(Originally posted on Friday, 28 March 2008) Notes to the Repopulation Edition:
It's been a long time already since this post was first written... and now the first two videos are no longer available on Youtube. However, the ever-loving me has thoughtfully saved the representative screenshots of each, which still exist, for your convenient viewing benefit ;D
Now, on with the show!
All that talk about stats in the previous post brings me today to the topic of:
Love Simulations.
Yes my friends, today I am going to talk to you about that which is also affectionately known as dating sims.
However, the one that I am going to introduce to you today is not one that most of you are familiar with ... (of course, I could be wrong on that.)
Something you might not have known even existed... until today...
Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side PV
ときめきメモリアル Girls Side 2nd Kiss タイピング OP
This is by respected game publisher Konami, which has produced a lot of mainstream mega hit video games, series with remarkable longevity throughout all these years - a mean feat for video game company.
Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side and its sequel - Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side: 2nd Kiss. The natural consequence from a genre initially started off for guys, from this you know that it was very well received in Japan... it spawned a host of other merchandise such as soundtracks, albums, memorabilia etc. which sell like hot cakes.
So what is the premise of the game? Not a big departure from its prequels tailored for guys - the main character (you!! Yess you!!) has entered the first year of (senior) high school. So it happens that in this three years of halcyon school life, you have to net a catch and upon graduation have one of them confess his undying love to you. Of course, you could remain single and concentrate on your studies like every good student is supposed to.. in which case you get the general bad ending where you end up with no one (you might get the ending where your kid brother shows up to console you, though) and is definitely not the reason why you bought the game (or spent all those hours playing it.)
So, having said that, what choice(s) do you have?
First of all of course is the catch - good in everything and handsome but very lansi (arrogant) one... usually with his own fan club among the girls in the school *KIRA KIRA smile of sparkling teeth sends said girls into uncontrollable pirouettes of ecstacy bordering on epileptic*
Oh, he also has the fortituous attribute of being either your early childhood friend... or your next-door neighbour... who for some reason you haven't kept in contact with for ages... and bump into on the first day in school. But rejoice not too early, for this does not help much your case in staking your exclusive claim on him...
Of course then there's the sporty type who's no good in studies, the bespectacled bookish type for those who are into that, the rebel who's no good in school but usually a musician... the artsy-fartsy type who places a lot of importance on elegance (goes into affected monologue on the divine beauty of a certain subject matter) ... and the underclassman (kakyuusei 下級生 【かきゅうせい】) of bubbly cuteness for those of you ladies with shotacon* fetishes (i.e. cradle-snatchers. xD )
You can also choose to end up with the headmaster (the mustachioed guy in the video, described by one walkthrough as the hentai geezer) ... I wonder why would anyone choose to from their own free will. My, that's a disturbing thought. (Hold on, I need to disinfect my brain.)
The teacher, however, is rather cool though... Himuro Reiichi (Ice Room Zero-One) ... would appeal to girls who like mature guys (or those who like cold guys, too)
Here below is the ending with him. For those of you who want to practice your dialogue in Japanese.
Or even one of your girl friends... (No such option, though, in the guy's prequels to end up with your male best friend. Tell me why.)
Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side Ending - Himuro Reiichi
So of course you're asking now... how do I know all of this?
Well I've (regretfully) never played this/(these) games before. All the dedicated hours required to achieve the desired ending with the desired guy (girl in my case) ... subsistence pastimes call. However, this all important website
contains all the detailed walkthroughs that you need to win the heart of the guy of your dreams. In effect, telling you how to press his buttons - literally. For the Nintendo DS version of the game incorporates the added feature of "Skinship" (if I remember) where you can use the touchscreen to lovingly deliver your pixelated affection.
Seriously, guys never had it so good all in the (guy-dates-girl) prequels.
Now, the FAQs originate from this website, run by two Singaporean girls ( http://hanegasaki.piyo-piyo.org/about.php) who played the game in such remarkable detail - even finishing the game with some of the characters that you'll never want to touch in real life (gotta disinfect your brain after that.) So here's a plug to their websites:
Utsukushiki Sekai //. a tokimeki memorial girl's side walkthrough
Rather interesting expositions they write there! :D
Okay children, this post would not be complete if I did not post a PV for the guys here (being the hot-blooded guy that I am, too... ^_^ )
Remember folks, always continue to raise stats for your loved one. Until I hear from you again, ja... ~
Tokimeki Memorial 3 opening
*The female counterpart of lolicon, which is no obscure market as there are cafes in Tokyo with pretty boys dressed in school uniforms to cater to this expanding market (aging population of lonely single women in Japan... perhaps?)
