Xbox – Page 5 – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 47

December 23, 2024March 27, 2025carlocarrasco

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 topics and the related videos I found.

#1 You, Me and the Movies react to 1984’s Runaway – When it comes to the works of the late Michael Crichton, you might be familiar with Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, Congo, Sphere and Westworld. Way back in 1984, Runaway was released in cinemas and it was directed by Crichton himself. The result was a very unique way of telling a crime story with a heavy touch of techno thriller. Hollywood has not made another movie like Runaway. To discover more about Runaway, watch the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies.

#2 Minty Comedic Arts’ look at The Indian in the Cupboard – I remember way back in the mid-1990s when I was inside a local movie theater anticipating a movie to start playing. As I waited, a few movie trailers were shown and the one trailer that really caught my attention was that of The Indian in the Cupboard. Apart from having an interesting concept (based on the 1980 children’s book), the trailer even showed a few but special seconds of Darth Vader and RoboCop in motion. I never saw the movie but there is a lot of interesting stuff to learn about it. Watch the video by Minty Comedic Arts.

#3 The incompetence and delusions of super woke Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – Let’s be very clear here. Justin Trudeau, who has been Canada’s Prime Minister since 2015, is living with a very distorted view of reality and his fellow Canadians are already suffering economically and socially. A proud feminist, Trudeau recently attacked Americans for rejecting his fellow Communist and American counterpart Kamala Harris in the 2024 US Presidential Election. Trudeau’s recent speech only proved his delusional views and lack of common sense. Most likely, he is panicking already over US President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on Canada. Watch the Sky News Australia video to find out more.

#4 The sinister truth about the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry that the mainstream news media is not telling you – I already said it before – electric vehicles (EVs) are dangerous and can harm you and your local community. There really is a conspiracy between the electric vehicle industry players, the mainstream news media and the climate change zealots. Together, those sinister forces are hiding the dark truth about EVs and they will do anything to get your money. Watch the Piston Pundit video now.

#5 More videos about Planet of the Apes (1968) – Did you notice that every time a new Planet of the Apes movie got released, there is the temporary revival of interest in the original movie of 1968? By today’s standards, Planet of the Apes of 1968 has little spectacle as it was more philosophical, more suspenseful and more about shock. If you want to discover more about the Planet of the Apes film that starred Charlton Heston, watch the selected videos below.

#6 PatmanQC’s look back at The Combatribes – The Combatribes was a hit in the arcades both in Japan and America way back in 1990. Unsurprisingly, the game was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1992. Believe it or not, the company behind The Combatribes also made the Double Dragon games. If you wish to learn more about the history of The Combatribes, watch PatmanQC’s in-depth video.

#7 Decker Shado’s video review of City Hunter (1993) – Believe it or not, the 1993 Jackie Chan-led action comedy movie City Hunter was a live-action adaptation of the City Hunter manga series (which was adapted into an anime TV series). I never saw City Hunter when it was played in cinemas here in the Philippines in 1993 but I heard so much feedback from my friends as the claimed to laughing so hard inside the cinema. Years ago, YouTuber Decker Shado had a series of retro video reviews of Jackie Chan films and his City Hunter video review is entertaining.

#8 Slope’s Game Room’s Dino Crisis series retrospective – I can hardly believe it has been 25 years since I first played Dino Crisis on the PlayStation which was a memorable game as it was directed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. A lot of gamers called Dino Crisis “Resident Evil meets Jurassic Park” but in my view, it was daring creative choice by Mikami who led a team that worked so hard to animate dinosaurs while using a game engine that rendered full polygonal environments for players to explore. To my surprise, Dino Crisis 2 was released a little over year later and it had radically different gameplay that emphasized more of speed, shooting and scoring. A few years later, I played Dino Crisis 3 on a rented Xbox console and it was a very disappointing experience. To find out more about the history of the Dino Crisis games, watch Slope’s Game Room’s retrospective.

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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 44

December 4, 2024November 29, 2024carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Konami’s failed fighting games of the 1990s – Remember back in the 1990s when a lot of fighting games were released on the arcades and game consoles? Japanese game companies Namco and Capcom released a lot of memorable fighting games of different styles such as Street Fighter II, Tekken, Marvel vs. Capcom, Tekken 3, Soulcalibur, X-Men: Children of the Atom, X-Men vs. Street Fighter and so on. Sega released Virtua Fighter games while Midway released Mortal Kombat games, and SNK had Fatal Fury, King of Fighters and Art of Fighting games. Looking back at the fighting game craze of the 1990s, I noticed that Konami – best known for Metal Gear, Contra, Gradius and Suikoden – released their own fighting games but never achieved the tremendous success that its competitors had. The retro gaming video is a must-see.

