Editorials
Sketchy Interview Part 2: The Importance of Growth
The long awaited sequel to the Sketchy interview is finally here, ladies and gentlemen. This gentlecolt continues to amaze me every time I read his words, he often makes me think about my stances and conceptions. And as such, this is one of the best takeaways I can have from #MLPMonth.
On this part of the interview we’ll take a look at Sketchy’s thoughts on the fandom and the pieces of work it’s provided. There are some aspects about this part of this interview that will definitely catch some off-guard as well. Especially when he talks about some aspects of the fandom some bronies aren’t exactly proud to bring up in conversation.
Toxicity in the Brony Fandom and the importance of Criticism
After talking about his work and how strong it can get, I asked Sketchy what he thinks of the fandom he’s very much part of. He quickly addressed this with some important advice for the community itself:
“Overall it’s a good community that I enjoy being a part of, but I do feel that there are things we need to work on. Sometimes we tend to bite back way too hard whenever someone makes a fair criticism of the community, and from my experiences with other artists, we sometimes have a habit of pushing people when they say they aren’t into MLP or don’t want to make MLP-related content.
There’s the common defense that we’re “not as bad as other fandoms” but whether that’s true or not, it doesn’t actually address the issue. We need to be more willing to look at ourselves and how we act, myself included.
It’s great that we have a community that is so passionate about this show, but we also need to be mindful and not let that passion turn into pushiness or toxicity. This is a show about magical talking horses after all.”
He then goes on to talk about the importance of self-analysis and self-criticism:
“I won’t deny that it’s hard to be critical of your own community, and I can understand why most would hesitate to do so, but at the end of the day ignoring the problems within your own community won’t do anything to solve them. It only ensures that they persist.
I know some people will read what I just said and interpreted as me not liking the fandom or being pessimistic, but I think it’s a lot more detrimental to us in the long term to romanticize the fandom and give people a false impression”
Misconceptions About the Analysis Community
I decided to ask Sketchy about the Analysis community itself. While he still wants to be judged as an individual and not part of a group, Sketchy talked about his overall thoughts on the Analysis community.
“Like the rest of the community, it’s something I enjoy being a part of, but there are some fair criticisms. While we do get somewhat of a bad rap from the other sections of the community, one fair point that they do make is that the analysis community does tend to be rather clique-ish.
While there is an initial air of all-inclusiveness, there are a plethora of Skype groups and discord servers, and while there is an overlap, you definitely get that high school clique vibe. The best way I can put it is that Skype/Discord is like the school cafeteria and the different groups/servers are all the different tables and social groups.”
He then mentions a quick story of other enthusiasts who wanted to become part of the analysis community itself. Let’s say it just might not be the best place for starting a social circle.
“I’ve gotten comments and messages from fans saying that they want to join the community so they can be friends with the people that they watch, but the best advice I can possibly give in this situation is that if you’re doing this for the sole purpose of being in a social circle, you’re doing it for the wrong reason.
I started doing YouTube because I enjoy talking about the things that I watch for as long as I can remember and I saw YouTube as a platform for me to do that on a larger scale. It’s something I enjoy doing whether it makes me a part of a larger community or not.”
Sketchy the Illustrator and future ambitions.
After the whole criticism of the fandom, I briefly talked with Sketchy about what he does as an Illustrator. I asked him what were his work tool sand also what his work mostly entails, he responded with a brief but sweet summary.
“Most of my work is digital. I use a drawing tablet to produce my work, and when it comes to programs, I use a mix of Paint Tool Sai and Photoshop. While I do dabble in basic design, my work is definitely more illustration-based.”
Sketchy also talked about how much he wants to improve as a creator himself. When I asked him about whether or not he has been living up to that goal, he responded with a very insightful commentary.
“Each year has marked a certain progression with my work. In 2016, I switched to doing reviews of the show in monthly chunks so I can dedicate the rest of each month to other topics so I don’t get burnt out over covering the show constantly.
In 2017 I started becoming more expressive in the way I read my scripts and make some one-off comedy skits as well. I’m looking forward to what 2018 will bring. I’ll be the first year where I won’t be doing videos alongside being a full time student, so it’ll be an interesting year.”
Recently, Sketchy also uploaded a video talking about how he has gotten a job as an illustrator. He also mentions that major issues in his life have been addressed for the time being and all he has to get done now is his education. The future certainly looks very bright for the upcoming illustrator and critic.
Conclusion: The best always starts from somewhere
This brings the interview with Sketchy the Changeling to a close. As you can see, he’s a very interesting individual with interesting viewpoints in the current world. While the interview has been centered in the Community itself, I notice that Sketchy wants to keep expanding his horizons to new frontiers.
I mean, considering that the world will always have a spot for talent, no matter where. This is a good philosophy to carry on, expanding your horizons and looking at your own work critically will make you improve a lot. And this applies to critics, journalists, filmmakers and other kinds of professionals.
