Lena Jameson is a model at Ujena Swimwear. The 25 year hottie loves going to the beach and hanging out with her friends. Naturally cute and bubbly adds to her charm. She is equally comfortable getting dolled up for a night or hanging out with real guy by a bonfire. Surfers and cowboys are all the same to her, but not too fast guys… she’s married to a US Marine!
1/20/2018 – While Navy SEALS may be the poster boys of US Special Forces in the current day and age, it wasn’t always that way. Ask your Grandpa who the baddest was. He’ll tell you about John Wayne and might even hum the melody to a famous ballad. BTW: That iconic song makes a cameo in 12 Strong.
Operationally, Army Green Berets and Navy SEALS have very different types of missions. Distilled to one paragraph, SEALS’ missions are rapid and violent, hit n’ run, whereas when Green Berets deploy they stay for the long run. Assignments could last months or years in country for a Green Beret. However, that wasn’t the case for US Army Green Berets Operational Detachment Alpha 595 (ODA 595). As part of Task Force Dagger, they were key elements, alongside USAF Combat Controllers and General Abdul Rashid Dostum of the Northern Alliance.
The film captures in great detail the uniqueness of Captain Mitch Nelson’s (Chris Hemsworth) mission, which is the quintessential mission of the Green Berets; He must infiltrate enemy held territory, gain the trust of a local war leader, and assist in the combat effort to achieve an objective. There is no shortage of gun battles, action and some tremendous horse riding in 12 Strong, but director Nicolai Fuglsig takes great pains to show the diplomatic aspect of the Green Berets mission.
It was great to finally see Michael Shannon as Chief Warrant Officer Cal Spencer, one of the members of ODA 595, on the big screen in role where he is not a villain. He absolutely shines like a bright star in role where he gets to play the good guy for once. One particular line of dialogue he utters during the second act sums up the dilemma Nelson has in winning the trust of Dostum, “At least they’re not milking us for money and supplies“. Throughout the film Shannon offers advice and is a very likable character, one of strong cast of supporting actors. Micheal Pena portrays Sergeant First Class Sam Diller and also turns in an impressive performance.
What impressed me most about this film was the reaction of other fans in the theater. The teenage girl who sold me the ticket was raving about how great it was before I walked in. Old white women in the movie were laughing at Peña’s one-liners. At, what really caught me by surprise, was the applause at the end of the film. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, people burst into spontaneous cheers at the end of the film.
I expected a great action film. I didn’t expect everyone else in the theater to experience such a powerful and vocal reaction. They loved it! While there were some tense moments in the film, I never truly felt the Green Berets were in much trouble. Fans of Marcus Luttrell’s Lone Survivor, Zero Dark Thirty, American Sniper, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi will enjoy 12 Strong. It is a well paced and beautifully filmed movie, that forgoes some of the contrived bravado that soldiers depicted in Hollywood carry with them.
I’m glad to see the Green Berets getting some daylight on the big screen. In 2017, The Battle of Marawi was fought and won by Philippine Army Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Video footage of this does not show any Green Berets, or other US Special Forces involved with President Rodrigo Dutere’s effort to rid his country of terrorists. However, it would identical to the Green Berets mission depicted in 12 Strong. Look for a major motion picture about the war in the Philippines and declassified information in about 15-20 years.
Blonde German bombshell Briana Banks is one of the most iconic women in the adult industry, as well as one of the most published magazine models, next to Jenna Jameson. Appearing in almost every adult magazine in the world, some of her highlights include Penthouse Pet, Hustler Honey, and AVN covers. Her channel on PornHub.com has over 43,000,000,000 video views, and that’s just one page. Some of you may remember, that back in 2003 Briana was hugely popular as the guitar centerfold girl in a popular guitar magazine. It was a different back then, to say the least.
My GF bitches at when me when I play video games. How can I get her off my back and still play games?
You could ask her what she likes to do in her free time, and you can both do your own things at the same time.
Some say size doesn’t matter, but in certain areas it does. All guys want to shoot a bigger load, but may not know how to do it. How can guys shoot a huge load?
I’m not a guy, but from what I see on set, drink tons of water, exercise, and lots of fucking.
Can you clarify the ‘base system’ for us? You know, what is 1st base, 2nd base, etc?
Honestly, I don’t know what the bases are. I usually just go for the home run. Who has time for first base and so on?
You immigrated to the USA from Germany. What was that like? What do you love about America?
My mother moved me out here when I was 7. I was extremely young. I’m very happy that I was raised in America, but I also have fond memories of my German heritage.
Is it OK to stay friends with your ex on Facebook?
It depends on the way you left that relationship, and the relationship you’re in after your ex.
ABOUT BRIANA BANKS
Briana holds the record for being a Vivid contract star, staying with them for eight incredible years and starring in some of their bestselling and most critically acclaimed titles. With over 400 scenes in her career, she has been nominated for countless awards and won Best New Starlet from NightMoves and Hot d’Or Awards, Exotic Dancer Awards’ Adult Movie Feature of the Year, and XRCO’s Best Comeback in 2017 for her triumphant return after a five-year hiatus. Briana was also inducted into both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame in 2017, and was nominated for MILF Performer of the Year in 2017 and 2018 by the AVN and XBIZ Awards.
It’s official everybody. The Overwatch League is officially underway. Every team has played their first matches, and while we’re being left with more questions than answers, Blizzard has definitely impressed. However, on the heels of the massive 90 million dollar streaming deal with Twitch, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. We’re going to take a look at the things that OWL is doing well, and some things they need to improve on as we move forward. But first, let’s look at what Blizzard is doing right with Overwatch League.
What Overwatch League Does Right
The Arena
Photo: Robert Paul for Blizzard Entertainment
Coming into the start of the Overwatch League, there were a lot of questions about whether it would have that “sports feel”. Competitions from before had more of an event feeling than like an actual sport league in my opinion. Countries like Korea have a longer history with e-sports, but this is something the West is seriously catching up with. At least from a league perspective if OWL is any indication. A recent CBS News report showed how the Blizzard Arena is different from most sports arenas. Instead of surrounding the teams, it’s configured like a stage for the fans to watch the teams perform. However, it’s absolutely professional. From the broadcasting table, to the giant screen with the action and important info, to the entrances for the players. The scale might seem small compared to the 70,000+ seat arenas, but make no mistake: the fans are there.
