Stabby Good Fun with the Link Figma Figurine!

(Pre-post tantalizing tidbit: this story involves bloodshed.* Read on!)



Let me tell you a few things about this Skyward Sword Link Figma Action Figure. First off, you need it. Are you a Legend of Zelda fan? Yes? Need! If no, then what the hell are you even doing with your free time? Oh, you're reading and rescuing kittens and playing Bingo with your grandmother? Well alright, that's acceptable.



Okay, so we've established that you need this Figma figurine. But why? Because it's one of the most incredible toys I've ever owned. It has been a while since I've had a legit toy. I'm a "grown up" now and so I buy a lot of books and video games, but I don't think I've had a toy like this since I was collecting Melanie's Mall and Betty Spaghetti. Figma's Skyward Sword Link features more moving parts than a K'nex set (I don't know if that's actually true because I've never owned K'nex). He comes with two faces, two hair pieces, TEN hands, a sword, scabbard and shield, a swishy blue thing to create the dramatic effect of him "slicing" through the air with the Master Sword, and a stand with an articulating arm to facilitate all manner of poses.

 

"The Matrix."

"Wondering what to do with ones self after climbing Mount Everest."

Opening up the packaging was, truly, like Christmas morning as an 11 year old. I demanded a knife from Morgan (who was trying to read and was not impressed by my interruptions) and carefully slid it along the clear taped edge of the box. I had planned from the start to take Link out of the box but that didn't mean his original home had to become a mangled, discarded mess. In fact I pieced his packaging back together very carefully and stored it away elsewhere, like an overly obsessive child would, or an extremely strict great-aunt who hand dusts her china set on a daily basis and makes you spit your toothpaste into the toilet because she just cleaned out the sink.



Before that happened though, I sifted through the plastic treasure trove, loudly remarking on each item.



"IT COMES WITH A PLASTIC BAG!" I shrieked through a gaping smile (I'm seriously not sure how I said this because I looked like one of the people from the Black Hole Sun music video). Morgan smiled at me over his book, one eye still on his page, with a face that only barely hid the fact that, while he was happy for me, he wanted to get back to his damn book.



The bag thing is a big deal for two reasons: 1. This dude comes with a lot of pieces, like I already described, and the people who made it want to do all they can to make sure customers don't lose their stuff and that is damn nice of them. 2. Board games that are the same price (or more) as this Figma figurine come with craploads more tiny, small, important pieces and they don't include plastic bags. No, they offer them for sale on third party websites. Way to go, board game printers.

Camera phone shot of an indignant Link.

I think it's important at this point that everyone knows I promptly stabbed myself while assembling the Master Sword. I have a pin prick on my finger like I got my blood drawn for a physical, which is crazy because I don't allow doctors to do that anymore and I no longer participate in tiring activities that would even warrant a physical. But anyway, here's what happened. I was trying to figure out how to get Link to actually hold the sword, but the box and instructions were all in Japanese. I laid out all of the pieces in front of me, hastily shooing a cat away, and lamented out loud, "He's holding it on the box! Why can't I figure this out?!"



After further careful poking and prodding (which was more like pulling and whining while being simultaneously terrified of breaking my brand new toy) I realized that the very teeny tiny bottom of the sword hilt could come off, which allowed the handle to be slid through Link's gripping palm (one of five different hand positions to choose from!). I made an off-handed comment about the brilliance of this design before sliding the handle through and placing the teeny tiny bottom part back onto the hilt. Or, at least I tried to. The teeny tiny cap piece didn't want to go back on. I realized it was time to get into the serious effort position. So obviously I furrowed my brow, stuck out my tongue, and then pinched the impossibly tiny pieces in my fingers and pushed with all of my might.



Then I screamed in pain.



Morgan dropped his book with a noise of concern and asked what was wrong at the same time that I dropped all of the pieces I was holding and stared incredulously at my thumb as a tiny red dot formed.

It's tiny but it's there, dammit.

