Rider Ankabut

Pongal

2012-01-15T20:52:00.000+08:00

Pongal is a four-day long harvest and thanksgiving festival that is celebrated in the South Indian state of Tamil Naidu. It begins on the last day of the Tamil month of Margazhi till the third day of Thai. Pongal in Tamil literally means “boiling over” and each day is dedicated to a different deity and celebrated in a different way.

Pongal is also the name of a special rice porridge dish cooked and offered to the Sun god on the second day of the festival. This festival is also known as Makar Sankranti marking the sun’s favorable course through the constellation Capricorn (also known as Makar in Sanskrit).

Author Appearance and Book Launch. Part 3: Malaysian Tales: Retold & Remixed

2012-01-14T23:49:00.000+08:00

Malaysian Tales: Retold & Remixed was the second book promotedat an event at Starbucks Borders, The Curve today. I was excited about thisbook. It gave me the impression that is was a collection of Malaysian folkloreand tales reimagined for today’s audience. Something to rekindle readersinterests in the “old stories”.

Four of the sixteen authors of the sixteen short stories in thebook were present at the event.

Zed Adam Idris wrote ‘Batu Belah’, a retelling of the old tale ofBatu Belah Batu Bertangkup, but with a science fiction spin. The premise wasinteresting, but I was surprised that the original fable was described as apessimistic tale. It was not the impression I had when I first heard of thetale when I was a child. I was even more surprised that Zed only adapted, whatsome would consider only half of the tale.

‘The Gift’ is fictitious tale of Hang Li Po, a (some say disputed)historical character from the age of the Malay Kingdom of Malacca. Janet Tay,the author says that very little was known about Hang Li Po. I was shocked. Sheadded that she did almost no research on the historical character.

Laksamana Cheng Ho (Haji Mahmud Shams or Shamsuddin), anotherhistorical character from the age of the Malay Kingdom of Malacca received thesame treat in ‘The Last Voyage’ by O Thiam Chin. Here O focuses on the factthat the great admiral was a eunuch and added an element of romance to hisstory. I began to question my initial perception of the book.

Daphne Lee is the editor of the book and the writer of ‘EndlessNight’ a tale based on the Legend of Putri Gunung Ledang. She said that thereare many versions of the tale and she based hers on one that has the leastamount of magic and mysticism, and added them. When she added that she focussedon how amoral the princess was in her demands, I began to lose my understandingof the book.

Daphne said that legends, folklore, and tails, were originallymeant for adults and that they may have then been soften for a younger audience.She added that this book is meant for adults. I asked the panel of writers - ina very ineloquent, nervous, and unclear way - “Why add fiction to historicalcharacters?” the answer was unanimous: this is all fiction, they were fictionwriters.

Iwas unsatisfied. I asked questions after questions, trying to figure out,trying to understand what this book is. But, I could not figure it out. FinallyI asked Daphne: “What is the purpose of this book?” she said that: “The book is meant to entertain the reader as much as thewriter”. My heart sank. I was disappointed, however I will respectfully reserve my judgement until Ifinish reading the book.

I had all four authors autograph my copy of the book.

Author Appearance and Book Launch. Part 2: The Rest of Your Life and Everything That Comes with It.

2012-01-14T23:45:00.000+08:00

O Thiam Chin is a praised and publish short story author. Hewas at Starbucks Borders, The Curve today to promote and to read from hisfourth book. It is a collection of eleven of his previously published shortstories from various publications and is called ‘The Rest of Your Life andEverything That Comes with It’.

O had an air of an everyday man; friendly and easy to approach.He was more Malaysian then most Malaysian there. I was surprised he isSingaporean.

‘The Rest of Your Life and Everything That Comes with It’ isa collection of stories about turning points in life, said O in the interview.The stories tell the manifestations of emotions, problems, and humanity,literally and otherwise. Dark, it focuses on characters and people. I was intrigued.

He read a short called “Yellow Elephant”. It was a tale of awoman whose marital problems manifested physically as a bright, almost luminescence,yellow elephant.

O says that he is influenced by Japanese writers such as Haruki Murakami (who wrote 1Q84),whose writing is described as dreamlike and a kin to that of Stephen King.Based on the short that he read, I have to agree.

When I approached him, before the event started, he was ordering adrink at Starbucks. The baristas were oblivious that he was the author beingcelebrated at the event. I pointed out who he was, to break the ice. Thebarista dropped the RM50 bill O handed him.

Even so, O had a big smile on his face. He was nervous, he ishumble, and he is modest. Although praised, O puts himself as a student of thecraft. Although he started off as an engineering student, he said my start inwriting was odder.

Atthe end of his event he autographed my copy of his book , gave me his card, andtold me “I want to see what you write”.

Author Appearance and Book Launch. Part 1: Getting There.

2012-01-14T23:39:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I walked the length of Midvalley Megamall and tooka stroll to the book store in The Gardens Mall next door. I fell for Moleskineand I picked up a copy of Terry Pratchett’s ‘Interesting Times’.

Today I was lazy. The time was half past ten. I convincedmyself that it’s too late to head to Midvalley Megamall. The traffic would be horrendous, and all you wanted was to get thatBorders membership card so that you I can get 20% off of Moleskine stuff I toldmyself. I sat back in my chair and stared at TweetDeck.

@BansheeCreative re-tweeted that there’s an authorappearance and book launching at Starbucks, within Borders, at The Curve. At2PM. I tweeted a “thanks” in reply, procrastinated,grabbed my bag, and headed for Mutiara Damansara. “Do a live tweet” shereplied. I had a mission

I arrived at The Curve half an hour later, with two hours to spare. I wastreated to a live solo piano concert by Yang I-Deun. He’s there every weekendfrom noon. The music was beautiful and delightful, but I have an event to goto.

At Borders I asked the person behind the counter at the bookstore:

“Is there an event here today?”

“Yes, over there, at Starbucks”

“Where’s do you promote the event?”

He pointed me to a poster, one of many, near the entrance of the shop. At least there’s a poster I told myself.It says that there were two books being introduced that the event.

There was an hour left. I grabbed a Venti Caramel Macchiato,sat down and waited for something to happen.

Passion of Writing

2011-12-18T12:42:00.001+08:00

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is a book is as much about the writer as it is about writing. It gives a view of how someone who is passionate about this craft would think, work, function and approach writing. The journey to become a writer can be a tough one. Stephen King held back some punches he also inspires at every page.

The pacing and the rhythm of the book make it an easy read. I appreciate how the book can be read in small sections. Even for those who are not into writing the book would still be an entertaining story. His honesty and candidness (though I’m sure polished to a shine) feels natural and welcoming. In some parts he plays the story teller, is some the teacher, and in some the friend.

There is no doubt that Stephen King is a man who is passionate about his craft and through his book he manages to make it contagious. It is not a substitute, but a complementary book to other writing books like ‘The Elements of Style’ and ‘On Writing Well’.

View all my reviews

Brain Eater

2011-11-24T21:33:00.001+08:00

"They call me 'Brain Eater'", my mom nonchalantly proclaimed.
It made me proud.

Emery Cloth

2011-10-20T21:38:00.001+08:00

I went to the hardware shop today to get some sandpaper to weather my costume with.

“Good morning, boss!” the shop owner greeted me “What do you need?”
“Sandpaper, maybe 100-grit?”
“100-grit? Sure what do you use it for?”
“To weather clothes”
“Get the roughest one” said the shopkeeper, without missing a beat.
I was surprised. “You know how to weather cloth using sandpaper?”
“Sure, it’s an old way”
“I had to search the internet and you already knew?”
“It’s for weathering jeans and clothes. I once was a teenager too”
“Actually it is for my costume”
“Same theory”
“That is true. Thanks boss”

I left the little unassuming hardware shop with 2 pieces of 60-grit sandpaper and a new found admiration for the shop owner. Subhan-Allah, it made me smile.

Usagi Drop - Anime Review

2011-10-06T20:27:00.004+08:00

Bunny Drop (or Usagi Drop as it is known in Japan) is the story of Daikichi, a 30 year-old office worker. When his grandfather died Daikichi learned that his grandfather had an illegitimate daughter named Rin. Ashamed at the conduct of the rest of his family, Daikichi showed sympathy towards Rin and volunteered to become her guardian when no one else would. Now an overnight single father, Daikichi does everything he could to give Rin the best childhood he could.

This isn’t a tale of struggle or tragic or hardship. It is a tale of duty, of how a man took charge of his life and does what has to be done, not in frustration, but in strides. Through his action Daikichi reunites his family, and got Rin through Kindergarten and Elementary School. At the same time Daikichi tries to figure out who Rin’s mother really is and where she came from. Rin, although still a child, is just as strong willed as Daikichi. She’s very independent but not arrogant. Because of her past, she has a maturity beyond kids her age, but she doesn’t know it. She would wake up early every morning to do some chores, prepare breakfast, and get herself ready for school while Daikichi is still sleeping.

Watching this anime made me want to read the original manga by Yumi Unita. The tale is sweet and heart-warming in its modesty. I was fascinated by Daikichi’s level of maturity, responsibility, and sacrifice. It is extraordinary, but not implausible. His relationship with Rin is both like a father and child, and best friends. Production I.G. – the studio that produced this anime – gave the anime a little more personality by giving certain scenes a serene watercolour look. I didn't even notice that the anime was switching between the normal and the water colour look. The transitions were so seamless and the styles fit the scenes so perfectly.

The series spans a shot but satisfying 11 episodes. I recommend this anime for being so down to earth. Who would I recommend it to, is a different matter. Personally I think this anime is suitable for everybody, although fans of anime that are more fantastic will find Bunny Drop too much like reality.

Ramadan - A Night's Lesson

2011-08-29T01:57:00.000+08:00

This vicious looking kit has been the bane of my hobby for months. When I first bought it, I was looking for a kit that’s easy to build – maybe something for kids –, fairly cheap – cheaper than an HG Gunpla –, and something that is not a Gunpla. I was looking for something different for the sake of building something different.

Buying LBX Hakai-O was an easy choice. The kit has a “cat” theme and a name that’s reminiscent of two of my favourite characters: Lion-O from Thundercats and Hakaidar – one of the predecessors to the Kamen Riders. It is made by Bandai and it is based on a “duelling” anime – or sometimes known as tournament anime – called Danboru Senki. Hakai-O was everything I expected it to be, but all is not well.

The build took only a single seating. Without the need for nippers and with instructions only a pamphlet long, it took less than an hour for me to build it. But, for some reason I could not finish it. For weeks I stared at it, instructions in hand and a plan in mind. I wanted to paint this kit and make it look as good as it does in the instruction pamphlet. Weeks turned into months.

I know I can do it, but I could not bring myself to paint this kit. The more I looked at it, the more it became a daunting task. It was a hobbyist equivalent of a writer’s block. How can a kit for kids stop me in my tracks like this? I could not go any further, I could not build anything else, and I could not even start on my highly anticipated MG RX-78-2. I was ashamed of it.

Tonight, on the final night of this year’s holy month of Ramadan, I finally realised what I have done wrong. I wanted to finish the kit my way so much that I forgot about the kit itself. I forgot why I bought the kit, and what the kit was designed for. I was so selfish I ended up stumping myself.

Selfishness is a terrible curse in life and love isn’t it? It sneaks up on you and corrupts your intentions and taints your love. Be it love for a hobby or a person. It shook me. I could see myself in love with someone so much that I’ll do anything for them. Doing it my way alone, thinking that it is the best way. All while ignoring my love’s feelings. It’s cruel.

When you love something or someone, sometimes you will have to do it their way no matter the cost. You have to remember that you are doing it for them and because of them, and not for yourself. That was the approach I took with Hakai-O. Instead of painting the kit, I used the stickers given as it was intended. I had fun applying the stickers, the effect were far better than what I expected. I was happy it is finally over.

Ramadan - Hope

2011-08-27T22:45:00.000+08:00

Shall I share with you a surah that woke me up and gave me hope?

1. Have We not opened your breast for you (O Muhammad (PBUH))?
2. And removed from you your burden,
3. Which weighed down your back?
4. And have We raised high your fame?
5. So verily, with the hardship is relief,
6. Verily, with the hardship is relief (i.e. there is one hardship with two reliefs, so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs).
7. So when you have finished (your occupation), then stand up for Allah's worship.
8. And to your Lord (Alone) turn (all your) intentions and hopes.

Ramadan. A Friend

2011-08-14T22:00:00.005+08:00

It’s the night of the 15th. Ramadan is half way through. So much has gone through my heart and mind within these short 15 days.

There is a questions that often wiggles itself into my heart and mind, burning them when I least expected. “What is a friend?”. Among the relatively few friends I have, how many of them are my real friends?

Often I come to the conclusion that: a friend is someone who says “hi!” for no other reason than because you are who you are. But that can’t be right, right? I have so few of those. If that is right, who are the others? People who just want something from me? Leaches? No. That’s too harsh.

What did I do wrong? I forget. I was wasting my time thinking too much. These questions are just a manifestation. Friends are people, and some are merely acquaintances. Some are good for me, some are not. Some would wrong me, some would not. Some would keep me, some would happily let me go. Only Allah knows.

So I pray, pray, and pray. I raise my hands in prayer and begged Allah to show me the straight path, guide me through the straight path, and give me strength to travel the straight path. And if it the best for my life, here and the hereafter, let me not walk this path alone.

Ramadan. BRAINS!

2011-08-07T11:30:00.009+08:00

"Berani tak makan ni?" my mom asked.

"Bolehlah"
"Susah nak dapat ni"
*grin*

Ramadan. Sigh. I Love You Dad.

2011-08-05T05:00:00.002+08:00

“Jijoy, boleh cucikan luka papa?”

I grabbed a pair of needle nose tweezers, a couple sticks of cotton buds, a bottle of Methylated Alcohol, and a bottle of anti-septic.

Dad stepped on an oil palm barb a couple of days ago with his toe. – Oil palm barb are known to be “bisa” or septic.

“Sakit lagi ke pa?”

“Tak. Bentan je.”

I saw that where were specks of grit in the small but deep wound. I began to clean it. Puss spewed out. I did what I could as best as I can. I was worried.

“Papa pagi tadi pergi kebun buat kerja. Tak pakai kasut.”

My heart face-palmed.

I love you dad.

Ramadan Infused Ice Tea

2011-08-04T22:34:00.003+08:00

The idea was to make an exotic, yet simple refreshing drink fit for the hot nights of Ramadan. It has to be cold, not too sweet, and quenches the thirst.

The recipe is based on a novel concept used at a local tea house. To make the drink exotic, I used Pu-Erh tea, a favourite strong tea that is best served without sugar. Because Pu-Erh tea is a brewing tea, it is first blanched or rinsed in hot water to clean and to awaken its flavours.

Then, instead of brewing the tea in warm water, it is then placed in a container of cold water and kept in the fridge overnight or longer.

The resulting infused ice tea tastes very different then if the tea was brewed hot and then brought down in temperature by refrigerating, or by adding ice. It’s smoother, brighter, and it lacks the bitterness of over-brewed tea. Perfect for what I was looking for.

I tried to liven up the drink further by adding Calamansi (limau kasturi) to the drink, but it didn’t work. I could not get Pu-Erh to work with the bright sweet acidic taste. However, for those who are not used to drinking sugarless tea could add a little simple syrup (boild 1 part water with 1 part sugar) to the drink. Don’t try diluting sugar in a cold drink, it’s a futile effort.

Ramadan Guided.

2011-08-02T22:40:00.000+08:00

They ask you (O Muhammad p.b.u.H.) what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred and orphans and Al-Masakin (the needy) and the wayfarer, and whatever you do of good deeds, truly Allah knows it well.

- Surah Al-Bakarah 2:215

Ramadan Good-Byes.

2011-08-02T01:44:00.001+08:00

The first day of Ramadan actually began the night before. It began with me hunched over the Quran, reading the English Tafseer (translation) of Juz 1 (Part 1 of the Quran) in its entirety, so that I may understand it.

When day came, I could not have guessed that it was your last. I dearly miss you, now that you have left but, you know I'm happier knowing that you are free. Your friendship has thought me much, has changed me much, and I am grateful. Your words were always too kind. In the name of Allah, know that there is a special place in my heart for you. Maybe someday, we will meet again.

