Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 42

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Space Duel Arcade Flyer

The front.
The rear.

When the 1979 arcade classic Asteroids achieved massive success for Atari, the company went on to make ports of it on different platforms as well as follow-ups in the arcades. The first follow-up Asteroids Deluxe had a positive reception but never reached the huge impact of its predecessor. Since Asteroids Deluxe was well regarded for improved visuals and higher level of challenge, Atari went on to make the 1982 follow-up Space Duel. To promote the game, Atari’s artists made fascinating original artworks for both the arcade cabinet and the arcade flyer itself. Apart from looking great, I noticed the spaceships of Space Duel’s art looks similar with those of Xevious (a Namco arcade game distributed by Atari in America) and I can only speculate that the same artist made those.

2. Midway Auxiliary Show Monitor Print Ad

Did you experience watching arcade gameplay footage displayed on an overhead monitor?

As video arcades in America became massively popular with people and became a major economic sector, it was not surprising that crowding became a trend especially whenever a very popular game attracted both players (waiting in line) as well as onlookers. Midway, which was an arcade giant in the 1980s, came up with their own concept of a specialized secondary display called the Midway Auxiliary Show Monitor designed to let onlookers watch a video of ongoing gameplay without physically standing by the player. As the print ad above shows precisely the use of the monitors, those were used at trade shows or in arcades with a setup to make turn the single-player experience into a makeshift show for the people nearby. Back in the 1980s, there was indeed a spectator approach to the arcade experience but players had to deal with the disturbance of many onlookers standing near to see the on-screen action. At the very least, Midway’s concept and hardware was a bold attempt to solve overcrowding.

3. Sega Genesis North American Print Ad

Did this 1989 ad convince you to buy a Sega Genesis console?

While the Sega Genesis has always been identified with 1990s console gaming in America, the console was officially launched there in August 1989. At the time, Sega of America was not too creative nor aggressive when it comes to marketing the Genesis. The above 1989 print ad showed a lot of screenshots to promote the games, showed the console with a TV and a few peripherals and a text description that emphasized the Genesis as the so-called ultimate dimension in game play. Considering how dynamic and aggressive Sega’s marketing of the Genesis and games became a few years later when Tom Kalinske became the CEO, it is not surprising that this old ad has been forgotten.

4. The Punisher NES Print Ad

Fact: The Punisher started as an assassin in the comic books in 1974 before being turned into an anti-criminal killer.

By the year 1990, The Punisher became one of Marvel Comics’ most popular figures and the character had two monthly series published. As such, an actual video game featuring the character was made for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and to promote it, three screenshots were shown, a brick wall with stylized short messages was shown and a hand-drawn art of the Punisher was displayed. As seen in the screenshots, elements from The Punisher comic books were displayed such as shooting and fighting the criminals. Considering how wholesome the NES audience was at the time, this print promotion of The Punisher game looks odd although it is a fact that entertainment products featuring violent entertainment properties or characters were made and marketed towards children less than 12-years-old. Remember the Rambo animated series and video games of the 1980s?

5. Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters Arcade Flyer

Did you enjoy this Lethal Enforcers sequel?

After achieving both critical and big-time commercial arcade success with Lethal Enforcers in 1992, Konami proceeded with the sequel Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters which was released in arcades two years later. While the 1994 game used 2D sprites and digitized photographs like its predecessor, Konami used the 19th century Old West as the setting making it totally different from the 1992 original. To promote the game and emphasize the Old West setting, Konami came up with this arcade flyer that showed actors in cowboy costumes with a background that looks like a cowboy movie set. Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters went on to become successful in the arcades and it later got ported to game consoles.

6. Wipeout XL Print Ad

This is an ad and not an article.

1996 was a tremendous year for console gaming. As Nintendo launched their highly anticipated Nintendo 64 console (N64) that year, game publishers came up with new games that further utilized the features of both Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Wipeout XL was a sequel sci-fi racing game exclusive to the PlayStation and developer/publisher Psygnosis went all-in promoting the game with a lot of creativity and energy. They came up with this 2-page print ad to make gamers excited while creatively informing them what features, rave music and fun gameplay it has. On face value, this print ad looked more like a dazzling article.

7. Nights into Dreams Print Ad

The team behind the popular Sonic platform games on the Sega Genesis made Nights into Dreams.

If there is anything notable about the history of the Sega Saturn, it is the fact that there were no new dedicated platform games of Sonic The Hedgehog released for it which is very odd as the Sonic platform games on Sega Genesis were big sellers, critically acclaimed and even made their mark on pop culture. During the mid-1990s, Sonic Team (which had Sonic game creators like Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima) were laser-focused on making Nights into Dreams (stylized as NiGHTS into Dreams) which was an all-new intellectual property that allowed them to utilize the 3D capabilities of the Saturn while making room for their creativity. Sega knew Nights into Dreams was special so they came up with this 2-page print ad which had an eye-catching display of screenshots of the game on the left (with the Saturn in the middle) while using the other half for descriptive text and explanations (with the special Saturn controller in the middle) to grab people’s attention. This old ad from 1996 is a mixed bag for me as the left side was captivating to see while the description on the right side requires some effort to read properly due to the small size of the text.

