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Gargoyles

The Phoenix Gate

Comment Room Archive

Comments for the week ending December 22, 2013

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So I showed a few episodes of Gargoyles to this total Call of Duty Junkie, and I kid you not, this was his response. "I don't like thinking, I like to experience things. Maybe I'd enjoy it if 2/3ds of it was action."

Maybe I should show him Vendettas...

ESG

For those of you familiar with Gargoyles signed items...I found this card in a lot I bought, but I can't seem to find information on Google or eBay about autographs pertaining to this set. It's numbered 2/50 and signed in gold ink. The card is a pop-up (#50 - Gargoyles Move to the Clocktower). Any info on the signature would be appreciated (i.e. Who is it?). Thanks!

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag70/travisstevens81/IMG-1-1_zps6ba05039.jpg

Travis - [travisstevens81 at hotmail dot com]

Masterdramon> Those guys, then.

Whatever gets me my Smash RPG.

Harlan Phoenix
"Isn't it super weird how the black guy is cast as a loving father?"-Jim Steranko on uncomfortable media trends

>Now, I have no desire to get into some big flame war about the Zelda franchise here. It's not the place for it.<
Well I agree on that one. But I'll have to correct you on smth.: My comment on ALBW wasn't meant to be bad. That is a good game (played through it 3 times already) and more like what Zelda should be. And I admit I am always getting exaggerated about things I care so much for. Zelda included...

But now back to another topic...
A guy on Youtube commented on my Demona video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNGrg5Wm12E) (and thanks to everyone who liked it so far) and said Greg plugged it. I found Greg's ramble and blushed immediately. I feel honored right now...

>I loved how masterfully you got the lips to match the music lyrics.<
Yeah that is the hardest part. I was extremely lucky some of the original footage worked with the lyrics without any manipulation. Most notably the first shot were Demona walks to the camera/Goliath. Then some scenes were like "jeez! I worked on this for 45 minutes and it still doesn't fit, I am going to use a different shot now!". This was the 1st time I tried lip-syncing in one of my vids, I have only done beat-matching before and I think it worked quite well. 2 scenes still aren't perfect but I figured most people wouldn't notice because if you have the original project in your head and you know how everything was arranged, you are a lot more sensitive about things that might not fit perfectly.

But the problem with these kinds of vids is they could change the way you think about the character, because they are emotional. If I rearrange scenes too much it could contradict with what was going on in the original tv series and I don't want to change what people think about Demona. Especially the people who are not die hard fans and only know the series a bit. That is why the last scene wasn't Demona hiding under the cliff, because I felt her actions that happened after shouldn't be forgotten. Then I picked the most evil plan of her (cannister with the CV-1000 virus) for the next scene and the final shot shows Angela. I guess everyone could figure why that is there. Also note how the video fades to black everytime the word "Love" appears in the lyrics... If you didn't already notice... :-)

Neill - [neillgargoyle(a)gmail dot com]

Neill: "The last three were the worst Zelda games ever released (CDi excluded) and if you disagree then guess what that means..."

You kinda left that sentence hanging there, which is a bit of a problem, because I disagree stringently.

About "Skyward Sword" in particular, which is a masterpiece of art design and a true joy to play, and easily one of my favorite games of the last generation.

Additionally, "A Link Between Worlds" is far more than an "A Link to the Past" clone; it's a sequel, and a damn fun one at that. Have you actually played it at all?

Now, I have no desire to get into some big flame war about the Zelda franchise here. It's not the place for it. But I don't like people throwing around these wild criticisms as if they're fact.

Harlan: There's no need for Nintendo to contract out if they ever want to make a fantastic crossover RPG with their IPs. Much of Square's best talent is no longer with Square, but with Monolith Soft (which is owned in-house by Nintendo) or with Mistwalker (which has a good relationship with Nintendo).

Their masterworks "Xenoblade Chronicles" and "The Last Story" (respectively) were two of the Wii's best games, and two of the best JRPGs ever made. Either studio would be better suited to create something like what you're describing than Square is now.