#2 Calvin Dyson’s lengthy review of The World is Not Enough – I can hardly believe that it has been twenty-five years since the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough was released in cinemas as the 20^th century was ending. The 3^rd film of Pierce Brosnan as Agent 007 received mixed reviews from the critics and some fans found it to be really brainless and excessive with action which negatively affected the cinematic narrative. To find out if the 1999 Bond movie aged well or not, YouTuber Calvin Dyson recently posted his lengthy retro review and you can watch it now.

#3 In-depth documentary of Smash TV – Remember way back in 1990 when Smash T.V. (also referred to as Smash TV) was released in the arcades and attracted a lot of players with its enjoyable game design and concept? The game was a hit and went on to be ported to many platforms afterwards, and I played its Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version a lot. To find out how hit game started and who were the key people behind its production, watch the video documentary of PatmanQC now.

#4 Defeated Kamala Harris, Sharon Stone, Alec Baldwin and others highlighted in Lefties Losing It episode – It has been a few weeks since Donald Trump pulled off the greatest American comeback by winning again the US presidential election. Even until now, the Leftists are still agonizing over Trump’s victory and many of them cannot accept the reality of what happened. In the latest Lefties Losing It episode below, you will see a drunk-like Kamala Harris talking to her supporters, Sharon Stone bashing others and more. Watch it!

#5 Electric vehicles sparked into fire disasters as a result of salt water caused by Hurricane Helene – This news video should convince you not to buy and drive an electric car or any type of electric vehicle for that matter. Salt water touching the ion batteries of electric vehicles spark flame and this leads into fire incidents that simply could not be solved quickly. Hurricane Helene’s powerful wind brought salt water into affected communities and not even electric vehicles parked inside the garage were spared. Avoid electric vehicles and stick with vehicles that run on fossil fuel.

#6 Ashleigh Burton’s Fantastic Four (2005) reaction video – Back in 2005, I never saw Fantastic Four in the local cinema. I was never a Fantastic Four fan nor did the team-up of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby starting the said superhero team interested me. Believe it or not, I finally saw the movie on home video in 2009. In recent times, YouTuber Ashleigh Burton posted her reaction video of Fantastic Four and it is fun to watch.

#7 Phantasy Star IV retrospective – Thanks to my physical copy of Sega Genesis Classics, I was able to play Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium on my Xbox Series X console. For the newcomers reading this, Phantasy Star IV was a sci-fi Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) released on the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive in other markets) in Japan in 1993 followed by released in America and Europe in 1995. The production side of the game has very interesting details and you can learn all about it in GTV Japan’s retrospective video below.

#8 A look at Disney’s The Black Hole – Long before the Walt Disney Company became the super woke entity of modern times, they released the expensive sci-fi film The Black Hole. As far as the Disney legacy is concerned, the 1979 movie is significant as it marked a serious change of direction the company took with its movies. Disney was already known for wholesome and family oriented movies and TV shows and eventually entered a period of uncertainty. The Black Hole was both Disney’s attempt to cash-in on the sci-fi and disaster film craze of the 1970s and attract more adult moviegoers. You can learn more about this forgotten movie by watching the videos below.

#9 Popcorn in Bed’s What Lies Beneath reaction video – I saw What Lies Beneath inside a crowded cinema here in the Philippines way back in 2000. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film was an inspired work of suspense and horror mainly told through Michelle Pfeiffer’s character. I still remember some comments of disappointment over Harrison Ford’s lack of screen time compared with Pfeiffer’s. Regardless, you have to see Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video right here.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 42

November 20, 2024November 12, 2024carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Ashleigh Burton’s Logan reaction video – Finally, after posting several X-Men-related reaction videos on her YouTube channel, YouTuber Ashleigh Burton posted her reaction to the great movie Logan. As it is a great film, you must watch it entirely first. If you have seen it already, then I urge you to watch Burton’s reaction video below.

#2 Woke Hollywood continues to freak out over Donald Trump’s comeback as US President – Remember all those many Hollywood elitists who went all out to fool Americans to vote for Commie Kamala Harris for US President? A lot of them plus Hollywood media are still freaking out over Harris’ loss to Donald Trump (who pulled off the greatest American comeback ever). Watch the videos from Midnight’s Edge and RK Outpost below. Pay close attention to the details.

#3 1990s explanatory video about the Fighter’s History – Street Fighter II case – Back in the 1990s, Capcom USA sued Data East over the video game Fighter’s History for infringing on Street Fighter II. As part of its efforts defending Fighter’s History, Data East released to the media an explanatory video (lawsuit exhibit video) which was recently posted on YouTube for millions of people to watch for the first time ever. Watch it now.

#4 Examining Final Exam – Have you ever seen the 1981 movie Final Exam? It was a low-budget, independently made slasher horror movie that looks inspired by Halloween (1978), Friday The 13^th (1980) and even National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978). While it is a fact that the movie faded away into obscurity for decades, it suddenly gained attention among film buffs arguably because of its 2023 release on 4K Blu-ray format. Apart from that, Final Exam has a very interesting story of production and execution, and you can learn more about it in the two videos below.

#5 Spotlight on Predator 2 – While it is clear that the 1990 sci-fi action movie Predator 2 does not match the greatness of its predecessor, it still aged well and clearly succeeded in expanding the lore of the Predator entertainment franchise. It also established very creatively the link between Predator and the Alien film franchise. That being said, it is not surprising that the movie became the subject of several YouTubers’ retro movie review videos and movie reaction videos. Before you watch the selected videos below, I encourage you to watch the film first in case you have not seen it. Otherwise, enjoy the selected videos below.

#6 Halo 2 remembered – Twenty years ago this month, Microsoft launched Halo 2 on the original Xbox console with massive hype and success. I could never forget the excitement leading towards its launch followed by the fun I had playing the single-player campaign. The only problem I had with Halo 2 was the abrupt ending. Regardless, Halo 2 is still memorable and if you feel nostalgic about it, watch the video below. Remember, this is a look back at the time when Team Xbox invested a lot not only on Halo 2 but also on making Xbox fans happy with exclusive content.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 39

November 5, 2024November 5, 2024carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1. Microsoft’s Project Milo – When Microsoft introduced the Kinect motion-sensing device (then called Project Natal) during the 2009 edition of E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), they had Peter Molyneux introduce Project Milo which really intrigued viewers. Even though the video presentation of Project Milo was scripted, it showed its potential as an interactive software using Kinect on Xbox 360. There are lots of details behind the scenes as Project Milo really was a project developed by Lionhead Studios which worked in a limited fashion and ended up never getting released. Watch and learn from the video below.

#2. The story of The Hershey Company and its founder – Do you often eat chocolate bars of Hershey’s? The Hershey Company is gigantic with a global presence of products, billions of Dollars in annual revenue, the operation of Hershey’s Chocolate World and even a theme park of its own called Hersheypark. Hershey’s was started by its founder Milton S. Hershey who came from a really difficult life. You can learn more about the founder and how The Hershey Company came to be by watching the video below.

#3. The kids who hacked Xbox – You do know that hacking is illegal and there is simply no excuse to do it. Believe it or not, Xbox got hacked by a group of very young gamers and they even got themselves an early build of the blockbuster game Gears of War 3. Not only that, the group also hacked many other gaming-related companies. Watch and learn from the video posted below.

#4. The Democrats are the problem for Americans – Apart from being a very corrupted political party, the Democrats are guilty of hypocrisy, lying, censorship, and distorting the facts to suit themselves. Now they have Communist Kamala Harris as their candidate for US President and that only means the party wants more of the same negative elements under Joe Biden to continue. This explanatory video shows exactly what went wrong under Biden and the Democrats, why the Democrats are not the party of common sense and why Kamala Harris is wrong for the nation’s future.

#5 Donald Trump’s Never Quit video – The 2024 US Presidential election is about to happen. In recent times, the campaign of Donald Trump released the Never Quit video which is a lot more than just political advertising. It is a stark reminder of how much life in America turned for the worse under the Biden-Harris administration. Remember the tax cuts and other reforms Trump approved as US President which really made America stronger and greater? Watch the video below and share it to others. This is about making America great again.

#6. Minty Comedic Arts’ Innerspace video – I first saw the 1987 sci-fi adventure movie Innerspace on home video. Starring Dennis Quaid, Martin Short and Meg Ryan, it was an entertaining film that had a nice mix of adventure, comedy and spectacle. Recently, Minty Comedic Arts published a trivia video about it which is fun to watch.

#7. You, Me and the Movies react to Night of the Creeps – Some of you might be aware that I enjoyed watching the 1986 mix-genre film Night of the Creeps. It was the directorial debut of Fred Dekker and it was clever blend of science fiction, horror, 1950s romance, 1980s teen comedy and detective storytelling. Recently You, Me and the Movies posted their video reaction which I find enjoyable.

#8. Beneath the Planet of the Apes examined and analyzed closely – Released in 1970, Beneath the Planet of the Apes was the sequel to the classic film Planet of the Apes. While it is easy to think that the sequel was made simply because the movie studio wanted to make more money by capitalizing on the success of the previous film, there was a lot of developments, twists and even intrigue that happened behind the scenes before filming even started. The two videos below from YouTuber Represent This should be seen and for those who have seen Beneath the Planet of the Apes, it will impact your perception about the movie’s quality and creative direction.

Before I end this post, I should say that the concept of humans evolving from apes is pure fantasy. The scientists and fantasy writers got it all wrong.

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Do you have Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration for Xbox?

October 16, 2024October 9, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming enthusiasts and all gamers from around the world!

I was born in the mid-1970s. My video gaming experience started with the arcade games. A few years later, my console gaming experience started with the Atari 2600 console (which was our first console at home) and for about five years my friends (who also had the same console in their respective homes) and I enjoyed playing games on it.

In this modern age of gaming, the gaming experience on Xbox this year soured somewhat and there were changes made on Xbox Game Pass (XGP) that I did not like. This year, it is retro gaming that I am enjoying on my Xbox Series X and the best 2024 experience I had was replaying and completing Grandia on it.

Also this year, I bought myself a physical copy of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration to add even more retro gaming fun on my Xbox Series X and it has been an enjoyable experience so far. There is absolutely nothing like replaying the Atari 2600 games I enjoyed plus being able to play other games released on other Atari consoles I never had. I also love the fact that the collection (you can by the physical Xbox copy by clicking here) also has Atari’s own arcade games. This is truly a blast of retro gaming fun!

*From my play session of the arcade version of the classic Missile Command.*

*Thanks to the Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, I finally got to play the Cloak & Dagger arcade game that was featured in the 1984 movie.*

*Historical insight about the classic game Centipede.*

*Content from the arcade flyer of Missile Command now viewable in high-definition!*

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is not just a collection of video games from the past. It has a stylish presentation that makes it an interactive museum which allows you to look at the arcade flyers, the print ads, the official artworks of games, historical highlights and most notably lots of videos showing interviews of surviving Atari creators/producers who reveal very important details about what they went through, what the company culture was like, and more.

Those who were interviewed include Nolan Bushnell (who established Atari, Inc.), David Crane, Jerry Jessop, Bill Rehbock, Owen Rubin, Allan Alcorn, Tod Frye, Wade Rosen, Eugene Jarvis, and Howard Scott Warshaw. These are the guys who not only established Atari as a major gaming industry leader but also laid the foundations of console gaming as a crucial part of home entertainment in general. Also discussed was Atari’s efforts of bringing their arcade games to the consoles at home.

Adding further insight to Atari’s history were video interviews of Ed Fries (a key figure behind the establishment of Xbox), Cliff Bleszinski (Gears of War trilogy) and Tim Schafer (Psychonauts games).

*My physical copy of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration which I enjoyed a lot on my Xbox Series X.*

If you are an Xbox Series X owner and you are passionate about retro gaming, I encourage you to go after Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration while it is still available and you can order a physical copy by clicking https://www.amazon.com/Atari-50-Anniversary-Celebration-Xbox-X/dp/B0BB81M854/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NGKBZ5ELWEMR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OaxQ6LwrFw8ugeckn5tgrkRkXnRxdqTsibdJxcSrPmD2KjKDq_bR4FE-ADmLqZX905jbSpfkzhRn1UgC-V2yOGYAGlZpzU6euxh2_FNFRYO2ZPfhhwTgMJTJq9qjrMNVwy2_jhwlxf4S9R0GQiGJe_dk0U9o-w1xKXKQ_bNbHN-QGyFXq8KBbwYDluM_pUGjkC-TFth7PX-IltiofdvAK0mSQ3rt9EQ5pa3mYjgWZjE.TAmL4QRUQgmoBpOLyGJYZN-LKOf47qyO3MwplApdC50&dib_tag=se&keywords=atari+50+xbox&qid=1728442894&sprefix=Atari+50+x%2Caps%2C420&sr=8-1

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Lunar Remastered Collection coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One in Spring 2025

October 14, 2024April 19, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming enthusiasts, RPG enthusiasts and gamers!

In case you missed the news, GungHo America announced that the remastered editions of the classic Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) Lunar: The Silver Star and Lunar: Eternal Blue will be released together in a single package titled Lunar Remastered Collection which is set for a Sprint 2025 release window (release date to follow) for multiple platforms, including Xbox Series X|S and the aging Xbox One!

