Mad Catz has released numerous versions of their FightPads throughout the years. These included ones for Street Fighter IV; ones for Super Street Fighter IV; and ones for WWE All Stars, although those were called BrawlPads. For Street Fighter X Tekken, they have made a new reincarnation, the FightPad S.D..

One of the 2 major differences between the FightPad S.D. and older FightPads is that both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are wired. This made me happy when I found out, because traditionally only the 360 versions have been wired, while the PS3 ones have been wireless and run on 2 AA batteries. But no more!

The FightPad S.D. has the same shape as its predecessors, which is similar to the shape of the revised Sega Genesis controller. The (second major) difference here being that when compared to the original FightPads and the BrawlPad, the FightPad S.D. is 15% smaller. This is one thing that the “S.D.” in its name could stand for: Smaller Dimensions (the other could be Slimline Design). The sucker is ridiculously light too, even compared to a regular 360 FightPad, which is lighter than its PS3 counterpart.

As with its older brethren, the FightPad S.D. lacks analog sticks. This is because the controllers are for fighting games, in which the analog sticks are almost never needed or the directional pad (D-Pad) and the left analog stick have the same function. However, they do have analog stick functionality. On the back of the controller, there is a 3-way switch that allows you to set the D-Pad as the D-Pad, left analog stick, or right analog stick. This feature is useful for playing games that may otherwise be incompatible with a digital controller.

The D-Pad is also larger than those found on first-party controllers. In addition, there is a noticeable gap between the D-Pad and the body of the controller, giving it an appearance that it’s floating. This not only gives you ample room to perform circular or direct motions, but it also makes intricate motions easier to do. It is nowhere near perfect, but it’s a massive improvement over a standard D-Pad.

The FightPad S.D. features a 6-button layout, which gives the controller more of an arcade cabinet feel, something fans of fighting games will appreciate. By “6-button layout,” I mean that in addition to the 4 action buttons that you’d find on the face of a standard controller, the FightPad S.D. also has 2 shoulder buttons, which are located on the top of a standard controller. These are also larger than buttons on a standard controller, making them easier to press.

Another thing I like is the fact that the Start and Select buttons are a little raised from the body of the FightPad S.D.. This makes them easier to locate and press without looking down at the controller.

Like with its predecessors, the FightPad S.D. has Turbo or Rapid-Fire functionality. For me, this is especially useful in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, where button mashing during a super move double its hits and damage. (Note: The use of Turbo in tournaments is illegal, and the user is disqualified.) To enable the Turbo, you hold the Turbo button and press what button you want the Turbo to effect. To disable it, you just hold down the Turbo button until the Turbo light comes on.

I only have one problem with the FightPad S.D.. My initial concern when I heard about it being smaller was that the distance between the D-Pad and buttons would be shortened, which might give me trouble due to the fact that I play one-handed. Unfortunately, I was right in thinking this. Right now, I am having trouble executing moves that I have no problem with on a regular FightPad, although it’s probably just because I’m still not used to the FightPad S.D.’s compact size.

Regardless of the problems that I’m currently having, the Street Fighter X Tekken – FightPad S.D. is a well-built controller that emulates the feel of playing on an arcade cabinet. I would definitely recommend this controller to fans of fighting games. As of the writing of this review, the FightPad S.D. retails for $39.99 USD, and features different graphics with characters from Street Fighter X Tekken.

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. is a global provider of innovative interactive entertainment products marketed primarily under its Mad Catz, Cyborg, Tritton, Saitek, and Eclipse brands. Mad Catz also operates a video game content website under its GameShark brand, and distributes games and video game products for third parties. Mad Catz distributes its products through most leading retailers offering interactive entertainment products and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. They graciously sent me a PS3 FightPad S.D. for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

Mm… Braaaaiiiiins… Oh sorry! Look what’s back! With the supposed details that were recently posted about the next PlayStation, I decided to resurrect The Gamer Conversations from the dead along with Gabby, even if I’m not sure just how often they’ll be posted. (As with last time, my replies are in bold, while hers are in quotes.):

What are your thoughts on the PS4?

“I actually haven’t seen anything about it.”

Kotaku, the “Orbis” post.

“Ahh. I’ll have to go read then…”

*She reads*

“Hmm… I don’t know much about processors and the like, so I can’t comment on that. But the used-game lockout doesn’t seem to be bothering me as much as I initially thought it might. Nor does the lack of backward compatibility bother me.”

You neither, huh?

“Yeah. I don’t make a habit of buying used games for my PS3 much anymore anyway, and I buy games so infrequently and tend to research what I get so that buying 3 or 4 new games a year won’t really break me. The games I get: I tend to keep.”

“I’ll keep my PS3 until I no longer see a need to.”

Like I was telling my ex, regarding backwards compatibility, that may change. The original PS3s were backwards compatible. the later ones aren’t. BUUUUUUT Sony is releasing PS2 games for download on the PlayStation Store. So in a sense, all PS3s are backwards compatible. What’s to say they won’t do it with the Orbis and PS3 games? Plus, some PS3 games are up for download. like Catherine.

“Exactly. More developers seem to be moving toward simultaneous digital releases.”

