What I want from Last of Us 2 - They are making a sequel, right?

Last of Us was indubitably one of the best PS3 games, ever. The year 2013 was especially though for making obvious gaming choices - Call of Duty: Ghost, Battlefield 4, GTA V, Bioshock Infinite, the list goes on. The promise of next-generation video game consoles couldn't outshadow the best and biggest year of gaming so far, and next year bodes well for gamers, once Xbone and PS4 get their game face on, reach a global populace of players and invite the masses for a treat with plethora of different games.

Next Uncharted 4, then LoU 2

This would seem to be the order of things according to Naugthy Dog, next year's title, I presume the top title of PS4 with Metal Gear Solid, will be Uncharted 4. Whilst players are anxiously waiting the so-long-ago promised transition to the silver screen, it is more likely that Uncharted series will get its Ps4 debut before any movie. Sorry. Besides ND has still a lot to offer to Last of Us on Ps3 in form of Single player and multiplayer DLCs.

Naughty Dog could have an ace down in the sleeve

Don't know but I would like to believe there's going to be some new things still added to the current multiplayer experience. I could go for new game modes, such as Capture the flag or Domination type or perhaps a multitask playlist introducing CPU infected in survival type match, against enemy team plus creepers lured in the map by loud gunfire. As for cosmetics, I could use few new weapons as well, just to make things more interesting.

Promise of Last of US 2, sequel, prequel?

The LoU universe has lot to offer for dramatic, action packed storytelling. ND has shown it can develop top notch stories on their own, but I could introduce some scenarios that I might be interesting, added with the tech of next-gen platform's capability to generate masses of characters. If GTAV was amazing, with old generation capacity, we can easily see hordes of infected chasing hoardes civilians like we saw in the intro of Last of Us. Therefore it would be nice to see the whole story arch from the first infected through martial law to the breakdown of society.

Improved multiplayer with dynamic environment, character customization

More everything: bigger matches, prone stance, dynamic environment, more weapons, more variation. You can imagine bigger maps with more players in a dynamic, destructible, malleable environment. I'm imagining a dynamic physical confrontation, sprinting in full speed to body check an enemy from behind into a sharp wooden fence. Injured player dripping with blood leave a trail of blood while limping to cover. Dark maps where you have to resort to use your flashlight in order to see anything. 

State of the industry: Reality meets imagination - Promise of next-gen

Been a long time since I wrote something on this blog. I admit I've been busy with my Finnish socio-economic blog writing much more than I should've. Nonetheless, I should post here and then videos on Youtube while I still can with all the regulations and international law / free trade deals currently in progress undermining all the avant-garde work of bloggers and citizen journalists world wide. If you have no idea what I'm referring to, two words: TPP and TTIP. First one Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement on many things wonderous, intellectual property right aka copy right for instance. The latter same kind of treaty between US and EU. Bunch of corporate BS. Find out about it. You're not going to like it.

Next-gen go gaga

Well, not really. Maybe an euphemism. There's a rocky road ahead. I want to address some of the troubling news that lie ahead notwithstanding you care or not. Willingness to buy in to the next-gen tech of video game consoles is of course a hot topic with the raging war between Xboners and PS4evers as seen in South Park episode Black Friday. Anyhow, first thing first, the price will be an issue for many since the economy is down the gutter. Second of all, the pre-holiday season release to push half-baked technical solutions will result in hardware malfunction and glitches, much like seen with the overwhelming episode over GTAV online hardships. Never again. Given the context of things, those are some the everyday things people should find out whether they decide to commit to a certain platform. Yet again we'll have to wait and see about the launch titles as well, some of which have already been postponed, thank God, to avoid premature exposure. For the better, I'm sure.

War of the worlds

The series of issues I'm going to address are not found within the usual parameters of next-gen debate: namely privacy, connectivity, health issues and copy right. These arguments go both sides. First, I start with the least important or the most known adverse effect of gaming: loss of health. 

Health issues are grave. As more and more people are prone to work, live and stay indoors, they lead a sedentary lifestyle and that combined with poor nutrition will result in devastating health problems. 1+2=disaster. In US, the public health renovation under Obamacare will also undermine the well-being of gamers, children mostly.

Then there's the alarmingly growing EMF exposure for everyone close the electrical appliances, the console, router, wi-fi etc. This factor will grow exponentially in cities where people bathe in EMF pollution. Studies point to negative health effects. Duh.

Third alarming point I want to raise is mental health aberrations due to sum unbeknownst factors (lifestyle, food, water, drugs, narcotics, disease, TV flicker rate, EMF, graphic content etc.). No big deal, it's called a life, but still can't help wondering about brainwaves, propaganda, conditioning and manipulation. Be warned though.

On the bright side, all of these can be defeated with proper lifestyle choices. Now that health is dealt with, let's continue to analyse privacy and connectivity. These too are important for the well-being of an individual. You've probably heard by now about the global scale mass surveillance and control grid that's out of East German style dystopian sci-fi flick. Nonetheless, we have it. We didn't know for sure that it existed. Movie references of surveillance tech were, we thought, most likely some film writer's fantasy. However, things are even worse in reality. No, we don't have GIs fighting Cobras in a worldwide scale, that's a fantasy. Instead we have enormous global corporate government that spies people that might some day become a threat to their existence. So gov't hand in hand with corporate interests, because the corps pay more than us, have decided to rape us over privacy and control us and make us pay for it. Long story short, my BIG issue lies with big corporations such as Microsoft that spies, collects information and shares it with their surveillance agency masters: buying a Xbox will surely contribute to their crime and gives them direct access to your living room with Kinect there watching you constantly, waiting you to make your move, say something that later might and will be used against you. They got you by the balls and so you buy in and play ball and contribute once again to the tyrants.

http://www.infowars.com/new-xbox-to-produce-child-porn/

Now that I've got that off my chest, be sure look for yourself information about Kinect's spy capability. Plus the radiation. I guess the corporations would lie to us, again. The gov't can force a back door to any system, and probably already has, and gag companies.

