Tomorrow is June 23, which means that tomorrow happens to be the birthday of one of the coolest video game heroes in existence - Sonic The Hedgehog.  I've grown up to Sonic ever since I was a kid, and my opinion of him hasn't seemed to changed that much as I was growing up (except when I found out that the Archie Comics version is completely different from the video games in which Sonic and the other characters originated from, but that's another story).  As you would probably know, last year was the 20th Anniversary of Sonic, but I was unable to celebrate it properly with my friends because I didn't have a working computer at the time.  And so, I've decided to celebrate it to make up for last year the best I can.  However, because my cousin is actually having a wedding on the exact same day (which me and my family will be attending), I probably won't be able to do much to celebrate Sonic's birthday tomorrow.  Even so, I'll just do whatever I can to celebrate it.

Happy Birthday, Sonic The Hedgehog!

Because it is Garfield's birthday today, I have decided to talk about a fun little game to play on the Sega Genesis called "Garfield: Caught In The Act". This game is a licensed title that was published and co-developed by Sega, and it was released in 1995. Needless to say, it was actually one of the very first video games that Garfield appeared in (the other game was a Japanese title that was released on the Famicom in the mid-to-late 1980s). This game actually has a unique plot for a Sega Genesis game, which is explained in a cutscene at the beginning in the form of comic strips: Garfield is watching TV like he normally does when his dog friend, Odie, comes up from behind and barks loudly, which causes Garfield to leap in the air and land on the television set, practically destroying it. After realizing what has happened, Garfield and Odie decide to put the TV back together before their owner, Jon, finds out. And so, they put it back together in one piece the best they can; Garfield then finds a bunch of spare parts that can out of the television set, so he just carelessly pushes them behind his chair. The spare parts are put together by themselves and form into an insect-like monster called 'The Glitch' (the main villain of the game), which then grabs Garfield while he isn't looking and zaps him inside the television set. Garfield then finds himself trapped in the TV, which is actually incredibly huge on the inside, and the only way he can get out is by finding the remote controls that are found in each level in the game. This game is basically a simple platformer with colorful graphics, and it's not too difficult to beat from beginning to end. The controls for the game are pretty simple - one button allows Garfield to jump, another button allows him to toss projectiles (power-ups that he collects, which are different in each level in the game) at enemies from a distance, and another button allows him to smack enemies with a short-range object (which is actually something different in each level in the game). At the end of each level (six in all, which is not too much for a Garfield video game), Garfield has to fight a different boss before finding the remote control. After each level (excluding the last one), Garfield is able to play a bonus level that involves collecting a certain number of Pooky (Garfield's teddy bear) icons that will earn him extra lives and/or continues, and they kinda look like the same bonus stages from the Sega Genesis game "Vectorman 2". If you're able to collect the hammer icon found in each level, you'll also play a bonus level that is played exactly like Whack-A-Mole, but with a twist - In each round, you have to avoid hitting a certain type of target (Garfield, Odie, Jon, Arlene, Irma The Waitress, Stretch The Rubber Chicken, and The Glitch) while hitting every other target that appears without missing, and you also have to collect the letters that spell out G-A-R-F-I-E-L-D in order to win. In conclusion, "Garfield: Caught In The Act" is a good game to play, even though it's not exactly great. Even so, I recommend checking it out if you enjoy Sega Genesis games and/or lasagna-loving fat cats.

I was recently tagged by , which means I get to do one of these journal entries once again.  However, I'm not really the kind of guy who likes to tag a certain number of people, so I'll just change the rules to my liking.  Even so, let's get it on...

RULES
1. You must post the rules.
2. Each person must post five things about themselves in their journal.
3. Answer the questions that are set for you in their post, and create eleven new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4. You have to choose AT LEAST ONE PERSON to tag and post their icons on your journal.
5. Go to their page and tell them you have tagged them.
6. No Tag-Backs.

FIVE FACTS ABOUT MYSELF
1. I was born on January 28, 1986.
2. I graduated from high school in 2004.
3. I have a mild case of autism.
4. I don't have a driver's license, which means I can't drive a car.
5. I am not some kind of loser who lives in a basement.

ELEVEN QUESTIONS FOR ME TO ANSWER
1. What are some things you've never done but would like to do?
I guess I would actually like to go skiing as well as snowboarding.

2. What are some of your favorite restaurants?
I like any restaurant that serves pizza and sandwiches, but I also like restaurants with all-you-can-eat buffets.

3. What are some of your favorite singers/bands?
I like to listen to Weird Al Yankovic.

4. What is one thing that you are truly passionate about?
Most likely cartoons and video games.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
I don't know what that is, so I'll pass...

6. What do you think is the best thing that's happened in your life?
Probably going out to see Weird Al Yankovic live in concert in 2004.

7. How do you relieve stress when you're having a bad day?
I either draw cartoons or play video games, depending on what I'm in the mood for.

8. If you could change anything about your life, what would it be?
I really don't know; my life seems to be fine.

9. How would you describe your dream job?
I would prefer a job where I'm able to work at my own pace AND follow a daily routine that never gets boring.

10. Do you have a loyalty to specific brands of certain products or companies?
I guess I've been loyal to Nintendo because of it being a company that usually makes the best game systems to play.

11. Which stores/restaurants/businesses have you been to that you think have very good or poor customer service?
That's kinda hard for me to describe, so I'll pass that as well...