2011-07-26T22:44:00.004+08:00

The love of another is fleeting and temporary.

The love of Allah is infinite and extraordinary.

So love another because of Allah, and Allah alone,

For there are secrets and blessings in His names, known and unknown.

Digital Hope

2011-07-21T21:50:00.003+08:00

Words, written, sent through the air.

At a slate of glass, and metal, and plastic; stare.

Please glow. Please beep.

Oh digital hope.

At a slate of glass, and metal, and plastic; stare.

Is it me, or is there no one on there?

Pizza, soup, garlic-bread, and ice cream.

2011-07-17T23:21:00.000+08:00

Busy, under the weather, and tired, you came,

Why would someone sacrifice so much for someone so lame?

What did I ever do to deserve such company?

When I thought about it, it seemed a little funny.

As fate would have it we were alone,

I wondered if it was something you would condone,

You looked pretty but I just could not say it,

My biggest regret was making you walk so much damn it!

I could not think straight even for a while,

Every time I look at you I can’t help but smile,

Honestly I was feeling happy,

Still you can see through it all and said don’t worry.

In your brown eyes I was lost,

You came to see me but at what cost?

If it were up to me you would be home recuperating,

But you said spending time like that would be wasting.

So in return it’s only fair,

If you ever need a friend I’ll always be there,

Through shine or wind or heavy downpour,

Until both of us finds what we are looking for.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Oh the Grammar!

2011-07-01T22:30:00.001+08:00

It was about 15 minutes into the movie. The scene began with Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), wearing only lingerie and a man’s shirt, walking slowly and mischievously up a flight of stairs. The libido driven movie-goers began to hoot. As she enters the room where her boyfriend, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) was sleeping, and straddles him, my friend elbowed me.

“Look, it’s a pretty girl” he said, teasing me.

“Who cares about the girl!” I told him, a little annoyed. “This is a transformers movie!”

I heard laughter coming from a few seats away.

This sentiment echoed for me throughout the movie. I don’t need wacky human character to relate to. I don’t need lessons in freedom, struggle, and strife. I don’t need humanity to get in the way. There is no need to make this beloved metaphor of good versus evil into a freaking three-way!

It was halfway through the movie. It’s a chase scene on a highway with Sam riding in Bumblebee (an Autobot, Chevy Camaro) with Decepticons chasing after them. In slow motion, trying to avoid the flying debris ahead, Bumblebee transforms into his robot mode, spilling Sam out of him, swats away the debris, grabs Sam, and transforms back into a car with Sam in it. Everyone applauded.

This is what I want, good and evil transforming giant robots from my childhood made real and fighting. There is a lot of that here and it’s all gorgeous. The action scenes are outstanding and one of a kind. It helps to see it in 3D, trust me. It was one of the best 3D movie experiences I have ever had. However with all that glitter, the movie feels hollow.

There are so many plot holes in this movie that it is downright porous. I got hung up in so many of the movies leaps of logic, and eccentricities that I could not enjoy the “alternate world history” plotline, the twists, or the rest of the movie.

As a kid who grew up on transformers, it is disappointing to see Optimus Prime moping and having such a hard time battling a brooding Megatron who literally only has half his brain because it was shot off. I could not understand why these giant robots would put their weapons down in a “Mexican-standoff”, have human-like stereotype characters, and have "facial hair". Didn’t the movie makers learn from the previous movies?

I did. I learned that those who has the least, wins: When the Decepticons were in smaller number then the Autobots, they stood a chance to win; when Megatron only has half a brain, he plots an ingenious plan; and Optimus Prime won the fight only when he had one less arm then everyone else. It was ridiculous.

The movie ends in a way that gives me hope that the next movie will be a reboot instead of a sequel. I sincerely hope it is, because I cannot take much more of this.

A Father's Day In Memory.

2011-06-19T12:01:00.001+08:00

I dedicate Father’s Day this year to the memory of dads: To my parent’s fathers, and in turn to their fathers; to the father of a big-little brother I never had and to the fathers of my friends who I could call (for the lack of a better word) “bros”; To the father of a little sister who gave great advice while listening to my tales, and to the fathers of my patient friends of the opposite persuasion.

I also dedicate this Father’s Day to the one who inspired me to celebrate this day, this way: the memory of the father of a girl I like inexplicably.

If he knew, I don’t think my father would mind that I made him share this day.

My Anime Summer 2011

2011-06-01T22:51:00.001+08:00

Ao No Exorcist

"Blue Exorcist"

This action/fantasy/supernatural/comedy anime had a very promising start. It follows the story of Okumura Rin, a young “rebel without a cause”, who has a secret dark origin, and powers and abilities beyond his comprehension – but what anime protagonist doesn’t?

I find the story, up to the point when he decided to join a “magical” school to become an exorcist just like his father, very interesting. It could have gone into a very exciting direction, but it didn’t. Instead it falls into the typical fantasy high school anime mould.

I still watch it though.

[C]: Control: The Money and Soul of Possibility

This little psychedelic romp combines the complex world of economy with a duellist style anime. The hero is Yoga Kimimaro, an economics university student who is poor and without any immediate family; and the twist is that he is given a chance to earn money and a better future by duelling, using a humanoid manifestation of his future, in an alternate world called “Financial District”.

The anime uses terms and concepts of economics, but in a more visual or conceptualised manner, but disappointingly, the goal here is to just entertain. Honestly, I was expecting this anime to teach me a thing or two about economics. Silly huh?

Still, the rarely used underlying concept manages to hold my attention despite the run of the mill duellist anime formula.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai

"We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day"

The title is long, the story is a little weird, but this anime drama has a gargantuan heart.

The story is about a group of best friends who drifted apart after one of them died in an accident when they were very young. One day, many years later, the once leader of the group of friends woke up and finds that the once dead friend, in his room. He is the only one who can hear her, he can see her, and he can interact with her, but she’s not a ghost and she’s definitely not his imagination.

His quest to understand what is going on brings the group back together and with it the emotional baggage, characters, and drama.

This is the type of anime you watch with your significant other. It’s sweet, full of drama, exciting, full of emotions, and mysterious, all at the same time. I really like this one

Tiger & Bunny

I’ve said it many times, and I’ll say it again; “this is be freshest take on superheroes I’ve seen in a very long time”. It’s simple: If you like superheroes then you must watch this anime. Enough said.

Ultra Sabers - Where I Get My Light Saber.

2011-05-22T14:52:00.000+08:00

In my quest to join the 501st Legion Malaysia-Brunei Outpost as Darth Nihilus I decided to turn to Ultra Sabers for my lightsaber.

Ultrasabers selection of lightsaber hilts here is good but not great. The designs of their low end lightsabers are varied but fairly simple. I find that these lightsabers, though plain, are very good for beginners, affordable (at under 100USD), and very easy to customise.

Their mid-range or premium lightsabers are much more elaborate. However, their designs have a “mass production” look to them. In other words they are relatively simple looking when compared to lightsabers from other sites, and for the price, I wished the designs are more ornate. What makes these lightsabers worthwhile however, is Ultrasabers wide range of options for customisation and quality of build.

Ultra Sabers’ lightsabers uses a very bright LED in the hilt of the ligthsaber instead of an array of LEDs inside the blade as a light source. This construction is far more durable than the ones used in Hasbro’s Force FX series of lightsabers and makes these lightsabers perfect for duels.

There are 8 blade colours to choose from. Most of their mid-range lightsabers comes with a 9th option, an RGB blade which lets its wielder change the colour of their lightsaber blade to one of the 7 colours on the fly. Some colours fair better then others; Blazing Red is very sinister, and Arctic Blue is far better and more movie accurate then Guardian Blue, but Fire Orange is a little dim.

Some mid-range lightsaber also has a quickchange option. With this, the blade and LED module assembly can easily be exchanged or removed altogether from the hilt.

Ultra Sabers also offers sound modules. They are expansive at 150USD (more than the price of a mid-range lightsaber) and come in 2 variations: Jedi or Sith. Ultra Sabers takes the sound modules directly from a Hasbro Force FX lightsaber, which explains the high price, but it is still too high.

Other options includes: type of finish, length of blade, type of blade, type of blade tip, and grade of blade.

If you are not into custom lightsabers, Ultrasabers also offers a range of Hasbro's Star Wars Force FX lightsabers that has been modified to use the single LED lightsource instead of an array. If you already own a Force FX lightsaber, you can also mail it in to Ultrasabers to have it modified.

Ultra Sabers have been around for many years making them one of the most trusted custom combat lightsaber shops online. And amongst all the other custom lightsaber websites, their website is also one of the easiest to understand and navigate. They are also very friendly and understand the different needs of buyers from different countries, and they are always willing to help. I have yet to find an online custom lightsaber shop that can compete with Ultra Saber’s equilibrium of price, efficiency and speed.

Dear Mom: A Vague Mother's Day Promise

2011-05-08T12:07:00.001+08:00

Dear Mom,

Did you know its Mother’s Day today? I’m happy your eye operation went well, and I’m glad we had lunch together yesterday. It was a mother’s day lunch done one day early. It was the only free time we had. I know you didn’t know, don’t worry; it’s just how your son do things.

Mom. I wanted to share with you a secret this Mother’s Day. I’ve let the both pop and you down countless times, but this secret, it leads to an end that I’ve always wanted, but never thought I could achieve.

Don’t panic mom. It’s totally normal, conventional, and it is not against any law. However, I’m not done yet. I pray for it five times a day, I’m doing my best for it, and I even had help. Still, there were signs of failure; still, I am not done yet.

I'm sorry for all the wrong that I've done, and I thank you for everything and for all that you have done. So for now mom, all I can give you is a promise that I’ll tell you about it someday.

Hopefully by then it’s all done.

Hopefully by then InshaAllah.

Forever,

Your Son.

Felt a Dream

2011-04-30T00:52:00.000+08:00

Dreams are like a playground to me. After more than 15 years of unimaginable horrors, and unthinkable fears, I learned to control, game, and puzzle out my dreams. They became adventures where dread is always kept never too far, and never too close. Some became serials.

One night, recently, I had a dream that I never had before. I was not in control, the setting was plain, there was no story to it, and there were no danger in sight. Strange, stranger still is that there was an emotion that was so strong it was palpable.

I know the feeling though it is alien, and now I seek it though it may never be found.

Gundam 00 Qan[T] Shiney

2011-04-19T13:11:00.000+08:00

My first GLOSS finish gunpla. It's so squeaky shiny!

Big Anime Eyes

2011-04-19T06:41:00.000+08:00

That is one sad looking bird of war.

Wall!

2011-04-18T23:17:00.000+08:00

What's so great about a... That's a large wall!

You got a knife sticking out of your chest.

2011-04-16T21:26:00.000+08:00

One of my bosses once told me “it’ll only hurt you and make you angry if you let it”.

Experience thought me that: You can deny that knife sticking out of your heart all you want; it’s there with or without your acknowledgement. Some people can see it and most, especially the polite ones, don't or choose not to. You can either: ignore it and let it meld into you, fiddle with it and make it worst, or apply appropriate aid and heal it.

The Northbound Squad.

2011-03-28T00:02:00.001+08:00

As my eyes focused on the ever changing horizon, and 6-shots of caffeine surged through my brain, I realize how much the 501st Legion M-BO has changed me and my life. It got me my current job at a law firm, introduces me to people who I now consider more then just friends, and above all, gave me hope in life.

Today was a very special day for me. It was barely a week ago that I was a minder for the 501st Legion M-BO at the Putrajaya International Balloon Fiesta. Today, I was a part of a small 10 unit squad tasked to troop at a charity event for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund held by the Pink Hibiscus Club in Pulau Pinang.

The adventure started a little over 24 hours ago when 2 cars carrying 5 members of the 501st Legion M-BO from the South arrived in the town of Ipoh after a 2 hour drive. 12 hours later with about 1 to 3 hours of sleep the small convoy, plus an additional 1 car and 4 more members of the 501st, traveled for about 3 hours to get to the event.

The crowd was amazing. It was more international then all the events that have the word ‘international’ in its title that we have been to, combined. The size of the event was modest, but the amount of good work that was done was extraordinary.

We had 5 hours. We barely had a plan. We followed our hearts and our instincts, and it became the most fun and successful trooping mission I had ever had. It took 2 hours for us to get back to Ipoh, another 2 hours for us to get dinner, and it will take at least another 2 hours drive for the members from the South to get back home.

Thank you to Zul and Julian for doing the official work to make this trooping event possible.

Thank you to the organizers for inviting the 501st for the hospitality, for the tasty food, and for the freedom for us to do almost whatever we want!

Thank you to David and his wife for visiting us and helping us out at the event.

Thank you to Richard (Biker Scout), his wife (Jawa) and his two children for adding strength to the number of costumers and minders in our squad.

Thank you to the “clone troopers” Ivan (field photographer) and Kevin (Imperial Officer). We would not have enough photos nor would it have been as much fun without the two of you.

Thank you to Dave. You are the indispensable “Swiss army knife” and “standard bearer” of the team.

Thank you to Aisyah for being such a good sport. Without you, we would not have raised that much money for the cause.

Thank you to Kirby (Storm Trooper) for discovering the event, introducing the event organizers to the 501st, for heading the squad, for letting us stay at your house, for letting us play with your Xbox 360, and for letting me use your camera.

Finally, a special thank you to all the members of the 501st Legion M-BO “Northbound Squad”. Thank you for letting me come along, for putting up with me, and for letting me do my thing. You guys do not know how much you have changed my outlook in life tonight.

GPB-04B Bearruy: Because Those One Eyed Giant Mobile Suits Needs Love Too.

2011-01-02T23:05:00.001+08:00

A cute bear look, with rounded curves, a school backpack, no sharp edges, no big weapons, and no extravagant wings, the GPB-04B Beargguy is a unique Gunpla (Gundam Plastic Model) with a unique origin. It is based on the modified MSM-04 Acguy build by a female protagonist in an anime about Gunpla builders – very meta.

The build was easy and fun. It doesn’t take much to make this kit look pretty. Its rounded design and moulding makes the end result look seamless without the need of sanding and repainting. Very little panelling and painting is needed as well: Most of the panel lines are located at the sole of the kit’s feet and areas that need painting can be completed with the included stickers.

Given how simple the joints were to build, I was very surprised at how poseable Beargguy is. What impressed me the most is how expressive and customisable this kit is. Its large curved surface just begs to be used as a canvas and with a little creativity the Beargguy could be made to look cute, fierce, girly, or just plain robotic.

Typical, Beargguy is obviously not. To me it sits comfortably somewhere between Bandai’s robotic looking Gundam line and the new more “natural” looking Figurise line of kits. Seasoned Gunpla masters with a creative and open mind could do wonders with this kit, and I think Beargguy is one of the perfect kits to welcome someone into the hobby.

MSRP: RM79.90

I Was Picked Up At a Toy Store

2010-12-27T23:56:00.001+08:00

One evening I was picked up at the toy store by an enthusiast. He brought me into a word I never dreamed of being a part of. There I met amazing people who work hard, and play harder, all in the name of doing what they love to do. It became my window to the world and they welcomed me in.

The next day a lawyer picked me up at the toy store and gave me a job, a real job with a real future. He showed me a new life. There I work with people who turned out to be some of my best friends in life. I was given hope gain.

Throughout the year I experienced things that I have never had before: I was invited to a geek centric event, I was given a chance to go to a concert, I welcomed to help out at a charity event, and I organised a Christmas shopping trip with some of my office friends.

Board gaming is once again a part of my life, it’s easier than ever to get pizza around here, I’m on the path of independence, and I am not alone any more.

A pure of heart, a man of valour, and a taintless soul, I am not. If asked if I deserve all of this, I would say I do not. I was a writer, a toy-store minder, and a broken soul 365 days ago.

At the toy store I would forever be a mere keeper. After my falling out with someone I thought as a dear friend, I was depressed beyond measure. Since the fiend and the person I am writing for are best friends, I knew that I will not let to be anything more than a part-time contributor.

I learned that my enthusiasm at work was for nought, and I drifted into darkness.

I learned that my talents were for nought, and I drifted further into darkness.

