Monday, Aug 17, 2009
Messenger, Blogs, and the Forums. I receive a good dose of questions that often feel similar to each other, so I decided to blog the most commonly used ones... so you can stop asking and/or wondering. Also, same rules as last blog: You respond to mine and I'll respond to yours.
Why the Username?
Name of my first novel is "Symphony", and I love all music in general.
Why arn't you so active anymore?
Why doesn't Gamespot offer a challenge anymore? There isn't even an attempt to defend a game anymore. I haven't been flamed in who knows how long and apparently "Arguing with Symphony" must be a new taboo.
Why must you bash people's favorite games? How would you feel if I bashed YOUR favorite game?
What's stopping you? That's what an opinion is for after all and I fully respect you as a person if you did bash my preferred games. Because I certainly won't stop bashing your favored generic clones. Or at least bashing the lack of polish. I bash my own games if they fall into one of my gaming-peeves, so unless I notice that I'm hurting your heart by bashing the game, I'll keep at it.
What do you mean by "Facts are opinions"?
I mean that the so called "Facts" of right and wrong are nothing more but a powerful opinion that's favored by the masses. In other words, what may be right to you, may be wrong for me. But don't get me wrong, I agree with a lot of the usual "rights and wrongs" of life. Like hurting babies is wrong. I just don't think you should be telling me that I'm pushing my opinion on you. Technically, when you tell me what I should and shouldn't do with my own opinions, you're doing the same exact thing to me...and I am no fan of contradiction.
Why must a game be original to you? What's wrong with a few casual games every once in awhile?
It's not that I don't own any rehashes or casual games. I have Soul Calibur IV (Family fun+Online) and...and...Devil May Cry 4! (Story Line) But as I said, I refuse to completely defend these games when the bashing comes in because what people say are often true about them. With the exception that some wit said that SCIV has no depth. But yes, most of my games are either gaming gems or very unique titles. And why? Well, let's just say my life doesn't need to play video games in order to feel complete...at all. Gaming isn't my life, nor is it even a main hobby (anymore). So I don't crave games like some do, so I can afford to go on gaming dries for literally months without purchasing one game, or even playing my previous games. Casual gamers have done a great job of watering down gaming to the point where I just save hundreds of dollars every year. I have better things to buy. Originality in story/gameplay is how you can earn my cash now. And if I hear one more tool that asks me why I value the FF series if I don't respect rehashes...
With that said, I hope I answered all of the usual (good) questions that have come up.
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Posted Aug 17, 2009 6:38 am PT
@HarshGamer: That's alright. I took the series off the internet anyways due to the story being around 6 years old and I looked back at what I wrote and naturally felt like the unpolished, polluted story needed a revamp. Even more so than my current story I recently finished.
The story was a 3-novel set that had a cast of good-doers try and stop a woman who took control of everyone's souls when they died and used them to benefit her raise to power. Sadly, the story couldn't stay that simple (at all), so I am planning to go back and make huge plot changes that don't leave plot holes and borderline contradictions.
The story was a 3-novel set that had a cast of good-doers try and stop a woman who took control of everyone's souls when they died and used them to benefit her raise to power. Sadly, the story couldn't stay that simple (at all), so I am planning to go back and make huge plot changes that don't leave plot holes and borderline contradictions.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 7:04 am PT
FF series is just a bunch of rehashed tar. /trying to argue with Symphony/
Posted Aug 17, 2009 8:55 am PT
Hmm never knew you wrote a novel and I read what you wrote in your comment to HarshGamer, it sounds really interesting. And at times I wish I could have your thinking of buying games, but for me I have to have something to entertain me after a while. But interesting blog makes me feel like I know you better now. 
Posted Aug 17, 2009 9:45 am PT
I figured you don't post anymore because almost everyone with a personality got banned, or don't come on anymore 
GreenGoblin, Avataraang, Ze,Token, everyone's gone!
It's always good to see you or Vyse to come on once in a while; it's really different without you guys imo.
GreenGoblin, Avataraang, Ze,Token, everyone's gone!
It's always good to see you or Vyse to come on once in a while; it's really different without you guys imo.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 9:50 am PT
FFX was one of the worst games ever made... discuss.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 10:07 am PT
You have SC4? ! 
How could you
Posted Aug 17, 2009 10:47 am PT
@raahsnavj: Nu-uh! /Attempt at arguing back.