(Originally posted on Friday, 28 March 2008) Preface to the Repopulation Edition:
This post is one in which I refer to the principle of the Two Things, although not the first time that I have referred to it (in more ancient blogs, I have, also).
And definitely, find that this principle comes to mind, for a great many subject matters.
Now, on with the show!
Do everything that your self is screaming at you to not do.
Do everything different from what you have done before.
I find myself doing as the above at certain points in time, for numerous times, already.
The tradeoff for this level of masochism is the long-term reusable benefits. The downside is that the stress stat increases.
Well as in all things that is the challenge in raising stats.
To decrease the stress stat, REST is needed.
Also, a long period of time is required to raise stats to an appreciable level - so as long as you're putting in all that you can, you can't be in a hurry to become owning.
The solution to that is to start as early as possible, rather than trying to force expedition of the process - which should be enjoyed as much as possible.
The good thing is that it you get better faster, the better you get. As a natural consequence.
About the "Two Things":
It is said that everything there is to know about anything can be distilled into two things - that will completely describe the whole of the subject matter.
For other examples an Internet search for the Two Things will do. Here I can instantly present you one though:
U Bill's Two Things about Human Motivation:
1. Survival.
2. Comfort.
Enumerated in descending order of precedence.
Indeed, these two things, for all animal life (including hamsters and earthworms.)
Again, the comment box:
Preston - The two things. |2008-05-29 19:05:09
hmmm..your "Two Things" reminds me of the Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Without survivorship and comfort being secured, need not to mention the next level of needs or human motivation.
(Originally posted on Wednesday, 26 March 2008) Preface to the Repopulation Edition:
This is one of my favourite posts posted in the old webhost, in which Mr. Preston Toh, Esq. also gave his input in the comments box during that time, which I include here too, as part of this repopulated post, in-line.
Apart from that, before that, the old blog did not have capability to display Japanese characters in the comment box... which we found out in a WTF! moment. Ah yes... that was the era when Joomla plugins were plentiful, but immature X3
Now on with the post!
gohoushi sasete itadakimasu
"Please let me receive the favour of serving you"
This brings back fond memories of the anime Hanaukyo Maids :) ... and is also the main theme of the opening song. Yes folks, it's that kind of story where all the girls gravitate towards one insignificant guy ... who happens to be allergic to girls.
Lots of maid uniforms and gratituous subservience ~!
Here's the opening theme -
Today's Lesson:
itadaku is the polite form of morau
itadakimasu = moraimasu = 'to receive'
It is most frequently heard being said before starting a meal.
...sasete = 'please let me' / 'please allow me to ... '
E.g. yasumasete - please allow me to ...take a holiday.
...sasete morau = 'to ask very politely for permission'
...sasete itadakimasu
Example:
I have been allowed to take three days off work by the section chief.
kachou ni mikkakan shigoto wo yasumasete itadakimashita.
課長に 三日間 仕事 を 休ませて 頂きました。
section chief (from) three days work (wo) rest(allowed) (received).
Hi hi, finally track down your Gohousi article. Via ur explanation, can't fully catch the usage of "sasete". Yesterday was the last day of my intermediary class and i finally understood, it is a ji e ki kei form!! From the Youtube click, "sa...sa...sa...sete" very catchy songs indeed.
hhmm, your comment made me look up the true meaning of that phrase again.
Quote:
芳志させていただきます
芳志 【ほうし】 (n) (your) kindness
させて頂く 【させていただく】 (exp,v5k) (hum) to have the privilege of doing
More literally, it seems like "Please let me receive your kindness".
