Today we’ve been blessed with some delicious news from the world of Blizzard.  It seems the boys at the big B – or Fo’ Blizzle, as it’s colloquially called – have announced the next iteration in their epic series Diablo with Diablo III.  I may have summoned a piece of shit in my plate leggings.  Better head back to town.

Along with the announcement of DIII, Blizzard also launched a website to its dedication chock-full of savory content, including but not limited to, a teaser trailer characteristically beautiful in its execution as well as a 20-minute gameplay demo(!).  Not to mention the enormous amount of screenshots, concept art, wallpapers, other game information and a section called Cain’s Journal narrated by Cain himself.

Watching the 20-minute demo of the initial gameplay blew me away.  Since a few years have passed since the release of the second Diablo, graphical prowess and overall performance in the industry of technology has increased at a rate incalculable which allowed for Blizzard to make the Diablo series even more refined and polished visually.  So right off the bat, the environment present in the demo popped and flourished right out of the screen.

The beginning of the gameplay trailer shows off one of the two classes that have been announced for the game thus far; the Barbarian.  The old staple.  Immediately one notices the difference in gameplay mechanics as the Barbarian takes but a few steps onto a large square pillar connected to the rest of the environment with small narrow walkways and is assaulted with what some may call a “zerg rush” of quick, agile Gollum-esque creatures.

While some key gameplay components have been altered to reveal a much more fluid, fast-paced (almost God of War style play) experience in terms of combat, the fundamentals are still present making it very much Diablo.  Some of the changes seem to include things like destructible environments, which can be used to ones advantage or bring ruin to one’s well-being.  As well as a new drop item when killing enemies that, again like God of War, replenishes health just be coming in contact with it lessening the need of potions to save you.

The other class shown in the demo is a new class to the Diablo series; The Witch Doctor.  This class seems to have replaced the Necromancer.  I don’t know this for certain, but the character-type and play styles are very similar.  The Witch Doctor is a master of disease and can summon pets to do his bidding and control the minds of his enemies.  One attack the Doctor possesses spits a swarm of locusts towards an enemy devouring it whole leaving only bones then arching to nearby enemies to do the same.  This same attack can then be used on his pets which gives them bonuses to their attack causing extra poison damage.  Awesome.

As far as I’m aware the number or type of classes available for play has not been set.  I heard rumor of only 5 classes, but that would remain consistent with previous Diablos (excluding expansions).  It is only day one of the newly launched site, so I’m sure speculation is ravenously devouring all on the official forums.

What Blizzard has delivered so far excites me deep within a sub-region of my being.  Diablo has always been my Blizz series of choice.  While I enjoy all their games, Warcraft and Starcraft are both essentially RTSs and I have never been especially adept at that genre of game.  My strategic prowess carries me through a game of Stratego, maybe.

I look forward to seeing all the new content that gets released over the next however many months detailing all the new story elements, characters, enemies and Horadric Cubes within the world of Sanctuary which taking a look back through all the games and the upcoming third one has to be the most ironically named world ever.  Peace.

I’m going to step out of my usual shoes and do something I’m not sure I’ve yet done here: endorse an anime. Yes, it is true, I watch them as well. Kether can be attributed (or blamed, if you’re the Mistress) as the impetus. Regardless, I shall now be comparing and contrasting two shows still in progress: Code Geass and Soul Eater.

It might be dangerous to discuss and critique shows still in progress, as my feelings about them may change by the time all is said and done, but since my remarks will generally be of an extolling nature, I should be safe. I should also give the caveat that when I read or watch fiction, my overwhelming focus and judgment lies in the characters themselves. I am willing to overlook terrible art, atrocious plot lines, and a host of other issues so long as the characters are three dimensional, genuine, and believable. Bearing this in mind, I move to the first anime under discussion: Soul Eater.

The series is only 11 episodes in, but I was hooked after episode one. The story revolves around a shinigami school for Meisters and Weapons who team up to defeat those who prey on innocent souls of humans. The Weapons are human in form when inactive, but adopt the form of anything from blades to guns to smoke bombs when in combat. The Meisters utilize the weapons with the goal of acquiring 100 souls and one witch’s soul in order that the Weapons become a Death Scythe. Upon defeating an enemy, the weapon will literally devour their soul, hence Soul Eater. The primary story involves three such teams of Meister and Weapon(s).

