1) It could. The only reason I stopped was from inactivity. Things were about to get more complicated (psychologically), so I waited for more messages. Only ever got a second one four months later. Took that as a sign there wasn’t enough activity to continue, and no pony would want to go back and read through all the updates. I could write a summery, but there would be a lot of subtle nuances left out that would impact things later on.
But yeah, I could pick it back up again, if I had a reason to believe anypony would care.
2) Huh? Why would you have been talking about me?
… Meta powers says, “No apology necessary.”
3) Playing by ear is a really hard skill. It’s not as common as some think. But I do several recordings of parts or sections, timing and counting out beats if it’s really hard, then overlay them. Factor in my field of magic and in theory, I could record just about anything as long as I had the sheets for it. Takes a lo~ng time, though. Lot of prep work.
4) I can understand that position; I’ve thought it myself for others before. Trouble is, I can just play simple things on my lyre and enjoy it. But the stuff I upload is work. I don’t enjoy doing them. I can enjoy the finished product. I can enjoy others enjoying it! But it’s work. Work is work. It’s exacerbating and exhausting and if nopony is going to listen to it, I’d rather just screw around and enjoy myself.
5) Bon-Bon: Goodness, you ask a lot at once! Well, I like Big Bang Theory and-
Lyra: That show sucks.
Bon-Bon: Hush. I watch Equestria’s Got Talent and Equestrian Idol. There’s all sorts of really great home decorating shows. Cooking shows like Bizarre Foods and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I’ve watched a few cooking competition shows too. A few other shows here and there but nothing you’d recognize.
Lyra: We used to watch Stable MD together before it ended. A few CSI-style shows too.
Bon-Bon: I work professionally on candy; like I said I own my own business. But I find it’s helpful to the creative process to experiment with all types of food. The Cakes and I collaborate a little. Share a few secrets, combine a few things; you know.
Captain $ingin’ $wingin’ $aber! Pop Star Pirate of the seven seas, five skies and two to three mountains (depending on the season)!
OC made during a stream a ways back~ (( credits to Avengie, Lyra, Tr-908,and Gunny ))
We interrupt me talking about video games to bring you something important.
1) Do I even need to explain how strange a question like this is?
I don’t know. Crystal ponies? I guess crystal ponies.
2) [omited] nutz.
3) Humans are perfectly capable of being adorable. You just intentionally resist doing so in order to keep up some sort of tough image.
And humans can wear bright colors.
4) And if that had some sort of impact on the rest of the game, I’d call that more than noteworthy. If it’s just a thing, then it’s just a thing. It does help with immersion, though, so you get the nod.
5) I could argue in more detail, but I’m just going to reinforce my preference against silent protagonists and leave it there. It doesn’t ultimately matter and this isn’t going anywhere.
B: Why do I keep getting questions about movies?
Lyra: Just answer the [omitted] thing.
B: … Yes, alright? I’ve seen a few.
Lyra: So what’s your favorite?
B: What?
Lyra: You didn’t always have a stick shoved knee-deep up your butt, so what did you watch? What was your favorite?
B: Ugh, fine. … The Terminal, alright? That’s it. Question ov-
Bon-Bon: What?! The Terminal?
Lyra: I don’t- What is that?
B: Is there a problem?
Bon-Bon: Ponyfeathers. There is no way.
B: I beg your pardon?
Bon-Bon: The Terminal? Tom Hanks?
B: Yes.
Bon-Bon: Ponyfeathers.
B: I like Tom Hanks! Cast Away, Toy Story, Money Pit-
Lyra: I’ve seen those!
Bon-Bon: You are so full of ponyfeathers.
B: [omitted]- Apollo 13!
Bon-Bon: All great movies, but you’re full of ponyfeathers.
B: Why?
Bon-Bon: Prove it.
B: What?
Bon-Bon: Prove it. What did you like about The Terminal.
B: I liked the characters!
Bon-Bon: And I like candy but I can’t have too much before bed. Explain.
B: Viktor was a good character! He travels across the world to get a signature in memorial for his father! He spends months just waiting for the chance, but he’s not willing to sacrifice his ideals or anyone else to do it. He has dedication, but it hasn’t blinded him. A-Amelia is realistic. She has some flaws, but she has a good heart. When she cheated she did so to help Viktor by getting that day pass. The whole love arc between the two is realistic. And in the end it doesn’t work out; there is no forced resolution, because it’s not a love story. The old man who was distrustful at first- and then the scene at the end where he charges the taxiing plane like a soldier marching into battle! The entire movie is about doing what’s right! Dedication to a cause greater than ourselves! It spoke to me! It was an incredible experience!
