Smooth and Flat

Yes, this is a massive screenshot post. I’ve even used the “read more” thing because there are too many screenshots down there.

So, the series is called “Kämpfer” (that’s in German; English translation will be “Fighters”, “Warriors”, or “Challengers”; in Sakagamish: “fightan ppl”). It’s about some girls who fight (insert Miyako’s “Thank you, Capt. Obvious” picture here). Think Team Fortress 2 – they have a Red team and a Blue team, determined by the colour of their bracelets.

The main character of the story, Natsuru, is a new kämpfer. There is an issue with that, though. Read the rest of this entry »

October 07

• Sengoku BASARA Drama CD “Devil Kings” Vol.1
• TV Animation Valkyria Chronicles Drama CD Vol.2
• TV Animation Umineko no Naku Koro ni Character Song Vol.1 – Maria and Jessica
• TV Animation Tears to Tiara Drama CD
• GA-REI -zero- DJCD Vol.3
• TV Animation Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z Hen On Television Original Soundtrack Vol.2 - by Miyagawa Akira
• TV Animation Taushou Yakyuu Musume Ongaku Shuu (Original Soundtrack) – by Hattori Takayuki
• China Kibun de HIGH TENSION! (CANAAN) – by Nene (Takagaki Ayahi)
• TV Animation -saki- Original Soundtrack
• Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou Original Soundtrack
• Sora no Manimani Original Soundtrack
• Impressive – Prince of Tennis Character CD – by Tezuka Kunimitsu
• Ketteiban!! TV Anime 2 Best

October 14

• Theme of Edward Elric – by The Alchemists
• Theme of Alphonse Elric – by The Alchemists
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Original Soundtrack Vol.1
• Chojiku Anthem 2009: Iki wo Shiteru Kanjiteru (MACROSS) – by Ijima Mari, FIRE BOMBER, May’n and Nakajima Megumi
• Re.FIRE!! – by FIRE BOMBER
• TV Animation Pandora Hearts Drama CD Vol.2 – Alice Nomu Ochakai

October 21

• Which Witch? Character CD Vol.2 – Saki - by Horie Yui, Makino Yui, and Asumi Kana
• TV Animation Higashi no Eden DJCD – Higashi no Eden Hosobu SELECAO SIDE
• Hayate no Gotoku!! DJCD – Hayaraji!! Vol.1
• Zan Zetsubou Gekiban Senshuu – Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Original Soundtrack
• Asura Cryin’ DJCD – Kami Radio! - by Nonaka Ai and Irino Miyu
• Taisho Yakyuu Musume Drama CD
• Tales of Vesperia – The First Strike Original Soundtrack – by Senjuu Akira
• TV Animation Kampfer Opening Theme Single – by Kuribayashi Minami
• TV Animation -saki- Original Drama Vol.2
• Needless New Intro Theme Single – by Misato Aki
• Miracle Train Intro Theme Single – montage
• CooRie’s 4th Album (title TBA)
• TV Animation Tatakau Shishou The Book of Bantorra Intro Theme Single – Datenkoku Sensen – by ALI PROJECT (oh fuck you, ALI PROJECT)
• K-ON! Image Song – Hirasawa Ui
• K-ON! Image Song – Fujito Chika
• TV Animation 11 Eyes Intro Theme Single – Arrival of Tears
• TV Animation Nyan Koi! Intro Theme Single – Nyandaful! / Cross the Rainbow – by Sakakibara Yui
• TV Animation Nyan Koi! Outro Theme Single – Strawberry ~amaku setsunai namida~ / Kissing a Dream – by Imai Asami
• Katekyoushi Hitman Reborn! koshiki Charason Single Daizenshu 2
• Exit Trance Presents Speed Anime Trance Best Ecstasy 3rd Season
• Gokujo!! Mecha Mote Iincho Intro Theme Single – Daisuki ni Nare! / Kokoro Kimi ni Todoke
• BLEACH Breathless Collection 02
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Voice Actor Single – Inori / Justice – Takagaki Ayahi come across Feldt Grace
• Sasameki Koto Intro and Outro Theme Single – kanashi hodo aoku / nijiiro pocket - by Kiyoura Natsumi (ref.: Wolf & Spice op theme single)
• Macross Frontier The Movie 1st The False Songstress Insert Song Single – Pink Monsoon - by Sheryl Nome starring May’n
• Element Hunters Original Soundtrack 1 – by Sahashi Toshihiko

October 23

• TV Animation Sengoku BASARA DJCD Vol.2
• Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza Intro Theme Single – Chohatsu Cherry Heart - by Himemiya Miran and Chocolate Rockers
• Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza Outro Theme Single – Himitsu Suisho! Ultlove – by N’S
• TV Animation Queen’s Blade Oza wo Tsugumono Intro Theme Single – Ochinai Sora – by ENA
• TV Animation Queen’s Blade Oza wo Tsugumono Outro Theme Single – buddy-body
• TV Animation Queen’s Blade Rurou no Senshi Character Song + Short Drama – Airi Ver. – by Itou Kanae
• TV Animation Queen’s Blade Rurou no Senshi Character Song + Short Drama – Nowa Ver. – by Takahashi Mikako

October 28

• Elec Trick - by Hirano Aya
• GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class music palette
• Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 Original Soundtrack
• Akai Ito – by Suara
• Ban? Ban?! Ban! – Prince of Tennis Character CD - by Fukushi Michiru

I’m a fan of dBu music because of their awesome instrumental arrangements of various Touhou soundtracks, mostly because they only do instrumental stuff. I also love Silver Forest, Alstroemeria Records and IOSYS for both their instrumental and vocal tracks. However, there’s a really awesome thing about IOSYS, Silver Forest, Yellow Zebra, and a few others – the CD drama stuff.

