~kh

I honestly wonder what the you that wrote this blog post would say if you could see six years into the future.

Just a sec.

 

 

Imma happy for ya, GJ, Imma let you finish, but I AM GONNA BE THE NEXT BEST Co-HOST OF ALL TIME.

Nope

First to post

EDIT: Aw man, that was the only one that I really, really liked.

Oh, are you going to RTX too? That'll be pretty cool, I didn't know anyone from BZP would be attending either. What panels are you planning to go to?

 

All the Game Grumps and RWBY events are a given. The DEATH BATTLE and Improvisor panels also sound cool, and I have to see the RTAA and industry panels (343 and Bungie). Naturally, I've planned out more than I may be able to attend, but all the ones I just mentioned are my highest priority.

 

It's really a shame that so many I want to go to are airing at the same time. RWBY is an absolute must for me, and the industry ones are also a high priority. I'm also interested in the "How To Get 'Em Hooked" panel, because Chris Claremont is hosting that one and he's the guy that made the X-Men you actually cared about.

I'm also psyched that the RWBY Cast and Crew will be doing live commentary on a live viewing of Volume One, so I might be there for that. Other than that, it'll have to come and go.

This picture was taken at the Austin Java we went to after watching rappel down the W (it's a 38 story hotel/residential building in downtown Austin).

 

Also cool that you're also going to RTX this year. I didn't think anyone also from BZP would be attending.

Oh, are you going to RTX too? That'll be pretty cool, I didn't know anyone from BZP would be attending either. What panels are you planning to go to?

Oh, nice! I love RoosterTeeth, and I'm pretty psyched to meet the cast and crew at RTX this year. Barbera always struck me as a chill person. Where was this at?

Root beer is best beer.

 

*gets chased out of town*

*walks into bar*

Bartender: What'll it be?

*lean over, pull down sunglasses and wink*

Me: Sassafras

*gets thrown out of bar*

I think I discussed this with you on that one chat that one time. I've always thought they should really make the solar battery thing his main weakness, and I really thought they would do that with the New 52. One of the main problems I've had is that the New 52 really had the chance to become DC's Ultimate Universe, but instead they kind of just used that as an excuse to redesign some villains and alternate universes.

Stop using Comic Sans.

Not surprised. That is, unless kia su is counted as an emotion.

Congratulations! You've discovered the internet.

I wanted to ask this question for a while, and I guess now would be a good a place as any.

For years, BZPower has had a "no religious and political discussion" rule because it leads to arguments and even eventually flame wars. I can get that. I've been there enough of my life to know it carries a bunch of controversy. The rules even make mention that verses or phrases like "Proud to be a Christian" and the like are not allowed in signatures and whatnot. I can respect that.

But recently this issue has begun to spring up. Homosexuality is the current hot-topic, both politically and religiously, around the nations of the world right now. It is. There's no denying it. Its too important not to be.

When the kissing banners started going around though, I realized that by and large that point didn't have the relevance it used to. Obviously, there was a large discord going on about it, both then and now. The given reason, "do not display in signature because it would lead to arguments/flame wars", was obviously not the only reason for disallowing religious statements (Christian or otherwise) to be put in your signature, otherwise so would those banners. So there has to at least be some other reason for that, right?

I'm not going to pretend I can speak for others, but for me, being a Christian is not just a religion I have to follow. It is not some ritual that I perform every week, church on Sunday, Youth Group on Wednesday, pray before every meal. It is not some rulebook that I need to keep so that I'm able to cope with death. It is my identity. It is a fundamental part of who I am.

The reason often given for allowing homosexual banners was the same. "This is who they are," they said. Far be it for me to persuade them otherwise.

But here I am. I believe being a Christian is also my identity. Does that allow me the same privilege? Can I now put "Being a Christian: The Way It Was Supposed To Be" in my signature? What is the difference here?

