Author Archives: Darby

Review: Zineth (Mac and PC download)

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Sometimes, we just need a game that we can download in a couple of minutes and enjoy.  Well, I came across a game that was released not too long ago, and I am hooked!

Zineth logo w/ background color

It’s called Zineth, and it’s free to download for both Mac and PC here: http://arcanekids.com/
 This is a student made game created over a course of a few months to celebrate speed, movement, and twitter.  Now, there isn’t a lot of facts on this game so far, so I’ll just give a basic rundown, and my opinion on it.

Surprisingly, for a game made by a bunch of students in a few months, it’s really good, and I mean really good.  I instantly got hooked and started drawing fanart of it (in which I’ll post when I get to finishing it).

The game play is really smooth and fun.  Exhilarating even.  I guess you could say that this is a parkour-like game.  You have the choice of doing the tutorial, in which it will tell you how to play, and when you’re finished, it’ll send you to the real game.  You play as this little dude adorned in a cowboy hat, some goggles and some cowboy clothes.  Let’s not forget his robot thing that pretty much lets him do all of this jumping and running stuff.  The world is this vast desert land, and it simply put me in awe.  In the distance, you can see two structures, a city and a canyon like place with buildings.  It’s really hard to describe the setting, so you have to check it out yourself…or just the video I’m going to post at the bottom of this, haha.

There is a plot to this story though, as vague as it may seem.  Well, maybe not vague, but kind of just…thrown out there.  You are given some missions to complete from your “Zine” boss.  I guess you could consider the zine boss as some sort of magazine brand owner or something.  Your first mission is going around and collecting pieces of paper, and then delivering them to people called ‘trainers’ around the desert area.  Then he sends you a message saying something similar to: “Hey, go to the moon.  No time to explain, just go.”  So now you have to get to the moon.  Well how are you suppose to do that?  That’s up to you to find out.

Other than the missions, the game is pretty much a free, open world.  However, don’t go over the invisible boundary line of the world, or the golden hawk will get you.  No really, this golden hawk just appears over your head and picks you up if you stay out in the off-limits zone, and then brings you to his nest.  However, this hawk is really important to the game later on, so going out-of-bounds is actually vital.

This game also has some pretty cool features and games.  You have a phone in the game, which has your options, Zine collection, messages, this mini-game that you play with the “trainers”, and twitter.
Yes,  twitter.
If you have a twitter account, you can connect your account to Zineth, so you can check your twitter right from the game.  I did it, so I can see what Andrew Hussie, the creator of Homestuck, is up to.
Oh, and this game is compatible with an Xbox USB controller.  It’s actually preferred  but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use the keyboard as an alternative.  Just an FYI.

The world is designed so you can do some pretty neat tricks, and some tricks that you thought you could never do in the first place.

Background image on Arcane Kids’ site.

With speeds that can reach up to 400 MPH just by running through the desert land, and jumps that make you feel like you’re flying, it’ll give you a thrill.  The soundtrack is truly amazing in my opinion.  It sounds really relaxed, but at the same time electronic.  It’s a wonderful piece of art.

However, every game has its flaws.  That’s unfortunate, since this game is pretty much perfect in my opinion, but I have some ideas that the Arcane Kids should add.  This game, I think, is capable of updating, so hopefully new content will be added.  I would like to see some multiplayer setting, so that I can play with friends.  The game feels barren and lonely without it.  I might be wrong though, since I saw some pictures of multiplayer gameplay on Tumblr once.  However, I don’t see any multiplayer button.
Maybe some new areas can be added for more exploration.  Well, whatever the Arcane Kids do, I bet I’ll be okay with it.

So, let’s patch this up.  I give this game a 9.5/10.  9.5 because it’s perfect, but things can be added to improve the game considerably.
I was surprised that this game was made in celebration of speed, movement, and twitter.  Kind of an odd selection.  I always thought that the message of the game was that “to find freedom, you have to work for it” or something like that in a philosophical sense.

So just…try this game out.  It’s awesome and free.  You can’t go wrong with that.  You won’t regret it (hopefully).

Is PETA actually Team Plasma?

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Now, we’ve all heard the jokes about PETA being Team Plasma from Pokemon Black and White, but on October 8th, 2012, PETA launched a flash game called Pokemon Black and Blue.  I first discovered this game when I was looking around Tumblr.  Some screenshots of bloody trainers, abused Pokemon, and even anti-animal abuse videos were saved and uploaded.  I won’t lie, but I was intrigued to try this game out.  I went to the PETA website and there it was; the link to play Pokemon Black and Blue.  Something interesting to note…on the side of the game, a picture of Pikachu can be seen with the sign “We support Team Plasma!” or something similar.

Wow that’s not disturbing at all

This is the starting page.  It disturbed me quite a lot.  From this, I bet everyone thought that PETA had the wrong impression on Pokemon, by far.  Oshawott is skinned, Snivy has needle in his head and a tag in his tail, Tepig is probably the normal one out of the group, and Pikachu has a chain collar on.

