Photon the Shermie fan

11/07 "late to meme"

2009-11-07T03:20:32Z

I lack sleep. In a nutshell:

-Found new friends and sort of rediscovered old ones
-SF4 players here are indeed the old SF/KOF/Marvel/Tekken players of old
-My SF4 game really needs work, but at least the old stuff I learned from SF2/ST served me well in the HD Remix casuals.
-A few interesting points raised in a quasi debate with some guy. I'll try to recall the points later.
-And yes, I'm still fixated on the damn game but I really need to play it more regularly and more consistently I ever want to get better than my current level
-I should be able to balance work and leisure better, or at least not get any worse than what I'm already doing.

Also,

10/30 more Street Fighter 4

2009-10-29T17:42:07Z

Yes. SF4 got a hold of me in June/July. That was when the first arcade cabs arrived in Metro Manila. It hasn't let go since.

Finally had another set of casuals today. Last month came with a pleasant surprise. Apparently, there are quite a few players in this area. As an aside, I recognized a few of them. They were the old MvC1, MvC2, and 3s players here. I guess ye olde 2D fighting games is really for ye olde crowd.

me: *chooses... Chun-Li as the main, as usual. I used Rose a lot as an alt though, as well as some Sakura, Cammy, Rufus, and my primary, alt Honda*
new friend 01: Man, are you choosing nothing but women?
new friend 02: Hey, I noticed that too.
me: B-b-b-but! I choose E. Honda and Rufus too.
new friends 02: Ah... tits.
me:

I have come to the conclusion that Rose has a really freaking good Ultra, but really lacking in just about everything else. It's as if I'm still playing Sakura/Rose in the hopes that this game will magically turn into Alpha 3 or CvS2. (I'm sure I'll learn their advanced stuff in time. But still.) It's obvious that to get where I want to be, I need to log in more hours. Arcades and borrowing with friends is good, but it only gets one so far. I'm sure that even a few 1p playthroughs and trials will help immensely.

I really hope that 2010 means I a) have a current gen machine of my own and/or a good upgraded PC to run this baby, and b) the things that I learned in regular SF4 will still be valuable and viable by the time Super SF4 comes to town.

10/23 Lies

2009-10-23T18:44:59Z

Sent to me by an old Facebook friend:

It took me three minutes and a peek at the comments to get it. It's something that I loathe, even.

10/23 rock you

2009-10-23T18:39:22Z

I was going to comment on some of the changes that will happen in my life in the coming year. But as it is, I am a)too addicted to SF4 and b) too tired or bothered with work and c) confused and unwilling to make decisions yet. Or at least, commit them to blog.

So in the meantime, I'll just tackle the small stuff of interest.

***

The Manila-bound bus screened that awful Wolverine Origins movie the other day. I did my hardest to look away (and out into the window instead). It's a shame. X1 (which I also revisited recently) feels dated now, but I thought it was an admirable first attempt. It did put superhero movies back in the big league, if nothing else. I remember really liking X2 as well. X3 was mediocre. I think it was mostly the old director's fault, for jumping ship. (In the process, giving us a sucky X movie and a forgettable Superman one). I thought it wouldn't get worse than that, but Wolvy managed to pull it off.

What can I say? I like Deadpool to a fault too. It really pains me, what they did. He's the merc with a mouth, and yet towards the end...gah.

***

They bus hands did redeem themselves by showing concert DVD's thereafter.

Queen is incredible. Their front man (RIP) was really something. It's not hard to see why the Japanese got hooked.

Without Queen, there would be no Mike Haggar, and no Eagle. There would be no Sol. Heck, there would be no Guilty Gear in general.

and of course, this milestone in animated history would have not existed.

10/12 some Tekken finding

2009-10-12T02:58:50Z

Brought to my attention by one of my Facebook friends. I... what?

http://www.tekken6-official.eu/pages/en/52/character.html

10/12 company recruitment fair

2009-10-11T16:21:45Z

Hello all. Office (kgb Phils - Sta Rosa call center) is holding recruitment activities around Laguna and Southern Metro Manila.

15 Oct PESO Los Baños (near Municipal Hall)
16 Oct Canlubang Bgy Hall
19 Oct Starmall (Alabang Metropolis)
26 Oct Cambridge Learning Centre, Parian (Calamba)

There's also dates for Cavite, but I am not sure where, or if they have already passed. For more information, visit this link. You may also call the office at +6327567500. Thanks.

10/11 random thoughts and public transit

2009-10-11T08:17:28Z

I work from afternoon to late night. I take an hour-long commute home, and arrive home 11-ish. The Philippine nighttime bus (or jeepney) populace is interesting, to say the least. I've shared seats with 'em all. Rich and poor, male and female (or LGBT), light-skinned and dark-skinned. I've seen pimps and their wards* ride.

I've seen a fight or two break out as well. The cuts were just like what I usually see in boxing and MMA - only up close and personal this time. I recall at least one instance where the driver didn't like one passenger (probably drunk or high), and told him to get the hell off his ride.

*Because obviously, these ladies only wore ridiculously short and skimpy clothing because it's hot outside. Never mind that they only travel late at night. Oh no sir.

***

Last night, there was this obviously drunk guy who entered the jeepney. He started talking loudly into his phone. Apparently, he and his wife had a falling out, and heck... I think he was planning to cheat on her because he was calling and talking dirty to other broads for the whole trip. He totally didn't care how the other passengers reacted, or if they were disturbed by what he did. Probably too drunk too care. Just wow.

***

Oh and the beggars are still there, even late a night. A word to my Filipino friends if I may. Do not, I repeat, do not give them anything anymore. The kids use the money to buy glue for substance abuse. The adults use it to gamble. Both age groups report to pimps of sorts and some of their "earnings" go there. What you've heard about crime rackets is true. I've seen it... they gather late at night when they think no-one is watching. The whole poor thing is a front.

Worse, there were times where I offered food and the like since I really had no money, but these panhandlers got angry at me and demanded money instead. It was the most F'd up thing I've ever experienced in my whole life.

If you really care for the less privileged, give to charity, or your favorite foundation. Or call the police to round up these people (or more importantly, nab their "bosses" - I think these guys pay off cops and other officials though, so that may or may not work).

09/29 post-flood

2009-09-29T01:16:55Z

Thank you for all who messaged and expressed concern. Things are better now, in this province at least. I'm not sure if I can say the same for elsewhere. Here are some more images.

Of all the media about this storm, I think I liked this one the best. It encapsulates how the people won't ever be held down by anything. We are a resilient (if often whiny) race.

9/26 flooding

2009-09-27T13:48:40Z

It was supposed to be an ordinary day. Just an everyday commute to the office. My grandfather, his driver friend and I were in my Revo and we were headed for Sta Rosa. I was unsure of the weather conditions and decided to bring the car instead of commuting that day. Little did we know that we were driving into a torrent.

Yes. Not even halfway through the journey, we got stuck in waist-deep floodwaters. Fortunately, we got some kibitzers to push the car. (It's an automatic. Thus, it's handicapped against floods. You can't just go to a higher gear and Rambo through the water.) We found a dry parking lot, and decided to wait out the rain and the flood. We listened to the news bulletins over the AM radio, and had a chat with similarly stranded commuters.

We were stuck for seven odd hours (1pm-8pm), and braved a monster traffic jam home. The trip from LB to Calamba only takes 10 minutes on a good day. It took us an hour and a half.

In spite of all this, I consider myself (and most of LB) really lucky. The rest of the province struggled with the flood. In fact, the rest of the nation had it really bad. I checked the local cable news as soon as I got home, and indeed, what I went through really looked like a minor inconvenience by comparison.

