Welcome everyone, this is Ebby of The Demented Ferrets, back with my second blog post and video. Today I’ll be dragging you all along with me through my childhood while I reminisce about one of my favorite shows of all time. Let’s begin.
Many of us have our favorite tv shows that have stuck with us over the years, usually from our childhood. Today, I’d like to talk about a childhood favorite of mine from the Transformers series called Beast Wars (or Beasties, if you watched the show in Canada), released in 1996 and ran until 1999 with three seasons. It was a computerized cartoon using 3d models for everything. When it first released (and through my six-year old eyes), this was mind-blowing. Granted, I grew up somewhat poor, with the most advanced piece of tech we owned being a tv, so I didn’t have access to a computer or video game consoles until my early teen years in the early 2000’s.
The first episode I watched drew me in and I was instantly hooked. The character designs, 3d world, the music, voice acting: all amazing. I became obsessed with flipping through channels to find similar shows (when Beast Wars wasn’t playing, obviously). I found ReBoot (which I may talk about another time), another show made by the same company: Mainframe Entertainment (currently known as of 2020 as Mainframe Studios), as well as The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, which also incorporated a 3d world at certain points, alongside the traditional hand drawn cartoon animation. A sequel to Beast Wars titled Beast Machines was aired in 1999 until 2000.
Beast Wars: Transformers takes place about 300 years after the war between the Autobots and Decepticons, and directly follows the Transformers: Generation 1 continuity. It begins with a one-on-one space ship battle between the previous wars’ participants: The Maximals (descendants of the Autobots), and the Predacons (descendants of the Decepticons). Both ships emerge from a vortex and during the firefight, crash land on the nearby planet, landing relatively close to one another. The ships scan for lifeforms that the transformers can appropriate in order to both blend in, as well as protect them from the overflow of raw Energon that the mysterious planet is abundant with. The two groups soon meet and all Inferno breaks loose. I won’t spoil much more of the story here.
From this point, I’ll just just say that of all of the characters, Dinobot will always be my favorite, but if I had to go by visual appearance, I would have to go with his Transmetal II form, which made its debut later in the series. I love all of the Transmetal II forms, now that I think of it… Anyway, Dinobot’s voice actor (Scott McNeil) is among my top 5 voice actors, maybe even top 3. In Beast Wars alone, he voiced: Rattrap, Dinobot, Waspinator, Silverbolt, Dinobot’s Clone, Cicadacon (one of the large floating heads, if I remember right) and Transmetal II Dinobot (obviously). In other shows, he has voiced Wolverine in the X-Men animated series, Piccolo in the Ocean Dub of Dragon Ball Z, many, many voices including Koga in Inuyasha, just as many in ReBoot, and many, many others. All of his work is amazing.
I’m going to leave it here while I rewatch the show (as well as its sequel: Beast Machines) for the millionth time, and I implore you to watch it for yourselves.
This has been Ebby of “The Demented Ferrets”, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. Until next time…
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Welcome to our little corner of the Internet! l’m Frost, and I would like to talk to you about a series that I really enjoyed, time after time I have watched it. With it getting an English language dub, I figured that this is a good time to talk about it with others.
And of course, the usual warning of potential spoilers applies.
The series I am talking about is one that, I will be honest, I skipped at first. The premise was ambitious and sounded odd, and I was not sure if it would stick the landing. Then I heard the opening song, and it’s a real banger of a song. After that, I checked out the actual opening animation, and I was intrigued.
The first episode had me hooked, and now here I am, a fan of Ya Boy Kongming! It’s a newer series, produced in 2022 by P. A. Works.
Where to start? Well, let’s start with the music, since that was what initially pulled me in. The soundtrack is amazing, with most of the songs being performed by Kuroneko and Laezel. I will admit, I am not usually a fan of this style of music, but the vocals combined with the series’ top notch animation and great characterizations drew me in. I am kind of obsessed over Dreamer. It is one of my favorite songs from an anime of all time.
I would say it even beat out Flare and Dark Seeks Light.
Now, what about the story?
It is an unusual story, which is why I skipped it at first. Kongming was one of the greatest tacticians from the Three Kingdoms area, and he met his end in 234 AD. Now, in the series he is reborn as a younger version of himself in modern day Japan.
In Shibuya. On Halloween.
Needless to say, he thinks he has been sent to Hell. Understandable, considering.
He ends up at a club, where he meets the other leading character. A singer trying to make the jump into being a true professional. A young woman named Eiko, who works in the club and sings from time to time. Her performance moves him, and I will say it caught my attention as well. Kuroneko did just an amazing job.
It is a story that really touched me. It is a comedy, yes. However, one that has shades of redemption, personal growth, and questions of morality. What will you do to make it big? What will you sacrifice? What means the most to you, your integrity or fame? And how far will you go, to make amends for the mistakes you made in the past?
The writers did an amazing job on bringing this to light in ways that are very relatable.
Another factor I really enjoyed was watching the titular character deploy what were some of the most ruthless and innovative military strategies of all time… To advance the career of a young woman that he found a worthy person to serve under.
The supporting cast is another shining part of the story. None of them are really throwaways, except for the true bit characters. Even some of the supporting characters get their own time to shine, their own chance to confront their fears, their regrets, and rise above them.