8. Super Mario 64 Print Ad

This one was simple, clean and yet memorable.

What is arguably the most memorable video game released in 1996 was Super Mario 64 which was not only a fully featured launch game of the Nintendo 64 console, but also the first-ever Super Mario platform game made with 3D polygons complete with a large 3D environment that can be explored a lot. There was a huge anticipation for this game by both gamers and the media, and whenever it was previewed before release, it drew lots of crowds and many ended up being very impressed and wanting more. Nintendo knew they had some very special under the production and direction of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. As such, Nintendo had an ambitious marketing campaign that includes print media, video advertising on MTV, Fox and Nickelodeon and even sending video tapes to thousands of Nintendo Power magazine subscribers. This 2-page print ad was part of the campaign and it had a fine visual design that strongly emphasized the iconic Mario in polygonal form in most spaces, leaving the screenshots in the bottom. This old ad from 1996 never looks outdated and its clean approach is really effective in helping people understand that something great would be launched along with the N64. Both the console and this game sold a lot of copies ultimately and it remains one of Nintendo’s biggest achievements ever.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 135

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear Reaction Videos – What can be said about the 1991 comedy film The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear? As a sequel to 1988’s The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, the movie has this weird and sudden change of setting from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, without any explanation at all. At the time of its release, the United States President was George Bush and the movie had a funny portrayal of him complete with an actress who looks so much like then First Lady Barbara Bush. More notably, the movie has its funny portrayal of energy politics and there is bias against fossil fuel. How it entertained YouTubers is a must see with their reaction videos posted below for your enjoyment.

#2 How Pre-Rendered Backgrounds Defined Early 3D Gaming – Remember back in the 1990s when pre-rendered backgrounds were used a lot in video games? The first three Resident Evil main video games were popular examples of pre-rendered backgrounds which came with high levels of detail and immersed gamers who played. Behind the scenes, pre-rendered visuals for backgrounds became the norm both artistically and with regards to game production. By today, such visuals became a forgotten artform and you revisit its legacy by watching the video below.

#3 Vending Machines In Japan Disappearing? – During my two tours of Japan in the 1990s, I noticed there were lots of vending machines present. When compared to my visits to the United States during that same decade, the number of vending machines in Japan were not only higher but were also present in more strategic locations targeting both tourists and locals. As technology evolved, there were consequences realized as the number of vending machines in the land of the rising sun has gone down. Could it really be a growing disappearance? Watch and learn from the video below.

#4 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To The Mask – Were you old enough to have seen The Mask (starring Jim Carrey) in the movie theater when it was released in 1994? I saw it in the cinema with my friends and it turned out to be very surprisingly entertaining. Carrey’s very comedic performance really brought the character to life complete with a nice variety of computer-generated effects that added a lot of punch to entertain viewers. As the movie (loosely based on a comic book series of the early 1990s) is more than thirty years old now, one has to wonder if it still has what it takes to entertain viewers who were born during or after its theatrical run. Watch and learn from Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video below.

#5 You, Me And the Movies Reacts To King Kong (1976) – You might have heard the news that the 1976 King Kong movie (starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange) is coming out on 4K Blu-ray format this June. I first saw that movie on local TV in the early 1980s and saw it again on cable TV a long time later. As it was a remake of the 1933 classic film, King Kong’s story was relevant to those who experienced the oil crisis of the 1970s. It’s relevance and overall fun factor got tested in the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies, which you can watch below.

#6 John Byrne’s The Man Of Steel Revisited – What is there to say about John Byrne’s reboot of Superman in the 1986 limited series The Man of Steel? A lot! Byrne, who made a lot of great works with Marvel Comics’ X-Men and Fantastic Four some years prior, was hired by DC Comics to reboot Superman for the post-Crisis age and he was granted creative freedom to not only modernize the American icon but also make him relevant and essential. Can you just imagine experiencing the tremendous pressure of the task if you were Byrne himself? To see why The Man of Steel comic book limited series and Byrne’s rebooting of Superman are very important, I encourage you all to watch the video below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at X-O Manowar #1 (1992)

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Valiant Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s to examine a key part of the Valiant Comics universe through a tale of X-O Manowar.

Valiant – under the banner of Voyager Communications – was established in 1989 by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter and Steven Massarsky. This happened following their failed attempt to acquire Marvel Comics. Early on, Valiant hired several creators from Marvel and together they brainstormed to create an all-new shared superhero comics universe which will have varied characters of originally creations as well as some licensed creations. In 1991, the company officially launched with titles of Magnus: Robot Fighter and Solar: Man of the Atom.

In 1992, the first wave of Valiant’s original intellectual properties were launched starting with Harbinger in January followed by X-O Manowar in February.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-O Manowar #1, published in 1992 by Valiant Comics with a story written by the late Jim Shooter and Steve Englehart with art by Barry Windsor-Smith.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins inside an alien space ship traveling through deep space. A brave Visigoth warrior named Aric fights hard against Spider Aliens which he referred to as hard-skins. Even though he is naked and surrounded, he is determined to kill the aliens which have kept him as their slave and prisoner for many years.