The Fans
The fans are here. They’re loud. They’re sweaty. They are nerdy. They are passionate. The interest in the Overwatch League is palpable, and the numbers say the same thing. On opening night there were more than 400,000 viewers on the English broadcast at its height. Right now the numbers afterwords hover in the 100,000 to low 200,000 range. Comparing to other traditional sports it’s encouraging. Their averages are about half of MLS, and are much lower numbers for broadcasts of MLB, NBA, NHL, That being said, as a starting point, this should be considered very good. And with Twitch paying a reported $90 Million for the 2 year broadcast rights, there is a lot of faith here. But, the numbers need to be considered for the future as well. But more on that later.
The Players
Nobody is going to doubt the skill of a lot of the people that are in the Overwatch League. Part of that is just because they’re already legendary to a lot of viewers. Players like Ryujehong, Seagull, and Fleta are just some of the players who had large followings coming in. The other part is because there are a lot of relative unknowns. People who only the most hardcore fans know, but are poised for a breakout. (Watch for Pine on the New York Excelsior.) The players who comprise these teams are a collection of extremely popular streamers on Twitch, long-time professional gamers, and newcomers ready to change the face of the game. The Path-to-Pro System ensures that new Talent is always going to be bubbling just below the surface.
What the Overwatch League needs to Improve
Let me make this clear before I get into my criticisms. It’s all fixable and it’s really early in the first season, I’m not here to spread doomsday messages. I think that the Overwatch League is going to succeed like nothing else we have seen before. But, a lot needs to improve because this is going to be the first true test of professional gaming approaching the mainstream. Some of the things are out of the league’s actual control. Some of it’s not as important as others. But this is what I’ve seen and what I think needs to change for the better. And I’m sure it will happen.
Parity
As exciting as everything was for the first week, the matches rarely were. And that’s because of what could be a parity issue. Nobody’s been doubting that the Seoul Dynasty are the favorites. Most everything else has felt like a question mark. Other teams have been expected to do well, or not so well, but not a lot of concrete ideas. After Week 1 there were four teams undefeated, and four teams at 0-2. Week 2 is under way, and I’m very concerned about Shanghai and Florida right now. They’re losing, and losing bad. It’s very early in the season, but the quality of play is concerning. The whole week there were two close matches in the 12 game docket. The rest? Four matches ended in a 3 to 1 final out of four matches. Worse yet, there were six shutouts. Week 2 had a 2-1 and two 0-4 matches as of this article.
Now, keep in mind, there’s another 6 months before the playoffs, I’m not going to sit here and say that the whole season is ruined because of the first week. What I am saying is that if there are this many blowouts moving forward, that’s concerning. One common reason people cite for the decline in the NFL ratings is the decline in play quality. Everything is a blowout and you can tune out by halftime because you know who would win. Or, it’s just a sloppy mess that is just embarrassing to watch.
As the season progresses there needs to be more parity. When it feels like all the teams are within inches of each other it makes everything more exciting. It takes away garbage time. Everyone’s on the edge of their seat. It’s more thrilling. This is more on the team’s to improve and to play up to what we are seeing the dominant teams like Seoul and and the Los Angeles Valiant are doing right now. (We’ll see how that statement ages in the Stage 1 wrap up.)
Commentary
I’ll be honest, right now I wish they would fire half of their commentary team. Keep in mind, I said half, because Overwatch League’s commentary switches between matches. Half the time I watch a match the commentators are poised, professional, and informative. The other half seem to be misunderstanding why a lot of people are watching OWL. They’re still in “casting mode” so to speak. They fill things with a lot of anecdotes, jokes, or self-referential humor. Of course there have been colorful color commentators like John Madden. I’m not saying they have to be these robots who just described what’s going on.
But it seems like half the time I’m getting somebody who cares more about being the entertainment than presenting the entertainment people are there to see. Whether it’s telling a joke that is going on for far too long while matches are going on, constantly trying to hype up with crowd when it just feels desperate, or just comes of like a douchebag. It’s infuriating because not everybody on the commentary isn’t bad. Some of the people who are on broadcast are clear, on track and very informative. Others it feels like I’m watching an IRL streamer begging for donations every 30 seconds while they pretend they’re a color commentator.
Viewership
This might come off wrong, I want to preface this again. The numbers so far are encouraging. 400,000+ viewers for a debut, and 100,000 to 200,000 viewers is good for what they’re doing. However, if they want to back up that 90 million dollar contract, and legitimize eSports they need to improve. I mentioned traditional professional sports before, and here’s the thing with that. That only includes American viewers with sports like MLS, NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. Compared to NHL and MLS the numbers are about half or slightly more than half of average viewership for those sports. That’s pretty good. Compared to the big three? MLB, NBA, and especially NFL positively dwarf them by millions. And this is who they are up against.
If Overwatch League wants to legitimize eSports, they need to go up against traditional sports. Overwatch League has the advantage as it is a truly international league. So they’ll be drawing from the entire world, rather than just America like with the other reports used for comparing. So as Overwatch League continues, it’s numbers should start to tick closer towards the big 3 of MLB, NBA, and NFL if they want to truly reach the mainstream.
Overwatch League is extremely impressive so far. I really enjoy what I’ve been seeing. And I think that these issues ARE fixable, but for the sake of the league and eSports as a whole, I hope they fix them sooner rather than later.
Main Event: (C)Stipe Miocic vs Francis Ngannou (UFC Heavyweight Title)
Betting odds: Miocic +169 or 31/20, Ngannou -170 or 11/20
Nothing quite captures the imagination of the people like a heavyweight title fight between two highly respected fighters in the prime of their career.
This fight is the most significant one in the entire division’s history. On one hand, Miocic is a single defence away from holding the record for consecutive heavyweight title defences, on the other hand, it could be the championship-crowning moment for the scariest heavyweight in MMA history.
Francis Ngannou has climbed the heavyweight rankings almost overnight it seems, anyone who witnessed his UFC debut wouldn’t have forgotten about him because even amongst a UFC roster full of remarkable athletes he stands out as a unique breed of super athlete.
His story is a captivating one, coming from humble beginnings he worked in a sand mine shovelling in shin deep water for countless hours surrounded by the constant threat of heavy debris falling from the cliffs nearby.
Having made the trip from Cameroon to France in an attempt to escape poverty Ngannou was homeless until he found refuge at a boxing gym from which he planned to train and compete so he could earn a decent living, it was at that gym in Paris Ngannou was advised to train for mixed martial arts instead as the opportunities for success are easier to come by.
Ngannou’s first appearance in the UFC was in December of 2015, the short time between then and now he’s gone from talented prospect to the betting favourite in his first title fight, phenomenal considering 5 years ago he had no idea what MMA was.
The title shot has come about due to the recent knockout of Alistair Overeem who is the most experienced striker in the heavyweight division.