ELEVEN QUESTIONS FOR ME TO ASK
1. What is your favorite color?
2. Which is better to have - Speed or Power?
3. If you saw somebody hurting an animal on purpose, what would you do?
4. Which cute animal would you like as a pet - Rabbit or Cat?
5. What do you think of squirrels (real and/or anthro)?
6. Do you like birds?
7. Have you been on a roller coaster before?
8. Would you like to own a hovercraft?
9. Which do you like to eat - Hamburgers or Hot Dogs?
10. What is the last movie you saw in theaters?
11. If you were in an arcade, what type of games would you play?

PEOPLE I CHOOSE TO TAG

I have recently found out that the new game "Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II" is available now, but I also heard that it's not available on the Nintendo Wii.  After realizing this, I feel kinda unhappy at the moment...  I was actually hoping that this game would be on the Wii because of how the game "Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode I" ended, with Metal Sonic being seen after the credits.  And so, this game seems to be available for download on the Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network only.  I am kinda offended and disappointed by this situation because it feels just like the release of "Sonic Generations" all over again; it's a really nice Sonic game to play that isn't released on a certain type of game system that certain gamers like myself hope for.  I never actually liked the Playstation 3 (or any of Sony's other game systems, for that matter), but I'm willing to get an Xbox 360, although I think it would be really foolish to get a game system just to play certain games on it and ignore the other titles that I don't care for (such as "Gears Of War" and "BioShock").  As a gamer, I think it's important to play most games released on that console unless it's a game that nobody likes because of it being poorly made.  I feel this way about Nintendo's game systems because every game series released on them are usually enjoyable, especially the third-party titles.  But if game companies don't seem to understand how gamers like myself actually feel, then I guess I'm better off dead if I can't enjoy certain games on the consoles I like anymore...

As everyone probably knows, June is the month that summer officially begins, which means that the days will be getting longer and hotter for the next few months (depending on where you live, that is).  To certain people such as myself, June is also the month that features the birthday of my favorite video game hero of all time - Sonic The Hedgehog.  In case there's anybody that has absolutely no idea who this character is, Sonic is a video game character that made his grand debut in "Sonic The Hedgehog" on the Sega Genesis, which was originally released in June 23, 1991.  Since then, he has become quite a popular icon in video games, and he's even acted as a rival to a certain heroic plumber we all know and love as well.  Sonic is known for running incredibly fast, collecting gold rings (as well as the colorful gems known as the Chaos Emeralds), destroying robots, and foiling the evil plans of Dr. Ivo Robotnik (or 'Dr. Eggman', which is the name that he's called nowadays).  And so, I've decided to kick off Sonic's birthday this month by writing a review that features the top ten Sonic video games that I like to play (as of 2012), with a short description telling what the game is about and why I enjoy playing it.  You may become quite surprised to find which games have made my list, especially if you're one of those so-called Sonic fans that didn't care for any game that came out after the days of the Sega Dreamcast.  Without further ado, I bring to you...

MY TOP 10 FAVORITE SONIC GAMES

#10 - Sonic Colors (Nintendo Wii) - As many gamers may already know, "Sonic Colors" is a game released exclusively on the Nintendo Wii that brought Sonic back to his classic game roots by delivering 2D-style gameplay to accompany the 3D-style gameplay that most Sonic games relied on since the days of the Sega Dreamcast.  Anyway, the story for the game is about Sonic and Tails checking out an interstellar theme park that their arch-enemy, Dr. Eggman, has built, and they encounter a race of alien beings known as 'Wisps' that are able to assist Sonic by granting him special abilities such as moving at light speed and drilling through soil.  I was able to get this game for Christmas in 2010, and I thought it was fairly decent for a Sonic game.  The only minor issues I had when playing this game were the lack of certain power-ups that could have made the game even more Sonic-like (such as shields that would prevent Sonic from losing rings), and the person who did the voice of Sonic in this game wasn't quite as good as Jason Griffith (the same guy who did the voice of Sonic in the animated show "Sonic X").  Even so, this is still a Sonic game that's worth owning if you have a Wii.

#9 - Sonic 3D Blast (Sega Genesis) - Released on the Sega Genesis in 1996, this is one of the first Sonic games where we get to play as the Blue Blur in a three-dimensional style.  The story for this game is about Dr. Eggman capturing the small birds known as 'Flickies' and turning them into robots that would help him search for the Chaos Emeralds, and it's up to Sonic to stop him as usual.  At the time, the 3D-style gameplay was pretty new for players who wanted to check out their favorite video game hero, but Sega was able to do a fine job for such a game, and it was developed by Traveller's Tales (the very same company that created the Lego video game series).  There was also a Sega Saturn version of the game that was released as well, which had CD-quality music and bonus stages that were a little more challenging yet fun.  Even though both versions of the game were pretty much the same in terms of gameplay, I actually prefer playing the original version on the Sega Genesis because it's a little bit easier to collect the Chaos Emeralds, and there are no loading times involved.  Above all, I still think it's a great Sonic game to play.

