Update Ides of March

A lot of stuff is going on for RNA. With Bad Anime Night posted, it marks the official return of our reviews! Familiar faces will be appearing more often, and new video production will be more frequent, maybe not weekly just yet, at least monthly. Plans for an audio only podcast as well as collaborative YouTube videos with a new cohost are in the works. Not to mention our own Beanie becoming a father! Oh it's exciting times for team RNA! Be on the listen, be on the lookout!

Bad Anime Night - Defenders of Space

After a long hiatus, Beanie is Back! An evil race of Blue Aliens attacks the Earth Colony of Aurora. The only hope is a couple of teenagers and a giant robot! Can Beanie last in what is one of the worst animes he's ever watched. Be on the listen and be on the lookout!

Good News Everyone!

The long awaited return of Power On and Random Ninja Attack is imminent! At the end of February, Beanie will return with a new review segment called Bad Anime Night, wherein he suffers the horrors of poorly written, poorly dubbed, cheaply made (and cheaply procured) anime! He also pays homage to his favorite reviewers by (blatantly) using some of their gags. Rejoice at the pain he endures!

Beanie Teaser Trailer

After the events of Power On, Beanie attempts to have a bit of rest, but is called in on an urgent task to begin his long awaited review show. I filmed this shortly after watching Clerks, hence the homage at the start. Due to technical difficulties the actual review is behind schedule, so I decided to use the episodes opening as a teaser for the new series. The episode should be up before the end of July. Special Thanks to Dizzy Lizzy for portraying the postal worker. The music heard is the "Twisted Nerve" from Kill Bill Part 1. The ending sound clip is the game over screen from Metal Gear.

Dizzy Lizzy Vlog 1 - Van's Warped Tour 2011

Dizzy Lizzy, the music-loving younger sister of self-famed internet personality Beanie, has just returned from her annual trip to attend Van's Warped Tour, and is ready to share her experience. Photos and Video are from Warped Tours 13, 16, and 17. Bands shown playing live are Every Avenue, Terrible Things, The Mighty Regis, and All American Rejects.
Music during the titles is "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult
Other music is the property of the bands performing

DOS Games

I'm fortunate to be part of a generation that grew up with video games. Many young gamers today have the same opportunity only with much more advanced games and consoles. In an industry that's really only been around for 30 years, there has been significant leaps in the technology--especially within the past decade. Here's an example of how gaming has evolved: Back in the 80s and early 90s computers were run on an operating system called DOS (disk operating system). From here you could run all of your computer's programs, including games. Games, as well as other programs, were on floppy disks which you could insert into the computer's modem and access. Now-a-days on either computers or on gaming consoles, video games are available in a variety of medium--the main two being disks in the form of CD, DVD, or BluRay format; or in a purely digital capacity. As a comparison to the memory taken up by games, Space Quest (a well-known DOS game) takes up 688 Kilobytes of memory or 688,000 bytes; whereas Infamous for the PS3 takes up 7 Gigabytes or roughly 7,000,000 bytes of information. And there is roughly a 20 year gap between the games. Ergo, within the last 2 decades the size of the average video game has exponentially grown tenfold. The popularity of gaming has also been on the rise since the turn of the millenium. This can be attributed to the increased availablity of games and their consoles. Everyone can be a gamer: grandparents, adults, teens, even young children. It is a fantastic world to live in.
But I'm rambling. When I was younger I was introduced to gaming through DOS. I would play Oregon Trail at school, Lemmings in my summer computer camp, and others at home or with friends. Of course this was long before the boon in gaming that came with the mid 90s--when the console wars began; and I didn't truly become (what I would call) a gamer until after Sony released the PlayStation. But I still have my roots in DOS computer games. Recently I've been pouring over the internet searching for programs and peripherals to download and play some of the old DOS games that began my interest in games. Finally my search has come to fruition and I have been granted access to many titles including but not limited to: The Elder Scrolls, the (in)famous Sierra games like the Space Quest and King's Quest series, and one of my favorite DOS games of all time--Scorched Earth. Having complete access to these games has given me a thought bubble--"I can do DOS Let's Plays now!" And I have every intention to follow through with that. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to have them as part of the Power On series or just as their own entity, but they will get done. Games that are not practical to do LPs of, I will still try to play and get footage to use for review purposes. I am excited about this. So be on the look out for the first DOS Let's Play (hopefully soon) when Beanie Plays: Space Quest!