Some people offer out that becoming a Christian is a choice, while people are born homosexual. Fair enough. But what if I say that being a homosexual is a choice? What if I say you are born a Christian? True, it would be only my own personal opinion, my personal view. That probably wouldn't change your opinion or view in the slightest. But if I say my opinion supersedes yours, does that make me intolerant? Does it make that promote inequality? If you say yours does mine, does it make you? Can you say that having a homosexual identity is inherently greater than having a Christian identity and still enforce that it is for the sake of equality?

There are, as far as I know, three outcomes that could come out of this situation at hand:

You can make both identities be muted in order to stop arguments from spreading. That can work. I can see the merit of that.

You can make both identities be allowed in order to give more room for self expression to members. That can work too. I can also see the merit of that.

You can also make one side be allowed and the other be muted. That also works. I don't run the place. I don't make the rules. Its your site, you can do what you see fit and if I don't like it, I'll just have to deal with it or go somewhere else. This is a privately run institution, after all. I don't have any rights here outside of the ones you give me.

But in the very least, and this is really a honest request, if it is the latter option, can you please explain how doing so means that everyone is given equal right to self expression?

EDIT: Apparently comments from blogs do not auto-update as I thought they used to. This took some time to write and I did not see the past several comments before this one. I don't mean to argue for one side or another, but to honestly ask a question here as to why some things are allowed and others aren't. I will be content with your answer and not reply further, if that's what you want me to do.

Okay, hold on, flag on the play

Do any of you know what "wat the cee" actually is referring to

Because there's really no point in doing so if you don't

That soundtrack has to be one of the best I've heard in a long while. Gotham's Reckoning was great, but Mind If I Cut In? had its own merits.

The most legitly funny thing I have seen all day.

So there actually is a BZPower Minecraft server that's still running?

But I don't like it because its retro and vintage and cool.I like it because I find it enjoyable. Today's pop I find boring and, at times, irritating.And it certainly can't be nostalgia considering I wasn't alive 5 decades ago.

Maybe that sort of adds to it? I mean, you weren't alive during the 70s, so you didn't actually hear all of the pop music as it happened. To me, I would sort of assume that in about forty years, a lot of the lesser and more annoying songs would sort of fade out of the limelight, while all we would hear now is the sort of "best of" of that era.

That, and we're always surrounded by the pop music of today (that is, after all, why it is pop music). Hearing something all the time only increases your dislike for it, and, generally speaking, of course, unless you're looking for it, you don't hear a lot of 70s music on a regular basis. Combining those two factors does make 70s music appear like a breath of "fresh air".

I've gotta admit, bro, you've really inspired me. Making songs off problems with the BIONICLE toyline and fanbase...that really got to me, you know? That whole thing with the "blasphemy" and how people are leaving it behind...that's what I'm talking about؟

So I decided to make my own little song to do just that. How I'll never give up BIONICLE, no matter what. Thanks, from the bottom of my heart؟

To the tune of "Whatcha Say" by Jason Derulo (listening to it while you're reading might help seal in the impact):

-------------------------

Wha- wha- what did he say?

Mmmmm, what he saaaaaaaid?

Oh, that Star Trek came back?

Well of course it did

Mmm, what he saaaaaid?

That we could bring it back too?

Of course we can

I was a fan, so I can

Played with 'em everyday (re-day)

Man, I was caught up in the sets

Rebuilt them in every way (re-way)

That story couldn't have been any bet-ter

The toyline was just meant to last forev-ver

So sign my pe-ti-tion

Give it another chance

You don't know whatcha doin' (do-in')

'Cause when the news came out and line was dead

I just didn't know what to do

C'mon now LEGO Group, please just bring it back

I'll do aaaanything for yoooou!

Mmmmm, what they saaaaaaaid?

Oh, that sales were not good?

Well of course they weren't

Mmm, what they saaaaaid?

That it was just for the best?

Of course it was

Mmmmm, what they saaaaaid?

That they cancelled the toyline?

Let's storm their place

Mmmmm, what they saaaaaid?

Wha- wha- what did they saaaaay?

How could I live with myself?

