AW. A return of Ice 101

Before I start doing any reviews about any type of animation I feel that I need to get some things clear. The differences between Manga and Anime. The best way to do this I feel is reintroduce "Ice 101".

Ice 101
Lesson #004 Anime and Manga
Now when I was a young lad (some people would still say I'm a whipper snapper) I was greatly confused by Japanese Animation. I would always go into shops and ask for Manga and get shown to the DVD section. Which isn't right. Manga is the equivalent of a graphic novel, so it should be in the book section of the store.
But this always made me think "Am I wrong?" (I wrong most of the time, so it wouldn't of surprised me). But atlas i was right. There was a company over here that produced Anime DVDs and are called Manga. This is what the confused the sales people. Dumb asses. Also another factor that contributed to the confusion is that lots of Anime, if it's popular, get converted to Anime. A bit like a good book can get turned into a movie. (If it becomes a GOOD movie is another question).
Anyway just so that everything is clear here are is an example of Anime and Manga. This is from the Manga of Naruto. The following video is of the same scene but in the Anime version.




Oh I forgot to mention another thing. Manga is normally reads from the right to the left (more on this later). So for example the above would be read as "Kage Bushin No Justu" Not "Justu Kage Bushin No". Kage Bushin No Justu means "Shadow Clone Technique" btw just in case you were wondering. See who say I don't do anything educational. I'm teaching Japanese.

As you can see there's not much difference between the two. And I like both as much as the other.
Now a bit more about why Mangas read from the right to left. The most important fact is that Japanese is read from the right to the left. Now it used to be that Manga when released in the UK and the US was published in a "flopped" fashion. In that everything is reverse so that it will read from left to right. Where this would make reading easier it also reversed any designs as well. So a shirt saying "Hello" would read "olleH" and because it wasn't actually part of the script it wouldn't get corrected. Also many artist didn't like this being done to their work. They said that it skews the original idea.

So there you have it. Another lesson finished. So now when I'm talking about Anime or a Manga you're hopefully know what I'm on about as well as which is which.
Ice Koobs

Oh my goody goody gosh!

Oh my words.
I'm a massive fan of Chrono Trigger. It was a great game on the SNES that like many of the great games on the SNES was not released in the U.K.
One thing I hate more then delays is games not being released at all.
Games such as Earthbound and Chrono Trigger are prefect examples. They are good games. They where recived well in the US. Why the hell weren't they released over here?
If you wondering how I played them then I'm not ashamed to say it. I got them as roms.
I think a bit more explanation is needed about Roms. So when something needs more explanation what needs to be done?

That's right. It's time for Ice 101.
Lesson #003 Roms and Emulation

Very basically it is the a way to play Video Games on a P.C or certain Games Consoles (360 comes to mind). The main consoles that have become emulated are the NES, SNES, Game Boy Advance and Playstation.
Now to be able to do anything you need to have an Emulator. This is a program that acts as the console. Next you need the Roms. These act as the actual games. Now when the two are separate they are are rubbish, you can't do anything at all. But together they could give you hours of fun.
There is a but however. Roms aren't exactly legal. Yeah that's right I'm a criminal. Well I was. I haven't played a Rom in years. And when I did it was only to play games like Chrono Trigger.
But yeah that's that.


By the way you might be wondering what bought this on. This bought it on. To the untrained eye it means nothing. But to me. The clock is the clock from the start of Chrono Trigger. The sound is the from the start of Chrono Trigger. Its from Square Enix, which use to be Square, who released Chrono Trigger.
By my calculation what ever it is counting down to, will be done in around 432000 seconds. Thats 7200 minutes. Thats 120 hours. Thats 5 days.
Oh man, oh man, oh man. I can't wait till this is over. I think I know what it is for. I believe that it's for the re-release of Chrono Trigger on the Nintendo DS. I prey to god that that is the case.
I think I've rambled on for long enough. I just can't wait. Oh come five days hurry up and go by already.

The impatient Ice Koobs

What games get away with

Why do I always find the bad things?
First Head in the shop now this.When I first read this I did a double take. And yes, it does say "When you were IN a child". And from the shocked face of the Judge, you would be forgiven for thinking he did do some nasty things.
This game BTW is Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations for the Nintendo DS. Part three of a series you play as Phoenix Wright Attorney of law. Kind of a give away from the title. Now the gameplay is based on a classic point and click adventures that you use to get on the P.C. Don't worry if you never heard of played a Point Click adventure because guess what?