#8 - Sonic Unleashed (Nintendo Wii) - If you want my opinion about this game, I think "Sonic Unleashed" is kind of a underrated game to play, just because it's the game where Sonic becomes a 'Werehog'; he is transformed into this state after Dr. Eggman uses a machine on him that zaps the energy from the seven Chaos Emeralds and then uses the energy to split the planet apart, thus awakening an evil creature known as the Dark Gaia.  Sonic is then accompanied by a small furry character that he names 'Chip' (since he couldn't remember his name after Sonic meets him), and they go out to restore the energy of the Chaos Emeralds while stopping both Dr. Eggman and the Dark Gaia.  This game featured two types of stages to play: the Day Stages and the Night Stages. The Day Stages are the levels where you play as Sonic in his normal form, and they rely on speed; many people who have played this game tend to enjoy these type of levels more because they also featured 2D-style gameplay in some sections of each level.  The Night Stages are the levels where you play as Sonic in his Werehog form, and they rely on platforming as well as beat-'em-up action; a lot of people claim that these levels aren't really fun to play, but I tend to enjoy playing them on the Wii version of the game because it's actually pretty fun to swing the Wii Remote and Nunchuck to control Werehog Sonic's movements.  I've also heard that the versions released on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 contained an extra level called Empire City; it may not be playable on the Wii version, but I still love to play it nonetheless.

#7 - Shadow The Hedgehog (Playstation 2 / Nintendo Gamecube / Xbox) - I probably know what you're thinking right now... A lot of people would complain that this isn't really a Sonic game just because you play as a character other than Sonic, but it still counts as a Sonic game, so I should explain what it is all about...  You play as Sonic's arch-rival, Shadow, who can't seem to remember what happened after the events of the game "Sonic Adventure 2", and he ends up getting involved with a race of evil alien creatures called the Black Arms.  The leader, Black Doom, claims that he knows the secret to Shadow's past, and it's up to Shadow to decide whether he should stop the evil plans of the Black Arms and defeat Black Doom, or join them and help take over the world.  The gameplay is actually not as bad as most people claim it is, particularly because it featured responsive controls and Sonic-style gameplay elements.  Even though Shadow is able to attack his foes with a variety of weapons (mostly guns), he is also able to use the same abilities as Sonic (such as the ever-popular Homing Dash).  Another reason that I like this game is that it's surprisingly dark for a Sonic game, and there's even a bit of swearing from some of the characters.  And also, this game features a more in-dept look at Shadow's origin (such as the fact that Prof. Gerald Robotnik was NOT Shadow's only creator), and I think that Sonic Team should create more games that involve the origin of other characters like Sonic and/or Rouge.  Even so, this is one extremely underrated game that I recommend if you think Shadow is just as cool as Sonic.

#6 - Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode I (XBLA / WiiWare / PSN) - When this game came out in 2010, I was really excited to check this game out because of it being a classic 2D-style game starring the Blue Blur.  And so, I was able to download this game on my Nintendo Wii via Wii Shop Channel, and I knew that I was in for a treat the moment I started playing it...  The music was very nice and catchy just like in the original games on the Sega Genesis, the controls were tight and responsive like in most of the Sonic games, and the graphics were very smooth and fast-moving (compared to how they were in "Sonic Unleashed" and "Sonic Colors").  Even though this game is supposed to be something new, most of the bosses that Sonic fought were merely from past games, including the infamous wrecking ball boss from the very first game in the series.  I've also heard that this game has a few glitches to its gameplay, but I was unable to notice them because of how enjoyable this game really is.  Even so, it is recommended to anybody who prefers playing the 2D Sonic games that long for Sonic's so-called glory days on the Sega Genesis.

#5 - Sonic Advance 2 (Game Boy Advance) - In case anybody is unfamiliar with the Sonic Advance games, it was a trilogy of newer Sonic games that was released on the Game Boy Advance.  Some people tend to complain that the games were too different from the older 2D Sonic games, mainly because they relied on speed and/or exploration.  My favorite game would have to be "Sonic Advance 2" because it was the first game in the trilogy I've ever played, and it's actually the easiest one to play as well, especially when trying to find and collect the seven Chaos Emeralds (which was nearly impossible to do in the other two games, but that's just my opinion).  Needless to say, "Sonic Advance 2" is also the game that had the debut of Cream The Rabbit and her Chao friend, Cheese; and let's not forget Vanilla The Rabbit, who has quite a fanbase as well.  Despite what some people may think of this game, it is actually one of the best games I've ever played on the Game Boy Advance.

#4 - Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (Sega Genesis) - Whenever somebody talks about this game, the first thing that probably comes to mind would have to be Miles "Tails" Prower, because this is the game that Sonic's faithful sidekick made his debut in.  The plot for this game is very familiar to fans as well: Dr. Eggman is attempting to take over the world by using a large space station known as 'The Death Egg' (which is obviously a take on the Death Star from "Star Wars"), and it's up to Sonic and Tails to stop him.  What makes this game so unique and fun is the fact that it can be played with two players; one player takes control of Sonic, and the other player can take control of Tails.  There were also more levels to play in the game as well as more bosses to fight than in the first Sonic game.  And also, this is one of a few Sonic games I can think of that you do not have to collect the seven Chaos Emeralds just to beat the game properly.  Believe it or not, "Sonic The Hedgehog 2" was actually the very first Sonic game that I've ever beaten, and it still remains as one of my favorite titles to play on the Sega Genesis.

#3 - Sonic The Hedgehog (Sega Genesis) - You were probably hoping that I was going to add this game to my list, and that it would be one of the higher ranking titles on my list as well.  Anyway, this is the very first Sonic game that started it all, and it's still one of the best video games to play on the Sega Genesis.  It was in this game that the world was introduced to the Blue Blur, and he became quite popular afterwards.  Because it was the first game in the series, the plot was very simple: Dr. Ivo Robotnik (AKA Dr. Eggman) is capturing small animals and turning them into robots that would help him take over the world, and it's up to Sonic to put an end to the villain's evil scheme for the first of countless times.  Everything about this game is just too excellent for me to describe, especially the music; I tend to have fond memories of me playing this game each time I hear the Green Hill Zone level music playing.  If you have never played this game before, I strongly suggest that you check it out because it is still one of the most popular video games of all time.

#2 - Sonic 3 & Knuckles (Sega Genesis) - If case you're probably wondering... Yes, this is the name of an actual Sonic game.  In fact, this game is basically a combination of two seperate Sonic games that were released a few months apart on the Sega Genesis in 1994: "Sonic The Hedgehog 3" and "Sonic & Knuckles".  It was originally played by locking the cartridge for one game onto the cartridge for another, which was something quite revolutionary at the time.  Anyway, the story for this game takes place not too long after the events of "Sonic The Hedgehog 2" - Dr. Eggman's space station, the Death Egg, crash lands on Angel Island, which is the home of Knuckles The Echidna (who makes his debut in this game).  Sonic and Tails then set out to Angel Island to stop him from rebuilding the Death Egg, and Dr. Eggman tricks Knuckles into believing that Sonic and Tails are the bad guys, in which he acts as their enemy by activating traps and even stealing the seven Chaos Emeralds.  What makes this game so unique is the fact that it was originally meant to be one huge adventure, and due to the limitations of software at the time, Sega decided to release the game as two separate titles.  Right after you beat Launch Base Zone (the final level of "Sonic The Hedgehog 3"), you then immediately continue at Mushroom Hill Zone (the first level of "Sonic & Knuckles").  If you've managed to collect the seven Chaos Emeralds before getting this far, you then have to collect the Super Emeralds whenever you go back to the Special Zones.  Not only are you actually able to play through the levels of "Sonic The Hedgehog 3" as Knuckles in this game, but you also get to play through the levels of "Sonic & Knuckles" as Tails.  This game is so terrific to play that some people would even consider it as one of Sonic's greatest adventures of all time.

And so, that leaves me with just one game left on my list, and I'll bet you're pretty anxious to find out which game is considered my number one favorite Sonic game to play.  The game that is number one on my list is... (Please feel free to add drumroll.)

#1 - Sonic Adventure 2 Battle (Nintendo Gamecube) - A lot of people would probably be surprised and ask me why this game is considered my favorite Sonic video game of all time.  I can actually think of many reasons why I enjoy playing this game, and I think I'll explain in my own words what it's all about...  "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" is a remake/re-release of the game "Sonic Adventure 2", which came out during the final days of the Sega Dreamcast.  It should be noted that this game was one of the first Sonic games to be released on a Nintendo game system.  At first, I was kinda skeptical about the idea of playing Sega's video games on a Nintendo game system; but when I first played "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" on my Nintendo Gamecube that I got for Christmas in 2002, I really enjoyed playing the game and I couldn't get enough of it afterwards.  Because it's kind of a re-release of a recent Sonic game, you might even say that this game features the debut of two popular Sonic characters: Shadow The Hedgehog and Rouge The Bat.  I won't bother explaining the entire plot for this game (mainly because it's very long and kinda complex to describe in this review alone), but I think the story is very exciting for a Sonic game and I really enjoy watching the cutscenes as well.  The only fault that most people notice when playing the game is the camera angles that are hard to control, but they don't seem to bother me that much each time I play through the game.  One unique feature in this game that I still like to this day is the Chao Garden, which allows you to raise creatures called Chao and you can transfer them onto your Game Boy Advance for on-the-go gameplay.  Above all, "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" is a game that I've played and beaten dozens of times, and it still remains as my favorite Sonic game of all time.

A few days ago, I was able to spend my Memorial Day by going to an amusement park called Holiday World, which is located in Santa Claus, Indiana.  My sister was able to get a job at this place not too long ago, and she asked if I wanted come with her to spend the day.  Of course, I decided to come along, since I had nothing important to do, and I was able to get in with a discount from my sister (which meant I was able to pay a little less for admission as well).  After arriving at Holiday World, I was able to go on almost every ride in the park.  Because it was Memorial Day, there wasn't too many people in line for the rides, and I went on some of the rides more than once at a time.  There was also a water park called Splashin' Safari that was part of Holiday World, but I didn't bother going in because I'm not really a fan of water parks like I was back then.  Even so, I was actually able to go on each of the roller coasters at least once, especially one called The Voyage, which is a very popular wooden roller coaster that is also the tallest and longest one in the park.  Even though I was able to go to Holiday World not too long after it re-opened this month, I have a feeling that I may be able to go back again, especially since my sister is working for the rest of the summer.  Above all, I had a really nice time with my sister.

BTW, I intended to post this journal entry the day after I went, but my internet connection was actually down for about a couple of days.

I am posting this journal entry to talk about the short comic strip series that I've done for a week entitled "Whitnee The Maid".  It was something very simple yet fun to work on, and I'm very eager to hear what everybody thought of it.  If "Whitnee The Maid" has turned out to be quite a smash with everyone, then I'm willing draw more comic strips to add to the series like before.  Unfortunately, I'm not always great at thinking of gags by myself, so I'd really appreciate it if my friends would help me by giving me ideas for gags to use in any later comic strips that I plan to draw.  If you have an idea for a gag that would be perfect to use for my comics, please feel free to let me know by posting a comment in my journal entry, and I suppose I'll see what I can do.  Thank you.

Last Friday night, I went to see "The Avengers" in theaters, and I had a nice time watching it as well.  Because it was a movie based on the Marvel Comics series that featured superheroes working together (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye), it actually sounded very promising and I couldn't resist seeing it in theaters.  Another reason I wanted to see it is because the movie theater that's close to my hometown now plays movies in 3D, which is actually very new to me because they originally played movies in 2D only.  Anyway, the admission for the movie cost a little more because of the special glasses that were handed out to anyone seeing the movies that were playing in 3D.  Lucky for me, the 3D glasses can be worn easily over my actual glasses, which saved me the trouble of adjusting my glasses constantly.  I was able to see a movie in 3D for the first time, and I was really amazed at how it looked, especially when I was watching the previews (which were also shown in 3D).  As for the movie, it had a lot of cool action sequences, a plot that was fairly easy to follow (Loki trying to take over the earth with help from a race of alien beings), and a few scenes and quotes that can actually make people laugh (including the clever one-liners provided by Robert Downey Jr. when he plays Tony Stark AKA Iron Man).  If you're a person who has never actually heard of The Avengers, I think it would help to see the other comic-based movies that were made, so you can get to know the characters a little better.  Not only was "The Avengers" a movie that's worth checking out, it was also the very first movie I've ever seen in 3D, and I would suggest checking it out while it's still in theaters.

I am writing this quick journal entry because I feel that I have not been appreciated that much lately.  For instance, I posted a journal entry yesterday about five facts about myself and ten questions that I was able to answer, and I was kinda hoping that my friends would check it out because of the way I answered my questions.  As it turns out, nobody seemed interested in checking it out, since I didn't get a single comment from my so-called friends.  The point of these journal entries is to let everyone know what is happening or what's on everyone's mind, and I think it would help if many of people who are considered my friends on this site would at least let that person know that they understand.

It's not only my journal entries that deserve appreciation, but also my artwork.  A lot of people really enjoy looking at my artwork as well as adding it to their favorites, but I would really appreciate it if everyone who adds my artwork to their favorites would also post a friendly comment before/after doing do.  If there's one thing I really enjoy when being on this site each day, it's hoping that all my friends who check out my artwork also let me know that they were able to see it by posting a comment on each picture that I post.  If that's the way it's going to be, then I'm going to have to let everyone know they must comment each picture before/after adding it to their favorites, since I actually do the same for everyone else's artwork.

If you are able to understand how I must feel, then please feel free to let me know. Thank you.

Because I've decided to take a short break from posting new artwork (and also, I had too many messages to check for today), I have decided to do another journal entry that involves posting five facts about myself and ten questions for me to answer (as well as ten questions to for me to ask).  One of my friends did these journal entries, and I decided to do one as well.  The only difference is that I actually altered the rules a little, so that I won't spend so much time thinking to myself.  Well, anyway, here is

RULES:
1. You must post the rules.
2. Each person must post 5 things about themselves in their journal.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and create 10 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4. You can tag as many people as you want, but you must tag at least one person.
5. Go to their page and tell them you have tagged them.
6. No tag-backs.

5 FACTS ABOUT MYSELF:
1. I graduated from high school in 2004.
2. Sonic The Hedgehog is one of my favorite video game heroes.
3. I am extremely shy in person.
4. Cheetahs are my most favorite land animal.
5. My fetish involves cute gals in socked feet.

10 QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:

1. What's your favorite Sonic game?
"Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" on the Nintendo Gamecube.

2. What's your favorite Anime?
Probably "Inuyasha" because it's a good show to watch.

3. What's your favorite comic book series?
"Usagi Yojimbo", which is make by comic artist Stan Sakai.

4. What's your favorite drink?
I like to drink Pepsi (or Dr. Pepper, if Pepsi is not available).

5. What's your favorite type of clothing?
Hawaiian shirts and baseball caps, which look very cool to me.

6. What are your hobbies?
I like to draw cartoons and play video games, but I like doing anything else if I'm not alone.

7. What's your favorite type of art?
I like furry artwork because it looks very nice and creative.

8.  What's your favorite color?
I like red, but sometimes I like blue as well as green.

9. What's your favorite food?
Pizza and sandwiches.

10. Do you like doing taggings?
Sometimes...

10 QUESTIONS TO ASK:
1. What is your favorite breed of dog?
2. What is your favorite comic strip to read?
3. How do you usually get around places?
4. What is your favorite comedy movie to watch?
5. What is your favorite horror movie to watch?
6. Have you tried roller-skating before?
7. Have you been on a boat before?
8. Which TV show is very creepy to watch alone: "The Twilight Zone" or "Tales From The Crypt"?
9. If you were to join a band, what instrument would you play?
10. Do you think "Back To The Future" really is the greatest movie in the 1980s?

PEOPLE I CHOOSE TO TAG:

I'm kinda in the mood for posting a journal entry about what's on my mind, since I have nothing else to do...  Lately, I've been playing some of my favorite video games when I realized that I seem to enjoy playing video games that happen to be really old titles that are still fun to play.  It seems that everyone nowadays prefers playing video games that have realistic-looking graphics and are released on certain consoles like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  If you ask me, that sounds kinda terrible... I say that because it seems that today's video games have lost their appeal to certain gamers like me (except for games that are part of on-going series that are still enjoyable like Mario, Sonic, Zelda, etc.).  Sure, many video game series like "BioShock" and "Team Fortress" are very popular for people to play, but seriously, what's so great about them?  A lot of those titles lack many things that made video games enjoyable in the first place...  Where are the appealing and likeable characters?  Where are the power-ups?  Where are the colorful graphics? Where is the catchy music?  WHERE IS THE CREATIVITY??  Whenever I see an advertisement on TV for a certain video game like "Mass Effect 3" or any other game that looks dull, I tend to be a little disappointed because of it being a game that isn't meant for me (especially if it's not released on a Nintendo game console).

It would seem that the kind of video games that I enjoy are ones that very few people tend to notice.  For instance, I was able to buy a couple of the game "Solatorobo: Red The Hunter" on the Nintendo DS, which I decided to get after learning so much about the game in an issue of Nintendo Power.  After seeing what the game is about, it actually looked like my kind of game to play because of the entire cast being anthropomorphic animals that are furry, namely dogs and cats (I think it's time I told everyone that most human video game characters are merely dime-a-dozen, BTW).  I was kinda hoping that such a nice-looking game to play would get plenty of attention (especially after getting an incredibly nice review and rating for it in Nintendo Power), but I guess I was wrong.  I also heard that the game "Rayman Origins" became a flop in the gaming market, but I choose to deny it because of it being one of the best-looking video games to come out that's actually fun to play.

I also feel kinda left out when it comes to playing games on Nintendo's newest handheld console, the Nintendo 3DS.  I actually hoped that my family would get me one for Christmas not too long ago, but I was kinda disappointed that they didn't bother to buy me one, despite the affordable prices.  It would have been really nice to own a 3DS because my young half-brother (who lives with his mother far away from my hometown) showed me his that he got for Christmas, making me feel kinda left out.  I am aware that many great games are released on that system, and I would really like to get one while it's still all the rage.  I would spend my money right away, but I'm actually saving up for many new things that I need like a new air conditioner, a new TV, and a laptop computer (so I wouldn't have to share the same computer with my family all the time).

I guess the point I'm trying to prove is that I'm feeling too old for video games, and that I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life playing video games that were once popular, but are no longer played by true gamers.  I know that what I'm saying sounds pretty fishy and that it's all a matter of opinion, but I just want everyone who is my friend to understand how I really feel.  If people were allowed to enjoy games that are still fun to play over a decade or two, that would be really swell...

Because I've decided to take a short break from posting new artwork (and also, I've been keeping myself busy these past couple of days), I am actually in the mood for talking about a game on the Nintendo Wii called "Animal Crossing: City Folk".  I was able to buy a re-released copy of the game last month, and I've been playing it for quite a while now.  In case you're wondering what this game is about, "Animal Crossing: City Folk" is the third game of the ever-popular Animal Crossing series that is made by Nintendo, which is about players taking on the role of a boy/girl who moves into a town that is populated by anthropomorphic animals; the name of the town your character moves into is actually up to you (just as long as there's not too many letters).  There, you meet a raccoon named Tom Nook, who offers you a house for you to live in.  After you decide which house you want to own, you then have to work for him until you earn enough money to pay off a little of the debt to your new home.  In order to earn money (called Bells) that's needed for paying off the house, you have to do all sorts of things that will allow you to earn money such as asking the townsfolk for chores (which usually involve find a certain item for someone or delivering something), selling things you don't want, or even catch fish or bug that you'd like to sell.  This game actually has plenty of different things that happen as you play, and the series is known for using the internal clock for the systems they're played on (which means that the time you play the game will be based on that of real time).  I don't want to reveal too much about this game if you haven't played it, but it's available on the Nintendo Wii.

In case there's anybody who plays "Animal Crossing: City Folk" using Wi-Fi connection for the Wii, I was able to obtain my Friend Code, so I can travel to a friend's hometown and check out whatever I may find there (such as new kinds of fruit and patterns that other people designed).  If anyone is interested in checking out my hometown in this game (which I named "Furburg"), my Friend Code is: 2494-9075-7870.

In case anybody is curious to know what I've been up to lately, I have been working on another new original character that my friend, the user known as 'Damien312', created for me not too long after he created Jade Squirrel (Whitnee's younger sister).  The new character that he was able to create for me is named Bridget Fox, and she happens to be the cousin of my original character, Goldie Fox.  Bridget would be the same age as Goldie, and she would occasionally come over to visit her cousins.  Bridget's usual outfit would consist of a pink tank-top and brown pants, and she would also wear sneakers that are mostly white (which is actually my idea, BTW).  Like Goldie, Bridget also likes to wear long white socks, except she would usually wear long pants most of the time when doing so.  Bridget would have the same hairstyle as Goldie, except her hair would actually be red (I decided to make it a different color instead of the same color as her fur).  I was able to draw a picture of my friend's new character just recently, and I will scan it onto my computer and color it in once I get the chance.  Here is the original picture of Bridget Fox created by my friend and what she looks like: [link]

I've been feeling a little creative lately, so I decided to explain an idea on my mind about a video game based on my favorite comic book series "Usagi Yojimbo".  Because of how long the series has been out, I think it would be really awesome if Stan Sakai were to get in touch with a major video game company and allow them to create an arcade-style video game featuring his characters.  The way I see it, the UY video game would be a side-scrolling beat-'em-up with traditional 2-D graphics, and it would actually be released by Konami (since they were known for making beat-'em-up titles that were very fun to play back then).  As you would probably guess, this game would be played pretty much like "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and/or "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time", since TMNT is a franchise that's often had various tie-ins with UY over the years.

Anyway, the "Usagi Yojimbo" video game would be an arcade-style game that would support up to four players, and the 2-D graphics would match the style of the comic book series it's based on.  Three of the characters to be playable in the game would be Miyamoto Usagi, Tomoe Ame, and Gennosuke; I haven't figured out which character to act as the fourth, so I'm guessing it would be either Zato Ino (The blind swords-pig who acted as both friend and enemy of Usagi) or Chizu (The former leader of the Neko Ninja Clan, who became a friend of Usagi and developed crush on him).  The story would focus on the four heroes working together and trying to stop Lord Hikiji from conquering the land for himself, and they would be dealing with many different kinds of enemies that try to stop them.  Enemies in the game would include: bandits, assassins, Neko (Cat) Ninjas, Mogura (Mole) Ninjas, Kimori (Bat) Ninjas, and even supernatural creatures such as demons and obake (ghosts).  Bosses that the heroes would fight in the game would include villainous characters from the comics such as Jei (The psychopathic wolf who kills anyone that the gods consider evil) and Noriko (Tomoe's evil sister, who is very skilled with the blade and is quite a sadistic character in the comics); there would also be a couple of larger, more dangerous supernatural creatures from the comics that would be fought as bosses as well.  Much of the game's locations would be set in locations straight out of the comics, with the Geishu province being a suitable location for the first level in the game.

And there you have it.  Despite how long it took for me to discuss about the idea for a video game based on "Usagi Yojimbo" on here, I'm sure a lot of people would agree that it sounds like fun.  I actually had the idea for such a video game after recently seeing some gameplay videos of "The Simpsons", which is still a fun game to play in the arcade.  If Konami were to make such a video game, I would probably play it nonstop until the day I die.

Even though I was able to get back online after being gone for a few days, I have decided to take a short break from posting new artwork for today and write a journal entry after being tagged by .  I'm sure you know how these work, so let's get it on...

RULES:

1. You must post the rules.
2. Each person must post 5 things about themselves in their journal.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4. You have to choose 11 people to tag and post their icons on your journal.
5. Go to their page and tell them they have been tagged.
6. No tag-backs.

5 FACTS ABOUT MYSELF:

1. I was born on the exact day as the Space Shuttle Challenger blowing up after takeoff (January 28, 1986).
2. I have a fetish for cute gals in socked feet (especially if the socks are about knee-high and white).
3. My favorite animal of all time is the cheetah.
4. I am an incredibly shy person in real life.
5. I like to draw anthro animals that are furry.

QUESTIONS FOR ME TO ANSWER:

1. Who is the best and worst movie director of all time?
I have no idea...

2. What is your favorite Angry Video Game Nerd episode?
Most likely the two-part episode with James reviewing various Batman-themed video games.

3. Who is the most kindest, compassionate, loving, forgiving, nicest female and/or male character in anime, cartoons, comics, video games, movies, etc.?
I would have to say Kitsune from "Usagi Yojimbo".  Even though she acts like a thief sometimes, she's actually quite nice and friendly.

4. Which cartoon character would you kill in horrific ways?
Probably Lois Griffin from "Family Guy", mainly because she tends to be a bit unlikable in some episodes.

5. Which cartoon, video game, movie, anime, etc. character (male or female) would you marry?
I can't think of any I'd want to marry (especially if there are other characters who are with them)...

6. Do you like furries?
Yes, I actually do, but I shouldn't be ashamed to admit it.

7. Worst cartoon ever?
Two I can think of: "The Problem Solverz" and "Secret Mountain Fort Awesome".

8. Most hated animated character?
I can't think of any, even though I did mention something about Lois Griffin...

9. Do you have a crush on a fictional character?
I can think of three fictional characters that I once had a crush on: Amy Rose (from the Sonic games), Felicia (from the Darkstalkers games), and Krystal (from the Star Fox games).

10. Favorite hero and villain of all time?
Favorite Hero - Sonic The Hedgehog
Favorite Villain - The Shredder (1980's cartoon version)

11. What do you think of CHCHcartoons' art?
His artwork has a unique style, and it's kinda nice.

QUESTIONS FOR ME TO ASK:

1. What is your favorite food?
2. What is your favorite type of music to listen to?
3. What is your least favorite video game series to play?
4. Do you have a favorite sport to play?
5. What is your favorite subject in school?
6. Do you like reptiles?
7. Which is a better cartoon franchise: "G.I. Joe" or "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"?
8. Have you ever heard of a movie called "The Running Man"?
9. Who would most likely win in a sword-fight: Leonardo (from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles") or Miyamoto Usagi (from "Usagi Yojimbo")?
10. How do you feel about graphic violence in video games?
11. Would you eat a pizza topped with barbeque sauce?

PEOPLE I CHOOSE TO TAG:

I am posting this journal entry to let everyone know that I don't feel like doing anymore art requests, trades, etc. for a while until I decide to do more again.  I feel like I'm in kind of a tight situation right now, since I promised quite a few of my friends on deviantART some pictures that I'd be drawing for them, which I never got around to do so because of some personal stuff that has happened to me.  Some of these pictures include ones I've been doing for my friends' birthdays, which I feel really bad for doing because I've never been able to finish them on time, and I end up posting them many days after their birthdays (unless I got lucky and got the pictures done a couple of weeks before the birthdays).  There are also some pictures that I remember being requested a long time ago and I almost forgot until I started thinking about them.  So, for now, I think I'll just get to work on any picture that comes to my mind, including any requests that should have been done for quite a while.

I am posting this journal entry to let everyone know about a new original character that I will be drawing soon.  Her name is Jade Squirrel, and she is the younger sister of Whitnee Squirrel.  Her main outfit would consist of a pink-white jacket and a purple dress.  Her hairstyle would be long and straight like Whitnee's (a Gogo-type hairstyle, BTW), except she would actually dye it purple for some reason.  She would love playing video games like her sister and she'd have furry white feet that are so delicate, they're very soft and ticklish like Whitnee's.  Before I start drawing this character, I would just like to thank my friend, Damien312, for being the one who created Jade Squirrel as a gift for me.  He was the one behind such a unique character, and I would gladly give him credit for any picture I'll be drawing of her.  Here is the picture of what she looks like: [link]

Because today is Valentine's Day, I have decided to listen to one of my favorite songs of all time - "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal.  In case anybody's wondering, I was not really thinking of my best friend (even though I still love her a lot) when this song came up in my mind; it is a song that happens to be one of my favorites since I heard it in the movie "Batman Forever".  And so, here are the lyrics (not counting the vocalizing at parts such as the beginning and towards the end) for the song I love so very much.  Enjoy, and Happy Valentine's Day as well!

Lyrics for "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal

There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea...
You became the light on the dark side of me...
Love remains a drug that's the high and not the pill...
But did you know
That when it snows,
My eyes become large
And the light that you shine can't be seen?

Baby...
I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey...
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah...
Now that your rose is in bloom,
A light hits the gloom on the grey...

There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say...
You remain...
My power, my pleasure, my pain.
Baby...
To me, you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny...
Won't you tell me, is that healthy, baby?
But did you know that when it snows,
My eyes become large,
And the light that you shine can't be seen?

Baby...
I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey...
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah...
Now that your rose is in bloom,
A light hits the gloom on the grey...

I've been kissed by a rose on the grey...
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey...
(And if I should fall along the way...)
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey...
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey...

There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say...
You remain...
My power, my pleasure, my pain.
To me, you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny...
Won't you tell me, is that healthy, baby?
But did you know that when it snows,
My eyes become large,
And the light that you shine can't be seen?

Baby...
I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey...
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah...
Now that your rose is in bloom,
A light hits the gloom on the grey...
Yes, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey...
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah...
Now that your rose is in bloom,
A light hits the gloom on the grey...

Now that your rose is in bloom...
A light hits the gloom on the grey.

I am posting this journal entry to let all my friends know how I am feeling after going through some personal problems that involved feelings for my best friend yesterday.  After learning that my best friend closed her account on Facebook, I was actually upset about not being able to talk to her again, and I actually had tears streaming from my eyes after getting her message (Just because I'm 26 years old doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to weep about something, especially if it involves someone I really care about).  However, she was able to tell me that she is going to keep her current account on deviantART, and that she can still keep in touch with me via e-mail.  After realizing this, I started to feel a little better, like I am right now.  Just knowing that I'll still keep in touch with my best friend is enough to make me feel better, especially because she is such a great artist with a creative mind like mine.  I might even decide to draw more pictures involving her original characters such as Sabina and Akai, just to show my appreciation.

I am posting this journal entry about something that's really troubling on my mind right now...  I just recently found out that my best friend has decided to make some changes to not only her deviantART account, but her Facebook account as well.  She told me that she closed down her Facebook account, and she decided to delete some of the artwork from her dA account.  After realizing this, I immediately became very sad and uneasy about what was happening, especially because it was something I wasn't expecting until it was too late.  I have every reason for being concerned by this because of how much I care for my best friend, despite the fact that we live incredibly far away from each other.  We met on this website nearly two years ago to this day, and we were able to get to know each other even more on Facebook.  As time passed, I started liking her as more than just friend... She happens to be a very talented artist who has created many cute furry characters such as Sabina and Akai, and she has many of the same interests as me.  I even admitted that she could be the special person for me, and that nothing would keep us apart (even after my internet accounts had been hacked into about a year ago).  But because of what has happened recently, I just don't feel like doing anything else like posting any new pictures until I start to feel better again.  Ironically, I actually have a picture that I recently did for Valentine's Day this year, which actually has the fursonas of me and my best friend together.  If she is able to see this journal entry, I just hope that she will understand how much she actually means to me, and that I think she is the greatest person I have ever met on a website like deviantART.