Third major side note of this post refers to free trade agreements (TPP and TTIP) that will destroy the internet as we know it, will put ordinary folks in jail for copy right infringement and on top of that will destroy the remains of democracy (not that that hasn't already happened in many places, but still big RAPE).

How the apocalypse is going to affect your gaming

There is no easy way to put this. It might soon be a time to get serious, whether you want it or not, because a global financial collapse is lurking around the corner. This dramatic scenario might also have tremendous consequences to our favourite past time notwithstanding our whole well-being in many corners of the earth.

Life turns into a giant survival game

When the fire starts to burn, getting your daily sustenance may suddenly become your top priority. If already in poor health, your stamina and nervous system are to be bombarded to the point of breaking. In case of an outbreak, your chances of survival are weak unless you've stockpiled food and water and garrisoned your abode to keep intruders at bay. 

The loss electricity, internet and all the comforts of living in a civilised post-modern, almost nano-age society might break your will even before any of the real hardships begin. Surviving the shock is one thing, surviving the chaos derived from limited resources in your neighbourhood is another problem. Having good trust with your neighbours can save your community, however, those who are unprepared can come to you begging help and sustenance knowing all well that there's not enough for all in the long run. Don't expect the gov't to intervene, they've dug underground well in advance. They probably drink champagne to our poor health in tax paid secretly build super-bunkers with all the high-tech state-of-art sci-fi gizmos we only see in video games. Nonetheless, here we are in the cross-roads. I'll let this Iron Maiden song explain:

Track: Fate's Warning Album: No Prayer For the Dying

LA in six months looks like GTAOnline

If unrest should soon arrive in the US, we have a good glimpse of things to come thanks to our video game providers unwarranted attention to violence, doomsday and future scenarios.

I guess it doesn't matter in the end, if you read this or no. Live anywhere in the world. Understand English. Whatever. Fate probably has decided the course of things in advance (to our prior knowledge). This deterministic view is not needed to discourage people from taking matters in their own hands. Sh*t, it's for the best for us step away from the constant distraction that entertainment provides, because ignorance has allowed things to come this far. It's time to default, mankind. Demand those that are responsible to be brought to justice. We still have to acknowledge that all this is our own undoing, we've allowed ourselves to be lulled into slumber, to be manipulated and twisted into believing lies and accepting them as truth. It's payback time, says Karma.

Now that all doom and gloom is behind us. We can get acceptance, let go of our guilt, once it has been acknowledged and dealt with.

IN SHORT, the global financial turmoil will sink the game industry. If struggling even to buy necessities, people don't have spare money to spend in games.

Tis not the end of the world...

  

 

GTA V and Illuminati - Part 2: The All Seeing Eye

Yeah, it is all about this:

The all seeing eye is generally what this one is called. Let's have other examples:

The dollar bill: Annuit coeptis - Novus ordo seclorum. Freely translated - Announcing the birth of new world order. The eye on top the pyramid. Imagery of freemasonry. There are a ton of hidden things in the dollar bill that should be explained in the three films I posted with my last post, including cobwebs, owls and horned demons.

Popular interpretations

1) Satanic occult references

This so called Eye of Sauron as in The Lord of the Rings can be interpreted as the eye of satan or antichrist. For instance, in the Holy Qu'ran (Muslim's holy book), the one eyed false prophet (Masih al-Dajjal) is the Antichrist. According to wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masih_ad-Dajjal): 

• Muhammad is reported to have said:

... Allah is not one eyed while the false Messiah, Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a bulging out grape

The satanic side can also be discovered through the roots of occult mystery religions of the ancient world and have been justly or unjustly discredited. For instance, in ancient Egypt, the eye can be deciphered as the Eye of Horus or the Eye of Ra. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Horus

And in modern popular culture, the demonic occult tradition of satanic sacrifice, sigh:

Look any popular music long enough, you'll find blood, sex, sacrifice, the ram (baphomet), owls, pyramids, eyes, skeletons, skulls, cages, horns, demons, possession, reptiles and whatever.

Watch with skeptical eyes:

Te be continued...

GTA V and Illuminati - Part 1: Origins

Many people, both wise and ignorant, start to foam at the mouth when somebody associates symbols accredited to a notorious secret society. Whether it exist, or not. I believe it does. And some people degree that the symbols are a direct indicator or the globalist cultural invasion of the "enlightened" ones. Be as it may, it is possible. More likely is the option that these so called cult symbols like eye and the triangle, the pyramid, and the all-seeing eye live their own lives as memes in the socio-cultural context. Without further ado, lets get down to business.

GTA series a puppet of the global cabal?

Their is a fair chance that this is true. Some big shots at the top the industry pyramid feel obliged to showboat their elusive agenda; therefore, it is convenient to use something as vague as but as effective as these symbols that go way beyond a couple of millenias. 

