup, including the fact that not every part of your mapping is saved and the somewhat redundant setup, but none of them are deal-breakers. I can’t say whether or not it works well for Shooters, but as an adapter that lets you use your keyboard as a controller, the Rateup works wonderful.

The XCM XFPS Rateup Adapter for PS3 retails for $98.99 USD on Extreme Mods. It may seem pricey, but we gamers spend around $150 on an arcade stick, so it’s rather cheap.

Extreme Mods is a website that sells console modification products and accessories, such as cases and cables. They have been featured by such media sources as Game Informer, GamePro, and X-Play. In addition, they are an official North American reseller of XCM/Farmer products. They sent us the XCM XFPS Rateup Adapter for PS3 for review and I’d like to thank them for doing so.

Peter Keefe, best known as the producer of the 1980s anime, Voltron, passed away on May 27, succumbing to throat cancer. He was only 57.

Voltron was an adaptation of two different anime series — Hyakujuu Ou Golion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV, redubbed and edited. I’m sure some of my fellow writers probably grew up watching it in the mid-80s. I watched it a decade later.

Felicia Day’s award-winning webseries, The Guild returns for a third season. The series tells the story of a local guild and their adventures both in and outside of the game. Following the troubling conclusion of season 2, tempers flare and a rival guild shows up. Things escalate when the rival guild starts terrorizing the Knights of Good in-game and out. Will the Knights of Good survive the trials and tribulations, or will anarchy reign supreme?

While I first heard of The Guild at SXSW 2008, I didn’t start watching it until after I saw Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, which made me a fan of Felicia Day. I had been playing World of Warcraft for a while, so the subject matter was something I could relate to. However, the show is written so well that I became a fan almost immediately, not because I also play an MMO, but because it’s a good series. As Peter’s previously said, “watching a season all together is a lot more like watching a movie than a web series.”

Each episode in the series runs anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes in duration, the ending of each making you yearn for the next episode. Luckily you don’t have to wait a week for each episode, as all 12 episodes of season 3 are contained on the DVD. Each season of The Guild is filled with drama, humor and a plot twist here and there, much like any other series, on-air or online.

Season 3 marks the appearance of several new faces to The Guild, including Wil Wheaton as the leader of the rival Axis of Anarchy. This was my first time seeing him in a role other than Wesley Crusher, and I have to say he pulled off the antagonist role very nicely. In fact, the entire Axis of Anarchy cast pulled off their roles great. My favorite would have to be Venom, played by Teal Sherer. Venom is wheelchair-bound and tired of the sympathy everyone gives her (and frankly, so am I), and has no problem exploiting her wheelchair when it suits her.

The DVD also contains several hilarious gag reels; the “(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar” music video and a behind-the-scenes short; interviews with the Axis of Anarchy, which are a good look at the characters and their actors; a featurette on how to make Vork’s sword; the Guild Halloween video, which I hadn’t seen until I watched the DVD; video applications of people who wanted to become a part of the Knights of Good; advice for people who want to make a web video; and a PDF file of the script.

You can watch The Guild episodes, as well as order merchandise at the series website: http://www.watchtheguild.com/. The Season 3 DVD is out now from New Video. You can order it from The Guild‘s website. Felicia also warns you that the DVD is uncensored.

New Video is a leading independent Blu-ray, DVD and digital distributor specializing in multiple genres, including cutting-edge documentaries, independent films, cult hits (such as Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog), and classic kids programming. They also provide over 11,000 hours of film and television programming from more than 120 trusted brands to download and streaming platforms including iTunes, Hulu, YouTube, Netflix, Xbox, Sony Playstation and Amazon. They gave me this DVD for review, and I would like to thank them for doing so.