And let’s face it, everyone loves the Three-kingdoms nerd that is the owner of the club. I really liked the fact that they show much more to him than JUST the gag trope. He is a vital part of the story, from making sure that things are done, to giving Kongming help behind the scenes. He even was the reason for Eiko to not just still be around, but to have decided to pursue what became her dream.
Okay, now I’m going to talk a bit about the bones of the show, as it were.
The animation style fits very well. The attention to little details, like how Kongming walks in his robes, the use of his fan, and the little bounce that Eiko does before she performs really are great uses of animation to tell the story, and to set the characters. Some of the insert animations that are used, especially during the rap battle, are just awesome. I loved how they used it to portray the battle between two forces. It really made it seem even more epic than it already was (and as someone who honestly doesn’t really like ‘modern’ rap, seeing the older style of free-form rap was very nice.)
The backgrounds and scenery are very nicely done, and truly make you feel like you are immersed in their world. No matter how good the characters look, if you don’t have a good setting for them, they lose the impact. The night time views of Shibuya are amazing, and the scene where they are atop the tower and looking down on the city? Perfection.
The sound and music are honestly spot on. They pretty much have to be in this kind of show, but let’s all admit, we have seen many musical shows where the music… Really didn’t stand up to what it should. The composition, pacing, and in-world use of insert songs was great. It made me very eager for them to release the full soundtrack, not just the televised versions of the songs. The ease that they used multiple styles and genres of music was masterful. Honestly, I now have an appreciation for several styles of music that were never on my radar before.
I would highly recommend this series, in any format, for anyone that is a fan of great music, characters that you really feel for without the need to cry, and just some of the best feelings I have gotten out of a show this season. Oh, and for Three-Kingdom nerds, of course. I am hoping that they will announce another season, but I will definitely be reading this series just in case.
I hope that you give this series a shot, and don’t forget to dream big.
And don’t get lost in the Stone Sentinel Maze!
This has been Frost from The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest, and level grinds are par for the course, and we’ll see you next time!
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Hello all. I’m Frost, and I would like to welcome you all into our little corner of the internet, here at The Demented Ferrets. First, here’s a little about me. I’m a lifelong gamer, and a general nerd. I’ve played almost every form of game that I have heard of, in some manner or other.
Now, I would like to share my thoughts and experiences with you. Today, I am going to be talking a bit about one of the games I have played: Sentinels of the Multiverse.
Do you like superheroes? Have you always wanted to save the day, rescue the city, and use cheesy catchphrases while doing it?
If so, then I have a great game for you!
Sentinels of the Multiverse, the Definitive edition. It was produced by Greater Than Games as an updated version of the original Sentinels of the Multiverse that was first released in 2011.
I have been a fan of the original game ever since I played it for the first time. It is a fast, fun game that shows what this style of game is capable of. That said, there were a number of issues with the original game that could make the flow of the game a bit more difficult at times. Greater Than Games took a serious look at the game, and listened to the feedback of the player base to create this updated version of a great game.
That is where the Definitive Edition comes in. It streamlined and redefined many of the aspects of the original, while adding in elements that increase the variety of play styles and the levels of challenge.
Unlike some of the other games I have played, the individual, unique decks allow each player to really shine on their own without the limited pools of games such as Marvel Legendary and The Big Book of Madness.
What it is: Sentinels of the Multiverse is a cooperative deck-based game where a group of 1-5 players take control of a group of heroes (3-5 of them, to be exact) to thwart the evil plans of a dastardly mastermind, in locations that span the entirety of the Sentinels universe.
Pros
Each hero, villain, and location possess their own unique decks. There are 12 hero decks, 6 villain decks, and 6 environment decks in the base game. Each deck has listed complexities that define how easy or difficult they are to deal with. All of the core characters have different versions of that character that can change aspects of their gameplay and how they perform, especially early in the game. This makes it possible to tailor your game to whatever sort of challenge you feel like taking on.
The set up and tear down are very straightforward and quick, unlike some other deck-based games.
Once eliminated, a hero flips to the back of their card, and has a set of actions that they can still perform on their turn. This means that even if your character is defeated, the controlling player is still part of the game. It is one of the more innovative mechanics I have seen in a game of this sort.
The play is fast and easy to pick up, while the nuances take time and experience to truly master. It rewards people who focus on a few characters, while not punishing those that want to test out and learn the various other characters.
Cons
Some of the characters have very non-linear play styles that can make them lag behind other quicker and more dynamic heroes.
There are combinations that can break the game, for either the villains or the heroes. That said, there are plenty of ways to disrupt these combos, found in both hero and villain decks.
Many of the characters are very firmly rooted in their roles, and lack impact outside of those roles
My Experiences
I’ve had the opportunity to play a fair number of games with my rather competitive tabletop gaming group, and my overall experience has been good. We have taken on and beaten some of the toughest games that I have in my extensive collection, and overall, we really enjoy the game. The fast and fluid play-style combines with the well-defined action economy. The flow of play makes the game dynamic. The various levels of difficulty help to keep the game challenging for even the most competitive and skilled player groups.