I learned that I will never be forgiven, my heart turned to dust, my mind turns to black, and my soul was gone.

“Allah is fair and does not cheat, but HE does have a sense of humour” that is what I always say. I would not be where I am today without going through what I did. But, I would love to be complete again, someday: with my heart whole, my mind clear, and my soul back where it belongs.

Until next time, I will leave you with the sign of the horns and the words “ROCK ON!”

Fine Molds 1:48 Scale X-Wing By Maestro Chris

2010-11-15T23:48:00.002+08:00

The Game is Afoot!

2010-11-12T22:41:00.000+08:00

A few of my office mates and I went out for dinner, and played a board game together for the first time tonight.

The place: Dave's Diner.
The game: Enchanted Forest.

This 1982 "Game of the Year" award winner has a special place in my heart. Its dice-roll and memory game play, and fairytale themed components seems almost childish, but, in the hands of a group of seasoned gamers, it can get rowdy and competitive, fast! A perfect game for all levels of gamers and for all ages.

The game started after we placed our orders. When the drinks came, the game went on. When the food arrived, the game went on. With forks in our stained hands and food in our mouths, the game went on. Our plates were cleared, still the game went on.

We laughed, we cheered, and we psyched each other out. Jovial intrigue and playful teasing filled the air. At the end of the night a new group of boardgamers was formed, filled with good food and hungry for more game.

Meeples, Tokens, & Die

2010-11-07T19:29:00.000+08:00

It has been 3 years since played a hard core boardgame. Heck, I don’t even remember some of the games I own. Even though it has been too long, boardgames are making a comeback in my life.

The short term plan: To reintroduce boardgaming by doing a boardgame weekend with some friends from the office.
Time: Whole day - Saturday 27th of November.
Place: TBD (a Starbucks, a fast-food joint or possibly The Game Vault)
The Games Shortlist: Cluedo, Monopoly Revolution, Shadows Over Camelot, Citadels, Settlers of Cattan, Betrayal at the House on the Hill.

The medium term plan: To introduce a small group of Carcassone players in KL a whole new world of intrigue, collaborations, and boardgames.

The long term plan: To resurrect Resident Meeple the LPPPPP (Lembaga Pemain-Pemain Permainan Papan Perak).

It takes a large helping of serendipity for this to work, but I’m hopeful.

I Call It Milady The Queen.

2010-10-26T09:10:00.000+08:00

It was about 2:30am after my first concert when I wrote this. I’ve cleaned it up and rearranged it a little since then. It’s about the day I had and a person I met.

She can see me when I hide in plain sight,

A feat that is not to be taken light,

My problems go away when I tell it to her,

Maybe talking about it is my healer.

Her world is very different from mine,

Aliens like artichoke and wine,

They are separated by both space and time,

Maybe it’s my ignorance that is the crime.

Everything is different from back in my day,

Do they all do that now? How arcane is my way?

She adapts so easily, why can’t I do the same in kind?

Maybe I’m afraid of what I might find.

She is a queen, I wonder if she knows it,

She could have it her way, but she doesn’t abuse it,

She has guards and maidens, and she rules a small kingdom,

Maybe it’s just my romantic side, seeking poetic freedom.

Paramore or less.

2010-10-21T00:06:00.001+08:00

“I’m a creep. I’m a widow. What the hell am I doing here? I don’t belong here.” The words from Radiohead’s Creep echoed through my mind as I head towards the rendezvous point to meet up with the rest of the folks that are heading for the Paramore concert. As we head to Stadium Bukit Jalil, I tried my best to shake the song out of my head, but I got the Korn Unplugged version of it stuck in there instead.

We got to the concert venue almost 3 hours early, however there was already a large crowd waiting at the entrance gate. We had a long wait ahead of us.

When we finally got to our seat they told me this was not how a rock concert should be laid out. The stage should be larger, on the opposite side of the stadium, and all the concert goers should have been on the field. But, I had no preconception of how a rock concert should be. The last concert I have been had an orchestra and all that they played were classical music.

The opening act was a local band called Y2K. I almost expected Chris Jericho to step out. What we got what a group of masked, incoherent rockers. I give them an ‘A’ for effort, which is the only good thing I can say about it.

Our seats were high above and far away from the stage but, it’s not bad at all. After 2+ hours of driving, an hour at a mall, a half hour of rest, and another couple of hours standing, waiting to get into the stadium, I was thankful that that we got a nice place to sit.

The view wasn’t bad either. I could see the band and take pictures just fine. We even get to see the band arrive and enter the stage, something the folks down on the ground floor didn’t.

It was quite a show from beginning till the end. The light dimmed, a black curtain covered the stage. As the back lights blink on and off we saw silhouettes of the band members. The crowd went wild. The curtains fell and everyone lost it.

The band starts off with a couple of their hit singles. I thought they’d save those till near the end. I was worried that they may run out of steam early in the show. What I should have been excited about was what they have in store.

Haley was quite the performer. Her hair was as bright red as ever and in her hand was her trademark carrot orange microphone. Maybe it was bad sound engineering, but it sounds like her voice only came through at every other word. It didn’t change a thing though. It was clear that she was giving all she’s got.

I shouldn’t forget about the rest of the band either. There were up to 4 guitars at any one time and all 4 of those guys were awesome. One of them played at least 3 different instruments throughout the show. The drummer is a maniac.

Choosing Paramore as the first rock concert to ever go to was a safe bet. They are not too big of a band, so the crowd - I estimate - was only moderate in size. They are not extreme in any way which also means that the attendees are a less rowdy bunch.

The pacing of the show, overall, is very well done. There were sing-alongs, lighter/cell phone ballads, dance alongs, some acrobatics, and even a couple of “unplugged” sessions. There were slow spots, but it never lets down. Things really picked up near the end when the band started to interact with the crowd. A lucky fan even got to get up on stage and sing with the band.

It began with me dragging around a sack full of apprehensions. In the end, I was standing, roaring, clapping, and singing along. My favourite part of the show is when the hundreds of fans on the rafters jumped in unison to the song. I felt the thousands of tons of iron and concrete move beneath me.

Not a bad first time. I met a few new folks but I don’t think I made any new friends. I guess I have some anxiety left over in one of my pockets.

“That’s what you get when you let your heart win” - Paramore

A Car For The Ladies - 1/24 Ikki Tousen Alphard MS/AS Late Type Custom By Maestro Chris

2010-10-11T23:26:00.000+08:00

Ikki Tousen isn’t a series that I would say I am a fan of. The first time I saw an anime and read a manga where all the heroes of the Chinese Classic tale Romance of the Three Kingdoms is turned into females, it was a novelty. But, turning them into a bunch of sexy school girls with a large helping of ecchi is a little too much.

Still, it doesn’t make this 1/24 Ikki Tousen Alphard MS/AS Late Type Custom any less impressive. Maestro Chris has really outdone himself with this kit. His application of the decals is flawless and the interior of the car has been given a custom wooden panel finishing. Sadly you got to take my word when it comes to the interior of the car. Maestro Chris didn’t realise that the windows of the model car is so tinted and opening the doors would damage the decals until he completed the kit!

Sky Blue - Custom PG RX 178 Mk 2 by Maestro Chris

2010-10-09T22:39:00.000+08:00

To an amateur Gunpla hobbyist the PG (Perfect Grade) kits are the most daunting kits of them all. The details of these kits are mindboggling, their scale enormous, and building them is a daunting task.

Once completed these scale models are a sight to behold. Once completed by a master, with custom colours like this one by Maestro Chris, it’s a humbling goal that an amateur Gunpla hobbyist like me aspires for.

Handsome, no?

The PG RX 178 Mk 2 Gundam is shaded, but not weathered.

Side view

Back view

Side view

Even the smallest details have been painted.

Metalic paints were used in certain areas to give it a realistic look.

Fully painted and articulated hands.

Highly metallic gold and silver paints are used to accent the Gundam's ports and vents.

The gun is is given a more weathered look

Impressive results

No detail left unchecked

the sky blue, off white, red, gold, and black colour scheme makes this a one of a kind.

A Piece Of A Giant Robot War - HGUC Zaku Diorama by Maestro Chris

2010-10-04T21:28:00.000+08:00

It is amazing what a master hobbyist can do. Using only a plaster covered poly-foam base, a 1/144 HGUS MS-06 Zaku The Ground War set, and his skills, Maestro Chris is able to create a vivid battle scene. I could only pray of having such skills. Maybe someday.

The Zaku dominates

Side view

Front view

Another side view

Back view

Zaku back view

Zaku front view

The body of the Zaku has been modified to make this pose possible

Zaku smash

No detail left undone

I can't believe that's not metal

Seconds before the kaboom!

Complete with markings too.

Evil Metal - Custom Painted TF:ROTF Leader Class Megatron by Maestro Chris

2010-10-03T00:24:00.000+08:00

Out of the box Hasbro’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen toys are less then desirable. As their prices increased, their quality seems to have faltered. What happed to the days when Transformers toys were good as is right out of the box?

In response to fan’s dissatisfaction towards these movie tie-in toys Maestro Chris took it upon himself to pick up one of these Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen toys, disassemble it, repaint it, rebuild it and make it into a masterpiece.

And so, I present to you the movie accurate, custom painted, TF:RoTF leader class Megatron by Maestro Chris.

Front view

The gun

Back view

Tiny arm

It glows!

The lights, sound, and motion gimmick still works.

It's in the details

Beautiful

Just like in the movies.

Hidden Camo - MG Sword Impulse Gundam by Maestro Chris

2010-10-02T21:29:00.000+08:00

The Sword Impulse Gundam’s design is simple compared to the other mobile suits in this series. As the name implies, the Sword Impulse Gundam features melee weapons in the form of energy swords.

To add a little bit more character to this model, Maestro Chris gave all the red coloured areas a digital camouflage effect. He then gives this model a more realistic look using metallic steel coloured paint on all grey components i.e. hands, joints, and neck.

Fierce looking design

Front view

Masterfully shaded energy sword.

Red digital camouflage

Mixture of matte and semi gloss finish

Simple markings

Side view

The right wing is used as a sword

Wonderfully detailed

Back View

Real Grade RX-78-2 Gundam - Aptly Exciting

2010-09-27T00:31:00.000+08:00

The tagline for Bandai latest grade of Gunpla (Gundam Plastic Model) called Real Grade is “Excitement Embodied”. It’s a very lofty claim, but one that I thought is apt.

The first RG kit released is of the classic and much beloved RX-78-2. Unlike all other kit grades in the Gunpla series, RG Gunpla kits aims to be an accurate replica of a real world mobile suit – if mobile suits were real. In the case of the RX-78-2, it was intended to be a 1:144 scale replica of the 1:1 scale model of the mobile suit that is currently standing in Japan.

Building the kit was a treat! The RX-78-2 (the mobile suit) is simple by design. Without elaborate armaments like wings, armour or giant guns, more care has been given to its construction. One of the featured “gimmicks” of this kit is a core skeleton structure. It is sturdy, highly possible, and surprisingly, needed very little assembly. I was amazed at how Bandai manages to produce an articulated piece on a kit tray.

An almost pre-built core doesn’t make this kit an easy build. The RG kit added an extra dimension to look of the RX-78-2 by using three shades of off-white pieces, metallic decals, lots of markings, and a generous portion of articulation and armour articulation. That’s 258 pieces, 120 different markings (86 normal and 34 foil/metallic), and virtually no paint needed – each component of a different colour in a part is a separate moulded piece.

I have not had that much fun building a kit since the RX-178 Mk2. Every part of the kit was a treat to assemble and the result felt more satisfying then the amount of effort put into it. Never have there been this amount of armour panel articulation in a 1/144 scale Gunpla.

I also appreciated the easy to use and beautiful markings. Some of the foil markings made some of the parts of the kits look like it was made out of copper. I only wish that they stick better – but a little PVA glue and some pressure seems to be a solution.

This kit is good for beginners and experts alike. Hobbyist will find some challenges in making this kit while novices will find the learning experience and the end result well worth the time, effort, and inevitable mistakes.

Diorama base courtesy of Maestro Ah Ho

Kobato - A Sweet Story From The Sky.

2010-09-16T23:16:00.000+08:00

Hanato Kobato is the name of the girl in the middle of this story. She is an odd and mysterious one. One day, as if she came from the sky, Kobato appeared in a play ground with a hat on her head, a purse by her side, and a luggage and umbrella in her hands.

Kobato has a mission: she must seek and mend the heart of others. Each heart she heals grants her a Kompeito (a Japanese candy). If she manages to fill a bottle with the candy within a year, her wish will come true. But, she has to get the bottle first.

In the anime, Kobato is a favourite among kids and she has a beautiful singing voice so she fits in the kindergarten she volunteers at very well. Although she is dedicated, Kobato is naive and air headed to a fault and she seems to know nothing about the world. Helping and coaching her in her pursuit is a fierce, razor teethed, fire breathing spirit in the shape of a blue stuffed toy dog called Ioryogi.

From its opening theme to its character designs, connoisseurs of anime will immediately recognise this series as the collaborative work of the manga studio CLAMP and the anime studio Madhouse. Characters like the twins, Chise and Chitose Mihara bear a striking resemblance to Chi from Chobits.

This series is by no means a formulaic “problem-of-the-week” type of show. It gives an impression that it is a simple tale, but it is by no means straightforward. The story is sweet, heart-warming and sometimes cute - but not to a level that I would call moe.

Kobato and Ioryogi’s past remains a mystery throughout the series. Most of the people they meet throughout their adventure seems to have a connection to their past. There is also a larger, darker, and more fantastic back-story just begging to be told hidden within the anime, however, very little about it is explained. Somehow it manages not to be a detriment to the series.

To me, that larger unexplained mystery and the amount of heart in the story is the charm of this series. I find myself watching episode after episode non-stop even though I am more partial to action, and horror oriented anime. I guess that nothing beats a good, clean, and wholesome story.

The Sith of Anahilation: Darth Nihilus - Mask Ornament

2010-09-05T21:15:00.000+08:00

It has been a little over two weeks since I started making my Darth Nihilus mask. While sculpting the base of the mask is fairly easy, I find it extremely difficult to get Darh Niilus’s mask ornament just right. I have tried sculpting it separately and directly on the mask, but the result was not satisfactory.

With references on screen, I sat at my computer table rethinking my plan. I had a sinking feeling that my mask does not have enough “head space” to get the ornament looking right. Dath Nihilus has a very long face.

Undeterred, I cheated. First, I rolled out a slightly thick sheet of modelling clay on a cutting board. Then, using a knife, I cut out the basic shape of the ornament. Next, I transferred the cut out shape of the ornament onto the mask. I refined the shape of the ornament by shaving the edges using a knife.

The Sith of Anahilation: Darth Nihilus - Sculpting The Mask

2010-08-26T00:53:00.000+08:00

In this costume build, I choose to start with the mask. As Peter – a friend of mine who got me into the 501st – would say: “once you got the face and head right, the rest of the costume will follow”.

Following Maestro Pol’s (a master costume maker) guidance, I made a papier-mache cast of my face. The process began by applying a facial mask on my face. Then a layer of bandage or gauze is laid with as little overlap as possible. This makes the papier mache cast easy to remove.

After that, layers upon layers of glue soaked stripes of paper are applied. Each layer is applied in a different direction and dried using a hair drier. For the final few layers I choose to use kitchen roll instead of news paper. Kitchen rolls are tough but it is also very pliable and makes a good surface to sculpt the mask on.

When the papie mache retains some degree of rigidity, I took it off, transferred it to a rolled up towel to help it keep its shape. Finally I left it out in the sun for a couple of hours for it to dry thoroughly.

The finished cast is dry, hard, and maintains some details of my face.

Using photos online as a guide, it took me a couple of hours and two blocks of modelling clay to get the basic shape of the mask. Not bad for a first try eh?

Ah Ho's World War 2 Miniature Diorama - Small History In 3D

2010-08-22T22:10:00.002+08:00

1:72 American Sherman Tank.