EspeciallyAtluslol

“With trade-in values being crap unless you trade the game in literally a week after release.”

Oh I knoooooow.

“So yeah. I’m interested to see what it’s bringing to the table. If it’s nothing but improved motion controls, then I know I can save my time on keeping up with it.”

“I really don’t see how they can improve the system and gameplay aside from cutting load time/frequency and decreasing the instance of bugs and glitches, but the latter lies in the software. A lot of it lies in the software. There’s only so much you can do with hardware”

Perfect example, Final Fantasy XIII.

“Very good example.”

Especially considering the difference in number of discs. (See the last sentence in the Development section.)

“I just have a feeling this next console generation isn’t going to be for me.”

“I think it’s going to be all 3D and motion controls, and management of used games/piracy/etc. I’m gonna have to ride my PS3 as far as it can go and then depend on handhelds from there.”

Regarding 3D/motion controls, we’re going in circles. For 3D, we had the VirtualBoy, and for motion controls, we had the Power Glove.

“My boyfriend was telling me about some arcade games that were around when he was a kid, and the stuff he was describing sounded spot-on like Wii for the late 1970s-early 1980s.”

“Like a boxing game where I think he said you put your hands in these mounted boxing gloves, and then had to move them from side to side and forward to control.”

“Even games like Golden Tee are somewhat motion control, if you think about it. No joystick, just sensitivity to how hard and the accuracy in how you hit that little inset ball

Oh goodness. Golden Tee… I remember that.

“lol. He and his friends are nuts for Golden Tee.”

As for handhelds, even those are getting to be not for me. Case in point, the Vita with its dual touch panels and lack of PS3 controller support.

“Yeah Seems like they’re getting less accessible.”

At least the PSPgo supported PS3 controllers.

“Yeah.”

Was hoping the Vita would too, but nooooo…

“Do you think it’s something that could be potentially added later? Maybe through a patch or update?”

Maybe, not sure. I hope so, I wanna play P4G dammit! lol.

“lol. Same here. All I need is an announcement. Even just a tease.”

All I need is a controller. I’d gladly import the game.

“Hopefully you’ll get it.”

Yeah.

As I previously said, I got my iPad for my job. Being in a wheelchair, you’d think I would be able to rest a laptop or iPad on your lap and have it be stable, right? Wrong. Even reclined, it isn’t stable, and when I move, it can potentially fall. This wasn’t going to work, because I’m using my iPad as a communication device, so it needs go be out while I move. To rectify this problem, I was looking at adaptive solutions, like wheelchair trays, but those are too bulky and cumbersome. I then remembered a product that ThinkGeek carries called the Connect-A-Desk.

The aptly-named Connect-A-Desk is a fairly straight-forward product that has a hard plastic tray with straps connected to it by clips that you put your head and arms through. The straps are adjustable via standard loops found on any bag. I have found it easier to put it on with one strap unclipped.

When you have the product on, the straps prop the tray up, making it into a desk that goes where you go. You can adjust the tray’s angle by adjusting the upper straps. The tray itself has grip liner covering it to keep things from sliding all over. The upper straps have a velcro strap around them to keep stuff from falling when you lean forward.

After adjusting the straps for the first time, I found the straps to stay where they’re put without having to readjust them each time you put the Connect-A-Desk on. Before I received it, that was my initial concern, considering that applying weight could theoretically loosen the straps. However, this isn’t the case.

In addition, the top straps can be moved so they prop the tray from either the top, or the sides. For me, it’s better to have the tray propped up from the front, because when the straps are on the sides, the top of the tray can fall down.

I don’t use my iPad without a physical keyboard such as the ZAGGmate, because I am so not a fan of the iPad’s on-screen keyboard. Products like the ZAGGmate turn the iPad into a touchscreen laptop almost. While not necessarily designed for physically challenged individuals like myself, the Connect-A-Desk does let anyone carry things like a laptop, tablet, or clipboard around without their hands.

Even though I have the straps prop up the tray from the top, I move them so they are on either side of my iPad so it can’t move unless I move it myself. With the straps like that, the iPad is very secure. So, I’ve went from worrying about if my iPad was going to fall when I moved my chair, to not even thinking about it.

Would I recommend the Connect-A-Desk? In a heartbeat, regardless of whether you’re physically challenged or not. You don’t need to be sitting at a desk to use your laptop or iPad, or to write. For me, that is a wonderful feeling, and with a price-tag of $34.99, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to other solutions.

ThinkGeek specializes in geek products, such as mini USB monitors, roll-up keyboards, and humping-dog USB flash drives. In addition, they have a “Security & Spy Stuff” section that has stuff like video-watches and hidden flash drives. They even carry t-shirts and edible stuff like wasabi gumballs and energy drinks. They gave me these products for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

**Before continuing, I highly recommend that you read my Shin Megami Tensei post, or my review of Persona 3 Portable, so you have an understanding of the terminology used. I will attempt to explain thing below as best as possible without going on and on, but…

Persona 4 was released for the PlayStation 2 on 2008.07.10 in Japan, and 2008.12.09 in North America (and 2009.03.13 in Europe). This became one of my favorite PS2 games, and because of this, when I first heard that there was going to be an anime series, I was really excited. However, I was also cautious due to the fact that there was previously an anime series based on Persona 3, entitled Persona -Trinity Soul-, which ended up being nothing like what we were hoping for, in a bad way. The P4 anime has premiered already — in Japan anyway — and how is it?

