Work those fingers – 20G

It’s been minute since my last blog post. 60480 to be exact. Where has the time gone?

It started with just a break. And then I started writing a game review for Watch Dogs Legion, my first actual game review 2017. Sure, I’ve done my Reviews Done Quickly every year since then, but those are just bloated paragraphs, tackling 25 games at once. Not needing much thought.

Attempting an actual review was much more daunting. And I plugged away at it, but hours turned into days turned into weeks. I pressured myself to finish the review by abstaining from writing blog posts. And suddenly 4 weeks had gone by.

Here’s a link to the completed review: iReview – Watch Dogs: Legion

It felt good to stretch those muscles again. And I’ve wrapped up a few games over the past while so maybe I’ll attempt another. We finished Far Cry New Dawn, so I could write one up for that. And the wife and I are nearly done It Takes Two – so there’s another option. I mean they’re not called Idle Reviews for nothing. This page was never going to have reviews for current games ;). But games released 1-3 years ago, that’s more my pace.

So, what’d I miss?

Well… I did some drawing. I played some games. I read some comics. I actually made another webcomic over at Stranger Than Friendship. First one of 2022, and actually first one in 6 months. Idle Comics is the name of the game.

Whoa!

Right?

Well, lets get started shall we?

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What I’m Drawing

Spider-Gwen:

Gwen Rider? Ghost Spider? Spider Rider? What would you call her? I drew another Gwen Stacy variation. I know...you have an obsession…blah blah blah. I got some motivation after seeing some Ghost Rider art and thought it would make an interesting addition to the gallery. I’m not 100% happy with the design. Need to tweaks, but its good enough. It’s a worthy addition.

Angela / Spawn

Angela has been in my queue for a bit and I am super happy with how this one turned out and I’m excited to colour it. Very much stylized after the Capullo covers from the Spawn comics. So no background – just Angela. If the colour turns out how I imagine it, this will be the next poster.

Moxxi:

This was actually a drawing from 2020. My plan was then to colour in 2021 for Drawtober 2021 but ran out of time. So I finally did colour it. Working off some of the rust, as my “to be coloured” pile is growing.

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What I’m Playing

I am happy to report that I finally started the Halo Campaign after finishing Watch Dogs Legion. Attempting on Legendary difficulty, and it’s been a slow grind, but for what it is, it’s been fun. It feels very different from other Halo games, with the transition to an open-world design (semi open world, I don’t even know if its considered open enough to be open world). It feels and plays a bit different. But its a nice change.

I’ve also been spending some time within Shredders, which is a fun indie snowboarding game with awful, terribly dialogue and voice acting. Just cringey-bad. In co-op we’ve been playing in the Grounded – Game Preview as the game supports achievements now. I played this early on when it first released in game preview like a year ago, but it’s definitely expanded.

And actually jumped into Sea of Thieves for a few hours to try out the Pirates of the Caribbean addition. Yup, nothing really worth mentioning, other than the game still looks gorgeous.

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That pretty much catches you up happenings around here. I wont even get started on the comic reading queue. I’ll just start fresh next week, instead of listing 6 weeks worth. Head over to the Stranger Than Friendship page to see the new comic, and then come back here next week for more games and art.

Take care.
iRogan
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A Fellow of Infinite Jest

Happy Anniversary to Me. Stranger Than Friendship turned 5. Pretty big deal, but its a shame that my webcomic site gets neglected so. My last comic was in October when I was playing Surgeon Simulator a lot. I’ve had some new ideas, involving my son and Boomerang Fu but I just haven’t really had the motivation or drive to draw that style. Drawtober took a lot out of me, and then I did a few Spider-Gwens, and then Tracer and Jinx. And the went into the X-Men group. And now DareDevils. I really need to do another webcomic contribution, and then just get back to my Wrestling Comic if I’m ever going to see progress there.

Happy Anniversary Comic #1

It’s hard though, working on creator-owned work. Drawing pin-ups of fancy-posed, established characters is just so easy. It’s like a quick fix. You feel satisfied because you did the work and you have something to show. But it doesn’t last. I tell myself every year that “this will be the year that I do work on my comic consistently”. Like a New Year’s Resolution. But it’s just a New Year Revolution.

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WHAT I’M DRAWING

Here’s the DareDevils I mentioned. Some WIP pencils before I ink the Hell out of it. Just giving my hand and wrist a break for the moment after too much Halo. Electra’s back arm needs some work. Reposition or repose I don’t know yet. Looks off currently.

