The Reactioneer

Alert - Worth it, but not....

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Sun, 06 May 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Some of you probably saw this coming, but I didn't - which is interesting when you think about it. I've decided to give up the podcasting, and therefore the blog as well. This was both fun and interesting for me to do and there's quite a few things I learned to appreciate in the process. The problem is I had two conflicting principles in doing this: First - I wanted it to be a hobby. This means I was approaching this as a way to relive interesting moments (Spot On Reflections), further support my health goals (Blitz Fitness), and complain and compare other's opinions and thought processes to my own (The Reactioneer and Straight to the Bulletpoint). Simple enough. Simply put - I didn't want it to feel like work. Second, and here comes the storm, I don't like doing things poorly. Early on I was okay with my lack of quality from a personal and technical standpoint. After all, this was a new experience for me and bugs could be expected. These situations collided recently however. I kept feeling like there was so much more I could do, ideas I had that would help to further separate myself from the masses. All good things take time and effort though, and that went against why I was doing this.

I really thought I had a winning formula to balance those two issues when I made all shows except Blitz a monthly show. It wasn't until yesterday that I realized that wasn't the case. Yesterday morning should have had a Blitz Fitness show scheduled, but instead my Saturday went like this: I woke up and grabbed the newspaper from my porch, walked to the store (about a half mile or so) to buy Kefir for breakfast, went jogging with a client, got pizza puffs at Grassano's with some close friends, went to Disc Replay for some classic (and not so classic) game purchasing, hit the dollar store for some cheap candy, bought vuvuzela's and played them on the drive home, hung out and laughed myself to exhaustion before slinking home tired but pleased.

That's a great day, and it was chockful of some of my hobbies already. To produce a quality show and blog to you all I would have to start missing out on that a bit more and would want that? The next question to ask is who would want to listen to the podcasts I've been doing the way they are now? "No one" is the answer to both questions. Inevitably the third, hidden question had to rear its ugly head; should I even bother with this?

The answer is no, I really shouldn't. There's such a dearth of podcasts available today that when I look back at what I wanted to do with all 4 shows, only one of them was original (SoR). Yet even that one falls short when i examined and realized that I do not have the technical skills to even make that show what I had in mind.

Without a doubt podcasting will continue and be quality for some time to come. Let's not forget how young this medium still technically is and what can be on the horizon. Although I'm sad that this little effort of mine failed to live up to my own expectations I can take solace in the programs I already enjoy: shows on the Frogpants Network (Final Score, The Morning Stream, Film Sack, both Instance shows, Hypothetical Help, and Autopilot), How Stuff Works (Stuff you should know, stuff to blow your mind, stuff you missed in history class, etc.), the bounty provided by NPR, and so many others at this time.

If you're reading this then you likely gave me a chance. Thank you for that! Am I walking into the sunset with a sad song at my feet? Yes..... Forever? Who knows. I can only say it was worth all the while. If I'm really lucky maybe I've given someone out there an idea they turn into a show and have the time, skills, and drive to make it something special. If you do, let me know so I don't miss out on it!

Poli Sigh - The Aristocat's They Ain't

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:15:00 +0000

Saw this featured on Yahoo!

What a fantastic idea. Reduce animal shelter population without relying on killing them AND give another level of companionship and recovery opportunities to inmates screened as actually rehabilitating. I might find negatives if I looked hard enough, but this is a nice thing to see take place. I hope this has good evidence and shows the results we would expect from it so it can be adopted throughout the rest of the nation/world.

K.I.S.S. - 1 Million Reasons to Hate

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:29:00 +0000

The Consumerist reports again on one of the most nicely named hate groups in America: One Million Moms

Want to know the difference between a normal person and a homophobe? I didn't even notice it was a lesbian couple with a child. Flipping through it appeared to be exactly what it represents: 3 happy people of the female persuasion.

If anyone has any right to be angry - it's all the ugly bastards out there like me who never get a photo opportunity. I want my damn underwear model money even I'm wearing the larger sizes!!

My favorite part of the whole thing is the section where OMM said they have been quiet on the whole Ellen DeGeneres spokesperson for JCPenney thing because they "had so much on their agenda". Really? Bigger than a celebrity like Ellen you can spew ridicule at? What, did they catch Mickey wearing Minnie's dress? Not likely. Instead, me thinks they got quite a pushback politically last time and realized they jumped the gun too early - even for their ignorant target audience.