One night while we were watching Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete together, Tanya said that more Final Fantasy games should be made into movies or such, for those who don’t want to play a 50+ hour game. While not Final Fantasy, this is exactly what Persona 4 The Animation is — a retelling of the game’s story, in anime series form, without all the level-grinding.

P4 is set in 2011 rural Japan, where a high school student moves to the fictional town of Inaba to live with his uncle and cousin, while his parents work abroad. At school, rumor has begun to spread about a mysterious TV program, called Mayonaka TV (or as it was translated in the English dub of the game, the Midnight Channel). Rumor has it that watching a switched-off television set on rainy midnights will reveal a person’s soul-mate. However, days after the young man’s first viewing, unexplained murders begin to take place in the quiet town, where bodies are found dangling from television antennas and their cause of death unknown. He soon discovers he can enter the TV. What will he find?

Persona 4 The Animation, the acronym for which is universally P4A, premiered on Wednesday, 2011.10.06 with 3 channels airing the episode, one channel per night (the 6th on MBS, the 7th on TBS — no, not the American TBS, and the 12th on CBC). Due to Trinity Soul, there was skepticism regarding P4A. To help address fans’ concerns, beginning several months before the series premiere, roughly a dozen (I honestly lost count) trailers were released, each showing events from the game animated, with several trailers being released on important dates from the story, featuring that night’s Mayonaka TV. All the trailers told fans that P4A would follow the game’s story, unlike Trinity Soul.

I was really hoping P4A would be simulcasted, so I could watch it. To my dismay, there was no news about this… That is, until about a week or so before the premiere, when it was announced that the series was licensed for North American distribution by Sentai Filmworks, and that The Anime Network would be simulcasting the show every Thursday at 3PM EST (meaning we get the TBS airing). For a few weeks, around 3PM, The Anime Network’s site went wonky, which leads me to believe that a lot of people went there to watch P4A, causing server issues. This was a good thing, because the show’s popular, but it was still frustrating. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, the wonky-ness has since gone away.

Most of the music in the anime is from the game. In fact, the opening theme (OP) of episode 1, “Pursuing My True Self” was the opening theme of the game. This helped connect the anime to the game. The more recent episodes are introducing new music. The music was composed by franchise veteran, Meguro Shoji. The series’s OP, “Sky’s the limit” is performed by Hirata Shihoko, who did the vocal tracks for the game’s soundtrack, and the ending theme (ED), “Beauty of Destiny” is performed by Hirata and Lotus Juice, who is best known from the Persona 3 soundtracks. Lotus Juice also wrote the lyrics for both the OP and ED.

Character designs stay true to the game. They are pretty faithful to those of Soejima Shigenori. Also, the majority of the original Japanese voice cast from the game returned to reprise their respective roles in P4A. I personally verified this by playing the Japanese version of the game. So far, the only character whose voice is different is the gas station attendant in episode 1. While it was licensed before its Japanese premiere, there is no word on whether or not the game’s English voice cast will return, like their Japanese counterparts. Not as of the writing of this post at least.

Now that the facts are out of the way, let’s move on to my thoughts on the series. In MegaTen games, the main character is nameless and is named by the player. In its manga (Japanese comic), Persona 4‘s main character was named Seta Souji. For the anime however, it was changed to Narukami Yu. Personally, I’m not sure how I feel about the name change, but it is what it is.

I’m really glad that the original voice cast returned for the anime, because that makes it all the more authentic. The dialogue is very similar, if not the same in some parts, as that in the game. Narukami’s dialogue, while minimal compared to other characters, is very well done and at times, it is one of the dialogue options that you can choose, in the game.

The series can’t be an exact adaptation, so there are some differences. Some of these changes are good, while others notsomuch, not that they’re necessarily bad. One such example is that certain parts of the story are told much much better in the anime than in the game. Case in point, episode 4. We never experience the flashbacks that are in this episode, and in my opinion, the flashbacks make the episode more powerful.

The fights in the show are very well done, although they play out a lot differently than their counterparts. The major battles are much more emotional, and Personae stay out when summoned, whereas in the game where they go back into the character after taking action (either attacking or using magic). My only nitpick about this is that in the anime, the characters don’t fight Shadows (the blanket term for the monsters in Persona 3 and 4) themselves. They just use their Personae to do so. Then again, fighting Shadows with gollf clubs and such would look strange in the anime.

As someone who has played the game, the overall pacing of the series (especially the first 4 episodes) feels rushed, because stuff that takes us a while to do in the game, happens quickly. However, that is not to say that I don’t understand it. As just a viewer, I admit that it is a good pace so they can fit the story into 25 episodes, which according to The Anime Network, is how long P4A is scheduled to run. That said, I’m very curious to see which of the game’s multiple endings the series uses.