"The sword stabbed me!" I exclaimed in disbelief. I then immediately showed him the pointy bits on the bottom area of the sword and repeatedly insisted that he poke them to understand just how sharp they were.

Dangerous coming OR going.

The next ten or fifteen minutes followed similarly, with me raving about not knowing what went where or how to make the stand work, and after trying to get photos of Link riding both of the cats I officially put him away for the night because I dropped him sword first onto my face and nearly got myself in the eye.

 

Link valiantly protecting the realm from giant, 2 month old kittens.

"Onward yon mighty stead!"

In conclusion, this is a badass toy of an incredibly high quality and it will mess you up if you're not careful with it.



After a few days (read: allowing my thumb to heal) I decided to bust him out again and have a little photo shoot. This time with my real camera!

 

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

"They're right behind me, aren't they?"

 

Um, this was an attempt at making it look like night time. ???

 

Will Link slay the gentle giant, or will they become unlikely allies?!

-MJ



*Okay, so it wasn't real bloodshed, but it did break the skin!

**All photos property of Miranda Eubanks/A Bit of Geek

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A Story of Awakening

DISCLAIMER:  The following contains SPOILERIFIC information regarding "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening," a video game released over 20 years ago.  Please do not read on if you wish to experience the game at its fullest.

As someone with the Hylian Crest tattooed on his arm, I get asked a lot of questions.  "What does it mean to you?"  "Why did you get it?"  "A video game tattoo?  Really?"  My favorite question, and most discussion-worthy, is "Which is your favorite game in the series?"  People are usually very surprised with my answer.  Hands down, it has to be Link's Awakening.

 

You'd never guess from this artwork that the game doubles as a psychological thriller.  Source

My preferences in the games go against the grain in many ways.  I thoroughly enjoyed The Adventure of Link, I wasn't nearly as impressed with the rest of the world when it came to The Wind Waker, the time travel mechanic in Majora's Mask was straight up annoying, etc.  Most of the time, my views on each entry make for great talks with other fans as we are able to give each other different views/experiences that we might not have otherwise considered.

Link's Awakening, initially released for the Game Boy in 1993, was a huge story packed into a tiny cartridge.  My older brother received a copy for his birthday, and the both of us were hooked.  I could have spent hours just looking at the manual, myself.  It was filled with item descriptions, tips and tricks, and artwork that really brought the (already) compelling story to life.

 

They don't make 'em like they used to.  Source

Before Link's Awakening, I had limited exposure to the series through the original titles on the NES.  I had not yet played A Link to the Past, but I don't feel like that was detrimental to the experience.  Link's Awakening was miles ahead in terms of graphics, music, gameplay, and, in terms of dialogue, story.  This was even more surprising given that it was a Game Boy release. Even as a kid, I could not believe the amount of content that I was experiencing.  This little cartridge had everything: mini games, item trading and upgrading, "easter eggs," essentially open world, dialogue changes based on the current in-game happenings, you name it.

 

Source

As the story goes, caught in a storm in the middle of the sea, Link became shipwrecked on the isle of Koholint and was discovered by Marin, a local girl with a beautiful voice and a kind heart.  Link comes to in the company of Marin and her father, Tarin.  At first, she is mistaken for Zelda by our hero, still suffering a slight daze from the oceanic ordeal, but Marin and Tarin quickly give him the gist of who they are, where he is, and how they found him.  At the advice of his rescuers, he travels to the nearby beach to collect his sword so he may work toward finding away off of Koholint and back to Hyrule.

"Fuck yeah, bro!"

Guided only by a mysterious owl, Link discovers that he must awaken the Wind Fish, a sort of deity to the people of Koholint, who has the power to grant wishes.  As far as we know, this is the only option for getting off of this island, and the only way to get the job done is to collect the instruments of the Sirens hidden within dungeons scattered across the land.  Each instrument, however, is guarded by a Nightmare at the end of each dungeon.  What would a Zelda title be without a few boss fights, anyway? But the whole game isn't just about fighting. There are all sorts of things to do and people to meet.  Go exploring!