Using the makeshift map marked by blood on his right palm, Aric makes his way through the ship until he finds a futuristic, metallic armor which puzzles him as he anticipated something useful in his desperate fight against the aliens. As a Spider Alien approaches him, Aric remembered the map giver advised him to take the ring which he does.

Suddenly, the armor moves to fit into him. Aric calls the armor a good skin and he realizes that it is stronger than fire-light. By instinct, Aric fires a powerful energy blast which not only kills two Spider Aliens but also damaged the hull of the space ship leading him into outer space.

When the space ship blows up near him, the armored Aric is pushed down into Earth’s atmosphere landing him on a snowy hill. He takes the armor off, leaves it behind and walks away fully naked. He still has the ring with him…  

Quality

Even though he clearly has yet to fully master the use of the X-O armor, Aric is able to learn and adjust fast in a dangerous situation like this one.

Reading this Valiant comic book is indeed a great experience and it has indeed aged well. Right from the start, Aric is the protagonist designed to lead readers to get immersed into the story, follow his experiences, learn from his views and discoveries, and experience his development.

The story Jim Shooter and Steve Englehart came up with had a really strong structure and the narrative moved at a consistent medium-pace which allowed readers to follow the developments and learn the details.

As the titular hero, Aric here is a man from the distant past of Earth who got abducted by aliens and spent time as a prisoner and a slave in space for a number of years (note: time on Earth moved faster due to time dilation) before finally being able to free himself using his bravery and the armor.

Aric was written to be a man out of time and in this comic book, you will see how he struggles to not only survive but also adjust to life in 20th century Earth. He no longer has his tribe and the ancient world he lived in has long passed away. With the ring still with him, Aric holds the key and the ability to control the armor, and this makes the people of Orb Industries (a company serving as a front of the Spider Aliens who turned out to be operating in Earth for centuries) bothered. As such, Orb sees Aric as prey (who tasted power with the armor) and they have so much resources to commit mass murder and destruction just to get to him.  

The build-up of the tale gradually intensified as the narrative moved on. The good news here is that the pay-offs are very rewarding to see. The spectacle is a mix of explosive scenes, shooting and superhero action with a strong science fiction flavor.

Conclusion

Orb Industries has the armor and they know Aric has the ring.

X-O Manowar #1 (1992) is absolutely a great comic to read and also one of the very best superhero introduction ever told. It has an adulterated tale that is believable and compelling to follow. By the time I reached the end of the story, Aric became a more relatable protagonist and I am convinced to follow the next issue. The story Shooter and Englehart came up with is indeed immersive and there Valiant shared universe itself became even more attractive to discover. There is no surprise that this comic book is one of the most significant comic book launches of Valiant.

Overall, X-O Manowar #1 (1992) is highly recommended!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 134

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Resident Evil: Apocalypse Reviews, Retrospective And Reaction Videos – After watching the 2002 live-action Resident Evil movie, I left the cinema feeling unsatisfied as it did not have much related to the popular video game series. That film succeeded enough to justify the production of the sequel Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and the first reveal of Sienna Guillory as Jill Valentine (based on her appearance in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis) caught my attention. The reveal of Raccoon City getting hit by the zombie apocalypse and the casting of Oded Fehr as Carlos Oliviera (another RE3 character) interested me. In September 2004, I saw Resident Evil: Apocalypse on opening day in the local cinema and I was entertained for the most part. The Milla Jovovich-led film was indeed flawed, but it was an enjoyable improvement over its 2002 predecessor. How Resident Evil: Apocalypse fares with the YouTubers is something you must see.

#2 The Planned California City That Failed – Have you ever heard of Salton City? It was a planned city in the state of California located along the Salton Sea. It was designed as a resort community capable of supporting forty thousand residents, and it was to have the complete systems of water, roads, sewer and energy. Salton City is a ghost town and the in-depth YouTube video I found will help you realize its history and why development failed.

#3 Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire Game Revisited – Back in the mid-1990s, George Lucas’ entertainment group launched the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire multi-media project which told what happened between the movies The Empire Strike Back and Return of the Jedi. The said project was huge even though there was no live action Star Wars movie involved. A Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire novel was released which became the foundation of a comic book adaptation (read my retro reviews here and here), a video game, toys, action figures and merchandise. The video game of Shadows of the Empire was a joint project between LucasArts and Nintendo and its release on Nintendo 64 drew a lot of attention back then. The game itself made gamers – both Star Wars fans and casual gamers – want to get an N64 to play the game. I recently found two in-depth retrospective videos about Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire on N64 and I encourage you all to watch them.

#4 The Embarrassing Woke NDP Of Canada – Have you ever heard about the New Democratic Party? Referred to as NDP for short, New Democratic Party is a very leftist and woke political party in Canada and it had a really bad result in the 2025 federal election. Recently, the NDP had its leadership election and what happened in late March saw a series of awkward and embarrassing moments during their big event. In the videos below, you will see why political correctness, identity politics and wokeness are bad to have, and they made the internal processes of the NDP hard to pull off. In fact, diversity and inclusion zealotry have caused divisions within the NDP’s convention. What happened was funny to watch and it was not a comedy at all.

