Trusday has once again arrived. How is yours going today?

It comes out in 6 days. Do it.

You know what day it is everybody. Once again Trusday has arrived and graces us with its Trusy presence.   

How will you be spending this Trusday?

Other than the hilarious contrast between porn advertisements and children's coloring books that is.

Don't cause any trouble k? I'm all alone tonight and I don't want this place to be a mess when they get back.





Here are some blocks to play with.

NOTICE: This will be a two part impression with two different perspectives. The first being mine, a long time vet of Fate and the Nasuverse in general and the second post being Yutaka who is a bit newer to the Unlimited Blade Works side of things.

Ah yes, the long awaited Unlimited Blade Works adaptation by Ufotable. After the disastrous DEEN adaptation that was plagued both with bad animation and "anime original" bullshit there was little to no hope for a proper adaptation to be done for this franchise. However in 2011 a studio by the name of Ufotable put it's recently gained rights to the Fate/Zero adaptation to use after proving their competence to Type-Moon with the Kara no Kyoukai films and it's been all uphill from there. So much so that Type-Moon now doesn't acknowledge the DEEN adaptation as existing in their Fate franchise timeline.

It's been eight years since western audiences were first able to enjoy Fate/Stay Night so how does this new adaptation hold up?

We'll start off with the animation and art quality. I don't think you'll find many people who have seen both that will be able to tell you with a straight face that DEEN is better than Ufotable as when Ufotable is given a big budget they make sure every cent of it is put to good use. This is seen both in the slower daily life scenes and in the fast paced action ones.

While the budget given to Ufotable may be much higher than what was given to DEEN, that does not excuse that terrible work they did back in 2006 though as there were other anime that came out around the same time (like Last Exile) that had much lower budgets yet look much much better than what DEEN put out.

Here's a comparison image for Ufotable and DEEN for the uninitiated. Keep in mind this was using the Ufotable PVs and DEENs last chance with the Fate franchise adaptions that came out in 2010 using a movie budget and had all of UBW condensed into about an hour and was riddled with errors and other problems.

Slight spoilers contained within.


*Side note this is where I really wish we had Webm support so I could show you the comparisons in motion.

As good as the Ufotable adaptation is there is one issue I have with the art direction in it. That being the art direction of the Unlimited Blade Works itself. This is the one place where I feel DEEN is actually better than Ufotable as their rendition of it is much closer to the source material. However as that scene was taken from a PV it's entirely possible that this could end up being changed when they actually arrive at that point in the story.

Also Archer looks a bit goofy when he first starts running in his fight with Lancer, but that's really the only animation frack up I was able to spot on my first watch. I'm sure I'd find more if I went through it multiple times.

Soundtrack: It's way to early to give an opinion on this. We've only been given a thin slice of what this two cour show is going to have and so I'll reserve my judgement on this until the entire thing has been completed.


In terms of faithfulness to the source material this one is a bit tricky. By and large, yes this adaptation is very faithful to the source material. However there are a few things that stood out to me. For example, the snake skin was not present in the original material when Rin was doing her summoning. Now I know they explained it away with "it's a smashed catalyst" for those who would start wondering why she didn't try to summon Gilgamesh instead, but it's still going to invite a bunch of stupid questions from people who aren't exactly familiar with the source material. Some of which can't be explained without spoiling it for first time watchers.

Another thing is the amount of time spent on Rins three friends. These people really have nothing to do with the story and will never show up again in either UBW or Heavens Feel. In fact if I recall correctly they're only ever mentioned in passing really and didn't even have CG in the original visual novel. These three don't even get a proper role until Fate/Hollow Ataraxia. So this currently has me a bit perplexed. I'm not sure if these three are just cameos for people who have read Fate/Hollow Ataraxia or if it's a hint that Ufotable has gained the rights to do a Fate/Hollow Ataraxia adaptation as well. If they're just cameos though they didn't really need that much time devoted to them and just seeing them in passing would have been fine for those of us who have read it. The time and money could have been spent elsewhere in this episode.

The last bit I have to nitpick at would be the choice of following the standard modern anime route and pimping a pop artist by using Ideal White as the first seasons theme. Both the visual novel and the DEEN adaptation used Disillusion and the song has kind of been a classic staple for F/SN with other instrumental renditions of it being played in the OST. Doing something like a Kalafina rendition of Disillusion would have been in the spirit of the source material and sent vets into nostalgia mode. While I guess the choice is ok, I'll have to see it synced up to its opening credits animation to give final judgement on it.