I will just let the imagery speak for itself:

local SF IV tournament

2009-09-25T02:07:21Z

Just thought I'd cross-post from my Facebook. Drop by and support the scene, if you can. Thanks!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118783357321&ref=nf

random 09-24

2009-09-24T04:52:40Z

This country has way too many kibitzers and gossipers. In the native tongue, usisero at chismoso. Any kind of commotion or accident will prove that. So many people onlooking, but not enough people actually doing and helping.

Word of mouth travels freakishly fast in small towns.

***

Cellphones have spoiled people. So I walked into the restroom one day, and this guy was multitasking while occupying a urinal slot.

Yes. One hand answering the call, and another hand on the ding-a-ling-a-ling. Surely, answering the phone call could have waited.

***

I would post more, but I think I've writer's blog as far as non-Twitter-sized blog entries go. :( In the meantime, watch the TVC US trailer. It's awesome.

Filipino Capcom and fighting game fans

2009-08-30T17:49:27Z

Filipino Capcom and fighting game fans, please visit: the Philippine SF4 forums

Drop by and say hi. Support the scene! You might find new friends and players, both online and offline. :)

SF4 is pretty big. It's a game that we've waited forever for, and it's still relatively new. I'm glad to see there's interest in it. I myself don't have the console(s) for it yet, and I've yet to upgrade my PC's for it. But I support the arcades enthusiastically.

I admit, my Chun-Li and Honda need work, but I'm willing to give it a shot once I conceivably free up my sched in September, and especially if I get the console/PC ver of this game for practice. I think I'll never tire of saying it - the last time I've been this hyped and interested for a game was MvC2. This is great.

Proof positive that the Japanese will play anything

2009-08-27T19:17:01Z

Hey, Neo! Steevan pulled through and found some awesome stuff. Just check the related vids and user account of this one. Also, high level Yurika at 4:30-5:00.

(Ok, you were right, lp lp does lead to the launcher super. It's bizarre graphically - it looks like it shouldn't combo, but it does.)

No wonder we couldn't find them. They're not filed under "Project Justice" at all. Either a) uploaders were using the Japanese name, "Moero Justice Gakuen" or b)they're all hoarded on nicovideo and only now do we see some cross uploads. Better late than never huh?

Random old Yahoo Messenger convo, 08/26

2009-08-26T18:39:35Z

photon_shermie: This "DND" on some people's IM status messages

photon_shermie: That means "do not disturb" right?

Ix_: yeah

photon_shermie: Ah. I really thought it meant "Dungeons and Dragons" at first...

Ix_: me too :|

photon_shermie: lol nnnnnnnnnnnnerds

schadenfreude

2009-08-25T02:02:54Z

I like Facebook as much as the next guy, but sometimes people use the "Like" option on the stupidest things. Either they're really retarded, or they were enemies masquerading as friends, waiting for the right moment.

Hell week = colloquial uni talk for tough finals, midterms, or just about any week with demanding projects

random, 08/22

2009-08-22T18:14:37Z

Another challenging week. I applied for a licensure exam (with the aid of a malware-plagued government site), survived some aches and pains here and there, and had a blast at work. The big crunch and greater things are yet to come.

Anywho, I'm tired and I'm still trying to gather my thoughts. What I really wanted to do is to post this:

Just look at those hitboxes, or lack thereof. Wow. It makes me sad, actually... for SVC. They had time to look at their old hitboxes and realize they did atrociously in the past, but they never went about doing so.

They did bring back the huge-sprite look with KOF XII. Yay for that, I guess.

physical 08-09

2009-08-09T00:31:53Z

I'll undergo the annual company physical after work. All indicators say it will be as awesome/awful as the ones I went through in college.

It's a weird feeling. I've been through dozens of physicals in high school, and a couple in college. Why am I feeling uncertain now? Is it because it's the first time I'll get one while at work? The first one in a brand new environment?

I know it's for my own good, but I can't seem to feel positive about it. Unless...!

08-01, for Racewing/Fandomgreen

2009-08-06T03:58:16Z

I'm late a week. The times that I was on, I was at work and/or you were away. Happy birthday.