After easily dealing with lower ranked heavyweights Ngannou took a huge step up challenging Overeem to provide an accurate measure of his ability, in response, he delivered one of the most brutal knockouts in recent times.
Immediately after the knockout, Ngannou’s focus turned to Stipe Miocic and the belt.
Stipe Miocic is no stranger to adversity or mortal danger, tackling fires is his day job something he’s proudly done for a long time and even now as heavyweight champion he still finds time to continue working albeit not as frequently as he once would.
Miocic became champion around 5 months after Ngannou made his UFC debut, two successful defences of the title have followed, the first of which was against Alistair Overeem.
The fight was stopped towards the end of the first round, Miocic after surviving an early knockdown rallied to stop Overeem with ground strikes.
The second defence saw Miocic avenge a previous decision loss to Junior Dos Santos by defeating the Brazilian by TKO once again in the first round which extended Stipe’s run to 4 first round finishes on the bounce.
If you were to pick a man in the heavyweight division best suited to cope with the skills Ngannou brings to the Octagon outside of former champion Cain Velasquez I believe Stipe Miocic is the man for the job.
The stoic nature of Stipe Miocic has seen him through some seriously troublesome scenarios, there’s little margin for error for either guy with both men being fast starters and having a history of early stoppages. The fighter who holds his nerve and pulls the trigger at the right time will most likely be the victor in this matchup.
Alistair Overeem despite his vast experience looked overwhelmed by Ngannou’s presence, Miocic will no doubt remain composed for as long as he’s in the fight.
Co-Main: (C)Daniel Cormier vs Volkan Oezdemir (UFC Light Heavyweight Title)
Betting odds: Cormier -303 or 3/10, Oezdemir +275 or 5/2
The last memory we have of Daniel Cormier is being finished for the first time in his career against a returning Jon Jones, although an unpleasant memory Cormier still remains the champion at 205lbs due to Jones falling foul of the UFC wellness programme by testing positive for a prohibited substance once again.
The positive test resulted in the loss to Jones being changed to a no contest and with the no contest being written in the history books as a void fight the belt went back to the previous holder Daniel Cormier.
In the wake of that mess involving the belt, Cormier is sticking around to defend it against another dangerous fighter.
DC posted a poll on his Twitter account to give the fans an opportunity to choose his next opponent, Volkan Oezdemir lead the poll beating Alexander Gustafsson & Ovince Saint Preux by earning 52% of the votes.
Volkan “No Time” Oezdemir like Ngannou has added some new blood to an otherwise well-established weight division, after edging out Ovince Saint Preux via split decision Oezdemir then took out Misha Cirkunov,
and then Jimi Manuwa, both in little or “No Time”.
The result of this fight firmly depends on which fighter is catching the other at the right time in their career, at 38 has DC seen his best days already and will the damage Jon Jones dealt have any lasting effects?, or is Volkan Oezdemir unprepared for a fighter of Daniel Cormier’s calibre?.
Either way, Cormier has hinted 2018 may well be his last year of physical competition so depending on the outcome of the fight this may be the final time we see the underappreciated modern great Daniel Cormier in the octagon.
(Predictions)
Stipe Miocic vs Francis Ngannou (Ngannou KO/TKO)
Daniel Cormier vs Volkan Oezdemir (Cormier Submission)
Calvin Kattar vs Shane Burgos (Kattar Decision)
Gian Villante vs Francimar Barroso (Villante Decision)
What did the Hawaiian Missile False Alarm teach us about a zombie apocalypse?
5 lessons from the Ballistic Missile Alert in Hawaii
On Saturday, January 13th, 2018 citizens of Hawaii had a big scare when a false alert went out over thousands of phones claiming a nuclear attack was imminent.
“Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.”
This mistake rattled over one million people as the ominous message was spewed out over social media. It caused a lot panic and confusion as people scrambled to respond. Drivers abandoned cars, and others simply resigned themselves to fate and waited for the attack to commence.
One video has surfaced of a man placing his daughter into a storm drain.
BREAKING VIDEO: Footage shows children being placed into storm drains immediately after Emergency Ballistic Missile Warning was sent to residents in Hawaii. pic.twitter.com/PJ2xzvJdLL
While there is no doubt that zombie obsession has taken over many, the Hawaiian missile alert has been a powerful wakeup call for many. What lessons can be learned about our levels of preparation for a zombie attack? If zombies aren’t ‘your thing’, just substitute your disaster of choice and the results will be the same. That could be an asteroid impact on the earth’s surface, a highly contagious and deadly disease epidemic, or in this case, an imminent nuclear strike.
Zombies are not racist.
The walking dead don’t care which car you drive, the clothes you wear, the number of bathrooms in your house, your religion, your sexual preference, or the size of your bank account. A zombie will attack anyone at anytime. It doesn’t matter who are in life, you may be randomly selected for death.
The vast majority of the public is completed unprepared for a zombie attack.
Here are some of the quotes from local Hawaiians involved in the fiasco:
“I kind of was…. like a deer in the headlights.”
“Terrifying. I had no idea what to do.”
“Ran to find bomb shelter but were told it was bolted shut.”
BREAKING FOOTAGE: Video shows some of the panic at the University of Hawaii after a missile attack warning was mistakenly issued earlier. pic.twitter.com/pvhKKeVO9V
There are response teams in place, but they are not as rapid as they claim.
The local government of Hawaii did respond and get the false alarm shut down, but it took at least 40 mins by some accounts. In the era of instant communication (see the next lesson note) the public expects nearly instantaneous reaction times from emergency service provders. This isn’t the case, but there are plans and people that ready to respond to disasters.
Social Media has gotten completely out of control.
At the onset of a zombie attack, people would attempt to contact each other through social media and verify what is happening, the best ways to deal it and what their favorite celebrities had to say about it. #prayforzombies. This idea, of social commentary illuminating an absurd aspect of modern life, is precisely what director George Romero was stating with his pivotal film, Dawn of the Dead. Even with the threat of a nuclear missile inbound, people STILL chose to turn to their cell phones and social media for support. The Black Panthers once said, “The revolution will not be televised.” That may be true, but you can be damn sure it will be Tweeted.
We have a lot to learn from our elders.
In the wake of the Hawaiian missile false alarm, the island paradise has revived the usage of Cold War sirens, reports the Associated Press. While, we’re not advocating the ‘duck and cover’ method of hiding beneath your desk is the best way to survive a zombie holocaust, it’s worth mentioning that there are some very hard learned lessons passed down from prior generations. We would we be wise to heed their warnings and absorb the information from individuals who lived through them.
Congratulations to the CFP Champions. The University of Alabama
The College Football Championship playoffs and Bowl-mania have had their share of interesting story lines.