#5 Elderly Japanese Women And Their Beloved Restaurants – In Japan, many Japanese people live really long lives. Among them are elderly people who are active and managed to make an impact on others. That said, there are two elderly Japanese women who excelled in cooking meals and managing restaurants, and what they offer will impress you. I urge you all to watch the Nippon TV feature below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 133

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 The Ring Reaction Videos – When The Ring (an American remake of the 1998 film Ringu) was released in cinemas in 2002, it had a huge impact on many moviegoers as it scared them and made them think that Asian horror can be adapted by Western filmmakers to entertain a larger, English-oriented audience worldwide. In fact, The Ring sparked a wave of American remakes of established horror films from Asia. The movie also made Naomi Watts a movie star. There are viewers who enjoyed the subtle yet creepy approach to horror by the 2002 film and there are those who find it superior to the Japanese original. How The Ring impacts the following YouTubers through their reaction videos below is a must-see.

#2 Batman versus Predator Revisited – Back in the early 1990s, I saw issues of the huge crossover mini-series Batman versus Predator displayed on shelves on local comic book stores, and each one cost a lot of money! Looking back at the crossover, there definitely is a lot of things about it that justify the high cover price. Some comic book enthusiasts say that Batman versus Predator is the best crossover comic book story to feature the Predator while there are others who said that Batman is the perfect superhero to be matched against the sci-fi movie icon. To understand how Batman versus Predator came to be, watch the retrospective video below.

#3 Project Sylpheed Examined – First released in Japan in 2006, Project Sylpheed was a science fiction shooter game that was released by Square Enix exclusively on the Xbox 360 console. I always wanted to play that game’s English version (released in 2007) but I never had the opportunity to buy it. Project Sylpheed was the third game of its franchise and it was the successor to the original Silpheed game of the 1980s. Believe it or not, the game still looks great by today’s standards and the vibrant colors and stylish visual elements made it stand out nicely among 3D shooters. To see what Project Sylpheed is about and why is it still enjoyable to play, watch the video below.

#4 Ranting For Vengeance Slams Jon Bernthal’s Punisher And The Woke Mob – When I first think about the Punisher who first appeared in comics long ago, I think of a very hard-edged vigilante who wages a dangerous war against criminals on his own terms. In the 21st century, we now have a live-action Punisher who drifted away from his comic book legacy and woke Disney now fully dictates Marvel Comics. Along the way, the current Punisher actor Jon Bernthal is woke and supports the LGBTQ community and its agenda. Ranting for Vengeance recently posted a video slamming Bernthal’s Punisher and the woke mob, and you can find out more by watching it below.

#5 Rice Ball Craze In Japan – In Japan, rice balls are popular and there is nothing like the enjoyment of consuming rice with seaweed wrapping and ingredients mixed in. From time to time, rice balls get discounted and there is always an influx of buyers who pursue them with good taste and better value in mind. Even foreign tourists can take advantage of the discounts of rice balls. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#6 Orion Pictures Revisited – When I was very young, there were some notables movies I saw that involved Orion Pictures in more ways than one. Some movies the Orion produced (or co-produced) that were memorable to watch include Caddyshack and Excalibur. Other memorable films distributed by Orion include Platoon, RoboCop, The Terminator, First Blood and The Silence of the Lambs to name some. Before Orion even started as a movie business, there were notable events in Hollywood history that led to its founding. Watch and learn from the retrospective video below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #4 (1998)

Welcome back, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, video game enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late-1990s to examine another issue of the magazine-sized comic book series titled Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine.

Having read the first three issues of the RE comic book magazine series, I can say that the quality has been mixed. While issue #2 had pretty bad Resident Evil 2 illustrated adaptation, issue #3 had a short story that functioned as a sequel to Resident Evil (1996) in the form of a polished fan fiction. There were other short stories that turned out serviceable to intriguing and surprisingly entertaining to read. How much creative freedom WildStorm had in its publishing deal with Capcom remains unclear.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #4, published by WildStorm/Image Comics in 1998 with short stories written by Ted Adams, Marc Mostman and Kris Oprisko, and drawn by Rafael Kayanan, Ryan Odagawa and Norman Felchie.

The cover.

Early stories

Night Stalkers – In a sleepy town in the southwestern part of America, two men suddenly got abducted by humanoid bats (referred to as “zombie bats” by the publisher) and were brought to a secret facility of Umbrella. The scientists of Umbrella have the technology to control the bats and they have already abducted many people who became helpless subjects of a transmutation process. Back in the sleepy town, the community is panicking and the son of the sheriff was rescued from a group of humanoid bats. In response to the town’s call for help, the United States government sends agent Leon Kennedy to solve their problem.

Special Delivery – Two helicopter operators working for Umbrella are tasked to lift special containers of their company’s bio-weapons. Their goal is to drop specific containers at different sites within and outside of Raccoon City. One by one, the monsters of Umbrella are dropped in some very unsuspecting laps from above.