There is nothing quite like coming back from the brink of defeat, and getting to feel like a hero as you surmount what seems like an unbeatable opponent.
Final Thoughts
Sentinels of the Multiverse: The Definitive Edition is a good addition to any gamer’s collection that enjoys a good deck-based cooperative board game such as Marvel Legendary. The base game is a good launching point, with expansions already in the works that will add more heroes, villains, and environments to the ever-expanding game universe. Whether you are a casual player or one of the more competitive types, I think you will find a welcome experience with Sentinels of the Multiverse.
This has been Frost, of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time! Don’t forget to follow the blog for more content like this. Want to be part of our awesome community? Check out our Patreon and Discord server.
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Hey everyone, it’s Kern here! This is just a quick post to explain the lack of content.
There are two massive reasons why there has been a lack of content recently. With Hurricane Ian leaving destruction at every turn, Ruka and Ebby have been staying elsewhere while they sort out the household. There has been lots of water damage, which has slowed production.
Meanwhile, I’ve been sick with a chest cold, and I just haven’t been well enough to craft proper blog posts. That being said, content will resume later this week. Apologies for the lack of content once again.
Tomorrow a new writer for the ferrets tosses their hat into the ring with a review of The Sentinels of the Multiverse: The Definitive Edition, so I hope you enjoy that. We will get back to scripted and thoughtful videos when we can, and in the meantime if you haven’t been following our gameplay on Twitch you totally should
Hey everyone, it’s Kern here, and it’s about time I sit down and write out a few thoughts that have been on my mind for a while. I love anime, and I love video games. I wouldn’t be spearheading this blog if I didn’t, but it isn’t all sunshine and roses, either. While I’ll be the first to say a lot of good can come out of blogging, I’ll also be the first to tell you that it is an uphill grind if you’re trying to make that blog profitable.
I’m a big fan of blogging in general, but blogging isn’t for everyone.
I’ve decided I’d highlight the pros and cons of blogging about anime and gaming to help you determine if it is the right fit for you. First though, we should talk about what a blog is, and why you might consider writing one.
What is Blogging?
If you want the “big media marketing” answer, it goes a little something like this: a blog is written media that is used to help people interact and learn, trading information based on real-life experiences and data. Blogs are used to help others make a better purchasing decision, or to simply learn something new. While none of that is entirely wrong, I wouldn’t say that’s the main crux of an anime or gaming blog.
Blogging is more than that when we’re talking about hobbies, games and other types of media. For anime and gaming fans, blogging isn’t always about selling something. Sure, it can be about that. More often though, in fandom related spaces, it is about sharing the love of those mediums.
We do this in several ways, from writing reviews and rants, to simply getting the word out about a series we really care about.
So, who should be a blogger?
Anyone who wants to do it, should do it. The baseline to beginner blogging is incredibly low. All you need is a way to write the blog, a site to write upon (even a free one), and a willingness to learn the craft. Sadly, that also means learning to roll with the punches when you’ve got to learn something new.
So, who shouldn’t be a blogger?
Anyone who isn’t motivated to face just a little bit of a struggle. Anyone who thinks it’ll be easy to just skyrocket to the top of google searches and pump out content will be disappointed. Blogging is more complicated than that. Some people will hit the jackpot sure enough. A small number will luck out and trend quickly… but most of us won’t.
The vast majority of us have to do the grind. While the baseline to entry is low, the learning curve to become a blog that earns an income will actually be fairly steep. It isn’t as easy as it looks. Blogging is pretty straightforward, but that doesn’t mean you can be lazy. There is a lot to learn.
If you’ve made it this far, you probably want to weigh out your options. Maybe you just want to see what you might be up against. Maybe you already have a blog, and you’ve come here looking for advice. Either way, you’ll find something useful.
I’m going to take a look at blogging from a few key points of view:
Early Opportunities and Possible Income
Life Balance and Time Management
Communication and Networking
Other Perspectives
Skills You Need
With that being said, let’s jump into the good things about blogging, there’s a decent number to consider.
Pros of Anime and Gaming Blogs.
Blogging, in general, is a gateway used to share content that we enjoy. Each blogger has their own methods. One great thing about blogging is that as a written craft, it can be very fluid. We all have our own writing style, and cadences that we develop across sentence structure. Readers do learn to identify our brand with our particular style.
At the end of the day, it is a way for us to get our voices out there. There are a few perks for those that write blogs, and someone willing to work for the rewards will end up reaping a few benefits.
1. Earning a Living.
For those that just want to use the blogging format as a hobby, you’re in luck. You don’t have to be perfect to simply enjoy the pure power of the written word. For someone who just loves the craft, there’s just not a lot of downsides. Actually there are more good qualities than bad ones. Provided your content can be considered “workplace friendly” then go ahead and put your hobbyist blog onto your CV or resume. It doesn’t matter if it has nothing to do with your particular line of work, if you’re young, use that to your advantage.
I’ll be blunt. Any business with half a brain knows that blogging, social media and proper networking help to make brands more reputable. It also makes you look more reputable if you have a blog about your hobbies that you’ve cultivated slowly over time. If you aren’t going to university, you need every advantage. Even if you only have a small following, this gives you a social media presence as well. Employers like to do background checks anyway.