To break the series up from just fighting Shadows and such, there are episodes that focus on Social Link characters. In the game, S. Links are one way for you to get more powerful Personae. While this remains true in the show, that aspect isn’t as central. These, what I call “S. Link episodes” are more to show Narukami and other characters becoming friends, hanging out or what-have-you. These episodes can be anywhere from serious to funny, and while yes, they are basically just filler episodes, they’re also a good way to spread the story out.

My main concern with P4A is that the overall timing of the series seems too convenient. My reasoning is that in 2012, Persona 4 The Golden (basically Persona 4 Portable) and Persona 4 The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena (a fighting game) will be released, for the PlayStation Vita, and the PS3/360 respectively. The complete run of P4A will take the series into 2012, so while I’m glad we got P4A, I can’t help but to think that this is just to help hype those games. I’m hoping I’m wrong, but considering how the world works…

Would I recommend watching Persona 4 The Animation? Absolutely. It doesn’t matter if you’ve played the game, or want to but just can’t commit to a 50+ hour game, you’re given all you need to understand.

Persona 4 The Animation is produced by AIC ASTA, distributed by Aniplex, and simulcasted every Thursday at 3PM EST, on The Anime Network. Registration may be required later, but it is free.

As technology becomes more and more powerful, it’s becoming more important to protect your investment. However, while touchscreen tablets are getting more popular, they lack one major thing: a physical keyboard. With that said, ThinkGeek has come to the rescue yet again, selling iPad cases that come with Bluetooth keyboards built in, namely the ZAGGmate Aluminum iPad Keyboard Case, and the Bluetooth Keyboard Case for iPad.

I first came across these cases while window shopping. When it came apparent that I was going to purchase an iPad for my job, I took a look at them again. While still window shopping, I noticed some potential problems with both cases, but were my initial assumptions correct, or are these cases actually good?

Both of these products have some similarities. They both double as carrying cases for your iPad, and they have Bluetooth keyboards built in. The keyboards are charged by micro-USB, which is becoming more and more universal. They also have pretty insane battery life — about a week of constant use per charge. Also, in both cases your iPad can stand/be propped up. At the top of the keyboards, where the F-keys are, there are iPad function keys, like Home, Search, Play, Volume, etc.. With the keyboards being Bluetooth, they can be used with other devices, not just iPads. The cases actually came a couple days before I purchased my iPad, so for my initial testing, I used them with both my phone and my PS3, and both worked perfectly.

The similarities end there however. Now, let’s continue on to the differences. First the ZAGGmate Aluminum iPad Keyboard Case.

Please note that ThinkGeek was out of the ZAGGmate case for iPad 2, so my iPad is a little loose in the case, and I can’t comment on how well it works as a carrying case. It is made by ZAGG, a company best known for producing accessories, the invisibleSHIELD screen protectors, and such. The outside of the case is aluminum which helps protect your iPad from being damaged if dropped. The case features a pull-out back-stand for your iPad to rest against while you use the keyboard. The power switch for the keyboard is inside the case, just above the keyboard. The interior of the case around the keyboard is covered by rubber to help protect both the keyboard and the iPad. The keys themselves feel like ones that you would find on a laptop. The only real problem I have is that the arrow keys are arranged strangely — left and right are next to each other, next to right is down, and above down is up. This makes moving the cursor just as confusing as it sounds.

Like with much of the products that ThinkGeek sells, I’m unable to find a brand name or manufacturer for the Bluetooth Keyboard Case for iPad, which I’ll call “the BKC,” henceforth. The case is designed like a book, helping to protect your iPad, which slides into the front cover. The case itself is mostly leather, while the keyboard is covered in rubber, making it waterproof. The power button for the keyboard is located on the right-side of the case. Right above the keyboard, there is a lip that runs the length of the keyboard. To prop your iPad up in the BKC, you pull the iPad sleeve, which pivots, towards you and rest the bottom on the lip. When you’re done using your iPad, The BKC folds into a nice leather portfolio that looks like a notebook. I only have 2 issues with this case: 1) While propped up, the iPad doesn’t feel all that stable, like it can fall off the lip; and 2) the rubber covering on the keyboard makes it really awkward to type on. These were also my initial assumptions about this case.

Overall, my initial assumptions were indeed correct, but only in regards to the BKC. My initial assumption/concern about the ZAGGmate — that the keyboard was too close to the bottom — turned out to not be a concern, after all. Would I recommend these products? The short answer is yes, but the more lengthy answer is if you are only doing minimal-to-light typing on your iPad, get the BKC. If you’re doing extensive writing however, I would highly recommend the ZAGGmate, because it makes your iPad feel more like a laptop. So much so, that I’ve only gone on my actual computer, maybe 4 days since I got my iPad. Also, this review was typed up exclusively on my iPad using the ZAGGmate, while I mostly use the BKC as a keyboard for my PS3.

As of the writing of this review, the Bluetooth Keyboard Case for iPad, and the ZAGGmate Aluminum iPad Keyboard Case retail for $59.99 and $99.99 USD respectively on ThinkGeek. While the ZAGGmate case is more expensive, I think the overall convenience and functionality justifies spending that extra $40.