Coach vs. Coach: Student vs. Teacher
Coach Nick Saban vs his protege Kirby Smart and former Defensive Coordinator facing off in a battle of the minds. Before this match-up Nick Saban was 11-0 against all of his former assistants, and after this grueling battle on the gridiron he now stands at 12-0. Kirby Smart has lead a revival of the Georgia Football program with a 8-5 record his first year, and then marching to the SEC Championship. Now after an exhausting sixty minutes plus overtime of play coach smart should be proud of the winning culture he has created for the University of Georgia. While some doubted coach Nick Saban’s coaching after a less-than-thrilling time at the helm of the Miami Dolphins, nobody will ever again question the dynasty that he has forged for the University of Alabama.
Dynamic Duo vs. The Crimson Trenches
Nobody will ever doubt the greatness of Georgia’s running back duo. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel have combined for more yards than any duo in college football history. But Alabama’s front 7 are often The Best of the Best in college football. Every yard that both teams were able to rush for was hard fought with piles of bodies left in their wake. Georgia’s running game was not able to burst forth like they did against Oklahoma in their instant classic. In Alabama’s final drive of regulation there were a few calls that could have gone either way, that went Alabama’s. I’m sure that will see many a Georgia Bulldog fans crying favoritism after the dust settles.
A Champion Decided
With the final seconds of regulation ticking off, Alabama kicker Andy Pappanastos shanked a 35-yard kick that would have won the game. Before this, was 14 of 15 from within 40 yards. Despite Georgia being up for the vast majority of the game, and Alabama never have in the lead, the Crimson Tide went into overtime with all of the momentum. Despite the missed field goal attempt.
After being absolutely stalled during their drive, Georgia was able to knock through a 51-yard field goal. But in the end it was not enough for the Georgia Bulldogs. True freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa connected with fellow true freshman Devontae Smith for the 41 yd touchdown after being sacked on the first play. This marks Alabama’s fifth National Championship in nine years.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi made me mad, and split me in two, all at once. I saw it again. There is a realization. The movie is a good, fun time. It is not exactly my Star Wars, but it is the perfect thing for some. That is okay. In my opinion, there should be more than this for a movie series with this breadth of experiences. It is in the same vain as Star Trek. For example, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, from 1979, was not my style. I respect it because it is the first Star Trek film. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan calls to me. The films after it call to me. Specifically, the dynamic of the William Shatner, Leonard Nemoy, and DeForest Kelley led movies offer a variety of experiences. They enjoy adventures in their primes. These same characters move into greater adventures at a more mature age later in the film series. The point is, on the screen, they get their full share, and beyond, of the cinematic experience. In 2009, J.J. Abrams addition to Star Trek, while different, is welcome. However, this is after the originals. Star Wars is not Star Trek? Right. However, it would be nice if Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher could have enjoyed one last trilogy where they are the focus. It could be on their time. Star Wars: The Last Jedi concludes these original characters experiences in a new set of characters’ adventures. This upsets me. Yes, time is a factor. The Lucasfilm’s deal is still fresh. Star Wars merchandise must also sell. Nevertheless, respect is due. Below are three things to change for future reboots, sequels, and films that call to the past for their future material, in 2018.
1. Original Conclusion
from LucasFilm and Disney
It does not matter what deal exist. Time is not a factor with the right production company, script, and director. The point is to give original characters their due, if it is possible. Do not simply move into new, but familiar territory in certain circumstances, without a fair chance for the first stars to finish their screen time. According to Den of Geek’s Simon Brew, reboots like Ace Ventura, Big Trouble in Little China, or Blade may exist with some, little, or no involvement of their predecessors. The problem is the first of these films have a well-known tenor. Reboots automatically offer the same name, but different intentions. King Kong, from 1933, versus Kong: Skull Island, from 2017, offers different movies with the same character. King Kong, 1933, offers the first of the massive monster films at that time. Kong: Skull Island is the second movie, as part of a series of complementary films, to re-introduce the King Kong character. This King Kong will collide with Godzilla in the near future. The Mummy, of 1932, is not the 2017 version of the same film. It serves a different purpose. Reboots just need to pull from their source material more and conclude their original characters properly, if it is possible.
2. New Elements In The Mix
from Mike Zeroh. LucasFilm, and Disney
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is not great. It does establish Mutt Williams, Indiana Jones’ son, and Indiana Jones as different individuals. Mutt is not an interpretation of Indiana Jones. Jones is a treasure seeker, and adventurer. Mutt was a youth coming into his own. Guy Williams’ Zorro, from 1957, is its own entity. In a film like 1998’s The Mask of Zorro, Anthony Hopkins’ rendition of the character, and Antonio Bandera’s interpretation exist as two distinct accounts of the character, in the best way, in one film. Each takes a little from William’s interpretation. Anthony Hopkins character stays closer to this archetype. Bandera’s Zorro is fun, close to William’s representation, and Hopkins’ Zorro, but seems more dangerous, and serious. The original comes first. However, a good successor should be just as strong. A new unique character to work alongside established heroic characters is important. They may not take over a franchise, but they can add unique elements to any good film. 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises presents a realistic interpretation of Batman, played by Christian Bale. At the end of the film, Joseph Gordon-Levitt hints at being a capable continuation of Batman. Look at the facts. The character knew Batman’s identity. He stands up to crime with his unique police skills. He understands justice. The character understands and takes up the mantle of Gotham’s vigilante, without hesitation. He may not be the next Batman. He could be just a sidekick, Robin.
from Alonso Javier Torres Flickr
3. New Tales In Old Threads
The new Star Wars trilogy, in development, feels like a repeat. It is not the same story. However, it has all the elements to repeat the story in the same way as Star Wars IV, V, and VI. It is easy to pair elements of the past with the current movies’ parts. The concern is the interpretation of the material. In a sense, I side with this presentation. Some children can sit down, watch Star Wars IV, V, and VI, and understand how it is the best of all of the films made. The other way to see this is a repeat of the past for present day fans. This takes work and effort in order to present similar material without it being an exact copy. The concern is, subconsciously, people will feel these copy elements. Reboots, in 2018, should not be a constant in any form. Past films can inspire material current material. Why mimic what happened in the past? That past success was a risk, especially for George Lucas. This is the same risks Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, or, Spike Lee take to bring their vision to the public. This is a risk outside of familiar material. These kinds of films, in my opinion, should make more of an appearance in theaters with similar marketing. Without a doubt, many of these will fail. However, strong ideas with the right push will rise.
