Osamu Tezuka and the Tokiwa Art Apartment
Known as the "God of Manga" and was influenced from Disney, Colleagues, and Comics... This particular individual was Osamu Tezuka, creator of Astro Boy which had reached huge success overseas in America and at home in Japan (1952-1968). This influenced Comics, Shows, and Games at the time of their productions, like: Mobile Suit Gundam (1979), Nausicaa Valley of the Wing (1984), and Space Ship Yamato. These creators were inspired as children and grew into the profession to pursue art under such a revolutionary art talent such as Tezuka. Tokiwa Art Apartment is an apartment building that is famous as the birthplace of Japanese manga culture. Osamu Tezuka lived there from (1953). Hiroo Terada lived there and created Kintaro, Fujiko Fujio lived there and made Doraemon, and Shotaro Ishinomori who created Cyborg 009 and Kamen Rider, and Fujio Akatsuka of Osomatsu-kun and Himitsu no Akko-chan. The building is a cultural heritage site of manga culture by Toshima Ward in Tokyo. When looking at the ideas of Mega Man it shows similarities to works of many people in the Tokiwa Apartments. In particular it would be Osamu Tezuka for his tragic, naive, positive, child friendly storytelling and Shotaro Ishinomori's work of Cyborg 009 that has red characters with capes and resemble the character Blues. While other children shows could be taken into consideration into finding out the norms for what could attract the youngest of audiences as well as older audiences to make products that could stand the test of time. Rockman in Japan, the name of Mega Man was released in (1987) that was near the time of people influenced from Tezukas work. People lay many comparisons to the storyline and bases of Mega Man to the redesigns that were turned in by Keiji Inafune that follow Tezukas art style with facial drawings and egglike arms and legs for robots. While its not blatant coping it could be safe to say that Keiji Inafunes initial ideas could have been inspired by Tezuka sensei. Capcom once had the license for Astro Boy and as it had expired the company had pursued to make their own icon. At the end of the first Mega Man game you will see the company giving homage to this idea with Toby (Astroboy) in a cameo.
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FIGHT FOR LIFE: ALBERT WILY
The main antagonist of MegaMan is none other than Dr. Albert Wily! he is known as pure evil by his schemes within history as the legendary mad scientist. But that begs to make people question what makes him so legendary and what makes him a scientist who went mad? Dr.Wily went to the school of RIT (Robot Institute of Technology), which is probably a joke comparing it to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Both are Drs of Electronic Engineering. It is shown that they are aged with white hair, assumingly going into their late 50's-60's can show when their achievements have been recognized. This means the audiences would need to dive deep into the past to get a sense of what built up to the all out robot wars of Dr Light versus Dr Wily. Pre-MegaMan, it would likely have a tale that told about both young scientists, but in this discussion it will be focusing on Wily. As Young Scientists they are all classified as equals to their peers and thought of potential that's not proven to their professors. In learning of commonly seen good traits of attendance would be Thomas Light, but Albert Wily would be more likely to be a bad kid and decidedly ditch class if he may have already known the lesson which he was being lectured on. This could lead on to possibly scenarios of unemployment versus ease of employment by connections of the school recommendations and so on for a easy path versus a rather harsh one. In Germany, which would be the place of Albert Wily's life after Mega Man would be likely to be another continent far from RIT in given his accent. An idea would be that it could have been where he may have disappeared to in rethinking his position in science when always being compared and seen as lesser to his partner Thomas Light. It means he may have even found a non strenuous repetitive job in an office or place of income and seclusion to make sure there was amply time to rethink what he may have wanted to do with his upcoming middle aged years of his life. Daydream being a high celebrated scientist, but little did he know that his race to be acknowledged would allow him to create some of the most dangerous weapons of war to ever touch the planet. On behalf of Alberts family background there isn't much information. The games do not expand on the idea much more than being abandoned or not respected within it. Which could lead to ideas of him being a loser or unaccomplished at the time of them making that decision of status. Or before the time of his awards and they could even have passed away. This would be telling as it means he could have lost his parents at a much earlier age than post-megaman I. A few questions as a scientist in electrical engineering might give him some problems that could have bothered him. He may have had experience in artificial intelligence in understanding the possibilities of danger and warning signs involved in its pathways. Another idea could be the existence of being able to create a free will of the artificial intelligence with Thomas uncovering its secrets while Albert could have cowardly, yet safely claimed its destruction of humanity and the science of robotic progress could be blind to their own death by unleashing free will of robots. Another theory which could be controversial would be to imagine a world of robotic automation with seeing programmed robots to race to produce faster than any human with the sight of humans being left behind as robots rapidly progress to no end to spark its connection to businesses and the theory of Robotic Innerspirit that links the freewill of being alive can be one and the same to equally point at a robot being no different from humans. A flexible idea that is Robolife for a dynamic idea of human interaction with robots and the future of how robots will effect the world. Being a complete outsider with his ambitious and riding the hope that people would see the same ideas as a road of what could be a warning of things to come were in his heart. But, challenging the establishment and progressive nature of his colleague would have proven this near impossible while not being constantly involved at the time in the science in his job would lower his credibility and make him almost laughable. Everyone's concept of robots would be creation to make human lives easier and create more money for large corporations and manufacturers. With submitting the idea to be realized by the industry at large, scientific community, and robotics technologies would end in a fruitless entry of theories. Having many years go like this could drive someone to places of silence and depression. The Theories would fall into the hands of a credible academic source who would be able to analyze these ideas of robotic theory. It could go the way of awards or complete exilement from the community at large and marked as mad, but in the case of doctor wily at this age it would most likely be marked for genius. But, theoretically it opens up the potential for him to go against his morals and destroy all his enemies using these same theories in a opportunistic manner. More on Wilys story later as his years of middle age would be its own discussion... lets get back to the series. As it gets closer to the makings of Proto Man, Mega Man, and Roll... to the timeline of Mega Man I... The awards for Dr Light and lesser recognitions to Dr Wily are noted, which would mean years later the scar of defeat is opened time and time again from the colleague comparison of being not as good as Dr Light. It would mark a scar on his mind that would lead him down a road of depression from being compared and even family problems in seeing himself as a loser who was never meant to overcome the odds of the field of science or socializing with other people. This could mute out all the people talking about Albert Wily's accomplishments in place of his need to be included in things more than science itself through some type of acknowledgement of people. This need would be produced by having his only focus of socializing being included in the elites of the industry. Mega Man I, while there is no time for the whole megaman franchise explanation for Wily it is important to end with the first game. The two scientists Thomas and Albert were seen as much older adults working on robots to help society. This would be Industrial Robots to be developed with Thomas Light and less on Domestic Robots to help with society as it was more Thomas's interest afterwards. Something within this time period sparked the battle between scientists to take us into the entirety of the doctor versus doctor rivalry in Megaman lore. ROBO-ETHICS of ENGINEERING:
By the storylore Mega Man is a robot, and must follow a set of rules of no killing, but in Mega Man VII the character states he is "More than a Robot" and chooses that to kill Dr.Wily (Human). This refers to the idea of machine ethics in the decision making of Robots that was popularized by Sci-fi novelists. Asimov's Laws of Robotics: A robot may not nor allow injury to a human, they must obey humans, and must protect its own existence. This keeps robots under control, until scientists create artificial intelligence so great and free that it could be on a similar grounds of a human. This idea is explored in shows that have robots, androids, and wars involving robot invasions, societal integration, and roles in humanity. Robots are programmed based on a Humans decision of how much freedom of choice they allow them in the given code. This creates a responsibility of the creator to understand and respect what it is they are working on. This also shows a type of responsibility the person must take as more freedoms are given to their creations. This leads us to all the scientists who may have been involved in the creation of the artificial intelligence that would lead to such discoveries. Robots after Proto Man, Rock Man, and Roll... including the Robot Masters have used the artificial intelligence to have a freedom of will. This is explained throughout the games in which Proto Man escapes of his own free will, so Rock and Roll are made as a second attempt, while with good intentions the other Robot Masters are made for helping with the workforce. Dr.Wily who wasn't fast enough to develop or possibly even too scared to allow such a development of robot intelligence had taken an opportunity to surpass his rival Dr.Light. The Black and White to the Evil and Good that is a common point in children's story turns grey with the later games of the Mega Man Original series... Initially Dr.Wily takes the first group of Robot Masters and re-codes them to do his bidding, so he can better analyze and deconstruct the ideas which Dr.Light had done in his artificial intelligence research to be on an even playing field of scientific knowledge. In Mega Man IX, things take a turn where robots are being convinced of their now normalized free wills to join Dr.Wily in his plans instead of being directly reprogrammed. While everyone knows Dr.Wily wants to take over the world there is no explanation of how he wants to take over the world, but that's a discussion for another time. Going back to robot ethics in looking at rules and laws or even funding as parts of the story that have yet to be properly explored. It gives a huge amount of incite to Dr.Lights ignoring theorizing as something to do in the effects of giving robots freewill and the many consequences of other creations he has made. This could include all the robots he developed and their tools that could be transformed into weapons and so on, so even knowing a full list of such creations would give people a even better idea of how he has effected the world... for better or for worse. Bringing up the ideas of potential dangers of artificial intelligence and more ideas on the threats to the human race, which becomes even more relevant in the X series. Megaman World Design
The places you go are just as important as the characters you see on the screen. When players play Megaman they choose thematic robot masters to fight that have a memorable contrast from one another. Being in the online Megaman community since 1997 as Waveman of the MM5 team... I have seen quite a lot of discussions about the possibilities of the active community back then. We are lucky in todays time to get so many translations and answers to the questions of back then. Many Keiji Inafune interviews, many projects, and many fanfictions later it is easier to see today through translation the process Megaman creators took back in the day to make our beloved hero. And from that conceptualizing parts of the missing world we wondered about with the same type of mindset. Fictional Scientist stories references...Thomas Light (loosely based on Thomas Edison) and Albert Wily (loosely based on Albert Einstein) so that opens to the concept trend of using real life scientists to inspire story concepts and lessons in their philosophies of science. Inspiration in World Design For example in Megaman 8 there is Frost Mans level which has colors of orange,yellow, light blues, and smooth services in a construction site with ice all over. This reflects the robot master itself as well as makes you question where the stage is located. Luckily for us we can see that it is located in Nunavat. All of these form questions that flesh out the story and make for an even more immersive world. For the gamer it makes them think into asking if there are other places in Canada? what is the globe area still called Nunavat Province or something else? What technology does the area Frostman is in have, or has Frostman stage enemies and himself have unique technology? What is the uses of such technology for people in the area? It can truly inspire, but since its based on real life places there can be a few ideas to draw on from the real world while thinking about how it would be in the Megaman world. Discussing World Design The creation of world design is apart of game development from the creator and reflected on from the players. There are many perspectives in platformers of how a good game is perceived. There are The Runners (those who enjoy speed) in their game, The Precisions (those who enjoy jumping and accuracy), The Fighters (those who enjoy combat and character identity). These are just a few of the fundamental types to consider. Storywise it is important to understand how each place helps the story progress. There might be key plot points into solving the mystery, continuing a battle, or information of plot points that are needed to make the story go forward. This can include Robot Master Battles, Rival Battles, Quest Battles, Opposition Faction encounters, Secret Information, Mechanic introductions, Meeting new characters (Parents, Rivals, Family, Friends, Favorite things)Explanation of a design or item, or New technology. Conceptualized World Design You build up areas, towns, dungeons, and encounters. Each place will feel unified between games, which is what Megaman needs for the Classic series for consisted narrative. A game needs sections or modules of places to explore, so a Classic game may have robot masters from around the world with different regions being available in its own zone delineation or game title. The Real World Translated for Megaman People enjoy locating real life locations tied to them with certain small parts to connect themselves to the game travel wise or resident wise. Sometimes that alone makes people interested to give a game