What I like: All of the characters are fallible, unique, and consistent. What I mean by consistent is they do only actions you would expect them to do, or can understand given their motivation. The animation is hailed as sublime, but I am not sensitive enough to the art form to comment on that. The action scenes are exceedingly enjoyable to watch, and the perspectives of the “camera” are a treat for the viewer as well. Also, the world of Death City is fantastic enough to feel almost outlandish, but detailed and described well enough to keep the viewer from falling out of the illusion.

What I don’t like: Sometimes the series can feel too Japanese, if that’s the proper term. What I mean by that is the overly goofy anime expressions or cultural humor that is probably rarely appreciated outside of Tokyo. That being said, I do find myself laughing often enough to overlook the Kawaii! aspects of the series.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, seasons 1 and R2 are in the almost opposite extreme of Soul Eater. While this series would be classified as a Mecha anime, it is of the style that focuses more on the human side and characters. The series is meant to be a futuristic, but historical fiction depicting the events of the overthrow of Japan by the Holy Empire of Britannia in the near future, but focusing primarily on the aftermath and subsequent rebellion by enemies of the state. Season one chronicled the rise of the Black Knights and their leader Zero, a castaway prince of the old power who seeks retribution against his father, the emperor. Season two begins with the Knights scattered and beaten back, but Zero regaining his memories and the power of the Geass.

What I like: The sheer scale of the story is impressive, encompassing a multitude of characters with detailed backgrounds and several nations with complex political relations over the span of several years. While fiction, the series is heavily based in plausible technology and world events (leaving the Geass aside). The main plot line resembles Death Note in its juxtaposition of ideals and methods for creating a just world and the battle of wills resulting. In addition, the series does little to glorify war or rebellion per se, focusing rather on the sacrifices and losses of each side.

What I don’t like: Remember when I said how important characters are to me? This series strays little from the stock, cliché anime characters I have become all too familiar with. The two protagonists (I’m not sure of the role of either of the main characters) are practically cutouts from the anime writers manual, and at times do things completely out of character for no reason, and then fail to recognize their hypocrisy. Lelouch is your standard brilliant but bored high school student who ends up shaping the world through his will. Suzaku is his oldest friend who is superior in might and adheres to the rules, preferring to change the system from within. Each vehemently professes their ideals, but then repeatedly and blindly defects on themselves throughout the series.

Bonus what I don’t like: Is it Kallen or Karen? Geass or Geas? Make up your mind! Also, I get it: Pizza Hut is a friend of the show. Long live Pizza Hut! Can we maybe be a little less obvious about it?

Putting these two series up against one another would be a bit unfair, since Code Geass is currently 36 episodes deep, and Soul Eater is just 11 old. However, even at this point, I would have to say I prefer Soul Eater. Frankly, I’m just not that into Mecha battles, even though I do love some of what they do with the political and strategic storylines of the series. To be perfectly redundant, what sells a series for me is characters, and Soul Eater wins hands down. Still, if you have time, check them both out and you will likely not be disappointed.

–Casimir

I had a professor recently tell me why she did not agree with forgiveness. I am not going to replicate her argument, but in telling it to someone else, I was forced to play devil’s advocate and reject forgiveness in my own right. I will do the same here, and welcome all challenges.

Claim 1: Not all forgiveness is bad, but forgiveness can only come about when some injustice or wrong has been amended.

My biggest problem with the elevation of forgiveness in Judeo-Christian society is that it is regarded as a virtue to unconditionally forgive others. Nay, it is considered godlike. I would concede that forgiving has some psychological benefit for those who have been wronged, as well as those who wrong, but to unconditionally forgive is to ignore some legal or moral wrong. As humans, this is a socially crippling and potentially self-destructive mode of behavior.

Claim 2: Anger and revenge are baser reactions, but base reactions do not imply inferiority.