 

Lest we forget one of the greatest love stories ever told.

I feel that Marin is one of the greatest characters to ever grace the Zelda series.  The dynamic between her and Link is much closer to a love story than any other relationship conveyed between Link and Zelda, with the exception of Skyward Sword.  For the most part, Marin loves singing "The Ballad of the Wind Fish," which is a continuing theme throughout the game.  The more she gets to know Link, the more she shares with him about her dreams and wishes.  In fact, she even wants to wake the Wind Fish herself so she can wish to become a seagull so that she can fly all over the world and sing to everyone everywhere.  Such a sweet girl.

Using the instruments, Link could wake the Wind Fish and wish his way home.  Heck, maybe he can do it for Marin, too!  She could have her wish and be home in time for dinner!  Oh, but there is just one thing about that...

 

Basically, none of this is real.  Source

You read that correctly.  A little over halfway through the game, after meeting all of these nice people, exploring this beautiful island, and falling in love with Marin (as far as I'm concerned), the owl guides you to a shrine, saying "...ancient ruins speak of the Wind Fish... You will learn much there."  Within the shrine is a relief on the wall which, essentially, rips your heart out, explaining that Koholint is little more than the dreams of Link and the Wind Fish, and once he is awoken, the island will vanish.

 

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan.  Source

Reading that inscription for the first time...  I don't think I could fully comprehend what was going on, but I knew it was something very sad.  It wasn't until I was older and on one of many playthroughs that the idea of everything you had come to know and love would be disappearing really sank in.  That's some heavy plot, Nintendo.  Heavy, but damn good storytelling.  At this point, you didn't really have a choice but to keep soldiering on through the remaining dungeons.  I mean, you could stop progressing then and there, living forever in paradise, but nothing would change.  You would be leaving Link trapped on a non-existent island.

When you think about it, this adds even more depth to the story.  Here you have a hero already in anguish, being shipwrecked in a place he knows nothing about.  Factor in the relationships he has formed with the people he has met.  Consider Koholint itself, a gorgeous island teeming with all manner of majestic flora and fauna.  All of this will become dust if Link wakes the Wind Fish.  That is a mental strain few people would be able to tolerate.  The souls of these people wouldn't really be lost if they don't exist, right?  Certainly that wouldn't fall on your conscience.  They aren't real... are they?  This right here is why Link's Awakening deserves so much credit.  No one could have expected these circumstances, and even if they did, it still warrants a good amount of thought regarding the consequences.

 

Just keep telling yourself "It's only a dream."  Source

Once you stop crying and decide to finish the game, you come to the Wind Fish's egg nestled on top of Mount Tamaranch.  Upon playing the instruments, Link can enter the labyrinth and navigate his way to the final boss(es), the Shadow Nightmares.  Prior to the battle, they unveil the grand scheme to keep the Wind Fish sleeping so that the island may never disappear, and Link was simply an unforeseen variable.  Once they have been defeated, they chastise Link for his actions.  "This island is going to disappear... Our world is going to disappear... Our world... Our... world..."  It almost makes you feel like YOU are the bad guy at this point.

 

"This isn't where I parked my car."

Meeting the Wind Fish is a very surreal experience.  He confirms what you've feared for some time and tells you Koholint is nothing but a dream.  Nevertheless, he requests that you play the instruments and wake up to your own world, leaving nothing behind but memories.  As you play The Ballad of the Wind Fish for the last time, you are treated to a tear-jerking cutscene of characters all over the island (and the island itself) slowly fading away.  Link is then blown sky-high by a geyser and awakens drifting in the sea, clinging to the wreckage of his ship.  He collects enough strength to crawl onto some wreckage when a shadow falls across him.  He looks up to see what appears to be the Wind Fish sailing across the sky!  Also, depending on how you beat the game, you will hear The Ballad of the Wind Fish being sung among the seagulls and Marin's face will appear in the sky!  Was it all real after all...?  The ending is totally open to interpretation by the player, and that is just another thing that contributes to the greatness that is Link's Awakening.