Which is a bit odd in *this* anime's context, as the speaker is the one who is eager to do the 'serving'... but still says it as: "Please let me receive your kindness"... that is, your kindness of letting me serve you. Go figure. ^^
In other words, she is saying "Please let me receive your kindness... (of allowing me extend(actually,force) my kindness (サービス) on you)" ... XD
ultrabeast - ブログコメント |2008-05-28 22:42:42
Kono BUROGU ni Nihongo de コメント koto ima wa dekimasu! [/size]
カキコ(P); かきこ (n) (See 書き込み) (abbr) (sl) post (to a BBS); comment (on a blog); (P)
書き込み(P); 書込み 【かきこみ】 (n,vs) writing; entry (e.g. to a form); posting; (P)
[size=large]その他 :
ブログコメント (n) blog comment
ブログ; ヴログ (n) blog; weblog
ウェブログ (n) (See ブログ) weblog; blog; (P)
その他(P); その外(P); 其の他 【そのほか(P); そのた】 (n-adv,conj) (そのた is more the written form) etc.; otherwise; besides; in addition; the rest; the others; and so forth; (P)
(reminiscence of the background of this comment: This was previously because the blog's comment box was not set by default to encode characters in UTF-8... thus resulting in Japanese characters being displayed as: ????????? :D )
Preston - Finally |2008-06-12 21:06:16
Terribly sorry for the late reply due to self-initiate confusion - as always :p.
させます。
Force on something. In this case, "force" to do something.
させて 下さい。
Please let me do rather than "force" as the ”て” form is used.
させて 頂きます。
Please let me do, however is used on upper level people i.e. 部長、課長、差長、お客様 なら。
Did I answer your question? thank you :) .
ultrabeast - Thanks for the info - Japanese Language |2008-06-13 09:11:38
Hi Preston,
Many thanks for the info. I glanced through at it once, will have to look at it again to properly digest it
Cheers!
Which, I might add, to his credit, his input was most informative... Cheers! :D
I'll live life to the fullest, even if I’m covered in rocks
Loudly I’ll say, do your best! Do your best!(Do your best!)
Our lives won’t cease
So let’s sing an endless song
Push forward on our road Even if we’re ridiculous characters, it’s okay
Even if you’re good-for-nothing, I love you, my darling
Idiot! Your true self
Say what you want to say
You’re being pushed out and drawing close to your dream
You idiot! Your true self
Come out, don’t be hiding; OH YEAH, right now Bad days do happen for the timid me
But with that, I understand her feelings (I understand)
Although me, who is trying to look cool is helplessly attracted That’s why I can do my best again, undefeated There are downpours and there are sunny days
Don’t mind the tiny things
I want to kiss you for the sake of the great tomorrow
Idiot! Your true self
Do what you want to do
You’re jumping out and jumping over to your dream
You idiot! Your true self
It’s all right, don’t be afraid; OH YEAH, right now
Something will start from the place without anything
You want to hug me, right? You want to dash out, right? To your dream
Idiot! Your true self
Say what you want to say
You’re being pushed out and drawing close to your dream
You idiot! Your true self
Come out, don’t be hiding; OH YEAH, right now
Ikiteru kagiri ishikoro darake de mo
Ooki na koe de ganbare! Ganbare! (Ganbare!)
Tomaru koto nai uchira no jinsei
Dakara owaranai uta o utaou Wagamichi o tsukisusume Detarame na kyara de mo ii Roku de nashi de mo aishiteru n da mai daarin
Bakayaro! Honto no jibun
Iitai koto itte yare
Hamidashiteku n da yo chikazuiteku n da yo yume ni
Kono yaro! Honto no jibun
Dete koi yo kakuretenaide OH YEAH ima sugu
Yowaki na ore ga iya na hi mo aru kedo
Sore de aitsu no kimochi ga wakaru n da (wakaru)
Kakko tsukeru ore hiichau keredo
Dakara makezu ni mata ganbareru n da
Doshaburi mo hare mo aru
Chiccha na koto ki ni sunna
Dekkai ashita no tame ni kisushite agetai
Bakayaro! Honto no jibun
Yaritai koto yatte yare
Tobidashiteku n da yo tobikoeteku n da yo yume ni
Kono yaro! Honto no jibun
Daijoubu sa kowagaranaide OH YEAH ima sugu
Nani mo nai basho kara nanika ga hajimaru
Dakishimetai n daro kakedashitai n daro yume e
Bakayaro! Honto no jibun
Iitai koto itte yare
Hamidashiteku n da yo chikazuiteku n da yo yume ni
Kono yaro! Honto no jibun
Dete koi yo kakuretenaide OH YEAH ima sugu
dj ubill would like to dedicate this song to a friend - and also to himself ... (and don't we all need that, 1nce in a while? Heck, myself, I'd want that all the time.)