Picture is, however, unrelated.

The aforementioned circles do a really good job voicing the drama tracks. I’d say it’s quite as good as commercial stuff. Sometimes I just loop a CD that includes a few drama tracks for hours – and I don’t get bored at all.

“Wriggle-chan, a~so~bou~?”

Why don’t I have any J-List referral advertisements anywhere on my blog or my LJ account? Not just because I don’t like ads. I actually considered putting their banners for a while – until late August. I have a subscription at their site, titled “Megami Magazine Reserve Subscription”; the description states:

This magazine subscription can be purchased on a revolving basis (where we’ll reserve and bill each issue as it comes in) or annually (for a flat fee w/ SAL shipping included).

So each issue is reserved. I guess it means that my reserve subscription has priority over normal site orders – J-List probably accounts these subscriptions when ordering from the publisher.

Only not.

It’s not accounted. Either that, or their staff are incompetent, cannot read, etc.

To put it short, I have a reserve subscription, I got my July 2009 issue, as well as the August one. And then I got another package, which I opened to find another July 2009 volume – instead of September 2009 one. Hello, J-List?.. The delivery takes up to one month. So when I got the magazine, and mailed them about “なにぜファック”, they were out of stock. Now, I’m not really sure if that issue ever was “in stock” for me. Something tells me that sending a duplicate of a not-yet-sold-out issue instead of a rare one (and September 2009 issue is of the “rare” kind – because of lots of exclusive stuff that comes with it) isn’t something purely accidental.

How do you put an issue that stands out as having a different cover, and “2009-07″ printed, in a handful of all the same “2009-09″ volumes, for packing before shipping?

A friend of mine who uses subscription (but with credit card payments instead of Paypal) got his issue no problems. Fine; that doesn’t prove anything. And some other people whom I know ordered the exact September 2009 issue from J-List on a regular basis, not having a subscription active… and got theirs. And it wasn’t a “reserved for you” kind of order. They just preordered it on the site.

Thank you, J-List, for your excellent service. I’ll look for a more reliable source for my magazine subscriptions.

…And I still can’t find that issue anywhere.

This season ends quite soon and with it, ends Bakemonogatari (which is set to be 15 episodes total). This show is – without any doubt – the best series of this summer. And all the songs are totally and incredibly catchy. The new opening theme, 「 恋愛サーキュレーション」 (“renai circulation”) by Hanazawa Kana, not only features another ultimately cute song, but a really nice video sequence along with it. It will be quite a feast if someone manages to beat Bakemonogatari’s opening and ending themes – and I doubt someone will (besides SHAFT themselves).

Have some Nadeko while I’m at it.

Since the 1.4 firmware update, my R4i stopped working. So in the end I’ve ordered EZFlash Vi, which has upgrade capabilities and works with 1.4 firmware. I paid for the order 3 weeks ago, and it’s almost here; I expect it to arrive this week. I paid $14 for it.

Only to realise that R4i can be upgraded too.

I’ve been reading various novels lately, and a question came to my mind; where do we draw the line that divides science and “non-science” fiction? What are the characteristics of a “truly sci fi” novel? Can fantasy and sci fi cross? I’m not talking about realms where magic and hi tech coexist. Let’s see…

Ursula Le Guin’s creations and worlds, for example. While Earthsea is completely in the fantasy department, Hainish cycle – mainly science fiction – contains some short stories which fit into that realm as well (not to mention The Left Hand of Darkness).

And of course Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. The best example here; while these novels reek of ‘fantasy’, they all have a sci fi  scent as well, I don’t really know how to explain…

Well, since I’m not an expert at all – I only got both SWR and Hisoutensoku back a week or two ago – I totally fail at understanding the game mechanics. I mean, the advanced stuff like weather, wrongblocking, guard crushing, spirit orbs, etc.

But I find it really strange that I could get through the entire Arcade mode on Lunatic difficulty.

Something is wrong with the AI, I presume. I could easily break any spell card used by the AI; and only three times my spell cards didn’t connect. However I lack experience and combo knowledge, and a real – human – player can beat me in – probably – less than 30 seconds into the game (I mean getting the KO).

I need stronger AI to play against and learn as it’s really, really hard to find people to play online against.

To be honest, September looks kind of bad compared to August, however there still are quite a few releases I’m interested in. The list below misses a few drama CDs… but who cares?