Zombies Aboard – Inside the airplane, Chris Redfield, his sister Claire and Barry Burton realize the there is nobody left to pilot the aircraft. Using the flight training he had with S.T.A.R.S., Chris takes control of the airplane.

Quality

When Umbrella’s helicopter drops its biological weapons, chaos happens.

This early, I can say that I was entertained by this Resident Evil comic book.

The first short story Night Stalkers is WildStorm’s next attempt of making a sequel to Resident Evil following Leon Kennedy on his mission to take on Umbrella and the town it affected. There are no zombies but Umbrella’s scientists and the project leader are using man-sized bats to spread the G-virus and their methods clearly caused human rights violations on the victims. This short story, which was well written and had a good structure, is actually prophetic because it portrayed Leon Kennedy as an agent of the US government and this comic book was released many years before Resident Evil 4 (2005) came out. For context, Leon Kennedy in RE4 worked for the US government and his mission was to rescue the American President’s daughter. In the short story and in the said video game, both versions of Leon Kennedy showed him being very proficient with action and he has no fear going up against multiple enemies. One has to wonder if RE creator and RE4 game director Shinji Mikami ever read Night Stalkers for inspiration. Night Stalkers is entertaining.

The brave and dynamic Leon Kennedy springs into action against Umbrella.

The second short story Special Delivery is a really intriguing look at the personnel who operated the helicopter to transport Umbrella’s monsters. This is in reference to what happened in Resident Evil 2 as Mr. X got dropped down. There are no established characters here but that’s not a problem because the story made a lot of sense and fit in nicely with the Resident Evil universe. It also shows how unethical, cold-hearted and evil Umbrella really is not only towards its business rivals but also against humanity. This one is surprisingly entertaining.

The final short story Zombies Aboard follows Chris, Jill and Barry Burton on their high-risk mission to find Umbrella in Europe and stop them from causing danger on the world. This is the continuation of Dead Air in issue #3 and it was a serious attempt by WildStorm creators to function as a sequel to the RE games of the time. With regards to its quality, the short story was structured with action and horror in mind. While the three established RE characters search for Umbrella, the story lacked depth as there is way too little detective elements in it. Instead, you will see the S.T.A.R.S. members firing or stabbing or slashing zombies they encountered from England to Germany (the story never showed the authorities reacting to the collateral damage caused by the three), and it is at the very end of the tale when the suspense and horror came in. This short story is clearly less engaging compared to its predecessor. At least the art work is good and the artist did not hold back on the violence.

Conclusion

Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton search for Umbrella in Europe.

With the three stories featured, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #4 (1998) is just as entertaining as issue #3. For me, the only letdown was the final short story. The highlight was actually the first short story as it turned out to be very prophetic as to how Leon Kennedy would eventually turn out in video games – the brave and dynamic action hero millions of fans and gamers today enjoy.

Overall, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #4 (1998) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 41 (Jurassic Park Special)

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads related to the 1993 blockbuster film Jurassic Park. As part of the business strategy of the film directed by Steven Spielberg, several video games were licensed to make movies based on the movie. Unsurprisingly, the sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park was released in 1997 and it also had its own video games. This is the Jurassic Park Special.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Jurassic Park SNES Game Print Ad

I saw this 2-page print ad in video game magazines in 1993.

Just a few months after the release of the movie, the official Jurassic Park video game on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was released by Ocean and the company came up with a 2-page print ad to showcase a few screenshots and creative text emphasizing an adventure experience with a touch of “3-D”. The ad makers cleverly showed two first-person view sequence screenshots that showed the SNES was strong enough to deliver the so-called 3D experience. I remember seeing this ad while reading a video game magazine in 1993 and it easily caught my attention.

2. Jurassic Park PC Game Print Ad

This Jurassic Park game I never had a chance to play.

For the Jurassic Park personal computer (PC) game, Ocean came up with a single-page print ad that uses a live-action image from the film’s production. Not only was the image of Tyrannosaurus Rex head (with its sharp teeth visible) touching the vehicle very engaging to see, it is also a reminder that practical effects and other physical stuff were heavily used to do it resulting in a high level of realism that computer-generated imagery (CGI) cannot match.

3. Jurassic Park Sega Genesis North American Print Ad

The most visually striking 2-page print ad of the JP game for Sega Genesis.

Sega acquired licenses to make Jurassic Park games for its existing consoles plus the arcade game. To promote the Sega Genesis JP game, Sega came up with this 2-page print ad with a great visual design. While there were only few screenshots from the video game, the rest of the ad was filled with lots of eye candy such as dinosaur fossils, illustrations, science-based details and more. Very clearly, this print ad strongly emphasized the dinosaurs, adventure and intrigue. The game eventually sold a lot of copies and added to the overall commercial success Sega had in North America in 1993.

4. Jurassic Park Japanese Arcade Flyer

I played this Jurassic Park game in arcades here in the Philippines.