Bottom line for hobbyist bloggers; give them a bone to chew and a paper trail to follow. Allow your blog to uplift you as a person and you’ll be ahead of the game.
On the flip side, for those who do want to see an income in this medium, it’ll take time and effort. Building a name that can be trusted and learning the nuances of the blogging sphere isn’t a quick thing to do. With blogging, your income is entirely driven by your ability to promote your content and grow your brand. This is what we call “brand awareness”.
If people know of your brand, you’ll be more likely to build an audience and maintain it.
To make money blogging within fan based mediums, you’ve got to find more than just your niche. You’ve got to find your passion and drive that forward in your written word. Even so, yes, there is money to be made as an anime and gaming blogger.
Monetizing your blog can come in all kinds of forms, from affiliate links to advertising traffic. At the time of this post, we don’t use advertising traffic here on The Demented Ferrets just yet. However, it is something we may look into going forward, when the time is right.
You can work on commission based requests once you get your name out there. Beyond that, you can set up further methods like we do here on The Demented Ferrets using other methods such as PayPal and Patreon.
Early on, you may only see pocket change. In this often difficult economy every little bit helps, and it does add up over time. Put those small earnings into savings and let it build up. If you’re wise about it, playing the monetary long-game isn’t a bad thing.
2. Low Monetary Cost.
The reality is, you can start a blog for free on many platforms. With the rise of Medium, it has never been easier to test out blogging for yourself. Plenty of anime and gaming related bloggers find themselves a nice corner of the internet by starting up on Medium and networking out from there. For those who see blogging as merely a hobby, or those looking to put a blog onto a CV or resume, using free platforms like Medium will suit you just fine.
However, if you’re truly invested in starting your own blog, I’d suggest going the paid route and making your own. This will allow you to start a reputable brand image and begin to build the trust you’ll need to eventually get earnings. If an income is what you’re after, you need a brand to stand by.
Building a reputation is fundamentally important. For some of us, that can be a long road, it behooves you to start early and be consistent.
There is some more good news too, hosting is pretty affordable. If you take your time to look into the right hosting providers and site builders, you’re halfway there. You’ll be able to get yourself a blog without breaking the bank.
Remember, if you’re a beginner, you don’t need to break the bank with all the bells and whistles. You can take your time to learn what you’re doing. In light of this, WordPress.com recently reverted back to their old pricing model after their little experiment went awry. They’ve got some affordable price points again, and other places do too… look around and choose the one best for you.
Remember, as a newbie, slow and steady wins the race.
Check out This Blog post on Readability and “The Reading Ease Ideal”.
I’m not writing this to get your attention, I’m writing this because I’m going to tell you the truth. You’ll follow me of your own volition, or you won’t. If…
3. Blogging is a Platform.
Blogging is your chance to have a voice. You can reach out to the wider world and meet all kinds of people by blogging. With time and the desire to interact with others, you’ll find plenty of other people with like-minded interests. When it comes to fandom related content such as anime and gaming, we’re a wide and diverse community, people of all walks of life find their place to belong.
People who blog about anime and gaming, typically love anime and gaming. We’re passionate about these hobbies, and we like to share that with others.
These days, people use big buzzwords like “influencers”, “Instagram models” and “Tiktok stars”. That’s fine, and people earn a living that way too, sure enough. These are all platforms, right along with YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook and countless others…
It’s easy to forget these days that blogging is a platform too, and that bloggers have our own communities and circles of friends, just like people on other platforms. I’m not always as outspoken in my personal online circle as I should be, but I do the best I can…
Shout-out to Iridium Eye Reviews who is also a variety blogger with anime and movie reviews. Go check them out. Did you know that I once wrote an open letter to him regarding blogging and some of the struggles that bloggers often share in common?
If you’re new to blogging, or just having a hard time as a blogger, go ahead and check out my open letter.
Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here and this is a more serious, introspective post that directly references this one here, written by Ospreyshire. The title? “Top 7 Concerns I Have As a Film…
The key point I want you to know is that blogging is a journey. The communities we join really matter to us. We often lift up fellow bloggers when we can, because back-linking those of like minds and content often share communities and readers. It’s important to network this way, and it usually feels pretty good too.
As bloggers, we often come across some pretty cool anime and games that way too… bloggers tend to be readers of other blogs, so discovering new content is always a blast.
4. Blogging is Fun.
Blogging is a creative medium. If you have something to say, then blogging gives you the ability to say it. Many gaming and anime bloggers are purely in it for the hobby of blogging, no matter how big they get. A lot of us just like to do it, and if it goes somewhere, that’s awesome. If it doesn’t, then for a lot of people, that’s no big deal either… we do it because we love it.
Working on our mastery of the craft, namely the power of the written word, is part of the fun. Talking about the hobbies and interests we have can be fulfilling enough on its own. For many of us, that’s reason enough to do it.
A great example of this can be seen by a great anime reviewer known as Irina Watches Anime, who has stated more than once that her blog is only a hobby. She cares for her blog deeply, but it will always just be a hobby for her… and I really respect that.
Guest bloggers share content too from time to time on her blog too, and that’s just another way bloggers help to support and uplift each other. Collaboration and networking really is a key part of being successful no matter what kind of blogger you happen to be.