 

"We'll always have Koholint."  Source

If it isn't apparent already, I could go on for days about this game.  It truly is a fantastic journey and I am always entertained just as much whenever I give it another go.  What do you think of Link's Awakening?  I'd love to hear your own Zelda stories, even if it doesn't involve my favorite.

-Zach

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Video Game Character Spotlight: Link

Link. The protagonist of The Legend of Zelda series whom needs no introduction.....but will get one anyway. You know the fables: a great evil has come to the land, born from darkness and bent on claiming an ancient power to rule the realm. Only one hero can stop it: the hero in green, with his Master Sword drawn and courage in his heart. Link! The Hero of Time! Or the Hero of Hyrule....Waker of the Winds....Hero Chosen by the Gods.....or any of the other dozen of titles he carries. With more versions than Baskin Robbins has flavors, Link has heroically waged battle against evil time and time again. His story has been retold over the years, crossing generations and consoles. He has been a cornerstone of video gaming ever since his debut in 1986, in “The Legend of Zelda.”

 

“In his late 20's AND looks better in green than I do. Thanks, Obama.”

Created by the ever-talented, incredibly attractive Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo, Link was conceived as the protagonist to carry the Nintendo Entertainment System into the realm of RPGs. It was a direct contrast to their previous hit, Super Mario Bros., because whereas Mario featured linear, platforming gameplay, The Legend of Zelda consisted of a large overworld filled with dungeons and secret passages. Miyamoto has even gone on to say that Link's adventure was based around his own childhood, playing in grassy fields and dreaming of grand journeys of danger. All these elements combined to bring us Link's debut game and introduced us to a pivotal character of the game industry.

"Such as lovable Octorok #3!"

Since Link's premiere game, Nintendo has gone on to build on the legend of Link by creating new, separate stories with new evils to face. He's been in.....*takes deep breath*....The Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, Four Swords, The Wind Waker, Four Swords Adventures, The Minish Cap, Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds. Because of the various stories of Link, there's not a consistent version that has lasted throughout the legends. Each Link is different from the last, faces a new evil and must save the realm on his own merit. However, even among all these variations, there are common characteristics: Link is always in green, has blonde hair, wields a sword and faces evil with unyielding courage, sometimes bestowed on by the gods.

 

“And an absurd hatred for cuccos...”

Regardless of the lack of continuity in character, Link is undeniably one of the most recognizable video game characters. Nintendo has used him as one of their flagship characters, appearing in many other Nintendo products. Link has even made guest spots in non-Nintendo works, such as the Soul Caliber series and The Legend of Zelda television series (Excuuuuuuuse me, princess!). But if that weren't convincing enough, Link has been formally recognized over and over. Game Informer named Link the Number One Hero of 2006, Nintendo Power named him their second favorite hero in 2010, and in 2005 Link received his own star on the Walk of Game in San Francisco, California.

 

“Meryl, eat your heart out.”

Because of all this, Link has cemented his place among the video game character legends. But it's not just because of his numerous appearances that entitles him to a spot among the gods. It's Link himself and the message he brings that is truly what draws fans to love him. Link's tales are ones of triumphing over evil when all hope seems lost. To bravely take a stand and fight for what is right. These morals will take us on a fantastic journey which inevitably ends with the world, and sometimes ourselves, in a better place. This why we love Link and will always stand by him in the coming years. For sometimes, all you need is a little courage.

 

Maybe a Triforce's worth.

-Tom

Header Image Source

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Old, New, Borrowed... Rented? The Lowdown on ALBW.