02.09.2009

• Psychic Lover II – by Psychic Lover; includes a few themes from anime series (Tytania, for example).
• Fresh Pretty Cure! Original Soundtrack.
• Kimi no Iru Keshiki – by WhiteFlame; featuring Hatsune Miku, Megurine Luka, KAITO, Shimotsuki Haruka and others – a compilation album.
• TV Animation K-ON! Sakurakou Keionbu Official Band Yarou yo!!; includes sheet music.

09.09.2009

• Hayate no Gotoku!! Opening Theme Single – Kara Koi – Dakara Shoujo wa Koi wo Suru – by Ryoko Shiraishi and Kugimiya Rie.
• Kanamemo Character Song & Soundtrack Album – Kanamero.
• Ga-Rei -zero- DJCD Vol. 2.
• Lantis Matsuri Kinen Best – 0926 Version; features JAM Project, Kuribayashi Minami, Hirano Aya and others.
• Lantis Matsuri Kinen Best – 0927 Version; see above.
• NEEDLESS Character Song Album Characters Love Mission – by NEEDLESS GIRLS+; featuring Kitamura Eri, Gotou Saori, Makino Yui, Katou Emiri, Toyoguchi Megumi.

16.09.2009

• TV Animation Umineko no Naku Koro ni Ending Theme Single – La divina tragedia -makyoku- – by Jimang.
• Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn! Vol. 1 – White Spell.
• Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn! Vol. 2 – Black Spell.
• Wolf and Spice Drama CD Oukami to Momo no Hachimitsuzuke.
• Basquash! Soundtrack.
• Idol Attack – by ECLIPSE (Tomatsu Haruka, Nakajima Megumi, Hayami Saori).
• Which Witch? Character CD Vol. 1 Hanon – featuring Asumi Kana, Toyosaki Aki, Koshimizu Ami, and others.
• Sengoku BASARA Drama CD Vol. 2.
• Maria-sama ga Miteru Rainy Blue Drama CD.
• Chrome Shelled Regios Radio CD Vol. 2.
• TV Animation Hatsukoi Limited Radio DJCD Koi Iro Limited.

23.09.2009

• Higashi no Eden (Eden of the East) Original Soundtrack.
• TV Animation Inazuma Eleven Original Soundtrack.
• ARIA The Box.
• Shangri-La Original Soundtrack 2.
• Pandora Hearts Drama CD Vol. 1.
• Spice and Wolf II Original Soundtrack.

25.09.2009

• TV Animation Princess Lover! Character Song Album.
• TV Animation Queen’s Blade Character Song and Short Drama – Menace Ver. – by Gotou Yuko.
• TV Animation Queen’s Blade Character Song and Short Drama – Elina Ver. – by Mizuhashi Kaori.

26.09.2009

• TV Animation Tytania Soundtrack – Original Score for Tytania.

30.09.2009

• Hayate no Gotoku!! Character CD 2nd Series – Vol. 7 Tachibana Wataru and Kijima Saki with Sinia Shaflnarz – by Inoue Marina, Nakajima Saki, and Horie Yui.
• Hayate no Gotoku!! Character CD 2nd Series – Vol. 8 Aizawa Sakuya and Saginomiya Izumi – by Ueda Kana and Matsuki Miyu.
• Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Character Song Album.
• TV Animation Tears to Tiara Original Soundtrack Vol. 2.
• Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu New Character Song Vol. 1 – Suzumiya Haruhi – by Hirano Aya.
• Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu New Character Song Vol. 2 – Nagato Yuki – by Chihara Minori.
• Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu New Character Song Vol. 3 – Asahina Mikuru – by Gotou Yuko.
• Aoi Hana Drama CD.
• NEEDLESS Original Soundtrack - NEEDLESS x e-ZUKA Guiltar Selection – by e-ZUKA.
• Sora no Manimani Character Song and Sound Track.
• TV Animation Saki Character Song Album Vol. 2.
• Phantom – Requiem for the Phantom Inspired Original Soundtrack Vol. 2.
• Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou Chara Song Album.
• Web Animation Hetalia Character CD Vol. 5 – France – by Onosaka Masaya.
• BLEACH Breathless Collection Vol. 1 – Kurosaki Ichigo with Zangetsu.
• Valkyria Chronicles Original Soundtrack.
• Pandora Hearts Original Soundtrack Vol. 2 – by Kajiura Yuki.
• Anison Mini Cover Album Manmaru – by Matsumoto Rika; features themes from various series and a bonus track.

Ever since I finally got the (ex-)complete collection of Touhou-related albums, I’ve mostly listened to stuff I already knew (namely IOSYS and Silver Forest), and what others recommended (examples are Alstroemeria Records and dBu music).

Then I browsed a bit around the CDs, and found out that the arrangement albums by Team Shanghai Alice (ZUN himself) are pretty nice as well; and I’ve also picked a few more circles. Some of them produce awesome drama CDs, by the way (Yellow Zebra’s M-1 Grand Prix serves as a nice sample).

The main problem with music is… time. I’ve got so many albums that it’d take approximately a month or two just to listen through all the tracks.