The game starts out with some text explaining how the Pokemon decided to rebel against their trainers in an attempt to spread the word of Pokemon abuse and what not.  As expected, Pikachu is your starting pokemon.  Your opponent is none other than Cheren, who appears to be drunk.  Drunk!  You also have your normal moves like Thunderbolt and Quick Attack, but then you have moves like Petition and Protest.  Pretty weird.

Anyways, you defeat Cheren, and he talks about how Pokemon should be used for violence and no one cares about them, or something similar.  Pikachu spews some words about Pokemon equality, and then Tepig joins your team.  I named my Tepig “Why”, because that was my reaction to the entire game.

Then you meet Nurse Joy, who is on your side.  Seeing as how she’s technically a vet, PETA probably decided to make her a “good guy”. She gives you a treasure chest, and if you open it, it brings up another window with an animal abuse commercial.  I stopped watching, since those types of videos make me tear up.

I continued on my way.

Then you meet Professor Juniper.  She looks completely berserk, I tell ya.  A knife in one hand and an injection in another.  She’s missing a shoe and adorns a murderous look on her face.  Then she mentions how Pokemon don’t deserve freedom and should be used for testing.  That does not sound like the Juniper that we know.  So, same old story.  You beat her, she sees her faults and gives you Snivy.  Then you move on to Ghetsis, who pretty much reveals a spoiler to the end of Pokemon Black and White.  Gee, thanks Ghetsis.  Anyways, Ghetsis is wearing a Pokemon skin coat along with a bloody pitchfork in his hands.  Creepy.  You beat him, he gives you Oshawott, and now it’s time to fight the final boss.  Can you guess who it is?

It’s Ash!  Wearing…a carnival suit…oh.  He mentions that he never cared for Pikachu and all he cares about is money.
Um…ahem!  Remember Pokemon, Episode 1, where you saved your Pikachu from a flock of Pidgeys?  And you didn’t even know Pikachu that well!

Anyways.  You beat the game, hooray!  Now, what did that accomplish?  Honestly, I didn’t learn anything, except that PETA needs to get their facts straight.  I mean, PETA is okay and all, and I know they are trying to save animals, but come on!  Isn’t this going a little too far?

PETA themselves said that,

“Much like animals in the real world, Pokémon are treated as unfeeling objects and used for such things as human entertainment and as subjects in experiments. The way that Pokémon are stuffed into pokéballs is similar to how circuses chain elephants inside railroad cars and let them out only to perform confusing and often painful tricks that were taught using sharp steel-tipped bullhooks and electric shock prods …if PETA existed in Unova, our motto would be: Pokémon are not ours to use or abuse. They exist for their own reasons. We believe that this is the message that should be sent to children.”

I don’t know about you PETA, but I loved my Pokemon dearly, to the point where I considered them family!  Next time, try to find a better way to display the message of animal equality.  This game was just too disturbing to accomplish that.  They seem to be missing the point that Pokemon is just a game and not some plot to corrupt the minds of children into abusing animals.  If anything, they are doing more harm than good, as rumors of a new type of bullying between children may arise because of this.  It’s time to finally get your act straight, PETA, and do some real work against animal abuse.

Hey strangers!

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This is Darby!  Or you could call my TechyP, since that’s my internet name.  I’m 16 years old and I love to play video games, draw, cook, do crafts, and play with animals (I have a wonderful habit of making animals like me).  I’m quite shy and calm, but people say that I have a heart of gold~

Anyways, I’m here to share my love for video games.  What type/genre of video games?  Well, I enjoy the cutesy type of games.  Not a big fan of FPS…sorry!  But I like games like Mario, Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, random games, the Shin Megami Tensei series, Professor Layton, Pokemon, Phoenix Wright, and more!  However, I’m not much of a talker for video games, but a drawer for video games.  That is what I want to do on this site.  Draw fan art.  Drawing fan art is what I draw the most, and it’s fun!

Here is a pic of a video game character that I drew for an upcoming game.  Can’t wait!

One of the reasons why I wanted to join this blog is to improve in my artistic ability.  You won’t believe how MODEST I am.   This picture represents the protagonist Raphael and his dog, Fondue from the upcoming game coming out next month called Rhythm Thief and the Emperor’s Treasure.  It’s a game similar to Rhythm Heaven, but with a plot and a rhythmic thief!  I’m looking forward to this game.

Here are some sketches of the antagonist from a underrated game called Dokapon Kingdom.  He’s my fav character from the game~This is my art style at it’s freshest, I guess you could say.  Just some quick sketches.

As you can see, the two pieces of art that I showed are drawings of games that aren’t well know, I guess.  Well, maybe, except this one last sketch that I’ll show.  You guys probably know what Pokemon is.  So, I did some line art of my favorite Pokemon Black and White characters.Well, as you can see, I like to draw, which has made me think about my future.  I want to go to an art school, maybe.  But I keep thinking about all types of careers, from cooking to art to computers.  I AM leaning towards art though.

Okay, I’m done showing off. Hahaha!  So yeah, I hope I explained myself enough! c:  I hope I get to share my art on this blog for awhile, and get to know you guys.