Your birthday log did make me sit down and think. Many of my old classmates have gone their separate ways. Many of them have their own families. A handful already have their own sons and daughters too! Crazy. My gang's mostly 20-25 year olds, but sometimes I do feel pretty old.

But then I've been thinking. Maybe it's really just a number after all. Sure, I work and do all the duties and responsibilities of someone my age, but otherwise I don't feel it at all. I guess what's important is that you feel good, and that's via a sound body and sound mind.

Hope you can enjoy the remainder of the year, man. It's been rough, but it's always nice to see you round. I've learned a lot from you and your crew, and I hope I can keep sharing things of interest.

One interviewee said it best

2009-08-01T01:27:05Z

Corazon Aquino, 1933-2009

It really does feel like an end of an era. Damn. The year 2009 is really beasting.

To be honest, her term wasn't exactly the best and was fraught with its own problems. Additionally, I didn't and still don't agree with a lot of the statements she made in her later years. (Apologizing for EDSA 2 in 2001? Really? Just because Arroyo has a lot of things to answer to... that doesn't mean Estrada is not guilty.) However, her true legacy-- the 1986 EDSA -- cannot and should not be forgotten. It was a beautiful expression of nonviolence and peaceful resistance. She was a woman of faith, and throughout her life showed what a life of humility, simplicity, and prayer could do. She remained steadfast in the face of titanic problems, public or private.

God speed, President Aquino.

Silver anniversary thoughts

2009-07-27T15:38:52Z

Just when I wanted to make a lengthy entry last week, the flu drops by and gives me writer's block on the side. Oh well.

July 27:

Yes, today's the day. I can't believe it's been that long. On the other hand, I don't feel old at all.

I'm not so comfortable with having the big brother label ("kuya" in Filipino... or worse, "mama" or "tito"-- man or uncle) being associated with my name. I suppose I'm at peace with growing old, but somehow I feel that I'm not all that worthy of the said honorific.

Maybe I've been spoiled by nine years of being an only child. I don't know. What I do know is that I should do my best to live up to the label.

***

I think I still have growing up to do. People really, really like to find faults and quirks in others when in fact the have their own idiosyncracies. I'm trying my best to get along, of course.

There's just not enough "live and let live" in this world. Of course, if only I learned and applied uber-leet "just ignore them and pretend they don't exist" powers when I was younger, I would have saved myself a lot of grief.

***

I still can't seem to get really mad, even if I tried. Or at least, I guess, in that respect, I am getting old and mellow. Oh well. Better this than being angry and making hasty decisions that I might regret. Years of peer and teacher feedback and living with my sister and relatives (and all manner of little kids) must have helped me improve my patience. I used to be really impatient when I was younger. I used to be really loud and naughty too.

***

Mom actually called me the day before. I'm so glad we've patched most of our differences. There's still some disagreements, but it's not as bad as before. I should be grateful that she's actually thinking and sometimes worrying about me. I'm fortunate that I still have both parents.

***

Murphy was certainly working double time today though. It took all I had to not freak out and feel bad. The problems may have added a few more white hairs to my head, but I'm still okay

to paraphrase:

photon_shermie: The traffic was horrendous. The rain was really strong, and it was flooding here and in Calamba City. The colleague I was supposed to meet in person forgot her cell phone and was elsewhere. As such I was stuck waiting for half an hour and no way to reach her. I couldn't call another guy I wanted to talk to, and my dad couldn't call me either. And the movie I went to had way too many breaks and intermissions, as though there were a problem with the reels.

rememberizer: @_@

Thank goodness for a couple more days off. I guess I'll make up for today by doing them right tomorrow.

I really want to make another SFIV entry (I seriously haven't loved the heck out of a fighting game this way since MvC2), but it will have to wait.

writers block 07-13/14

2009-07-15T03:18:52Z

I'm thinking of more things to say about playing SFIV and the WWE show last Friday, but I'm at a loss for words.

The SFIV PC version is here and... things have been wacky to say the least. Someone experimented with putting certain character movesets on other characters' models, and the results have been tragicomic.