Bon-Bon: … Wow.
Lyra: Cels, I have never heard you talk like that.
B: … Make me explain myself…
1) Bon-Bon: Sure! I do spend a lot of time at home working on recipes, but I also watch television and keep in contact with high school friends! Plus, Lyra and I still go out a lot.
2) I looked at it, but it just seems so… I mean the limited motions were fine for a snes game, but trying to imitate that on higher graphics just makes things look choppy. And you move wa~y too fast. Looks unnatural. It’s just not right seeing Michelangelo book like he’s Megaman X.
As for the music, if I had the sheet music then… Well technically. I’m really not sure how many more musical things I’m even going to upload. It’s a lot of work recording and nopony even listens anymore. I spent two-three hours on thirty seconds of music and nopony had the time to listen to even that.
3) I follow you. I have a number of comments to reply with, but I certainly understand your point of view.
Firstly is the watched pot phenomenon. Maybe things are changing, but they’re moving too subtly for you to notice.
Secondly, maybe things are moving behind the scenes that the audience can’t see at the moment. After all, that’s how the world works. Things are always changing, but we’ll never see them all at the moment they’re happening; we find out after the fact.
Thirdly, if it’s a page that requires audience participation, maybe the audience hasn’t been pushing the plot along. See, sometimes authors can get stuck on a certain subject if the audience seems interested in it. If the viewers seem to be enjoying “slice of life”, then why force them on a journey they didn’t ask for?
Again, though, completely understand. If possible, my advise would be to push for what you want out of the story. But understand that if you’re interacting with the character and not the author, you’ll sometimes be met with realistic resistance that you may need to push through or find some other way around. Remember that a good character is flawed. They make mistakes and they can be caught in lies.
4) Depends on the developer. Lion Break is the big one. They’ve been doing the “official” localization for the GTA series since 3. And it’s pretty much a completely different game when they’re through with it.
As for being secretive, I feel the aliens issue would be at the heart of it. You humans really make a big deal out of whether or not you’re alone.
5) Zelda/Sheik. Malon is cool too. I also liked the mask seller.
1) Eh neh neh neh ne~h! Look at me! I made dookie in the to~ilet!
2) You can’t, because there is no guarantee. It can happen anywhere, while doing anything, by anypony. That’s not to say that everypony is capable of such an act, but that you can’t just pick out an attacker from a crowd. You’d have an easier time arguing that you’ve no greater chance going out anywhere else than a convention.
Though, it probably has more to do with being away from home for an extended duration than specifically where you’re going. Social creatures are afraid of loved ones leaving and never coming back. It happens more than we’d like…
3) Bon-Bon: Ah… I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is this that camping thing?
Lyra: Campy, Bon-Bon. It’s campy.
4) Deez [omitted].
5) There’s that word again…
I don’t think your world has any room to talk.
1) Might have something to do with them not being ROM hacks. They’re legal file alterations preformed by Equestrian publishers hired by the original developers. At least at this point it is. I don’t know exactly how any sort of monetary… whatever crosses dimensions, but it’s all legit these days.
Never heard of Side Saddle, Lion Break, or Manehattan East?
2) Those things have nothing to do with the character, expect for the interpretations part, which is nothing more than lazy, non-committal storytelling. Compare with something like Red Dead Redemption. You can see a character grow and change through real decisions.
Does Gorden Freemen ever clench his fists? What about Chell? Do either ever show sadness, happiness, regret, anger, what-have-you? No, because they aren’t characters. They’re just projections of you. Only you can never be an accurate character in a story because you’re not really there. You’re not in any danger. And you can turn the game off and walk away. A character can’t.
As for being mute, I direct you to answer 4.
3) No harm done! I’ve just tried enough to know it’s not happening.
I’m aware of it, but I’ve only heard a track or two; haven’t seen the game. Music doesn’t sound too hot.
4) WW Link is sort of bending the rule, like Luigi. No, he doesn’t ever really talk but he is expressive. He’s effectively mute, but he’s at least believable to the medium. However, I don’t consider that a best-of-both-worlds scenario. More of a why-did-you-do-this-are-you-afraid-of-protagonist-dialog?