a try. Some will even continue playing and anticipating for a title to feature their part of the real world planet. The real world would have a basis of design in the approach and not really copy the area. A creator would choose probably 25% likeness with major changes based on the series itself. The uniqueness of a game is its design approach and how much different it is from our actual world, so having a idea that replicates the real world may not give it that fictional excitement players are looking for when dealing with a title such as Megaman. In the game it would have a starting town with introductions to a theme, fashion style, and characters unique to the story that start the game off to help teach the player what themes to expect for the design of the title. A few areas of the real world map maybe chosen and really changed up with small hints of what or where it could be found on a real When people go to places within a game series they want the sense of adventure, exploration, and game use.world map with deep analysis. Area Essentials in Megaman World Design It is important to get down what is needed to make a area memorable. So we will start with a pattern guide on how to do just that. The area on the planet must have a "Region Theme" this would include naming conventions, colors, animals robots and plants, building designs, environment design. What this does is set the theme that is needed for the entire region that the portion of the story will be telling. It might even be a good idea to stay within one region per title for the sake of lower costs, easier design of constant elements being redrawn, and create a regional episodic expectation of the series itself in its marketing. The functions of the town might be something to keep interest in the town, such as: several or more buildings that have mini-stories attached to them, several stores and interactive features, main attractions as if it were a travel site, geography, and the people. As we know Megaman doesn't seem to have too much to explain in the ways of towns, however we have seen functions in some of its 3D titles from Capcom. Megaman Legends is important to note regardless of the financial failure of the game... the design of the theme is important to note. A open world was designed with many parts missing from the Classic series. Megaman Legends explains the family of Megaman and their relationships, different areas, and faction based story that makes the story increasingly interesting as well as increasing its complexity. Frost Man's Area Explained Places have maps and a slow reveal of a map can be really interesting for building hype. But not only that, but it can also show a theme that can be used time and time again. The music for the stage in Frostman's level uses specific instruments and beats that could be used in other parts of the area's music approach. The pacing of the stage deals with precision, so maybe the diverse puzzles and adventure may deal with more precision than usual in its game design. A few of these maybe the jumping of falling blocks, difficult to see snow, learning how to jump at the right time from enemies shooting ice blocks, and oddly timed enemies who ram while bouncing off the walls. A way to diverse for example the block shooters in the stage would be asking what direction are the blocks shooting. Could we make a red block shooter that shoots the blocks up and they come crashing down? Could we Make dark blue block shooters that shoot at a faster frequency? can we make a yellow ice shooter that shoots two ice blocks? Thinking of direction, frequency, and speed are a good starting point in thinking about area related enemies. This can be done for any robot masters stage to expand on the already layed out ideas of the Megaman series of enemies. Megaman Internets and Net Navi The Battle Network and Star Force series also expanded on the Megaman series with similar design concepts, but done even deeper with both titles being made after Megaman Legends. Capcom's development of a Megaman Internet would introduce the unique designs of their interface designs for technology. While the classic designs fit the Megaman World the internet of that world would most likely resemble Battle Network. To include those invested in the series it would be important to implement the ideas that further explained aspects of the Megaman World. For example Chips include feature abilities, such as Battle Chips. Navi Opts Mobile Personal Terminals (PET devices) are the mobile technology of the MegaMan world. Various terminal models appear throughout the series in a wide variety of colors and styles, which can be the basis of the evolution of these devices from title to title with possible companies being created in the process. This could greatly effect game play aspects of those who are operators. A Theory even suggests that the Battle Network Internet may be related to the creation of "The Deep" where Network Operators assist you. Looking deeper into this concept could unlock a whole world of challenges a Operator from the Megaman Classic series could have and its evolution to the Mega Man X Operator job title. Which could make seemingly non-conflict oriented characters to having a very strong personality when in the internet space. From the very first Mega Man game there were consumable items used for points and life. They continued to evolve as the series grew to have multiple options with weapons, services, and game mechanics. It really helped bring interesting game-play that is quite creative. While there are some who prefer limited consumables being used and some do not like certain items in general it can not be disputed that it is within the tool kit of its creators.
Mega Man series item types were designed with the idea in mind of single play through with the exception Mega Man 7 with the password save-system and 8 which considered the data-card save-system. But for those without such save systems in their designs only left just enough items in the stages to assist in the completion of the stages and increasingly difficult last levels to complete the game. So, let us look at a few of the recognizable items that have been put in the game shall we? Single-use Items Items are not new to the Megaman series with the first E-Tank consumable to be found in Mega Man 2 (1988). Mega Man 3 introduced the multiple full-restore items (E-Tanks) of having many one-time-use items. There are also Full Restore Items (Tanks) that are also single use. There are numbered tanks that are called Reusable Items (-Tanks) that allow for multiple uses. This is standard in role playing games where a number is beside the number of lives or restoration amounts. For those who want to have a back up supply of items there are the Mega Man X introduced Refill-use Items (Sub-Tanks) that are important to put less stress on the player for a more enjoyable free testing experience. Currency In game design the role of a score would be used as a currency for prestige, however as players payed less attention to scores in games currencies role would evolve. In game currency would directly effect the game through the idea of exchange of goods and services as in real life currency. At this time instead of a counter-item the uses of currency became a consumable item. In the wake of mobile game development there is the use of pay-to-consume currency that is used for free-to-play (F2P) models. Instead of charging players up front for a title or for large updates they collect their funds and recover their production costs through in game transactions. Sometimes even exclusively. Mega Man has always been seen as a packaged game, which in this case the old pay-to-upgrade (P2U) model is used. Games that target long term longevity or life spans are planned with extensive in-game currency systems, extensive item gathering, and social game mechanics. This