The original lyrics and translation from atashi.wordpress.com :) - very good translation I must say. However there are certain parts that I interpreted differently, and thus changed accordingly.
Kanji however is typed out by me :3 as is Today's Lesson by (actually, for) me :D
Not forgetting a special mention here - that this video was introduced by a friend - who I'd not identify publicly here, since he had hinted before that he'd like to preserve his virginal image ... All the same, much appreciated, special thanks goes out to him. ohoho...
限り 【かぎり】 (n-adv,n) (1) limit(s); bounds; (2) degree; extent; scope; (3) as far as possible; as much as possible; to the best of one's ability; (4) unless (after neg. verb); (5) the end; the last; (P) [Ex][G][GI][S][A]
darake
だらけ (n-suf) implying (negatively) that something is full of (e.g. mistakes); covered all over (e.g. with blood); (P) [Ex][G][GI][S][A]
The Sir Arthur C. Clarke, probably best known to the public today for having authored the Space Odyssey series of science fiction novels (or probably not even that well known to our generation, in this corner of the globe.) To regard his contribution as only being a mere novel author would be much too limited however; he truly is a visionary for some of his ideas made it into reality and became the basis for many of the technologies that we use and take for granted today.
He did win a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for, but never pursued a patent for his idea of geostationary satellites which form the hub of telecommunications today, instead nonchalantly referring to it as such:
He laughed. “I'm often asked why I didn't try to patent the idea of communications satellites. My answer is always, ‘A patent is really a license to be sued.' ”
In recent years (since 1956) he had retired to Sri Lanka and was an avid treasure diver, capable of holding his breath up to 3 minutes despite having suffered from polio.
“He was a good diver, very calm. He could hold his breath for a long time, sometimes for 3 minutes,”
His last dive was a number of years ago—Ekanayake thinks it was when Clarke was in his early eighties but isn't quite sure. “We took him down to 100 feet,” his friend noted. “He loved it.”
Since the 1980s, Clarke had been afflicted with what is known as postpolio syndrome (PPS), which is characterized by muscle fatigue, joint pain, and some memory lapses. It is a consequence of the polio episode he had in 1959 (from a vaccination). He had to use a wheelchair for years. Yet at the time I met him, he was still keeping a pretty full schedule and answering e-mail quickly, with the help of his secretary.
“In my time, I have been very fortunate to see many of my dreams come true,” he noted. “Growing up in the 1920s and 1930s, I never expected to see so much happen in the span of a few decades.”
I would be of the opinion that he didn't set out to come up with some earth-shaking idea to revolutionize travel and communication. Rather, following his interests led him into it:
After high school, unable to afford a university education, he decided to join the British Civil Service in 1936, at the age of 19. His main motivation: he wanted a job that allowed him plenty of leisure time to devote to writing and other pursuits that might interest him.
(Incidentally, though:)
He ended up doing very well in the examination, ranking 26th among approximately 1500 applicants. Because he aced his arithmetic exam, he was advised to take a job in the exchequer and audit department. He was given the task of auditing teachers' pensions, which took him no more than an hour or so per day.
So what then, were his other pursuits?
Clarke was always very optimistic about space travel. Right after the war, he became heavily involved with the British Interplanetary Society, which was instrumental in popularizing ideas of rocket travel among the public. He was even the society's president for a while. He remembered those days.
“I don't know if the society ever enrolled a hundred members. In fact, I am not sure if it still exists.” He laughed. Clarke had previously said that “we space cadets of the British Interplanetary Society spent all our spare time discussing space travel. We didn't imagine it lay in our own near future.”
In fact, the time that such ideas were proposed, people would even say that "you are crazy" - the British having an elegant phrase for it - "poppycock!" (which sounds like referring to a fowl high on opium)
Hmm... it seems that in today's advanced society, there are many options and accessories for cat owners and their masters... as a random Internet surf reveals. Let's take a look at some:
How much is the kitty in the window? $22,000 Forget about Labradoodles, Puggles and Schnoodles. Costly crossbreed felines are the latest designer hybrid to hit the catwalk
The Ashera, an exclusive product of Brodie's firm, Lifestyle Pets, resembles a little leopard and can weigh up to 30 pounds. But it's more suited for lounging than stalking prey.