We should as ourselves what is the meaning of these symbols. Is it the original one? Which seems impossible for us to ever find out. Can we ever learn to see behind our cultural programming and past aeons of misinfo and prejudice? Are we threatened by these clearly satanic occult symbols that we inherited from the Founding fathers of America, the Freemasons to be exact? It is possible that these symbols mean different things to us than to them? What is new Atlantis? How come I haven't heard any of that? The feat goes on…

Before continuing reading any further, you should watch these Ufotvstudios films:

The New Atlantis

Eye of the Phoenix

Riddles in Stone

Once done, your are beginning to grasp the historical core of Freemasonry's agenda, today Illuminati's perverted NWO ruling plan.

Anyhow, how does this all relate to GTA at all?

Subliminal handprint OK's this game, I think

True or not, this game series wields an extraordinary opportunity for many people to come to terms with the power structure in our "real" holographic world/dimension our bodies and fragments of consciousness inhabit. As some of many impressionable individuals engage in playing GTA, they are in the line of sight of true mystery. There are for instance many other things that worry me in this game series which has now reached an unprecedented realism in graphics and gameplay: the free will to engage in criminal and ethically concerning activities such and murder, robberies and wreaking havoc. 

OK, granted some facts. Maybe, it is good for us the let some steam out in a safe environment and the experiment with things in a completely new level. This doesn't mean that some poor kiddo isn't inspired to blow his nemesis' brains out later that day with the gun found at home. For this reason, lets keep smaller kids hell'away this game (GTA IV and V, notably, the 2d version isn't as graphic as the newer ones). No kid under 16 should have or own this game, Parents, WTF!!! Already there are bad news in the media, as some poor individuals have been killed over purchasing this game. One might call that irony as well, but nonetheless a heart breaking tragedy, for no one should lose their lives and have any physical damage over something as trivial as a video game. Sad indeed. The good, the bad and the ugly, all lift their heads in the shadows. This game series englobes all life, in good and bad, in profits and losses. The most concerning thing I find is the damage done to our ethics in real life, no matter how many "innocent" virtual people you murder in a whim: what happens in virtual simulation, should stay in virtual simulation. We ought to leave our negative feelings inside that cage and solely enjoy the purification experience/experiment.

Let your body learn

Before we continue in this analysis any further, we should, if only for a while, leave our feelings and prejudices behind us and try to practice unbiased contemplation on the matter of influential Illuminati symbols. I'll try to bring about as many aspects of each symbol I find and later decide what it would probably mean. I will use the game and other sources as examples of variation and different implementation.

Bots visiting my blog - Please stop

Today, there seems to be a spike of visits on my blog. Most of them seem bogus enough, because traffic to my blog comes from certain unreliable sources, for some odd reason. I'm not going to dwell more on this subject. Just a reminder though, the web is a weird place with people enough. These days algorithms bounce back and forth as bots count as views on pages and on videos.

If for some reason, you happen to be people, or some kind of sentient presence, please, it would put my mind to rest, if you'd leave me a comment. For example, write some info like how did you end up in my blog or something along those lines.

On another note, as the surveillance states grow bigger and bigger, privacy of fellow internet user is at stake. In other word, its time to fight back. Secure your browser. Clear those tagging cookies and hinder data corp from following you. Switch to use duckduckgo.com or startpage.com search engines instead of Google, Yahoo or Bing.

If you can read this, you are literate in English. If you don't understand why, don't bother.

Let me know what you think about the latest Pet Shop Boys album - Electric.

The Last of Us - A non-spoiler review

The Last of Us = The Last of U.S.

It goes without saying that Naughty Dog has once again reached new territory of storytelling and produced a balanced gaming experience on PS3 that will be remembered for years to come. The Last of Us can be seen as a plethora of allegories of the crumbling human condition. However, I can't imagine better timing for the release of this game than the current situation in the States. Be aware though that I'm not a US resident, I live in Europe, in Skandinavia. Still I'm aware of the current decline of USA, both physical and spiritual, that can be seen as well in the cruel world of The Last of Us. If in US soil, have a look around. Look at the police state, surveillance state, stasi state. Fed is arming to wage a civil war against the people who consider themselves true patriots and answer only to God and constitution. If anywhere, look at the way US is bullying almost every country in the world that is trying to facilitate whistleblower E. Snowden's asylum for exposing massive surveillance agains all the peoples of the world, who might stand agains the hegemony of the banking elite, or whatever. Nonetheless, a pile of steaming shit is getting closer the fan. In Last of Us, we see that pile of faeces literally flying all over the place. 

So the US is wrecked, in that situation, there is only little concern of rest of the world. The dying struggle of humanity as the zombie-fungus infestation spreads like a wild-fire across the nation. All in all, now, it's all about the little things and day-to-day survival. The game depicts a scenario likely to a world wide deadly pandemic, with quarantine zones, remains of military force and a lot animosity over resources. If so, things seem to have calmed after the outbreak, Joel, our main man,  is coping and trying to survive in a cruel world of smuggling goods and contraband for the extra reward. This is how the main campaign starts after the gruelling prologue where hoards of infected ransack and neck-bite

every Texan they can grab. Here we go.

If this America, why can't I have an assault rifle to protect myself?

The weirdest thing, gameplay-wise, or anything for that matter. Where are all the military weapons? Them feds probably confiscated them after the outbreak: How convenient and so frustrating for our protagonist not have decent weaponry of which we have an abundance in gaming in general. Do I make any sense? Be as it may, thing might have been too easy. Besides, it would've significantly more difficult smuggle and long barrel rifle through all those checkpoints in the quarantine zone. Still, WTF. A world where the rule of law my ass...

A beautiful game experience, with some rough edges...

Art style of the Last of Us is exhilarating, all the seasons, lighting, just perfect. The soundscape is perfected as well, an awesome soundtrack to notch the ambiance to the max (I hope to review it later). And yes, some rough edges. Maybe it's the transition between the this and next-gen, I wish this game could've been on PS4. All the visuals would've been out of this world. PS3 is on its dying bed and that shows, rough textures etc. Gameplay. The camera angles are sometimes problematic with dark corners and tight spaces. I would've wanted a first-person viewing angle to absorb the surrounding detail of derelict cities. Next thing of complaint, the friendly AI suck big time. When in tight spot, it seems that the enemies have little interest if all of Joel's loud and visible entourage. That really takes the overall experience down a note. And yes, here and there you can stumble upon a glitch, but this can be an amusement. And just one more thing. What's this I hear about crafting shivs? Come on, can't one person find a single military knife or axe that could withstand a stab in the neck? Oh please.

So there are some logical inconsistencies. No big deal, no big sin. All in all, all of that is of minor importance.

The review continues later on...

Killing Joke Singles Collection Streaming on Soundcloud

Hooray!

Spinefarm has given green light to stream the Killing Joke singles collection that was just released.




Pure bliss!

Great music month ahead - Monaco, Random Access Memories et cetera

It's been a while. I've been listening some mighty fine game soundtracks and still waiting some killer music album to arrive within month.

Probably, the most hype buzzes around the arriving Daft Punk album - Random Access Memories that broke the winter's ice with a pulsating, good vibes single release Get Lucky. The track has already a great remix community behind it in youtube and soundcloud, and gives a positive glimpse of the upcoming album.

Another big release I'm anxious to get my hands on is the Killing Joke singles collection, 3CD edition, with most of the bone-chilling, back-braking tracks and hits of the 80's tribe mentality.


On the game music side, there's been some nice releases as well. Latest Austin Wintory soundtrack, Monaco, brings old timey tunes back in the today's scene. All of Grant Kirkhope's free releases on Bandcamp this month, Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie and Perfect Dark. Two Fez remix albums... Side F and Side Z.

Some other highlights are Power Glove's Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon 80's style soundtrack, David Housden's Thomas was alone and Bioshock Infinite soundtrack.

Depeche Mode fans might like to more riveting Dominatrix remixes: http://official.fm/dominatrix

The Sun and the Rainfall (Cyborg "Dominatrix" remix)

Why should you care - Bring Me the Horizon - Sempiternal (2013) Review

First things first. This album blew me away. I had no idea.

I became aware of BMTH with their album There is a hell believe me I've seen it There is a heaven let's keep it a secret, that had besides compelling, innovative, energetic music, great cover art. Same attributes add up with the group's latest album, Sempiternal, with the fantastic cover art. Look.

New age flower / geometric symbol / UFO crop circle mystery - art. Nothing to add. Look it up. 

The cover art was the first thing that caught my attention, since I recently became aware of this geometric symbol, its roots and mystery. But that's a side issue. Something of an anecdote, nonetheless. A quirk.

Next on, here's the music video for "Shadow Moses".

At this point, I wasn't convinced. Not until I heard the complete album. The starting tracks, as in any album, are pivotal for the listener to be sucked in the soundscape of the album, which I might describe as speedy, aggressive Linkin Park. I don't know still if this comparison is at all respectful, for both of the artists. Bring Me the Horizon has a unique sound, but at times I can't help feeling there's a striking similarity between vocals of BMTH and Linkin Park. For better or for worse, that's you to decide.

Tracklist:

1. Can You Feel My Heart
2. The House of Wolves
3. Empire (Let them Sing)
4. Sleepwalking
5. Go to Hell, For Heavens Sake
6. Shadow Moses
7. And the Snakes Start to Sing
8. Seen It All Before
9. Antivist
10. Crooked Young
11. Hospital For Souls
12. Join the Club
13. Deathbets (Deluxe Version bonus track)

Music video for "Sleepwalking"

And the whole album:

Links: http://www.iheartdropdead.com/blog/tag/sempiternal/#.UWgeG79rla8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sempiternal_(album)
http://www.bringmethehorizon.co.uk

Depeche Mode - Heaven Remixes EP - Review

Here is the video:




I don't know what to feel really about the Heaven remixes. I personally like the original song, so I'm doubtful to any major changes to the tempo of the song. Still for those who didn't like the original song, the Heaven EP with remixes might bring wanted relief. Though at first listen, none of the remixes hit me the way I anticipated (I had no idea at all). What I've learned with Delta Machine, is that these remixes too need time to convince me, like the main album did earlier through some struggle. It's gonna take a week or two before I can really ask myself are the remixes worth anything.

Let me know what you think, and comment. I'd like to know what songs would benefit the most of remixing. My safe bet is that the singles will have commercial remixes, so Soothe My Soul Depeche Mode.

Should my video be blocked in your country (it's blocked in my country), here's some alternative links:

 Heaven (Owlle Remix)

Heaven (Blawan Remix)

Banjo-Kazooie N64 Soundtrack by Grant Kirkhope - Name your price on Bandcamp

Hiya,

Good news. Even though the world is tumbling down, we are blessed by amazing video game music once again. This time is Nintendo 64 game Banjo-Kazooie's soundtrack on Bandcamp. The soundtrack has "name your price" -label that can only mean one thing.

Beside, if you are a friend of video game music, you probably know Nubuwo - where you can find news related to video game music. Then there is Bandcamp and Soundcloud. These three are all you need with some fantastic video game blogs.

Go to guy of Depeche Mode remixing - Dominatrix

Everyone sharing a passion of Depeche Mode be sure to hear the work of Dominatrix.

If the new DM album didn't hit your nerve the way it ought have, have another go with Dominatrix remix. I'm pretty sure it will arrive soon. Kernfusion...

Here is - Soothe My Soul (Personal Kernfusion Remix)

http://www.dmremix.be/Remixers/Dominatrix.htm

Depeche Mode - Delta Machine Deluxe Version Bonus Tracks Review

Yea,

It's…

Delta Machine (Deluxe Version) Bonus tracks:

14. Long time lie
15. Happens all the time
16. Always
17. All that's mine
18. Heaven (live studio session)

Wow, some nice tracks we have here. When I look back and listen the album, it makes sense to add bonus tracks separately not to distract the cohesion of the LP, starting with Welcome to my World and ending with (obvious) Goodbye. I think those tracks are meant to listen a one package. Nonetheless, the bonus tracks are good, too. Many people have complemented track "Always" which probably has that ring in it, as for me, I have hard time choosing one over the other. For instance, the live version of Heaven is "Heaven".

Heaven Remixes EP - review here: http://finnballwizard.blogspot.fi/2013/04/heaven-remixes-ep-review.html

For an ultimate fan review of Delta Machine, continue here and read Color Theory's review. http://colortheory.com/a-lifelong-depeche-mode-fan-reviews-delta-machine

Let me know what is your favourite track on the album and the best bonus track, if they're not one and the same. Leave a comment.

Bioshock 2 gameplay walkthrough series - Road to Bioshock Infinite

Hi,

It's been on a while. There's a new introductory gameplay walkthrough of Bioshock 2, while still waiting the nearing release of Bioshock Infinite. Enjoy.

My original channel: I'm back in action

Heya,

It's been a couple of months now that my original Fmips19 youtube channel has been impaired. Good news has come to my attention and now my status is again positive and I can post longer vids there as well. My activity there has therefore reduced as I've been channelling my efforts in order to boost my new channel, named after the blog FinnballWizard. Now both of them are fully operational, so expect action next summer. In the meantime, I must focus on my studies the next two months, so my actitvity will be low. Thanks for your patience.

Delta Machine - New Depeche Mode album review

Delta Machine - New Depeche Mode album review 

This is quite unorthodox for me to review a music album. Note that this is not just any album but the latest, the 13th LP of Depeche Mode. DM is one of my favorite bands, that's why I want to promote and review their new work.

Delta Machine is so far unlike any of DM albums that I've listened and I've heard them all many times. It's a mix of dense sounds and dark atmosphere. Delta Machine is a full experience. I think people should listen the whole album at once, since seemingly they are no stand alone hit single but a compilation of feelings and moods, a roller coaster ride for the soul to explore. I must say that this album is not easy to approach, but as I listen more, more I become accustomed and the music and lyrics grow on me. My advice for those who haven't already heard Depeche Mode, this album requires time to absorb. It's not the trickly, catcthy pop album that comes out every week. It's definitely not radio friendly, with all of its low-fi, blue mood and religious atmosphere.

Here's the link for the album on youtube.




The new album is more lyric driven than any other I've heard so far of Depeche Mode. The album quickly paces on with slowingly growing opening track Welcome to My World. The couple after (Angel and Heaven) has a more religious, spiritual lyrics that have a contrast with the sometimes harsh, loud sounds.  The tempo cools down after Secret to the End. Slower, more contemplative Broken, Slow and The Child Inside grow towards to the screeching Soft Touch/Raw Nerve. The end tracks catch up some new groovy tunes. Should be higher, Soothe My Soul, Alone and Goodbye. The last having a striking resemblance to Angel. 

As for the bonus tracks of the Deluxe Version, they lack a certain cohesion that would tie them to the original album, so it is obvious for these to be reviewed separately. However, this last remark is intended as comfort for those fans who only have original version. The rest of the tracks are great as well.  You can decide the thing yourself…

Bonus tracks, now, here. Seeping in…

Some reading ahead
Bonus tracks review: http://finnballwizard.blogspot.fi/2013/03/depeche-mode-delta-machine-deluxe.html
Heaven Remixes EP review: http://finnballwizard.blogspot.fi/2013/04/heaven-remixes-ep-review.html

Let me know what you think, leave a comment. Thnx for any comments in advance.

Similar music: Black Noise (2010) by Pantha du Prince
Other electronic 2013 worth you while : English Electric (2013) by OMD

------

On another note, that is, humans creating a better world together - Thrive Movement Documentary - Something that everybody should have a look on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEV5AFFcZ-s&feature=player_embedded

Delta Machine Depeche Mode album streaming on iTunes

I'm pretty psyched about this release in a couple of days. Just found out that you can stream the album on iTunes, and off I go.

Here's the link. Should open in iTunes. Get your album info fix here.