Conclusion
There is a lot of money that goes into these big movie decisions. Reboots have a purpose. They recall past material in new ways and make money. Honestly, I hoped this trilogy would end with the classic characters, but prepare the audience for a new Star Wars’ legacy. A new trilogy could belong to Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, and John Boyega. This trilogy could allow these wonderful actors to standout further. This piece, and the previous one, eliminates the past characters’ purpose. Star Wars episode IX will be the new characters presentation of an all-new Star Wars universe, with familiar elements. In a way, this is fine. The new fans, especially children, get a similar feeling of their own. It makes the popcorn better, the soda pop a little sweeter, and that movie theater a little more personable. You want to have fun.
When you look at Krystle Lina what do you notice first? Don’t be deceived by the stunning model’s great smile and stunning eyes and other assets. The voluptuous Instagram brunette is the author of a book on online dating. If you’ve ever wanted to get a date with an Instagram model, but didn’t know how, her book is for you. Dating for Naked People discusses common pitfalls of online dating and how to break out of the rut.
1/7/2018, 3:05 p.m.
Dating For Naked People is packed with exclusive photos of me and over nine chapters for guys who want to date the most beautiful women in the world. Strategies that have actually worked on some of my hottest friends who also happen to be social media stars and celebrities. I’ve asked them all to tell me what normal guys have done to successfully get their attention.
1/3/2018 – Anees “Milhous” Assaf has quickly become one of the best players in Central Ohio thanks to his anything-but-standard Sheik, and a ton of netplay practice (online competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee play) where he is currently ranked No. 3 on Anther’s ladder. Milhous has been climbing the ranks of OSU Melee, as he is No.3 on the PR there, only behind Drephen and Fizzle (Hanky Panky was inactive this season). In this interview, Milhous talks about his meteoric rise and how netplay has helped him become a much better player!
TL: What player do you draw the most inspiration from/who is your favorite player?
Milhous: I’m going to say Drephen. I feel like the way he interacts with the game, his personality comes through and I feel like that’s very important. That’s why I like a lot of players like Drephen, n0ne and Mang0. I think it’s very sad that you can take a professional player, and you watch what they’re doing and not know who they are, like there are certain Foxes that are just very simple, although they may be good, it’s just not very creative and it’s very formulaic. I like players that have their personality show through their play, and I think that’s very important.
TL: In what ways do you think netplay helps you improve?
Milhous: Well so for me, I play a lot of netplay, almost daily, and I put a lot of care into how I play on netplay, which I think a lot of people don’t do. I feel like the biggest difference between netplay and irl play is that you’re more comfortable and you’re sitting in your chair and at home, and I think you can create a tournament experience by caring a lot about the game and about every interaction, and as long as you do that I think you can get a lot out of it. So that’s what I aim to do whenever I play.
TL: Whenever I played netplay I would sometimes get nervous if I were to play a ladder game or something.
Milhous: Yeah that’s what I’m saying dude! Every once in a while I’ll play someone that’s ranked below me on the ladder, and I’ll be like, ‘oh this will be a free win’ or something. Next thing you know they destroy the first stock, that gets me to sit up and it gets me to care a lot because I do care about winning, and I think that nervousness is actually good, not only do you care, but that means you’re being pressured and if you’re not being pressured, that means you’re not practicing right because the only time it matters when you practice is when you’re pressured because that’s whats going to happen in tournament. You just gotta get better at being under pressure.
TL: I always say you can never underestimate your opponents.
Milhous: Oh yeah that’s huge. That’s a huge thing anywhere, but especially on netplay because you’ll just play with some guy who’s maybe a smurf or maybe they’ve got like a random name, and they just whoop on you. There’s good players everywhere, and a lot of times it’ll be the same thing where somebody pretty good from like, North Carolina or something will play me, and he’s just never heard of me or something, and they’ll sleep on me, you just gotta show them. That’s actually one of the things I focus on now, even if I think somebody is bad, I want to try to push myself to do as best as I can against them. That way I’m mentally ready if they are good, I don’t try to just auto-pilot.
TL: What are your goals as a player for 2018?
Milhous: So for me, what I like to do is just set very simple, very achievable goals. I want to, during a major, get above 97th place, or at least 97th at my next major, whether that be at Genesis or something else big. Just because I know that I’m capable of getting something like 129th or right below it, so it’s a little bit of a stretch where all I have to do is beat maybe one or two players that are a little bit better than me, and it’s not to beat someone specific, it’s just a goal of mine to place well I guess. Other than that, just constant improvement, like I know personally when I play, there’s a lot of things wrong with my play, like I don’t jump-cancel grab and stuff like that. I’ve got to just slowly get better at getting better.
TL: How did you become the No. 3 netplayer in the world?
Milhous: I don’t know, netplay is a very funny thing, and I clearly care about my rank, that’s why I have a high rank. It’s just you gotta go into it and you gotta try very hard. Right now I’m looking at ranked and there’s a guy named Milhousfan69 and I still don’t know who it is and I’m pretty upset. I’ll figure it out eventually.
TL: In your opinion, what is the most important thing to practice?
Milhous: So I think the most important thing is recognizing why something doesn’t work. A lot of players will get upset about a certain option that’s being used against them, but it’s Melee so everything has a counter-option. You have to understand why a person is doing that, and you have to figure out what to do against it. Everybody practices doing that in different ways, some people watch videos, some people will just play a lot, but I think you have to conscientiously think about it. You’ve gotta think well he’s doing that so I should do this. It’s really important to be aware at all times and of different situations.
TL: How far do you think you can go in this game?
Milhous: I think I have what it takes to be top 100. When I play players that are top 100 level and I think about where they were two years ago or a year ago when they weren’t top 100, and I know what it took them to get there and I just have to put myself through that regimen. The fact that they can do it means that I can do it too. So i don’t think there really is a ceiling for me, it’s just how much do I want to put into the game. At this point I don’t see an end to that, so I’m just gonna keep doing my thing and putting in my work.
TL: I consider myself a step or two below you skill level wise, and I feel that a lot of players around my level, myself included, struggle with consistency, do you have any advice with keeping consistent at all?
Milhous: So inconsistency results from not being in certain situations before. Not being mentally or technically prepared for a situation will be fixed with a lot of experience with the game. Like if you’ve never played against a Bowser, and next thing you know a Bowser will beat you because you weren’t ready for it and you just have to be ready for anything. The only way to get better at being consistent is to prepare better. You just have to play a lot of people and learn a lot of situations, and if you put yourself through a bunch of situations you won’t be tripped up as often. I think it’s also a result of playing netplay because you play a lot of different people and you just prepare yourself for a lot of things.
TL: How did you see such rapid improvement?