Without all my big plastic toys? (tic-toys)

And ooh, when I get that one chance

They'll wish they hadn't been so coy (so-coy)

Oh, 'cause what I'll do is pretty clever

I'll get all these sigs into a letter

So sign my pe-ti-tion

Give it another chance

You don't know whatcha doin' (do-in')

'Cause LEGO ended it and replaced it with

Some corny hero factory

You betrayed all my trust, your busness is a bust

You won't get aaaany sales from meeeee!

Mmmmm, what he saaaaaaaid?

Oh, that Star Trek came back?

Well of course it did

Mmm, what he saaaaaid?

That we can bring it back too?

Of course we can

Mmmmm, what he saaaaaid?

We should keep it alive?

Well of course we should

Mmmmm, what he saaaaaid?

Wha- wha- what did he saaaaay?

Oh, follow what he saaaaid (saaaid)

If we say "no, they won't bring it back"

Then they'll never bring it back

Oh, follow what he saaaaid (saaaid)

I really want those toys right now

I don't care why, I don't care how

Oh, follow what he saaaaid (saaaid)

Keep the discussion alive

Don't let it take a nosedive

Oh, follow what he saaaid (saaaid)

Don't care 'bout sales and business

That toyline just was the best

Someday you'll really see why you don't mess with me

And you'll wish you weren't so bold!

Cause' I just want play with those toys all day

Even when I'm twenty-one years old!

Mmmmm, what you saaaaaaay?

Oh, that you're starting some club?

Well of course you are

Mmm, what you saaaaay?

That your petition failed?

Of course it did

Mmmmm, what they saaaaaid?

That you should just live with it?

Of course you won't

Mmmmm, what they saaaaaid

Wha- wha- what did they saaaaay?

Alright, then. Here's to some actual decent debate, no?

My main "problem" with this argument is that it seems to take on this one approach: that sprite comic makers seem to think themselves "better" than hand-drawn comic artists. This not only isn't true, its actually quite the opposite. I often see that this debate is started and argued not by proving their superiority, but on their equality. In fact, if you switched the words "sprite comics" and "draw one by hand" in most of the arguments you gave below, you basically have all of the basic made against sprite comics, not for them.

"It takes a lot more time to make a sprite comic than to draw one by hand!"

In fact, I actually totally agree with you on this point. The time spent making a comic does not automatically guarentee an actual good piece of work. The problem is, it is never a sprite comic maker that pulls up this argument. In fact, they usually bring up this one to counter it. There is this sort of assumption made here that the more time something takes, the better it is, and that simply isn't true. But this is a common defense taken up by many hand drawn artists, in which it is assumed that since they took more time (or at least, they think they took more time; how long it actually takes varies on what they're comparing it to) they have put in much more effort and their final product is much better.

"How can you know, or compare? You don't even make sprite comics!"

No, you don't need to walk the moon to know what it looks like. But you do if you're going to say that nothing's special about walking on the moon to astronauts, they'll likely put this argument up to you. There are some things that people often overlook when thinking about making a sprite comic that actually take a lot more time than people think.

For instance, in my own (former) contest entry, it seems pretty simple to do. Just take a picture, slap on a sprite, and you have that comic, right? But there is a lot of detail that went into it that made it longer to make. For instance, the lighting on the sprites had to be altered to match the light sources, the shadows had to line up with the directional light/distance, the sprites' colors had to be evenly saturated so as to not contrast too much with the backgrounds, the eyes all had to had some sort of outer glow, many of the backgrounds all had to be altered in terms of color balance to have a blue tint in order to fit in with the others or just to be leveled, several of them had to be turned from day scenes into night, several of them had to be blurred to give the illusion of perspective for a close-up shot, etc., etc.

Alright, so its not the most strenuous activity in the world, but what I'm basically trying to say is that many people still have this old "MSPaint" era view of comic work, in which you just copy and paste the sprite onto a poorly made background and called it done. The work does pile up, and its not just a simple cut-and-paste job. Now, that's not to say that no one in the forum still does that, but in terms of argument and from the perspective of a more experienced comic maker, I have to say that this point of view that its just a simple thing to do kind of irks me to a point. I don't mind if people don't like the style or even the comic itself, but don't knock down or demean the amount of effort that went into it by saying I just Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V.