means currency plays a very important role in the development of Mega Man titles for added replay value that can be collected alone (1 player), with a friend (2 player), several friends (3-5 Players), or in a party (12 players). Currency of Bolts Usages Mega Man had started experimenting with currency heavily in 1995 (Mega Man 7) through the vendor named "Auto" for the first in-game store using the currency of enemy dropped "Bolts", hidden and discovered "Hyper Bolts" that can upgrade store selections. These show that shops can be upgraded and that shops have their own specialty and shops in towns could possibly have unique hidden shopping selections based on a towns missing Hyper Bolts. Most likely this would be in the form of some sort of quest as in Mega Man 7 Auto explains he is missing his stores Hyper Bolt which in this case allows for the store ability to give unlocked new items and reduced item prices. In a long term title there would most likely be several types of Hyper Bolts for each function involved at the store. Possibly showing the more quests you do for a store the more you can upgrade a store as you do Mega Man himself. Stores that Take Bolts As many other titles that have types of currencies there would be a time and place for bolts, hyper bolts, and other currencies of robots. The world also is comprised of humans, so maybe there would be a use for cash and credit as well in this sort of environment. Maybe even a mixture of Bolts and In-Game Mega Cash. Could make things really interesting if the developers make both regularly easy to get. That way when there are harder more difficult later game items that are needed they can have specialized currencies that have their own uses. Locations such as stores create a need to go to certain locations for identity reasons, purchase reasons, quest/story reasons, and customization reasons. There are stores created when game developers are thinking of extending a games replay value with the idea of long term player retention. So adding stores would add more interest and open up the options for towns and locations to explore more of the Mega Man World. Gachapon Feature Monetization is how some games give an option from the normal pay for direct-content (P4D) to a lesser pay for chance-content option (P4C). that There are also game features effected with: Gachapon feature with a random chance to get a game option based on which Gachapon store you choose to pull a game option from. Legally it is necessary that the game makers show the percentage chance of a pull. F2P use multiple gachapon features to add long term gameplay value for collector gamers. There are many types of Gachapon features... such as: Cash Gachapon for Normal Tier Game Releases, In-Game Time Release Gachapon for Normal Tier Game releases, Low Tier Game Release Free Gachapon with Friend incentives. Lower percentage Gachapon for Event based Game Releases. Mega Man has had a collecting aspect ever singe the Battle Network series, which has boosted its popularity in the target younger audience of players. Storage Keep Function (Storage Keeper?) While storage doesn't seem like its directly connected, but is it? the storage of consumable items from the Gachapon could be using slots within a players storage space, so its very important. A storage could be on the player and expanded through consumables. Item Maker Function (Merging Specialist? and/or Item?) would involve storage as well. It would have to deal with the Consolidation of currency, Consolidation of in-game currency, Enhancement System (currency consumption for ). The function of a item maker function would directly be connected to the storage functions being just another layer of controlling storage space. Robot Pet Mechanic In Megaman, players have had the allies of : Fliptop/Eddie, Rush, Treble, Tango, Beat, Met, and more. In long term games there are options for buying Pets that follow behind you and respond to commands. In Megaman pets tend to teleport in and out when they are needed, so the use of pets would have limited screen time. However, it would be great to involve a feature to have a pet follow you without teleporting out. There would be numerous different types of pets, and in some versions have varying abilities or stats. One of the most important things to note is when players are introduced to long term play there are a large amount of item collection that could be minimized from a item, pet, or upgrade. These could have different levels or abilities themselves with upgrades with types of items they could pick up, percentages of auto pick up, speed of pick up, etc. Depending on how deep they want to take pets there could also be types of pets that can attack like Treble does in Mega Man 7. Adaptor Armors of Pets There could also be a variety of Adaptor Armor depending on what pet upgrades, equipment slot equips, and pet progression is planned for the different types of pets. With adaptor armor being so popular there would likely be a specialty in it, so that there is a sort of game-play style that is intended for Adaptor Armor players. As we have seen in the past most adaptor armors are from four legged pets. Flying Pets tend to have abilities for picking up items or even the character themselves with the addition of Beat. Fliptop Pets seem to always have some sort of restoration item or delivery like ability to purchase things from the shop while in a stage. The cast of Mega Man has given a diverse amount of pet options in some basic starter ideas of what to do with different types of pets. This would differentiate Standard Character Players, Pet Oriented Players, Armor Oriented Players, Combat System Oriented Players, Speed Oriented Players, Team Meet Oriented Players, and Social Oriented Players. Currency Changes In game production there was in-game currency rewards for players for exchange for all content due to low-production costs of games. Megaman is a medium costing franchise which can't afford to do this, due to the niche and limited fanbase. Types of Games Require Types of Item Development A typical Mega Man game is restricted to its Arcade mode which has the basic action platform game experience. You can beat the game by playing right through Megaman games with a little bit of skill depending which difficulty is selected. You can play right through and just pick up what you find on your way instead of having any large amount of thinking or decision making involved, which makes arcade mode pretty therapeutic at times. Play as fast as you want or as slow as you want with a end game easily in sight. In games with Story modes or Role Playing Mechanics there are several progressions in a game. Through the progression of a game there is the: Startgame, Earlygame, Midgame, Lategame, Endgame. Arcade would be fairly short in its explanations. However for a long term game play these sections can be elaborated with large amounts of data and deepness to a game title. This is because players who are looking at long term game play can play a title for even years on end. Seasons for games tend to last at least four years at a time before a company decides to make some sort of remake or reboot. Arcade Setting Stagnant Consumable Items Limited Life-Restoration, Limited Weapon-Restoration, Restricted of a games 8 robot master weapon types. Refillable Life-Restoration, Refillable Weapon-Restoration, and Meter Extension Items. Story Setting Consumable Items Automatic upgrades as the story progresses as the creator sees fit to best work for the storyline. Roleplaying Setting Consumable Items All the items in the Arcade Setting, but with customization options. This is a broad statement of the possibilities with this long term approach, however not many aspects of this have been shown in the series. These would have to be compared with titles such as Mega Man Legends, Mega Man Battle Network/Mega Man Star Force, and Mega Man X Dive. Inter-connectivity of Game Worlds
