Mashup's......and NO I'm not talking about the kind from Glee.

Have you seen mashups of two different shows on YouTube? I've seen many, and I always find them fascinating and sometimes rather hilarious. Typically they're cut and paste or spoof version, but one show did it on point.


Sarah Jane Chronicles meets The Eleventh Doctor meets The Skeksis?? What?

What is a Skeksis you may ask? Do you remember The Dark Crystal? An old Jim Henson puppet style movie that came out in 1982. Yeah. The Skeksis were "the bad guys." Oh but wait, there's more! In this mashup, they aren't called Skeksis (even though the resemblance is uncanny.) Listen for it. Pretty darn close.

My question is, what made the writers decide to use such a likeness in a show and think it was okay? I understand that you can change minor things and call it your own, but really?! Where's the creativity? If you're going to use someone else's material, use it fully, AND CREDIT THEM! I doubt Henson would mind his iconic villains being used to battle against the Doctor.

On the upside, I thought the meeting between the great Sarah Jane and the eleventh Doctor was great. She immediately knew him. I'm definitely going to have give the entire episode a watch.

Seeing as The Dark Crystal was one of my favorite movies as a child, and the Doctor is just, well, THE DOCTOR, I really enjoyed this clip. It drew me in. It left me asking questions. That is how entertainment should be. Mashups can be difficult, but if done properly, they can leave you wanting more and over-the-moon happy.



What are your thoughts on mashups?

Cheers, 

~7

Cosplay Fitness...

We've all been there....

Trying to fit into a certain something, by a certain date......

One of my cosplay friends wanted to share his take on the topic.......

Cosplay Fitness: Winning and Losing

by Ryan Roper

Ever catch yourself staring at a character you adore, thinking about how great it would be to cosplay them… only to take a step back and think “if only I was _______ enough…”? (Insert generic: thinner, taller, bulkier, etc. as needed.) In a community that is quite prevalently dominated by “sexy” cosplays, and attention to detail, it’s been noticed that sometimes the fitness aspect of cosplaying oddly manages to slip under the radar. Much to the point, a cosplayer has every right to do what they will with themselves and their costume, but I often wonder why such insane amounts of effort and attention to detail go into the costuming and getting into character, while opting out of certain characters due to a difference in build. I’ve heard on many occasion something along the lines of: “mannnnnnn, I would TOTALLY rock a Goku cosplay, too bad I’m a bit too scrawny.” I should know, the same words have come out of my mouth; and I, too, have been guilty of choosing cosplays that tailor to my build, vs. tailoring my build to cosplays I’d like to do.

                Therein lies the issue that I have a hard time grasping, in that if it’s so engrained in this so-called cosplay culture to go above and beyond… To painstakingly craft entire suits of armor… To spend day after day styling a wig so that the lines are just right… To wrapping yourself in saran wrap and duct tape just to have a working mannequin… Where’s the drive to lift some weights in order to achieve your cosplay goals? Where are all the people reeling and beaming with excitement after finally reaching their fitness goals, letting them do the cosplay they had set out to do? I’ve had the good fortune of talking to/working with some fellow cosplayers recently who were looking to get into better shape for some upcoming cosplays. At first they were a bit on the fence, so to speak, and weren’t whole-heartedly committed to a hard routine to get them where they wanted to be.

I’m reminded of the old film Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone, and how he was a fighter with an awful lot of heart and potential, but only ever took fights he knew he could win… Until, that is, he had his shot at greatness, and decided to make a go-for-broke attempt at changing himself for something he believed in… And in the end, he actually lost. It happens. You could run on a treadmill every day for a month and still not hit the time you set as your goal. You could lift like crazy for a month and still not bench as much as you thought you would be able to… But it’s not always about winning, it’s about what you’re willing to go through to see your goal come to life, even if it’s not on schedule. Let’s be serious, we’ve all had cosplay deadlines that we ultimately just couldn’t meet, and got pushed back. Wasn’t it a great feeling, though, when that cosplay finally got debuted? I can assure you, it’s an equally impressive feeling when you finally hit the goals at the gym that you set for yourself.

                That’s not all, either, as I soon found out. Those friends that were originally on the fence about a hard gym routine, they decided to jump headfirst, and haven’t quit since. They’ve acquired a new-found confidence in themselves and what they’re capable of, and that’s something that they absolutely bring to the table when they put their costumes on. Oh, it spreads, too. Fast. Before I knew it there were at least a dozen cosplayers I was speaking with that were starting to realize that it was very possible to cosplay characters that they wanted to do, as well.