Masterdramon - [kmc12009 at mymail dot pomona dot edu]
"But back home he'll always run...to sweet Melissa..." - The Allman Brothers Band

Neill> THAT WAS FREAKIN' AMAZING!!! At the very start, with the crystal sound/tear, I went "WOAH." I loved how masterfully you got the lips to match the music lyrics. That's the hardest part, no?

I once did a music video but it was so terrible I deleted it. I have an urge to do another one, but we'll see.

GREAT JOB NEILL!!! :)

Battle Beast - [Canada]
I did it! I watched all 485 Best picture nominees in 365 days!

Uh, sorry, the previous comment was mine. Not sure what happened there.

And co-signed on the coolness of the Demona video, while I'm here.

Harlan Phoenix
The enemy is clever. We're smaller but whatever. When we put it together, I'll form the head.

If we're talking Nintendo partnerships, I really feel like the universe is ready for Super Smash Bros. RPG with Nintendo/Square Enix doing a tag team. Though I'm not a huge fan of Square anymore being that they ran pretty much every franchise of theirs I loved to the ground (Star Ocean hurts the most), modern Square really perfectly fits Super Smash Brothers.

It all lines up pretty perfectly and hopefully Nintendo's presence would allow for quality control. The level of character variety would be astounding and given Square Enix's desire to obnoxiously pepper every single franchise they own (especially Final Fantasy/Star Ocean/Kingdom Hearts/Like, what else do they even own?) with the broad strokes of Gnosticism to structure their plots, Super Smash Brothers would fit their material pretty perfectly. Given each game offers some different version of a "false world" scenario and Master Hand fits the demiurge role as well as anything else, the current crop of Square guys would be right at home with it.

Goofy Final Fantasy Tactics with Kirby eating Metroids, please.

Anonymous

Thanks Greg, Matt and Anthony! Appreciate your compliments!!

Now about Zelda:
Hyrule Warrios is based on Dynasty Warriors and the only reason they implemented Zelda stuff in this game is: Noone would give a shit about this game in the US and Europe if they didn't. They put Zelda on the Dynasty Warriors franchise to make it sell in other territories besides Japan. If the Dynasty Warriors franchise does not sell well enough in US/Europa then that is the problem of Tecmo. Nintendo shouldn't stand up and make a hybrid game just to make it sell and please some fans...

I haven't played any Uncharted game or The Last Of Us because I do not own a PS3. BUT I know what these games are about and that they're of very high quality and I watched a lot of footage from those games. Now how on earth would a Sony Studio make a collaboration with Nintendo? Right! And I don't think Zelda would benefit because Nintendo doesn't even know what Zelda is about. Take a look at the last 4 Zelda games: A Link Between Worls, Skyward Sword, Spirit Tracks and Phantom Hourglass. The last three were the worst Zelda games ever released (CDi excluded) and if you disagree then guess what that means... After those three games Nintendo was so desperate about Zelda, they took ALTTP (with Ocarina Of Time likely the BEST in the franchise) and basically copied the whole game and boom there is ALBW. They didn't know what Zelda is about so they just copied an all time classic. If a copied game is better than completely original installments in a franchise then you REALLY have to wonder what the hell is wrong.

It is pretty simple what Nintendo has to do for the next Zelda game which is going to be released for the WiiU: Take the art style of the Zelda E3 demo from (2012 or 2011 or whenever that was) and make a Zelda game that has an open world, a lot of places to check out, the right amount of dungeons and FREEDOM. Plus the game shouldn't annoy you which means NO SIDEKICK like Fi and NO additional currencies besides rupees and no slow ass text scrolling and no explain the obvious textboxes like "you just got 5 rupees" and no stupid tutorial shit like "get that cat a fish" AND you shouldn't be forced to fly around with a dumb red walrus or use a train. If you want to do all that stuff play Harvest Moon or Animal Crossing instead.

Neill - [neillgargoyle(a)gmail dot com]

Neill, first off, great job on the music video.
Secondly, concerning Legend of Zelda, why don't you think it's a good idea? I'm all for it. Personally, I'd love to see a partnership between Nintendo and Naughty Dog. If you haven't played any of the "Uncharted" games or "The Last of Us", I highly recommend them.