Delta Machine - Depeche Mode:

Tracklist:

1. Welcome to My World
2. Angel
3. Heaven
4. Secret to the End
5. My Little Universe
6. Slow
7. Broken
8. The Child Inside
9. Soft Touch/Raw Nerve
10. Should Be Higher
11. Alone
12. Soothe My Soul
13. Goodbye

And bonus tracks:

14. Long Time Lie
15. Happens All the Time
16. Always
17. All That's Mine
18. Heaven (Live Studio Session)

March Music Madness starts with PixelJunk 4AM

Not much to say really. It's about time to tune in and groove a couple of jams before even daring to do something else. Enough said, here are some new tunes I made with PixelJunk 4Am, they are also available at my youtube channel, both Fmips19 and FinnballWizard.

PixelJunk 4AM: Inversion - Set 2

Feedback 0.8 0.8 - Set 1

Surging Waves - Set Go

These videos are shorter than the ones I made 7–8 months ago, so there is still a chance that you get through the whole of each set. Stress, away!

Bit Trip BEAT Soundtrack Review

Hey,

As a part of Bit Trip Lovers' Bundle and of my March Music Madness Month special, I'll be reviewing some Bit Trip soundtracks as my first task.

So those of who don't have any clue what I'm talking about. Here what the wikipedia had to say about Bit Trip series: BIT TRIP Series

Now that you know, I shall begin my review of Bit Trip BEAT soundtrack.

The Review

It's chip tunes more or less. The game is based on rhythmic beats which obviously you can hear from the first few seconds of the album. The artist is title simply Gaijin games. No more to add. 

Compelling, but short

Both the Bit Trip Beat game and soundtrack are short. I understand this for it can get frustrating and repetitive too soon for the listener. Fortunately, the tracks vary between a couple of second to 4 minutes of rhythmic beats that bounce and recoil inside the experience. To truly appreciate the soundtrack, one has to experience the game first, otherwise the listening experience is bound to cut short, rootless, and most of all, confusing. The game generates the music as the player advance through the stage.

The graphics and music go hand in hand, simple but compelling.

Tracklisting:

1. Bit Shifter - Move to Intercept – 4:00

2. Transition – 3:35

3. Descent – 2:39

4. Growth – 3:16

5. Bit Shifter - The Information Chase – 4:36

6. Concept – 0:33

7. Trial – 0:09

8. Tribulation – 0:06

9. Progress – 0:08

10. Beginning – 0:15

Site: http://www.aksysgames.com/bittripbeat/
        http://www.bittripgame.com

Surveillance Society in Watch Dogs

Hey,

The upcoming next-gen Ubisoft title Watch Dogs is in my view for its description of surveillance society. Even today, millions of people are targeted via different computer generated methods already in internet, public places and transport. If you start to look around, in any city on earth, you might notice the electronic CCTV eyes watching you move. It is not in some far away future where people are tracked, taped and censored non stop, but in our modern societies as well. Today, there's GPS, chips in credit cards, you name it, in every new appliance in the market. The pace is increasing. As we become more prone to misuse of power by our governments and companies, third party hackers are already inside the matrix, waiting for us, to plunge into a sea of information, power and reach without telling us how to swim, how to navigate. And think about all that electronic signal constantly making its way through your body and cells, frying from the inside, exposing us to unknown risks.

Enough with the rant. I got you thinking...

Here is my video with commentary:

For sanity's sake, keep it real. Use your brains. Eat healthy. Abandon the decadence. Spend time with your family. Reach for the stars.

My Walking Dead walk/playthrough series in now complete

Hey,

My Walking Dead journey has finally come to its end. I'm paying tribute to the game and Telltale games by posting the last episode as play through, for all of you to feel the gloom and despair of this fantastic game.

Here it is:

The Walking Dead: Episode 5  - No Time Left - Playthrough Part 1

And for those who want to see my whole story, star with this:

As already seen on my blog and channel...

Sony PS4 - What to think?

Before I start.

So. What to think? The ability to share my gameplay sounds great so far. I still have my doubts concerning the HDD size and local digital content, since PS3 HDD seems small to me. So far, the technical date is of little interest to me, for the programmers decide eventually the full capability of the hardware. Needless to say, looks promising.

Video games and social engineering

Hey,

This spring, I'm starting a new video series on my new-found youtube channel about social engineering in video games. This series will have a look on recurring themes in gaming that are used to introduce and reinforce social policies and attitudes in modern western societies. For the last ten years, video games have been used excessively to promote certain views of the world; of course not every game promotes the same policies, but there's a continuity that derives from movie and comic book industry which has now taken over the central role of symbolism and themes in gaming. The themes and symbolism are partly the same as in movies for more and more movie writers shift to the growing industry of video games.

There are lots of different themes, still many of them have been around for ages. Video games serve only as a new medium of dissemination of information, in this case values, belief, symbols both covertly and overtly - in a similar manner the television has done over many years. There is a shift going on from TV to internet and computers, from TV series and movies to video games. As even fewer express interest in reading and computer use gains popularity with the future generations, we can be sure that this media will have a tremendous monopoly like status over the information and the creation of social virtues and vices, more so than in our youth back in the day.

Here comes my part in the equation, I possess a criticising disposition to expose the powers and values behind the iron curtain. In my future posts, I will show you some games which clearly promote social engineering. When it comes to social engineering, it can be used both good and bad, always for some predetermined purpose from the high ranks downwards to blind masses.

