I'm sure this rant was long overdue. My issue with Action is the name; yeah, I'm going there.
Plain and simple, it's a generic name. That fact that I had to use "Showcase Action" in the title to make sure people knew I was talking about the channel, even though it's no longer advertised as a spinoff of Showcase, and not the action tv genre is proof that the name just doesn't distinguish it enough.
The name also doesn't do "Action's" programming lineup justice. Action broadcasts a mix between scripted action programming and "high-stakes" reality shows like Cops, Hardcore Pawn, and Impractical Jokers - because nothing says "Action" like watching a guy trying to find his car keys in a pile of elephant poop.
This isn't just another movie channel anymore, it's a channel that can stand out from it's former sister stations and stand with other canadian-branded channels. That's why Action remained as is while Showcase Diva got replaced with a canadian version of Lifetime. It's one of the highest-rated specialty services in Canada, mostly because it targets men; Men who love car chases, explosions, and guys trying to fine their car keys in piles of elephant poop.
It's been four years, it REALLY needs a brand overhaul. Nothing drastic, just enough to make sure that when I bring up "Action", I'm not talking about the french tv channel that has nothing to do with Action. ...No, the channel not the genre!
Friday, 11 October 2013
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Project 64: Hacks for Super Smash Bros 64 [Emudigital.net]
A collection of codes for Super Smash Bros by Emudigital.net
To install, move the .cht file to the Project64 folder. Be sure to backup or move the pre-existing .cht file before hand.
http://www.mediafire.com/download/9dga9nlqx44o81k/Project64.cht
To install, move the .cht file to the Project64 folder. Be sure to backup or move the pre-existing .cht file before hand.
http://www.mediafire.com/download/9dga9nlqx44o81k/Project64.cht
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
What if FXX Canada replaced G4 Canada?
What if FXX Canada replaced G4 Canada? A comedy network, no pun intended, replacing a tech-centric network? Maybe, after all, OWN in Canada replaced Viva; a women's lifestyle channel which itself replaced the Canadian Learning Channel - hence the reason why the CRTC is grilling Corus for not airing enough educational programming. No, I think Rogers Media would be better off just shutting down G4 altogether, that's what Comcast is doing with the american version apparently "according to a public statement filed by Cablevision to the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control" [Wikipedia]
Oh, right, I need to explain what I'm talking about. "Rogers has tentatively planned a January 2014 launch of FXX Canada, a Canadian version of FXX, the spinoff channel to which several FX comedy series moved in the U.S. in September 2013." [Wikipedia] Meanwhile, the latest press releases from RM don't even acknowledge the channel's existence, yet Bio Canada always gets a brief mention. Both EP and Reviews on the Run are now airing in syndication on FX Canada and commercials for OLN, FXC, and even The Shopping Channel air across all Rogers Media properties. If that isn't a sign that G4's days are numbered, in Canada and the United States, I don't know what is.
On the note of "G4 Prime" shutting down, after hearing all the hassle NBCUniversal had trying to shut it down the first time (back when it was supposed to be rebranded as the Esquire Network), I think Discovery Communications would have more luck rebranding The Hub Network as a new incarnation of Discovery Kids - if that really was the case and their Wikipedia page wasn't vandalized by some DK fanboy who apparently has some grudge against The Hub...or bronies....
Oh, right, I need to explain what I'm talking about. "Rogers has tentatively planned a January 2014 launch of FXX Canada, a Canadian version of FXX, the spinoff channel to which several FX comedy series moved in the U.S. in September 2013." [Wikipedia] Meanwhile, the latest press releases from RM don't even acknowledge the channel's existence, yet Bio Canada always gets a brief mention. Both EP and Reviews on the Run are now airing in syndication on FX Canada and commercials for OLN, FXC, and even The Shopping Channel air across all Rogers Media properties. If that isn't a sign that G4's days are numbered, in Canada and the United States, I don't know what is.
On the note of "G4 Prime" shutting down, after hearing all the hassle NBCUniversal had trying to shut it down the first time (back when it was supposed to be rebranded as the Esquire Network), I think Discovery Communications would have more luck rebranding The Hub Network as a new incarnation of Discovery Kids - if that really was the case and their Wikipedia page wasn't vandalized by some DK fanboy who apparently has some grudge against The Hub...or bronies....
Saturday, 5 October 2013
The REAL problem with Channel Drift in 5 minutes
Network decay doesn't kill channels, people kill channels. Had Cartoon Network focused on live-action shows that had SOMETHING to do with animation (Out of Jimmy's Head, Level Up) CN Real wouldn't have been as much of a cancer as the CN babies-I mean, fanboys have made it out to be.
a successful Channel drift is when a network finds what works, gets rid of what doesn't, and then expands their programming to better represent what the're supposed to broadcast. A&E did this by dropping biographies in favor of documentaries and drama shows and AMC did this by focusing more on original programming akin to something seen on pay tv. Because of decay, channels that no one was supposed to give a crap about - such as TLC and Court TV - are now drawing ratings akin to the big four; that's decay done right.
The REAL problem with drift is that networks use decay as an excuse not to improve their channel but to sabotage it. G4 adding non-gaming or tech programming, History adding non-historical programming, Syfy showing professional wrestling, ...do I need to bring up Cartoon Network again? They use drift as an excuse to broadcast shows their not supposed to in order to compete with networks they're not supposed to compete against; ...Again, I'm looking at Cartoon Network.
To me, they just want to broadcast the same shows as the network their trying to compete against. Sure, they're beating them in ratings, but now their channel is just like their competitor. There's no diversity and there's no competition because everyone is trying to get high schoolers and brain-damaged teenage girls to watch the same crappy programming we've already seen on other networks. ...Sorry, I was thinking about It's a Laugh Productions.
The only channels that have the excuse to do whatever they like when it comes to decay are the likes of music channels (Much, M3, MTV) and movie channels (IFC, AMC) because nobody watches either of them anymore. But my point is, if I want to watch basketball, I'll watch a sports channel...not IFC.
a successful Channel drift is when a network finds what works, gets rid of what doesn't, and then expands their programming to better represent what the're supposed to broadcast. A&E did this by dropping biographies in favor of documentaries and drama shows and AMC did this by focusing more on original programming akin to something seen on pay tv. Because of decay, channels that no one was supposed to give a crap about - such as TLC and Court TV - are now drawing ratings akin to the big four; that's decay done right.
The REAL problem with drift is that networks use decay as an excuse not to improve their channel but to sabotage it. G4 adding non-gaming or tech programming, History adding non-historical programming, Syfy showing professional wrestling, ...do I need to bring up Cartoon Network again? They use drift as an excuse to broadcast shows their not supposed to in order to compete with networks they're not supposed to compete against; ...Again, I'm looking at Cartoon Network.
To me, they just want to broadcast the same shows as the network their trying to compete against. Sure, they're beating them in ratings, but now their channel is just like their competitor. There's no diversity and there's no competition because everyone is trying to get high schoolers and brain-damaged teenage girls to watch the same crappy programming we've already seen on other networks. ...Sorry, I was thinking about It's a Laugh Productions.
The only channels that have the excuse to do whatever they like when it comes to decay are the likes of music channels (Much, M3, MTV) and movie channels (IFC, AMC) because nobody watches either of them anymore. But my point is, if I want to watch basketball, I'll watch a sports channel...not IFC.
Too much family shows? [CMT Canada, ABC Spark, YTV]
You know, I really need to bring this up. With Family Channel broadcasting more Disney Channel-fair, they've become less of a "family" channel and more of a tween girl channel. So, with Bionix losing ratings, YTV began to pick up the slack and air more family-oriented programming along with the kid shows the're supposed to be broadcasting. The result, YTV began airing shows like Everybody Hates Chris, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, America's Funniest Home Videos, Just for Laughs Gags, and Wipeout.
Meanwhile, CMT Canada began to transition to become more of a family channel themselves (Relax, they still play country music-related shows, more so than Much does with music in-general, and it's not like Country Music Television [the US version] itself was doing better). See, the problem here is redundancy; it's the reason why CMT in the US still focuses on country music while TNN became the male-oriented Spike TV.