On a side note: Since the picture of the ad is at the top of the page for this article, we all likely eyeballed that first, right? How many (men, women, octopi, etc.) noticed the women were wearing wedding bands? I sure didn't. You'd have to be actively seeking that out right? Now who's the lesbian, OMM?

Game On! - Redefining the Boob Tube

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:07:00 +0000

Another Kotaku attention grabber

Though this one is likely getting a lot more clicks. Long story short, Dead or Alive 5's development team has decided 'realistic' boob moving physics in their fighting game isn't enough. A new feature is rumored to being implemented that will allow clothing to start becoming see-through in the course of a fight.

So many thoughts on this one:
1. I can't be the only gamer (a single one at that!) who is tired of the sexing of games, can I? Enough of the so-called romances Bioware, no more of the love story Square Enix, and please Team Ninja - make an awesome fighting game, not another pre-teen digital wank fest.
2. I do own one Dead or Alive title. I can't see the box to tell you which one it is. That alone can tell you how memorable it was. For the record, boobs were not a reason I purchased it. I was looking for something new in a fighting game and the multi-tiered stages excited. Then they didn't....
3. I used the word rumor. I don't believe the Kotaku story does. Not that it matters, I also called BMX XXX a rumor too....

Game On! - Value Added?

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:01:00 +0000

This Kotaku piece likely got nothing more than a glance today.

I don't begrudge people who aren't into budgetary titles from major publishers, but it's been my personal experience that sometimes you can get some nice gems by companies who have a division focusing on that low-price, non-casual game market.

Yet another one of these teams is gone, which makes me more worried I'll never smile gleefully from (honestly) treasured experiences from the likes of Ghost Master, Mall Tycoon, Fast Food Tycoon 2, or Rock Manager. *sad face*

Game On! - Manifest of a Changing Tide?

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:16:00 +0000

At least that's how this list from Kotaku makes me feel

I'm not saying this list of emotional wallet snaggers isn't effective, instead it turns out they're not effective on me. In fact, when I look at friends and family that are my generation, it doesn't grab them all the well either. So does this list instead represent where the gaming audience is going/coming from, or is this more of a targeting ID for making the casual crowd that much more profitable?

K.I.S.S. - Tax On, Tax Off

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:52:00 +0000

As Seen On TV GamePolitics

My home state of Illinois is really improving it's percentage of unconstitutional laws lately. At least something is showing a positive growth....

Totally Balls - Vote No On Pro Bowl? YES!

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:37:00 +0000

Deadspin saying it for the rest of humanity

The NFL is so progressive they finally realized no one cares about the Pro Bowl after having one for the past 50+ years/seasons - it's a bright sign that we may have this whole concussion thing figured out by 2042!

Poli Sigh - A Fine Idea

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:33:00 +0000

I think the headline is funny, but what do you think of this from Consumerist

I think I'll have more on this, especially some contradictions in the comments section that are oh-so-delicious.

Poli Sigh - A Political Army of One?

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:54:00 +0000

Saw this on Yahoo!

I feel as if this story is going to focused on solely as a constitutional rights issue, but the statements by soon to be ex-Marine Gary Stein don't add up. Read for yourself and tell me what you think!

Totally Balls - New Cubs Curse?

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:34:00 +0000

A crazy man says Deadspin

I like stealing ideas as much as the next guy, but I like to make sure they're successful first!

Totally Balls - Rick 'Matter-of-Unfactly' Morrissey

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:03:00 +0000

That's how Rick Morrissey writes it in the Sunday Sun-Times opinion piece!

How do you carry an opinion on a wave while being as anti-journalism as possible, you ask? Well Mr. Morrissey has the answer! First, you lambast a public sports figure by fishing out only a portion of a quote so that the context isn't humorous as intended, but instead outright controversial in it's stripped format. Then, you follow it up by providing 'smarter' words to said sports figure that congeal to form a thought that was not only never meant, but is completely off the topic of the original, untainted quote!

Congratulations Morrissey, that's the way to prove your points: Make them up!

For those of you who can read: here's the actual quote talked about at Mashable.

Poli Sigh - What's USPS's problem? Congress!

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:57:00 +0000

Via Consumerist

Okay, so that wasn't their exact words, but it might as well have been. And if you read up on the craziness they have to put up with being a fringe governmental entity - they'd be correct!