In 1994, Sega released the ambitious Jurassic Park arcade game which was a rail shooter game that had a sophisticated physical design that includes seats for two people. Developed by Sega’s AM3 team, the player(s) equipped with the joystick(s) has to shoot the dinosaurs that appeared on-screen from start to finish. To immerse gamers into the Jurassic Park environment, the game has a fine blend of 2D sprits and 3D polygons which resulted in the feel of 3D surroundings. For its part, Sega had to excite players and arcade operators while also explaining the technical details using the arcade flyer. The arcade game was a commercial success.

5. Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues Print Ad

This surprise sequel excited many gamers who were into the 1993 movie and 2D side-scrolling adventure games.

While it is a fact that the sequel to Jurassic Park did not come out in book format (1995) and in the cinemas (1997), Ocean went ahead with its very own sequel titles Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues. They even had an original tale about the established character Dr. Alan Grant returning to Jurassic Park to stop a rival corporation from taking over the place. To promote the SNES version of the game, the company came up with a single-page print ad that had an “under new management” sign above while showing a Velociraptor and a few screenshots from the game. As it was released in 1994, the game strongly appealed to the fans as well as gamers who enjoyed 2D side-scrolling adventure games on the SNES.

6. The Lost World: Jurassic Park Print Ad

DreamWorks Interactive made the official console games of The Lost World: Jurassic Park and they had EA and Sega publish it.

Like its blockbuster predecessor, The Lost World: Jurassic Park had its own video game adaptations. The Lost World: Jurassic Park games for PlayStation and Sega Saturn were developed by a video game company which was under DreamWorks SKG (note: Steven Spielberg was one of the founders), and they had Electronic Arts (EA) and Sega publishing each game per specific console. To market the game, a 2-page print ad was made which featured a dinosaur skull dominating the image leaving some space for screenshots and the descriptive text. Having seen the movie and having played the game, I can say that the dark aesthetic of this print ad reflected the dark and gritty tone of the Spielberg-directed movie.

7. The Lost World: Jurassic Park North American Sega GameWorks Arcade Flyer

The front.
The rear.

For me, the best game based on The Lost World: Jurassic Park has always been the official arcade game developed and distributed by Sega. It was a sophisticated rail shooter made by the same team behind the 1994 Jurassic Park arcade game. The arcade flyer clearly mentions the Model 3 which was a highly advanced arcade hardware of Sega that made highly detailed 3D polygonal graphics and smooth animation possible. The flyer also boasted the use of a 50-inch medium resolution Mitsubishi monitor and the 4-speaker Surround Sound system that made the arcade experience intense. Even by today’s standards, this 1997 arcade game still looks great and remains enjoyable to play. This arcade flyer really promoted what was real for gamers to experience in the arcade. Are you aware that Steven Spielberg himself received The Lost World: Jurassic Park arcade cabinet as a gift from Sega?

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 130

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 2002 Resident Evil Movie Revisited – Almost a quarter-century ago, the first-ever live-action Resident Evil movie was released in cinemas directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich. Believe it or not, the 2002 movie was realized after the original film project involving zombie movie legend George Romero – who even directed the Japanese market TV commercial of Resident Evil 2/Bio Hazard 2 – got scrapped. Having played many RE games, I saw the movie in the local cinema upon release and went home feeling numb and alienated. Even though the film was never an adaptation of the games (note: no RE character from the games appeared in the movie) and it had its own concepts, there are still some people who enjoyed it or endured the moments of suspense and horror. To learn how it impacts viewers, watch the reaction videos below.

#2 Ranting For Vengeance Slams Spider-Man: Brand New Day And The Modern Culture Behind It –The first trailer of the upcoming movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day drew a lot views from around the world but YouTuber Ranting For Vengeance was not fooled by it. In his recent video, he slammed the new movie and explained in detail the woke elements or so-called modern culture behind it. He also stressed that the real good stories of Spider-Man are in the comic books from long ago and the only good Spider-Man films are those directed by Sam Raimi. To learn more, watch Ranting for Vengeance’s video below.

#3 The Negative Effects Of Sports Betting Exposed – As technology evolved, making bets on sports events – right down to specific achievements or action – has gotten more convenient to do and has turned normal in society. However, there are indeed negative effects and regrets that come with it. Watch and learn from the 700 Club video below.

#4 Remember America’s Lunch Counters?  – Decades ago in the United States, lunch counters were popular as they provided customers not only a place to enjoy their meals but also become a part of a “counter community” where they interact with the cook (or assistant) on the other side, and chat with fellow customers on the side. Lunch counters have disappeared in most parts of America and there are some young people who never knew they existed. Here is a nostalgic look back at America’s lunch counters.

#5 Cancelled Creatures Of Resident Evil Games – The Resident Evil games franchise turned 30 this year. Not only did Capcom release a lot of RE video games through the decades and had several characters which resonated with gamers, a lot of monsters/creatures were also featured on top of the zombie hordes. Like movies or TV shows, the RE video games had content that never made it in versions that were commercially released and among them are many creatures or monsters that were either conceptualized or even produced. To find out what those cancelled creatures are, watch ScorePN’s number below.