Open world are plentiful, however good open world games are few. Many players ask what is the point of a open world game which is the padding of quests, experience, and equipment. The Quests system is okay, but when it doesn't seem to effect the story or theme of the game it is a hindrance. Experience is great as you level up for more explorations and control of difficulty, but for it to be a reward for anything doesn't make any quest more memorable if it has no significant impact of the game play of new scenarios. Equipment changes the game play in stats, but that mostly enhances the late game and that is only one part of the game play. Sense of Discovery of Open World Its hard to make a open world game feel the sense of discovery which it promises, so how would someone go about that. Sometimes the answers are copying old trends like how mini-maps have information to help the player, yet they make your eyes look at it instead of the open world we all are trying to take in. Way-point markers on such mini maps take away from understanding where the destination is, so the answer is to have a map in its own window to access instead of on the play screen. Another difficult aspect to work with is save points in where people die and re-spawn and in Megaman in particular the open world games still have numbered lives. The Capcom Change to Open World When there are platform games that feature a single large interconnected map with subsections and even sub-rooms for three layers of interwoven areas on a single map there is a term. This term all within a single map is called a "Metroidvania style Open World". Platform games have been moving in this direction for a more full world experience of exploration and adventure. Megaman games have nothing wrong in the single play through, limited lives, and eight boss selection menu, however for a open world experience this can cause some major problems in the feeling of the title. The limited lives can be seen to distract from the mission or the boss selection may make the game feel too linear. The single player aspect may take away from the social nature of modern day titles for a game community to be involved with one anothers playing experience. Modern day players do enjoy their single player experience . So much so, that some even refer to it as a "Arcade Mode" or "Story Mode" as separate play modes. Open World Experiments of Mega Man Zero Keiji Inafune saw peoples changing interests in more detailed worlds. He decided to that this would create new interest from fans in wanting a more complete world in his vision of newer titles. At the time of the Mega Man Zero series. So Capcom games for mobile gaming systems went in the direction of open world. When the game came out it felt as if the open world never really got the attention it needed. In the game Mega Man Zero ZX the open world felt incomplete and in conclusion it felt poorly executed due to limitations. This was due to the poor map designs which made players travel aimlessly in a area till they find the boss. Every quest seemed very separate and not seamless in its need to exist in the game. Maybe the staff wanted to do more, but something got in the way of either time, design and money, or possibly even stress. This can be seen with the map correlation not functioning cohesively , the area naming conventions being difficult to remember with many areas being labeled by letters and numbers, or areas not being as memorable story wise but fine in appearance. Freedom Theming of Open World In Megaman titles over the years it used the model of lives, however in open world titles lives are not necessary due to the concentration being on learning through analysis rather than grinding and dying while being stopped by a strange obstacle. Having no lives lets the player worry about the puzzle problem, so it doesn't take away from the playing experience. Side Quests that only concentrate on direct experience rewards, currency rewards, or for a item makes the motivations seem boring. There needs to be a variety of activities involved to motivate players like item customization, feature enhancement, extra backstory, and allow for the completion of the game in quick way or a long way. Diverse specialty in dungeons are important as well to create thematics of areas. Making a choice is what makes people feel like they are free. But making options of how a player decides to play instead of a single linear path makes playing the game fresh. If things change in the world depending on what quest you completed gives a sense of change in the world. If there are differences in day, night, or season in the game world it can create a sense of real life as well. That freshness is what gamers are looking for in their expectations of full developed world. Teleportation Fast Travel When people use fast travel they do not see the travel areas on the way. It makes it seem like the developed areas are overlooked with there being no limitations to typical fast travel in open world games. Having limited fast travel to say towns and/or use an item from anywhere to get to a town may hold its own benefit to the game by giving weight to a destination and make a meaning to explore more in that particular area traveled to. In Mega Man Zero ZX, the Warp System is a dated system that stagnates in its travel. While it is good that players can have a location that promises fast travel the player feels like they must go to that location instead of having it as an option. Having travel methods that quickly take a player from one point to another while seeing the scenery is apart of the open world experience. Another aspect is giving meaning to parts less explored in dungeons on reasons to go back, such as places to refill "sub tanks" or other reasons. Save Points of Open World Games Save points in Mega Man games originally started with passwords, then automatically on data for complete stages, and in open world they used stationary save spots. However, in modern gaming a save point is placed by a player with a limited ability points that can be regained through a specific speciallized item during enemy item drop. Motivational Puzzle Punishment, is a design change that describes quick re-spawns and tight controls with precisely placed enemies. The experience changes the players irritation to deep thought and intense concentration that equates to raw gaming ability. The increase of skill is from trying different ways to play and overcoming the challenges of the puzzle. The player understands that the character has its limitations in its power and the only thing going up at a certain point is skill. While not all levels need to be this way it does help if some levels are built this way to help with the middle game to late game, which is different from the standard early game introduce the tools of the game. This is great to add in addition to the tool kit of game makers who want players to have an attitude of not giving up that is trained from the game. The World of Mega Man