@Colmillios: Hehe. Thanks. =) I've finished around 15 stories now. =p Also, don't mind my opinion on games too much. XP
@supa_badman: Yeah. It's huge-a-different. Surely kept me from wanting to stay on here. People are dropping like flies flying into a furnace.
@TTDog: "Eat This." Bored Voice Actors/boring fight As long as dozens of trash like this exist, FFX is fine. In the (rare) case that you watched the entire 2nd link...I have just one more thing to prove mah' point: "Hot stuff, coming your way!"
@N-REAL: Sure thing. Hopefully my router will stop being an evil being to online gaming. D':
@Colmillios: Hehe. Thanks. =) I've finished around 15 stories now. =p Also, don't mind my opinion on games too much. XP
@supa_badman: Yeah. It's huge-a-different. Surely kept me from wanting to stay on here. People are dropping like flies flying into a furnace.
@TTDog: "Eat This." Bored Voice Actors/boring fight As long as dozens of trash like this exist, FFX is fine. In the (rare) case that you watched the entire 2nd link...I have just one more thing to prove mah' point: "Hot stuff, coming your way!"
@N-REAL: Sure thing. Hopefully my router will stop being an evil being to online gaming. D':
Posted Aug 17, 2009 11:07 am PT
Uhhh.......It might not have been recently, but I've flamed and argued with you many times over FFXII. FFXII is an excellent game with a deep narrative and an engaging battle and progression system. The arguments that it's unoriginal or uninspired is not valid in the slightest. The score is amazing, the art direction is brilliant, and the VA is close to flawless. There is absolutely nothing bad that could be said about FFXII. NOTHING!!!! *whisper*nothing*whisper
Posted Aug 17, 2009 11:09 am PT
@KH-mixerX: Oh yeah. You. lol
Final Star Wars XII I hear is a watered down MMORPG rip when it comes to that famous gambit system. The art direction bleeds Star Wars. The judges breath Star Wars. (Literally!) I likey the voice acting. The story remains to be shallow. The main characters basically travel from odd place to odd place while the side characters that your party may or may never even see gets all the actions of backstabbing, "tense" moments, and debates. Such a disconnection from the player is hardly acceptable to me.
Final Star Wars XII I hear is a watered down MMORPG rip when it comes to that famous gambit system. The art direction bleeds Star Wars. The judges breath Star Wars. (Literally!) I likey the voice acting. The story remains to be shallow. The main characters basically travel from odd place to odd place while the side characters that your party may or may never even see gets all the actions of backstabbing, "tense" moments, and debates. Such a disconnection from the player is hardly acceptable to me.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 11:28 am PT
All of that is a matter of opinion symph and you know it. Darth Vader is one dude. The Judges were many dudes. The First Galactic Empire is one Galactic Empire. XII has two empires, and there's absolutely nothing galactic or first about them. So HA!!!!! I honestly don't know where your coming from with the whole shallow story business. Maybe some of the characters were shallow, like that robot Vaan and his shell of a person sidekick Penelo. Other than that, XII had its share of complexity. The whole subplot with Basch was excellent. And what JRPG doesn't entail going from one odd place to another with the exception of the Persona series? Exactly. I think I've made my point clear and established my superiority in this debate. Case closed.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 11:54 am PT
Love the comment "My Family Dealt In Trade"... crappy translation for the win... I got the feeling that English was not the voice actors first language which may account for some of the piss poor dailogue... if you have no idea what you're saying it's hard to speak the words with the right emotions.
5mins and 7seconds I'll never get back (would have watched it all but it stops buffering at 5m 7secs so I can't watch any further) but if you want a massively wordy and confusing end sequence then look no further than Eternal Sonata at around 45 minutes... or Star Ocean: The Last Hope at around 50 minutes.
5mins and 7seconds I'll never get back (would have watched it all but it stops buffering at 5m 7secs so I can't watch any further) but if you want a massively wordy and confusing end sequence then look no further than Eternal Sonata at around 45 minutes... or Star Ocean: The Last Hope at around 50 minutes.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 12:46 pm PT
Pfft, I don't know what the heck you are talking about. Not only is killing babies a purely righteous act, but its just dam fun! 
Posted Aug 17, 2009 1:12 pm PT
I'll be getting Soul Calibur 4 for my girlfriend....so I'll be playing you soon lol. Buy tekken 6 too, tatiana REALLY wants that =)
Posted Aug 17, 2009 2:26 pm PT
@KH-mixerX: You can't close a case on your own. That's a sign of weakness to any argument to do just that. If you can't see the Star Wars influence like everyone else in the galaxy can, that's your... umm, choice. When the judges breath, they sound a little too close to our dearest Vader. Their theme songs clearly remind me of my own legit copies of the Star Wars OSTs.