The Cons of Anime and Gaming Blogs.
You knew this was coming, blogging isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. For as great as blogging is, no matter how much I do love it, there are some downsides. For every good reason to work hard on your blog, there are some reasons you may decide blogging just isn’t for you.
1. Time and Effort
To have a large blog with lots of readers, it takes time and a fair bit of effort. When it comes to anime and gaming, this is particularly true. No matter what kind of blogger you are, this is a somewhat saturated market to get into. That means you’ll have to devote your time to just being noticed.
While the barrier to entry can be incredibly low, the barrier to long standing success is actually fairly high. It continues to get higher by the day. I don’t say that to intimidate you, I say that as a blogger making the up-hill climb personally.
This particular blog is still working its way up the ladder to something completely sustainable. Here on The Demented Ferrets we’re “middling” bloggers. We’re not super popular, we’re not bottom of the barrel. We have a decent and dedicated reader base, and we’re still growing… but we’re not paying all the bills in our homes with this website… not yet.
To be entirely transparent, at the time of this post, we do pay for the website with our earnings and we have a bit of pocket change thanks to our Patreon supporters and other donations. However, we haven’t put all of our eggs into one basket, and you shouldn’t either… not at first.
We also have plans for forward growth and momentum, but we understand that takes time. We all still have day jobs and stream on Twitch as well. From a purely blogging perspective though, it hcan be a lot of hard work. Here’s just a few things that need to be done on a regular basis:
Keeping abreast of blogging trends within my niche.
Contacting others/networking
Topic and planning and scheduling
Writing posts like this one
Creating new forms of content and collecting the right materials to do that effectively
Managing social media
Routine keyword research
Updating old posts when required
Several other mundane but required tasks.
Keep in mind, The Demented Ferrets has a blog with topics revolving around anime and gaming. If I’m doing an anime or movie review, I have to watch the series. If I do a game review, I have to play the game. That’s time consuming, but it is required. I’m not even the best gamer out there, as our Twitch channel so often proves. It helps very little when my cat, Sabin, decides to complicate matters even further.
In any case, blogging is a time investment. It isn’t a “get rich quick” scheme. It’s not a hard and fast solution to all of your monetary woes. I’d say this goes double in the anime and gaming sphere. You’ve got to get into it because you want to get into it, not for any other reason.
2. Significant Amounts of Patience and Persistence
This ties into point number one, but it needs to be its own separate category. Look, I won’t mince words, blogging can be very emotionally draining. If you don’t love it, you won’t be able to commit to all of the things you need to know. Blogging has its own lingo and skill sets that you need to learn.
As an anime or gaming blogger, that gets just a little bit more difficult. We need to know all about the anime and games we write about, and these are two very diverse mediums. I’m going to be honest, the grind is real, and it can be a very good way to snap your resolve as a blogger.
If you expect too much of yourself too soon, you will burn out… and it’s not just writing the blogs, either.
The games you play have their own barrier of entry too. Thanks to exclusivity deals, another barrier is in front of you by default. Your general ability to play and beat a game will be a barrier too. You’ll have to manage your expectations effectively. You need the proper technology to play the game, and that’s an investment in itself sometimes. Then you need to at least play enough of the game to adequately come to a determination on how to properly review the title.
With some games being incredibly long, that alone is a time investment. That’s not even considering the blog post you’ll have to prepare after you’ve played it.
For example, for our play through of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time it took Ebby almost 24 hours of gameplay footage to do a 100% run…. and that’s just the footage we edited down. That wasn’t even the blog post or video editing that came along with it.
Check out our gameplay post of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Hey everyone, it’s time for another set of gameplay videos. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time probably doesn’t need an introduction, chances are good that you’ve heard of it. The game was first released on the Nintendo 64 back…
Anime, movies and television shows have a similar issue. With streaming services snapping up exclusive licenses left and right, watching certain titles legally can sometimes be a pain in the behind. When you take into consideration the “Netflix” binge model, you may as well kiss away an entire afternoon just to watch the series when it comes out… that can take away time from other meaningful things.
It’s easy to find yourself sucked into a void as a blogger. I’d say that gaming and anime have their own occasionally insidious practices. Frankly, blogging does too. These issues can, and sometimes do, build up… it can be a stressful situation, and some people just can’t take the heat.
3. Fandom
I love being an anime and gaming fan, I do. It’s great to meet new people and share experiences. It can be a lot of fun, I pointed that out directly in this post a little while ago. However, fandom like all things, has a dark side. There are times that a fandom might argue or turn on each other, and this is the internet.
It is very easy to lose sight of our own personal experiences and thus, lose sight of the power that these mediums hold… but just as those mediums compel us to write about them, they compel others to feel something just as valuable on a personal level. We can’t forget that.
Fans are simply fans because they feel connected to the things they care about. Their reasons are their own, just as our reasons are ourown. Gaming and anime fandom have a distinctive “gate keeping” mentality on occasion, and no matter what your stance on that is, it isn’t going to go away any time soon.
The fact is, when we care deeply about something, it can hurt to feel invalidated by the opinion of another. Readers sometimes lash out and leave nasty comments, that’s a fact. All bloggers that talk about beloved media get a few not-so-nice comments on occasion.