Chun as Sagat
Sakura and Zangief body exchange
Rose as Rufus and Blan-cammy

Birthday greetings July 07

2009-07-09T15:37:38Z

I was supposed to post this on Monday, but I was sick the past two days. Thankfully, it’s not the flu or anything, just the usual coughs and colds. The road to and from the office can get dirty, after all. Better late than never, I hope.

July 6

Today is Jennifer's birthday.

As with Kenneth, I first met her in 2006. I met her through her sister and her circle or friends. As with most first meetings, it was pretty awkward. I only knew her through Deviant Art and the message board(s) she and her sister frequented. I even remember my mistakes that day. I talked too much and probably came off as rude and over-familiar. Worse, I inadvertently opened a spare box of pizza. As such her friends help polish of pizza that was meant for her family. How embarrassing!

Thankfully, I was able to say sorry. The next few meetings were better. Thanks to her reminders, I was better behaved (and brought extra food). It was through these extra meetings that I got to know more about her. I became more comfortable in time.

It was during a December trip to I learned many things on the trip. The long hours on the buses and the stops beaches of Pangasinan and the Batad terraces were perfect places for debate, discussion, and getting to know a person more.

She wears her heart on her sleeve. She loves her family. She doesn’t really leave you guessing. She says – or shows- how she feels. She loves thought-provoking or heartwarming quotes and Bible passages. Most interesting of all, she and her siblings adored the Crocodile Hunter series, to the point that they'd imitate Irwin. (I thought I was the only one who liked the dude who did.)

Happy birthday once again, and thank you! You've affected my life in a positive way. Best wishes with regards to your current plans.

http://jophetism.multiply.com/photos/album/30/N._Luzon_Roadtrip_Part_2_From_Bolinao_to_Banaue#70

Another KOF post, in preparation for 98UM/2002UM

2009-07-03T02:22:45Z

Picked up KOF 2002 again, after a year or so of not playing it/playing 98 instead. I couldn't find my PS2 copy, so the arcade version will have to do. I just hope to be able to hang with the good players again (and the occasional Japanese or Korean arcade player at the Manila arcades.

It's much faster for one, and no bg characters to break throws. There's all those new-fangled (well, at the time) mechanics too, like a 2nd roll to bait C+D counters and of course the infamous Max Mode. At the highest levels, things can get quite autopilot when one has two or more stocks.

(Oh and getting this out of the way: lol Billy lol Team ABC lol cheap lol etc)

K9999 has good moves. But indeed, he's about as blatant a Tetsuo ripoff as you can get. I hope the replacement guy holds up just as well.

I guess in the long run, I really don't like it much as I do KOF '98. It does have Kula/K9999 though, so I guess it has that going for it. I'm hyped for KOF 2002 UM. It's weird that they had to go through three revisions (2002 console version, Neowave, and 2002 UM) to get things right, but hey. I've stuck with SF2 through the revisions and refines.

I love SNK so much (and maybe Capcom's the only company I love just as much if not more). I hope they can get their act together, news of delays, poor marketing and poor netcode do distress me. I hope you don't go through rough 2000-2002 times again.

P.S. I missed you, Netherlands stage.

Well, one of those nagging questions has been answered

2009-07-02T02:44:44Z

Yes, apparently there were KOF 2001 tournaments. Knowing this makes my life is a little more complete. The arcade version is no doubt one of the lesser KOFs (most of the awfulness comes from the aesthetics and presentation side of things). But I'll be damned if I don't enjoy those long-winded Angel and May combos.

I wish I were Chinese enough to do them consistently, myself.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bsbmode

lol, "kiyamii"

2009-06-27T18:46:56Z

I don't put that much stock in the tiers list of this game (other than it's mostly Sagat/Ryu/Rufus-everyone else-Claw and Dan), but I enjoy reading them. To an extent, I also like to know and debate the hows and whys of rankings.

What the current Japanese tiers for SFIV look like