5) It was alright. Again, not huge on history myself, but the kids were fairly behaved. And I’m okay. Feels weak; like I can’t put very much pressure on it. But it’s better now than it was yesterday.
6) Thank you! I’m getting there!
1) You’re thinking like a gamer. Bon-Bon is more of the Farmville/Monopony type. Games that are distractions, not experiences. As far as I can see it, it’s a doomed dynamic. When she’s willing to give a game a chance, she plays slow-paced games that don’t have a lot to them. Then eventually she gets bored with them, because they’re slow-paced games that don’t have a lot to them.
Best to leave well enough alone. No reason to try and make a gamer out of somepony who’s not. Still, outstanding choice. This my jam.
2) Bon-Bon: I believe we’ve been formally introduced in the past, York. And 50 First Dates.
3) Well like I said before, that XCOM remake was made in Equestria. In our version you could play as earth, pegasus, or unicorn ponies. Made for a more diverse experience. Was pretty homogenized when all the ponies were turned human, but I don’t guess most humans would want to play as ponies.
Gee, doesn’t that sound familiar?
4) If you’re talking about Half-Life and Portal, then no, they don’t. It’s the environment and supporting cast that make the immersion decent. The characters themselves only detract from the experience.
Ponies- People don’t just stand there silently and emotionlessly take [omitted] forever, just because they don’t know if you as the player would be sad, angry, or happy from the outcome of an event. When you have a real character, you won’t always feel the same way as the one you’re playing. But that’s because you aren’t playing them, you’re witnessing a story take place. You’re not reading a book, you’re playing a book.
5) I wouldn’t know anything about that. I’m a pastel-colored equine in a world full of sentient creatures big and small. For all I know some distant world’s horses might view us ponies are catering to foalphiles.
I like the Amani, though.
“Grin like you just won a fight!”
Went on a field trip today with a first grade class to a farm museum. Then when I got home I slipped in the kitchen and was too tired to catch myself. I fell on my foreleg and back.
Yes, I was standing on my hindlegs. Shut up; that’s why.
Anyway I’m tired and sore and I’m goin’ to bed. I’ll catch up with you ponies sometime tomorrow.
1) Bon-Bon: Nope. At least, not really. I’ve tried a number of times, but I just can’t get into it. The last game I played was… What was it called?
Lyra: Life is Magic. I didn’t even play it and I knew that.
Bon-Bon: Right. Lyra’s friend told me about it. It was fun for a while, but she owned, like, all of Ponyville. She even owned my shop! Anyway, it got boring.
2) Well, it’s been a while since you sent this message. How’d it turn out?
3) Nah. I’m awful at fighting games. Just bad at inputting combinations. Don’t really have much to say about OoT or WW. I already hate silent protagonists. It’s not so bad in older games, because there’s very little to emote at anyway (or you’re Chrono Trigger where there’s enough emotion from other playable characters). But this modern day stuff is garbage. When you’re a stoic, plastered-on-face while everypony around you are portraying sentient emotions, it’s just completely ridiculous.
And I hate it even more that Link is often considered the best video game character. Best at what? Being bland enough to serve your self-insert need to be important and appreciated without endangering your social standing in anyway? LAME!
Sorry, I think I got sidetracked. Wanted to name drop a few more, though. B.O.B., Earthworm Jim, Alisia Dragoon, Cool Spot, and Perfect Dark were all incredible.
4) I’d stay away from Mystic unless you’ve got a static player or two to hang with. They’re terribly slow to level with how pitiful their damage is. On the other hoof, if you liked Red Mage you should like Priest a lot. And their damage is pretty big. The listings I’ve seen for soloing BAMs rank dps Priest as third most efficient, one slot ahead of Slayer. At what level they become that, I couldn’t say.
5) I don’t know of any foalphile MMO, but Scarlet Blade is the softcore MMO. My online friend has played it. She says it’s not bad, from a mechanical perspective, and that the limit break-esque system is very well done. Just that it gets a little monotonous.
Then again, she’s quit Tera and is playing Ragnarok 2. I never thought I’d see the day…
Lyra and I talked it over for a bit, and she likes me answering questions with her. So we decided that you can ask me questions too.
It’s still her blog, but I’ll be around a little now.
Sweetie Belle plays Drums (dA link)
Requested by AskLyra
I had forgot I asked for this! It’s incredible!
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