Also, I'm sorry, but who cares about "The First Galactic Empire is one Galactic Empire. XII has two empires, and there's absolutely nothing galactic or first about them." You're picking at straws to prove a point, but since it seems to be a big point for you, I'll go ahead and make a short explanation to why "One empire/ Two empires" example is rather silly.
You basically told me that because Heavenly Sword has a woman with red hair and God of War has a bald guy with a red thingy, there's no way that Heavenly Sword wasn't (heavily) inspired by God of War with it's quick time events, battle system, and references. So if I used your logic, the two games have NOTHING in common and end of discussion.
Also, I'm sorry, but who cares about "The First Galactic Empire is one Galactic Empire. XII has two empires, and there's absolutely nothing galactic or first about them." You're picking at straws to prove a point, but since it seems to be a big point for you, I'll go ahead and make a short explanation to why "One empire/ Two empires" example is rather silly.
You basically told me that because Heavenly Sword has a woman with red hair and God of War has a bald guy with a red thingy, there's no way that Heavenly Sword wasn't (heavily) inspired by God of War with it's quick time events, battle system, and references. So if I used your logic, the two games have NOTHING in common and end of discussion.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 2:50 pm PT
Going from one place to one place. You're still digging for some cheap points there. lol
Yes I am aware that JRPGs have you go through weird places...but you know what? When they were traveling through the places, plot twists relevant to the main characters happened. That is the difference between XII and any other respectable JRPG. In XII, you were often taken to another cast of characters to make the story. The complexity stems from those characters and nearly those alone. Tell me this: Every character in your party, Vaan and Penelo excluded since you explained them, how are the characters complex? I'll give you Basch but he doesn't make the entire team. And yes, there is still plenty to lolz at FFXII with.
Yes I am aware that JRPGs have you go through weird places...but you know what? When they were traveling through the places, plot twists relevant to the main characters happened. That is the difference between XII and any other respectable JRPG. In XII, you were often taken to another cast of characters to make the story. The complexity stems from those characters and nearly those alone. Tell me this: Every character in your party, Vaan and Penelo excluded since you explained them, how are the characters complex? I'll give you Basch but he doesn't make the entire team. And yes, there is still plenty to lolz at FFXII with.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 2:51 pm PT
I am a peaceful being. I won't be drawn in to fight with you.
Never. Not in a million years. Unless you hate cats...
Never. Not in a million years. Unless you hate cats...
Posted Aug 17, 2009 3:23 pm PT
I would bash your games, but... we like the same stuff.
Also, lol @ Family fun. One word: Amy.
Also, lol @ Family fun. One word: Amy.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 3:31 pm PT
I think you took my response a bit too seriously. Most of it was written to be funny. I'm not gonna deny that Star Wars probably had an inspiration in the creation of FFXII, but to say it's a rip-off of it(which is practically what your saying), is ludicrous. Every game made today has an inspiration. News Flash: That's not a bad thing. You provided a perfect example of an inspired game by mentioning HS when compared to GoW. But everyone here knows that HS wasn't butchered for its source material GoW, like your doing with FFXII. It's main criticism was the length if I'm not mistaken. My point is that minus your SW comparisons, everything else you mentioned is simply a matter of taste and opinion. Watered down MMORPG when referring to the Gambit system? Really? C'mon dude. You can only go so far when trying to implement AI programming by the player into a game. It's gonna be a bit flawed and simplified no matter what. But considering that its the first time its been done in a FF and it actually worked, I'm willing to forgive a couple flaws in the general design. I also fail to see the disconnection from the player in tense moments. You literally play through arguably one of the most tense and controversial moments in the entire game at the beginning.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 3:52 pm PT
Overall, I see your arguments to be extremely full of your own opinions, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Your entitled to them of course, but that doesn't make them universally correct and make XII a bad game. In fact, that was one of your own bullet points in this blog entry. Facts are opinions. Even if your opinions on XII were universally agreed upon, which their not, they'd still be just "powerful opinions favored by the masses." Oh man, it feels good to flex my debating muscles, they've become quite flabby of late for obvious reasons already stated by others here.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 3:52 pm PT
Oh, and BTW, Judge Ghis has a giant helmet on his head, how the heck do you think he's gonna sound when he talks? Especially when he doesn't bother to open it at all. Darth Vader doesn't have a trademark on the sound people make when talking with a giant metal helmet on buddy.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 3:55 pm PT
@KH-mixerX: There's a hole in using my logic on me. In saying that "Facts are opinions", you should know that "Opinions can be fact" as well. Although reversed, it could very well be different things. And kudos to mentioning the most tense part being the beginning of the game. It certainly helps my argument about the other 60 hours of the game... more than you know. I've no problem with long games... unless it has the lolz-FFXII infamous walk across the JRPG map I remember so well.
