Infinity War: the Detox Review

“The object of fiction…[is] to make the reader welcome and then tell a story...to make him/her forget, whenever possible, that he/she is reading a story at all.”


“I think the best stories always end up being about the people rather than the event which is to say character-driven.”


                 -Excerpts from On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Courtesy of Screenrant

Welcome one and all to a massive therapy session. Leave your pride and embarrassment at the door next to your shoes and bags. The week was heavy, long, and soul-sucking. The usual doctor is not here, but I think we can carry this weight together.

It’s time to detox and discuss Avengers: Infinity War.

I know, I know...I am asking a lot. The residual feelings still hit like wave after wave of nausea, but only by facing Infinity War’s brilliance and pitfalls can we hope to recover.

Heads up, these next few lines are your final chances to backpedal before we dive into spoilers. If you have not seen the movie, run to the nearest circuit box now, flip the switch, and enjoy darkness.

Alright then. Here we go.

Admitting You Have a Problem

Any pureblood Marvel fan knows that the original six-issue the Infinity Gauntlet was not a mere comic arc; it was an event of cosmic proportions. Thanos, the “Mad Titan,’ longed for Lady Death’s affection and was willing to wipe out half of the literal universe to do it. Readers knew why Thanos wanted the Infinity Gems (called Stones in the MCU movies), but the war itself forced the galaxy’s mightiest heroes to converge, fight, and, for the most part, die.

I knew this when I walked into an AMC Theater last Friday. I knew that the comic’s Sensational” She-Hulk suffocated, Thor shattered, and Terraxia tested her ground ‘n’ pound game on Spider-Man. I expected heroes to fall before Thanos’s newfound, albeit overpowered, might.

I did not anticipate caring.

It’s one thing to know about death, and another instance altogether to experience loss first-hand. Groot vanished before our eyes. T’Challa faded in painful irony as he tells Okoye “...this is no place to die.” And Spidey… Peter Parker is not just begging Stark to help him; he is pleading with us because he does “...not want to leave.” He’s sorry he failed, but we are burdened by our inability to protect him.

Moviegoers left the theater slack-jawed, shaken, and heartbroken-- mourners in a funeral procession they were unprepared to attend.

Why?

Why am I sitting here, almost a week later, still wading through the emotional abyss Infinity War left me drowning in?

Remember this from our pre-therapy chat last week?

“A masterful storyteller does not lay words like bricks. They weave audience’s emotions, like fine threads through a river of characters. At first, we can only see the setting, the individual players. We are drawn in by the aesthetics alone. Then, the fishing hooks drive in and catch us off guard. We are no longer bystanders watching a movie or reading a novel; we are friends, lovers, enemies, family members of the characters themselves.

We cross the lines of fantasy and reality.”

Finding the Source

MCU screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely spent ten years and nineteen movies building the tower to Infinity War; the movie owes most of its success and gravitas to the character-centric focus and the cast’s ability to make our heroes/villains believable.  Without that emotional connection, Infinity War could not succeed in the harrowing manner it has.

Take James “Bucky” Barnes, the White Wolf, formerly the Winter Soldier. Our introductions with Bucky began in 2011’s Captain America: the First Avenger. He is Steve Rogers’s best friend, defender, wingman, confidant, cheerleader, and one hell of a fighter. If you are looking for the true definition of “squad goals,” Bucky is the living embodiment of the phrase. Their friendship is pushed beyond its limits over the course of three films, one hundred years, brainwashing, losing an arm, and unconscious betrayal. When Steve thinks Bucky is dead, we grieve. When he finds Barnes alive, but is forced to hunt him down, we too struggle with the idea of turning in our closest friend. Even if it means putting the hurt on another pal.

The Winter Soldier and Cap't Wombo Combo; Property of Marvel Studios/Disney

By the time Cap and Bucky regroup in Infinity War to protect Vision from Thanos, the audience knows nothing will bury this friendship. Then, with a snap of Thanos’s fingers, the one true constant in our lives is gone. Dissolved to dust in the wind. True to his word, Bucky is “...with [us] to the end of the line...” and we are no longer the audience. Or Captain America. We are Steve and our last rock of an era just joined our late parents and girlfriend.

Sigh. I need a moment.

*****

Feel that? That desolate weight and sorrow stems from McFeely and Markus’s storytelling. We are Thor losing his brother, Okoye losing her King. The characters steer the story’s reigns in the MCU, and that skill gives Infinity War its impact.

Seeing Your Fears, Facing Your Failure

Alright, breathe. In...out. There, just like that. You can do this. Congratulations are in order, as we powered through the toughest part of our therapy session. I know you are still hurting, but what if I told you that we just lived out our worst fear? Or, rather Tony Stark’s worse fear…

Part of Tony Stark's vision from Age of Ultron

Remember this?

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Scarlet Witch taps into Stark’s personal demons and thus displays a nightmare: The core Avengers laid to waste all around him and his inability to save them.

I am not sure if the Infinity War team meant to do this, but their effective use of foreshadowing brought the series, and therefore Iron Man, full circle. Twice now, Thanos threatened the Earth and Stark cannot forgive himself for failing the first time. Round two is a personal vendetta. Stark desires vindication and absolution from what he perceives as past failures. Yet, despite Drax, Mantis, Dr. Strange, Nebula, and Spider-Man’s help, he’s forced to swallow defeat again, and hold guilt in his arms.

It took an enraged stroll, several cafe brainstorms, and a bus ride rant for me to realize how essential that near-credits scene is to the movie’s prestige.

One by one the audience watches loved ones die, but for Stark, he’s witnessing this twice, and his reality blanches his nightmare. Infinity War is not a happy-ending story. The whole point is to pull the audience to the same depths of despair as our heroes.

Coming to Terms

Commercially, Avengers: Infinity War is an absolute success. Financially too; as of Wednesday, May 2nd, the movie raked in over $800 million USD. We might have left the theaters emotionally unstable, but that is more a testament to outstanding storytelling and fan-service. With that said, I do have a small gripe with the plot, specifically Thanos’s motivation to achieve his end game.

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite depiction of Marvel's Lady Death Incarnation

As previously mentioned, Lady Death is Thanos’s raison d’etre. In the Infinity Gauntlet, she is the one that tasks Thanos with destroying half the life in the universe to begin with.

So why the hell was her character not introduced once in the MCU leading up to this? For those that have not read the comics, I will not go into excess detail here, but her presence is pivotal to the battle with Thanos too. For the trivia hungry, she matters outside of the Infinity arc as one of the Merc with a Mouth’s former lovers.

Yes, Wade Wilson has courted Death literally and figuratively.

McFeely, Markus, and the Russo Brothers expressed their united reasoning for this in a chat, as covered by Vulture and although I understand it, not including her still rubs me the wrong way. I pitied the MCU Thanos as he threw his beloved daughter to the wayside to acquire the Soul Stone, by I could not stop myself from muttering under my breath “the only thing Thanos ever loved was Death.”

But hey, maybe that’s more of an “obsession is not love” debate. Cannot argue there.

So, Now What?

Well, how do you feel? Was Avengers: Infinity War all you had hoped for? I feared it would not live up to the hype, but I am happy that it exceeded my expectation-- even if hearing the echoes of Spidey’s pleas still destroys my heart. For now, all we can do is wait with bated breath for a year and look forward to Thanos’s comeuppance.

He WILL die for Loki’s death.

Until Later Guys,

^_^

TW: @Xminess

IG: @Xaimisyte

Infinity War: Pre-Game Impression

Pre-game post: I thought I was ready

A masterful storyteller does not lay words like bricks. They weave audience emotions, like fine threads through a river of characters. At first, we can only see the setting, the individual players. We are drawn in by the aesthetics alone. Then, the fishing hooks drive in and catch us off guard. We are no longer bystanders watching a movie or reading a novel; we are friends, lovers, enemies, family members of the characters themselves. 

We cross the lines of fantasy and reality.

For Avengers: Infinity War to harness the full gravity of this event in the Marvel universe, Kevin Feige and Co. wove our feelings into each character's tapestry and fleshed out a story that die-hard fans know the outcome for, but still will leave the theater gasping for breath.

I will wait until next week to give an in-depth review of Infinity War, but for now, let's just say your time will be well-spent if you check it out.

Until Later Guys,

^_^ Xaimi

Have you seen it? Share your hype, rage, or woe with me.

TW: @Xminess
IG: @Xaimisyte

Today's musical inspiration: 

"I got demons inside me. So I'm faced with a choice. Either try to ignore them, or I give them a voice."

Mike Shinoda- "Crossing the Line"

Albuquerque and Star Trek

November 8, 2017
Updated November 24,2017

                 

I have a secret.

Star Trek and I have nurtured a budding friendship since childhood. Yours truly has a favorite arc (Generations), a least favorite arc (Deep Space Nine), a favorite Captain (two-way tie between Janeway and Picard), and an arc she still needs to engorge upon because the Great Michelle Yeoh is in it (Discovery). ThinkGeek has a Lieutenant bathing suit one-piece that my eye and mouse stay glued to, and I actually want to learn how to speak Klingon.

Outside of wondering if I have a problem, you probably want to know what the hell any of this has to do with Albuquerque? Some of you opened Google on another tab to find out who or what an "Albuquerque" is. Allow me to save you the trouble since I do not need you clicking away– this is our special time after all. Albuquerque is a city in the Southwestern state of New Mexico. No, I do not need a passport to live here. No, we did not have an earthquake here a couple months ago, although we do care about our Southern brothers and sisters.

Speaking of brothers and sisters, fellow Trekkies will find this next part familiar. After 25 years in various Maryland counties and the District of Columbia, I decided to jump ship.  "To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where [I have] not gone before."  After a grueling 2-day trip via Greyhound with the shittiest customer service you can imagine– getting left in Tulsa and Oklahoma City by Greyhound drivers/staff,  and several extended layovers due to the previously mentioned account and a pest-ridden bus– I rolled along the Historic Route 66 (I-40), marveled as purple, fuschia, and orange marked the sunset behind the Sandia Mountains, and stepped into the Albuquerque air. I was four hours behind schedule, but I was ready to start fresh.

What to Expect

Transportation:

New Mexico is a breath of fresh air after spending years in the congested cities and suburbs back home. I can see the Sandia Mountains from...well...everywhere. The range resembles a beautiful, natural fortress. I can imagine indigenous tribes centuries ago feeling protected by the massive pass. 

Albuquerque is in the dead center of the state with two major freeways intersecting it; I-40 runs West to East while I-25 runs North to South. This creates four quadrants with their own neighborhoods, vistas, and safety statistics.The ABQ Ride bus system can take you throughout all four quadrants for $2 a day. You can also purchase bus passes with various duration for relatively cheap. For example, a 1-month bus pass is $30. If I needed to get around for a month back home, the cheapest route would be a weekly universal bus pass for $17.50 per week. That's almost twice as much for a month here in ABQ. The city also boasts a RailRunner Tram with four stations that transport you from Santa Fe to Southern New Mexico. The Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project is under construction, but  the locals are not too fond of the project; after spending a near month here and getting to know my neighbors, I understand why. More on that later.

Amenities, markets, restaurants, cafes, and pharmacies are walking distance depending on where you live. Mind you, my idea of walking distance is 2 miles one-way. This is not the average urbanite idea of walking distance and I am sure some of you gasped in terror at the thought of walking 2 miles for a coffee. I spent my first week here in Southeast near the airport. The only establishments within walking distance were a Waffle House (thank you Kat for the hospitality), Little Caesar's, three hotels, Fuddruckers, and one of four recreational centers. My second lodgings are in Northwest near the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Lowe's Hardware, Walgreens, Domino's Pizza, Blake's Lotaburger, the 2nd largest Starbucks in the Nation, McDonald's. and an Allsups gas station are the only places within a 3-block radius. You get my point; Albuquerque's bus service has plenty of room for improvement, but you can make use of it if you do not have a car. The city also has a large Uber presence, so you will not be stranded.

Retail, Food, and Pharmacy

Hop a bus or two toward Downtown Albuquerque, alight at Central Ave. , a.k.a. Historic Route 66, and those looking for a bit more retail life will feel at home in Nob Hill, a.k.a. the Student Ghetto. Walking East along Central introduces several shops, national restaurants-- like Chipotle and Einstein's Bros.Bagels-- and the University of New Mexico. The latter's campus is gigantic. I thought University of Maryland College Park had a big campus, but boy was I wrong. Central Avenue is also home to Astro Comics shop. The prices run high here, but this should not discourage you from stopping in to see their wares and chat. Their collection includes vinyl, apparel, and action figures in addition to our beloved comic issues/compendiums.

I am a frugal person, so shopping is not a necessity for me, but if your blood runs green with materialism, Uptown ABQ covers three to four city blocks with retail giants, restaurants, and department stores big and small. This outdoor shopping district has a freestanding Trader Joe's and Dave & Buster's--something I have never beheld. For my gamer fanatics, no, D&B did not have Maximum Tune 5.

Walgreen's seems to hold the monopoly here for pharmacy and medium-sized grocers. I have only found two CVS/ Pharmacy locations: one free-standing near San Mateo and the other inside of the Target at Uptown. So, make sure you have the prescriptions forwarded and rewards cards that you need. I come from a place that had Rite Aid, Walgreens, and CVS within 8 miles of each other.

Supermarkets do not have a big presence here. Most people tend to their own farms or drive to Walmart Supercenter for groceries. Two local markets are Smith's and Albertson's, but you will be hard-pressed to find a Safeway, Giant, Giant Eagle, Food Lion, Shoppers--you get the idea.

Arts, Fun and Scenery

Holy hell in a cell this place is beautiful. While in Southeast, I had a night time view of the entire city. In the Northwest, I see the Sandia Mountains to the East and mesas to the West. Hot air balloons occasionally twinkle like colorful morning stars. The sunrise is preceded by hues of peach, tangerine, and pale blue as "...the light of all lights..." attempts to peek from behind the...peaks. If you have only lived in cities and suburbs, the trek to New Mexico will open your mind, but New Mexico itself will tickle and then overload your sensory receptors.

I have seen actual tumbleweeds ladies and gentlemen. Tumbleweeds that make Looney Tunes' representations of them seem like small brush. Lavender and various wild flowers are abundant.

My consort and I scared a coyote mid-poop while walking to the bus stop one early morning.

The natural wonders of this place take hold and never let go. If I thought Nature would ensnare my soul, the human artistry hidden in alleyways and the murals in plain sight exemplify the locals appreciation for art and artistic expression. Art is not a chic or trending item here. Art is an actual way of life.

Arts are not limited to traditional paper arts either--although there are a plethora of shops for it. The city has a large fighting art culture. Prominent gyms here include, but are in no way limited to: Jackson-Wink, Lutrell-Yee MMA & Fitness, FIT NHB Mixed Martial Arts, and several more. The city held a parade for UFC Former Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm! Regardless of how you like to use your hands (or feet), Albuquerque has an art to match.

Diversity and Employment

For all of the cultures and ethnic groups in the DMV (D.C. Maryland Virginia) area, it has never felt diverse to me. You get the feeling that it is one culture against another culture and all of the wealth is not distributed equally between them. I guess the simple way to sum this up is a lie; diversity feels like a lie where I hail from.

Albuquerque's diversity is visibly different, but so is the distribution of wealth. African Americans, Africans, and other fellow POC friends of a darker complexion, be prepared as there are not many of us here. If this is a problem for you, then I humbly ask that you consider what diversity means to you. Caucasian Americans, you are almost in the same boat. When I arrived, it was refreshing to see more Indigenous peoples here than any other ethnic group.

I do not know my full ancestral lineage and thus, cannot say if I stem from a Native American tribe, but I do not feel alone here. Everyone is struggling here whether White, Black, Brown, and every color in-between. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states the unemployment rate in Albuquerque is 6.3 percent as of July 2017. For those that do not put stock in statistics, consider my own experience: I have been unable to secure work here for over a month--not even labor gigs. The faces I see day-to-day are not corporate big shots trying to make top dollar; most are trying to make ends meet in a city without an economy.

Please do not take this as a slam on New Mexico. I am in love with what I have seen here and the people are laid back souls, but ignoring the cons of a thing does not make it perfect, it just makes us ignorant. When the locals twist a nickname from "the Land of Enchantment" to "the Land of Entrapment," that should tell you something is in the Koolaid.

"Where Do We Go from Here?"

Well put Jamiroquai. There are still experiences to taste, terrains to explore, and people to meet. I cannot say leave no stone unturned--stones replace most of the areas where you would expect grass except for parks-- but this land has much to offer for the soul-seekers among us. You may not leave with bags overflowing, but your spirit will feel renewed and your insight into the struggles within our Nation widened. 

Until Later Guys,

^_^

Want a few places to check out during your time here?

- Shifting Sands Dojo : Mike offers a relaxed community environment for kickboxing and ground work

Shifting Sands Dojo Ad with Special Guest Balrog

- Little Bird de Papel : Vicki Bolen creates magical pieces for home and body via the Japanese traditional are of Origami. She tours throughout the US, but her shop is in Northwest Albuquerque.

- Astro-Comics: What more can I say that I did not say above? Get your keister over there!

- Masks y Mas : Learn more about the history and cultural significance of Dia de Los Muertos and find a memento to commemorate the experience.

-Off Broadway Costumes : Cosplayers and performers rejoice! Body paint, makeup, theatre props, accessories, and costumes are available for purchase or rent.

- Free Radicals : Across the street from Shifting Sands. It might look like a gas station, but it is actually a door into Punk, Gothic, and Tuk brand fashion. The owners are honest, open, and fun. Fans of Special Effects hair dye can actually find it here!

- Satellite Coffee: A wholesome, no frills or chemicals coffee shop on Central Avenue in Southeast ABQ. The decor is out of this world, they offer complimentary books, cds, and movies to keep you relaxed, and seasonal noms.

-Little Pear : An East Asian restaurant Downtown that specializes in Korean fare. Absolutely delicious. I highly suggest the owner's kimchi and potstickers.

I must make my way back to the Asian Pear

Marvel Fear Is Not My Master - FEAR IS NOT MY MASTER Products | Teespring

Marvel Fear Is Not My Master - FEAR IS NOT MY MASTER Products | Teespring:



'via Blog this'



First t-shirt design from yours truly! I participated in the Tapp Brothers Get Fit Challenge this year with over 7,000 people! At the challenge's end, all of us shared our results and reflections. A big goal for me this year is too combat fear. Too often, I allow fear to reign me in. How can I test my abilities, learn new materials, and evolve if I allow fear to manage my life? I exclaimed: "Fear is not my Master!" My newfound fitness friends inspired this t-shirt design because they loved the meaning behind my statement.



So here we are! Face your fears with Red She-Hulk and the Mean Green Machine himself behind you!

SAAM ARCADE 2017

SAAM ARCADE 2017

Third time’s the charm

Oh folks, you did not think I would miss this year’s Indie Arcade did you?  

Washington D.C.’s beloved annual event changed its name, but the newly dubbed SAAM Arcade has lost none of its splendor, variety, or friendly environment. Its namesake gives thanks to its host: the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This year’s delights included three floors of hands-on entertainment including: workshops, musical performances, live eSports events, Pinball tournaments, classic arcade cabinets, and of course, independent (indie) games from professional and student developers. I would argue that this was the most ambitious year yet for the sponsors and coordinators.

For those not in the know, the SAAM Arcade originally launched in 2014 as Indie Arcade: Indies from the Middle.. It provided a platform for professional indie and student developers to showcase their projects for exposure to a wide audience. The event expanded from humble beginnings to full fanfare with over 11,700 attendees (1) during 2016. This year’s local sponsors are: the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), American University’s Game Lab, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), MAGfest, Art Lab +, and the Washington D.C. Chapter of the International Game Developer’s Association.

Three floors of pure bliss

Main Floor, Main Course: the Indies

Amidst the plethora of indie games, I had the opportunity to get my hands on two special titles: Mystic Melee and Burly Men at Sea. Both games display how diverse gameplay has become in the independent scene.

Serenity Forge and Mystic Melee

Thursday afternoon last week, I pinned a Twitter post letting developers know I would attend SAAM Arcade and would love to talk with them. Imagine my appreciative honor to hear from Zhenghua Yang (Z) (@ZhenghuaYang), founder and CEO of developer Serenity Forge! Serenity Forge is the company behind the King’s Bird-- which you may remember from Indie Megabooth next door to E3 this year-- Yang is an IGDA Colorado Chapter member and said he would love to discuss their latest IP, Mystic Melee. For those of you that missed it at EVO 2017 (2), SAAM Arcade was a chance to check it out before the official release.

At first glance, Mystic already had my heart with its vibrant pixel art and crisp platforming execution. The trailer displays a side-scrolling adventure style with skills relating to your wizard of choice. I wanted to know: a) How did I miss this gem? B) Does it feel as good as it looks? I still cannot answer A, but B is a resounding “YES!”

The game mode on display was a deathmatch melee combat akin to entries in the Super Smash Bros. series, but with better character control and platforming ability. At the character select screen, players have an opportunity to test their character’s move inputs while waiting for other opponents to submit their final selections.

Each character can utilize a basic attack, spells, and single jumps with the option to double jump. I did discover a technique similar to the Smash Bros. “wave dash” via a shoulder button/trigger during my matches. Yours truly jumped into a match as Amaya,, or Team 2, in the screenshot above.

Everyone starts with 100% health that enemy attacks or environmental mishaps can whittle away to zero. Environmental hazards vary depending on the stage. Are there two giant turning platforms in the center of the stage? Land between those and you suffer a flattened instant death. Stroll on spinning saw blades one time too many if you are looking for an early defeat. Some stages offer, what appear to be environmental pickups that can be used as weapons once a character acquires them.  

See that little gap of doom? Some of us are about to discover what happens when you explore that…

Now, I am sure that some of you are still sore about my preference of Mystic over Smash, but what if I told you that you can wall jump to escape a potential fall death? Suddenly, an “Up B” pales in comparison. Winning a deathmatch in Mystic Melee requires more than luck and a strong hit; players must be aware of their surroundings at all times while understanding how to pull true potential from their platforming skills.

Outside of an Arena Mode, Yang points out that Mystic Melee has a dedicated Single Player campaign mode with 50 levels to explore and a plethora of magic spells to master in addition to another multiplayer mode that actually requires co-op in order to achieve certain goals. With shimmering polish, tight controls, and a developer that wants “...to work with a community of players to get feedback...and add requested content...” (3) players worldwide have plenty to look forward to on August 22, 2017 when it releases on Steam.

Burly Men at Sea and the Geeky Gamer Girl

I was pretty much on cloud nine after my Serenity Forge experience, but behold! Yang’s table neighbor was the “Geeky Gamer Girl” Mattie Diem. Diem (@CatPewPew) is a Colorado-based journalist and a wealth of knowledge if you are looking to get your feet wet in the gaming department of journalism.

She explained that she decided to write reviews covering indie games because these nuggets of blood, sweat, and tears deserve more exposure and recognition than they tend to receive. I absolutely agree! Triple A developers and publishers have the currency to promote their projects heavy, but most indie developers have to put the majority of their funds into the project development itself and network with fellow indies (see: Devolver Digital & Indie Megabooth).

Diem and I discussed Wordpress versus Blogger, SEO woes, and the struggle to monetize our life passion. As I sat there attempting to soak up wisdom like the driest sponge, SAAM Arcade attendees stopped at the table, intrigued by the propped up iPad with headphones attached. I had been so engulfed in our conversation that I almost overlooked the pastel and earth-colored delight lighting up the tablet’s display.

“This is something I would play mostly at home,” I heard one gentleman say. For some reason, his statement, though tactful, rubbed me the wrong way. It made me think of the old stance many gamers had ten to fifteen years ago. You know which one I am talking about:

Mobile games are not serious game experiences.

Yes, I know he did not say that, but the shadows of that dark era lingered in his tone. I knew I had to play Burly Men at Sea.

David and Brooke Condolora, founders of developer Brain & Brain, describes Burly Men at Sea as “a folktale adventure.” Players embark on a journey with three fishermen that stumble across a mysterious item. The controls are simple: tap the screen to interact with objects and people. Slide your finger along the screen to explore your surroundings. The entirety of your setting is not immediately clear-- like observing a locale through frost-edged binoculars-- and what you see is limited only by your scope of exploration. A tranquil instrumental track reverberates through the headphones and despite thousands of attendees swarming the museum, I felt absorbed into the game. Who are these fishermen? What is the mysterious item? Is the clank of the Blacksmith’s hammer a voiced over sound effect (oh my, it is!) ? I guided my three seamen (get your laugh out and keep reading damn it) from house to house in nonchalant fashion, playing with fire and picking the townsfolk’s brains as to what we have found.

I wanted to explore the world of Burly Men at Sea for a few moments more, but SAAM Arcade had more ground that needed covering and who am I to deny its charm? Brain & Brain’s enchanting tale is available now on PC/Mac, App Store, Google Play, Humble Store, and Itch.io and I cannot wait to reunite with the fishermen again. Thank you Mattie for looking after Burly. it was an absolute pleasure to chat with you.

3rd Floor: Past, Present, and Future

SAAM managed to cram nostalgia, current games, and the future of eSports into one monstrous floor. As with any mmorpg, your adventure depended on the path chosen. The ascending F Street stairwell led to three flat screens displaying a live stream NBA battle between players with live commentary. Or, you could take your chances via the G Street stairwell and waltz into the enthralling pulse of Dance Dance Revolution: Extreme. Whatever, your fancy, there was a cabinet for every taste.

The Cabinets

The fighting game community was especially well represented here. Arcade on Tour brought their home arcade setups-- complete with fight sticks-- powering current gen titles such as Injustice 2, Street Fighter V, and Tekken 7. Stock fighter cabinets were nestled in various corners of the level like shining ores; Looking for the classics? Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike and its predecessor Street Fighter II Turbo: Championship Edition stayed occupied as players relived their childhood or introduced it to newcomers. The latter title is a personal favorite and I relished the speedy fights and intense battles. A Tekken 5 (not Dark Resurrection) cabinet neighbored an original Virtua Fighter right around the corner from the Pinball hall of glory. Attendees could even duke it out on an official WWF Royale Rumble arcade! It was succulent pandemonium for the FGC.

Fighting games not your schtick? DDR: Extreme and Guitar Hero were available to groove along. The arcade edition of Bust a Move (Bubble Bobble JP) and table top Pac-Man fulfilled puzzle urges. Sports fans were not left behind with Windjammers, NFL Blitz,, and Big Buck Hunter. SAAM Arcade truly had something for everyone.

Art & Diversity

Indie Arcade is more than a free game event. It is a family-friendly showcase of art. If you are reading this, then pray-tell you understand the weight of that previous statement. Twenty years ago, the video game industry-- Stateside-- contended with the constant stigma that the medium we enjoy freely today, was nothing more than a violent influence on children and a waste of time. The industry fought for the acknowledgement that it is a form of art with plenty to offer the world if we are willing to open our eyes and share it. I grew up playing games with family members, but I know that gaming did not gain kind favor until recent years. Now, games can encourage us to pedal faster on indoor upright bikes! That is what makes SAAM Arcade so special; giving up and coming developers a stage to meld art worlds and share them with all ages.

Seriously, where the hell else are you going to see this:

...busts and statuettes sharing the same space as NFL Blitz?

...two youths discovering the original DDR:Extreme for the first time?

Before I departed the museum, a friend eve mentioned that there was a game on the main floor whose purpose it to help children learn how to use prosthetic limbs!

Day 1 of SAAM Arcade left me excited and ever-hopeful for the future of video game development, design, and audience. Thank you to the developers, sponsors, SAAM staff, and attendees for reflecting my love for this industry.

Until Later Guys,

Xaimi (^_^)

@Xminess

If you are looking for picture galleries and video, check back for updates!

Useful Sites and Contacts:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Entertainment Software Association

AU Game Lab

MAGfest

Mystic Melee

Burly Men at Sea

Previous Indie Arcade Coverage:

Indie Arcade 2014

"Indies from the Middle" 2014

(1) http://www.lgrace.com/IndieArcade/

(2) https://twitter.com/benhhopkins/status/885964989940596736

(3) http://store.steampowered.com/app/454770/Mystic_Melee/