The Map that shows the world is how players see where they are and get a sense of place. Each part of the map does their part in showing the exploration a player has gone through. When people are taking a look at large land divisions it is a known "Region" which is where a game takes place in. It is good to stick with a single region at a time, so players can get familiar with the area and enjoy the surroundings. Regions in Mega Man? While many older games always had their own separate regions on a map they were always used to tell the story and less so effect the game itself. The regions may explain some sort of area a character was from or even a basic idea of what to expect, but as games evolved, so did the way we use regions in games. A region in Mega Man is an organized area of the Mega Man world. As mentioned previously there are at least eight known regions that have appeared from Mega Man games canon. We see these regions on maps on where people fight the Robot Masters in the Classics or the Mavericks in the X series, but is there a way to explore these areas more thoroughly? Players actually can through proper game design. They can go on the "Region Map" they will start to scroll around and look for available towns or locations on the map that they have access to. Usually in most games these areas are unlocked by progressing through the game. When people visit all the areas and accomplish all the quests, storylines, and collecting they feel a sense of game closure. But, it also makes them curious to see what else is in story in the sequel, update, or DLC of the future. What else could be better then a invested audience to insure anticipation for future titles. Earth Countries that Mirror our Own? In Megaman there are several maps of a similar earth to mirror our own. Mega Man 8 showed a globe with different parts of the earth. Mega Man X5,X6,X7, and X8 had shown earth. And Mega Man Battle Network 4 had a map similar to earth as well. Ruby Spears is used as a referance, but taken loosely along side the Mega Man OVA. In the Classic series, we have hints from several titles such as: Mega Man 4's Cossack Family (Russia), and Napalm Man (Vietnam). It states in Mega Man 6 there is a Robot Olympics which has all the countries of the world without a specific number. There are at least (8) chosen countries that were chosen which includes: Blizzard Man (Canada), Centaur Man (Greece), Flame Man (Saudi Arabia), Plant Man (South America), Tomahawk Man (America), Wind Man (China), Yamato Man (Japan), Knight Man (England). Connection to Real World to Mega Man The region of America would most likely be fictional in its area proximity and set apart from cultural differences divided up by "set towns" and added as specific designs for those set towns. Compared to the Colorado State region (Where Dr.Lights Lab is based), The unknown area.. lets call it (United States Region) in the Mega Man world is modern and highly technological, which is reflected in the cities and buildings that is typically shown in Mega Man games. Mega Man Towns in Region Design
When designers incorporate maps in game design it is typically for role-playing elements or for a storymode of some sorts. They add regions to dive deeper into areas which maybe overlooked or not available in a single arcade mode play through. So in Mega Man this is very important in showing the audience the world to get them hooked on the series. So lets get to talking about numbers of towns in a region. Generally each region in game design would have 8 Towns to 10 Towns depending on a companies budget and design team. Towns Design Standards in Mega Man Designing regions involves dividing the Mega Man Earth Map into large sections in which the series can explore. A nice number to start would be to divide the earth into sixteen regions. Each region would have its own standardization of locations types which would be in the area. In the Mega Man Classic world it would most likely have a number of locations, such as: 1. Schools (questing area), 2. Navi Centers (PET mobile terminal, navi battle mini-game), Auto Combini (store), 3. Residential Area (additional character story), 4. Pet Shop (Robot Pets, Animal Pets, Pet Mini-game), 5. Cybernetics Lab (), 6. Specialty Store (unique town purchases). -Navi Center (navi league, questing area) A Navi Center would be a type of building that provides services for Navi Operators. For those interested in the old Battle Network series it would provide a place to play a mini-game that simplifies the Battle Network fight sequences. It would be seen as a place to play a popular game with teenagers in the area called "Net Navigators" just as it is in the Battle Network series as a number of nods to the series itself. For those not interacting with their Navis it would be a great opportunity to send Navi on a mission to bring back prizes. It would be funded with Bolts and a party of Navi with a mission lasting a specific period of time (several hours). Navi sent can not be used for Navi Battles. Each mission has a difficulty rating and each Navi has a success percentage, some even get bonuses to the prizes depending on the mission. A limit of sending 1 party of assigned Navis on a mission is at the start. But a player can increase their mission assignments of Navis to up to Four Missions maximum. This incentivises the player to play more of the mini-game at the Navi Center. -Auto Combini (convenience store, merchant) The Auto Combini would be next to each school. Every Auto Combini would contain basic consumable items needed in the game, such as: 1 Up, Small E-Can, Medium E-Can, Large E-Can (energy), Small W-Can, Medium W-Can, Large W-Can (Weapon), Small S-Can, Medium S-Can, Large S-Can (Super), M-Can (Mystery). -Specialty Store (specialty store) A regional store that sells specialty items of the area. -Residential Area (homes of characters) When there is a residential area placed on a map there are homes of main characters that allow for: learning about characters, quests, and exploration. For example. Light House, Tele House, and Phono House. (Thomas edison inventions inspired Dr.Lights name, so lets roll with it for thematics.) -The Pet Shop (store, trade, pet food) A place where players can purchase pets that are animals or those who are robotic. This would also be where people can trade parts for pets and accessories. As well as purchase pet food to use special pet abilities that work as gateways to pet mini-games. Which are necessary to move the game forward. -Cybernetics Lab (consolidation area) The Cybernetics Lab would be a place to enhance your character with: Selling for a Unit's Worth. Merging for a Unit's Experience. A Metall that is grey has a silver acronym of EXP on its helmet. When merged into a unit the specific unit gains experience depending on the value of the Metall. There are three types: small, medium, large. Merging for a Unit Item unlock. Each unit would have a item unlock level of 1 (metallic yellow bolt), 2 (metallic green bolt), and 3 (metallic blue bolt). Each of these locked items are blocked behind a type of special bolt. A special bolt being held by beat, the special bolt is powered with energy that expands through a person or robot. Merging can also consolidate duplicates by absorbing from a primary unit and passing on experience amount, and unit item unlock percentage increase. It is said tat special bolts come out with the accomplished spirit. It is rare and comes in special cases from whomever is holding one should be feeling lucky. Upgrades Upgrade your character with items, unlock skills from an core skill ability tree, exchange and consolidate currency. Stationary Save Point In a game of open world it is usual that save points can be made in game, but it is also important to have save points on the map. This way the player has the freedom to save at almost any time. This sort of flexibility allows the player to enjoy the map and scenery of map roaming and when they are playing they can have time to think. Depending of the stage type of course. While most games would be suggested to have no number of lives and be unlimited... it is a key part of Megaman to have numbered lives, so the way to fix this is to give out a plentiful amount of lives where it would be nearly impossible to run out of them. One of the best in the series. The direction game was Mega Man and had it in a chibi (small,cute) form that is also portable and different from other games in the franchise. Its an action game that has the thematics of the classic series, but it was a good way to get new players into the franchise. But to older audiences it wasn't going to get the long standing fans in the community.