ALSO, FFXII isn't truly a bad game. It's more than technically stable and for a JRPG, the concept is unique. That won't stop me from pointing out my annoyance for a lack of character development and M.characters' fighting for a story that barely grew between side characters. Especially since it's FF, which are known for their plots escalating to something great. I'd say FFXII was more of a MAJOR disappointment to me.
Oh, and I still eagerly await the reasons why the FFXII party had depth. I'm sure you'll think of a lot.
ALSO, FFXII isn't truly a bad game. It's more than technically stable and for a JRPG, the concept is unique. That won't stop me from pointing out my annoyance for a lack of character development and M.characters' fighting for a story that barely grew between side characters. Especially since it's FF, which are known for their plots escalating to something great. I'd say FFXII was more of a MAJOR disappointment to me.
Oh, and I still eagerly await the reasons why the FFXII party had depth. I'm sure you'll think of a lot.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 4:39 pm PT
@KH-mixerX: There's a hole in using my logic on me. In saying that "Facts are opinions", you should know that "Opinions can be fact" as well. Although reversed, it could very well be different things. And kudos to mentioning the most tense part being the beginning of the game. It certainly helps my argument about the other 60 hours of the game... more than you know. I've no problem with long games... unless it has the lolz-FFXII infamous walk across the JRPG map I remember so well.
ALSO, FFXII isn't truly a bad game. It's more than technically stable and for a JRPG, the concept is unique. That won't stop me from pointing out my annoyance for a lack of character development and M.characters' fighting for a story that barely grew between side characters. Especially since it's FF, which are known for their plots escalating to something great. I'd say FFXII was more of a MAJOR disappointment to me.
Oh, and I still eagerly await the reasons why the FFXII party had depth. I'm sure you'll think of a lot.
ALSO, FFXII isn't truly a bad game. It's more than technically stable and for a JRPG, the concept is unique. That won't stop me from pointing out my annoyance for a lack of character development and M.characters' fighting for a story that barely grew between side characters. Especially since it's FF, which are known for their plots escalating to something great. I'd say FFXII was more of a MAJOR disappointment to me.
Oh, and I still eagerly await the reasons why the FFXII party had depth. I'm sure you'll think of a lot.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 4:39 pm PT
I will submit to you a say that the FFXII did seem very disconnected with each other throughout the game. Although there were some gems in the group such as Ashe and Basch who did have depth. I'm not saying that FFXII is without its shortcomings. I've already mentioned a few as a matter of fact. But I'm not gonna list them right now. You can go back and read my previous posts if you like. Since you have admitted that FFXII isn't a truly bad game, my work here is done. Thats all I really wanted from you in the first place. The rest of what you said in that last response I'll take as purely opinion. Cause thats what it is, opinion. And I agree about opinions being fact at times, But that doesn't apply to this situation. I think we've reached a stalemate. Don't you think? Let's agree to disagree? Well, has this quenched your thirst for a debate? Has it made you reevaluate your belief that arguing with symph is taboo? I hope so. And if it has, I'm glad to be of service. If it hasn't, I have a great deal of games in my collection that I hold dear to my heart, and will defend rigorously to the death. Feel free to bash on any of them, if you wish. A quick browse of my page will allow you to pick and choose if you will. I will be ready...
Posted Aug 17, 2009 7:19 pm PT
I think its funny bashing peoples favorite games. People bash my favorite game all the time. But I always laugh it off.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 7:58 pm PT
Man nothing happens on the forums at all. There is like no interesting things to argue or hijack nowadays.
I haven't seen the forums ablaze in age.
*remembers the old days*
I haven't seen the forums ablaze in age.
*remembers the old days*
Posted Aug 17, 2009 7:58 pm PT
*goes out to punch babies and burn orphanages*
*in trial*
"BUT SYMPH TOLD ME I COULD!!! DON'T TRY TO PUSH YOUR OPINIONS ON MEEE!!!!!!! READ HIS BLOG, DUDE!!!"