So, you'd think that since Corus, Shaw Media, and the Disney-ABC Television Group teamed up to bring ABC Family to Canada, in the form of the teenage-oriented "ABC Spark," we'd finally get some kind of ground rules for which channel broadcasts what: Spark handles teen programming, CMT handles family-programming, and YTV handles kids programming. Right? Wrong. "Instead, let's have ABC Spark AND CMT air Wipeout, AFV and JFL Gags! Let's stuff CMT's non-video block schedule with reality shows like Fear Factor and Undercover Boss Canada and air shows about food and pets during the weekends. While we're at it, let's show reruns of Wipeout Canada on CMT and YTV. Sure, it's unoriginal, only ran for 11 episodes and won't be renewed for a second season, but who cares?!"
...Yeah, so it's mostly CMT Canada at fault. To be fair, aside from original programming, they have nothing to broadcast in the evenings...except more music videos. They don't broadcast the same "southern-flavored" shows that the american CMT does, their new animated series - Bounty Hunters - airs on The Comedy Network. Here's an idea how about moving all the syndicated programming, save for AMV, to CMT Canada and let them handle the family programming so YTV and Spark can go back to targeting kids and teens, respectively. I don't mind a crossover audience as long as the channels have programming that helps them to stand out on their own - something that CMT Canada, beyond music-related programming, doesn't have.
P.S For the love of dog, if you're not gonna renew Wipeout Canada, then put it on DVD and take it off the air! The only thing worse than a knockoff reality show is a knockoff reality show that's just being used for filler.
Meanwhile, CMT Canada began to transition to become more of a family channel themselves (Relax, they still play country music-related shows, more so than Much does with music in-general, and it's not like Country Music Television [the US version] itself was doing better). See, the problem here is redundancy; it's the reason why CMT in the US still focuses on country music while TNN became the male-oriented Spike TV.
So, you'd think that since Corus, Shaw Media, and the Disney-ABC Television Group teamed up to bring ABC Family to Canada, in the form of the teenage-oriented "ABC Spark," we'd finally get some kind of ground rules for which channel broadcasts what: Spark handles teen programming, CMT handles family-programming, and YTV handles kids programming. Right? Wrong. "Instead, let's have ABC Spark AND CMT air Wipeout, AFV and JFL Gags! Let's stuff CMT's non-video block schedule with reality shows like Fear Factor and Undercover Boss Canada and air shows about food and pets during the weekends. While we're at it, let's show reruns of Wipeout Canada on CMT and YTV. Sure, it's unoriginal, only ran for 11 episodes and won't be renewed for a second season, but who cares?!"
...Yeah, so it's mostly CMT Canada at fault. To be fair, aside from original programming, they have nothing to broadcast in the evenings...except more music videos. They don't broadcast the same "southern-flavored" shows that the american CMT does, their new animated series - Bounty Hunters - airs on The Comedy Network. Here's an idea how about moving all the syndicated programming, save for AMV, to CMT Canada and let them handle the family programming so YTV and Spark can go back to targeting kids and teens, respectively. I don't mind a crossover audience as long as the channels have programming that helps them to stand out on their own - something that CMT Canada, beyond music-related programming, doesn't have.
P.S For the love of dog, if you're not gonna renew Wipeout Canada, then put it on DVD and take it off the air! The only thing worse than a knockoff reality show is a knockoff reality show that's just being used for filler.
Friday, 27 September 2013
Am I ever gonna stop talking about Much/G4/MTV CAN?
... Probably not. They're pretty much the only channels I watch nowadays - along with Slice and the CW. So Teen Wolf, Degrassi & Awkward will be moving to MTV and it looks like Pretty Little Liars will move to M3 (formally MuchMore). Looks like smooth sailing for the MuchMTV Group.
But G4 Canada, the other young adult network I watch, isn't looking so hot. From what I heard, the american version is shutting down in October...unless NBCUniversal can find a way to screw that up again. Soon G4 Canada will be in the same boat as OLN, the canadian version will succeed the american version and become it's own channel. It's nice to see the service return to it's roots, but now's the time to do something to refresh and reinvigorate the channel - and the G4 brand if NBCUniversal will allow Rogers to keep using it in Canada. G4 is now a lifestyle channel for technology but, even after the american version finally bites the dust, no one will know that. When someone brings up G4, someone else will bring up all the stupid decisions the american version has made.
No one knows what Rogers Media has planned for G4; even I had to do some digging around to figure out some clue to what's going on before making this post. Rogers Media hasn't made a press release about the channel since 2011, not even to let people know they were dropping the [as] and OLN shows.