Milhous: It’s a lot of time, like I play this game a ton. You’ve gotta play the game and you’ve gotta really enjoy it. My mentality is a decently good one, like I never get too upset at the game, so when you lose or something, you’ve gotta go back in and have the mentality to get better against certain things. You have to just figure it out. It’s just a grind really, and if you’re just being put down, you’ve gotta just keep at it and know where your flaws are. A lot of people will complain about not getting better, then you watch their play and there’s clearly things that they could be doing differently and options they’re just not picking. It’s just slowly realizing why things are happening. If you can point those out, then you can improve.
If you want to become a netplay warrior yourself and get just as good as Milhous, click on this guide to help you get started on netplay!
Keep up to date with the netplay warrior, Milhous, on twitter here.
If you want to watch Milhous grinding netplay, you can follow and watch him on Twitch here.
1/5/2018 – Jimmy Synthetic is a UK based electronic musician, and quite a talented one at that. Drawn to the cinematic elements of Synthwave and classic 80’s horror films, he composed an entire soundtrack for a neo-Zombie movie. Yet, the film doesn’t even exist! We thought this a pretty cool idea, so we reached out to Jimmy about the project.
The album, Swarms of the Damned, stands on it’s own merit musically. The concept album format really draws a great linear experience to the record, you can still listen to a single without missing the rest. Think about a video game analogy; You can complete the main story or go off on a side quest. Gratifcation may be deeper when you beat the game, but side quests can be a lot of fun!
Slickster – Is swarms of the damned actually an OST?
Jimmy Synthetic – Sadly the Swarms of the Damned movie doesn’t exist outside of my head! The whole concept behind the album was that It was a soundtrack to a forgotten straight-to-VHS 80’s zombie flick. In my mind it would’ve been a terrible, low-budget movie riddled with cliches but with a great atmospheric score. It’s probably a bit ambitious to do that for my first album but it did help me focus when composing the tracks. The track list is in order of how the scenes would appear in the movie so it’s essentially a synopsis of the movie without any grammar.
Slickster – So take us through what was happening in the scene, ‘Hicks Ridge, Ohio’. It’s great track, and almost seems like a love scene of sorts.
Jimmy Synthetic – I was going for a Summery Synth-pop vibe with this one and it’s a deliberate contrast in tone to the rest of the album. It starts off with the sound of a motorcycle starting up and driving off and I imagined a scene following the main character as she drove it through this picturesque town. She drives past the residents as they lived the American dream in slow motion and the whole scene is filled with 80s cliches – Mullets, shoulder pads, Ghetto blasters and someone driving a Pontiac Trans Am. It’s a love scene in a way because she’s in love with the town she lives in but everything changes as it transitions into the next song, “Outbreak”, which uses the same melody but with a much darker tone. Thats when the Zombie shit hits the fan!
Slickster – Track 7 is titled, “They ripped Billy’s guts out…” Who was Billy and can you describe what is happening in this scene?
Jimmy Synthetic – A friend of mine said that this is the song title equivalent of clickbait! I never intended it that way, in fact its a reference to the movie Starship Troopers. There’s this great scene where Michael Ironside’s character says – with a completely straight face – “They sucked his brains out!” I wanted the Swarms of the Damned movie to have that kind of cheesy dialogue so that’s where the name came from.
Billy is the main character’s boyfriend and he was doomed the moment he got separated from the rest of the group. Even though he’s a jock in a letterman jacket he’s easy pickings for a group of crazed flesh eating monsters! The song is essentially in two parts a slow build-up as the zombies approach and surround him. The melody kicks in as they slowly tear him apart like he’s made of cookie dough! His body is discovered later and thats when the song title line is delivered really terribly, in true 80s budget-slasher-movie fashion.
Slickster – Are there any plans to ‘flesh out’, pun intended, the screen play for Swarms of The Damned?
Jimmy Synthetic – I actually started writing a screenplay for it. The idea was to include the first scene as a bonus download for people who bought my album on Bandcamp. I wrote about 3 pages of truly lame dialogue but gave up pretty quickly as I realised just how hard it is to write a script and I thought it’s not really something people want when they buy an album. I’m happy for it to be stuck in my head to be honest, but if Sam Rami or Guillermo Del Toro came up to me and said “I really want to make Swarms of the Damned” I wouldn’t stand in their way!
Slickster – Your music focuses on strong, recognizable melodies. How do you write them? Do they come first and foremost or secondary to something else?
Jimmy Synthetic – The melody is always the most important part for me so I generally try and nail that first in all of my tracks. One of the reasons I love synthwave so much is because it is very melodic and cinematic – I think that is missing in other genres of Electronic music. I never really got Dubstep or EDM, to me it sounds like they’re too focused on sound design and buildups. Melody is where a song’s emotion comes from.
Slickster – In the event of a Zombie Outbreak, do you consider yourself as one of those who would be able to survive?
Jimmy Synthetic – That depends on the type of Zombies. If they’re the 28 Days Later fast-running “Infected” then I wouldn’t last 5 minutes. But if they’re the type that you could outrun just by strolling at a leisurely pace then I should be ok. I have several years experience building Ikea furniture so I’m pretty sure I could construct a reliable barricade. I actually think my greatest threat in this scenario would be Irritating my fellow survivors with lame jokes and chirpy optimism in the face of impending doom. The minute my “reliable barricade” fails to hold back the hoard they would feed me to the zombies!
Slickster – Ok, let’s say you make it, and it’s up to you repopulate the earth. Which 80’s bikini models would be the actresses in Swarm’s of the Damned?
Jimmy Synthetic – Ah now we’re talking! When you say 80’s bikini models I instantly think Cindy Crawford and Christie Brinkley, but If could cast anyone it would be Kimberly McArthur, she was a Playboy Playmate (Miss January 1983) and she starred in Slumber Party Massacre 2. The bad guy in that movie inspired part of the cover art for Swarms of the Damned – he was a demonic Elvis impersonator or something and he carried a guitar with a giant drill attached to the neck. The Swarms of the Damned cover has our unnamed heroine wielding a keytar with a chainsaw attachment!
Slickster – Alright, back into reality… How is the synthwave scene in The UK?
Jimmy Synthetic – It’s growing. Loads of great acts from over the world have been touring here and there was a couple of mini festivals in London. One called Retro Future Fest and one called Neon Winter. It’s amazing just how many people share this mad hobby of mine, I’m finding out about new acts all the time. The UK acts that really like and admire are Sunglasses Kid, Kalax, Data Stream and Iversen.
Slickster – Sid Vicious…. most celebrated musician from the UK or most over rated?
