the scope
I like things that are a little out of the way. Things that few people have heard of, or that have been forgotten. Likewise, when I write a game, it's usually because I just discovered it, I just rediscovered it, or I think it needs more attention. Sometimes these are newer games, but they're usually not. So, I'm not very timely or anything. I don't even really write about games that are old enough to be cool just because they're old. Part of this is that hindsight lets me appreciate things more. A just-released game has ads and hype and expectations and people's opinions everywhere about it. Once this dies down, the noise is reduced, allowing a more pure experience.
why blog?
I'm not trying to be cool or popular or anything by doing a blog. Anyone who knows me in real life would know that the last thing I want is popularity. I'd warn anyone who wants to link to me that I think this blog is very very boring and really shouldn't be read by anyone at all. Basically, I gotta write. Text pours out of me like a waterfall sometimes, and I can't stop myself from deluging anyone within range with all manner of awkwardly-worded run-on sentences. I do it in emails, on message boards, and anywhere else that text meets media. I'm putting it here, because I truly believe that everything that I write has some importance. It's here, out of the way, so that anyone who really wants to find it can, and those that don't want to read it don't have to.
I usually write about pretty narrow subjects, like games, or my own brain. And the interaction between the two. My views on games are way out of the mainstream, but it's something I do like to write about. So this isn't a traditional game blog or anything. I like to "review" games sometimes, but this won't be a review blog.
games
Okay, whether I like it or not, I will write about games a lot. They're interesting.
As far as games go, I'm mostly a handheld gamer. I am because I'm biased to simple games and things in 2D, things that tend to come out on portables rather than consoles. If I'm playing something, no matter what system it's on, it's probably either 2D or an RPG. (In fact, my girlfriend constantly rags on me because all I play are 'cute, cartoony RPGs.' I can't argue. XD) I love my DS to death, and I also own a GBASP and NGPC. In fact, I write about DS games a lot, because they're the most interesting things happening right now. I also own a PS2, almost purely for the sake of playing Nippon Ichi games, and a GameCube because it's really tiny and cute, and I'm hooked on Animal Crossing.
I tend to prefer handhelds mainly because I can only stand about an hour or so of looking at a TV screen, but I can seem to stare into a little LCD for much longer. Plus, handhelds go everywhere.
My favorite game of all time is Doukutsu Monogatari (aka Cave Story), a free indie game made by a guy named Pixel. It is... nearly perfect, but not perfect. Here's a link to a tribute site.
"tanuki...?"
The Pompoko FAQ
A tanuki is a canine animal (often translated "raccoon dog") with raccoon-like markings native to Asia. In Japanese mythology, it is a mischievious l'il punk who can shapeshift himself and certain other objects, usually for the purpose of stealing stuff. There's some more info in the Pompoko FAQ that's linked right above this.
My usual nom de internet is "tanukisan," (note: no caps) something I decided on after everything else sounded dumb. I'm not Japanese or anything, but I am a raging nihonophile. It means something along the lines of "Mr. Racoon-Dog."
I got it from an anime, "Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pom Poko," which was created by Studio Ghibli. Their movies are almost always awesome. In the movie, the tanukis' home forest is bulldozed to make room for a new city. The tanuki fight back in some hilarious and ingenious ways, but ultimately, the city is built. At the end of the movie, the tanuki who are good at shapeshifting end up working as humans in the city. Trying to find a job, or go to school or fit in with everyone outside makes me feel like a tanuki trying to be human. So that's basically why I use the name.
"semi-professional...?"
Yeah. When you're communicating with other people, you should be professional about it, right? That way, people take you seriously, and misunderstanding is minimized. Professionalism in general is a good thing, despite how most of the Internet communicates. I try to write clearly, and make everything as understandable as possible. And I am referring to "professional" in the sense of writing professionally, though it certainly applies to other things.
Semi-professionalism is all about knowing that there are strict rules of professionalism, and also knowing that there are times to question or break those rules.
Do what you want, but understand what you do.
links
I love reading 4 Color Rebellion, and insert credit.
Also, check out everything2.