ThinkGeek specializes in geek products, such as mini USB monitors, roll-up keyboards, and humping-dog USB flash drives. In addition, they have a “Security & Spy Stuff” section that has stuff like video-watches and hidden flash drives. They even carry t-shirts and edible stuff like wasabi gumballs and energy drinks. They gave me these products for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

I first heard of Bunraku back in early 2008, when it was announced that GACKT would be in it. I didn’t expect the film to be out until the following year, so I put off my excitement until 2009. However, even that year passed with little news about the movie, as did most of 2010. Bunraku finally made its western premiere in September of 2010, at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Bunraku is a difficult movie to categorize, but if I had to, I’d call it a Western/Martial Arts film. I don’t know if I would call it an “all-star cast,” but it definitely is star-studded. The film stars Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Sugata Shun, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, and GACKT.

In a future where firearms are banned, a mysterious drifter (Hartnett) arrives in a strange town ruled by the ruthless Nicola (Perlman) and his army of thugs, headed by nine deadly assassins, which is topped by the vicious Killer #2 (McKidd). The drifter is soon forced to trust a young samurai (GACKT) looking to restore his family’s honor, and the local bartender (Harrelson) who has been secretly awaiting a dream team to help overthrow Nicola’s regime.

The title of the movie comes from a 400-year-old form of Japanese puppet theater. This actually plays a huge part in how the movie is presented. A prime example of this is the sets – They’re mostly computer-generated, and look over-the-top, giving them the illusion of being set-pieces that you’d find in a stage play. This helps to recreate the feeling that you’re watching a play, rather than a movie. This also limits what can happen in one particular scene, giving the movie a faster sense of timing.

The first scene is an absolutely amazingly choreographed fight sequence that plays more like a dance than anything else. What’s really interesting is that no fight is quite the same. In some, it’s nitty gritty, and in others it’s just fun to watch.

One thing I really enjoyed was how they handled subtitles. Although the movie is mostly in English, there are still a couple scenes with Japanese dialogue. With that said, instead of doing subtitles the traditional way — In the middle of the screen at the bottom — Bunraku does them in comic book text boxes. This helps to immerse the audience in the film’s unique world and atmosphere.

The most interesting aspect of the film though is its cinematography. From turning the normal way phone conversations are shown to scene transitions that make your head spin. This film’s director chooses to explore a completely over stylized approach, and somehow makes it work.

The music in the film was done by Terrance Blanchard. It’s dramatic when it needs to be, and at times, big-band-esque, but during fight sequences, it reminds me of the 1960s Batman series, where (almost) every impact makes a musical note. In my opinion, it helps to accentuate the picture’s theatrical sensibility.

While predictable at times the movie’s incredible sense of style carries it through. I recommend this movie if you’re looking for something with unique visuals, and can stand an almost-cliche plot. The DVD also contains a commentary audio track featuring Guy Moshe and Kevin McKidd.

4 out of 5 stars.

Bunraku was written and directed by Guy Moshe, based on a story by Boaz Davidson, and is rated R. The film stars Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, GACKT, Sugata Shun, Kevin McKidd, Ron Perlman, and Demi Moore. It was produced by Snoot Entertainment, Bergman Productions, and Picturesque Films. It was distributed in theaters by ARC Entertainment and XLrator Media.

I was given a DVD copy for review by ARC Entertainment, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

Ideals can vary from person to person — For some, marriage can be a scary thing. In fact, in this day and age, more and more people are opting not to get married, for whatever reason. What are your thoughts on marriage? Do you want to get married? Or do you not want to get married? Although the answer ultimately is different depending on who you ask, this is one of life’s big questions nonetheless, and it’s also the main theme of Atlus’s new XBox 360 and Playstation 3 game, Catherine.

Atlus is one of, if not my favorite publisher. They are best known for releasing the Shin Megami Tensei, Persona, and Trauma Center franchises in North America. With so many unique titles in its bag, it’s safe to say that while you never know just what expect from Atlus, you can rest assured that it will be unlike any game you’ve played before. True to this, Catherine is yet another unique game, but being unique isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Catherine tells the tale of 32-year-old Vincent Brooks. Vincent and his girlfriend, Katherine have been together for several years. Thing is, she’s now talking about long-term commitment, something that Vincent doesn’t really want. It is around this time that Vincent begins having strange nightmares, and that perfectly healthy young men are starting to be found dead. Vincent frequently meets his friends after work at bar called Stray Sheep. One such night, he’s approached by beautiful bombshell named Catherine. Next thing he knows, he’s laying in bed the next morning with Catherine next to him. What did he do last night?

The “Sheep” theme is one of the things central to Catherine.

Catherine is an adult adventure/puzzle-platformer/survival horror game, the story of which is told in 3 parts – cut-scenes, night-time and Vincent’s nightmares. There are two types of cut-scenes – those are use the in-game graphic engine, and animated cut-scenes. The animated cut-scenes were done by Studio 4°C. Studio 4°C is best known Stateside for their work in such projects as the new ThunderCats series (which is awesome, I might add), The Animatrix (“Kid’s Story”), Batman: Gotham Knight (“Have I Got A Story For You” & “Working Through Pain”), and Linkin Park’s “Breaking the Habit” music video. On the other hand, much like with the Persona 3 and 4 games, Catherine’s in-game graphics are cel-shaded, giving the game an anime ascetic.