*in trial*
"BUT SYMPH TOLD ME I COULD!!! DON'T TRY TO PUSH YOUR OPINIONS ON MEEE!!!!!!! READ HIS BLOG, DUDE!!!"
Posted Aug 17, 2009 8:57 pm PT
Y'know, I'm sick of hearing you guys reminisce about these so called "old days." What are these old days you speak of? I may not have been around as long as some of the people here, but I was around when people like goblin, ze, and token were regulars on these forums. And it doesn't seem any different now than it did back then. Maybe thread originality has died a bit, but other than that, I'm just not seeing it. If you guys miss these "old days" so much, then why don't you try and bring them back instead of whining about it all the time. Make a union or something, I don't know. But knock it off already. It's depressing.
Posted Aug 17, 2009 9:20 pm PT
@Pandy:KH-mixerX: Geeze, if that's all you wanted to hear, why not just ask me what I consider a bad game? (Like my precious Drakengard) In all honesty, I bash good games with complaints like mad, BUT, it only seems nightmarish because you've yet to hear my hate rants on games that need to be wiped from existence.
@hazelnutman: Popular opinion AND my own says you need to be jailed, perhaps burned alive. Though you offer a good point, the courts ARE pushing their opinion to hang your ace, I think it's fair since you pushed your opinion on that baby and orphanage. So I say lets push ours on you
In all honesty, I bash good games with complaints like mad, BUT, it only seems nightmarish because you've yet to hear my hate rants on games that need to be wiped from existence.@hazelnutman: Popular opinion AND my own says you need to be jailed, perhaps burned alive.
Though you offer a good point, the courts ARE pushing their opinion to hang your ace, I think it's fair since you pushed your opinion on that baby and orphanage. So I say lets push ours on you
Posted Aug 18, 2009 2:30 am PT
About facts: it is not exactly as you said in your blog, for example, "death of each and every human being" is a fact because it is definite to happen, is there someone who we know of in real life(obviously lol) that is immortal?
Psst, it's been a long time since I visited your blogs Symph, I'll try to catch up later.
Psst, it's been a long time since I visited your blogs Symph, I'll try to catch up later.
Posted Aug 18, 2009 3:00 am PT
Posted Aug 18, 2009 9:32 am PT
Who said hurting babies is wrong?
Great games are few and far between now. I remember I bought 16 games during one of the years of PS2. This year, I've only bought 3.
Great games are few and far between now. I remember I bought 16 games during one of the years of PS2. This year, I've only bought 3.
Posted Aug 18, 2009 10:55 am PT
See the kiddie wink has been on here as well... bless.
Posted Aug 24, 2009 2:06 pm PT
@Symphonycometh: I know you wouldn't like me quoting you in your own blog but I'm wondering if there is some way I may read this novel of yours? It sounds good.
Posted Sep 17, 2009 3:42 am PT
@Bioshockraptor: Quote all you want. I do not think I have any issues with quoting...I think. I'm a human, so you may never know. lol
As for my story, I can let you read Kingdom of Mana (KoM), but I'm warning you, I am very very very VERY very irritable when it comes to people wanting to read the stories. Not because I'm afraid they'll hate it, but because I've had countless people come to me wanting to read it and telling me they would, but never do or lie to me about it as if I can't see right through their lies. So I must heavily warn you, PLEASE do not jump into my writing world unless you're sure you're alright with my need for honesty. lol
As for my story, I can let you read Kingdom of Mana (KoM), but I'm warning you, I am very very very VERY very irritable when it comes to people wanting to read the stories. Not because I'm afraid they'll hate it, but because I've had countless people come to me wanting to read it and telling me they would, but never do or lie to me about it as if I can't see right through their lies. So I must heavily warn you, PLEASE do not jump into my writing world unless you're sure you're alright with my need for honesty. lol
Posted Sep 17, 2009 3:56 am PT
@Symphonycometh: So you're just asking me if I promise to read it? Of course. I'll print it off if you have it on text.
Posted Sep 17, 2009 4:07 am PT
Posted Sep 17, 2009 4:27 am PT
@Symphonycometh: How long is it? I might review it in a future blog.
Posted Sep 17, 2009 4:36 am PT
@Bioshockraptor: 50 sexy pages if I recall right. lol
Posted Sep 17, 2009 4:38 am PT
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