As to what I think they should do, I still wouldn't mind them shifting back to an entertainment format, as long as they still broadcast shows relating to technology. Otherwise, if they're completely rebranding the channel to separate it from the american version, they can do whatever the hell they like...except recycle shows from Rogers' Media's other 3 networks.
But G4 Canada, the other young adult network I watch, isn't looking so hot. From what I heard, the american version is shutting down in October...unless NBCUniversal can find a way to screw that up again. Soon G4 Canada will be in the same boat as OLN, the canadian version will succeed the american version and become it's own channel. It's nice to see the service return to it's roots, but now's the time to do something to refresh and reinvigorate the channel - and the G4 brand if NBCUniversal will allow Rogers to keep using it in Canada. G4 is now a lifestyle channel for technology but, even after the american version finally bites the dust, no one will know that. When someone brings up G4, someone else will bring up all the stupid decisions the american version has made.
No one knows what Rogers Media has planned for G4; even I had to do some digging around to figure out some clue to what's going on before making this post. Rogers Media hasn't made a press release about the channel since 2011, not even to let people know they were dropping the [as] and OLN shows.
As to what I think they should do, I still wouldn't mind them shifting back to an entertainment format, as long as they still broadcast shows relating to technology. Otherwise, if they're completely rebranding the channel to separate it from the american version, they can do whatever the hell they like...except recycle shows from Rogers' Media's other 3 networks.
Sunday, 22 September 2013
Fave Five: Anticipated games
1) Star Wars: Battlefront. (EA/DICE/Disney - 2015)
Star Wars games in general are living proof that not ALL movie-licensed games are crap; if you can't see that, then you must have been playing Force Unleashed II for way too long. Battlefront is a first/third person shooter set within the Star Wars universe that has been compared with the Battlefield series. I would explain more, but I haven't played much of the Battlefront games. The only game I did play was the DS version of Elite Squadron which, while a good game in it's own merit, is not as complete as the PSP version or the other installments.
All I can say is, there will be more gamers anticipating this game then there will be movie lovers anticipating the new Star Wars sequel trilogy. Disney, don't fail us now!
2) Killer Instinct (Microsoft/Double Helix - 2013)
What happens when Mortal Kombat gets into more "kombo" based gameplay? You get Killer Instinct, one of the most beloved fighting games of the past. FYI, this is where the "ULTRAAAAA KOMBOOOOOOOOO" soundbite came from. Yet another game I've seen and heard about but never played, at least not legally. The game revolves around auto-combos, which is exactly what it sounds like. You combo with combos..., sick. After the comeback that was Mortal Kombat 9, it's hard NOT to be exited for this game to come out. It's pretty much the only reason why anyone will get a Xbox One. ...That new announcer sounds scary...
3) Sacred 3 (Deep Silver/Keen Games - 2013?)
It's Diablo with female characters, a hack-and-slash game. ...Yep, haven't played it, but I am currently. Ever since they bought some of THQs IPs, Deep Silver has been on a roll: The success of Metro: Last Light, Saints Row IV being reviewed as (not only better than The Third, but) the best installment of the series since the second game..., and Ride to Hell being reviewed as one of the worst games ever made. But if they can bring back the Sacred series, they will be able to turn that small bit of misfortune around and have a money-making franchise to compete with other western RPG franchises. Not to mention, with Diablo III getting upstaged by a console port, how funny would it be if Sacred 3 on PC got everything right the first time around. Can't wait!
4) Homefront 2 (Crytek - 2014)
Now why would I be exited about this game? Gameplay-wise, the original Homefront was a shameless little turd that THQ shilled out to appeal to those FPS brats, those stupid children, you know who I'm talking about. They spent millions overhyping what was basically a generic, linar, almost-unoriginal game. Almost unoriginal, because there one thing I liked about Homefront: the interesting setting and characters which made the game feel like something out of a cable drama, an award winning cable drama. The only problem with the story was, like a typical generic shooter, it ended with a horrible boss fight and an unsatisfying cliffhanger.
The game has also received praise for it's multiplayer, something I would have enjoyed if THQ didn't make the annoying decision to implement an online pass! The single-player campaign was garbage, so what makes you think people are willing to spend an extra $10 to try out the multiplayer. The one thing THQ was banking on to make a profit, and they prevent players from doing it. This is the reason why they went bankrupt.