Your nights consist of hanging out and drinking with your friends at Stray Sheep, and navigating through your nightmares. While in Stray Sheep, you can meet and talk to other characters, all of whom are dealing with their own issues. You can also drink various alcoholic beverages, and work on your climbing skills by playing an arcade game called Rapunzel. You might not think they would, but every one of these things will help you in the nightmares. For example, the people you meet in Stray Sheep will appear in your nightmares, but as sheep with distinguishing features so the player can make the connection. In fact, to the other characters, everyone else is sheep except that character. Getting drunk will increase your movement speed, and your practice in Rapunzel with help you.

“With what?”

Each of Vincent’s nightmares have him climbing a Stage (or section) in a tower of blocks. These Stages have varying numbers of floors. However, it is not as easy as it sounds. As time passes, more and more blocks fall from the bottom, so you have to climb before you fall to your death. Obstacles, such as gaps and other sheep will try to impede your progress up too. You need to push and pull blocks to make it up each floor, so you will need to figure out how to use the blocks to make stairs and cover gaps. Your nightmares can be hell, if you’re not careful, because not only are there gaps and sheep to slow you down, but there are also trap blocks and a boss. However, there are also special blocks, like ice that makes you slide and a trampoline that bounces you up.

Don’t worry too much though. In-between each of the floors, you can save your game, talk to sheep to find out different techniques to help you climb and buy items with coins you discover while climbing. Before you proceed to the next level, you have to answer a question which is asked by a mysterious voice. Your answer to these questions will affect the outcome of the story, but I’ll get to that later.

The last floor of each night/Stage has you being chased by bosses that will kill you if you’re too slow. As the story progresses, the bosses get weirder and weirder. These bosses also have abilities to slow you down, such as making a group of blocks immovable and causing ice to fall and knock you down a few blocks.

As the nights pass, you ill be able to learn about the other characters while at Stray Sheep. Every one of them have their own issues, and you’ll learn more and more about them, each night. Also, like I previously mentioned, you’ll come across many of these same characters in your nightmares, but as sheep. None of the characters make the connection about who the sheep really are.

Catherine‘s replay value is quite high. Like the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona titles, Catherine also has a morality/choice system. Some of Vincent’s dialogue, actions and choices impact the outcome of the game. There are several different endings that you can obtain depending on the choices you made in-game. There are also several other modes to play, including Babel Mode, which features four large stages that can be played with up to two players, and; VS Colosseum, which lets two players simultaneously play a stage in order to reach the top first..

As far as the voice-acting goes, Catherine’s cast is pretty solid with several well-known actors, some returning to work on another Atlus game. Among these are Troy Baker, Laura Bailey, Michelle Ruff, Liam O’Brien, Travis Willingham, Yuri Lowenthal, Erin Fitzgerald, and Kirk Thornton. The mouth movements in the cutscenes were redone from the Japanese version to match the English dialogue.

The music was done by Meguro Shoji, Tsuchiya Kenichi, and Kitajoh Atsushi. Meguro and Tsuchiya have worked together prior to this, most notably on the Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne soundtrack. Kitajoh has also worked with Meguro before, notably on the soundtrack for the Nintendo Wii game, Trauma Team. The soundtrack varies in genres and styles. The game’s opening, “YO’ is performed by L-VOKAL and is hip-hop oriented, while the in-game music is more pop, easy-listening, rock, suspenseful, and orchestral. In addition to all that, there are arrangements of classical compositions. Catherine’s soundtrack has given my friends and I a new-found appreciation for classical music.

Art Direction is by Soejima Shigenori. As such, character designs look similar to those of the Persona 3 and Persona 4 games. In fact, as I mentioned in an previous article, Vincent made his first appearance as a cameo in Persona 3 Portable.

Over all, Catherine is a fantastic game that is very unique and unlike any you’ve played previously. It’s a puzzle game that is downright erotic at times, without relying too heavily on sex, although there is a good bit of nudity in the game. I highly recommend it because unlike most of today’s games, it forces you to think, or you’re unable to proceed.

Catherine was developed by Gamebryo and Criware and published by Atlus in Japan, and Atlus USA in North America. It was released in North America on 2011.07.26 for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. As of this writing, both retail for $59.99 USD new, and are rated M for mature.

Skills: Everybody has some, although they vary from person to person. Some people are good at writing, while others are good at drawing or music. Before, people who could not do something either were out of luck, or they learned how to do it. However, thanks to technology, anyone can do anything they want. People can publish books on their own or make their own songs using Vocaloid. Now software called ComiPo! has been released to assist people who want to create comics, and now it’s in English.

ComiPo! is described as being “aimed at consumers who want to create manga (or Japanese comics), but who lack drawing skills.” With the software, users can create their own manga with pre-created 3D characters and settings. It features character models, more than 100 poses as well as expressions, background images, items, sound effects in both English and Japanese and word balloons. In addition, users can also import their own images and use those as backgrounds, as well as create their own custom characters by mix and matching presets.

The Japanese version of ComiPo! was released in December of 2010. The English version has all the features of the Japanese version.