There were mega man games at the time... and it was sort of soul searching for what they wanted the next mega man game to be. This wasn't just for the classic series, but all the titles. But that was apart of the downside, because no one knew what to expect. That is if you heard of it, because this title had very little publicity and it needed an exclusive system buy to play it... so, by the time the game comes out the limited awareness and the limited purchase and play made this title drop like a rock in its sales. For what they were trying to do visually was not bad and it looked like it had a great oppurtunity to kill it with the sound track and selling products for a possible Capcom store. The sound track was more cute and it had a feel of cute that was unlike any megaman title we had previously seen before, but this would have to know that people would have to think these characters personalities were cute too. The quotes and music worked, but there wasn't enough story cut scenes to make each character cute and there wasn't enough emphasis on developing the cute aspect of the game design in trying to be too much like the typical action titles in the past. So, if they were going to make it cutesy they would have done better if they took it to 1 out of 10 take it to 11. I am talking about making multiple tracks as music boxes, little kid versions with toddler instruments, and chill tracks. Maybe for the products could have gone the direction of pins, plushies, luggage bags, note books, pens, key chians, phone cases, etc. The Story could have had little storylines that have a problem and ahve a solution that help you understand more about the neighborhood, before the epic battle against the super strong robot masters. Even though could have done all these things. It was really great with its experimentation in seeing the markets interest in the colors and larger shapes was a success. When they tested out playing through the maps with different robot masters people liked it. The soundtrack in its original variation gives you that cute feeling and adventure of megaman, but did they take this anywhere? We didn't see anymore content after that. With great strides and gambles that would have been taking losses in the beginning and growing to something even better the series just stopped. We didn't see anymore powered up and we didn't see any more development of the cute approach of the classic series. I still think its a great addition to the series and one of the best. But there would be dramatic additions and changes to the game to draw in more of the crowd they were targeting. But it stands as a really great game of cute that still to this day has potential. I am still waiting for a Mega Man Powered up 2 and I would be pumped if it were announced. I think its a 9 outa 10 regardless of its flaws. -=::Mechwarrior Online::=- MechWarrior Online Mech Warrior Online is a real-time simulation game based on the events of the Battletech Universe. It is developed by Piranha Games with License from Microsoft for Computers. The Gameplay, is designed as a real-time vehicular combat game, using elements from the Battletech series involving: (1) Weapons, (2) Equipment, (3) Engines, (4) Consumables, and (5) Attacks. MechWarrior Series Progress In previous Mech Warrior titles, Players would advance on a area-map which had a series of stages until they encounter a character/boss, all the while gaining C-bills (MW2:mercinaries), Pilots (HBS:Battletech), and Experience Points (HBS:Battletech). What is new to the game compared to Mechwarrior titles and Mechwarrior 5 is that it is based on exploration through planets and exploration maps through battlefield navigation in a vehicular-style MMO, which allows the player to talk to people and interact with them, which sometimes gives the opportunity for players to have their own set of unique "in-game tasks" they can complete. Player Backgrounds Online Multiplayer video games have started to blend through the genre of Military games such as: Shooter, BRG (Battle Royal Games), RTS (Real Time Strategy), and RPG (Role Playing Games). Some of these are like: World of Tanks (SVC/MMO), Fortnite (BRG/MMO), Call of Duty Warzone (BRG), State of Survival (BRG/RTS/RPG), HBS Battletech (TBS/RPG), MechCommander (RTS/RPG), League of Legends (RTS/MOBA). There are many generations coming into the game both Mech Warrior series followers(1990-current), Game genre players (current), and Free-to-Play players (2000-current). Meeting Collection from the Piranha Games NoGutsNoGalaxy- NGNG Developer Goals The modern day importance of games has become community importance and in Video games it means to be consistent in player-attendance: (I.) Player Engagement, (II.) Journey Building, (III.) World Warzones, (IV.) (4) Calendar Events a Bi-Weekly (5) In-game Transparency (1) Issue Report, (1a) Known Issue Update, (1b) Maintenance, (1c) Important Notice (2) News Info, (2a) New Game Changes, (2b) Announcements and Celebrations (3) Event Notice, (3a) Featured Rewards, (3b) Featured Objective, (3c) History of the MechWarrior's Design Mech Warrior has a legacy and history and multiple-communities based on the theme of the series itself. However, the theme of the project has its own focus as it been to use the latest design features to rethink the Mech Warrior experience. One of the aspects of that is in adding to a game that stands up alongside any other titles that are using the latest tech. By portraying the world of Battletech using the latest design features. The developer wants to make even existing players feel excited as they play the game from beginning to the end. That is something the fans and the developers can agree on is excitement and fun. Importance of the Mech Warrior Player Experience Anyone approaching the game would create feelings and memories of their entry into the Battletech Universe in one of its many stories, or games, or most importantly in this case the Mechwarrior series. It would be a throw back to their original experience of epic action between mechs and player-pilots that were fun, but what was really impressive were the mechs played a roll in the story, so when it came to making the next-level Mech Warrior... It would be important to think of some of those original visions. Database Collection from the Forum Rules & Guidelines : Wishlist Frequent Balance Updates: meta-changes New Mechs/ Variants: player play-style diversity New Equipment: additional customization Quirk Re-work: impactful mech-strategies Skill Tree-Rework: impactful mech-strategies Reinstating Roles: functional "role warfare" titles Stop Ghost Heat: hurts experience of customization, doesn't solve focus fire problem Recommended Continuity Progression Battletech has its main appeal in the universe from old timers from the series of course is big robots with customization through Mech Warrior. Scarcity, Rarity, and Survival (Battle Royal elements and RPG Elements) which overlaps with newcomers is at the heart of the series lore as well as interest in the series itself from titles like MechWarrior 2 Mercenaries and Mech Warrior 4 Mercenaries. These elements are apart of the top-monetization techniques implemented by both smaller studio games on limited budgets to larger studios with large expansive budgets that are seen across majority of titles in F2P (Free-to-Play) games of 2020. Resource Management and Unit Collection as well as mini-games are essential to title success of player engagement for: Dailys, Events, Shop, Character, Equipment, Factions, Teams, Friends, and Solo experiences. All of which would require mostly illustration expenses, minimal modeling and texturing, and mostly programming involvement for a better experience in playing Mech Warrior Online. (I) Player Engagement :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The Player Experience is the Mech Warrior Online is called "The Experience". There has to be a reason to come online frequently. Being online must serve many purposes and can no longer survive on grinding for resources alone. This is the most effective way to have more options and techniques and over all stronger than most of the players from practice rather than purchase power. This means player engagement at the marks of: week 1, month 1, month 3, month 6, year 1, year 2, year 3, and year 4. After so many years there tends to be a natural drop off, so after some time the game might be played again from players who are on a game crawl. (1) Daily Engagement: Daily Log-in Rewards, (1a) Monthly Daily Rewards (month completion) (2) Event Engagement: Event Daily