If you blog for long enough, and share your personal opinions about anime or gaming commonly enough, there’s going to be someone out there who will disagree with you. People have bad days, and sometimes they take that out in comment sections.
Occasionally, seeing an opinion that’s harsh upon a thing they’re a fan of, truly is the last straw… and they may not offer constructive criticism in return.
Sometimes, you’ll get a very angry commentator that says some very nasty things… and you will have to deal with that. I’m sorry if this has happened to you, it has happened to me too… and as a blogger, eventually it will happen to all of us. I would say that all bloggers that discuss fandom related topics need to have thick emotional skin, but it isn’t just about that….
It’s about understanding that fandom is a powerful tool, and respecting that tool is part of being an anime or gaming blogger. We are the ones putting ourselves out there, and that’s a hard thing to do sometimes.
My Conclusions About Anime and Gaming Blogs.
Blogging is a journey. You will learn more about yourself, and the content you enjoy. It’ll give you something to really sink your teeth into. It’ll forge your outlook on the things you write about. Creatively, you’ll learn to be a wordsmith, cultivating and creating your own content for the world to see.
Does that mean blogging is for everyone? No, absolutely not.
Gaming and anime blogging requires a rich and diverse set of skills that aren’t exactly inherent to blogging directly. Both of these kinds of media can be a bit exclusionary too, simply by default. Blogging may be cheap, but gaming and anime aren’t always cheap hobbies. Streaming services and exclusivity deals certainly make that just a tad more difficult on occasion.
Anime and gaming fandom have an ebb and flow that can certainly become complicated the moment that a scandal in the industry arises. Crunch times and poor working conditions can cause fandom to run amok. Sometimes they fight among themselves, or aim that frustration outward. Series that are products of a bygone era may be problematic these days, and those are just the surface level concerns to be aware of… does that mean I’m going to discourage you from being a blogger?
No, I’m not… I’m going to do the opposite.
If you’ve read all of that and you still want to be a blogger, then it may be the right choice for you. I think blogging is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have, because it can teach you so much about yourself… if you want to start up a blog, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.
However, I also think blogging is a challenge. There are times when it can be difficult, and times when you’ll need to puzzle out a problem or educate yourself on something you don’t know.
There’s not really anyone to hold your hand. Unless you know a blogger personally, you’ll be doing a lot of research. Even once you get into contact with fellow bloggers, we don’t always have the answers you might need. We all have our own tactics and methods to this madness, with time, you will too…
I hope this has been at least some help to you, and I wish you luck on your blogging endeavors.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at it’s finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll catch you next time. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more content.
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Hey everyone, we’ve got something a little special for you today. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time stands as one of the most memorable games of the 90’sera, and our video editor “Ebby” took a crack at writing his own script about his top five bosses of the game.
The script and the video that resulted from that effort are below. We hope you enjoy it! Be sure to follow the blog for more content like this.
Hello everyone, this is Ebby of The Demented Ferrets. This will be a Top 5 list of my personal favorite Bosses from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. Please note that these are simply my opinions, and I do not speak for anyone else.
#5. Queen Gohma
This armor-plated monstrosity towers above Link as a child. When I first encountered this boss many years ago, I had little-to-no idea what to expect until I saw its eye. I knew its eye was the obvious weak-point, but hitting it didn’t seem to do anything until it climbed to the ceiling. Once I saw its eye turn red, however, it was then I knew when to hit the weak point. I generally prefer to not use consumable items unless absolutely necessary (thank you OCD), so aside from the Slingshot, I didn’t want to use anything other than what I needed to win at the time. The figure, pose, and design of this first boss, along with the surrounding atmosphere has made a lasting impression on many, if not all, who have played this game.
#4. Volvagia
The end of the second Fire-themed temple of the game thrusts Link into battling the Subterranean Lava Dragon itself. This boss was a lot of fun for me when I fought it for the first time, and every time since. I love dragons, and this one was especially fun, even if it’s a glorified version of Whack-a-mole. It was only after I had read the manga that it really tugged on the heartstrings and I haven’t been able to see an image of the poor dragon, let alone fight it, without hearing it call Link’s name with its dying breath in my head ever since.
#3. Dark Link
While technically a mini-boss, Dark Link can prove more challenging to some than the proper bosses themselves. Personally, I never really had too much trouble with Dark Link over the decades, even when playing for the first time. But now and again, I like to try different ways of defeating him using different weapon and item combinations. The concept is wonderful. Facing and overcoming your dark self is quite interesting, and I don’t think I’ve run across one that actually mirrors your attacks to such a degree. By the time I encounter Dark Link, I usually have the Biggoron’s Sword with me, so a simple forward thrust attack is enough to bypass his defenses and damage him.
#2. Bongo-Bongo
The boss of the Shadow Temple is my second favorite enemy design of the game. The Shadow Temple as a whole enraptured me when I was young and when I got to the boss, I wasn’t prepared for what I faced. I had no idea that arrows damaged him until after my first death. While my OCD tells me not to use items, you kinda have to in order to fight this boss (at least with the clunky controller I have). The tortured design of this creature simultaneously drew me in and repelled me when I first saw it. Since then, I’ve only grown to love the sickeningly beautiful design more.