"It takes a lot more time to make a sprite comic than to draw one by hand!"

This is another one of those arguments that are actually flipped around most if not all of the time. I've seen this argument used countless times by hand-drawn artists. Quite honestly, it goes back to the point that time doesn't mean that its a good work, and that some comics take more work than meets the eye. It depends on the comics you are comparing, really. Not only that, but just because something is simpler doesn't also mean that its worse off. For instance, Jim Lee's work probably takes more time to do than, say, Sean Galloway's work, but that doesn't mean that one is a lesser style than the other.

"Its easier to make a hand-drawn comic than a sprite comic."

"But Sumiki, the time and effort that it takes to make a sprite comic far outdoes the work put into hand-drawn comics!"

These two really bother me because I've never heard these used against hand-drawn comics. Against sprite comics, yes, but never against hand-drawn comics. Simply put, sprite comic artists, as opposed to maybe a popular opinion, don't think that they're better than hand drawn artists. They don't. They think that they can contend with hand-drawn artists and that they actually do more work than everyone thinks, but at no point did this mentality that they're better than hand-drawn artists ever come into the general populace.

In fact, that's again mostly my biggest problem with this post. These arguments are usually never used by sprite comics artists, but in fact against them. Its almost as if you took all of the arguments that are generally made against them, switched the words "hand drawn" and "sprite comics", and then based this post off that. In fact, this argument is only brought up when others say look down on them and that sprite comics are either have no effort at all put into them or not actually "true" comics and cannot come close to what hand-drawn comics can do.

Which brings me back to this point:

"But Sumiki, they're both comics! Why can't we compare?"

I disagree on this point on the basis on what I believe comics are. Comics as I see them are, in the infamous words of Scott McCloud, "juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer". I do not believe the styles of a comic to being factors as to whether they can be compared or not in the same way I think you can compare a 2D animated film to a 3D animated, or pop music in the '60s as compared to pop music in the '90s. This isn't a matter of apples and oranges, but instead of apple pie and apple cobbler. They both use the same base ingredient and end up looking up very similar to each other, but each one has both its own strengths and weaknesses.

Honestly, the best analogy I can give to these as opposed to something on BZPower is a MOC. Think about it: all the pieces are already premade by another artist (in this case, the artists/designers at the LEGO Group), but MOCists take those pieces and make them into something that is their own work. This argument here is sort of like saying that if I modeled a Kanohi out of clay, because it is handmade out of scratch, it outclasses any MOC because the MOCs are "unoriginal".

That's basically what I have to say. If you tl;dr'ed, well, can't say I really blame you, but yeah. As an artist, I guess I'm pretty quick to be on the defense about my work, so sorry if this is just too long-winded for anyone to pay attention to.

I'd like to say that everyone's taking this not so seriously but then again, sprite comics are totally serious business, so that's sort of out the window.

Suffice to say that there's things said that could be better said but the core message would probably be the same, at least from my end. Sure, to others, it might seem kind of stupid that so many people are seemingly acting defensive about it, but I guess its sort of like insulting a train set if you're a big train collector. Yeah, so it may seem sort of pathetic, but they're my trains. And I'm really frikkin' proud of my trains, bro.

You forgot this masterpiece.

Whoa, thanks for the MOC, man. Even though my colors aren't actually red and blue =P

What do you expect? The bear had a rough life trying to record his rap album and is trying to survive life in the forest... with all those rival bear clans wandering around.Hope your face gets better and the bear can come back from the wild side.

Hey, a battle between West Forest and East Forest would make anybody angsty. Its a good thing the forest rangers let him off with a warning after he ate all those people, though.

Best show ever.

I'm serious.

Good collection of games there. SSBB is pretty addicting if you have a bunch of people to play it with. Be warned, however, Twilight Princess gets a Genre Shift once you hit the sand dungeon. Its a great game, but a bit on the dark magic side, which promptly made my parents make me dispose of it.