Explore Cynik Universe

Commissioned Art Urthlings Comic Vixens Observations Grumblings Sketch Book

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0049: FAIL

0 comments



by duvalia
June 27, 2010

To me, one of the most disappointing things I can hear is that a series is in jeopardy due to conflict in development. Of course, a few resignations or firings may not indicate that a particular series will be dropped, but for me the original intent/storyline is gone.

Change isn’t always bad, so I suppose the disappointment I feel arises from preparing myself for a new installment that might not quite meet my standards.

One example, is the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series. CoD4 was the top selling game worldwide in 2007 and MW2 sold over 14 million copies worldwide as of March 2010. I’ve heard varying opinions on the ‘greatness’ of the games, but I honestly love them both. That aside, the Infinity Ward founders were fired, which led to a stream of loyal workers resigning to follow their development leaders.

So… what happens now? From how well the MW series is selling, there’s no way that Activision won’t capitalize on the potential profit of a third game in the series. However, with the majority of the development team gone can we really expect MW3 to remain true to what was originally intended? Especially considering MW2 ended on such a cliffhanger.

Another series is the Dead or Alive fighting franchise. Despite the bouncing breasts fan service, the series had amazing graphics, an intriguing, albeit sometimes vague, storyline and a fresh counter based fighting system. Problems arose with the Tecmo President, which forced the story and character creator to resign. Though rumors of a DoA5 have circled the internet, the 2005 DoA4 remains the last of the main series.

An anime series that continued despite legal disputes with the original character designer is Weiß Kreuz. However, the dramatic changes in designs between the first and second seasons are enough to ask whether the characters are really the same. I’ll admit that sometimes it’s nice to see a character get a makeover, but when it goes as far as not being able to tell if two characters are the same person then we have a problem.

And the movie industry is so full of these disputes, I’m not even going to try. Replacing characters, killing them off early, recasting in the middle of production, the list goes on. Fights and disagreements are bound to happen, but it sucks when the fans have to suffer for it.


THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0048: SWEET 16

0 comments




Today is a lovely day for a parade...

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0047: HAKUNA MATATA

0 comments




Two friends taking a stroll on a quiet back road in Africa...

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0046: BACK TO BACK

0 comments




CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

2009-2010 NBA WORLD CHAMPIONS:

THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS

SKETCHBOOK - SCRIBBLE # 087: "1963"

0 comments


























"THE BEATLES"
(Markers, Pen & Ink -- 2010)

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0045: WHO WINS?

0 comments




First off, I just want to say that Jet-Li is FREAKIN' CAT- QUICK! I'm a huge fan and I LOVE his fighting style, as well!

The thing is, Bruce Lee is my 'hands-down' pick.

Bruce Lee was a Jeet Kun Do (Martial Arts style) founder AND teacher. Every day he trained himself to be peerless. It has been documented that he would go around the world searching for other martial arts techniques that were popular and would challenge the Dojo. It was also proven that Jeet Kun Do is one of the top systems, if not THE best technique in the world and a hybrid style he developed from studying multiple teachings from various techniques. Bruce Lee also studied and did research on the human body to find its limit of movement and weakness points. He would then test those in competition. We've seen those results.

Jet Li studied Kung Fu and the the Wu Shu practices and just perfected what he was taught. He is definitely a great movie stunt fighter hands down. Again, no disrespect whatsoever to Jet Li. I'm one of his biggest fans. I'm not saying that Bruce Lee is God or taking anything away from Jet Li. It's just my opinion. Any pick would be a good one.

The bottom line is that if they did fight, WE'D all win. =)

VIXEN # 172 - JUSTICE SOCIETY

0 comments








"STARGIRL & CYCLONE"


(Markers, Pen & Ink -- 2010)

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0044: PAYBACK TIME...IT'S COMING.

0 comments




"ARE YOU READY, LITTLE BOY?"

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0043: THANK YOU

0 comments




"Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will there remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored."

-- Daniel Webster

SKETCHBOOK - SCRIBBLE #074: LINE ART

0 comments




"SUE RICHARDS"

(Pen & Ink -- 2010)