#1. Ganon
The nearly pitch-black atmosphere with only the illumination from the beast’s eyes and blades were the only real signs of its location, when I first did battle with this hulking creature. With the lightning only occasionally showing this black monster’s features, it was rather difficult at the time to fight this boss back in the day (especially with the old tv we had back in the 1990’s). Nowadays, it’s much easier to see its features, but back then? I might as well have been playing blindfolded. It was only after turning off all the lights (which everyone else always left on…) that I was able to see the screen well enough to fight. For days after I finally beat it for the first time, I replayed this boss again and again to test it out.
I used to be good at this game before my dyspraxia took full effect, but I was once able to fight Ganon using only a bottle while wearing the Iron Boots for the added challenge. Ah, the good ole’ days… I don’t remember if I tried the fishing rod against him or not… oh well. At any rate, the final boss of Ocarina of Time has embedded itself in my memory as not only a worthy adversary, but also as a visual icon (now that I can see him properly, thanks to improved technology). This boss will likely always be my favorite of Ocarina of Time for its design, brute force, hulking frame, and the ability to make children scream in terror.
While you may not agree with this list, nor my reasons (if one can really call these reasons), these are merely my opinions. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of my favorite games and I hope this helps you to check the game out, if you haven’t already.
You can find my play through of Ocarina of Time here, so feel free to watch me fail miserably, with near constant interruptions by my three (very) needy cats.
This has been Ebby of “The Demented Ferrets”, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. Until next time… if you enjoyed this content, feel free to check out our Patreon page and consider subscribing! We’d all greatly appreciate it.
You can help support us through PayPal or Patreon.
Hey everyone, it’s time for another set of gameplay videos. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time probably doesn’t need an introduction, chances are good that you’ve heard of it. The game was first released on the Nintendo 64 back in November of 1998.
The main protagonist, Link, will be going on an adventure through time to defeat the evil King known as Ganondorf to save the people of the magical land Hyrule. He’ll end up meeting plenty of friends along the way, including his companion fairy Navi.
The titular character of the game, Zelda, only plays a supporting role. This princess is no little wallflower though, that’s for sure. As Link continues on in his quest, Zelda and the annoyance we all know as Navi will continue to aid Link in countless ways. With three spiritual stones to collect as “child Link” and six unique Medallions to collect as “adult Link”, there’s plenty of gameplay content to enjoy.
Our gameplay footage is in long-play format, and it is almost twenty-four hours long. This is a completed 100% play-through, with all items and heart pieces collected.
We’re playing the original game in the above videos, but that’s not all this wonderful franchise has to offer. That’s right, the Nintendo 64 release was not the only version of the game. Later iterations included The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeMaster Quest for the Nintendo Gamecube in 2002, which promised a much more challenging experience for fans of the original.
With enemies that hit harder and altered dungeon designs, the Master Quest version was a very welcome entry to the franchise as a whole. The puzzles were not the same though, and this new game proved to be fairly unforgiving as a result. Even so, any well-practiced Ocarina of Time fan should play “Master Quest” at least once, if they haven’t already.
A complete graphical upgrade known as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D released in June of 2011 for the Nintendo 3DS. While there are some minor gameplay differences (such as the ability to use the touch screen to play the songs) the game stays true to the original, the story wasn’t changed.
The gameplay video content was provided by Ebby, of The Demented Ferrets, and the blog content was provided by Kernook… we hope you enjoyed it! See you next time, don’t forget to follow us on our social media and support our content!
With your contributions, you make our efforts possible. Thank you for supporting our content. Patreon supporters receive access into our official Discord server, and a few other perks depending on the tier. If you don’t care for Patreon, and don’t care about perks, you can always support us through PayPal too… links below.
Those who join via Patreon get special perks, such as extra content, quicker updates, and more.
Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here. You gaming fans out there may recall the early days of Super Mario Bros, particularly if you were a gamer in the 80’s. Over the years, this game has become a touchstone and a massive franchise. Today, I’d just like to air my thoughts on the game that I so fondly recall.
Super Mario Bros. is a game that I don’t need to review. We all know it, we’ve all heard of it, and it would be pretty redundant to review this thing when I’m sure other people could do it much better than I can. I do love the game though, even if I absolutely suck at playing it.
Platform games have never been my skill, quite the opposite. I’m much more likely to see “game over” screens than I am to beat any platforming title on the first attempt… or even the first few attempts. When it comes to my formative years in gaming, I spent most of my time falling into pits and inadvertently running headlong into enemies or projectile hammers.
There is one franchise that towers among them when it comes to endless strings of “game over” screens and a young version of myself gritting my teeth and gripping the controller as I try again to complete it. Even though it isn’t known for it’s difficulty like Contra was, Super Mario Brothers isn’t an easy game by far.
To me the iconic art style of the lettering and brick pattern stands out even today. I can almost hear the music of world one, stage one in my head as soon as I see this thing. Yes, the sentiment bears repeating. I absolutely love Super Mario Bros.