1:72 Russian Tiger Tank

1:72 German Infantry in Winter

1:72 German Anti-Tank Gun Squad

1:72 Custom Made Bunker

1:72 Custom Desolate Diorama Base

1:35 Russian Anti-Tank Sniper Team

1:35 British Universal Carrier Mk.1 Crew

1:35 German River Raft Landing

1:35 American Anti-Tank Team

All of these gorgeous diorama are going up on eBay real soon.

The Sith of Anahilation: Darth Nihilus - Choosing the Costume

2010-08-19T23:49:00.002+08:00

In the name of Allah, most gracious most merciful.

When I decided that I want to officially join the 501st Legion: Malaysia Brunei Outpost I was faced with a though choice: Which Sith or Empire character from Star Wars should I be?

First and foremost it must be a masked character. I always liked a full suit costume with masks, and no one should ever be made to endure the sight of my unsightly mug. This automatically takes out some of the simpler costumes that are accepted by the 501st.

Second, the costume must give me mobility. Being a 501st roadie is some of the most fun that I have ever had. As much as I want to be a costumed member, I still would like to be a part of the crew. A free moving costume would let me do both. During trooping events, I could easily get in and out of my costume, and if needed, break character and do some minding of my own. The biggest plus in having a non-armoured costume is that I could sit down. Fully armoured costumes were out of the question.

Third, the costume must limit my vision as little as possible. I’d like to be able to see. And If I were to run around, I’d like to see where I’m going. In other words: No visor! That leaves me with only a few costumes to choose from. My choice is now made simple, or so I thought.

I decided to be the Sith of Anihilation, Darth Nihilus. He is everything I wanted in a costume and more. His stylised skull mask fits my taste of an old cliché – skulls, he is a wraith – sometimes I feel like I am one, and he is a videogame character – a huge plus in my book. But, there are 2 versions of Darth Nihilus.

In the end I choose the Champions of The Force version of Darh Nihilus over the Knights of the Old Republic 2 version.

My Longest Running Prop Joke

2010-08-18T21:10:00.000+08:00

I take this to my favourite table-top game shop once in a while

GN-0000 00Gundam Ignition Mode Mini Bust - Lucky!

2010-08-14T17:16:00.001+08:00

Front

Side-ish

An Ignition Mode variant of the GN-0000 00Gundam mini-bust. It's the rare variant in the series and I got it on my first turn. I love Gashapon.

Salam Ramadan - A Month To Be Thankful.

2010-08-11T02:44:00.001+08:00

This year’s Ramadan is different for me. I met it with apprehension in my heart. My love for Ramadan has not falter, but would it still have me even when my soul has shattered?

As the sun sets on the eve of the holy month, I welcome beautiful Ramadan into my life once again. As the sky darkens my thoughts began to wonder to the people I have met throughout the years. For each of them, I am very thankful.

For the interesting souls that showed me how vast the world is, I am very thankful.

For the inspiring souls that showed me what I could be, I am very thankful.

For the impressive souls that make me go beyond my limitations, I am very thankful.

For the loving souls that shows me what caring truly means, I am very thankful.

For the rare souls that move me, I am very thankful.

For the patient souls that guide me, I am very thankful.

For the one soul that shattered me, I am most grateful.

Embracing Ramadan I whispered a prayer: “Oh Allah, like you there are no other. I beg of thee to free me from my darkness, and mend my soul back together. May I emerge from this Ramadan, as someone better.”

Salam Ramadan to all my family, friends, and to all who’s path I have crossed throughout the years. My sincerest apologies for the transgression that I have done, may all your deeds during the holy month be accepted, and peace be with you.

Ah Ho's Diorama Bases - Miniaturized Slice Of Reality.

2010-08-09T00:49:00.000+08:00

When Maestro Ah Ho, a master military modeller and a friend of mine, asked me to help him sell some of his diorama bases online, I did not expect to see this. Custom moulded, hand painted, and one of kind, these bases is some of the best work he has done that I have ever seen. It would take someone with a very cold and dead heart not to appreciate the work and effort that had been put into making one of these.

240mm wide and 195mm in length, these bases are made out of plaster of Paris and weigh about 1 kg each. They are built to 1:35 scale but I don’t think it matters. These bases would make any figure look that much more awesome.

I can’t wait to put these on eBay!

Path of the Planeswalker - Beautifully Unfinished.

2010-08-08T11:14:00.001+08:00

Path of the Planeswalker is a graphic novel is based on the oldest running collectable card game (CCG) called Magic: The Gathering. Based on the game, I expected the graphics novel to have excellent writing and amazing art. It delivered, somewhat.

The book tells the story of 9 Planeswalkers – beings that have awaken powerful magic within thus gaining the ability to travel between worlds. Some struggled to understand their new found powers, some became victims of it, and others effortlessly use it as a tool for their own means, but all of them are unknowing participants in a grander scheme.

Although there are 9 main characters each with their own story, the book takes the story between Jace and Chandra, and the theft of a magical scroll as the main story arc. Written by 3 writers, the many interweaving stories in Path of the Planeswalker are very well written but feel disconnected and unfinished.

25 artists participated in the making of this graphic novel. Each of them brought their own look and style to the book. The art style differs from scene to scene yet they flow into each other effortlessly. A few of the art style takes some getting used to, but the end result isn’t as jarring as I expected.

Based on the numbers alone, it is obvious that, Path of the Planeswalker has high production value. Holding the book in my hands, I feel like no expenses were spared in the making of it, if only it has a hard cover. Nevertheless, its quality in make far surpasses its price.

For a fan of Magic: The Gathering, Path of the Planeswalker comes highly recommended. It is a treat to see characters, creatures and spells, which has always been confined to an abstract in the form of a card game, come to life in a graphic novel.

My one request to Wizards of the Cost is for them to make a sequel to this book. The story is unfinished and I do not want to have to read the novels or follow the game to know the continuation of this tale.

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker Play Arts Kai - Long Name For A Masterpiece

2010-08-01T00:53:00.001+08:00

When it comes to action figures, I look at design, detail, and articulation. The Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker Play Arts Kai figure scored high on all these attributes, including price, size, feel, and economy of accessories.

The detail in the sculpture and paint in this figure is remarkable. The head itself is a work of art. The eyes, the hair and the rest of the figure are masterfully sculpted. It looks like no details were spared in the making of this figure.

Standing at about 10 inches tall, this figure’s size is quite impressive. Its hefty weight and solid feel reflects the high quality of its make. None of its many joints feels loose. This makes the figure very easy to pose and stand.

The accessories are minimal. This figure comes with 2 guns (one fitted with a silencer), a portable shield, a strap for the shield, and 2 interchangeable hands. All the accessories – accept the extra hands and strap of course – can be fixed to the figure, leaving very little access parts. That is a huge plus in my book.

I don’t know if the figure looks exactly like it does in the videogame it is based on. But, as a toy fan, I think that is irrelevant here. At RM190, The Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker Play Arts Kai is a bargain. Any cheaper and it is a steal.

I can only hope that all upcoming toys from Square Enix (the makers of this figure) is as good as this one.

Thank Yous - MITF2010 501st Legion: Malaysia-Brunei Outpost Edition.

2010-07-27T18:10:00.001+08:00

It was great fun, and a great honour to be able to once again work with the men and women of the 501st Legion: Malaysia-Brunei Outpost as a roadie. To show my appreciation – and so that I do not forget – I would like to dedicate this post to you good folks.

Thank you Peter (Snow & Sand). Thank you for inviting me to help out at the Malaysia International Toys Fair 2010, and thank you for believing in me enough to let me mind the field headquarters (booth) at the event.

Thank you Zul (Commanding Officer). Thank You for all the S.W.A.G. (Stuff We All Get), for breakfast on day 2, for letting me be a part of the team, and most of all thank you for showing me how one of these events in managed.

Thank you Dave “Artwork”. Thank you for all the awesome artwork, for manning the booth, and thank you for the autographed print.

Thank you Aisyah “Patches”. Thank you for coming, for all the photos, for keeping the booth alive, and thank you for adding a female presence at the booth.

Thank you Julian (The Show). Thank you for showing me how to manage a photo line, for bringing the S.W.A.G., and thank you for trusting me with your handy cam. I am a total noob with a handy cam and I hope I didn’t screw up the video too much.

Thank you Charlie. Thank you for making it, for all the gengsta sign photos, and for “completing” the royal guard.

Thank you Kevin (Mischievous Officer). Thank you for being the “base officer”. You are definitely a fun guy to have around the booth.

Thank you Ivan (our triple camera wielding field photographer). Thank you for the amazing photos, and for hanging around the base. You are definitely a better shot then I am.

Thank you Dante “Friar Tuck”. Thank you for being one of our 2 royal guards. I’ll definitely get you that copy of Hellgate London the next time we meet.

Thank you “Vader” Rahim. Thank you for letting me help you suit up, and a special thank you for making me take a photo with you.

Thank you James “Zombie Snake”. Thank you for showing me how a suit kit looks like, and for letting me help building it.

Thank you Kalvin (The Maniquin) & Crystal. Thank you for the fantastic pranks.

Thank you Swee Hoe (Silent Crewmen). You are like a ninja, appearing out of nowhere without a word. But, your presence is always a pleasant surprise.

Thank you Kirby (The New Blood). Thank you for adding to the number of costumer at this event. I hope to be a fully suited member like you someday.

Thank you Kum Kuan. You may be tall for a trooper, but you are impressive nonetheless.

Thank you to the two Bobba Fett: Kal (ESB) and Raja Hanim (RotJ). Malaysia’s first!

Thank you Huzaifah (Chiken Rider). Thank you for completing the Anti-Ewoks squad on the day 1.

Thank you Richard & Family. Thank you for making it all the way from Ipoh, bringing our first Jawa, and for bringing more help (Deneb & Tara).

Also, a big thank you to all the other minders: Terrence, Desmons, Shye Ke Chyi, Ezli (I hope you are feeling better), and any other minders I forgot to mention here. Sorry guys, I’m terrible with names.

Special thank yous goes to:

Pol, for being our field smithy. Know it or not, I’ve learned a lot from you.

Joanna, the Sister of Battle. You made this Warhammer 40K fan’s day.

Khairizam & Friend as Gixxer and the other guy. You made this Halo fan’s day.

And to every fan that came to the 501st Legion field headquarters at the Malaysia International Toys Fest 2010.

Finally, I would like to apologise to everyone at the event, especially to the 501st for any wrong that I may have done. Know that I didn’t do it on purpose and I will do my best to make it better.

Psst… Just let me know what I did.

MITF 2010 - The Force Of Toys.

2010-07-20T00:35:00.000+08:00

The very first Malaysia International Toys Fair (MITF) is set to be the greatest geek event Malaysia has ever seen. The fair will feature not only commercial toys – toys that you would normally see on store shelves – but designer toys and custom toys the likes which Malaysia has never seen before. Qees, Dooodolls, Urban-Cr3atures, and other masterfully designed pieces of toy art will be on display, and for sale at the fair. Be amazed and spend, you will.

Fancy some cosplay? Well, wannabes and pretenders need not apply because the 501st Legion: Malaysia-Brunei outpost is in town (and the Empire does not take kindly to impersonators). They will be conducting Droid Hunts, Imperial Cadet Training, and charity related activities all throughout the two day event.

The MITF will also feature online games, anime (Animax), manga (Gempak), comics, contests, and activates that a Malaysian geek who have never been to Comic Con could only dream of. Epic, just doesn’t cut it.

It is going to be held at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, Hall 2 Level 3. On the 24th and 25th of July 2010. At 10:00am to 9:00pm. Be there, or be forgotten.

The Prince of Persia: The Graphic Novel - Exotic, Handsome, and Confusing.

2010-07-14T01:18:00.001+08:00

As it says on the cover, the Prince of Persia: The Graphics Novel is “inspired by the hit videogame which is now a major motion picture”. It retains some core elements of the franchise like the fantasy Middle Eastern theme, and a strong supporting female character. But, it also forgoes some elements that have been synonymous with Prince of Persia such as time manipulation, and gravity defying acrobatics.

Prince of Persia: The Graphics Novel is a true graphic novel. It does not read like a compiled collection of comics (TPB) or an anime impersonator, but like a novel told through pictures, narrations, dialogue, and narration.

The graphic novel tells 2 stories that are set 500 years apart. The first is a story is a tale of three royal siblings who are desperately trying to keep their family and kingdom together. It is a tale filled with of conflicts, tragedy, intrigue, and psychedelic magic. The second story is a tale of a young princess who ran away from the palace to learn the truth about the kingdom she lives in. It is a tale of awakening, discovery, young love, and destiny.

Even though the two tales are separated by a vast expense of time, they interweave with each other to form a tapestry that is Prince of Persia: The Graphics Novel. This is reflected in the way the story is presented. With little to no warning, without skipping a beat, the narration flows between the 9th century A.D. and 13th century A.D. – the timeline of the two stories. It makes the graphic novel hard to read and the story tough to follow. I often got lost and it took me a few read-throughs to fully understand the story. In the end I enjoyed it.

I still had a few problems with the story though. One of them is the superfluous elements and details peppered throughout the book. There is way too much gore in Prince of Persia: The Graphics Novel. I admit that there were a few scenes where is it “appropriate”, but some of it feels forces, like a cheap attempt to shock the reader, or make the book thicker.

I also don’t understand why the fact that the ruling prince in the 9th century suffers from constipation had to be part of the story. However, I attribute the scene where the princess from the 13th century strips for no good reason other than to create an awkward scene and then sleeping with a guy she just met a few hours later, to Western culture.

Like its premise, the art in this book is unique. It adds a lot to the look and feel of the story. The art is not as rough as a sketch, and it is not as fine as what you would usually see in a comic or a manga. The look reminds me of paintings and it perfectly reflects the Fantasy Middle Eastern theme.

For the hardcore fan of the Prince of Persia franchise, the true prize lies in the ten page afterword by Jordan Mechner (the creator and programmer of the very first Prince of Persia game). It chronicles Mecher involvement in the prince’s creation, evolution, incarnations, and transformation to what he is today.

Prince of Persia: The Graphics Novel will make an excellent addition to any serious graphic novel library. It does not take a Prince of Persia fan to like this book. However, it helps if you like Middle Eastern fantasy like the 1001 Arabian Nights, and a little patience for backtracking. I will definitely look forward to more books like this from publisher First Second.

eBay Auctions, Malaysia International Toy Fair 2010 and the 501st Legion: Malaysia-Brunei Outpost

2010-07-04T16:33:00.002+08:00

Since last week, I have been auctioning off some of my surplus toys, games and stuff on eBay. The goal is to make enough cash to buy every toy I fancy at the upcoming Malaysia International Toy Fair. And shop I will.

This is the Malaysia International Toy Fair’s first year. It will feature participants promoting production toys such as Gundam and Transformers, designer toys such as Qee and Tofu, anime from the folks at Animax Asia, manga, cosplay, online games and more.

The highlight of the event will be the attendance of the 501st Legion: Malaysia-Brunei Outpost (who will be trooping the event) and a chance to win prises in the 501st Legion Droid Hunt.

The event is going to be held at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (Hall 2, Level 3), on the 24 and 25 of July 2010.

Picked Up: Prince of Persia Graphic Novel & Path of the Planeswalker

2010-07-03T10:40:00.001+08:00

As if the videogames and the recently released movie is not enough, today I picked up a copy of Prince of Persia: The Graphic Novel - Volume 1.

The publisher of the book felt cover needed to read: “The original graphic novel”, “Inspired by the hit videogame which is now a major motion picture”, and “The Prince’s most epic journey yet.” The last one is a quote from XBOX Magazine which, more plausible than not, was referring to one of the videogames. It worries me, but what can I do, I love the Prince of Persia franchise.

Another graphic novel I had the privilege to pick up today is Path of the Planeswalker. It is based on a famous collectable card game called Magic the Gathering.

It’s thicker and heavier than any of my other TPBs. Based on the card game I expect a fantastic story filled with incredible creatures, interesting characters, and powerful magic. All of it presented through beautiful artwork.

I can’t wait to get started on these books.

Halal in Malaysia.

2010-06-28T23:43:00.001+08:00

*Please don’t take this post as flawless facts. It is merely as an observation and thoughts of an amateur Muslim.*

To me halal food and drinks are consumables that are in accordance with Islamic laws. Keeping halal is the responsibility of every Muslim. Even Malaysia is a multi-cultural country that is “primarily” Muslim, finding a halal eatery here, is not as simple as it should be.