I am enjoying the hell out of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. The first whiffs of the game seemed promising and fun, and after playing a demo at PAX Prime 2013 I was hooked and anticipatory for its release. I received it as a Christmas gift and jumped into the game shortly after the new year. As I've been playing I've been jotting down my first impressions and my overall feelings about the game. I'm happy to say that it's a handheld Zelda that I actually like. I loved Minish Cap, as well as Oracle of Ages and Seasons, and I'm still stumbling and struggling to get through the tough-as-nails Link's Awakening, but Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks were just bleah to me. There's no bleah over here though! Here are my thoughts on the newest addition to the Legend of Zelda series. This will contain some spoilers!

It's the same startup music as A Link to the Past. You can hear it, can't you?

So, A Link Between Worlds (here on out referred to as ALBW) is the story of our constant Hero of Time being called up in Hyrule's time of need. This time a strange man (at least I think it's a man) named  Yuga is turning important, and sometimes (seemingly) random, people into portraits with his magic powers. Sahasrahla begs for your help because you happen to be nearby with a sword.

What started as a bummer errand soon became the adventure of a lifetime.

Your chase leads you to Hyrule castle where you're too late! Zelda has been turned into a painting. After following Yuga through a strange, colorful crack in a wall you pop out into Lorule, the Dark World equivalent in ALBW. Yuga is harnessing Ganon's Triforce of Power to be... beautiful? It was a weird scene. This is when Hilda, ruler of Lorule, shows up and begs for your help in fixing the devastatingly horrible world that is hers to reign over. And with that, the Hero of Time sets out to recover all of the paintings that turn out to be descendants of the Seven Sages from Ocarina of Time (here on out referred to as OoT) in an effort to help Hilda and save Lorule, while also restoring those descendants to their rightful living place in Hyrule.

No matter how many times I acquire the Master Sword it doesn't get old.

It's really exciting that ALBW is set in the same universe as A Link to the Past (here on out referred to as ALttP). I knew this going in, of course, but getting to explore the same map with new goals in mind just feels... cool. Familiar but different at the same time. It instilled a sense of confidence in where to go and how to get to certain places. ALttP ties for my favorite Zelda game along with OoT, so any opportunity to explore the area is fine by me!



When meeting Zelda for the first time I got a real kick out of the fact that it's the same music that plays in OoT (when meeting Zelda for the first time). I felt a good little shiver at the bone-deep memories that it conjured. In a way it felt like I really was the Hero of Time and past lives/parallel lives were reverberating through me with hearing that music and seeing that girl. It was also pretty neat that Nintendo reused the plot device of both Link and Zelda having evil premonition dreams.

At least she's not commenting on my crazy green garb.

I stayed pretty far away from preview videos and teasers before the game was released because I like to be surprised as the story unfolds. I also hate those "First 20 minutes of gameplay!" videos. Objectively I understand their purpose and appeal, but if I watch them then the beginning of the game will be boring! With that in mind, I had no idea that ALBW would circulate around the Seven Sages! A swish and a win for more OoT references! It further instilled my Hero of Time feelings.



The first thing that I really didn't like about ALBW was the fact that you have to rent your weapons. I scoffed and pouted and wondered why on earth Nintendo would take from me the great joy of finding new weapons in each dungeon. How could they do this? Don't they understand how great an experience it is?! I have to *pay* for weapons, and if I get a Game Over then I lose the weapons and have to pay to rent them again? What's with all the rupee grubbing?

This weirdo sets up shop in your old house because you "aren't using it". So presumptuous.

If you don't like the sound of what I'm saying, keep reading! I have good news for you. It turns out that Nintendo had an excellent reason for this rental system: for the first time since the NES days players can explore the dungeons in ANY order they want! Whaaaaat?! Yeah. Big news. Of course, I'm terrible at following in-game prompts (especially the ones that are in bold letters and are highlighted in red giving clear instructions on what to do next) so I missed the repeated hint to go to the fissure behind Sahasrahla's house (which would have lent a semi-sense of order to the dungeons) and merrily wandered off to the Thieves Hideout and the Swamp Palace first.