#6 Customers Attracted By Kappabashi Kitchen Town – Have you heard of Kappabashi Kitchen Town? It’s a place in Tokyo, Japan, which has been attracting different types of customers as it has a nice variety of products for sale. There are locals who need something for their cooking needs or for their business operations. Unsurprisingly, foreigners are also attracted to the place. To find out more about Kappabashi Kitchen Town, watch the Nippon TV video below.  

#7 Starman Retrospective – I saw the 1984 science fiction film Starman a number of times through the decades. Directed by John Carpenter and starring Jeff Bridges, Starman is about an unlikely relationship between a recently widowed woman and an alien being who cloned the human body of her later husband. Starman is a fine film and its production history is also fascinating to explore. To find out more about Starman, watch the videos below from Represent This.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 129

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Resident Evil Bonanza (1996 Original and 2002 Remake) – Thirty years ago this month, the original Resident Evil video game was released on PlayStation and it impacted console gaming by moving towards an adulterated direction with zombie horror and mad science as core elements. The 1996 game led Capcom to making Resident Evil sequels and spin-offs in the years that followed. Then in 2002, an ambitious remake of Resident Evil was released on the Nintendo GameCube and it became the definitive version RE creator Shinji Mikami and his team came up with. To explore Resident Evil in its original version and the remake, watch the videos below.

#2 Living In Las Vegas –For decades, Las Vegas in Nevada has always been known as a major tourist destination with lots of hotels, casinos and other entertainment joints clustered together. There is also the perception that a lively city like it means there are lots of job opportunities and business or investment options to pursue there. What most people do not realize is that Las Vegas is not exactly the ideal city to move into and live in due to many factors that can be challenging and stressful to deal with. To discover why, watch the videos below.

#3 Popcorn In Bed Reacts To Logan’s Run – It has always been argued that science fiction movies released before Star Wars were not too exciting to watch. One of them was Logan’s Run which continues to have a divisive reception among movie buffs both young and old. There are some who liked its concept and execution, while others dismissed it for being corny or even being symbolic about the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. If you want to discover the film without spending money on it, watch Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video below. Observe how the movie impacts her.

#4 The History Of Atari Arcade Games  – I was fortunate enough to have played games in video arcades in the 1980s. In the old days, Atari was a major arcade industry player apart from being big on console gaming. Atari was also responsible in bringing its arcade games to Japan (with Namco as its partner) and also brought some of Namco’s games into American arcades. If you love Atari, arcade games and retro gaming in general, watch the video documentaries below.

#5 Ranting For Vengeance Demolishes Woke Nuts’ Take On Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield – Going back to Resident Evil, it is not surprising that the mob of woke zealots, LGBTQ activists and other Leftists keep on creeping in on existing entertainment franchises to deform them and make it fit their wicked ideology. Recently there were woke nuts online who targeted the Resident Evil icon Chris Redfield and perceive him as gay. Ranting For Vengeance posted a video to demolish the woke mob’s take on Redfield and he explains in detail why the iconic hero has always been straight since the very beginning. Watch the video below and share it with all Resident Evil fans out there.

#6 Forgotten Video Games Based On Movies – Remember back in the old days when there were a lot of video games based on movies released? Back then, there was money to be made on licensing and merchandising. As a gamer and movie buff since youth, there definitely was excitement whenever I learned a game about a film I enjoyed was made available. Of course, there were games that turned out fun and others ended up being disappointing or even very poor in quality. Check out the video below about the forgotten movie-based games.

#7 How Hollywood Killed The Oscars – Avoiding the Academy Awards (AKA Oscars) is absolutely fine. It no longer celebrates the best of filmmaking and it has been overwhelmed by woke activists, Satanic Leftists, modern day Commies and the like. Communist Hollywood (Commiewood) has been using the Academy Awards to amplify its wicked agenda for a long time now. The old glory and the celebration of the best of filmmaking are truly gone. Watch the video below.

#8 National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani And Basij Commander Of Iran Eliminated By Israel – I recently blogged about the eliminations of two high-ranking officials of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran as the conflict in the Middle East went on. It was Israel which successfully killed Ali Larijani and a Basij commander and it was the most significant achievement since the elimination of the demon Ali Khamenei. Right now, it is not clear who is really leading the remaining wicked regime and Iran’s military has been decimated by America and Israel. Keep in mind that the military operations against Iran is all about bringing down the Islamic terrorist regime and liberating the oppressed Iranians so they can take their country back after 47 years. For insight about what happened, watch the videos below.

#9 The Revival Of A Japanese Sake Brewery – It is always depressing to see your own business get destroyed because of a natural disaster. In Japan, a certain brewery that produced sake got ruined when a huge earthquake struck. Since then, the owner started hard efforts to revive the business. To discover what happened, watch the Nippon TV video below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998)

Welcome back, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, video game enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late-1990s to examine another issue of the magazine-sized comic book series titled Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine.

By the time WildStorm Productions released the 3rd issue in 1998, many millions of gamers around the world played Resident Evil 2 on PlayStation. The Resident Evil fanbase expanded dramatically and many of them completed the game’s multiple scenarios. At the same time, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield became popular characters in gaming.