It is a widely practiced assumption that halal restaurants have a certain look. If most of the staff looks Muslim, or with skull caps or scarves covering their heads; or the restaurant is decorated with Muslim scriptures, or pictures of the holy mosques, then the food and drinks served there must be halal. That is wrong.

Of course it is wrong. The measure of halal of the food and drinks served in a restaurant is not defined by the race or religion of the seller, the costume they wear, nor a restaurant’s interior decoration. Most “Muslim” eateries are assumed to be halal, not known to be halal. We, as Muslims here in Malaysia, tend to forget that most Muslim looking restaurants in Malaysia are not certified halal.

I must admit that, more often than not, it is safe to assume that these restaurants serve halal food and drinks. Still, it is our responsibility to know, not assume.

A “No Pork” sign at a restaurant’s door, does not guarantee that the food served there is halal. In Islam, pork is considered dirty. It is not only haram to eat pork, but utensil that touches it is considered tainted and it may taint foods that were considered halal.

Some may think that the “No Pork” sign is a malicious attempt of some restaurant owners to lure Muslim customers. It may be true in certain cases, but there must be an honest reason why some restaurants put up these signs.

When dealing with these restaurants it is best to put both racial and religious bias aside and find out if the food and drinks served there is halal. Ask the manager; learn why the establishment choose to put a “no pork” sign and why they do not have a Halal Certificate. The reason may be innocent and it may be perfectly safe for a Muslim to dine there.

Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) is the department that issues the Halal Certification in Malaysia. They take great and meticulous care in ensuring that every source of ingredient, ingredient, and condiments, used in the preparation of food in a restaurant is halal before they issue a Halal Certificate.

Restaurants that are issued a Halal Certificate by JAKIM are guaranteed to serve food and drinks that are safe for Muslims. However, it has done very little to eliminate assumptions and doubts.

JAKIM needs to take steps to educate the people of Malaysia the importance and the significant of the Halal Certificate. Restaurants that are issued the Halal Certificate, should proudly display their halal status instead of hiding it in a corner behind the counter.

So get to know your eateries, its only common sense. In a perfect Malaysia all food and drinks are halal except those that are explicitly labelled not to be. But perfect, Malaysia is not.

IT World - Ipoh's premier "Apple Store", Apple Authorised Reseller

2010-06-13T14:58:00.003+08:00

Ipoh’s Apple fanboys rejoiced as the town’s premiere Apple Authorised Reseller, IT World, opened its doors to customers yesterday. Fans were lined up to enter the store from as early as 2am.

The event began at 2pm and was hosted by Jack Lim, a renowned Radio DJ, TV host, and actor. It began with an introduction to all the heads of IT World, the Apple Malaysia Manager and Ipoh Parade Manager. It was followed by a short gift giving ceremony, a traditional Chinese Lion Dance performed by the students of SMJK Sam Tet Ipoh, and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The first 100 fans who attended received a Woohoo! Box. Each box contains a shirt and a chance to win prizes that ranged from iPods (shuffle, nano, or touch), to iPod speakers. Three of the luckiest attendees won an Apple TV. The boxes itself could be assembled into a paper toy. They were designed to look like John Hodgmen and Justin Long from the famous “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ads. Attendees were also treated to a can of White Coffee sponsored by Old Town White Coffee.

IT World, a subsidiary of SNS Network, carries the complete range of official Apple hardware and software, excluding the iPhone. They also sell a wide range of iPod and Mac accessories including screen protectors, high-end headphones, speakers, and more. The shop is located at Ipoh Parade, 1^st floor, opposite Seng Q.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - Needs A Little Bit More Sand

2010-06-04T02:08:00.002+08:00

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time brought a welcomed change of scenery. Fantasy Middle-Eastern themed movies are few and far between. The last movie I remembered that had a “1001 Arabian Nights” theme was Disney’s Aladdin and that was 18 years ago.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is the best movie adaptation of a video game to date. Looking at previous movies of its kind such as Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Lee and Super Mario Brothers, that is not saying much.

The movie is supposedly based on a videogame of the same name – the first game in The Sands of Time story arc. However, this movie ends up feeling more like a hodgepodge of all the games in the Prince of Persia.

For a video game to movie adaptation, straying too far from its inspiration is a death nail, but, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time manages to pull it off by adapting elements of the game into something more suitable for a movie instead of replacing it.

The story was the strongest element in the game and the movie stayed true to it as best as it can. It has some clichés that are typical in a “1001 Arabian Nights” themed movie like an “evil vizier”, but most of the movie is fairly unique, with a distinctive pacing and surprises. Still, I wonder why they did not use the same narrative technique that made the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time video game so extraordinary.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays Dastan, the youngest of three brothers and the prince of Persia. After he and his brothers besieged a holy city believing that it has forges and had sold weapons to their enemy, things began to fall apart for Dastan. Framed for his father’s murder, Dastan fled with the help of the captured princess of the holy city in tow. As he tries to clear his name, he uncovers an insidious plots and a power beyond his imagination.

Although the movie does have elements of magic and fantasy that would have easily made it stand out, it under plays it. The Dagger of Time, for example, was only used a few times throughout the movie, albeit to non-superfluous effect.

The movie uses its Middle Eastern theme to full effect. Extravagant cities, elaborate costumes, and exotic settings are abound. Some of the computer generated cities looked awful, but everything else makes up for it. I never thought that Middle Eastern ninjas could be so awesome even though they have a silly name: the Hassassins. I also noticed that most of the costumes are based on costumes in Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within. The prince’s and the princess’s costume in the middle of the movie are similar to the costume in the gauntlet-clad 2008 Prince of Persia video game.

Typical of a Disney movie, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time features some elements of romance. Surprisingly it felt forced at times. Like teenagers with raging hormones, the two lovebirds in the movie pick the most inopportune time to make out. There is also the obligatory rag tag of humorous misfits in the movie and they actually add life to every scene they are in.

Action was also a strong point of Prince of Persia games, save for combat. In Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the action scenes in the beginning of the movie, when Dastan infiltrated the holy city, is reminiscent of the video game. The action in the rest of the movie feels like Assassin’s Creed (a game not from the Prince of Persia series) instead. Elaborate platform puzzles that require gravity defying acrobatics are what make Prince or Persia different, not rooftop chase scenes.

The cast is surprisingly good even though none of them looked Middle Eastern and everyone spoke with a British accent. Jake Gyllenhaal is no action star, but he has pulled of that charming solider boy act in so many movies that he wore the character of Dastan like a glove. Alfred Molina steals every scene he is in and Gemma Arterton could actually be the most beautiful princess in the land. To me the accent keeps the movie consistent, if everyone in the cast were to do a Persian accent, I bet it would have been an auditory massacre.

Batman Begins to superhero movies, Prince of Persia to video game movies is not. It is a fun adventure in a faraway land, but nothing extraordinary. It holds the hope that video-game movies in the future can do better. Nevertheless, I still think that the upcoming King of Fighters and Tekken movie would be utter crap.

Japanese language, cara yang salah.

2010-05-27T21:44:00.000+08:00

Words you might hear at a restaurant:

わかりません
Wakarimasen
This curry is too salty.

すみません
Sumimasen
Maybe you should have used less salt in this noodle.

いらっしゃいませ
Irasshaimase
Use less salt in your cooking to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

*this is a joke and is not meant to be accurate not educational

Iron Man 2 - There Is Still Some Ironing To Do.

2010-05-05T01:10:00.001+08:00

The first Iron Man movie is one of the best superhero movie made to date. It was critically acclaimed, loved by fans, and it set the bar high for its sequel.

While the first movie was an origins story, Iron Man 2 is a tale of legacies. The movie starts off slow. It began with a man in a cave-like apartment somewhere in Russia building a miniature arc reactor and a power suit. We have seen a montage of a man trapped in a cave somewhere in Afghanistan build a miniature arc reactor and a power suit, two years ago. It was superfluous.

There are many elements in this movie that could have been easily be trimmed off. Scarlet Johansson’s character, for example, serves little more then something the camera to focus on and add 15 minutes to the movie. She barely has any lines. She may play a role in the next Marvel movie, but here, she is just there in this movie to look pretty. Throw away her character and the scenes with her in it and the movie would have been just fine.

Another throwaway character is Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) the genius son of the co-designer of the arc reactor who inherits a grudge from his dying father. I have got to hand it to Micky Rourke; he has the look, the voice, and the presence of a great villain. However, just like in the first Iron Man movie, the traditional villain, the one that goes man-to-man with the hero is a little disappointing. This is evident when the best part in the encounters between Iron Man and Whiplash is the brief case suite instead of the encounter itself – a scene that could have been better if they had removed the awkward “pass me the briefcase” slapstick routine. I think Micky Rourke would have been a better Justin Hammer.

Sam Rockwell did very well as Tony Stark’s opportunistic, scheming, and thieving rival, Justin Hammer – even though the character is far removed from its comic counterpart. Justin Hammer should have been the main villain of the movie. He comes off as the goofy loser who is trying to achieve greatness by any means necessary. If only he was a little menacing. I would say: let old Garry Shandling have a sit down and let Sam Rockwell play Senator Stern instead.

Nevertheless, there are pairings of actors and roles that are perfect in this movie. Some may disagree, but I think that Don Cheadle is the better Lt. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes. As Tony Stark’s best friend and Iron Man’s sidekick, War Machine, he is stuck between his friendship and his duty. He may not have the look or the build, but he can act even under layers of metal and CG.

There is no question that Samuel L. Jackson is Nick Fury. His voice and likeness has become the model for Nick Fury even before his appearance in the first movie. This time, Nick Fury plays a more prominent role. He is, after all, the Professor X of the Avengers.

Last but not least is Robert Downey Jr. who returns as the billionaire, prodigy, and protagonist, Tony Stark/Iron Man. In Iron Man, Tony Stark transformed himself from a warmonger to a force of peace. Robert Downey Jr. wit, charisma and charm establish him as the quintessential Tony Stark. In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark faces a dilemma. The very thing that is keeping him alive, and the source of all his success and power, the miniature arc reactor, is killing him. With his own end imminent and his own government condemning him for not sharing his technology, he began to emotionally fall apart.

There is definitely a tale to be told in this special effect filled geek-fest action movie, but it is buried in a lot of action, glitter and fluff. All that pretty is not all bad though. The special effects were seamless.

In some scenes, it is easy to spot weather the face of the actor is pasted on a computer generated armoured suits, or the actor is really in an armoured suit costume, but most of the time, it is hard to tell whether the fantastic display was special effects or practice effects.

What I commend the most about this movie is that it is enjoyable to all ages without being a Disney or Pixar animation. It has a little violence here and there and there are some gratuitous booty shots and close-ups, yet overall, Iron Man 2 is something the whole family could enjoy. I think, that is why movies like this are so enjoyable. Even though they are not theatrical masterpieces, it has something for everyone.

Perfect it is not, however, in the end Iron Man 2 is an excellent comic superhero movie. Comic book fans will enjoy spotting the many easter eggs sprinkled throughout the movie, action fans would definitely won’t be disappointed, and those who went to see it not expecting a good story or some drama would be pleasantly surprised.

One last thing: This movie has a chaser (a scene during or at the end of an end credit roll) and you would not want to miss it.

Initial Impressions - Kaicho wa Maid-sama!

2010-04-16T18:40:00.000+08:00

Kaicho wa Maid-sama! (The Student Council president is a Maid!) is a shojo (for girls) anime with a deceivingly shonen (for boys) like title.Just as the title implies, the anime is about a student council president who works as a maid in a maid café.

Ayuzawa Misaki is beautiful, smart, and though. She is far from being the only girl in school, but as the student council president, it is up to her to maintain the civility of the ruffians she calls school mates and protect her fellow female students (who are the minority) from the boy’s shenanigans.

Misaki lives with her mother and sister. To survive, Misaki works at a maid café. To void ridicule she secretly works at a maid café in a neighbouring town.

One day, to her dismay, her secret was found out by the coolest, handsomest, and most talented boy in school, Usui Takumi and he seems to have taken a liking to her.

By anime romantic comedy standards, Kaicho wa Maid-sama! is fairly serious and clean. It has little slapstick, I haven’t seen any ecchi (fan service), and the story is sweet and full of drama.

Initial Impressions - Angel Beats!

2010-04-11T13:34:00.000+08:00

The premise of this anime is a little weird. It’s about a rag tag group of high school kids in the afterlife who battles angels in their effort to defy God. Incidentally, the afterlife looks and functions very much like our own, except that everyone is an immortal.

The group who calls themselves the SSS (Shinada Sekai Sensen/Afterlife War Front) is let by Yuri a no-nonsense girl with a tragic past - for some reason she looks a lot like Suzumiya Haruhi. The members consist of mostly delinquents. Each member has a specialization and function, giving the group a militaristic feel.

To me it is an elaborate excuse to put out yet another high school/fantasy organisation anime, but a good one nonetheless.

Angel Beats! was originally published as series of light novels. Currently, apart from this anime, it is being published as two separate and ongoing manga series.

This anime is filled with action and mystery with a little comedy and drama. There is a sense of a foreboding secret that reminds me of LOST. The setting – a group of rebels in a parallel/fake world battling the guardians of that world – reminds me of The Matrix.

Initial Impressions - Heroman

2010-04-10T21:00:00.000+08:00

What do you get when you combine the mind of Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man and The X-Men, with Bones, the animation studio behind Fullmetal Alchemist and Darker Than Black: Ryusei no Gemini? A little cheesy, corny anime called Heroman.

Heroman is the story of an orphan boy named Joey Jones who lives with his grandmother. One day, Joey picked up a broken toy robot that was owned by one of the school bullies and tries to fix it. At the same time an alien race called the Skrugg, following a signal from a homebrewed backyard SETI program, is heading towards earth with the intention to invade the planet. During a freak thunderstorm, an alien bolt of lightning hits the toy robot and turns it into a giant robot, Heroman. I told you its corny.

There is no doubt that this is a work of Stan Lee. His signature conventions are all over this anime, he even has a cameo! Yet, somehow, Bones (studios) manages to insert elements typical in an anime made for kids and not let it turn into some cartoon in anime clothing.

Without any fan service, this must be the cleanest anime I’ve seen this season!

A Look At Batman Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition's 3D

2010-04-04T14:15:00.000+08:00

When Batman Arkham Asylum (a videogame for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3) came out back in 2009, it was awarded the Guinness World Record for “Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever”. I remembered it as the last game I played on my Xbox 360 before it “red ringed” (broke).

This year Batman Arkham Asylum is re-released as Batman Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition. Like any Game of the Year Edition of a game, it includes extra modes and maps. Some of them were available for sale as downloadable content and some of them are exclusives. What is different is that it comes with 2 pairs of Trioviz 3D glasses.

3D is the current trend in entertainment. While the whole world had High Definition and is now moving on to 3D, we only have 5 channels of HD. But, I digress.

The 3D glasses that came with the game are very similar to the dual coloured 3D glasses from the 80’s. The different is these glasses uses cyan and magenta instead of red and green lenses. There is a little loss of colour and detail, mainly because of the dual coloured 3D glasses, but the illusion of depth is good. I can see why high definition in 3D could be the next big thing.

Although the game is as excellent as I remembered it, I have a few problems with 3D in this game though. I find that the loss of colour and detail outweighs the optical illusion. Batman Arkham Asylum looks amazing on the PS3 and sacrificing it for a little visual depth is quite a loss. I think this problem would have been remedied is the game came with some calibration software, something to make the colours and the 3D just right. I still turn on the 3D now and then, mainly during cut scenes, when I am exploring Arkham and during some boss fights.

I am unsure to whom Batman Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition is aimed for. The game sold over two million copies last year. Those who would play the game, already have. But, I guess this re-release is perfect for folks like me, for those who had their Xbos 360s red ringed and moved on to the PlayStation 3.

Two days after - HTC Touch Diamond 2

2010-03-25T23:49:00.001+08:00

When I was given the HTC Touch Diamond 2, I didn’t like it. With the iPhone and Goggle Droid phones leading the market, and with Windows Phone Series 7 coming soon, to me, it was not a good buy. Plus, I still liked my Nokia 5800. Even though I was not thrilled, I had to give my new phone a chance.