Feeling excited or curious? Watch and learn from the official trailer of Lunar Remastered Collection released by GungHo (which is the same publisher behind the Grandia HD Collection).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official press release of GungHo. Some parts in boldface…

The LUNAR Remastered Collection breathes new life into the beloved classics LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete (PlayStation 1 version), both originally developed by GAME ARTS. This revamped collection retains the charm of both titles while introducing exciting new enhancements and quality-of-life improvements!

Fans of the LUNAR series can wax nostalgic with 90s-esque animated cutscenes, iconic characters with the classic JRPG charm, and old-school turn-based combat with a twist. JRPG enthusiasts and long-time supporters of the series alike will undeniably be captivated by the game’s romantic storytelling and stunning soundtrack, and witness firsthand how LUNAR paved the way for generations of JRPGs to come.

*Gameplay shot from Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete which was supposedly remastered with high-definition in mind (which could explain the blurry upper and lower portions of the screen).*

The trailer of Lunar Remastered Collection showed this sharp and lively looking image of an anime sequence. Here is hoping all the anime cutscenes in the two games will be of the highest quality possible with high-definition in mind.

The key features announced are as follows:

Strategic Turn-Based Action: Play through two magical worlds in LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete as you fight it out in turn-based battle style, where each character’s speed, distance, position, and attack reach must all be accounted for.

Powerful Voices and Captivating Animated Sequences: Immerse yourself in battles with fully-voiced attacks and incantations in either Japanese or an all-new English voiceover by playable characters and enemies. Not to mention, the timeless and stylistic animated sequences that will still capture the hearts of players today.

Relive the Classic or Go Remastered: Choose between classic or remastered mode — an option that allows fans to travel back in time to the games’ PS1 releases, or see them in a new light with wide-screen support, revamped PS1 pixel art, and high-definition animated cutscenes.

Two New Language Options: LUNAR Remastered Collection not only includes Japanese and English subtitles and sound, but also two new subtitle language options, French and German.

Speed up Battle + Improved Strategy Settings: Save time and speed through battles with the flip of a switch! Additionally, new options have been added to the original strategy settings for streamlined combat.

To read the entire press release, click https://www.gunghoonline.com/article/527/journey-back-to-the-stars-lunar-remastered-collection-breathes-new-life-into-timeless-jrpgs-arriving-spring-2025

The Lunar legacy of releases

For the newcomers reading this, Lunar: The Silver Star was developed by Game Arts (also the same team behind Grandia and Grandia II) and released on the Sega CD (Mega CD in other countries) add-on for the Genesis (Mega Drive) console in 1992. Years later, that game had a huge remake as Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete on Sega Saturn (1996), PlayStation (1998) and Windows PC (1999).

A similar approach of releases happened too with the sequel Lunar: Eternal Blue which started on Sega CD. Its remake was titled Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete which was released on Sega Saturn (1998) and PlayStation (1999).

Historically, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete were published in America by Working Designs (closed down since 2005) with its very own stylized way of translating the Japanese content into English (note: localized as opposed to straightforward translation), in-depth approach to English dubbing, and elaborate packaging (with unique stuff) done with the fans and collectors in mind. Working Designs was also responsible for releasing the two Lunar RPGs’ original versions on Sega CD and the company established close ties not only with Sega of America but also Game Arts itself.

*Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete for PlayStation print ad.*

*Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete for PlayStation print ad.*

With regards to story concepts and characters, Lunar: The Silver Star tells the tale of Alex Noa – a young and resilient fighter who recently passed the White Dragon’s trial–as he embarks on his journey to become a Dragonmaster. As Alex revels in his success in passing the trial, a mysterious Magic Emperor unexpectedly enters the fold, aiming for world domination.

Lunar: Eternal Blue follows the story of Hiro, an inquisitive archaeologist, and friends as they journey to help a mysterious girl from the Blue Star, Lucia, to seek out the Goddess Althena and stop Zophar – a relentless and evil God of Destruction who plots the demise of Lunar – from wiping out their existence.

*Watch out for the official 2025 release date of Lunar Remastered Collection.*

As of this writing, Lunar Remastered Collection for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One has yet to appear on the Xbox online store. For updates about the upcoming retro gaming collection of RPGs, visit https://www.lunarremastered.com/

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 36

October 9, 2024October 9, 2024carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Antonio P. Antonio story featured by Dark Asia with Megan – I previous made a blog post about this (click here). Even before this blog and website of mine started, I had been following the crime story of the late Antonio P. Antonio (APA) who was killed by his own son in 2013. The son even stayed overseas for years before getting caught and brought back home to be tried in court. Eventually, justice was served for the victim’s family and I should say that YouTuber Dark Asia with Megan did a really good job explaining and emphasizing the details in an episode launched on YouTube on September 25, 2024. This is a must-see video for anyone who is interested in true crime stories as well as events related to the famous BF Homes subdivision in the Philippines.