Anthony Tini

Neill> That's great somebody finally did that! Great job. It's funny, I can remember that post of Greg's very well despite not reading it in a decade. Everytime I've heard that song on the radio over the years I think of Demona and Greg's comment. Cool to see it finally happen.

I also got a kick out of Greg talking so much about the difficulty in creating The Hobbit as a film and here we are ten years later...

Matt - [Saint Louis, Missouri, USA]
"For science, which, as my associate Fang indicated, must move ever forward. Plus there's the money... and I do love the drama!" - Sevarius, "Louse"

Nice job, Neil!
Greg Bishansky
Here's the problem with most fanfic writers: they seem to think Dominique is a second life. It isn't. Demona spelled it plainly in "High Noon." She's a gargoyle. Dominique is just a tool to help her in her goals. She'll use the form because she changes into a human, whether she likes it or not, but Dominique is not another life for her.

Matt> At this point it's all hypothetical. I'd really love to see at least 1 more Phoenix Gate story, just so a person can repeatedly try and fail to abuse the Phoenix Gate.
ESG

Anthony Tini>I'm a Zelda fan but I don't think Nintendo should do this...

ALRIGHT! I am here to sweeten your day!
Now about 5 months ago I said I was working on two projects. One of them is done, the last couple of hours were a pain in the ass. If Sony Vegas could render my videos properly FIRST TRY, I would be so happy.

One of my hobbies is video editing and I create videos about my favorite musicians/tv shows/movies/video games. And of course I had to make a Gargoyles video sometime. But I don't do videos just for the sake of it. There has to be an idea behind this, I don't like to force things to make them happen. Originally I wanted to do a video about Thailog with a heavy metal/hard rock song and a load of action, but he is in only three episodes (If I remember right) so I would have to work on extremely less material. Then I stumbled across one of Greg's rambles on this site. That ramble was from december 18, 2003 and I am not lying: (http://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?rid=225). That was 10 YEARS ago... Holy crap... I quote his idea:

*I'd like to see a music video featuring Demona to Dido's "White Flag".

And I thought now that is a great idea. I've seen about a dozen Gargoyle music videos, some of them are quite good, some of them are not. I am kind of a quality addict when it comes to source material. Gargoyles is a mid 90s animated tv-series produced in 4:3, so I couldn't really expect too much, especially considering I blowed everything about to 720p/16:9. But I refrain to use any material that has a logo in a corner or is just a mess of compression artifacts. Good thing Disney FINALLY released S2V2 this year, I don't use stuff for my videos that I don't own. I even bought Dido's whole album Life For Rent just because I used that one song White Flag.
OK. So here it is. Kick back, relax and watch:

DEMONA - WHITE FLAG: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNGrg5Wm12E

I'd appreciate if you could toss that video around to all the Gargoyle (and Demona) fans you know. I soooo would have loved to show it at the Gathering if it was still around...

And lastly:
I wish EVERYONE a very nice Xmas and a happy new year! (and please forgive me if "shamelessly" repost that video the next weeks :P)

Neill - [neillgargoyle(a)gmail dot com]

Legend of Zelda fans, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkaXZdmIIY8
Anthony Tini

Harlan Phoenix - Very cool! Thanks for sharing that link.
Anthony Tini

Lets say you were talking to a friend. A week later you get a hold of the Gate and decide that you want to go back and introduce your future self to your past self and your friend. Well, that's a cool idea, but you can recall that your future self never showed up while you were having that conversation, so in the Gargoyles Universe you already know that no matter how hard you try, you won't be able to follow your plan. You can't, because you didn't. Even if you have the Gate and are all ready to do this thing, something will happen/did happen such that you don't. You'll forget the incantation or an anvil will fall on your head or you'll get sent to the wrong time/place on accident or someone will grab the Gate from you or SOMETHING. Something happened to stop you from joining your past self because your future self never showed up during that conversation.
Matt - [Saint Louis, Missouri, USA]
"For science, which, as my associate Fang indicated, must move ever forward. Plus there's the money... and I do love the drama!" - Sevarius, "Louse"

ESG> You are looking at it the wrong way. Those who have used the Gate were making their own choices on how to use it without the Phoenix influencing them. However, the choices they made freely were already a part of the timeline, and thus inevitable, whether they know it or not. The timeline can't be changed, its a constant. Goliath made the choice to travel back to 1940 London, but, as Leo and Una observed, he had already done so long before he made the choice to do so. : )
Matt - [Saint Louis, Missouri, USA]
"For science, which, as my associate Fang indicated, must move ever forward. Plus there's the money... and I do love the drama!" - Sevarius, "Louse"

Greg says the Phoenix gate doesn't infringe on free will...but it totally does. If you want to go to back in time, say, to the exact moment and place you were having a conversation with someone else, that's impossible. That changes time, so you cannot do it.