The interface of ComiPo! is fairly straight-forward. At the top, you have your usual File, Edit, etc etc. On the left side, you have categories for the character models, background images, items, sound effects. and word balloons (henceforth “assets”). In these categories, not only do you have the models, images, and such, but you also have drop-down menus for even more options, like classroom backgrounds or night sky ones. To use any object, you just drag and drop it into a panel. The assets are 3D-based, so you can rotate and resize them anyway you want. Background images are automatically set behind the other assets. In addition to all these assets, ComiPo! also has speed lines for dramatic shots, and stylized alphabets.

On the right-hand side, you have your expression and pose options. Like with the assets, the poses and expressions are categorized by position or gesture and mood. Also on the right side is the text input field for text bubbles and your panel/layer pane. Much like in Photoshop, in this pane, you can move assets forward or backwards behind the characters. To use poses and expressions, you just click on the ones you want.

As I previously mentioned, you can create your own custom characters by mix and matching various preset options, such as gender, eyes, hair and clothes. When you put everything together, you have near endless possibilities for your manga. Also, before anyone asks, the characters and poses are all tame, so unfortunately no, you can’t do hentai (or sex comics).

However, that is not to say that ComiPo! is perfect. There are a few things that I think could be better. Among these is the fact that the options for a custom character are limited, especially the male hairstyles. There are no longer styles, and only ponytails that you add on. Another thing that I believe should be improved is the poses. I think that having the ability to mix and match them (ie: Arms from Pose A, legs from Pose J) and better customization options would offer users more flexibility to create the characters and comics they want.

Programs like ComiPo! won’t replace manual instruments – such as pencils or a guitar – to create art, but it is very helpful for people unable to draw.. You can create some fantastic looking manga using it, and it’s easy to use. Would I recommend the software? Even though there are things that could be improved, I’d say yes, because not only does it cut down on time actually drawing comics, all you really need are an idea, a mouse and a keyboard, which can be a big plus for physically challenged individuals.

The English version of ComiPo! was released on 2011.09.15, retails for US$49.95 and is available on Crunchyroll, Comradz and Comipo.biz. It’s only available for Windows computers — Sorry Mac-heads. It is developed by ComiPo LLP. which was founded in 2010 to plan and develop the ComiPo! software. Several big names are involved with ComiPo LLP, and the software is currently being used by a popular video game company for development on a new project. I was given the license key by ComiPo LLP to review the English version of ComiPo! and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.

Written by me, published on Kotaku

Writer Andrew Monkelban knows a lot about the ins and outs of video game controllers. As a disabled gamer, Andrew uses a variety of game pads and sticks to play video games in creative ways—like beating Final Fantasy XIII on a fighting game pad. In his first guest review, Andy explains the benefits of Mad Catz’s latest Brawl Pad.

Third-party video game controllers, while inexpensive alternatives to first-party ones, can be a crap-shoot as far as quality goes. Some are well-made and reliable, while others break easily. Even so, they keep being produced. So what category does the Mad Catz WWE All Stars Brawl Pad fall into?

In 2009, Mad Catz started shipping Street Fighter IV Fight Pads, controllers specifically designed to be used to play Street Fighter IV. In 2010, another batch was shipped, this time for Super Street Fighter IV. While made for WWE All Stars, the Brawl Pad is the newest incarnation.

The Brawl Pad is basically a Fight Pad with a WWE graphic on it. Like its predecessors, it comes in 2 flavors: A wired version for Xbox 360, and a wireless version for PlayStation 3. While I have both (Well, both a Xbox 360 and PS3 Fight Pad, and a PS3 Brawl Pad), I’ll be reviewing the wireless version. It comes with an USB dongle that plugs into your console, and the controller itself runs on 2 AA batteries. I’m not certain of the battery life, but they last at least 12 hours.

The Brawl Pad has the same shape as its predecessors, which is similar to the shape of the revised Sega Genesis controller. One of the first things anyone will notice about the Brawl Pad is that it lacks analog sticks. This is because the Brawl Pad is for a fighting game, namely WWE All Stars, in which the analog sticks are almost never needed or the directional pad (D-Pad) and the left analog stick have the same function.

However, that isn’t to say it doesn’t have analog stick functionality. On the bottom of the controller there is a switch that allows you to set the D-Pad as the D-Pad, left analog stick or right analog stick. This feature is useful for playing games that may otherwise be incompatible with a digital controller.

People who play fighting games on consoles know all too well just how lacking the D-Pad is on a standard controller. However, the Brawl Pad D-Pad feels solid and very sturdy. It’s a complete circle, unlike on a standard PS3 controller, and more responsive than a Xbox 360 one. It is nowhere near perfect, but it’s a massive improvement over the standard D-Pad.

Another stand-out feature is its 6-button layout, which gives the controller more of an arcade cabinet feel, something fans of fighting games will appreciate. What I mean by 6-button layout is that in addition to the 4 action buttons that you’d find on the face of a standard controller (Cross, Circle, Square, and Triangle on a PS3 controller, and A, B, X, and Y on a 360 one), the Brawl Pad also has L1 and R1 (LB and RB on 360), which are located on the top of a standard controller. This is the only difference between the Fight Pad and the Brawl Pad — Instead of L1 and R1, the Fight Pad has R1 and R2 (RB and RT on 360) on the controller face.