#2 New cars are spying on drivers and violating privacy – Be very careful with what you wish for when it comes to buying a brand new car with the latest in technology. There is this disturbing trend growing in which drivers/owners of cars equipped with highly advanced technologies ended up getting violated by car companies who collected not only their personal data but also other types of information about them such as immigration status, race, facial expressions, weight, health and even genetic information. This is because the highly computerized cars can spy on drivers by capturing videos of them, recording sound, monitoring their use of car apps, and collecting data from smartphones or computers that got connected to the car’s system. Watch the videos below and pay close attention to the details.

#3 In-depth look at the elimination of Hezbollah’s top leader Nasrallah – I previously blogged about the elimination of Hezbollah leader and murderer Hassan Nasrallah and it contained relevant videos about the topic. For a new and in-depth look about his elimination and what lies ahead for Israel and the rest of the world, watch the TBN Israel and CBN News videos below. Pay close attention to details.

#4 Hunting legendary animals in Red Dead Redemption II – In the blockbuster video game Red Dead Redemption II, hunting is a huge and engaging part of the game. The game developers set up opportunities to find and hunt what they refer to as legendary animals. There is a variety of rewards that come with hunting the said animals and to find out where they are located, watch this video by Reptac.

#5 Last Action Hero videos – While it is a known fact that the movie Last Action Hero (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) was a huge commercial and critical disappointment in 1993, there are still lots of people who enjoyed watching it and even do research about it. That being said, it is not surprising that there are lots of YouTubers out there who made videos about it and you can watch a variety of videos I selected for your viewing.

6. How terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah got eliminated

Going back to the eliminated Hezbollah leader and murderer Hassan Nasrallah, posted below is a video that explains (to the best of the YouTuber’s ability) what happened and how the powerful strike happened there in Lebanon.

7. Multiculturalism is truly bad

We live in a very twisted world. It is so twisted, illegal aliens are violating the sovereignty and cultures of nations. Like diversity, inclusion and wokeness, multiculturalism is a disease and it is destructive. Watch and learn from PragerU’s video below.

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 19

October 7, 2024September 19, 2024carlocarrasco

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 – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 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 and 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. Vendetta UK and North American arcade flyers

*Vendetta arcade flyer for North America*

In 1991, Konami released the 2D side-scrolling beat-them-up game Vendetta in arcades around the world achieving commercial success. While it is hard to tell if the promotions helped the game commercially, there is no doubt that the arcade flyers for the North American and United Kingdom (UK) markets were indeed very eye-catching.

The North American Vendetta arcade flyer had a photographic approach showing models playing characters supposedly representing the Cobras gang and the Dead End gang. The display of wooden boxes and the rope was done to symbolize the rough city environments of the game. On the other hand, the UK arcade flyer has illustrated artwork that captured the look of the Cobras gang from the game.

2. Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters print ad

*This ad has great art that strongly emphasizes its science fiction concept.*

This print ad of Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters (PC version) really caught my attention when I read gaming magazines in the early 1990s. The painted artwork showing a human and a hideous alien in the background with a planet, space ships and space stations filling the rest of the space was very captivating to look at. So captivating, it enticed me to search for the game but our PC at home had really low specs. Strangely enough, I played another version of Star Control II on a rented 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console in 1995. For the newcomers reading this, the game was critically acclaimed and was declared as one of the very best PC games ever made. Enjoy looking at the print ad above.

3. Space Channel 5 print ad

*The visual style and character designs are the result of the game designer’s research that includes interviews with lots of young girls over their interests and tastes in video games.*

When Sega launched their Dreamcast console in Japan in late-1998, their financial health was already in a very bad state and the future looked grim. Even as they faced tremendous odds, Sega still went on to aggressively sell Dreamcast consoles with exclusive games and Space Channel 5 was one of them.

First released in Japan in 1999, Space Channel 5 was a musical, puzzle-oriented game that was the result of Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s work backed with research he did that included interviewing young girls to find out what their tastes in gaming are. The print ad showing the highly stylized protagonist Ulala and a few screenshots really caught the attention of gamers and kept the Dreamcast in their minds. While the game did not achieve commercial success as a Dreamcast-exclusive, Sega went on to release a version of Space Channel 5 on the PlayStation 2 console, plus sequels.

4. Cybernator print ad

*The mention of Terminator and RoboCop rivaled the artwork when it comes to grabbing people’s attention.*

I remember seeing the print ad of Konami’s Cybernator (Japanese title: Assault Suits Valken) in several comic books I read back in 1992. I never got to play it but the print ad’s artwork was memorable as I was fond of robots in anime, movies and video games back then. What was arguably the most memorable aspect of the print ad was the line that mentioned RoboCop and the Terminator in a comedic way. This is a creative way to market the game.