Review Requests

With the season 1 finale (hopefully) close at hand, it is time to start thinking of the future. In the fall, Power On will be back with a vengeance. The episodes will actually have reviews in them. I know! Exciting right? So I'm going to ask if there are any reviews that my viewers would like to see. Any game, any movie, any TV show. Now keep in mind that I may or may not be able to capture footage for some. Either way, they will be done in some capacity. So please, if you have anything you want to get reviewed by Beanie or Random Ninja post in the comments.

Updates Again

A Note from the Random Ninja:

Things are in the works which I hope will increase the audience of Power On and the number of visitors to this blog. As the 2-year anniversary draws closer, I like to keep my head held high and take pride in myself for doing this. Even though my viewer total has been rather low, I like to think that somewhere out there someone watches my insane ramblings and cares about my viewpoint of games and movies. I've had several compliments from some readers--mainly through email--but the sentiment is the same no matter the outlet. As I have stated in previous "UPDATE" posts, Power On will be continued for another "season" but will return to it's initial "review" roots rather than be just spoof videos. I plan to coordinate with my partner Kyle (of Muzak Corner) to work on the reviews and the storyline as the episodes move on. Of course, the season finale of Power On needs to come first. I am working on that as fast as I can; however, there are several factors that attribute to its tardiness. Chief among them being commitments to my local community theatre troupe. Along with being an avid gamer and outspoken opinionist of pop-media--or at least I am in my fantasies--I am an actor, writer, and director with my local theatre. This particular season, I have been involved with almost every production. This summer I am directing for the children' summer program called Fairy Tales, which is like a theatre summer camp.
Couple that with my home life, trying to find a job, and trying to plan my own wedding (sorry girls, I'm spoken for) it leaves little time to produce videos on a regular basis. Do not fret, as I am diligently working on videos.
Bad Anime Night will be reworked to fit into season 2 of Power On rather than be a stand alone episode. The finale of season one is 3/4 finished and some work is still being done with its production. Production has already begun with season 2, this is to avoid a situation where I will fall as behind as I am now. A lot of the problem is that the original season had no creative direction until halfway through. When I began I was just a small voice in a large pond. While my voice is still small, my viewer average has been steadily growing (though not as quickly as I would like it to be.)
More videos not related to Power On are in the works as well. Many of them have been on the back burner for a good 2 years--at least--however, they are on the way. I will also try to get more text reviews done as the summer goes on. I'm sure that people will be looking for reviews of the summer blockbuster movies, and I've already fallen behind by not reviewing PotC4, Thor, and The Hangover: Part 2. But you might be able to see my comments on Spoony's website about them. And unlike usual I will end with a list of definite videos and or text reviews I will do. They are not in a particular order, so don't go expecting them like this.

Top 10 video game heroes
Top 10 video game villains
Top 10 video games
Top 10 turncoats in popular media (games, movies, tv shows)
Top 10 characters from (movies and tv)
Top 10 movies
Perfect Blue--review
Bad Anime Night--a review of Defenders of Space
a review of a cheesy kung fu movie (haven't decided on movie yet)
Top 10 songs in video games
Top 10 music moments in games (these are specific moments which may or may not relate to above list)
A look at Metal Storm NES Game
Lets Play: Shadow of the Colossus (will most likely be in 16 or 17 parts due to game length.
Lets Play: Metal Gear (MSX, 1987)

An Absurdly Genius Plan

The waters of the mighty Mississippi River have risen up to claim the land, and Texas is plagued by drought and wildfires. One man has come forward with a plan to save everyone.

Possible T-Shirt Design

This is a possible T-shirt design for Random Ninja Attack. It is a Random Ninja Mushroom based on the original Power Up mushroom from Super Mario. The RNA type is based on a pixelated font. The entire image and font were crated in Adobe Illustrator. Wouldn't you like a shirt with this image on the front? I would.

