#25 Perler Beading

It’s good to be back blogging!  While I was going from my blog, over the holidays I discovered this FANTASTIC new hobby called “Perler Beading”  Basicly you buy these special kinds of beads and peg boards.  Line the beads up on the pegs and then iron them.  After about 30 seconds the plastic melts, fusing them together.

Theo, Isn’t this a Girls Hobby?
…No it’s not a girls hobby!  Well… It just depends on what you decide to make.  Case in point:  Old school video game character sprites are some of the best things I love to make.  I started off by buying s starter pack from Joe Ann’s Fabric (not the manlyest store around but whatever…)  and making a few simple sprites.
Once I got the hang of it I began to make a few more complex sprites with shading and everything.  I realized that I was running out of colors quickly so I went online and ordered 40 more shades of colors so I had a more complete color selection to work from.  I wish I could say I made all of these from my head – but no.  I copied them from what i’ve seen others do.  But it is so relaxing!

I love just putting on some music, and relaxing while placing bead after bead.  I made so many over the Holidays that I’m taking a short break now.  But please check out what I’ve done so far.  Everything next to this text is a picture of some of the 8-bit sprites I have made that are hanging above my patio door.  Tried to make a small scene from “Super Mario World” If you have any suggestions on what to make next, please leave a comment in the window below!

#1 Console Gaming – Top 5 Reasons I’ll Never Play FF-XIII-2

Among my many hobbies (139 apparently) console gaming ranks at the top.  This past year we had some MAJOR block busters release.  Batman Arkham City, Skyrim, BattleField 3, Modern Warfare 3, Portal 2, Zelda, I mean the list goes on.  But this year… This year is slim pickings. And even the “Blockbuster” games coming out still seem to leave an empty hole in my heart.  Let’s take a look at Final Fantasy 13-2 for example.

 

Top 5 Reasons I’ll never play Final Fantasy 13-2

1. I buy video games to play, not watch a movie.  FF13 had such massively long cut scenes!  I only got half way through the game before I had had enough and returned it.  Square Software…err…Enix, has really strayed from its roots of core game play.  13-2 is likely to have the same length cut scenes.
2. The Original FF13 was the most linear game I’ve ever played.  Of course there is mainly one path to walk down, its a game.  But no towns to explore?  No mini games? no alternate paths?  No world map?  No freedom to just relax for a minute?  No thanks.
3. FF-VII spoiled me.  It was the first FF game I’ve ever played and still holds onto the title of “All time fav game” in my books.
4. Square has been losing public trust big time after they admitted FF13 could have been more polished and the utter failure of FF14
5. Unless it gets amazing reviews (And it only got an 8.0 on IGN.  Gamespot.com review isn’t out yet but I’ll expect they’ll give a 7.5 ) I won’t have any motivation to finish the first one in order to play this sequel.  I don’t feel right playing a sequel to a game I didn’t finish the first one, you know?

There you have it.  My two cents before the game official comes out.  Maybe I’m being too hard on the franchise, got second opinion?  Leave a comment!