Help with accessibility in games can come from the most unexpected places, such as peripherals created for other games and/or genres. While made for fans of fighting games, the Brawl Pad’s layout is also beneficial to physically challenged gamers. For example, I bought the Brawl Pad specifically to help me play Final Fantasy XIII. The main gameplay mechanic in combat, the Paradigm Shift, requires you to press L1. This is difficult for me with a standard controller, because I can only use my right hand, as well as L1′s placement. However, with the Brawl Pad, I can pull it off quite easily. Previously, the Fight Pad has helped me in the action game, Bayonetta.

Like with its predecessors, the Brawl Pad has Turbo or Rapid-Fire functionality. For me, this is especially useful in action games, in which you have to repeatedly press a button to attack. To enable the Turbo, you hold the Turbo button and press what button you want the Turbo to effect. To disable it, you just hold down the Turbo button until the Turbo light comes on.

Even if it does run on AA batteries, the Mad Catz WWE All Stars Brawl Pad, like the Fight Pads, is a well-built third-party controller that emulates the feel of playing on an arcade cabinet, and is quite helpful for physically challenged gamers because it provides access to two of the 4 shoulder buttons. Personally, I think a regular controller should be made with the 6-button, or even an 8-button, layout, but I digress. I would definitely recommend this controller to fans of fighting games and physically challenged gamers. The price isn’t that bad either: As of the writing of this review, the Brawl Pad retails for $29.99 USD new at GameStop.

Andrew Monkelban is a gamer who was born with Cerebral Palsy which has rendered him unable to walk or talk, and left him with the use of only his right hand. Even so, he has not let it stop him from doing what he loves. A gamer for close to 20 years, he has continued to overcome constant challenges on various major systems. He enjoys a broad range of genres, with his least favorites being racing, sports, and first-person shooters. In spite of playing one-handed, he has beaten such games as Ninja Gaiden 2, Mass Effect 2, Red Dead Redemption, and the Kingdom Hearts franchise, among others. He has also been featured in Second Skin, and on Wired’s GameLife and The Escapist. In addition, he also writes for PopTen.net.

You can follow him on Twitter at @monkelban.

An extra monitor can always come in handy. You can set other windows or folders to the extra monitor, you can use it for your media player, or just generally get rid of the clutter on your main monitor. ThinkGeek has been selling Lilliput Mini USB Monitors, but do they serve their purpose well or not?

Lilliput Electronics Co., Ltd is the bestselling Chinese brand of mini LCD application in Europe, North America and Southeast Asia and other areas. With branches all over the world, Lilliput has relations with multiple educational institutions. In 2001, Lilliput Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd was set up as an independent scientific research institution specializing in LCD display, embedded computer systems, among other things, as well as development of relevant software applications.

I received the Lilliput UM-70/C/T USB Touch Screen Monitor, which comes with the monitor itself, the power cord, the manual, and a driver CD for Windows 98 users. Everything is fairly straight-forward. You plug the power cord into the monitor then plug it into your computer via USB and install the drivers, which you can conveniently get at ThinkGeek. The power cord unfortunately consumes 2 USB ports, one for the display itself, and the other for power.

The monitor is 7”, is a little thicker than a regular CD jewel case, and has a move-able leg so you can stand it up. It can also be orientated in Portrait (vertical) and Landscape (horizontal) mode, each allowing for more but different screen size, although the resolution is locked at 480×800 and 800×480 respectively. You can also adjust the brightness. Unfortunately, I’m unable to use the Touch functionally because it isn’t supported by my operating system (Windows 7 64-bit) yet.

However, that does not take away from the monitor’s main use: being an extra monitor. It extends your main monitor so you have more space. Right now, I’m using it for my instant messages. My computer, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 are all hooked into my TV. With the Lilliput, I can watch TV or play games and still see my IMs. I leave my IM window as the active window so I can type without switching TV modes. Before I had to switch back and forth to see my messages. It’s awesome!

Also, because it registers as a small monitor, you can set it up to extend any part of your main monitor that you’d like — Top, middle, bottom, or in-between. That is an interesting option. You have to set it up via your computer’s Control Panel, but I like it. However, I’m having trouble with my web browser extending past the Lilliput’s screen, even when maximized. The side-to-side scroll bar doesn’t show up. It is due to this fact that I do not use the Lilliput for my web browser.

All in all, even with the OS incompatibility issue, the Lilliput Mini USB Monitor is an amazing product. It has come in handy on a number of occasions. I have shown people stuff while still gaming, and because I use it for IMs, I can still see and talk to my girlfriend. Would I recommend this product? Oh, absolutely! At the writing of this review, the Lilliput Mini USB Monitor retails on ThinkGeek for $99.99 USD. The price isn’t bad for a portable monitor.

ThinkGeek specializes in geek products, such as mini USB monitors, roll-up keyboards, and humping-dog USB flash drives. In addition, they have a “Security & Spy Stuff” section that has stuff like video-watches and hidden flash drives. They even carry t-shirts and edible stuff like wasabi gumballs(?! o.o) and energy drinks. They gave me this product for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so.