5. NBA Basketball 2000 print ad

*There were a lot more NBA video games back in the 1990s.*

NBA Basketball 2000 was one of those basketball videos games of the 1990s that was not published by EA Sports nor published by the other established game publishers like Sega, PlayStation and Konami. In fact, the one thing on the ad that caught my attention was Fox Sports Interactive which published some sports videos games during the decade. The print ad also served as a reminder that there were a lot more NBA video games for gamers to choose from during the 1990s.

6. Food Fight arcade flyers

*Food Fighter arcade flyer with illustrated artworks.*

*Food Fight arcade flyer with a photographic touch and actors.*

I never got to play the 1980s game Food Fight in the arcades nor did I ever had the opportunity to play it on Atari consoles and Xbox 360. Released in 1983 in the arcades by Atari, Food Fight was designed to allow players to control a character moving through a 2D field to consume an ice cream on a cone (placed on the opposite end of the field) before it melts while avoiding the chefs who are out to chase and block the player.

The arcade flyer with illustrated artwork on the characters interacting with the arcade machine is really amusing to look at. Equally amusing is the other arcade flyer that had a photographic approach showing two kids (one playing the arcade machine and the other about to throw a pie) and four chefs. Considering the nice visual concepts Atari came up with for the arcade flyers, Food Fight actually never became a commercial hit selling only a few thousand arcade units.

7. X-Kaliber 2097 print ad

*This print ad from the 1990s had a nice visual style.*

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) had plenty of 2D side-scrolling adventure games and among them was X-Kaliber 2097 released by Activision (now a Microsoft-owned company and integral part of Xbox) in America in 1994. The game had a really interesting story concept about a chaotic far future society plagued by overwhelming crime and violence. The print ad showed a mild taste about the game’s concept and gameplay, but it was more effective when it comes to showing the formidable foes that await the playable protagonist Slash. This print appeared in several comic books I read and was eye-catching.

8. Jet Moto 3 print ad

*When was the last time the police caught you for over-speeding?*

This print ad for Jet Moto 3 had a clever concept of showing a police officer apprehending a jet biker for over-speeding. The visual presentation was done in photo-realistic fashion to make the sci-fi aspect of the video game look real. The ad made me interested enough to do some research of Jet Moto 3 a few months before finally buying it for my PlayStation console.

9. Wipeout 3 print ad

*Were you fond of futuristic racing and techno music back in 1999?*

Released in 1999, Wipeout 3 was one of those video games that showcased what the PlayStation (originally launched in Japan in 1994) could do in terms of visual fidelity, special effects and frame rates. The print ad, which had a radical visual concept emphasizing intensity and energy, had style listing down vertically the technical details of the game which required a close look in order to be read. With only two screenshots displayed, the ad makers smartly included the E3 acclaim of “Best Racing Game of E3” as well as the names of artists behind the game soundtrack on the lower-right corner. This print ad was cool and intriguing to look at.

10. Breath of Fire II print ad

*This was a good effort to lure American gamers to buy and play Breath of Fire II.*

When Breath of Fire II was released on the SNES in America in late 1995, Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) were not yet wildly popular among American gamers. To grab the attention of gamers, Capcom and the ad makers came up with the eye-catching image of a sword and posted key questions to emphasize the fantasy aspect of Breath of Fire II. While the game received mixed reviews upon its North American release, Nintendo Power listed it as 171^st best game in its Top 200 Games chart published in 2006.

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Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster now available for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC

October 4, 2024October 7, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers!

In case you missed the official Xbox presentation of the 2024 Tokyo Game Show (click here to watch), Square Enix formally announced that Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster has officially been released for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S plus Windows PC. Watch the announcement video below.

Already Xbox gamers can choose to buy the digital bundle of the six Final Fantasy role-playing games (RPGs) online or buy the classic RPGs individually by clicking https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/final-fantasy-i-vi-bundle/9P012F2LCPHF/0010

For the newcomers reading this, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is a collection the classic Final Fantasy RPGs which are as follows: Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV (AKA Final Fantasy II on SNES), Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI (AKA Final Fantasy III on SNES).

*This is what Final Fantasy IV looks like in remastered form.*

Each classic Final Fantasy game has its 2D pixel graphics and artworks updated with high-definition gaming in mind, and their soundtracks have been re-arranged. In what is a clear attempt by Square Enix to enhance the gameplay experience and user-friendliness, there were tweaks made to the user interface. Also added were extra stuff such as bestiary, illustration gallery and music player.