The 2nd issue I reviewed had a very bad adaptation of Resident Evil 2’s story. What prevented the comic book from ending up as a complete disaster were the two other short stories which were surprisingly entertaining to read. Still, I wonder if Shinji Mikami and the game developers ever saw the abysmal Resident Evil 2 adaptation in the 2nd issue.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3, published by WildStorm/Image Comics in 1998 with short stories written by Ted Adams and Kris Oprisko, and drawn by Ryan Odagawa, Carlos D’Anda and Lee Bermejo.

The cover with art by Jim Lee.

Early stories

Wolf Hunt – At Raccoon City College, a few students talk about someone who got killed at school and her body was all torn up. They aware that the authorities are keeping the story out of the papers to avoid causing a panic. In the evening, of the students got harmed by a ferocious monster. The next day at S.T.A.R.S. headquarters, Albert Wesker, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton discuss the killings that happened at the city college. They were asked by the local police to investigate what happened. Jill takes the assignment of going undercover as a student.

Danger Island – A man and a woman arrive at Isla Bonale in Caribbean for a vacation. The island is so exclusive, they only let ten couples on it at a time. After having a romantic night of dinner and dancing, they decide to go snorkeling and rent a boat. Just as they start snorkeling, a plane crashes on the island.

Dead Air – Following the events of Resident Evil (1996) and Resident Evil 2, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton start traveling to Europe with the goal of ending Umbrella’s current progress on a new variation of the T-virus even though they have to go undercover. They have the support of a top-secret international agency which already has someone in place to help them. Meanwhile, Umbrella has a spy watching on the three.

Quality

Imagine being surrounded by the deadly Lickers of Umbrella on an island wearing only swimwear and having no useful pieces of equipment to protect yourself with.

Similar to issue #2, this comic book has three short stories and some extras.

The short story Wolf Hunt, which took place before the events of the original Resident Evil game of 1996, has the odd concept of having werewolves existing within the RE universe. Werewolves are often super natural and such monsters don’t align with the sci-fi and biological aspects of the Resident Evil games. In fairness, the creative team had this interesting concept of having Jill Valentine going undercover as a student in the city college to find answers and solve the problem. I should state that the artwork by Ryan Odagawa is good overall although his take on Jill Valentine is cartoonish. This story is pretty short and lacked a solid conclusion. It’s really a glorified piece of fan fiction that should interest fans of the 1996 game.

Danger Island, the 2nd short story, is easily the gem of this comic book. This is a completely original tale that has brand-new lead characters – the couple Stan and Leslie – and an island as the setting. Without spoiling the plot, this is a suspense story with a moderate pace, some dynamic visuals and a good implementation of elements from the lore of Resident Evil. The creative team behind this tale emphasized that as long as Umbrella and is biological experiments exist, danger and death will creep up on people regardless of location. A notable monster species from Resident Evil 2 is included here and the effects the G-virus has on creatures on the island are cleverly presented complete with nice artwork by Lee Bermejo.

Through the couple, readers will feel the danger, desperation and anxiety as the story went on. How the story ended is a must-see and I am confident it will encourage you to revisit Resident Evil 2.  

The final tale Dead Air is a daring attempt by WildStorm’s creators to make a sequel to the first two games. As mentioned above, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton are together on a high-risk mission to find and stop Umbrella in Europe. The main setting is inside a commercial flight where a zombie outbreak happens. Without their weapons, Chris, Jill and Barry are compelled to use alternative items and ways to overcome the zombies.

While this tale is packed with action and the violence is uncompromised, something is off with the way Jill Valentine is portrayed. She is more violent with action and even expressed sarcasm. This tale is pretty short as the comic book made it clear that the continuation will happen in the next issue. Considering what was told in Resident Evil: Code Veronica (released in 2000 with Chris and Claire Redfield included), Dead Air is clearly a non-canon Resident Evil tale and it is at best a polished piece of fan fiction by WildStorm.  

When it comes to the extras, you will find the Readers Art gallery and The Resident Evil Files (featuring Chris Redfield and his sister Claire). The most notable extra stuff here, however, is another interview with Resident Evil creator/producer Shinji Mikami and you will even see a few pictures of not just him but also Hideki Kamiya (the game director of Resident Evil 2 who went on to produce lots of highly entertaining games through the decades) and members of the team behind the RE games of the time. Enjoy the pages of the interview below.

The members of the development team of Resident Evil games of the time.
Very notable details shared by Shinji Mikami.
Shinji Mikami with Hideki Kamiya. Mikami directed the original Resident Evil game of 1996 while Kamiya directed Resident Evil 2. The two are still prolific makers of video games today.
Shinji Mikami played Space Invaders when he was young.

Conclusion

Remember Jill Valentine’s extra costume in the original game of 1996?

Considering the qualities of the three short stories and the extra stuff, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998) is easily a huge improvement over issue #2. The quality and creativity of the short stories are better, the interview with Shinji Mikami was worth reading and the comic book itself is more entertaining. That said, I am convinced to move on to the next Resident Evil comic book.

Overall, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.