The survival of humans has depended upon our “lesser” traits that allowed us to reach a more complex plane of interaction. That being said, a complete rejection of these patterns is not only extremely difficult and the source of great strife, but may have ramifications we can not yet conceive. We are told that denying sexuality is a virtue, but sexuality is necessary not only for the procreation of our species, but the sort of bonding that likely allowed nomadic groups of humans to persist. Granted, I am here intermingling sex and love, but the two are quite impossible to tear apart.

Claim 3: Anger and revenge may be the reason humans were able (and are able) to cooperate.

Game theoretic studies suggest that cooperation cannot survive unless the conditions are ideal and the agents are willing to defect on those who defect on them. In fact, unconditional cooperators fare the worst, while ideal settings show conditional cooperators fare the best. My suggestion is that the evolutionary purpose of anger and revenge is to create a society where a few defectors cannot take advantage of the greater society, otherwise cooperation would never have survived. Of course, surreptitious deception is not out of the question, but that leads me to the next claim.

Claim 4: Punishment is a necessary precursor to forgiveness, and can be considered revenge extracted by society as a whole.

When we discover some moral wrong, we seek retribution in the form of incarceration or pecuniary damages, thus justifying the desire for revenge and satisfying the need for defection in kind. It may seem that unconditional forgiveness is a virtue, but would it be so easy in a society where none were punished for their actions? Of course, the Judeo-Christian teachings say that forgiveness in those cases is even more divine, but if that were the case then we should never want to overthrow dictators. This is the line of thought I find so volatile: we should not judge others, but rather await divine judgment. If a member of your nomadic tribe stole and bartered the entire hunt your group had stored for the winter, should you turn the other cheek and allow them to remain a member of the group?

In summation, without some form of revenge, forgiveness is irresponsible. Punishment is societal revenge manifest, and anger at moral wrongs is often the impetus for such desires for revenge. Forgiveness may be divine, but unconditional forgiveness is certainly not human, nor should it be.

-Casimir

Within recent, recollectable time, life feels like it has sped up to a speed at which I am more a participant to my own life rather than at the helm of the U.S.S Me.  As if life is moving at such a rate that I am more watching the events of my life unfold rather than be Tom fuckin’ Cruise in the film adaptation of my life.  And some asshole behind me in the theater keeps sneezing and breathing too loudly so I miss half the good scenes.

Much of my conscious wakened state is spent at work.  This is to be expected.  I’m not some hippie college student anymore taking bong hits from weed I found under my roommates sofa cushion.  Unfortunately.  My current work environment is such that I arrive at some time when the sun is just beginning to start its journey across the pale blue vastness of our visible horizon, blink once or twice, and then it’s time to go home.

Home – post work – typically consists of trying to forget all that I’ve done over the past eight or so hours at work.  This activity can take all night, which usually translates to me not actually relaxing at any substantial portion of the evening.  Alcohol tends to lend a hand at times, but much like any night of intoxication, the effects are far too temporary.

Stress has built up to a point that even among my nightly leisure activities I find strain and scouring.  I have choices between anime, manga, movies, music, television, massively multiplayer online role playing games, etc.  This multitude of choices only hinders as opposed to helps.  I have too many relaxing hobbies to partake in and that breeds pressure and tension.

I believe a vacation may be desperately in order, but I think any place I chose to go would produce its own unique array of issues that eat away at my psyche.  Cas is actually in town this week and while I always welcome the time to spend with him – as I typically only spend time with myself – it is also a dangerous change in my daily routine.  So much so that fatigue is induced at an alarming rate.  I will do what I can to maximize our time together as it seems to only come around three times a year tops.  I guess having a life will do that.

I may make my life sound unmanageable, and while at high frequency it feels just that, I do find some time for moments of peace and enjoyment minus any damaging strain.  I wonder if drugs might be able to slow my mind to a crawl capable of processing more than a handful of moments each day.  As far as I know, drugs can do anything and everything.  So perhaps my hope should lie in pharmaceuticals.  If I can’t rely on them, who can I?

I hope that eventually this fast-paced mind fuck I call my life will slow and perhaps when it does I will pine for the days when I had too much to do.  At this point in time, I’m not sure that moment can come soon enough.  I would prefer to keep my blood on the inside and not shooting out of the orifices in my face.  Peace.