Atama Ga Warui: New Changes

If you have been here before, then you will immediately notice that I have made some drastic changes to the blog. Needless to say, this blog has, for the most part, been a complete failure. Changes in my lifestyle and time spent made it so, but that isn’t the whole story.

When I started it last summer with a younger online comrade of mine, I had every intention of making this blog something special and respectable with his help. Unfortunately, as time went on, unexpected limitations to the net and lack of overall symmetry with our anime viewing soon began eroding my desire to not only write about Japanese visual culture, but also to bother putting in effort on this blog if my comrade could not. So, I left this place alone, but kept watching anime when I could.

However, when mid 2008’s summer rolled around, I began to get fed up with much of my plans being left unfinished and my time being wasted doing things that could be done later. I was still an anime otaku, but had become VERY quiet about it because of how busy I was (and still am). Soon after a few realizations, I began taking bounds to really move and do what I love and even put aside my online chatting so I could experience freedom to think and do. Because of my rekindled joy for anime, Atama Ga Warui has been thrown into this equation of rehabilitation.

So what exactly are these changes?

Anime Blu-Ray Disks: A Half-Year Later…

*illustration designed by me @ EtherFuture Designs*

At my main blog, I was posed with a simple question regarding my stance towards the “format battle” by an individual who had read my past editorial, Next-Gen Multimedia: Thoughts on Anime on Blu-ray:

“Well blu-ray is in the lead and alot has been done since this post. So whats your aspect now?”

I felt compelled to respond, using bits of knowledge and updates I had picked up over the course of a little over a half-year. Surprisingly, it didn’t take me much time to conjure a short, concise reply, referencing past instances of societal adaptations mingled with my own speculation.

Just as before, I don’t claim to know everything there is to know about this topic. So if you share an opposing opinion or have more to add, feel free to share without any childish bashing. That is the creed this blog, Atama Ga Warui, stands by anyway.

This is how my comment read:

Thank you for asking.

My stance now is that as with any advance in technology, the DVD format will gradually, but most certainly, be replaced by Blu-Ray in a similar fashion that VHS was replaced by DVD. Prices for Blu-Ray players probably are going to mellow out over the next one or two years or so, but this will mainly be in response towards how rapidly the normalization of HD technology in households spreads.

In relation to anime, big-name companies like Bandai Visual are already delaying releases to in response to the lead Blu-Ray is taking. DVD production of anime will be reduced significantly as production companies adjust their business model, but not completely fazed out until an estimated half-decade. I surmise that by that time, HDTV would have made a major footprint in how viewers access their media, while there will still be some reluctant to change until technology and media has been spurred on so far ahead that they MUST adapt (e.g. think about our transition from Dial-Up to Broadband).

I’ve already shared what I thought, and now think, about the format battle, but there are still a few possibilities in what sort of business model anime production companies will take with the power that Blu-ray offers. What do you think Blu-ray disks could and should offer you in your viewing experience in the years to come?

Currently Listening To: KOTOKO – Shakugan No Shana II OP2 Single – BLAZE – “BLAZE”

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

Reality has been less than stellar for me. So I found a happy distraction that is 100% FREE: Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst. Mind you, I haven’t seriously played a real 3D MMO since my Ragnarok Online days about 3-4 years ago. I have my reasons for joining up with this game only two days ago, and I have people from the community I help administrate to play with. I’m really into the world and the gameplay. Really like my avatar that I modeled after my original character, Hirika Lailan, from my ongoing story Sacred Force. Sooo cu~te! <3

I’ve heard a bit of praise about the Phantasy Star series and it seems they are well deserved. I have never had the joy of leveling while dungeon-crawling in an online setting. It’s so much fun and it doesn’t feel like your “grinding”, but rather, exploring, hoping to find some rare item and face another difficult mob for some added excitement. Quests are also available — I did one early this morning with a team. On top of that, other Player Characters seem really laid-back and nice, and some of them are Japanese players! ^^ I haven’t spoken to any yet though. I’ve always been too quiet when it comes to talking to strangers, even in real life.

If anyone wants to join me, please leave a specific comment of interest that includes your e-mail address, and I will send you the information. Don’t want to needlessly spread it around. Again, you pay nothing but your time.

Some screenshots for you: