Nintendo and Kidman - Together at Last!

I'm interested in gaming culture, and Nintendo in particular. Ever since the first NES (which I had after the Atari 2600 - yes I'm that old), Nintendo has been the only game system I've really played. Recently, the marketing for the Wii has proven very effective in attracting non-gamers by focusing on intuitive gameplay the whole family can enjoy together. Now Nintendo is focusing their brand of non-offensive fun on the upscale, wealthy and plastic looking housewives market. Between pilates class and picking your kid up from Mandarin lessons, why not pencil in some time to exercise your brain? Enter Nicole Kidman with her glowing porcelain skin and immaculate white home, to demonstrate the DS and the "Brain Training" series of games:



Doesn't that look like fun? She may resemble a Stepford wife (and act like one complete with head-smacking cutesy gestures) but Nicole sure does classy up the DS. Now it's an intellectual tool and not just that thing you give to the kids on long car trips to make them shut up. This new, polished, and oh-so-dignified gamer is much more attractive than the grubby ten year olds and single dudes game companies used to court. Bravo, Nintendo, for honing in on the female market as well. Us girl gamers have been playing since the beginning, but few companies have recognised the huge profit potential in piquing our interest.

So does this mean I'll be buying a DS? Probably not. I don't feel wealthy or European enough to relate to the Nicole Kidman / Nintendo fantasy. Besides, Nintendo had me from Mario. I might try the equivalent game on the Wii, but for handheld fun I’ll stick to my Limited Edition Retro Designed Gameboy Advance SP. Yeah, you read that right. It looks like an original NES controller and plays classics like Excitebike and Pinball. I keep it in a Spongebob Squarepants protective case. Jealous yet? Don’t worry. It’s never too late to join the cool kids on the Nintendo side of the street.

Free Afternoon + Geese = My Second Youtube Video!

A few weeks ago I went to Richmond, BC to visit my in laws. While enjoying the beautiful sunny skies, readily available bubble tea, and walking through one of Richmond's loveliest parks, we happened upon a family of Canada Geese. Mama and Papa geese were there, along with a handful of cute, fuzzy goslings. I was quick to pull out my still digital camera and fill up my card with short, low resolution films of baby geese waddling around and swimming. I actually erased footage of humans so I could keep films of baby geese that will in all likelihood grow up to crap all over that same park and ruin the lawn. Oh well, such is the artistic temperament. Mixed with a healthy dose of lazy afternoon and cold beer, I present my second YouTube movie. Enjoy.



You may now return from the edge of your seats.

The ending was where I really let myself go and truly explored my inner desire to see geese swimming into themselves. I used to repress my film student geekiness but now I figure I'm almost thirty so I should just give up on being cool. I learned a few things while making this short. Number one: don't bother with titles because you won't be able to read them anyway. Number two: whatever happened to the circle wipe? That's at least half a style point right there and it's never used anymore. Number three: mirror effect is cool, but so is the lightening effect that I could have used to actually aim lightening at the geese and make it look like God was striking them down. Perhaps next time.

I hope this new offering evokes a response. My last YouTube video finally got a comment. The discerning viewer said (and I quote) "HUH?". All caps. Like he was really confused. Thank you ShadowSeeker117 for your valuable input. I'll try to make myself better understood in the future.