OVA rendition of Disillusion. Contains spoilers.

Overall I very much enjoyed this first episode of Unlimited Blade Works, I have faith that Ufotable will be able to keep up the quality for the rest of the show's run, and it definitely gets my recommendation.

T4R

Just curious really.

Shit's looking grim for Sony at the moment.

Their gaming division is even hemeroging money at the moment.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-05-14-sonys-game-division-reports-full-year-loss

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-05-10-sony-playstation-division-suffers-full-year-USD2-8bn-loss

http://www.vg247.com/2009/10/30/sony-ps-division-has-lost-4-7-billion-since-launching-ps3/

So it's looking like Sony isn't beating that 78% chance of bankruptcy right now and are on their way out.  How do you guys think it'll effect the gaming industry if they fold? How will their first party studios get divided up as they're either sold off to MS, Nintendo or other publishers or forced to close their doors due to a lack of buyers?

Sweet Jesus would the death of Sony mean a massive gain in the console market share for MS as Japanese gamers would have to chose between the Xbox and Wii U?

For those of you here that bought the PS4 how do you feel about the very real possibility that support for it may be ending within the next few years?

Personally the reason I didn't hop of the PS4 train was A) Lack of good exclusives and B) the financial situation Sony is in that could mean a premature ending of support for the $400 console I purchased.

I just started reading it and the story is pretty good so far. The CG was done pretty well.

The soundtrack is pretty good too.

Did not see the twist at the end of the Back/Night I chapter coming. That shit was pretty cool.

I obviously haven't finished it yet, but if it keeps up this quality it's gonna be a

For the uninitiated, Kara no Kyoukai is a series of seven films animated by Ufotable and penned by Nasu Kinoko ranging from 45 minutes to two hours each. These films tell the story of a series of events revolving around a woman named Ryougi Shiki who was born with a power called Chokoshi no Magan (mystic eyes of death perception) a power that allows her to see the very lines of mortality that bind all things together into existence, along with the power to sever them. She is accompanied by a man named Mikiya Kokutou, a highschool friend of Shiki's and an investigator for a woman named Touko Aozaki, the boss of both Shiki and Mikiya who is also a Magus who formerly attended at clocktower in London.

If any of this terminology seems familiar to you it's because it is. Kara no Kyoukai takes place in the same universe as Fate, as in Fate/Stay Night and Fate/Zero and Tsukihime as in well, Tsukihime. Because of this a couple locals and characters might be familiar to you, so if you're already familiar with the Type-Moon universe (or Nasuverse as it's called) you stand to get a bit more out of this.

Kara no Kyoukai is essentially the seedy underbelly of the Nasuverse. In this you get into the grimdark and the gritty bitty details of what can go on in this universe. It doesn't shy away from gore, gratuitous violence, rape, and drug use so watchers be warned.

For those still around, this is where it's important to note that the first four films are not in chronological order. You are very much being dumped into the middle of the story with the first film with no explanation as to who, why, or what is happening. It can make you feel a bit lost, but that's ok. This isn't like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzimiya where the non-chronological airing was done to be "super cool and unique". It was written this way for a purpose, and over the course of the next 5 films you'll be able to put together the pieces and draw the lines yourself as to how this all fits together. I'll say this right now, Kara no Kyoukai has a high barrier of entry and is not for the faint of heart. It asks you to actually think about what is going on in order to be able to unravel mysteries and draw the lines between various plot threads. It isn't going to hold your hand through everything like so many of the shonen action shows many of you may be use to. If you aren't actively paying attention to what's going on it's very likely that you may become lost.

Now without further adew, I'll try to provide a relatively spoiler free review/synopsis of the entire thing. Details might be scarce, but this is to try and get you to watch it yourself. Not to act as a supplement for the real thing.

Movie 1: Overlooking view

Who are you? Where is this? What's going on?

As said earlier, the first film dumps you right into the middle of the story with no explanation as to who these people are or why how this world works. It's a far cry from the introductory episode of Fate/Zero that so many of you might be use to where they spent the first 40 minutes (and subsequent 2 episodes) info dumping so you could understand what's going on before the story actually starts. If you have familiarity with the Nasuverse though this won't be as jarring as you'll already understand or at least have an idea of the underlying mechanics of this world. You might not know the who and the where, but you'll know the what and the why of this place.