The sense of freedom was inordinately intoxicating. I'd look at the map, review the Xs indicating dungeons, and just... decide on a whim which one I would go to! It was refreshing! I think precisely the perfect balance of old and new, familiar yet innovative. Also, eventually the rented weapons become purchasable and so you don't have to worry about re-paying for them if you fall in battle. Another thing that Nintendo finally did right was to give you an infinite (or nearly infinite) wallet from the very start. There's actually a reason to chase all of the rupees and even conquer the random treasure hunting locations that you'll find. Thanks Nintendo!



Another aspect of the game that I dislike, yet understand, are the save points. I despise when games don't have a 'save anywhere' feature. As a very busy and important adult I may have to shut my 3DS at the drop of a hat. I don't want to worry about losing my progress! This is a very minor gripe though because in reality there are a lot lot lot of save points and they also serve as a way to integrate fast travel into the game. Near the beginning you're given a bell by a young witch who is trying to be more charitable and from that point on if you ring the bell she'll swoop by on her broom and take you to any save locations that you've activated. Pretty sweet!

A little history lesson in Hyrule castle.

When a dungeon has been conquered and a Sage has been saved you're taken to the Chamber of Sages where they'll talk to you, and in this chamber you can actually walk around! I always wanted to be able to walk around in the chamber while playing OoT, so it really is the little things that make the world go 'round.



I feel it's important to note that the wall merging is pretty damn slick. I think a lot of people were afraid it was just a super gimmick, but I feel that Nintendo incorporated it very well. It's really not that different from the mirror/warp points in ALttP, except there are more of them! Plus the wall merge is used for more than just going into fissures to get from Hyrule to Lorule and back again. Many of the dungeon puzzles are based off the merging and some places on the map are only accessible via merge. The only real downside to this aspect of the game is that the "regular" view is bird's eye view. As in completely top down. I prefer to be more over the shoulder angle and so at first this really bothered me. I realize that it's because seeing more of the surroundings would make the merging puzzles useless. I got used to it after a while, so ultimately it wasn't a deal breaker.







As of this writing I'm still attempting to beat the game. I made a huge push toward completion while hanging out with my nephew during the Super Bowl. He sat with me as I worked my way through the last two dungeons as well as Lorule Castle. He whooped and hollered and said things like "I'm too nervous I can't watch!" as I attempted to defeat Yuga-Ganon thing. Unfortunately I failed spectacularly because I only had two faeries and no potions. I recently read on a walk through that 3000 rupees tossed into a special faerie pond will grant Link another bottle, so I'll be going after that before I try to beat the game again.



A Link Between Worlds has been getting rewards and outstanding reviews all over the place and is definitely worth at least one run through. When I'm finished with it I can't wait to lend it to my friends! Have you played it yet?



-MJ



*All images property of A Bit of Geek! I took them with my phone, they are masterpieces.

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It's Dangerous to Go Alone, Take These!

If you’re a long time reader you might recall that October of last year A Bit of Geek and Earthtastic! (a natural body care company) teamed up to bring you some fabulously designed Doctor Who lip balms. Well, we’re at it again, and this time it’s something different and very exciting!

    

Introducing: Ocarina of Time Temple Candles! That’s right, this set of five carefully crafted, wonderfully smelling candles are now available for purchase and your olfactory enjoyment. You can grab them as a complete set for $28, or individually for $6 a piece.



These were designed and inspired after the five temples in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. We have Forest, Fire, Water, Spirit, and Shadow. I realize that in the strategy guide the player is supposed to go to the Shadow temple, and then the Spirit temple, but… I never played it that way. So, in my mind, it goes Spirit and then Shadow. Hah! ALSO, there’s no need to get technical about how there are actually kind of eight temples in Ocarina of Time. The first three are dungeons, so they don't "count", and my goal was to make this paragraph as succinct as possible. That plan obviously has been ruined.