Just by holding it in my hands, I can tell that the HTC Touch Diamond 2 is designed as a work phone. The glossy black back, the mat metal frame and the beautiful screen makes it look and feel much more solid, elegant, and professional then the fun loving Nokia 5800. The HTC Touch Diamond 2 also lacks a 3.5mm audio jack, and a dedicated camera button. Nevertheless, this phone is not all work and no fun.

Like most smart phones, the HTC Touch Diamond2 integrates very well with Facebook and Twitter. The larger screen, the easy to use interface and the predictive touch screen QWERTY keyboard makes posting and checking on these sites easier. I especially like how I could connect my contacts to their Facebook accounts and post any picture from the phone, including the ones taken using the built-in 5MP camera, to Twitter or Facebook – features that I didn’t have on the 5800.

Staying in touch with the current news is just as easy. The build in RSS reader is fast and adequate for the job. It also doubles as a podcast aggregator, which is a welcomed feature for a podcast addict like me. When it comes to web browsing on the Touch Diamond 2, I get to choose between two browsers, Internet Explorer or Opera Mini. The phone defaults to the Opera Mini browser, but I didn’t care for it much. As long as the browsing is competent (which it is) and the browser is able to stream media of some of my favourite sites (which it can), I’m happy with it. But, the HTC Touch Diamond 2 has its shortcomings.

The controls are not as snappy as it is on the Nokia 5800, but the interface is much more pleasant to use. Thanks to HTC Sense (HTC’s own proprietary interface), everything I need is easily accessible. Checking my, contacts, SMSes, e-mails, photos, and social sites is a breeze. Yet sometimes, when I dig in deep enough into the system, I have to contend with Windows Mobile 6’s arcane interface and use the included stylus.

As a media player, the Diamond 2 just fails. It plays YouTube videos very well using the included You Tube player, however, the included Windows Media Player, isn’t very good. I had to scan for new media each time I add a video to the phone and none of the video I played in it is able to take full advantage of the screen. Without a 3.5mm audio jack or a decent pair of built-in speakers, the Diamond 2 will not be replacing my iPod anytime soon.

My biggest disappointment with this phone is its lack of turn by turn direction. I am hopeless when it comes to direction and I have learned to depend on the 5800 when I travel out of town. The Google Map application that comes with the Touch Diamond 2 is comprehensive, but I’ll need a co-driver if I don’t want to stop and have a look at the phone each time I forget a turn.

Like it or not, I am stuck with this phone. I don’t mind that it is not a media centric phone and I am grateful that I finally get to put my unlimited data plan to good use. I only wish that I could find a good turn-by-turn navigation software for this phone before my next trip, and find myself lost again.

Final Fantasy 13 or Yakuza 3

2010-03-15T00:27:00.003+08:00

Last week, two highly anticipated PS3 games from Japan were released: Final Fantasy 13 and Yakuza 3. With a pocket that can only endure the purchase of one of these games, I ponder, which one is worth my time and money.

I favour JRPGs (Japanese Role Playing Games), but I have heard many things about Final Fantasy 13 that made me have second thoughts. According to reviews, the game sacrificed a few fundamental elements of JRPG for the sake of much needed innovation. The most jarring of which is exploration, there is almost none of it. I have also heard that the game has a very slow and deliberate pace. Some say it took more than 25 hours of play before the game gives the player full ability and total control.

Shortcomings aside, FF13 is a beautiful game to behold. It is astonishing why no other JRPG thrives to look as good as the games in the FF series. The story follows the current trend of storytelling in Japan. Instead of focusing on a single character, the story is an interweave of multiple stories, histories and relationships.

I never played any of the games in the Yakuza series before. I heard it described as an open world game. The cities and locations are smaller than the ones we would normally see in a western open world game, but it is far more detailed.

Yakuza 3 has a lot going for it. It’s quirky – and I love quirky games. It’s also has a unique setting that is very Japanese. The fighting is good too, I’ve played the demo. I heard that even the most diligent explorers would find it hard to find everything there is to see in Yakuza 3 on their first play through.

However, the graphics are subpar and disappointing. The story is nothing remarkable and according to reports, various elements of the game have been removed for its English language release. I don’t like that. In general, Yakuza 3 is a niche and I am not sure is I am in that demographic.

Although this little exercise did give me an excuse to write a post, it did not help me make a decision. Maybe I will just stick with Gunpla for now and keep a keen eye on the second-hand games bin.

Lining the RX-78-2 Gundam Ver.G30th

2010-03-10T23:07:00.001+08:00

Panelling and lining are the easiest way to make any kit stand out. Highlighting the lines of a kit using dark colours – like brown, grey, or black – adds detail and depth no any kit. All you need are simple tools like a mechanical pencil, dry erase marker, lining marker, or, if you’re an expert, ink and paint.

I have always admired the panelling on military – especially aircraft – model kits. It looked so intricate and detailed. It looked like tedious, hard work.

Eager to try complex panelling for myself, I picked up an HG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver.G30th for 55MYR.Even though it is a High Grade kit, it has more elaborate external panelling then any Master Grade Gundam kit I have ever seen!

The design of the kit itself is simple. There are no fancy weapons, extravagant wings, or sinister designs here. It is just a basic Gundam with a Beam Rifle, a shield, a Beam Sword, a Bazooka, and a Flail (which uses a real metal chain). It is based on Real-G the 1/1 scale Gundam – which stands in Shiokaze Park, Odaiba Japan.

Clean and straightforward, this kit is easy and fun to pose. Each articulation is free to move, virtually unhindered making it very poseable.

Building the kit is as simple as it looks. All the components needed to build this kit came in 4 trays. The only components that needed painting are the eyes and the areas around it (stickers included, the neck (stickers included), the Beam Sabre, the vulcan cannon on the Gundam’s head, and the yellow “V” on the Gundam’s… Lower mid-section?

The most challenging part of building the 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver.G30th is, of course, the panelling and lining. I am no expert. Slowly, with a fine panelling marker, I drew in each little detail on the kit and cleaned it off with a swipe of my finger and thumb.

This kit is amazing. Some of the lines, pits, bumps, and grooves are so small, and yet, they are deep enough and tall enough, to hold on to the ink. I bet that no one could make an imitation of this kit and do it justice.

When it’s all over, my thumb and fingers are almost black from wiping away access panelling marker ink. I had to triple check every inch of the kit to make sure I got all the panel lines. Satisfied, I gave it a protective flat clear coat. It was tedious, hard work. But, it is worth the effort.

Heavy Rain - Not Quite Perfect.

2010-03-09T13:51:00.004+08:00

In Heavy Rain players play as four characters Ethan, a grieving father who lost his first son to a car accident; Madison, an insomniac suffering reporter; Norman, an FBI agent who is fighting an addiction; and Scott, a retired police officer turn private investigator. What brings these 4 people together is a series of child murders orchestrated by a single man dubbed as the Origami Killer.

The story, at its core, is no better than a good episode of Criminal Minds. What elevates it to another level is that players are given the control of each main character and determine the outcome of the scene. Some scenes are better than others. Some are some are intricate and smart while others feels disconnected. Maybe it is due to bad writing or maybe it is because of the choices I made throughout the game, but, it made me shudder to think that the gaps in the story are placed there on purpose so that it could be filled by some downloadable contents later.

With great story comes amazing graphics and animation. At times, Heavy Rain looks photorealistic. It is as if I am watching an episode of one of my favourite TV shows. The facial animation and the way the characters move are believable. But, at a closer look, I began to see details popping in a second too late, slowdowns in animation, and reminders that videogame technology has yet to have the ability to bridge the uncanny valley.

In some reviews, people complain that the voice acting - mainly the accents- in Heavy Rain is bad. Honestly, it didn't bother me much.

I would almost say that Heavy Rain is a very simple game. In most cases, a player simply has to press a button in time, hold a set of buttons, move the analogue stick, or shake the controller, according to the instructions on screen. The makers of this game did an excellent job in making the on screen instructions seamless to the action on screen. In action packed scenes, the on screen queues are never in the way. I really like how the dialogue options shake when the character is under duress. It makes them hard to read, but, it adds to the atmosphere.

However, in some cases, when I am given multiple options, I just could not figure out what each option does. Does moving the analogue stick this way makes my character break the car window or untie my fellow victim? It’s just confusing at times.

In some scenes where players are given direct control of a character, the control gets a little complicated. To move a character, players need to press and hold the R1 button and “steer” the character using the left analogue stick. It feels s like driving a remote control car. It’s awkward, but I got used to it.

I admit that I am partial to this game. I love a good crime drama and this game is a very competent one. Seen through the eyes of a critic, each component of Heavy Rain has its flaws. Its graphics, game play, story, sound, voice acting, and character are all finely polished gems that are littered with defects that only a master jeweller who is looking for faults would find. I’m not saying that the game is perfect and everyone who criticise it is wrong. All I’m saying is enjoy the game for what it is, don’t try and find the flaws and you will find yourself enjoying this “must buy” game even more.

I wished I had gotten the UK or US version of this PS3 game. Heavy Rain is one of those PS3 that needs to be installed before play. While waiting for the game to install, a few pages of instructions on how to fold an origami is shown on the screen – the exact same origami that is shown on the game box. Disappointingly, region 3 (Asian) copies of the game do not come with the origami paper that comes with every other version of the game.

Meet Stargazer, Gundam

2010-02-24T23:28:00.002+08:00

Meet Stargazer Gundam (1/144 HG), my third Gundam in an ever growing collection of Glunpla. Stargazer is one of those Gunpla that I just had to buy. The design is very futuristic and sterile. It is like what you would expect to see from an extremely advanced race that comes from the far-flung future or the distant past.

The large ring design reminds me of a halo and the sparkly, colourful, gold accents that run throughout the kit makes it look unique. In some ways, this Gundam looks like an ultramodern interpretation of an angel.

Surprisingly – for a HG 1/144 git – Stargazer comes with a stand. The purpose of the stand is to hold the Gundam and the three green clear plastic rings around it. The stand is designed to hold two figures – specifically Stargazer and Strike Noir. Together the figures would make a simple action diorama.

I decided to try something new with this kit. Before I began the build I washed the kit in soapy water. After laying it out to dry, I sprayed on a coat of Mr Super Clear (flat) as a primer. The Idea was that the soapy water would wash away any residue and the first clear coat would help make the paint and panel lines stick better to the kit.

The result however, is not much better than usual.

For my next kit, I will use a file and some sandpaper to rub away spruce marks from components and finishing off the kit with a clear flat coat. The theory is that a sealing coat of Mr Super Clear (flat) or My Top Coat (flat) would make the sand paper marks disappear and make the whole kit look more professional.

If only I knew what Gunpla kit to get next.

HG 1/44 Gundam Astray Red Frame Completed! / What I've Learned

2010-02-16T11:27:00.001+08:00

It took me almost a whole week, but finally my kit is done. On top of that I’ve learned a lot.

Hand brushing Gundam is not all bad. Maybe air brushing is overrated.
Thinner based acrylic paints – although a hassle to use and clean up – has far better finish then water based acrylic paints or Gundam markers.
Gundam markers are excellent for small areas and touch-ups, but, horrible on large areas.
Plan before painting.
Mix paint with thinner before brushing. The amount of thinner depends on how think or how fast you want the paint to dry. Climate is a factor.
Dip the brush in the paint and then test it on a piece of paper until you get the effect that you want before applying it to the model.
Dry brush = control
Before painting a bright colour on a dark surface apply a white basecoat.
Let each step dry before moving on.
Instead of using a hobby knife to scrape away access paint, try using a brush dipped in thinner. Use the damp brush to dilute and take away the paint. It’s slow, but it works far better.
Don’t be cheap. Use a new/sharp craft/hobby knife to cut away access plastic on a part. Careful not to leave an indent or a bump.
Use sandpaper to remove access plastic to get a better finish. It will look odd at first, but after the finishing coat, all the marks will go away.
Those little bamboo pointy sticks/skewers (satay sticks) is an indispensable tool. It can be used as a fine brush, a mixing stick, a pouring stick, a detailing tool, a scraper and so much more.
Check your work before applying a top coat.
Seal your work with a top coat. I use Mr. Super Clear (Flat).

My Manga Review Of - Bloody Kiss Volume 1

2010-02-15T15:34:00.001+08:00

I cringed when I first got my copy of Bloody Kiss Volume 1. The vampire romance genre is stale. The formula is always the same and it is as predictable as an episode of Ultraman or Power Rangers. I thought this manga was more of the same. I was wrong.

What makes this manga stand out and above others of its ilk are its characters. Kiyo – the lead female character – is independent, and headstrong. She has to be. Still in high school, Kiyo lived her life broke and without parents. Her life took a turn when she inherited an old house from her grandmother. To her dismay, the house is inhabited by two vampires Kuroboshi and his servant, Alshu.

Because Kuroboshi is a half vampire, he was banished from his clan when he was small and his faithful aid, Alshu followed. Homeless, with nowhere to go, they were rescued by Kiyo’s grandmother and they have been living in the house ever since.

With her plans to sell the house scrapped, Kiyo decides to take the two wayward souls as tenants. At the same time Kuroboshi decides to make Kiyo his bride – his only source of blood.

Being away from any human contact for so long made Kuroboshi a little awkward around others. Only a little older then Kiyo, he always finds it hard to express himself. His aid, on the other hand is an odd ball.

It’s funny, it’s interesting, it’s sexy, and it’s romantic. I’m not into romantic shojo manga but Bloody Kiss is pretty good.

As a bonus the manga also include an extra story called Angel Love Song. Although its setting is totally different from Bloody Kiss, it is clearly one of Kazuko Furumiya’s earlier works and is a prototype to Bloody Kiss.

BLOODY KISS Volume 1

Created By: Kazuko Furumiya

Publisher: Tokyo Pop; 208 pages

(ISBN: 978-1427815798)

For 13 +

Happy Chinese New Year

2010-02-14T09:02:00.000+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone.

This is our third new year in three months! But, that does not make this year of the tiger any less special. Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Meet My HG 1/144 Gundam Red Frame. A Work In Progress.

2010-02-13T18:47:00.000+08:00

Ah, Gundam Astray Red Frame; sleek, simple, and brightly coloured. Who could resist a giant, katana wielding, robot? Not me.

This kit was first released in 2003 and is my first HG 1/144 kit in a long time. I picked it up a few days back at 60MYR and I have been working on it, on and off, ever since. At first I thought this it would be a walk in the park, I was wrong.

HG 1/144 Gunpla are highly detailed and if done properly, looks just fine right out of the box. However, thanks to its scale, making it look as good as it does on the box takes a little more work. Not all of its parts are moulded in colour and some of them could turn up in the most hard to reach places. To makes things harder, I decided to paint the kit using thinner based paints; a paint type that I am not used to.

It is not finished yet. The sword and hilt needs more work and then a clear matt coat to seal it all in. I hope to finish it by Wednesday.

My Review of Black Bird

2010-01-30T13:12:00.001+08:00

BLACK BIRD VOLUME 1

Story and Art: Kanoko Sakurakoji

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 160 Pages

(ISBN: 978-1421527642)

For older teens ages 16+

BLACK BIRD VOLUME 2

Story and Art: Kanoko Sakurakoji

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 200 Pages

(ISBN: 978-1421527659)

For older teens ages 16+

The BlackBird manga is a tale of romance with elements of the supernatural and a very Japanese twist. It won the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award for Shojo manga.

Winning the award shows that it has an amazing story, and it does. The story revolves around Misao, a human who turns out to be the Demon’s Bride of Destiny. Suffice to say that every demon is out to get her.

The love interest comes in the form of Kyo, a childhood sweetheart who, ten years prior, went away and promised that he’ll come back and take Misao as his bride. However, it turns out that he is a Tengu (a demon) and the head of his clan.

Does he love Misao for who she is or what she is?

It doesn’t help things when Kyo turns out to be both a valiant saviour and a pervert who is all hands. To exasperate things further Kyo has to lick Misao’s wounds to heal it to prevent her from being a target of a demon onslaught.

