Final Fantasy XVI – Demo Impressions

When I first heard that Final Fantasy XVI would be rated M, I was bummed.

According to Twitter, the series was going to go full Game of Thrones. Which is, to those not in the know, a part of a darker genre of fantasy where sex is cheap, the f-word is used constantly, and characters you love are killed on a whim. Oh, Ned Stark… (As a reader, I hate what George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series has done to fantasy.)

I found myself asking, why was the series known for Chocobos, big swords, and angsty heroes embracing darker things?

And then the demo dropped.

I played the Final Fantasy XVI demo from beginning to end. I was engrossed in the story of Clive, his brother Joshua, and the intrigue of their world.

I loved the unique blend of titans (think Attack on Titan, titans), magic, and the all powerful Eikons (think of the Phoenix, Ifirit, Shiva, etc.; previous games called them Summons).

I disliked how certain characters used sex (or the implication of) to influence others. For some reason, all of the characters who did this, in the demo, were female and EVIL. (Weird to watch a random character mount someone in a hallway and then proceed to whisper, caress, and kiss her way into getting the male character to do something. With the implication that more could follow–hint, hint–if the character does as she says.)

I also disliked the f-word being used. It isn’t used all the time but when it is used it is SPAMMED. I am no prude though, I will note that there was a scene where they used it, I thought it was funny. Like, I laughed out loud. I just think that foul language in a game is poor writing. Especially when it is used, like it was in Final Fantasy XVI, when things got bad. Felt as if another word could have been used and instead, the writer’s chose the easy button to “build character”.

In closing, Clive seems like a really cool character, that I wouldn’t mind getting to know. Plus, the SPOILER ALERT ending had me considering pre-ordering the game, just to figure out what happens.

The Internal Struggle

Sitting down to write often begins with an internal debate. Do I write about thing-x or talk about thing-y? Most of the time, I know the answer even before I begin debating. The answer is no. My goal with JBG is not to use it as a bully pulpit.

“Why not talk about the latest deacon-thing that is going on at church. I could just dress it up as a non-deacon thing. Be more general. That would make it okay, right?”

The issues do not even have to be church related. On a parenting front:

“My son is doing this, this, and this? Help!”

Seacrest, FL

I think in the beginning, the idea of writing a blog post about issues facing my church (in a non-gossipy way) or even a kid related post wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. But I have since become a deacon; my son has grown up. Issues that could have once been presented in the open or even a parenting piece have become things that I must be silent about.

I am still trying to figure out when to write about my son. You see influencers online who use their kids in their videos, blog posts, etc. I’m just like, nope.

Church conversation is relegated to the halls of my church. Nothing more. At some point (much before I became a deacon), I grew wiser to the things we should discuss online.

My youth pastor says all the time to our students, “My kid will be in the youth group next year. Who/what am I going to use as illustrations?”

As someone with an older kid, I am still trying to figure that out. Trying to figure out:

  • When I should just listen.
  • When I should say something.
  • And when I should just remain silent.

Most of the time, silence is golden.

Tintin Reporter – Cigars of the Pharaoh | Reveal Trailer

I am all about a good adventure game. Tintin Reporter – Cigars of the Pharaoh (was the Pharaoh really into cigars?) looks like it is shaping up nicely. Can’t wait to play!

What I Heard While Napping

Sunday afternoon, I was laying on the couch taking a nap. Wyatt was outside playing basketball. The ball kept hitting the ground with a repetitive thunk, thunk, thunk. In the midst of sound of the basketball bouncing, I heard a voice singing. Wyatt was singing the song “Happy” by NF.

This song is great just to listen to all by itself. With visuals, this song becomes something else. Give it a listen.