                As cosplayers, we’re a group of such extremely dedicated and passionate individuals, that I *guarantee* you will be impressed by what you’re capable of. So if you’re someone, like myself, who has ever turned down a cosplay (or numerous ones for that matter) because you weren’t lean enough, or muscular enough, or just downright felt like your waist was a couple sizes too big? If being those things would give you the satisfaction you require to bring those characters to life, then apply your already-amazing-and-talented skills, and be those things. You don’t owe it to anyone but yourself, and that’s what makes it so great.

                Believe in yourselves. Every kid who sees you in costume already does.

Thanks for the perspective Ryan! It's always inspiring to hear that I'm not in that boat alone. Push forward. Achieve your goals. Believe in yourself. 

Cheers, 

~7

God of War: Ascension Review (a gamers take)

I'm lucky enough to have some great gamer friends who are always willing to lend their personal opinion of the hottest new game. So, here you have it. The first review of God of War: Ascension.

God of War: Ascension Review

by Andrew Swetz

Since 2005, Santa Monica Studios has brought forth an amazing collaboration of Greek Mythology Hack and Slash/ Adventure mixed with platforming elements to bring you the new series God Of War. It’s based around the character, Kratos, seeking vengeance against the God Of War Ares for tricking him into killing his family. It sounds pretty ambitious and risky, but it has paid off! Not only was it one of the best games I’ve played this year,  it also combined my love of Greek Mythology and brutality in one amazing game.  This storyline has spawned 6 games to date.  God of War 2 followed Zeus’ obsession with destroying Kratos . God of War 3 was the revenge against the gods. Chains of Olympus was about Kratos making a choice between his daughter and the world. Lastly, Ghost of Sparta was about Kratos’ childhood and the reuniting with his brother. Now after 5 games, latest game in the God of War franchise and an actual prequel to the entire saga……God of War: Ascension. Taking place 10 years before God of War and 6 months after being tricked by Ares after swearing his allegiance to the God of War himself!

As things go with prequels, they are a risky venture but seem to be the normal thing now with any mediums. So, basically the game takes place in Ancient Greece and is centered on a younger Kratos with the key story about the blood oath being broken. They really delve into Mythology here as the Furies being the enemy here not gods or demi gods as in previous games. They are a bit of a mystery but it’s basically almost like a Memento thing, when you think the story is one way it twists. The narrative is a lot different than previous games as well. They focus more on the human aspect to Kratos.

As the combat is relatively the same hack and slash, they add features where you can steal weapons from enemies. It gives a different dynamic even though the moves are pretty much the same with minor tweaks. 

One key change is the moves are actually more vicious since he is younger. The games’ mini games are mostly for the bosses now.  The mini bosses have a different mechanic now too, where it’s timing on screen without the normal “hit these buttons” which makes it more realistic and enjoyable for some.  The overall depth to the game is an interesting mesh between paying homage to the newer platform games mixed with your classic Castlevania, Zelda and Devil May Cry.

Now, the first boss is pretty insane, in case you were wondering. The battle takes place over several areas while adding moving locations as you are fighting. This gives it a much grander feel. The camera is tight and can be annoying how sometimes it does not adjust right away leaving you open to attack. They also have sliding parts in the game that really makes you think back to the games on the NES and older consoles; lots of nostalgia. Sometimes it’s confusing, the angle they are going for, the story is all over the place. Sometimes the pacing is a bit slower than the previous games but towards the end, it all starts to come together. The ending is more brutal and bittersweet. The anti-climactic ending which really left much to be desired was a bit disappointing, but when you go from making God of War: Ghost of Sparta and then before that GOW3, there is only so far you can take a game.

Overall, the game is amazing. It’s just not as fast paced in some parts which can confuse the player on where the direction of the story is headed.

The verdict I give God of War: Ascension 8 out of 10

The game is great just in terms of gameplay, just the storyline is a little more lackluster and less memorable than some games. But, the combat and the telling of Kratos’s humanity makes for a compelling story. Still, God of War 3 stands as the series high point! Regardless of what IGN says, the game is good. (They tend to be a bit biased so it’s up to you to actually play the game.)

Pros: Tight combat controls, mechanics flow more also NO CGI! Fantastic in game rendering pushing the spec for the PS3, Also lots of nostalgia from previous games of the genre!

Cons: Seems the game was rushed, does not flow as well as other games from the series, some camera issues and glitches more than usual.

Go out and buy the game, it’s worth it if you’re a fan of the series!  (If you’re not a GOW fan, you might not be as impressed!)

Thanks a bunch Andrew for your awesome input! Hopefully, this gives those of you who haven't played it yet, a good idea of what you will be dedicating your life too for a number of hours soon. 

Cheers, 

~7 

Why Geek, why?