It holds a very special place in my heart of hearts. I spent my earliest days watching my older brother play this game. I recall nap times in front of the television set, blanket and sippy-cup of juice in hand on hot summer days. I remember being too little to hold the controller or figure out the mechanics.
I was born in 1989, so the early 90’s for me was a time of fun and excitement when it came to the world of gaming. I envied my brother’s ability to play it. I wanted to be just as good as him. Spoiler, that was never going to happen.
This game was full of noteworthy little secrets or things to do that are now common knowledge. For example, the ability to jump up onto the the top layer of blocks and run through most of the stage this way. These days it’s pretty obvious, but I recall scowling at the screen the first time I saw this little trick.
It really is the little things that come to mind. The simple, if repetitive music. The red or blue bricks and layers of pipes that allow you to explore each stage. The little bonus areas that reward you for exploring around in the first place, and of course we can’t forget about the iconic enemies or that screen at the end of world one, stage four.
I truly wonder these days just how many people got annoyed to see that iconic moment when you finally beat King Bowser for the first time. Mario seems to be victorious, only to see Toad standing in the dark halls with a message. Yep, we all know the moment I’m talking about…
These days, it probably doesn’t feel so annoying, or at the very least confusing. I’m sure many children were perplexed the first time they saw it, though. My mother tells stories of my brother feeling agitated when he first saw that after hours of effort. I certainly felt the same the first time I got there, and I knew that would happen because he played the game so much in the first place.
Either way, moments later, world two loads up with four more levels that would continue to get progressively harder and upon completion the pattern continues. These days speed runners make it look easy, and I think we take for granted the sharp difficultly curves that occur midway through the game. With eight worlds in totality, four stages each, it was probably a very difficult battle to get to the finish the first time around for most people.
Still, this is a foundational game to the generations of people who played them in their earliest iterations. With such a long lived franchise you’ll certainly find better games out there. The titular character Mario and his brother Luigi have certainly gone on their fair share of adventures over the years. It behooves us to look back either way.
This game stands as a paramount benchmark for what a good platformer was at the time, and the waves that Super Mario Bros sent through the gaming industry to become what it is today.
Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here and today we’re going to be discussing Subway Surfers, which happens to be an “endless runner” sort of mobile game. I typically don’t discuss games in the mobile market, but every now and then I do like to dip my toes into it… all in all, it is a pretty fun game too.
This brightly colored, generally kid-friendly game was co-developed by Kiloo and SYBO Games. These areprivate companies based out of Denmark. The game is available on Android, iOS, Kindle, and Windows Phone app providers, and it uses the Unity game engine. The game was released on May 25th of 2012.
As an “endless runner” the game is exactly what it sounds like for the genre. You run endlessly collecting items and avoiding obstacles. The perpetual movement adds a layer of challenge as the game ramps up. The difficulty curve is fair enough, I suppose. It isn’t too difficult, it is aimed at kids after all. You’ll gather coins, and try to avoid the subway policeman. He’s got a dog too, and that can be a pain in the butt.
Generally speaking, the trains, construction barriers and train platforms are the main things that get in your way. You’ll have to dodge around them, or have an item that allows you to traverse the level. There’s a little bit of platforming involved, too.
Loading times are a bit on the slow end. Given the graphics, I can’t say I’m surprised. It is an older title, and you can certainly tell that as well. I’d say it’s a good game to play for a “short time waster” whenever you happen to be bored for a short amount of time. Since the game is free and it is a mobile game of all things, expect advertisements galore.
Subway Surfers has aged a bit these days, but it still holds up well enough, I suppose. It still looks great, it feels great, and clearly holds a decent ranking in the endless runner game category.
City of Shadows Album 1 – A musical story about two cities joining together as one deep in the desert. A literal tyrant has come to lay claim to the city, and an uprising occurs. Roll for Glory Album – An album dedicated to the wonderful world of DnD, and the fictional band in “Thunderous Power Kicks” (T.P.K) led by their fearless leader and Bard. RWBY Fan Songs – Fan made songs for the RWBY series encompassing several musical styles. (Kern’s on going project). Video Game Fan Songs – Fan made songs about video games spanning a wide variety of gaming genres and song styles (Kresh and Kern’s ongoing project). Ferret’s Synthwave – Songs with a Synthwave vibe.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time.
With your contributions, you make our efforts possible. Thank you for supporting our content. Patreon supporters receive access into our official Discord server, and a few other perks depending on the tier. If you don’t care for Patreon, and don’t care about perks, you can always support us through PayPal too… links below.
Those who join via Patreon get special perks, such as extra content, quicker updates, and more.
I won’t keep you long, but it’s prudent that I make this post. It’s a sad day for those of us at TDF as we are a multinational group of friends, with Americans and Brits alike. Therefore, it’s important that we give a moment of our attention and utmost respect for the loss of their monarch.
Our hearts go out to those who have heard the news, and to the royal family and the people who have suffered a grievous loss. Today, September 8th, 2022 Queen Elizabeth II has passed on. Her son, Charles, has become King upon her death. Apparently she passed on peacefully.
Queen Elizabeth ruled over the United Kingdom as well as 14 other Commonwealth realms. Her legacy spans seven decades, and her prominence upon the world stage cannot be understated.
The Demented Ferrets 