Ice 101
Lesson #002: Point and Click Adventures
That's right it's another Ice 101, this time about the Point and Click Adventures.
This a game genre where you travel around the game and click on certain objects. Now some of these object would be added to your to your inventory. This could then be use to solve a puzzle later in the game.
Here an example from a classic Point and Click game "Discworld 2 Missing Presumed...!?".
This is just to get some wax for some dribbly candles. I'll explain in detail after.

"Go over to the beehives and use the chili on the flowers. Give the clickie brochure to the
beekeeper and the use the petticoat on Rincewind. Light the incense with the matches and use it
on the bees. Now that the hive is smoking, use the clay pot on it and then double-click on the hive
to get some dribbly beeswax." 

Does this make no sense. Don't worry, Diskworld always had a strange logic. To get dribbly candles you need to have dribbly wax. To get dribbly wax you need to make the bees sweat. And thats why you throw chili onto the flowers. Because it makes the bees sweat. This is the logic does not apply to all Point and Click Adventures. Its ummm "Unique". But as you can see there is a lot of collecting and puzzle solving which is great for the logically minded.
Here's some point and click games that I would recommend: Diskworld 2 (I've never played the first one)

Day of the Tentacle (Yep you've got to protect the world from tentacles)

Broken Sword (This is just one of the a big series, but I think this is the best one)

And last but not least Escape from Monkey Island (This is again part of another massive series. And again I would say this the best one)

Anyway back to Phoenix Wright. Trials and Tribulations was never released in the U.k I don't seem able to find a reason anywhere. Then I thought hell might as well get an import and now I found the reason. Because of the pedo they have for a judge.
Only kidding I know it was a typo. But then again in this day and age I wouldn't be surprised if someone did complain about this. Maybe it was because of this one mistake that it wasn't released in good old England. I doubt it, but it could be why.
Ice Koobs

MCM Expo

The Movie Comic Media Expo (MCM or just Expo for short) is held twice a year. I wish it was held at least once a month.
It just so funking cool. Actually now I think about it, it might be a good thing that it's only held twice a year. I don't think my wallet could take another assault.
Now I the Expo is a great way of introducing an idea I've been toying around with. Ice 101. The basic idea. I let you in on some of the useless but interesting information I know about (Like how Giraffe are the only animal that lick behind its ears). The whole idea of this blog was to clean out my mind and this a good way of doing that.
Anyway, on with Ice 101.
Lesson #001: Cos-Play
Now if you've never been to the MCM (or any type of expo about comics or manga) before, then you might be in for a shock. One of my friends nearly hyperventilate when she went with me and saw cos-play in action (Cookie you're sooo cute).
Very basically it stands for costume play. Its were people dress up as characters from their favourite anime or video game. Here's an example:




















And that is cos-play. Easy right?

Another great thing about the expo is how friendly the people are. A prime example of this is the amount of people with signs stating "Free Hugs". And this moves me nicely onto my next topic "FREE stuff". I admit I did spend money at the expo but there is always free stuff if you know where to look for it. I'm not going to tell where however. That's the fun part. It's like a big treasure hunt. Have I ever mentioned that I'm really just a big kid. Or at least a 12 year old stuck in a 22 year old's body.
Another thing that happens at the event is the "Star Signings". Now the stars always varies from expo to expo and never really grab my attention but this time was different. Ernie Hudson was there. Now those of you who aren't in the know, Ernie Hudson played Winston Zeddmore in Ghostbusters. Now to me Ghostbusters is like one all the all time "Greatest Movies Ever". This is up for argument. But let it be known. I will lay the smackdown on anyone who disagrees.
The next MCM Expo is held again in October. And guess what. I'll be going. Heck I might even do some cos-play. Any one got any ideas on what I should go as.
Ice Koobs

P.s If you want to see more pictures of the expo click this link. It's all the photos I took.
P.P.S Sorry it took almost 2 weeks to post this. I've got too many games and not enough time.