Alpha's Magical Christmas

It's Christmas Day and Beanie wants to review a Christmas Special from his childhood. Bundle up and sip your cocoa as he presents his very first full review episode. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

(edit) Despite what the date says, this was posted Dec 25th. BlipTV was being touchy and not wanting to work. And the run time is just under 30 minutes, not 3 hours. I don't know what BlipTV's problem is.

You can also view this episode on my youtube channel in 3 parts.
http://www.youtube.com/therandomninja5

Power On - Episode 5 "What Sweeps The Mind"

At last the long awaited episode 5 of the hit web series Power On.

Investigative journalist Weston Harris tracks down a lead in a case involving mysterious events and strange sightings. Where will his search lead him?

News

Episode 5 will be up in a few weeks. I've been on vacation for the last couple. Here's a list of things to come.

Power On Episode 5
Power On Episode 6
Power On Shopping Network
NinjaCard Commercial
Text Review Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty, the novel

There's also a few other things I'm working on, I can't wait to get them started. I don't want to give too much away, but I'm trying something new. I hope everyone out there in internet land is having a good summer.I will see you when I see you.

Power On - Episode 4 "Televised Trauma"

The Random Ninja drops in on his friends KB, Beanie, and Francis only to find them gone. While he waits for them he decides to watch TV and witnesses some strange transmissions.

Attack on Gamer

Gamer is probably the best video game movie ever made. (so far) Why? Because it's not based on a video game. It has elements from games and also plays on society's interest and fear of total control. Yet it is not entirely original either.

WARNING! This text review WILL contain spoilers.

In Gamer, technology has advanced so that people can participate in online social and war games not by controlling digital avatars but by controlling living breathing people. Players can make these people do anything that they want. The inventer of the tech and the "games," Ken Castle, has become the richest man in the world. Thousands if not millions of people play his "games"

The two games he has produced are a social sim called Society and a brutal shooter called Slayers. In Society, people control the actions of their "avatars" in whatever sick and twisted ways they desire. They can force these people to rave, take drugs, imbibe alcohol, and even have sex against their will. The "avatars" while in the "game" have no control over their actions - total control is given to the "players" at what I can only expect is quite a sum of money. Total control is achieved with nanites which replace the "avatar's" brain cells and give the "players" a direct link through an IP address. Much like a computer that connects with the internet today. Frankly this sounds very much like SOP (Son's of the Patriots) from Metal Gear Solid 4, but I digress. While in control over the "avatars" the "players" can customize their appearance; which includes: outfits, hair, make-up, accessories, and anything else. Let me just say that these "players" are sick.

Slayers is more recent. In this game, "players" control death row inmates in a game akin to most shooters of today ( ie Army of Two, Gears of War, etc.) where they control and kill living beings using a traditional third person camera. In this "game" the "players" control these convicts for their freedom. IF the convicts can survive 30 matches, they will be freed from their sentence. "Players" can purchase upgrades for their "avatars" such as new weapons and body armor to ensure that their "avatar" survives. But when it comes down to it, its up to the "players" to ensure their "avatar" lives. One such "player" is Simon who controls the "avatar" Kable. Together they are only a few matches away from freedom. It turns out that "Kable" was framed so to speak, and is getting much further than Castle expected. Castle decides to kill Kable by any means necessary.

Not everyone is content with the Control developed by Ken Castle, in fact, there is a resistance cell calling themselves Humanz who are attempting to spread the truth about Castle's Control. Other characters include a talkshow host who is at first skeptical but realizes the truth and decides to help. Wait a minute...

A futuristic world, where convicts play in a game to win their freedom, yet the entire truth is kept from the public, and the one man who may win was framed. The creator of the game wants to kill that man just at the finish line, and there is a resistance group trying to go public with the truth and person working in television helps out. There's just something familiar about this plot. There's another story almost just like that. What was it? >cough< The Running Man.

That's right. Gamer is in fact an updated version of The Running Man which was originally written by Steven King under a pseudonym. The Running Man, for those who don't know, was about a man who was a helicopter pilot sent to prison for the massacre of innocent civilians, which he was framed of. After escaping, he runs into a woman who works in television, who believes the false charges. He is captured again, but this time is given the opportunity to participate in the world's most popular game show called The Running Man - which has criminals running through a maze in an abandoned city while being pursued and promising their freedom upon winning. During his run, he is chased by Stalkers who are trying to kill him and his fellow "contestants" which includes his friends from prison and the woman. They all know that he is innocent, and there is even a resistance group which is trying to show that the media is hiding the truth from the public. When it becomes evident that Ben Richards - the running man, is going to win, the media fake his death. However, Richards, manages to fight his way and confront the media and the creator of the game show, Killian, all the while exposing the truth about his so called crime and what the media has been doing.

