Category: Video Games

Kyoto 2016: Nintendo HQ

Date of Travel: February 27, 2016

After visiting the Fushimi-Inari Shrine, I started walking westward to make my way towards Nintendo headquarters.

But first! I thought I saw Raiden from Mortal Kombat.

_IMG_5181

I mean, from afar, the outfit is pretty convincing. But when I walked over the bridge and passed by this supposed Raiden, I was a little surprised. It was a woman! And she was praying! Or something. I’m not sure what was going on or why she was on the bridge dressed like that. Either way, I think that set the tone for this little nerdy side trip to Nintendo by running into someone who reminds me of Raiden.

raiden-mk9

After walking for a while, I finally made it to the city block where Nintendo has its headquarters in Kyoto.

_DSC04366

I knew from reading stuff online that there’s really nothing more to see about Nintendo other than this. They don’t have anything for the nerdy visitor to come and see like a museum or gift shop or anything. Therefore, I merely stood and walked around the perimeter and pondered what’s NX for Nintendo (pun intended). I’m sure they’re hard at work behind these sidewalk walls.

Now, I know another popular Nintendo location to visit in Kyoto is Nintendo’s original building. Like, from when they were purely a playing card company. I didn’t spend the time to figure out where it was and even then, I think it was out of the way of my intended itinerary. Maybe next time!

After visiting Nintendo HQ, I made my way over to the nearest subway station to head back towards Kyoto Station for my next destination!

To be continued.

-JD

Raiden // Fighters Generation

With The End Game In Mind

IMG_5087

One of the many video games I enjoy playing is Skyrim. It’s the fifth installment of the Elder Scrolls series of role-playing video games, but I’ve never played any of the previous ones. I hear they’re amazing and epic in their own right.

Skyrim puts the player in the Fine Boots of the Dragonborn. Dragons have reappeared in the land, and it’s up to the player to guide the Dragonborn through the wilds, depths, heights, and settlements of Skyrim to figure out why dragons have reappeared and to put a stop to them. What makes the Dragonborn the Dragonborn is the ability to learn, use, and absorb dragon powers! Along the way, the Dragonborn can partake in other adventures to further develop other skills and pursue other experiences. It’s pretty vast to describe here, but that’s the general idea.

As with any role-playing game (RPG), character development is key. In Skyrim, you can develop your Dragonborn’s array of weapon skills, armor skills, magic skills, and other practical skills. No nunchuck skills, however. A lot of nerdy players focus on their stats, skills, and equipment for the end of the game. This can be a big deal because focusing on an awesome character is a lot of work, especially for Skyrim.

In playing Skyrim, I’ve done some research on the best light armors in the game. By research, I mean Skyrim wikis and YouTube videos. I haz a Wood Elf Archer/Conjurer, and Light Armor is conducive to characters possessing non-melee and non-magical attack skills. To get some of the best light armors in the game requires a pretty high Smithing skill in order to create those light armors. If I wanted to really focus on my end game in Skyrim, I’d need to spend the time to collect the necessary materials and develop my Smithing skill. All this amidst slaying dragons and raising my Archery and Conjuring skills to max. Alas, I tend to get distracted by other such quests as becoming the master thief, the master archmage, master assassin, becoming a werewolf, unbecoming a werewolf, building my own house, and adopting kids. You know, the usual Skyrim-ish things. I don’t have a high Smithing skill currently. One day.

Continue reading “With The End Game In Mind”