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WHAT I’M PLAYING

Halo. Obviously. But not much else sadly. Didn’t do a co-op night. Just wrapping up the Tenrai:Fracture event in Halo to work on the Samurai armour. Which is done again, for a few weeks. Not sure if there’s any new interim events planned for February or not. So I’ll just keep plugging away at my Battle Pass.

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WHAT I’M READING (FEB 02/02/2022 Pull List)

  • CrossOver #11
  • Dark Knights of Steel #4
  • Echolands #6
  • Sweet Paprika #7
  • Nocterra #7
  • The Scumbag #12
  • Spawn #326
  • The Walking Dead #32

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A shorter entry this week, as there wasn’t much exciting to report. Just kind of bummer realizations. Like a sad birthday where you realize you’re one year older, but don’t have anything to show for it.

Anyways.
Be Good.

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iRogan

Sick Burn

Another year around the sun. It was my birthday. Glad that’s out of the way. Now on to more important matters.

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What I’m Playing

The Gunk. This was an enjoyable indie game on GamePass. I mentioned I had started playing this just after Christmas and completed it this week. It’s by no means a long game, as I was able to finish it in just under 6 hours. Managed to finish it in three play sessions and 95%’d the achievements in the process. There’s one final one which requires me going back through the game to collect some missing resources and unlocking the last upgrade. Buuuuut I’m not bothered. Gorgeous game though. Simple gameplay design. Reminds me of N64 games of old, in its simplicity, but just soo good looking.

Played some more We Were Here Together with Illestrader in our Co-op nights, as well as some Second Extinction. Just about wrapped up the final campaign mission in Second Extinction. We actually completed it last week, but I was unfortunately dropped in the last quarter of the mission, AS HOST, and my crew was able to finish the mission without me. Lucky them. I’m not really sure what the devs have planned for the game as its still in early access with unlockable achievements. No real incentive to go back once it hits 1.0 release but I’ll have to see what’s added.

And obviously, still playing Halo Infinite almost on a nightly basis. Finished the Cyberpunk Event, and now we’re back into the Fracture Event for the Samurai Armor.

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What I’m Drawing

I made a bit more progress on the Uncanny X-Force group, with the addition of Rogue. But now the group composition feels unbalanced again. I think I will add Mystique, maybe Magik, and two guys, with the choice of Old Man Logan, Nightcrawler, Archangel, or Gambit. For the total of nine. I’m leaning towards Archangel because I think his wings will be a challenge, and Night Crawler. Plus those two are the Uncanny group anyways. So they fit. Unlike Rogue. But it was fun to draw the 80’s outfit, and the mullet.

And just as a friendly reminder that I CAN draw guys, I took a break from the X group and started working on a DareDevil / Electra pair. Should probabaly have this wrapped up this week, and then I can get back to the X-Group, and make more work for my colourist. Who is me.

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What I’m Reading

  • Batman/Catwoman – Holiday Special
  • DC vs Vampaires #4
  • Gunslinger Spawn #4
  • The Human Target #4
  • Wonder Girl #7

Saga also returned after a 3 year hiatus, which I’m stoked about. But I collect those as Trades so I’ll have to wait 6 months. Sigh.

Wonder Girl concludes, which is fine. The series was ok, and I like the intro of Yara Flor, and it will continue in another spin off series, but I wont follow it.

DC/Vampires is also a very fun read. I love the art of Otto Schmidt as its so loose but clean, and he works his colours so well. It’s truly impressive how easy the art is to read with his simplistic style. And the story has been gripping with so many twists.

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I think that wraps up the week that was. I have a few things on my to-do list still that I will try to find time for. Gallery first on the list. But I also do want to get a compilation video put together of the Marital Madness gameplay nights with my wife. Every 2nd Tuesday on her Twitch channel. Twitch.tv/cro0kedj. Currently playing It Takes Two, and we just finished Chapter 6.

Til’ next time.

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-iRogan

Extra Life Update / Halo Nerd

I am getting very close to my 250,000 G milestone. My goal is to land on exactly 250K in November 2nd for the Extra Life Stream

Also, the Extra Life campaign is coming along swimmingly. Already nearing my initial goal of $500 and we’re just under 2 weeks till the big day.

And yes, I did just donate to myself to land on $343. Because I am a Halo nerd.

-IROGAN

IDL FEATURE – PAX Day Two: Harley Quinns and Castle Crashers, Dark Souls and IGN Staff

-Day 2 started a little earlier than Friday, but the convention was that much more packed as we have reached the weekend. Today I saw many Harley Quinn cosplays, and a few of the IGN staff. Good, productive day.


Day 2 – PAX Prime 2015

-Today it was decided that we would get some more hands-on with some games. On the walk to the Convention Centre we walked among the many headed in the same direction and entered among the throng, heading straight to the fourth floor.

-Today we were 4, as a new addition entered into Seattle the night before, so the first step was another tour of the exhibition halls. First IGN celebrity viewing was none other than Naomi Kyle, Daily Fix host.

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-Next up we walked through the Mega Indie Booth and watched some 4-player Gang Beast fights. A physics brawler, where 4 beasts square off melee, sumo, wrestling style. The point is to punch and slam each other and then pick up your opponent, Royal Rumble style, tossing them out of the arena. Looks fun.

-We also caught a bit of the game Drawn to Death. a shooter, where everything is drawn in pen like it was on scrap lined paper at the back of class.

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-Next up we walked through the Microsoft/Xbox territory. Caught a glimpse of some Halo 5, Forza Motorsport 6, and Rise of the Tomb Raider. I may try for some hands-on tomorrow or Monday. Halo 5 looks good, as expected, and Forza 6 looks nice with the water effects.

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-After Xbox we went to check out the Square Enix booth. Square had a big showing this year with Hitman, Deus Ex, Final Fantasy XV, DragonQuest, and Lara Croft GO on display, among others. I got some hands-on with Lara Croft GO on the iPad and it was a lot of fun. A strategic platformer similar to Hitman GO. You can move one space per turn, and you follow along a track that can branch off, and everything else in the level moves in the same turn as you.

IMG_5010The levels I played took place in the jungle, and involved cliff walls, saw blades and snakes. Swiping the direction of choice, Lara moves and all the traps follow suit, so occasionally, for timing and placement reasons, backtracking is necessary to advance. The game looks nice, and plays smoothly.

-I bought both Hitman GO and Lara Croft GO tonight and will give them both a play-through. For some reason I always thought they were iDevice only.

-I saw some gameplay of the Final Fantasy XV Episode Duscae demo, and it definitely looks nice, but not my type of game.

-On the way out of the convention hall for lunch we passed an incredible Dark Souls III statue and a Tomb Raider interviewing Elsa?

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-Off to lunch at the Elephant & Castle Pub under the Motif Hotel, and I ran into IGN’s Daemon Hatfield. Second celebrity sighting of the day.

-After lunch, the plan was to get hands-on with a notable game. Today: Homefront: The Revolution. But first I passed Max Scoville and Brian Altono among the crowded hallways. They looked like they were busy so I didn’t bother them; 3rd and 4th celebrity sighting. Also before reaching Deep Silver’s ground, we walked past the YouTube Gaming panel and watched Gus Sorola, Greg Miller, and Ashley Jenkins talk it out.

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-After a short wait in the Homefront line, we sat in a small theatre to preview the provided demo before given hands on. The demo itself was the same as present at E3 this year, but prolonged and with commentary explaining each step, gameplay feature, and objectives. We were then released onto our own dedicated hand-on playthrough machines, and given free rein.

-Playing off a PC build with controller in hand, we got to play through the E3 2015 demo. Starting with the introduction of the objective to interrupt a patrol. Retreating is a gameplay mechanic encouraged at times because we can very easily become overwhelmed by the stronger enemy. Their units are more heavily armed and they have aerial scouts and trucks. Our own weapon modification ability is very cool. Probably through crafting in the real game, we can swap out gun parts and modify our gun on the fly. Swapping out sights, or grips, or even the barrel for something useful in the situation. Molotovs are featured heavily, and there is a hacking grenade available to take out the drone scouts, reversing their enemy logic. RC remote car bomb is also a handy toy.

-The city is very open, and there are vehicles, like motorcycles available to use. Lots of ramps and stairs to utilize, and climbing plays a part in the exploration of the city.

-The build we played seemed pretty flushed, but still early. Pre-alpha, with an indication of a Spring 2016 release. The game feels a lot like Far Cry, which is not a complaint.

-Last up for my day was some shopping. I was able to grab the full set of Borderland Pop Vinyls from the 2K store, and another Castle Crasher knight from the Behemoth store – an annual tradition – as Tom Fulp, Dan Paladin, and Will Stamper are on hand daily to autograph the way they know how: hilariously.

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-And then the Pink Knight showed up, in coincidental fashion, and made everyone’s time a good time.

IMG_5045-Pizza and a movie to wrap the day in the windy, pouring rain. Until tomorrow, Day 3.

-iRogan