Lets juxtapose this with Gamer. Kable - real name Tillman, was part of the early experiments of Castle's nanex control system. Castle controlled Tillman into killing someone, which gave Tillman a spot on death row. Castle then creates a game that grants prisoners their freedom if they win. Tillman does surprisingly well, and Castle sends in people specifically to kill him. A television hostess gets thrown into the fray when she decides to help Tillman and the resistance who are attempting to uncover Castles plot to control the entire world with his nanites. Along the way, they uncover the truth about Tillman's "crime", but not after Castle fakes Tillman's death when he was just seconds away from freedom. Tillman fights his way into Castle's HQ and confronts him, and with the help of the Hostess, reveals the truth to the world. Gamer, like The Running Man, ends with our hero killing the creator and freeing everyone from his control.

There are a few points in Gamer not from The Running Man, such as: the hero having a family on the outside which he is desperately trying to get to. And the whole Take over the world thing (of course) - in The Running Man, the world is already controlled by the media. Also the nanite control thing, which as I said, is more akin to Metal Gear. But it would make sense to get some inspiration from action shooter games. The use of save points, and an awesome heads up display for the "players" gives a sense of a real game that one might play. However, in this game you only get one life. (man that would have been a good tag line for this movie) It's mine now, you can't take it.

Visually, this movie is amazing. Society has bright high chroma colors and gives the feeling of a pop-style game, yet in Slayers the colors are muted, much more subdued and gritty, which really works for shooter games. High-tech and current tech weapons and equipment ad to the feel, as well as the customization of the "avatars"

This movie delves into the disturbing hobbies of gamers, and as a gamer myself, I am sad to say that there are people out their like that. I REALLY wanted the fat guy to get killed. I try to imagine that he did, what with the death squad showing up at his apartment.

Unlike The Running Man, Gamer shows a much more utopian future, but with the same problems. All in all, both movies are amazing, and culturally relevant to the times at which they were released. The Running Man, came at a time where game shows were king and everyone wanted the next awesome show with out-of-this-world gimmicks and outrageous contestants. Gamer was appropriate for its time due to the recent boom in video games.

But I think that both stem from the ideas introduced in one literary classic. That being, George Orwell's 1984. In which a utopian society is ruled by a totalitarian government by way of mass fear and constant monitoring. Everyone is constantly being watched by "Big Brother" and we must all think happy thoughts, or else we will disappear. FOUR FINGERS!

Anyway before I ramble on too long (too late) I must say that Gamer is an excellent retelling of an already great movie. It is The Running Man of this generation.

Haiku

I just wrote a haiku

77

127

240

Power On - Episode 3 "What's So Funny About That?"

BEANiE has been missing for weeks, but KB and Francis have been making the best of it by watching sitcoms; but something goes awry, and they may be seeing their dear friend sooner than they think.

Power On - SNOW!

Happy Feast Day of Saint Nick to all!

Jolly old Santa has outdone himself this year and delivered a wonderment of winter white. That's right. It has snowed in Mississippi! I've capture the moment on video for all to enjoy, so enjoy!

A veritable blizzard strikes the sleep town of Hattiesburg, MS. A pounding one-and-a-half inches of snow on the ground! Call the National Guard! It rarely snows in Mississippi, and when it does, people go crazy: Snowmanicide, yellow snowcones, drive-by snowings, Snowmaniflia, MADNESS! Throwing all continuity to the wind, BEANiE and KB brave the elements and the possible loss of their limbs to document this momentous occasion. Will they, too, lose their minds? Journey with them as they face the Blizzard of '09.

Power On - Episode 2 "Assassin's Creed II: Master Assassin Editon"

BEANiE returns to find that Francis is still playing dragon age origins. But BEANiE has a surprise, he's just returned from the videogame store with a large package. What could it be? He's going to tell you.