Like bowties, 

It’s cool to be a geek.

Some people view society as a place divided between geeks and non-geeks. I wish to challenge this assumption by proposing that everyone has the potential to be a geek. Those of us who know and accept that part of ourselves should suspect that non-geeks are merely suppressing their inner geek. After all, society tends to reward people for conformity, and geeks tend to be pretty brave. We aren’t afraid to be different.

There is a distinct geek community, which helps us to share our interests with others. Whether one is into gaming, music, science, comic books, fantasy or sci-fi (note: there is a significant chance of overlap between two or more areas) they will find camaraderie with other geeks.  One of the coolest things about being a geek is that finding friends is easy. Parties, cons, or even the grocery store are venues to connect over a shared interest.  A glimpse of a shawl pin engraved in Elvish is the perfect conversation starter, whether you’re in the produce aisle or at the symphony. When the hottie is wearing a Dr. Who t-shirt at a party, a fellow geek can begin a conversation instantly. The conversation among geeks will revolve around “What are you into?” more than “What do you do?” This is a refreshing way to connect with people in modern society, where an inordinate amount of time is focused on the tasks one must complete in order to make money.

(Swords are cool. And knights. Knights are cool.)

Within each geek subgroup, one can find staggering amounts of diversity. The fantasy crowd can be found pursuing distinct interests such as Asian ball-jointed dolls (BJD community), renaissance festivals or cosplay. Comic book geeks can tell you where the best local comic book shops are, and share their appreciation not only for the characters, but also for the authors and illustrators of their favorite story arcs. An interest in comic books often develops into other subgroups of geekery, such as cosplay or gaming (HeroClix).

It’s cool to be a sexy geek girl.

The moniker “geek” previously denoted male geeks. That wasn’t cool, because there have always been girls who wanted to express themselves by embracing the same interests. This changed because the geek community has a history of challenging stereotypical assumptions, and the term now denote a man or a woman. However, the unique combination of beauty, brains, and a penchant for light sabers can still be scary for some, including other geeks. There was a recent controversy over a Tumblr about “fake” geek girls. The critique described them as poseurs (i.e. they don’t actually like Dr. Who, but claim that they do while wearing large glasses with non-prescription lenses). In my opinion, those who consider themselves the arbiters of true geekness should reflect on what they are truly afraid of: poseurs, or beautiful, intelligent women who like swords and wands. The geek girl is subversive of traditional cultural designations of femininity, and breaches a boundary that was previously held by men. Claiming our place as geeks continues to require the courage (and weirdness) of Luna Lovegood.

So while it is fun to dress in character, and strangely satisfying to obsess over what to give to friends on Pi day, the best part about being a geek is participation in a community that challenges the false assumptions of conventional wisdom. Society should embrace geeks precisely for our boldness and our critique of culture, including self-critique.

Just a little word as to why everyone should embrace their inner geek. What's not to love about it? 

Cheers, 

~7

Questions for YOU!

I'm always curious about others.....

So, I figured I'd ask YOU some questions!


If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be? (I'm talking excess geekish fun stuff....not food, water, boat, family. Non-essential.)

Why did you get into cosplay? (If you cosplay, that is.)

What is your favorite way to relax after a long stressful day?

Red Pill or Blue Pill?

Let me know what YOUR answers would be! I love hearing from people. 

For a more interactive experience, hit me up on my facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/sexygeekgirlblog. I DO respond! :P 

As for me, I'll answer my own questions:

1. I would cop out and say I'd bring my laptop, but lack of electricity and wifi might put a damper on that, so I'd have to say I'd bring my Shakespeare works collection. I have a thing for theatre, nifty words, and being able to entertain myself by acting it out. Might keep me happily busy for a while. 

2. I got into cosplay because I've always loved dressing up and taking on the role of other characters. I worked in theatre for a long time, and when my schedule lightened up on the creative side, I decided that this would be a perfect fit. Why only do it one time a year? I've met some amazing people, and been able to be hands on in the creative development of my own characters. I'm learning a lot in the process too, which is awesome. I'm rather addicted to learning. 

3. After a long stressful day, my #1 favorite way to relax is by taking a bubble bath and watching some Doctor Who on my laptop in the process. But, don't worry, the laptop stays out of the tub. No sizzling 7 allowed. 

4. Red Pill. I never like the idea that I'm not in control of my own destiny. There are aspects of life that bind us. Rules we must live by. Processes we must adhere to. If I had the opportunity to see the truth, all of it, I would give up all else to that truth. A steak tastes wonderful, but being able to see the meaning of that steak, what it really is, means so much more. Would you wake up? Or go back to sleep?

Cheers, 

~7