Is virtual violence real violence?

Many years ago I started playing violent video games. That was around the age of ten in my case sometime in the late 90's. I've heard that many of friends started to play games like Quake and Doom well earlier and later on as teenagers played quite regularly GTA IV which most people would condemn outright. Nonetheless that the history I grew up with, playing the first GTA with my friends, fighting my way in Virtua Fighter 2 on Sega Saturn, controlling medieval armies in Shogun: Total War. Still, I can only imagine today's youth who from a very early age grew up with games like Halo and Call of Duty, a totally mind-blowing advance in realism compared to the 2D graphics of early GTA series.

For all that I can gather, many online players of Cod are under aged when it comes to the age rating system of games introduced by Mortal Kombat's finishing moves. However I'm not saying they are responsible but their parents are. When it comes to exposing youngsters to violent images and sounds of gaming - TV is already full of such content to the max - gaming usually takes it one step further with the interactive approach. If parents' feel their children are fit to take a dose of virtual violence every once in a while as if it was no big deal, surely, the problem is greater than one might fathom at first glance.

As for myself, I do not feel particularly violent. I don't seem to have any mental problems (that I know of) that could have a negative affect and add to that I don't take a cocktail of prescription antidepressants that could severely affect my judgment. Still, more are more children feel the anxiety and stress in their lives in a way that many can perceive - yet they are treated or their symptoms are treated with sometimes too extreme measures. Ok, I admit. I'm digressing. I believe the games themselves don't make anybody violent per se, but a fatal combination of negative reinforcement from mixed sources can lead to a violent behaviour. However, I still argue whether violent games give an image of life that we, human species, would like to promote in our future attempt of coexistence and harmony. These games uphold certain values, certain division of man into us and them, friend and foe, even though, once stripped of our differences, we are more alike. But that a whole other issue about global "divide and conquer" policies that the elite enforces through pop culture and media.

We should ask whether virtual violence is real violence. If there is a war between different beliefs, surely we can thus agree that virtual violence would qualify as real as physical violence with the difference of happening in an alternative plain of existence.

My new youtube channel "FinnballWizard" will launch this Spring

Hey,

My new Youtube channel will launch this Spring. It's called FinnballWizard.

https://www.youtube.com/user/FinnballWizard/

In the meantime, feel free to have a look on my current channel: Fmips19.

Here's some Unfinished Swan.

Black Ops 2 Single Player Campaign Walkthrough

Hey,

I've just started a new walkthrough for Black Ops 2 single player campaign in my youtube channel. Have a look.

Ins't that dramatic?

Game music bundle 4 now available

Hey,

Check out the new Game music bundle 4 - BIT.TRIP Lovers' Bundle.

Listen to some unique beats.

The bundle is now available at http://www.gamemusicbundle.com with 20 bucks you get Runner2 the game, Runner2 OST and 6 other soundtracks.

PAY WHAT You Want! What could be better? It's up to you to support little productions. Only six days left...

Necromorphology: What they didn't do?

Heya,

It's kind of sad to see potential game series trodden into mainstream run-of-the-mill execution with very little innovation. For once, I would have been grateful if the Dead Space series had gone through some kind of convergence itself, however EA, probably, decided the make it more appealing for the masses.

First of all, no new exciting enemy types. Unless you count enemies that shoot back at you. Secondly, the animations are more or less the same. I would have appreciated some new physics aside from rolling on the ground. I would've liked to throw live enemies with kinesis through sharp objects or into flames. Another thing to mention, what's with the crouching? There's no way you can sneak up to an enemy and silently finish them off.

I'm not gonna start with the ridiculous story with some odd relation schisms, but, hey, everything goes - Dead Space 3 is a decent game. But like I said: Expect no surprises.

Xenomorphology: Aliens Colonial Marines HYPE

Yeah.

I have to say something about the new Aliens game that just got out. I know it's been on the shelf for some time waiting for its due time, but as far as I'm concerned it should've stayed on the shelf a couple of more years at least waiting for the next generation of consoles. I agree that the game Colonial Marines stays true to the original alien series in both visual and audio aspects, but the real disappointment is the lackluster execution of the game - something that is very common with movie franchises that are brought to any gaming platform.

From an aesthetic point of view, the game seems true to Aliens universe, but sadly it also seems something of a early 2000s release on the PS2 generation consoles. A b-class arcade shooter with a so-so story inside an inspiring universe. Nothing new, in other words.

The game could've used a lot more refinement, because the gap between the jaw-dropping trailers and the in-game footage is enormous. The hype has been building behind the scenes...

Check it out:

And the review:

Thanks for the accurate review - hypechoppa is down.

Lost in dead space?

Space is dark, empty and cold. Imagine a void. A sterile environment of open vastness that boggles our minds incessantly.

Now that intro's done, time to move on. I going to write about space and aliens in gaming since I've been playing some Dead Space 2. I've also kept an eye on the latest in the front of sci-fi gaming, you know, Dead Space 3 and Aliens Colonial Marines. Well, long story short, so far the Dead Space franchise beats the hell out of Colonial Marines which is sadly stuck in the eighties.

So to begin I start with the eldest Dead Space and move towards the latest addition of the series. Then I'm moving to examine the Aliens game and its ties with the movie series.

Dead Space was scary. I had trouble finishing the game, more than six months break between the attempts at completing the single player campaign. Wow. Scary as hell. The ambiance, music, graphics and the story… Everything in its right place. Only minor thing was the rigid controls which left a similar sensation than that of Killzone 2, but well still acceptable. A neat ensemble altogether.