It might seem like the whole manga is fan service, but it’s not. The story is balanced with intrigue, violence and a dark side. I feel that it gives the manga a wider audience, and makes it a good read.

Winning the award also pigeon holes this manga as a shojo manga. Yes, it is a shojo manga at heart; it has all the cliché and elements of a typical shojo manga. Nevertheless, the depth and the dark nature of the plot make Black Bird more than just a manga for girls.

Still, this manga is not for everyone. There’s a good reason why it got a “for Older Teens” rating as some scenes can get a little bit too... gratuitous.

Imitation Gundam, Gunpla

2010-01-17T14:20:00.000+08:00

As one of my week end projects this week, I decided to finally build and paint an imitation Gundam. As you can see, the result is not bad – considering that this is my first time.

I do not like non-Bandai Gundam kits. Although cheap, they lack quality and value. It is always better to save to get an original kit rather than buying several imitation ones. Don’t let the low price fool you; it takes far more money and effort to make an imitation kit look decent then to make an original kit look excellent.

With all my complaining, why did I build this Gundam in the first place?

This is not my kit. The owner of this kit wanted me to build and paint it so I could practice and hone in my craft. Their logic on why I should practice on an imitation kit was solid, but it hinges too much on how low the price of the kit is.

The kit you see here is nowhere near completion. It took so much work and time to get to this level and I didn’t even spend any time trying to remove the seam line!

I have to put the rest of this kit (mainly weapons and a back pack) on hold for now.

Gundam Build Part 2: Lower Body And Final Assembly

2010-01-11T22:47:00.000+08:00

It took me till 1:30 am this morning, but I was determined to finish the assembly of my RX-178 Gundam Mk.II A.E.U.G. Master Grade before I went to sleep. For a first build (in a long while), I don’t think I did too badly.

There is still a lot of work to do. Some lines needs to be cleaned and others need darkening, some parts needs to be refitted and others needs filling. And then there are the decals and stickers. I hope to truly complete this kit, this weekend.

As I expected, because the Gundam is a simple design, it is easy to handle. I love how all its accessories fit. Note the Vulcan Pod on its head, the extra clips for the Beam Rifle on the shield, the Bazooka on this back and the extra Bazooka clip on its side.

One annoying thing about this kit is because it is glossy, it’s a fingerprint magnet. Nevertheless, when it’s clean it looks amazing. I could only hope that my next kit would look just as good.

Gundam Build Part 1: Display Stand and Upper Torso

2010-01-10T17:47:00.003+08:00

Yesterday marked my return to Gunpla (the hobby of Gundam model building). I decided to build an RX-178 Gundam Mk-II A.E.U.G. Prototype Mobile Suit – Master Grade Limited Edition. It may be the best of kits to start with, but I like it. An RX-178 Gundam Mk-II is a simple looking Gundam and from experience, I learn that the simplest Gundams are very sturdy, very poseable, and take up less space then it’s extravagantly winged counterparts.

I began my build last night. I started by assembling an Action Stand (Clear) kit. It’s a very simple and interesting looking kit, but I’m out of practice so it took me a while to assemble.

Confident with myself I moved on to the real thing. This is the first time I am building a Gundam while fully equipped with tools and markers.

About an-hour-and-a-half past midnight, I stopped. I’ve only managed to build the Body Unit, the Head Unit, and the Vulcan pod. It wasn’t much but I could see that this will be the best looking Gundam I have ever built.

I continued my build this morning and by evening I managed to complete the Back Pack Unit, Beam Rifle, Hyper Bazooka, Shield, Arm Units, and Shoulder Armor. A completed Upper Torso.

There is still a long way to go. I hope to be able to complete the kit tonight. The stickers and decal can wait.

My Review Of High Time

2010-01-09T13:27:00.002+08:00

HIGH TIME

Art & Story: Taufan

Publisher: Gala Unggul Resources Sdn. Bhd. ; 296 Pages

(ISBN: 987-9675288708)

Give this 100% Malaysian manga to anyone and, after flipping through a few pages, they’d immediately recognise that it as a Jackie Chan movie turn manga. Thankfully the artist/writer choose to emulate Hong Kong Jackie Chan instead of Hollywood Jackie Chan. You won’t find Christ Tucker or Owen Wilson here.

Like any Jackie Chan movie, this manga is filled with action with a generous helping of comedy. The characters, story, and world in the manga feels like they were ripped from the Police Story movies, although updated to be a little darker, more violent, and with a twist.

If it were up to me, I would not call High Time a manga. I don’t mean this in a bad way. It’s just it lacks the manga feel and style. Sure it’s back and white, printed in a volume, and the girls have big eyes, but it takes much more than that to be a manga.

I’m a little mixed about the art. It’s too cartoony, too rounded, too jovial to be taken seriously. Even the most serious of scenes looks comical. On the other hand, the action scenes look exceptional!

Above average overall, High Time is a must read for action movie fans.

Shojo Manga to Review

2010-01-06T23:37:00.000+08:00

Last month I've received 6 new mangas to review. Usually reviewing 6 mangas is a cake walk, however this time, there's a hitch! Most of these mangas are Shojo manga. In other words, these mangas are targeted towards girls.

I don’t hate the genre; it’s just that Shojo manga, for me, makes for a slow read. Every couple of pages will either cause me to laugh, roll my eyes, or shake my head and stop reading the absurdity that the youth of the opposite persuasion calls, romance.

I bet it is the same the other way around.

Happy Christmas And Merry New Year

2009-12-25T10:12:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas And Happy New Year

Happy Muslim New Year

2009-12-18T10:09:00.002+08:00

A blessed happy new year to all my fellow Muslims. Salam to all and may this year brings us one step closer to peace.

Cameron Highlands - Not As It Use To Be

2009-12-18T10:06:00.000+08:00

My recent trip to Cameron Highland was a good one. Though it was only one night, everyone had fun. We had a large barbecue dinner. With a charcoal burner and an electric hot-plate, we cooked catfish, chicken, burgers and sausages. Early the next morning, we all went out for a walk together.

Although the days were cold and the nights were colder, and the steep winding roads still give me a headache, Cameron Highland is not what it used to be. Nothing seems to be in season. There were no abundance of vegetables, most of the flowers were diseased, most of the other plants were dying, and there were no fresh strawberries in sight. Above all Cameron Highlands is not as picturesque at it use to be.

Maybe I came at the wrong time of the year, maybe my camera set-up is getting old, or maybe I should have stayed longer. Either way, I am heading back up there next year, with a different plan and a different goal.

Finally on Facebook. Headding Off to Cameron Highlands

2009-12-10T20:22:00.000+08:00

After much pestering from - you know who you are - I finally joined Facebook. I am always reluctant to join any social networks. Now that I am in one, it is as I feared; everyone’s lives are far more interesting than mine.

Sigh…

I’m heading to Cameron Highlands sometime next week. I’m hoping to get back into photography (if only a little,) while I’m there and return with some presentable photos. Sadly, I’m out of practice and I think my camera is due for some tender loving care.

Short on time and short on cash, I wonder if I can pull it off. If I succeed, you guys will be the first to see the results.

Celcom Screwed Me, Again!

2009-12-09T16:23:00.000+08:00

Celcom, a local cell phone provider is screwing me again! This is the 3rd month that they are charging me 300MYR (which is the credit limit,) on my cell phone bill.

The first time it happened I paid my bill in full and I vowed to be careful. The second time it happened I was distraught. 300MYR is not a small amount. I was sure I didn’t use my phone that much!

With some help the issue was resolved. I got my bill reduced and I was assured that my problems was over, silly me.

I’ve had it with them not taking me seriously. I’ve had it with them brushing me off. I’ve had it with them making me feel like it is my fault that they screwed up.

I should have seen it earlier. How could I ever trust a telecommunication company that can’t, no, won’t help me until I receive my monthly bill in print.

My Review Of - Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

2009-12-07T00:18:00.005+08:00

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Author: Mignon Fogarty

Publisher: Holt Paperbacks

Paperback; 240 pages

ISBN: 978-0-8050-8831-1

As an avid listener of podcasts, I am no stranger to (Mignon Fogarty) Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips podcast and the other podcasts on the Quick and Dirty Tips network. These podcasts are always entertaining, educational, insightful, compact, and most of all, easy to understand.

When I was looking for books to help me improve my writing, I immediately thought of Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. If this book is anything like the podcasts, it would be the perfect book to start my endeavour with. I was not disappointed.

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing is not just a book on grammar. It also contains tips on the usage of some words and punctuations, and it also contains a few guidelines on writing styles. Basically useful stuff that everyone should know, but don’t.

The best thing about this book is that it is very approachable. I like how each chapter is divided into bite sized topic and sub-topic, and is presented in a frank and friendly manner, complete with insightful examples.

Because each topic and sub topic is so easy to digest, reading this book a breeze. I often find myself reading a topic or two whenever I need to procrastinate or whenever I have some free time. Even when I read one topic at a time, I feel like I have truly learned something.

The way Mignon Forgery wrote this book makes me feel like I’m learning from a knowledgeable friend instead of a teacher. The way she explains each topic and the example she gives takes away all the fears and anxiety of learning. This makes each lesson easy to remember

I find Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing extremely useful, I have learned a lot and I think I have improved a lot as well. It may be simple and it is far from comprehensive, but it is certainly a must read for aspiring writers. In the age of the internet, with blogs, e-mails, twitters, and such, almost everyone is.

On a side note, Mignon Fogarty has a new book out! It is called The Grammar Devotional: Daily Tips for Successful Writing from Grammar Girl. I am definitely going to pick up a copy as soon as one is available at a local book store.

My Last Day At The Toy Shop

2009-12-03T23:24:00.000+08:00

After almost three months of talking about it, I finally quit the toy shop. I handed in the keys, took back all my stuff, and I am heading for bigger and better things.

Sadly, I feel that my boss and I departed ways, not in the best of terms. No one was at fault, he was a great person to work for and I gave him ample time to find a replacement. Maybe emotions were high, he needed someone to mind the shop and I could have given him more time, but I needed to move forward.

Thank you boss. I hope one day, we could be friends again.

Finally, what I miss the most are the people I met; fellow toy geeks. Thank you, for tolerating me, for sharing your time with me, and most of all, for your friendship. I hope to you all again sometime.

Happy Eid Adha!

2009-11-26T22:55:00.002+08:00

Happy Eid Adha Everyone!

Cryptic McDonald's Message

2009-11-20T16:00:00.002+08:00

I just received a weird SMS from McDonald’s today. It said: Head to a Mcdonald’s restaurant this Saturday (21-11-09) to celebrate the return of a loved one. Get ready for a pleasant surprise.

It is very cryptic and a little bit creepy too. I wonder...

Update: The Prosperity Burger is back! Well, it least it is cheaper now.

Mangas to Review

2009-11-17T22:06:00.001+08:00

I just received a stack of 6 mangas to review a couple of days ago. Since I have not posted anything in over a week, I thought I would share my first impression of these mangas with you.

Free Runners
Story: Bill Strauss
Art: Jennyson Rosero

This is the first Canadian manga I have ever seen. The story centres around a kid called Steep (named as such because according to his brother he is deeper then deep. I know it does not make sense, most things in mangas do not.) If the title did not give it away, Free Runners’ “gimmick” is free running (aka parkour.) With this manga I am looking forward to seeing how an art that is rooted in motion is depicted in the static pages.

Momogumi Senki
Created by Eri Sakondo

This is the only true manga in the bunch. The story is loosely based on a popular Japanese folklore about an ogre slaying warrior called Momotaros. The hero of the manga is Yuuki. A disaster magnet, Yuuki turns out to be the reincarnation of Momoratos. I admit that I am unfamiliar with the legend this manga is based on. All I know is that this manga reminds me a lot of Kamen Rider Den-O.

Hero Tales
Original Story: Huang Jin Zhou
Story and Art: Hiromu Arakawa

The synopsis of this manga reads like a JRPG. There are seven heroes of destiny, each bearing the power of one of the seven stars of the big dipper. Two of these star/heroes are destine to do battle and as a result, plunge the world into chaos. It looks like a typical coming of age turn hero’s destiny sort of affair, but I have high hopes for this manga. The art and manga adaptation is done by none other than the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist.

Cyber Doll
Story: Orebalgum
Art: Park Sung Woo

This full coloured manghwa (Korean Manga) is so full of clichés I am dreading the day that I have to review it. Although the story is about a war in a parallel world and the heroine that protects our world from it, it looks more like an elaborate excuse to use cameos of other more famous and established characters from other mangas, animes, and even videogames.

Daring Students’ Association: First Semester
Daring Students’ Association: Final Semester
Story & Art: Cha Min-Yi

A two volume mini-series, this manga promises to be mediocre at best. It seems to be the typical high school manga filled with shenanigans, some drama, a little bit of magic, and of course romance. It is not my cup tea, but once in a while, mangas of this ilk manages to surprise me.

Game Vault: Ipoh's Premier Table-Top Gaming Shop

2009-11-07T01:27:00.002+08:00

When people talk about games, they usually refer to electronic games like computer or video games. However, before the revolution of digital gaming, there were table-top games. These games needs little more that a group of friends, a comfortable location, some free time, and a little imagination to play.

Though table-top games such as board games, card games, pen and paper role playing games, and miniature war games have slipped into obscurity in the mainstream, there is still a bastion of this almost forgotten past time, right here in Ipoh.

Located in a row of shops behind and facing away from Kinta City Shopping Centre, Game Vault is the premier table-top gaming shop in town. Ran by Wearn Chong, a table-top gaming fan, this little unassuming shop has becomes the hot spot for Ipoh gamers, newcomers and veterans alike.

Game Vault is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm – 7pm. In stock are various Collectable Card Games like Magic: The Gathering , designer board games like Settlers of Catan, and various other table top games.

In addition to selling games, Game Vault also hosts gaming events, like tournaments, and provide a safe, friendly environment for gamers to play in. There is even a small collection of board games, contributed by long time patrons to the shop, for visitors to play with for free.

So if you are ever in the mood to make friends and play a game or two, come on over to Ipoh’s own Game Vault.

Game Vault

15A Jalan Medan Ipoh 6,

Bandar Baru Medan,

31400 Ipoh.

Tel: 012-387 6288

Cheat Sheets

2009-11-04T13:20:00.001+08:00

My post on the 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost first visit to Ipoh has to be the most reworked piece of write-up I have ever done! It was not meant to be a report, but I still managed to botch some of the details. I guess reporting is harder than it looks.

I learned something though: I need cheat sheets when I write for an event.

A cheat sheet to me is a page full of facts about the subject I am to write about, a fact checking report, if you will. I usually use cheat sheets only when I review stuff, to keep my information true. Review cheat sheets are easy to make. A wiki page here, a technical specification page there, and you are virtually done.

I call them cheat sheets because I feel that I should know the data on these pages. I should remember the details of the subject I am going to write about, but I do not.

When it comes to event cheat sheets, it is not that simple. More often than not, you would have to make one yourself. Sure, reporters call it “notes”, but where is the fun in calling it that!

The 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost's Inaugural Apearence In Ipoh

2009-10-29T17:25:00.023+08:00

A special thank you to all the members of the 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost who came down to Ipoh. Thank you for letting this geek hang around and help out, it was like a dream come true.

My sincerest apologies for any wrongdoing that I might have done and for any inconveniences that I might have caused.

In the interest of privacy, I deliberately wrote this post without using the names of the people involved.

Now on to the post!

The 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost team up on Stage. From Left to Right : Biker Scout, Sandtrooper, Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot, Stormtrooper #1, Darth Vader, Imperial Royal Guard, Stormtroopers #2 and #3, and Imperial Crewman.

On Sunday (25th October 2009) a small squad from the 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost came down to Ipoh (Ipoh Parade shopping mall). Their mission was to conduct a charity trooping event and to help raise funds for the various homes and schools for disabled children, around Perak.

The 501st Legion is an international club for costumed Star Wars enthusiasts. With almost 5000 active members worldwide, The 501st Legion spreads and shares their love by wearing screen accurate costumes of Imperial or “Bad Guy” characters from the Star Wars universe and volunteering their time to appear for charity events and promotions.