Anywho, allow me to attempt to break down the miraculous and painstakingly selected scents for you. Do you have any idea how many times I sniffed myself into light-headedness while choosing these aromas? At least five, probably more like seven. We even created new scents for you! Yes, we spent a lot of time pouring over vials of scented oil, mixing them together, and cackling wickedly as we found the perfect ratios and aromas.

  

Forest Temple - A sweet, green scent, mixed with wisps of light gold, sure to ensnare and encapsulate, transporting the sniffer into the Sacred Meadow, where the sun shines down on distant memories.

    

Fire Temple - A smooth, smoky scent, complete with a sharp and fruity side. Allow it to fill your mind with images of bubbling lava, flaming torches, and Gorons who desperately want to go home.

    

Water Temple - A light and, well, watery smell, rounded off with a cool finish. The combination transports the mind to visions of Lake Hylia, with reeds lazily waving back and forth as you don your iron boots.

    

Spirit Temple - A potent, golden and warm scent, reminiscent of ancient and sandy structures. You’re sure to hear the distinctive music of the Desert Colossus, and suddenly wonder where all of this sand came from.

    

Shadow Temple - A heady aroma, with flowery and distinctively purple tones. This scent is bold, sure to fill your home with intoxicating thoughts of adventure, danger, and possibly the horrifying Bongo Bongo.



Each candle was hand crafted by Cassidy in a smoke-free and carefully maintained work space. She puts great care and love into her work, and these fun team-up items are no exception. The labels were made by me, and it was quite the undertaking :D



Together or apart, they make for beautiful and geeky decoration pieces in your home! We tested them in our homes, and found that their scent “throw” was strong and satisfactory. Once the candle has burned out, you’re even left with an awesome storage tin. Perhaps a good place to put your extra rupees?



Be sure to check out the etsy listings if you want to grab a set for yourself. We hope you love the candles as much as we do!



-MJ

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Zelda for Wii U Finally Announced!

Last week the video game world was given a gift. The gift of a reliable source sharing information about the Legend of Zelda game that will grace the Wii U sometime in 2014. Nintendo hasn't released any official information themselves, only teasing statements regarding in-development titles. We know that a Zelda game is in the works, so what fans want now is information on what will make it different and exciting from previous entries in the series.

Zelda HD for the Wii U. Screenshot circa E3 2012. Source.

According to this article from Wii U Daily, we can expect a visual styling much like Skyward Sword, a team/budget akin to the Grand Theft Auto series (Zelda Wii U being their most expensive project to date), and dungeons that will "literally take hours to complete."

The article is lengthy and detailed, and talks about how the ideas that are in place for Zelda Wii U rank high among the reasons for the existence of the Gamepad. With a statement as bold as this, I now expect some serious innovation from the Gamepad. More than I did before, anyway!

I'm hoping for some official words and maybe even a piece of art or two from Nintendo, but there's a good chance we won't see anything like that until we're closer to E3 in June. Stay tuned though, and keep your fingers crossed!

-MJ

Thanks to my friend Zach for passing this article along to me!

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Dream Halloween Costumes: Geek Edition!

As a lady it's very difficult to buy a Halloween costume that is fun and also not skankalicious. Take a look at some men vs. women comparison costume articles and you'll see what I mean. After giving into the situation a few years in a row (many years ago) I grew tired of the expense vs. lack of skin covering ratio and decided to start putting together my own costumes.

In the past I have been Saria, Uhura, and Raggedy Ann, all made or put together myself. This year I'm hoping to go as a Dalek, so we'll see what I end up with! It's easier than you'd think to put together a creative outfit by yourself. It takes a willingness to thrift, (sometimes) a teeny bit of sewing knowledge, and the ability to accept that your costume may not be a perfect re-creation of the person/thing you're going as. And, the nice thing about these costumes is that they can double as cosplay for conventions! One of the many benefits of being a geek: recycling!

 The green wig was my crowning glory as Saria. Spock was appropriately unimpressed.

I have a few dream Halloween costumes that I hope to make a reality someday. I've seen many of them around the internet, so it gives me great hope regarding my own success. Let's take a look at them!

TARDIS dress:

There are so many options for this particular dream.

The adorable:

The scandalous:

The amazing:

I would definitely go the "adorable" route for a few reasons: comfortable and I think I could probably make it. Aside from finding a pattern online (which is difficult) or buying one from a craft store, my best bet would be purchasing an existing blue dress and then adding embellishments such as the Police Public Call Box sign, the Pull to Open sign, and the windows. Throw in a tiny light-up hat and I'm finished! There's a great tutorial over on youtube that builds off of a corset and skirt design. It's a little risque for me, but they have brilliant ideas.

FemmeTen:

I've never seen female Doctors in the show, although Eleven has mentioned one lady Time Lord before, but that hasn't stopped dedicated fans from storming the fandom with Femme Doctors. Being a bespectacled lady who doesn't wear contacts, I have great sadness when it comes to costume accuracy; not very many characters that I like have glasses. Fortunately, the Tenth Doctor wears glasses every so often!

The great part about cosplaying as Nine, Ten, or Eleven is that they have relatively normal outfits, things that some men would wear on a day to day basis. I could probably buy a complete FemmeTen outfit at Macy's! Brown/blue or pinstriped dress suit, snag a tie from the men's section and throw on my pre-existing red Converse. I am DONE. Like this lovely lady:

All rights reserved Rachel McCauley

The long tan jacket is very important. Never forget that piece! The internet is also full of various fun Doctor Who memorabilia, so once I include my Sonic Screwdriver and track down some psychic paper  the task at hand is done. I will then be able to walk around proud and intelligent with all the swagger of a two-hearted being.

Minecraft Person:

This is one of the simplest options I could pick, so I don't understand why I haven't done it yet. Laziness? That must be it.

From Geekosystem.

Jeans, check. Tennis shoes, check. Green t-shirt, easy enough to obtain. The pickaxe can be purchased online, and I imagine if I were particularly strapped for cash I could buy a large piece of foam core and cut out the shape myself. The trickiest part here is the head piece. But guess what? That can be purchased online too!

If my Dalek dress doesn't turn out at least I've now convinced myself of an easier option.

Zelda:

Without a doubt this is the most difficult costume on my dream list. Pulling off a Zelda costume requires  an immense amount of time, skill, and detail. Not to mention a very specific wig and accessories! I've come to another conclusion: this costume requires a lot of money. Unless I start to develop a lot of finesse and experience with my sewing machine, my best bet for this is to buy one from the internet.

Of course, I like to believe that if I had a spare $300 lying around then I'd buy patterns and take a few classes on costume/clothes making. Then someday you may all see me looking like this:

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You can rest assured that it'll be the happiest day of my life. 

Link:

I'm pleased to report that I'm actually working on a Link costume right now! I've wanted to cosplay as Link while at PAX for quite a few years but that's kind of tough to do without the outfit in tow. My first attempt at a tunic was far too small, and the second one fits but just barely. Truth be told, the sleeves are too small and I'm running out of fabric to try and fix it. I don't expect this one to be Con quality, but maybe Halloween next year.

Link is a much easier costume than Zelda because he has fewer embellishments. One of the key components is a sword, and I was gifted one for Christmas last year so really I'm already halfway to a Link outfit. There are a lot of very great costume tutorials out there, and they're where I'm starting.

Source

I shall start with that, and someday achieve this:

Source

The extra detail. Not the masculinity. Don't be ridiculous.

Similar to the Zelda costumes, many places on the great internets will sell me a Link costume, but I think this one needs to come from my sweat, blood and tears, not my wallet.

What is everyone going to be for Halloween, and will you be buying your costume or making it? Have you ever made your costumes in the past? What is YOUR dream costume? Also, if you have any great sewing internet resources then please do share!

Happy costuming!

-MJ

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