Greg argues that people still have total control over their actions, but not over the effects of their actions. The problem is, sometimes actions lead directly to their effects. There is no way to get around this. I must therefore conclude that the Phoenix Gate has the ability to subtly influence the minds of its wielders in such a way that they will never think to use the gate in a way that could possibly alter the time-stream.

ESG

Ah, thanks. Definitely the kind of chapter title that would reward those really familiar with the game's history.
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders

Milburn is the mascot character: Milburn Pennybags, aka Mr Monopoly.

Jake is "jake the Jailbird" the guy incarcerated on the board.

Edgar is Officer Edgar Mallory - from the Go to Jail space.

These come from a book, the Monopoly Companion, according to wikipedia.

UncleDeadly - [uncledeadly at hotmail dot com]

Todd> Most people wouldn't recognize them, but they are indeed connected. The original name given to Mr. Monopoly was Milburn Pennybags, the policeman in the "Go to Jail" space was named Officer Edgar Mallory, and the criminal in jail was Jake the Jailbird.
Brainiac - [OSUBrainiac at gmail dot com]
There is balance in all things. Live in symmetry with the world around you. If you must blow things up and steal from those around you, THAT'S WHAT RPGS ARE FOR!

Does anybody here know what the names Milburn, Edgar, and Jake have to do with "Monopoly"? All of the other chapter titles in the fourth and final "Young Justice" trade paperback clearly have to do with the board game, so this one must as well, but I haven't figured out the connection yet.
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders

http://www.starwarsunderworld.com/2013/12/star-wars-rebels-will-have-two-female.html

Doesn't seem like much.

Harlan Phoenix
"Isn't it super weird how the black guy is cast as a loving father?"-Jim Steranko on uncomfortable media trends

UncleDeadly - I started listening to the the podcast that that story is quoting. I wonder what kind of pressure, if any, Greg is getting from Disney/Lucasfilm concerning their Rebel's toyline.
Anthony Tini

Interesting article I just came across online. Slight nod to Young Justice.

http://io9.com/paul-dini-superhero-cartoon-execs-dont-want-largely-f-1483758317

UncleDeadly

I'll cover everyone!

I'd rather watch The TENTH Man, Neill...

...the tenth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me: Batteries not included...

...ten lords-a-Leaping!

Brainiac - [OSUBrainiac at gmail dot com]
There is balance in all things. Live in symmetry with the world around you. If you must blow things up and steal from those around you, THAT'S WHAT RPGS ARE FOR!

The NINTH Gate is a pretty shitty movie!
Neill - [neillgargoyle(a)gmail dot com]

The eighth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me: I WANNA TRANSFORMER FOR CHRISTMAS!
Anthony Tini

Seven swans a' swimming!
Ross
"The future is in the past! Onwards, Aoshima!"

Six Geese A Laying
Chip - [Sir_Griff723 at yahoo dot com]
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. ~~C.S. Lewis

FIVE GOLDEN RINGS!
Matthew
I have nothing more to say...So why am I still talking?

4 colly birds! (Not "calling" birds)
Jurgan - [jurgan6 at yahoo dot com]

3 Barking Dogs (From Frank Welker's "Totally Ridiculous 12 Days of Christmas"
Wingless

Two turtle doves!
Masterdramon - [kmc12009 at mymail dot pomona dot edu]
"But back home he'll always run...to sweet Melissa..." - The Allman Brothers Band

And a partridge in a pear tree!
Matt - [Saint Louis, Missouri, USA]
"For science, which, as my associate Fang indicated, must move ever forward. Plus there's the money... and I do love the drama!" - Sevarius, "Louse"