Game On! - I Wish Game Players WERE Game Developers

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 05:08:00 +0000

Thanks for the heads up GP!

This warms the cockles of this one's heart.............................do hearts have cockles?

Game On! - I Wish Game Developers Weren't Game Developers

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Because they blindly say things like this (Kotaku)

Game On! - Square Joke, Round Ear

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:57:00 +0000

Came across this snippet in Kotaku.

Sorry Square, this joke only further reminds me of the cash grab routine you're pulling with Final Fantasy rather than it's intended 'haha, I'm okay being wallet-raped now, kthnxbai!'.

K.I.S.S. - Worst Company in America now a shadow of it's former self?

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 23:22:00 +0000

Voting ended for Consumerist's annual anti-award show and Electronic Arts (a video game company) is considered by the voting populace to be a bigger negative than Bank of America (a bank).......

Is it just me, or is that ridiculous?

The Reactioneer - Changes

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:29:00 +0000

Updates on a new schedule and format tweaks to all the shows

K.I.S.S. - This Landlord Needs to Take a Leap

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:31:00 +0000

Via Consumerist

Go to court! Do not pass go! Do not let an asshat of this enormity collect $200!

Last Time On - Kris Dielman Retires

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:56:00 +0000

Via Deadspin

This serously needs to blow up in the NFL's face. A 31 year old pro bowler playing a position that constantly sees people play to their upper 30's retires? Why would that be, NFL, when you have such a clearly drawn out system? I know the answer, and that you can keep this sort of thing from happening again. Part of me thinks 'fat chance'.

Game On! - And Gaming's Gods Shrugged

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:03:00 +0000

Via Kotaku

I think I want this to be a wiki-what!? story for the next show. I understand how they got the conclusion they got, but I think the perspective is too skewed.

Alert - Apologies for lack of shows

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000

One of the reasons is due to a lack of articles that I felt were worth posting. However, the primary reason is I'm currently in the middle of studying and testing for my CEC's to renew my ACE personal trainer certification. I am testing for one this weekend, then I'll do the second half next week, and finally it'll be time to renew my first aid/AED/CPR certification.

That's not to say don't expect ANY show for the next few weeks. I'm approaching this with the plan of still doing The Reactioneer and Blitz Fitness each week, but if you're wondering why it seems to not be happening, now you know.

Also, regarding the lack of a Spot On Reflections re-released: I have not done so yet as I'm considering 're-mastering' those and it's going to be fairly time consuming. I'll have more details when I do the next Reactioneer.

Please be patient folks! Thanks!

K.I.S.S. - Ticket stubs and Oscar futures

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:21:00 +0000

Via HBR

I understand his thoughts, but there are three problems I have with his pricing plan. For one, it's something that's already done by theaters: matinee times. So the idea isn't really all that revolutionary. Second, yes the movie industry is quick to find new sources of revenue, and 3D is a great example of that, BUT 3D is almost universally panned and people are going a little out of their way to avoid the 3D version of a film if they can easily get to the 2D version. Finally, and more importantly in my opinion, people who used to go to the theater all the time and now don't (like me) do so because the home option is not only cheaper but there also exists the 'free' option in the vein of torrenting. I'm not advocating that, but it's a real possibility. Don't write how sensitive consumers are to prices and then support the idea of triggering the price changes.

One last thought as I'm typing this. Raise prices to see a movie in the theaters if it's an Oscar nominee or winner? How many of those films are still in the theaters when the nominations, let alone the show, come out? I may just be ignorant on this one, but I imagine the boat has been missed on a lot of these.

Game On! - Lack of Reading Comprehension takes Mass Effect on Ignorant Gamers

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:44:00 +0000

Via Kotaku

A writer who writes for videogames doesn't like that her writing can be skipped? That reminds me of my friend who has excellent cooking skills and expects his meals to taste good! Totally ridiculous, right? No? Oh!

I happen to agree with everything said by Bioware writer Jennifer Hepler; mostly because what she said compared to the position she is in is completely understandable and her so called attack on videogames just isn't that at all.

K.I.S.S. - If only this were the Apple of Microsoft's eye

thereactioneer@gmail.com (Blitz - The Reactioneer) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:42:00 +0000

By Games Industry

Apple takes action where Microsoft takes the blue pill.