Originally Crytek would be only developing the sequel but, now that THQ's kicked the bucket, Crytek has been given full control! That's why I'm exited about this game. Where Homefront had a creative story, Homefront 2 is guaranteed to have better gameplay. To hell with Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty: Ghosts, this is the blockbuster shooter game I'm waiting for.
5) Destiny (Activision/Bungie - 2014)
The publisher of the best-selling shooter franchise meets the developer of the best shooter period. How can you not be exited. This game sounds like the type of offline/online shooter RPG that would make Fallout 3/NV and Borderlands look like baby toys: character customization, a living world, superpowers!
...I don't need to say anything else. You don't need to compare it to Halo to know it's gonna kick-ass!
Star Wars games in general are living proof that not ALL movie-licensed games are crap; if you can't see that, then you must have been playing Force Unleashed II for way too long. Battlefront is a first/third person shooter set within the Star Wars universe that has been compared with the Battlefield series. I would explain more, but I haven't played much of the Battlefront games. The only game I did play was the DS version of Elite Squadron which, while a good game in it's own merit, is not as complete as the PSP version or the other installments.
All I can say is, there will be more gamers anticipating this game then there will be movie lovers anticipating the new Star Wars sequel trilogy. Disney, don't fail us now!
2) Killer Instinct (Microsoft/Double Helix - 2013)
What happens when Mortal Kombat gets into more "kombo" based gameplay? You get Killer Instinct, one of the most beloved fighting games of the past. FYI, this is where the "ULTRAAAAA KOMBOOOOOOOOO" soundbite came from. Yet another game I've seen and heard about but never played, at least not legally. The game revolves around auto-combos, which is exactly what it sounds like. You combo with combos..., sick. After the comeback that was Mortal Kombat 9, it's hard NOT to be exited for this game to come out. It's pretty much the only reason why anyone will get a Xbox One. ...That new announcer sounds scary...
3) Sacred 3 (Deep Silver/Keen Games - 2013?)
It's Diablo with female characters, a hack-and-slash game. ...Yep, haven't played it, but I am currently. Ever since they bought some of THQs IPs, Deep Silver has been on a roll: The success of Metro: Last Light, Saints Row IV being reviewed as (not only better than The Third, but) the best installment of the series since the second game..., and Ride to Hell being reviewed as one of the worst games ever made. But if they can bring back the Sacred series, they will be able to turn that small bit of misfortune around and have a money-making franchise to compete with other western RPG franchises. Not to mention, with Diablo III getting upstaged by a console port, how funny would it be if Sacred 3 on PC got everything right the first time around. Can't wait!
4) Homefront 2 (Crytek - 2014)
Now why would I be exited about this game? Gameplay-wise, the original Homefront was a shameless little turd that THQ shilled out to appeal to those FPS brats, those stupid children, you know who I'm talking about. They spent millions overhyping what was basically a generic, linar, almost-unoriginal game. Almost unoriginal, because there one thing I liked about Homefront: the interesting setting and characters which made the game feel like something out of a cable drama, an award winning cable drama. The only problem with the story was, like a typical generic shooter, it ended with a horrible boss fight and an unsatisfying cliffhanger.
The game has also received praise for it's multiplayer, something I would have enjoyed if THQ didn't make the annoying decision to implement an online pass! The single-player campaign was garbage, so what makes you think people are willing to spend an extra $10 to try out the multiplayer. The one thing THQ was banking on to make a profit, and they prevent players from doing it. This is the reason why they went bankrupt.
Originally Crytek would be only developing the sequel but, now that THQ's kicked the bucket, Crytek has been given full control! That's why I'm exited about this game. Where Homefront had a creative story, Homefront 2 is guaranteed to have better gameplay. To hell with Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty: Ghosts, this is the blockbuster shooter game I'm waiting for.
5) Destiny (Activision/Bungie - 2014)
The publisher of the best-selling shooter franchise meets the developer of the best shooter period. How can you not be exited. This game sounds like the type of offline/online shooter RPG that would make Fallout 3/NV and Borderlands look like baby toys: character customization, a living world, superpowers!
...I don't need to say anything else. You don't need to compare it to Halo to know it's gonna kick-ass!
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