As for Dead Space 2, I've been playing it for some time. I bought it ages ago but now I've managed to force myself to play it. And surprise, it's not nearly as scary as the first game. The only thing that gets me are the jump-scares, unattended sounds, flickering lights etc. Once again, a perfect survival horror experience with a twist.

They say the third time's the charm. First of all, before the release of Dead Space 3, I remained skeptical about the new features like co-op gameplay. As for the story and setting, I was aware that it would be a challenge to provide the fans of the series something totally new, something to bring more new faces to this kind of game; a compromise perhaps to attract more shooter fans to series, with the risk of alienating some vowed fans of the series. Thus far, from what I gather, DS3 is pretty much DS2 with new story. Expect nothing special, unique: a secure move from EA. However something that made the earlier games is missing. Do you feel scared? I don't. I knew what to expect, since the transition woke me up in DS2. I'm not scared to play the game.

Sorry for the lack of recent activity

Hey,

Sorry everybody, I've been keeping pretty busy with some both local and global concerns. First of all, my PS3 hard drive is reaching its limits when it comes to downloading and holding local digital content I've been acquiring for over some time as a PS Plus subscriber. There have been some other discrepancies concerning my Youtube account settings; since some new updates took place, my video length quota was surprisingly reduced to under total 15 minutes.

Anyhow, we're all living some exciting times outside our virtual realms as well. I don't know how well and how much you guys out there try to keep yourselves informed on societal issues such as freedom of speech and censorship. The fact is that gaming no matter how popular it gets is not impervious to any kind of limitation of expression and freedom. I wholly agree that gaming is a medium of that and should therefore be used as a means communication, interaction, education and, yes, of course, entertainment.

However, everybody are so far in their own freedom to choose whatever games, companies and attitudes they support and abide with. Playing for fun is a great relief, a means to explore new environments, situations and opportunities; it should remain so, yet I'm afraid, as the industry is reaching more and more attention, gaming will undergo some major ideological and harmful changes. Only time will tell.

As for myself, I try to get back on track, try to share some of my passion of music, video games, and all other things: Most important part is the process of sharing beliefs, experiences, paving way for other people to experience themselves the ups and downs of virtual and real life.

Take it easy and remember to get some air and sun every once in a while.

It's been a while

Hey,

It's really been a while, since I've written anything online. A bunch of stuff has been going on. I'll try to find time to write about something really important, not to be just a conformist.

All I'm going to say that things are going to change, the world, our views - heck, some of the things we've had a privilege to experience, but my generation never really had to acknowledge or fight for. It's been happening for a while and you can see, if you play any mainstream games you might notice that they convey a certain view of the world. It's an ongoing progress believe me.

Anyhow, some of the liberties we take for granted are now in danger. To say that something is true or untrue is irrelevant. People abide a system of beliefs, some these beliefs are still not coherent with the big picture - to an extent one can argue (I hope) that it is a known truth ie. is widely acknowledged and obeyed that the phenomenon called gravity exists. In other words, the theory of gravity is the best explanation thus far in our attempt at understand the dynamics of physical reality.

Back to games now.

There is a belief that gaming is harmful, that it promotes certain values. The first part is proven wrong until proven right. Isn't that right. Innocent until proven guilty. However, the latter part is true. Everything promotes something. The media, movie industry, government, education, ideologies, finance, and the list goes on. Somehow it is easier to accuse these big institutions instead of people behind them. I deem that few ideas are inherently corrupt, but in the hands and minds of certain people there is no other way. A critical perception on these ideas and values must be severed from the people in order to understand and see behind these fallacies. I strongly argue for the education of people to have the tools to deconstruct formal and material fallacies. Reading literature is one thing in itself and a good start. A short guide to argumentation can be found on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy

It is sad how the post-modern culture is so anti-intelligence motivated. People who ask questions are suppressed and terrorised. So far gaming has become greater money generator  than movie and music industry, and the on-going use games as a means of promoting certain values continue. Let's pick one theme, that is constant both in movies and games - war. War never changes. Sounds familiar? Best selling games and movies center around wars and fighting - agenda seems to be war for the sake of war.

One fathom deeper. Black Ops II. Wow. One piece in the puzzle.

When I got my hands on this game I thought "sweet". The campaign is one thing in itself, with some ridiculous scenes. Please, allow me to elaborate. One parts was where in Pakistan everything is flooded, yet the player isn't swept by a current that swiftly carries a bus away. What was that about? Then all the driving and jet flying was an epic fail. Shooting was the main point and that was done with precision, or so I thought before I ventured on playing the multiplayer and the couple of weeks of awe turned to somewhat disappointing realisation, because most of the time playing online, I'm sensing something disturbing: I'm no longer in control. Maybe it's not due to one certain thing, sometimes your on a streak and everything is going fine, but all of a sudden everything turns to sour. It's hard to pin point if it is some kind of lag compensation, poor design in spawn system or just bad solo and team play, but oh, as you have a bead on somebody, take a couple of well hit shots, and boom you fall back dead. Sometimes this happens to me too regularly, can't even seem to be able knife my enemy in the back. Awful. At least, in the earlier Cod games, I was able to feel that my own abilities had some kind of effect. Not expecting to buy any future Cod titles. We've had enough of those for a lifetime, don't we.