Jimmy Synthetic – I’m not sure who our most celebrated musician would be, but I know it wouldn’t be Sid Vicious. None of the Sex Pistols were great musicians and Johnny Rotten couldn’t sing, but they were Iconic symbols of the Punk movement. The Punk scene was never about how well you could play the guitar It was more about a rebellious “screw the system” message. The Sex pistols – Sid in particular – symbolised that perfectly, even though they only ever released one album. That’s quite an impact.
There was a really good movie biopic about Sid Vicious called “Sid and Nancy” and Gary Oldman played him when he was relatively unknown.
Over the years, there have been many successful movies that have been based on a casino or gambling theme. These films have earned amazing revenue and have landed themselves on the list of must watch movies for anyone that gets enjoyment from the thrills of gambling.
Ocean’s Eleven
This movie was a remake of the original from 1960. While it is all about a heist within a casino, it has a direct link to the gambling scene. The movie focuses on Danny Ocean, the recruiter of 10 accomplices that will help pull off the largest Vegas robbery in a single night. With an amazing cast of actors, Ocean’s Eleven is one of the top grossing films and is a must watch for any movie fanatic. The film grossed over $183 million and was one of the top box office draws when it was released.
Casino
Casino is one of the most popular casino themed movies to hit the big screen and it was released in 1995. This Martin Scorsese movie is loaded with greed, lust, betrayal and violence, making it a thrilling watch. De Niro stars as Sam, a mobster and the head of a popular casino. Though the film has a long running time and can be difficult to follow, the cast of characters will pull viewers in and will provide an exciting experience for anyone who likes a casino themed watch. The movie grossed $42.4 million during the first year of its release.
Casino Royale
Casino Royale definitely takes the cake as one of the best movies to come out in 2006. It was the fourth highest grossing film, earning $599 million worldwide. This exciting Bond movie takes viewers on an exciting ride as a high stakes poker game is being played and Bond is trying to stop a terrorist organization from raising any money from the game. The poker scenes in the movie are stylish and realistic and there are also some great action scenes that add to the thrill of watching Casino Royale. Get ready to enjoy a poker experience that is better than vegas. Kick back and enjoy watching Bond go to work in this action packed gambling themed film.
The Hangover
Directed by Todd Phillips, The Hangover was a hit from 2009 and was an instant hit at the box office. The film has some great stars like Ed Helms and Heather Graham and is all about a vacation to Vegas for a bachelor party. Unfortunately, the party members wake up in Vegas with no memory of the night before, creating a humorous film with much action. Scenes show casino excitement as characters learn how to count cards at the blackjack table to earn money to pay the ransom for one of their missing friends. The main theme may not be gambling, but there are some exciting parts of the film that takes place in some of the hottest Vegas casinos. Grossing $1.42 billion, this film was one of the top titles to be released in 2009.
21
21 is one of the thrilling films from 2008 and the drama takes viewers on an exciting trip to Vegas as a teacher from MIT teaches his students how to count cards at the blackjack tables. The movie has characters appearing in several Vegas casinos and it was based on real life events. This flick is a must watch for any fans of blackjack or those that have any interest in how card counting works. The movie enjoyed revenues of $157 million worldwide.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Get ready to experience underground gambling rings in London as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels takes viewers on an exciting adventure. Eddy and three of his friends are running after they lose a high stakes poker game against a crime boss. With high speed action, great music and quick humor, this is a must watch. This movie is considered a cult classic and with some great twists and turns. It keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The movie grossed $3.7 million in the US when it was released in 1999. The original release was in the UK in 1998.
Fear and Loathing in Vegas
Fear and Loathing in Vegas is a comedy that was released in 1998 and the movie features Johnny Depp as he speeds across the desert in Nevada to reach Las Vegas. Upon reaching Vegas, the characters are heavily involved in drugs and gambling. The humor comes into play as they start to hallucinate about the various casinos they visit. The movie was a strong runner for being named the best casino movie of the 90s and it grossed $10.6 million.
Revolver
Revolver is a crime flick that is based on the prison life of Jake Green. He has been threatened and terrorized after shooting a card player at a Vegas casino. During his 7 years in prison, Jake develops formulas that can be used when playing any Vegas casino game and will produce results that can guarantee wins at the table. The storyline is gripping and the acting is top notch. This 2011 drama is one that is a great watch for gambling fanatics and the movie enjoyed success as it grossed $6.8 million.
Gilda
Gilda is a classic black and white film from 1946 starring Rita Hayworth. The film is loaded with lust, greed, sex and gambling and follows the life of an American gambler who learns of an illegal high class casino in Argentina. Caught cheating at the Craps table, Johnny Farrell, the male lead in the film, is taken to the owner of the casino, who surprisingly gives him a job. Farrell soon meets Gilda, the wife of the owner, and the movie takes some interesting twists and turns. It was a box office hit and was one of Hayworth’s most acclaimed films. Grossing $10 million, this is a great classic gambling flick that is loaded with style and action.
Miller’s Crossing
Miller’s Crossing is a great gambling themed film that was released in 1990. The movie takes place during the prohibition era. It is focused on a professional gambler who makes frequent visits to casinos and clubs owned by a gangster. The movie received great reviews and in 2005. TIME named the movie one of the top 100 films ever to be made. The film grossed over $5 million and with an intriguing plot, it continues to be a top choice for those that enjoy gangster and gambling themed flicks.
Daily Fantasy Sports: Cash Games vs Tournaments and how to slay each
Whether you play on DraftKings or Fanduel, there are two different formats to choose from. The two are cash games and tournaments. Each game is very different and requires different strategies to be successful. In this article I will do my best to educate you on each type of contest and give you the advantage of understanding. I see many players deposit money and jump in without having a clue what they are doing. I see these players because I actively search them out. They are easy pickings and I enjoy taking their money. In time, as you play daily fantasy sports (DFS) and learn the methods that make you successful, you will be able to spot the suckers as well. But until then, let’s carry on as my ramblings have gone on far enough!
Cash Games
Cash games should be the cornerstone to maintain your DFS bankroll. Cash games pay out the top 50% of the field. Everybody that finishes in the top 50% gets paid the same amount, double your buy-in minus the amount the site takes for hosting the contest. For instance, if you enter a $1 50/50 contest with 100 players and finish 50th, you win $1.80. The .20 cent difference is taken by DraftKings or Fanduel.
Another cash game is a Double Up. This contest sounds the same as a 50/50, but it differs and is harder to cash. This contest pays double the money you pay to enter with no rake taken out. However, the site still must make money, so less than half win. Let’s say you join a $2 dollar Double Up. Instead of 100 players, this contest had 112. If you finish in the top 50, you win $4. See how it differs? It is harder to cash as you need to beat 62 others instead of 50 in the 50/50. It took me way too long to figure this out.