The Xbox and Windows PC releases of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is indeed a move towards the right direction by Square Enix and it is clearly the result of that company’s renewal of ties with Team Xbox. Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster was launched on other platforms previously and the Xbox ecosystem ended up being the last to have it for millions of gamers to enjoy.

For the Xbox gamers who are Final Fantasy fans as well as those who are fond of classic Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) and those who simply love retro gaming, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is a very welcome addition that should not be missed. It is available now for digital purchase as a bundle but gamers are free to choose to buy the games individually based on their current taste or based on how much they could afford right now. It is clear that buying the bundle of six Final Fantasy classic games is still the best value for money.

In my experience as a veteran gamer, I played and completed Final Fantasy IV (both on SNES and the 3DS polygonal remake) and Final Fantasy VI (on the SNES and the Game Boy Advance). I played Final Fantasy V that came with the Final Fantasy Anthology on the PlayStation but never got to finish it. The way I see it, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster looks like an enticing collection. In addition, it makes RPG retro gaming on Xbox more exciting as Grandia HD Collection on Xbox has been available (finishing the original Grandia is the best Xbox gaming experience I’ve had this year so far) for months now and on March 2025 the remastered collection of the two classic Suikoden RPGs will be released.

Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC is available for purchase and if you have made a decision to buy it, click https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/final-fantasy-i-vi-bundle/9P012F2LCPHF/0010

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 35

October 2, 2024October 1, 2024carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 The disappointing 9^th console generation – If you are a long-time gamer who owns a PlayStation 5 (PS5) and/or an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console, you might have noticed how disappointing the 9^th console generation (started in late 2020) has been when compared to the previous four generations.

Apart from the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic deeply altered the games industry on the sides of gamers and game developers, the 9^th console generation has seen lots of unfulfilled promises from the console makers, Xbox Game Pass (XGP) changing for the worse, great gaming experiences not being realized, consumers getting screwed, the lack of focus towards the fans, woke garbage involved in game productions and a lot more. To understand what is going on in the 9^th console generation, I urge you to watch the selected videos below.

#2 Illegal immigration in America is the new slave trade – More than ten million people illegally entered the United States through the US-Mexico border since 2021, resulting in rising crime, increased taxpayers’ money spending on illegal aliens, and more hardship for America’s own citizens. That’s not all. There are cartels taking advantage of the open border in the south that kept thousands of people – including children – flowing into America and those illegal aliens themselves are forced to repay the debts to the cartels. These should remind you how bad immigration became in America under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (border czar who loves criminals and terrorists). This PrageU video is a must-watch.

#3 Retro gaming reported by KTLA 5 – It is not every day you get see retro gaming reported on mainstream news outlets. In America, KTLA 5 made a video news report about the resurgence of retro gaming and it’s not limited to gamers buying collected editions of decades-old games for their modern game consoles. In fact, the video game store in KTLA 5’s report is selling old games in physical copies as well as old game consoles at affordable rates. Watch the video below.

#4 The history and American origin of the Lawson convenience store enterprise – Here in the Philippines, the convenience store chain Lawson has been gradually growing and becoming more competitive with the likes of 7-Eleven and Uncle John’s. Not only that, Lawson is gaining a following of customers who keep on returning because of the variety of food and beverage items offered plus convenient ways of doing financial transactions. While it is common knowledge that Lawson is from Japan and is a Japanese enterprise, not too many people are aware of its American origin. To learn about the history of Lawson, watch the video below.

#5 Israel’s intensified campaign against Hezbollah – After the recent attacks against several members of the Iranian-sponsored terrorist group Hezbollah through their pagers, Israel’s military campaign against the terrorists intensified. This happened even as Hezbollah kept on firing at Israel (in response to the pagers attacks) and even hitting Nazareth which itself has many Arabs and Muslims in its local population. Don’t let the pro-terrorist, pro-Islamist mainstream news media fool you with their persistent lying. Watch the videos from credible news sources below to realize the truth. Lastly, keep praying to the Lord to support Israel and bring down the forces of evil.

6. Kamala Harris’ dishonesty and pathetic acting about border security explained

In recent times, the Communist Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris visited the US-Mexico border to check on the situation there as illegal immigration added so much to crime. The problem here is that Kamala was simply acting to be responsible and working, and it is not a secret that the Democrats hired Communist Hollywood people to stage it behind the scenes. Sky News Australia’s video below is a must-see and remember that Democrats always love illegal aliens, criminals, abortion and terrorists. Kamala herself publicly declared her support for illegal aliens and defended them.

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