I recommend people to flock over and subscribe to his YouTube channel. You can also follow his Twitter and ask for commissions on his DeviantART. And, of course, you can also contribute to his Patreon to support his YouTube videos.
After many years of fans begging Square Enix to remaster Final Fantasy VII, they finally listened and did just that. There were numerous excuses as to why the game’s re-release had lagged behind the re-releases of both VII and IX, with the most common excuse being that the game’s original code was lost years ago. However, the company made it happen and the game is finally available for modern audiences to play on modern hardware today. We’re going to give you 5 reasons why you should do just that.
First time available on modern hardware
As we’ve already said, this is the first time that the game is available on modern hardware. While the game originally launched for PS1 back in 1999, it later got a PC port in 2000. That means that is has been a whopping 19 years since a new version of the game has been available for purchase, and that wait was a brutal one. However, it is finally over and you can now play this classic game on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch along with PC. If the lack of modern hardware support was stopping you from checking out, that excuse just got thrown out the window.
The visuals look better than ever
Thankfully, Square Enix did not just slap this port together quickly and throw it out there to shut everyone up. They did a terrific job of putting on a shiny new coat of paint for the game, with the character models in particular looking much better. While things like environment textures didn’t get quite the same amount of attention, this is nevertheless the best that the game has ever looked. It also helps that the game is simply beautiful from a design standpoint, with the game’s world being gorgeous to behold even though we’re dealing with the hardware limitations of 1999.
Quality of life improvements
While those who played the game 20 years ago will still be getting what is essentially the same experience, Square Enix did add some quality of life improvements to put it more in line with current JRPGs. These changes include the likes of increasing battle speed by 3 times, shutting off random encounters completely and even a cheat to give you max HP and limit breaks. While these may seem minor, these will go a long way to ease some of the tedium that many feel after some particularly long gaming sessions. Max HP and Limit Breaks will also make the incredibly tough Ultima and Omega Weapon boss fights a lot easier to deal with.
Triple Triad
The Final Fantasy series is known for having its fair share of enticing side quests and mini games, but there isn’t a single one that is as addicting as Triple Triad. The game is essentially a card game that is played on a 3×3 grid, and each card has a certain number on the top, bottom, left and right sides. You need to place your cards in a manner that the numbers on your cards are higher than your opponents, and seeing as your card can be attacked from four different sides this can be tricky. You’re able to challenge many different characters to a match throughout the course of the entire game, and doing so comes with plenty of nice rewards that will make your quest easier.
The game is awesome
While our previous points focused on specific elements of the game, this one is a simple fact that has been true since 1999: the game is awesome. Unfortunately, releasing immediately after Final Fantasy VII (a watershed moment for gaming) put it under a very cruel microscope, with many knee jerk reactions simply saying it “isn’t as good as VII.” However, in the years that have passed people have revisited the game, and the consensus has definitely changed. This adventure that Square created is unlike any other in the series, being host to an ambitious and bizarre plot filled with some of the best characters the series has ever seen. If you’ve played the game before then this is the perfect time to experience this masterpiece all over again, and if you haven’t then what are you waiting for?
2019 has been yet another good year for gaming so far, with several games releasing that will be big contenders for game of the year once the curtain closes. However, despite the year already being more than halfway over, there are still some huge titles on the horizon that are sure to make their own dents on the coming best-of lists. This article will list the 10 biggest games that are still coming in 2019.
Control
A new game from Remedy Entertainment is always highly-anticipated, and Control is no different. The game is an action-adventure game in the same style as Alan Wake or Quantum Break, but with a supernatural twist. Players will control Jesse Faden, who possesses a variety of supernatural abilities like telekinesis, levitation and more. She will be using her abilities in order to defeat an enemy known only as the Hiss, which has corrupted reality. Control launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on August 27th.
Borderlands 3
It has been many years since the last game in the Borderlands series released, but the hiatus is finally coming to an end very soon. Those who have played previous games in the series will feel right at home with this game, as it’s once again a loot-driven FPS. The game will offer more zany characters and a charming and insane world to explore, all while dealing with new antagonists Troy and Tyreen Calypso along with their Children of the Vault cult. Borderlands 3 launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 13th, with a Google Stadia port release date being TBA.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series is returning soon with Breakpoint, which will serve as a continuation of previous game Wildlands. The game is set in an open world environment called Aurora, which is a fictional island in the Pacific Ocean. Players will control Lieutenant Colonel Anthony “Nomad” Perryman, who is a special forces operative that was sent to the island to investigate a series of disturbances in the area. Breakpoint launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 4th, with a Google Stadia port coming in November.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Each new installment in the Call of Duty series is always huge, but Modern Warfare’s release marks a first for the long-running franchise. It will be the first game in the series that is reimagining of a previous game in the series, taking 2004’s original game and updating its mechanics and themes to match today’s world. The game will still have some of the beats that the first game had, but will also incorporate lots of surprises to make it a fresh experience. Modern Warfare launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th.