During the course of this film you'll follow Shiki as she investigates (and ultimately solves) a bunch of strange suicides and setting up a premise of this movie series in the process. This is very much a supernatural, magic infused action/thriller series. This first movie is supposed to get you interested in the world itself, if you're already interested in the Nasuverse or a specific portion of it this will probably be enough. For those of you just getting into the Nasuverse however this whole adventure will probably be confusing to you and make you feel lost by the end of the movie with a "what just happened?" thought lingering in your head.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) the second movie will be much slower and bring you up to speed.

Movie 2: Murder Speculation (Part 1)

Down to zero we go

Thus begins the second movie. In this we end up going back to the beginning. Both Shiki and Mikiya are in high school. In this we'll watch them meet for the first time, their relationship will grow and we'll ultimately only come half way to understanding what leads to where they are today. This is in my opinion, the second weakest film of the series. It's not something you'd really watch every time you'd want to see these films again (much like the first three episodes of Fate/Zero), but it's still integral to the overall story as it sets up just who these characters are and it gives you perspective on just what was going on during the first movie. It may possibly force you to reassess your judgement on what you had witnessed beforehand, tying back into what I said near the start of this. This is a movie series that challenges you to think and reassess your views and perceptions. It demands that you pay attention and to be engaged.

In all the second movie though very character based, and unlike the first movie while it may seem slow it at least feels like it has a purpose for a first time viewer.

Movie 3: Remaining Sense of Pain

Back to the present

The third movie starts off before the first. So while it's not technically "the present" it's at least within the same time frame. This film returns us to the murder mystery/supernatural thriller premise. This time there have been multiple strange murders around the city and Mikiya is once again investigating them with Shiki taking an interest in them due to their nature.

This is the first time we really get to see that seedy underbelly of the Nasuverse I was talking about. This movie doesn't shy away from anything, so if you've gone through the last two movies thinking "LC doesn't know what he's talking about, this isn't to bad" you're going to be in for a bit of a shock. With the back stories of these characters in tow you'll be better equipped to understand the world around them and be able to connect with them more easily as they travel through what I considering to be the third best film of the series. The third film is nicely paced with multiple plot threads going on that either end up being nicely answered by the end or left to be answered in a future film. The final fight scene in this is extremely well done with a proper sense of urgency being able to be felt by the viewer as various characters are essentially racing against time in order to achieve their desired outcome.

Other than dropping a couple hints and moving towards the overall plot, this story is relatively well contained.

Movie 4: The Hollow

Why am I special?

This is another back to the past movie. Only this time it picks pretty much right where the second left off. In this we follow Shiki as she tries to rehabilitate and recover from an accident over the course of two years. Mikiya takes a backseat in this story and a woman named Touko Aozaki (the boss in films one and three) is properly introduced for the first time. In this we deal with the awakening of her Chokoshi no Magan (mystic eyes of death perception) and her introduction into the spiritual world and the realm of magic.

There's not much to say here other than it's much better paced than its predecessor back story episode and more directly deals with what's going on in the present (and main plot of the story).

Movie 5: Paradox Spiral

It's the climax!

Paradox Spiral is perhaps the best movie in this series and in my opinion one of the top anime movies period. Of course this requires your viewing of the previous four films which all come together in this fifth installment. This is the culmination of pretty much everything you've watched so far. Nearly all the plot threads lead to this point. It's littered with symbolism, philosophy, action, drama, suspense, and for those of you familiar with Fate it explains what the damn origin (root) is that ties the underlying fabric of this universe together that Tokiomi was after along with a character who made a brief appearance in one of Kiritsugu's back story episodes in Fate/Zero.

This films story is told from two different perspectives throughout most of it. One from Shiki, and one from Mikiya. During it they investigate the mystery of a foreboding apartment complex which in turn leads to a whole slew of revelations that take you on a roller coaster of feels and pulse pounding action as the soundtrack (done by Yuki Kajiuara) kicks in. Unfortunately I can't delve to deep into this without spoiling it so I'll have to cut this one short.

Movie 6: Oblivion Recording

Oh boy... filler...

This is easily the worst. It's pretty much the "Rins Adventure" of Kara no Kyoukai. Watch it once for the character stuff and the relevent bit of plot near the end, but other than that there's nothing really substantial about it.

Oh and it stars Azuka Kokutou (Mikiyas  magus sister who makes brief appearances in earlier movies) with Shiki taking a side role. Really, there's not much to this one you could easily skip it and not miss out on to much when it comes to the final film.