Building your line-up for cash games is about finding players with the highest floor possible. What I mean by floor is the lowest possible score a player can get night in and night out. The goal is to take as little risk as possible when constructing lineups. Inconsistent players, players from teams that play at a low pace, or any player might be hurt have no place in your cash lineup. I target teams who play up in pace. Extra possessions mean extra chance at points. A sound strategy is to target a game where neither team plays defense and the game has a high over/under. Up and down the floor with shot after shot can mean DFS gold. Stay clear of the slow pace games with a low over/under for cash games.
While these ladies can probably ball, I wouldn’t use them in any of my DFS cash games.
Slow pace means less chance for points, rebounds, steals, and blocks.
Tournaments
Tournaments can be fool’s gold. Sure, the payouts are higher and all you need to do is hit it once and you could be $50-100 thousand dollars richer. Tournaments are attractive and glamorous, just like Las Vegas. There is a reason you can wipe your ass with gold toilet paper at the casinos. Casinos are set-up to make money and so are high dollar, high entry tournaments in DFS.
The cash lines are much smaller in tournaments and harder to achieve. The reason for joining a tournament shouldn’t be to cash, it should be to win. Tournament payouts are top heavy, meaning to make significant money you must finish in the top 1-5%. In cash games we are looking for high floors. In tournaments we want to be riskier and search out the players with high ceilings.
What I mean by high ceiling is the most points you can expect from a certain player. These players include high price superstars and mid-price to low-price “boom or bust” players. These players you don’t know what the hell to expect from them. One night they may go off for 50+ points and the next game they score less than 10 points. These players have a low floor, so they are not safe for cash games. However, if you play them in a tournament and they go off for a big score, you could be in business. See you paid a cheap price for this player, which allowed you to roster more consistent, higher price players. That equation is the key to winning the big money. You need to have the “boom or bust” player at a low ownership in the tournament and putting up a big score.
Low ownership is all about finding that diamond in the rough. It could be a player who had a horrible game or has a non-favorable match-up. The herd, all the other players, will be off this player and looking elsewhere. This is the best time to play that player and hope he gets you a big score. If you don’t take that chance, you may double your money finishing in the payout line. But, this payout is very risky as you could have had a much better chance cashing in a cash game. When I play a tournament, my attitude is I am going to win the damn thing or have a bust for a lineup and lose hence the “boom or bust” mentality. If I finish somewhere in the payout, it’s a bonus for me.
Conclusion
I hope if you were on the edge of trying DFS, you are now gong to jump in and give the ol’ college try. Tell me about your experiences and please ask me questions at r.dicker@slickstermagazine.com. Also, if you have experiences that have helped you please share them with me.
My next article will dig deeper into cash games to explain the different games available, strategies to maximize potential of winning, and tips to avoid entering the wrong contests.
Christina Marie is a not shy to give herself the Jersey Gal nickname. She’s from the Jersey Shore and proud of it. Earning a following of over 50K on her social media, she works hard to stay in shape for the camera. She needs to, because she is a nude model. She is not naked on Slickster, but we think you get the idea.
12/31/2017, 3:05 p.m.
Hometown: Toms River, New Jersey, US
Measurements (Bust, waist, hips): 36″D, 32″, 29″
Favorite band or musical act: Queen
Which movie that scared you the most or what is your favorite video game: The Last House on the Left, Wes Craven version
Personal statement: When I’m not modeling or going on auditions you can find me at work as a veterinary technician at a local animal hospital. When I’m not there I’m at the farm horse back riding or taking care of my families racehorses! I also love to travel!
You know what’s better than a monkey in a tuxedo? A super spy monkey in a tuxedo fighting french cooking robots. Know what’s even better than that? Killing the enemy’s super spy monkey with a penguin slinging polar bear. And then you find out it’s the enemy’s champion and you just won the game when you were on the brink of destruction. THAT is what makes Post Human W.A.R by Studio Chahut so fun to play. Taking place in the fairly far but not too far future, Post Human W.A.R is a zany and stressful time.
Welcome to the Post Human W.A.R.
A common question in science fiction is what would the world look like after humanity died? Well, Post Human W.A.R says that it would be taken over by parasitically control animals and artificially intelligent appliances. Split into different factions vying for supremacy. The Wraak are a faction of animals hoping to rid the world of the memory of humanity. Made up of larger animals like beefed up rats, or boxing armadillos. The Anthropist faction are made up of evolved primate species who seek a more peaceful cohabitation with the past. And finally there are the R-PATCH who have decided to protect the history of their human masters of the past. All of the different factions have a very distinct look with each character having their own personality. Listening to the characters talk during the game was a particular pleasure.
Game on!
Every match of Post Human W.A.R is like a game of chess mixed with hide and seek. Along with the board game classic RISK. You start every match by selecting your characters and picking who you are Champion is. A team’s Champion is kind of like the king on a chessboard. While it typically devolves into a war of attrition, the real goal is to kill the Champion of the opposing team. Figuring out whether your enemy is hiding them in plain sight or keeping them back keeps you guessing as you Traverse the different levels. Will you have your Champion be a bigger and bulky or character? Trading speed for a larger health pool? And will you reveal who your Champion is for the stat boost to try and spur your team on to victory while things look bleak? There’s a large amount of strategy that goes into every match. But even if you aren’t the next Patton or Sun Tzu, you can have plenty of fun playing this game.
Multiplayer matches are a mixed bag. I wasn’t a particularly huge fan of playing online, it felt like I was playing a board game with a stranger. This is one of those games where a more intimate environment is where the game truly excels. Because playing this game of the friend is awesome! Being able to talk shit and Bluff in real life while we’re playing the game is extremely satisfying.
A W.A.R of Attrition
The only real criticism that I have for this game is that once you’ve played it for a couple hours, you have played the whole game. Once you are familiar with all of the kooky characters, have heard all the dialogue, you know what’s going on. The computer can provide a surprising challenge at times, and playing with friends is definitely a good time. But you don’t really feel an urge to keep playing hours and hours and hours later. This is more of a game that you would pick up every couple weeks and play a few rounds. Maybe it’s something that you and your friends just keep in rotation when you hang out on the weekends. It’s nothing bad, it’s just something that keeps this game from being really great.
Final Score
Overall, the game that I definitely recommend the game at its price point. $15 for a game that is going to give you at least a solid 8 to 10 hours it’s good in my books. And with that I will give this game a score of 8 out of 10.