The Outer Worlds
Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds is one that will be very highly-anticipated for fans of Fallout: New Vegas, as this game serves as a sort of spiritual successor to that game. It will be an open world RPG that allows you to explore many unique areas crawling with plenty of deadly foes. Players will also be able to encounter and recruit NPCs as companions that have their own personal missions and stories to take part in. The Outer Worlds launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th, with a Switch port also being in the works.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
It seemed very unlikely that Luigi’s Mansion would become a recurring franchise for Nintendo following the original GameCube game, but here we are. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is coming to Switch, which also means it will be the first home console release since the original game back in 2003. This time the game is set in a haunted hotel rather than a mansion, and Luigi has some new tricks up his sleeves to take down all those ghosts. Luigi’s Mansion 3 will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 31st.
Death Stranding
If you’re looking for the most ambitious (and weirdest) game still coming in 2019, then look no further. Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding has perplexed gamers ever since its announcement, and each new trailer that releases just brings more and more questions to the table. It is Kojima’s first game since breaking up with Konami after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phanton Pain (and the cancellation of Silent Hills), and it looks like Kojima has taken the newfound complete creative control to deliver something truly original. Death Stranding launches exclusively for PS4 on November 8th.
Pokemon Sword & Shield
At this point we all know what to expect from a new Pokemon game, and Sword and Shield seems poised to deliver even more cute creatures for players to capture and battle very soon. What sets Sword and Shield apart from its predecessors is that it will be the first home console release for the series, which is saying something considering the series has been around for over 20 years. Pokemon Sword & Shield launches exclusively for Switch on November 15th.
Shenmue III
If you’re a fan of Shenmue then nothing needs to be said for the inclusion of the upcoming third game on this list. Fans of the series have been waiting nearly two decades for a follow-up to the second game, and in just a couple of months that will finally be delivered to them. Brought to life thanks to an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, the game continues the adventure of protagonist Ryo Hazuki as he hunts down his father’s killer. Shenmue III will launch for PS4 and PC on November 19th.
DOOM Eternal
id Software’s DOOM 2016 was one of the best FPS games to come along in years, so it’s a no-brainer that the follow-up would be on this list. Eternal is set to offer yet another intense FPS campaign for players to plunge into, while also offering a multiplayer component that greatly improves upon the last game’s underwhelming multiplayer mode. There will also be twice as many demon types than there was in the last game, meaning that the chaos level just got that much higher. DOOM Eternal launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC on November 22nd.
Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2019 Press Conference has officially come to an end, and with it came plenty of big announcements to get excited about. Some new games were announced, whereas previously-announced games got new footage and/or release dates. In this article we’ve narrowed it all down to the 5 most exciting announcements.
New Xbox “Project Scarlett” Coming Holiday 2020
We’ve known for a while now that a new Xbox was in the works, but now we know when to expect it. Microsoft’s fourth console (which hopefully has a better official name than Xbox One did) will be a big step up from the previous console. Things like much faster load times, an AMD Processor that is four times more powerful than the Xbox One X, 8K Resolution and 120 FPS were all mentioned. A price and exact release date weren’t mentioned. It will also be launching with…
Halo Infinite Coming Holiday 2020, Launching On Both Xbox One and Project Scarlett
The wait for the next Halo game has been longer than ever before for series fans, and the announcement at E3 revealed that the wait will continue. Halo Infinite will not be launching until Holiday 2020, meaning it will have been 5 years since the previous game released with Halo 5. It will also be launching on Xbox One and Project Scarlett, meaning the new console will have a big launch title for fans to get pumped about.
Cyberpunk 2077 Coming April 2020, Stars Keanu Reeves
It’s hard to pick a game that people have been more excited about than Cyberpunk 2077, and after Microsoft’s press conference we’re even more excited. Not only is it coming in April of next year, but Keanu Reeves himself will be playing a “key” role in the game. Everything shown from the game has looked great so far, so hopefully it all pans out and we have another classic from CD Projekt RED come April 2020.
FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin Collaboration Elden Ring Announced
This one was actually leaked prior to the presentation, but Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin are collaborating on a new game. The game is called Elden Ring, and it will be a departure from the developer’s most recent games as it will be open world. Very little information on the game is known at this point, as it is still in the early stages of development.
Phantasy Star Online 2 Is Coming West
It took a very long time, but the popular MMORPG is finally coming west. The game is coming to Xbox One in a free-to-play form in Spring 2020, so the wait won’t be that much longer. “There will be no limitations on game experiences,”says Sega, because they want to “provide all players with a fair and exciting experience.”
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