Movie 7: Murder Speculation (Part 2)

In conclusion

This is very much the conclusion of our story. The climax has already happened and this is very much a tying up loose ends tale. Lingering questions from the second film (hence the part 2) are finally answered and the relationships between all the characters reach their conclusions. This one is more of a murder mystery and Mikiya has set out to find who is truly responsible for the recurrence of the seemingly random murders that had happened 3 years prior. While tensions and stakes are raised they don't quite meet the levels of the 5th film in this two hour film. Suffice to say everything is wrapped up in this film and the end seems satisfying. There are no cliffhangers or obvious sequel bait to be found here and the story really could end here with everything wrapped up nicely.

Well, until an 8th film came out, but that's for another time.

Overall Story: 8.8/10

Why an 8.8 out of 10? Because I feel like the story really could have ended with movie 5 without the need for an entire two hour film devoted to tying up loose ends in movie 7. That doesn't mean the 7th film is bad, because it certainly isn't. I just feel that it drags on far to long for a plot thread that really doesn't have that much substance. That and the 6th movie is almost completely worthless filler.

Sound: 10/10

Yuki Kaijura, nuff said. That and Ufotable has always done excellent ambiance work. If you've seen what they did on Fate/Zero you know what to expect, no awkward obviously mashing a banana into a jar of mayonnaise here.

Art and Animation: 10/10

This is Ufotable. They have budgets large enough to buy Belgium and the damn well show it with nearly every shot. The art and animation is superb along with the direction of various scenes. Unfortunately I can't go to much into it because spoilers, however those who watch the films or have already seen them can attest to this. Especially in Spiral Paradox.

Overall: 9.0/10

While the problems with Kara no Kyoukai can be attributed to the fact that this was Nasu's earliest work and therefore bogged down a bit due to his inexperience as a professional writer. Ufotable and Yuki Kajiuara manage to pick up the slack in the art and sound department though so the rather weak story telling in some areas gets overshadowed by the sheer quality and effort both Ufotable and Yuki Kaijuara put into their work. Kara no Kyoukai is very much an audio and visual treat for those willing to hop the barrier of entry and keep up the pace that the film demands of them.


Pros/Cons

+audio and visual work is superb
+story is mostly pretty good
+challenges the viewer unlike so many modern anime that sit back and hold your hand through everything
+grants more insight to the various workings of the Nasuverse and helps those who are interested in one specific part of it to become acquainted with the rest
-high barrier of entry
-easy to get lost or become confused
-can be a bit slow on the uptake
-6th movie feels like filler

http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/24/psa-psn-down-reportedly-due-to-ddos-attack/

Looks like it's just a DDOS for now, but considering what happened last time I'm not sure I'd trust Sony's word for it.

You'd really think that Sony would invest a bit more into their online infrastructure after the last disastrous attack.

UPDATE: This is coming from the dude doing the DDOS

Welcome followers and supporters of FamedGod. Over the past 9 hours many are wondering why such events have occurred to the playstation network. Sony is a company that lacks the security which makes every user vulnerable to having their information leaked. Jailbreaks can access hidden and prohibited content now. Memory dumping can reveal the hidden servers which personal and main information is stored. Simple hex converting and decryption lead to a full DDoS on playstations main server data center. Please understand, I am here to show, that you as a corperate company are vulnerable. Sony You just launched a new system on a new network but it all leads to the same server. How more vulnerable could you make your network? Take advise from microsoft and their ways of security. They know what they're doing and have the security to prevent most attacks. This took little to no effort to preform such an attack. The funny thing is that you still allow people to access the network on these jailbroken consoles. If you really wanted to remove them from your network entirely, you would drop the current network and forge all the information to a new and well secured network making it impracticle to mod the next. The fact you cant even stop the sign in from modded firmware is ridiculous. You apparently, didnt solve a thing when you went down for a month. I hope you think twice next time. Thank you and Follow me on twitter at famedgod.

Apparently he also did it against Microsoft too and MS resolved it in like 30 minutes with only minor service issues that only ended up affecting a small portion of the XBL community.

Mobile site users can see ranks now, but are unable to edit or quote.

It's true, I've used both.

Discuss how much inferior your British toilets are to American toilets. Face it Brits, America has master the art of poop disposal.

More specifically London. I'll be there for about a week before I head over to Paris.

So what the fuck should I do while I'm there? I'm not limited to the city I could very well go outside of it. That's just where my apartment will be.