...
Brodie used a "secret recipe" to mix an African serval and Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat, to create the world's most expensive feline hybrid.
Although an Ashera costs $22,000 (plus $6,000 for the premium placement option, which will expedite kitten delivery by about six months) ...
In Malaysian Ringgit terms, that means about RM66,000++ for some exotic companionship.
Well I certainly hope their owners will give them lots of genuine care and affection.
Alright, that's it for exotic cat hybrids, next we take a look at some products..
.. looking at some of the wide selection of items, I would say that I would never even have thought that such products would even need to exist. However, it appears that such items in fact meet owner demand, being much-needed solutions to some intriguing problems. Case in point:
Recommended Cat Products: For-Bid 12 Doses
(intriguing name, isn't it? Which made me read on...)
For-Bid 12 DosesDo you have a dog who enjoys visiting the litter box for some snacking? As unpleasant as it may seem to us, the stools produced by cats can actually be appealing to many of our canine companions. Unfortunately, it’s an unhealthy, unsanitary, and downright unpleasant habit. Forbid can be sprinkled on the cat’s food in order to make the stool unpalatable. The ingredients in Forbid work in the digestive system to give the stool a very unpleasant taste.
The short product blurb evokes an OMG! effect.. Note especially the last line: "work in the digestive system... to give the stool a very unpleasant taste". (As if stools do not already taste unpleasant.)
U Bill Lee Today, when one is constantly being bombarded with so many choices on what to do and where to go next... it is better to remind oneself that first, one has to focus on the immediate thing that one is doing, right now. :)
Tagged:
Lee Daren - the originator of the memorable phrase (having) "too many choices on where to go and what to do next"
Ricky Soo - originator of the reminder to just focus on the immediate:
Brings to mind an anecdote, if you try to shoot all of the many ducks flying in the sky, you'll only hit a disappointing number, seemingly contradictory, but ironically true, in spite of the overwhelming number of opportunities!
Preston Toh - just met with him again after a period of like... 2 years. Got many insights from the recent conversation with him.
Jee June - when the thought of progressive and constructive-thinking people comes to mind, this is a person whom I associate with the aforementioned characteristics.
Fang Wan - have not met him for about two years as well, due to a curious self-imposed exile on my part.
Just to record down this process, since it took me so long and hard to find it this time.
Maybe it would ingrain a bit of appreciation in me about this device!
The nagging thought for the week was "Can't find the charger for my camera FML." Was searching for it on The Island, doing a complete sweep for it there, and then back home, after uprooting a lot of clutter with a lot of dust flying around.
Finally, I found it hidden in the same plastic bag that I put it into while in Thailand, the instance I was there directly from Switzerland... which was about... I think at least 3 trips to Thailand ago.
Haven't charged it since ... in Switzerland.
Unlike my handphones (and of course laptops), I hardly ever charge my camera, which results in it being very easy to misplace my camera charger, with the resultant titanic struggle to locate it.
During those times, I could only imagine real life having a "Ctrl+F" feature to search using keywords. Ahhh, if only.
That could only mean one (1) of three (3) things:
1. The battery life is really very satisfactory.
2. I seldom use my camera. (?)
3. I seldom ever use flash when I use my camera.
Seems like it can last for an infinite number of shots whenever I shoot without flash,
and a remarkably high number of shots even with flash.
The last time many shots were taken with flash was the Zouk-Bachata Night two weeks ago, when Sze took a lot of low-light action photos, all of course requiring flash. Yet I still never needed to charge it. Until now (still haven't charged.)
Camera: 2006 Fujifilm FinePix F30, Winner of the TIPA 2006 Best Compact Digital Camera in Europe.
Chinese Dictionary S...
Piercing the veil - Thanks for provid...
'916'
re: 916 - >>Never liked politics so ...
'916'
916 - Never liked politics so actuall...
'916'
Thanks for the thumbs up review Divin...
'916'
916 - I thought I missed the show but...