Even though this event marked their first ever appearance in the state of Perak, in typical Ipoh fashion, no one knew that they were coming. It is not any one’s fault really. It is virtually a tradition here in Ipoh: whenever there is a large event, inexplicably, no one knows about it.

Most of the Star Wars fans I know either found out about The 501st Legion appearance by chance the evening before, or not at all. I myself found out about the event when a friend from out of town – a hardcore Star Wars fan and a member of The 501st Legion – came by to the shop the evening before, with his two friends (an Imperial Crewman and an ex-TIE Pilot), to show me his weathered Sandtrooper helmet and to invite me to the show.

The turnout at the charity trooping event was smaller than it should have been, but that did not lessen the impact of seeing characters from Star Wars come to life in front of my very own eyes. It was amazing; the squad that came to Ipoh consists of one Darth Vader, one Royal Guard, one Imperial Crewman, one Sandtrooper, one TIE Pilot, one Biker Scout, and three Stormtroopers (one of them the current Commanding Officer of the 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost).

Each character looked like they have just stepped out of the movie set; like recently liberated action figures. I was giddy like a 27 year old geek. However not everyone at the event knew who they were. While I was roaming around, trying to get good shots with my camera, I overheard people asking “who are they?” I was embarrassed.

During their initial round of trooping, I was spotted by the Sandtrooper and his two friends. The Sandtrooper and the Imperial Crewman gave me a treat by posing just for my camera. Afterwards, the ex-TIE Pilot, now a minder (someone who guards the troopers as they make their rounds and help them look their best when they do), took me “backstage”.

They say that seeing these folks out of costume breaks the illusion and lessen the magic, for me that statement could not be further from the truth.

To become a member of the 501st Legion, one must own a professional/screen accurate costume of an Imperial or “Bad Guy” character. For the men and women of The 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost this means importing parts of their costumes from the overseas, ordering custom-made some parts from local shops, and fabricating the rest by hand. The result is a group of friends with incredible passion, camaraderie, and costumes that are uniquely their own.

Even though I am a “nobody” and they have never met me before, they welcomed me right in. I was overjoyed. Meeting the men and women of The 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost was an honour.

It did not take long before the Sandtrooper gave me the details of his and his comrade’s costumes. He is the second living Star Wars encyclopaedia I have had the pleasure to meet. His knowledge of Star Wars is so comprehensive that most of it went over my head.

His passion is reflected in his costume. It took a whole night, 3 shades of model-train stain, and some eyeliner to make his costume look worn. He told me he often overheard people asking “why is his costume so dirty?” and “why doesn’t he go wash his armour?” It is heart breaking, but I guess the popularity of Star Wars is not as it once was.

Slowly I made my rounds, introducing myself to whoever I can, whenever I dared to, all while trying my best not to get in the way. Most of them came from the south of Peninsular Malaysia and only one of them is a local from Ipoh.

It is wonderful that they are doing what they do on a volunteer basis. Trooping is hard work and it is not as glamorous as it looks. From what I can tell it is about the friendship, to be amongst those who share the same passion, to do good deeds together, to finally try out that costume that has been worked on for so long and above all else, to dress up without looking like an weirdo!

Little by little, I made myself useful; I was slowly becoming a 501st Legion roadie. It made me think of Imperial Guard camp followers – civilians who follow the Imperial Guard – from Warhammer 40,000.

My highlight of the day was when I get to suit up Darth Vader. He is to Star Wars, like Optimus Prime is to Transformers: Iconic and the most sought after. Although I have met the guy behind the mask, chatted with him a little, and watch him slump on a chair losing his own bodyweight in sweat, and even though I helped him put on his costume piece by piece, it still send chills up my spine when he turns around looks at me and said a line from the movie. It was nerve wrecking; it was awesome!

During the subsequent trooping of the day, I met up with Ipoh’s #1 Star Wars fan, a patron of the shop and the first living Star Wars encyclopaedia I have ever met. He is also the most well connected person in Ipoh that I know of.

Coincidentally his brother-in-law turns out to be school mate of mine – go figure.

At the end of the day he treated all the good folks from The 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost and all the minders, to coffee at Starbucks. It was quite a sight to behold; Star Wars characters with their helmets off, drinking iced coffee. It was a sight I never thought I would see.

The charity event manages to collect 5000MYR, but only after one of the sponsors added another generous amount to their donation. Not bad, considering the circumstances.

Sandtrooper's notes
Here are some additional notes from the Sandtrooper:

The 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost team up on Stage. From Left to Right : Biker Scout, Sandtrooper, Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot, Stormtrooper #1, Darth Vader, Imperial Royal Guard, Stormtroopers #2 and #3, and Imperial Crewman.
The beneficiaries of the fund raiser were the Loyal Hadicapped and Disabled Children Home Association, Ipoh and Sekolah Semangat Maju.
Parts of the costume the 501st wear had to be accuired from other parts of the wold like the U.S. and the U.K.
He used 3 colours of special model-train earth liquid pigment and a whole night to apply "desert" weathering onto his armor.
He didn't mind the comments. His armor is accurate and looks like it should.
The 501st Malaysia-Brunei Outpost present at the event were from Klang Valley, Melaka and Ipoh.
The amount collected during the charity event was 5000MYR, but only after an additional 1924MYR was donated by a prominent sponsor.
4500MRY went to the Loyal Handicapped and Disabled Children Home Assiciation, Ipoh.
500MYR went to Sekolah Semangat Maju.

TV Shows I'm Watching And My Thoughts On Them

2009-10-24T00:12:00.004+08:00

My plan for reviewing TV shows is not going so well. I’m spending more time watching them then writing about them. On one hand, I am frustrated with myself for not being disciplined enough to stick to the plan, but on the other hand, the shows this season are great.

CSI is still about the same Las Vegas crime lab, but with a new rookie, a new over-arching plot, and a whole bunch of new and creative ways to present a murder. Even after all these year, CSI still manages to be one of my favourites.

CSI Miami had a minor change but it affected the show in a major way. The two new staple characters are fun and have great chemistry. I think, ever since they became a meme, the show is playing into it instead of against it.

CSI NY’s cast of characters must be the most tightly knit bunch of all three CSIs. After a drive by shooting that caused one of them to be paralysed from the waist down, they are tighter than ever. The cases featured in this season are much darker, more thrilling, and feels more personal.

NCIS is currently all about getting their female foreign assassin/secret-agent back in the team. It is a nice change from the usual stuff but I cannot see it last for too long. I really hope this series does not become routine.

NCIS Las Angeles is very different from NCIS proper. Although the cases they investigate always begin with a murder, these cases are usually larger in impact, implication and scale. This show feels so much like a spy/secret-agency type of show instead of a crime drama/cop show.

Bones has become a little repetitive. It also reminds me of anime because it keeps using sexual innuendos, a tiring “gimmick” is you ask me. Plus the protagonist, the super logical genius doctor, is as realistic in personality, as Lara Croft in shape. I hope they are not running out of ideas.

Castle is cheesy and average, but is has an abundance of charm. How can it not with the captain from Firefly/Serenity as the lead. The premise, a mystery writer who follows a detective around for inspiration reminds me a lot of the classic TV series, Murder She Wrote.

Lie To Me started out promising. The show is about a private group of experts that has an uncanny ability to detect lies through body language. I think the series would do much better if it learned how to present the science in a more interesting way; ala CSI.

Warehouse 13 is one of those paranormal investigation shows. However, unlike the X-Files, it is more light hearted, the events always centres around an object and the low production budget shows. The show is mediocre at times, but with a little bit more effort, I bet it could be a great series.

Stargate Universe is a slow paced series. It is about a group of people who ended up on an ancient ship travelling faster than light with no way go get back home. The show’s main pull is the mysteries of the ship as it is slowly revealed. But, I think there is too much drama fogging up the Sci-Fi story.

Criminal Minds has an interesting concept: to investigate cases using mainly psychological profiling. The problem I have with this show is that it tries so hard to be gratuitously and overly shocking. However, it is interesting and engrossing, once in a while.

Law & Order is the oldest running cop show out there (well, at least that I know of). Even after all that time, it still manages to be unique and entertaining. I think this is the only show, of all the cop shows that I watch, that may not provide a closure to a case in the end.

Flash Foreword is an interesting one. The basis of the story is simple but the repercussions are deep and complex. On October the sixth, the whole world blacked out for two minutes and seventeen seconds. And in that time, everyone saw six month into their future. It is intriguing.

Well there you have it, a list of some of the shows I am watching and my impressions of them. If you have any suggestions or what other shows I should take a look at, please, drop a line in the comments.

PS3 VS Xbox 360

2009-10-15T20:52:00.003+08:00

With my Xbox 360 down for the count, I started to re-evaluate the pros and cons of the Xbox 360 versus the Playstation 3. I write this in the hope that it will help me make a decision; should I get a replacement Xbox 360 or should I get a new Playstation 3.

Price

The Playstation 3 use to be the most expansive console out there. The console itself used to cost about 1600MYR. Now, with the release of the Playstation 3 Slim and the recent Xbox 360 price cut, both systems are priced at under 1300MYR per unit.

Technically the PS3 is more powerful then the Xbox 360. Its games tend to be better looking and region free, but more expansive. Because PS3 games are region free, PS3 owners can freely scour the global market for the game that they want at a price that they are willing to pay without worrying about compatibility. As a result, PS3 games can be bought at a cheaper price.

Xbox 360 gamers on the other hand, are stuck with the game market of their specific regions. They do not get to shop around like PS3 gamers can. Thanks to piracy, the market for used NTSC/J Xbox 360 games is almost non-existent. In the end Xbox 360 gamers ends up having to pay retail prices for most of their games, at least where I am.

Out of the Box

The accessories that come with both consoles, right out of the box, are almost identical. Both consoles include one wireless controller, a set of composite cables, power cables or adapters, and a 120GB hard drive. The only difference is that the PS3 comes with a USB cable to connect and charge its wireless controller, while the Xbox 360 comes with a headset for voice-chat.

Seeing that both consoles are capable of High Definition graphics, it is atrocious that neither of them comes with HDMI or composite cables. To take full advantage of their HDTV, gamers must buy a separate cable.

Personally I like the Xbox 360 controller better and I like that it comes with a (proprietary) headset. But, Microsoft does not include a rechargeable battery pack and charging cable (sold separately), in the box. Unless you have a bucket of AA batteries handy, you will quickly see the need for these additional accessories.

The PS3 remedies the battery problem by building a rechargeable battery pack inside the controller, keeping the controllers original form, but making the battery harder to replace. The fact that the PS3 does not come with a headset is also a problem especially for multiplayer online games fans. On the plus side, the PS3 works with almost any Bluetooth and USB headset.

Features

In theory both consoles are virtually equal, feature wise. Both systems have equivalent and comparable characteristics: the XBox360 has a pay better online infrastructure that’s excellent but the PS3’s online services is almost as good and is free, the PS3 can play HD movies with Blu-Ray discs while the Xbox360 has High Definition TV shows and movies via digital distribution, and so on.

In practice, things are a little bit different. Most of Xbox 360’s online features are limited to certain regions. Most countries do not have access the HD TV and Movie store on the Xbox 360. The biggest problem with Xbox 360’s online services is actually its payment system. The XBLM, (Xbox Live Marketplace) uses MS points as currency and it does not accept credit cards from unrecognised countries like Malaysia. This makes buying games from XBLM a chore when it is suppose to be a convenience. Furthermore, XBL is tiered; gold members (those who pay the subscription) get full access to XBL. Silver members on the other hand do not get access to premium services like online play, and they get premium downloads like demos, late. In contrast, the Xbox 360’s online gaming service is still second to none.

As of the date of this post, PSN Store, Playstation 3’s answer to XBLM is fully accessible by most countries, even here in Malaysia. It uses local currency as payment instead. To be fair I must point out that the downloadable content on the PSN Store varies from region to region as it is on XBLA and some services like Home is inaccessible to Malaysian accounts. Although in the end all these flaws are easily overlooked because PSN is totally free.

Games

With more and more game developers looking to make maximum profit by releasing their games on multiple platforms, the library of games of both platforms looks almost similar. Nevertheless there are a few exclusives that make each console’s library unique.

Most of Xbox 360’s highly rated exclusives tend to be online multiplayer friendly shooters. Although the genre of games on this system varies, most of them are very online multiplayer centric, thanks to the excellent XBL service. Xbox 360 is also a home for some exclusive single player games and surprisingly (because it is an American console) some JRPGs. Personally I would say that the Xbox 360 is for those who like to play with others, especially for fans of shooters and action games.

To me the PS3 is the console for hard core, single player action adventure fans. Most of its most wanted exclusive is just that, single player action adventure titles. I guess this is because of the system’s legacy and because it is the best way to showcase PS3’s power. Given its high price and elite status, the PS3 has a smaller library of casual games. This is not to say that the PS3 is only for the hard core but comparatively its collection of family friendly and casual oriented titles are limited. Even so, to label the PS3 as a single genre console is unfair. We have yet to see the full effect of the PS3 price cut and it may affect the landscape of the PS3’s library.

Conclusion

After it is all said and done, I think I have made my decision. I am going to get a PS3. It has more potential, and yet it still costs the same as an Xbox 360.

Right out of the box, all I need to buy is an HDMI cable. I do not need to worry about yearly subscriptions, the hard disc is user replaceable/upgradeable and I could always use my USB headset if I need voice chat.

Since I live in Malaysia, most of XBL features is either barred or a hassle to use. I will certainly miss the Xbox online community. But free is awesome, convenience is welcomed, and most of my friends are not even considering buying an Xbox 360.

Looking at my library of games, I realise that it is mostly populated by games that I buy solely for its single player game. From JRPGs, to action games, to shooters, I play them mainly for the single player experience and I consider the multiplayer only as a bonus. So I think the PS3’s game library will suit me just fine.

House Season 6 Episode 1 & 2

2009-09-30T22:10:00.000+08:00

The latest season of House (season 6) begins with a double episode season premier and a welcomed change of scenery. At the end of last season’s finale, Doctor Gregory House checked himself into a mental institution after finally realising that his addiction to pain killers has finally taken over his life.

The series continues with House still in a mental institution, his body slowly and painfully purges years of Vicodin abuse out of his system. Detoxified, he is free to go home whenever he wants, but, there is a catch. Although he is not an addict any more, the doctor at the mental institution believes that House is not fully cured. The doctor refuses to write a letter of recommendation so that House can get his medical licence back unless House continue and finish his treatment.

Succumbing to the threat, House reluctantly stayed. Nevertheless he was not above scheming; he vowed to make the lives of those who made him stay as miserable as he is.

I have always loved the original idea of House. He used to be the jerk that no one likes, but have to, because he is brilliant and he is always right. I find him intriguing because his method and ideology of treating patients is very similar to how IT technicians fix computers. For example, House never trusts his patients because they always lie; IT technicians do not trust the user of a broken system because they always plea ignorant.

However, the series began shifting focus. Instead of being a story about a super doctor, the series began to hone in on the human side of things. The story became about a broken man with a gift to save lives. I did not like it at first, but this episode changed my perspective.

The premier of season 6 of House manages to keep the series’ formula while still keeping things fresh. Although trapped in, what basically is an asylum, he still manages to become the embodiment of anarchy, make sinister plans, and find patients to save; and yet, he also made friends, make mistakes, falls in love, and maybe even change.

I really look forward to this season of House.

The Plan

2009-09-29T22:51:00.003+08:00

The new wave of TV shows and season premier started to hit the torrents last week. While I figure out how to get more writing jobs, I have decided to keep myself sharp by reviewing some of these new and returning shows. It should be quite an endeavour.

I truly feel that I need to train myself to be more discipline and write on a regular basis if I am going to pursuing this career. I find it hard to motivate myself sometimes; I always want to procrastinate. So by sticking to a schedule and a topic, I hope to improve my writing in general.

Wait! Is that not that why I started this blog in the first place? Damn! Maybe I need a new plan.

To be honest, this is not the first time I have tried to commit myself to one of these plans. However this time, I am serious. I must be! I am quitting my job at the toy shop for this...

Talking about my job at the toy shop, I wonder when my boss is going to find my replacement.