Rewards, (2a) Event Objective Rewards, (2b) (3) Shop Engagement: Player Shop Options, (4) Character Engagement: aaa (5) Equipment Engagement: aaa (6) Solo Player Engagement: Solo Missions (PVE-12 per level), Solo Levels (PVE-12 per Quest), Friends List Tracker, Friend Search, Friend Gifting, Friend Chat Options, Streamer Options (7) Team Engagement: Team Shop Options, (8) World Engagement: aaa (9) Pre-Game Options of The Computer Pre-Game Customizations of The Mech Lab Monetization Custom Themed Mech Bays Pre-Selected Favorite Mechs & Loadout Selection Pre-Game Customizations of The Mech Lab Quirk Balance Changes Quirk Mech Specialties (NGNG- Podcast 207: 1:05:11) The Quarkening Era of MWO, (1) Wild Quarking Variance for Specific Builds, (2) Stock Mech Utility with Customization You can customize to Minmax, so why use a Utility Mech? whats its advantages? (3) Custom Loadout Build Balancing You can customize anything, but why do people need Other Mechs? Pre-Match Engagement of The Strategies Home Screen, or in this case referenced as the "Computer" Deliveries Menu, when players receive items in the game from the developer, the players, or game itself it would be found in such an area. It could include Player Engagement options, such as "Log-in Bonuses", "Ranking Rewards", and would be something that would be checked on often. Addition sorts of deliveries would be: (1) "Special Deliveries" which would be from mission rewards, Players would be have an interest in claiming their deliveries either separately with a "Receive" option or with a helpful "Receive All" option. Missions Menu, would be have to do with times of month: Starter Missions (Beginner Players), Daily Missions (Loyalist Players), Weekly Missions (Consistent Players), Challenge Missions (Longevity Players/Hardcore). Currently, many of the missions require access to the website with a separate log-in which consumes extra time, extra clicks and reading, and ultimately dis-engages from the in-game experience to a website-browser experience. It is standardized to have mission "Progress Bars" in order for players to earn addition rewards in completion of milestones marked by special deliveries that have a "Special Delivery" icon to mark 50% completion, 75% completion, and 100% completion to help engage players through a multiple rewards system. (2) Journey Building :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: (2) Journey Building The Journey mode for Mech Warrior Online is "Not Available". Mech Warrior Online Reward System (3) World Warzones :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Mech Warrior has been known since Mech Warrior 2 to have multiple Factions, science fictional gear, and science fictional universe pilots and equipment. Previous gripes involved in World Warzones feature (Faction Play) is the lack of Mech Warrior Online wants the players to build and upgrade their characters to compete with other players around the world, to be good fighter, and show dominance on the world map. Here are some discussions, collections, and strategies which would be very helpful to guide you into beginning your journey in the development of Mech Warrior Online. (3) World Warzones The Warzone mode for Mech Warrior Online is called "Faction Play". It is a currently (2020) a Secondary "PVP mode" option of the favored "Quick Play" of (1x) Mechs each of teams, compared to the Deck Drop Team PVP (4x) Mechs each). Faction Play at the moment lacks many basics of a World Warzone feature experience, so people just call it the slower game search, longer time investment, and event-based resource grinding PVP. So, in conclusion most players will only play Faction play if they really are in the mood, which is not often. But why? mostly because the features do not follow basics of World Warzones Standards. Once a player has there favorite roster of mechs they go into the exploration of wanting to dominate other pilots on the battlefield. It started originally as purely a; (1) automated process, of sending in your orders of an army to see if they could destroy the opponent on a sort of map. However in modern games warzones there are now standardized symbols for game-play styles of icon functions that involve warzone assertive dominance. The basics are: (A) Automated Engagement results calculated by computer numbers with reward, (B) Manual Engagement results calculated by player skills with rewards, and (C) Non Engagement results calculated by availability calculated by player requirement fulfillments with rewards. Current Faction Play MWO is a game about a Universe at war all fighting for power with Armies. It is about playing with other players, fun, and improvement. Quickplay is: The PVP of Choice It was intended to be a community game due to its MMO experience in its title of "Online". In actuallity it is a solo game where players choose "quickplay" as the faster option of farming: (1) C-Bills, (2) Mech XP, and (3) GXP. To simply upgrade their units without any need of team mates, but the option of team mates for; higher match win % = higher farming. But, with so much emphasis on the mechs there are certain aspects that could be focused on for a more immersive game. Faction Play Identity: The War Strategy, Factions, and Units It currently is all about individual experience of mech customization and meta without too much focus on required teamwork game function. History of Faction Play Future Faction Play Starmap Servers Faction Play (1x) Drop Ship, (4x) Drop Decks= (4x) Mechs each). Personal Base Development Assigned Building Location: Planet, Base, and a Team The Player, is the commanding officer assigned to manage the named base of a chosen planet. The faction command, has given the player a mission: develop the base into a major hub of military operation. As the commanding officer, the player must build facilities in base and delegate tasks and responsibilities to the stationed "Characters". The Base, will need income (specialized currency) to develop the base and time (count down timer). Players will start by searching the nearby areas for resources to gather, or grow, and set up shops to sell goods. Base Headquarters, build a facility. Availability of "Troops" is often tied to the buildings development & building level. The higher level the military buildings the wider access to troops are available, however, the max level of every other structure is directly tied to that of your Headquarters as non can overtake the level of the HQ. As base headquarters grow, the player can reclaim new land, but, certain land may require special items in order to claim them. Opening up new land allows the player to build more facilities, and will increase the total member limit of their "unit". Request Work, develop as you manage the residents Production, Dispatch, produce gathered materials and request gathering. Shop, request management and gain income with business. You can create ateliers, shops, growing areas, landmarks, roads, and other various faciltiies in the commercial district. Simply open the menu, then select Build and construct a shop to fulfill Pamelas request. There is a Request menu, Build Menu, Synth Request, Tasks, and Start Job Players will receive a limited number of gridline areas for their base and will have the option to Build, Move, or Demolish. Select a facility to build. You'll need "C-bills" and specific items to construct each facility. Different facilities require different items. The number of facilities you can build is limited one. It can expand to two with in-game purchases to unlock the ability. The number of facilities that can be built at a time is limited by construction groups indicated by a "Construction Crane Icon". Building a facility will take time and there will be a countdown clock above the building to show how long it will take. The amount of time can be lessoned with items or ignored completely through "Mech Credits". Building Placement "building grids" will be in "building areas" on a "builders map". When placing a facility, the front section must face the street. The street will be highlighted and the building grid will be colored. The building entrance will automatically be placed toward the street. After a building is complete a default helper will run the building and the efficiency will be at a very-low level. You can assign someone to a building when you begin construction who is on your team or in your character roster. Materials can be gathered from "Quick Play", depending on the "Map", but it is a "Low Yield". Building facilities which produce the more common materials are necessary to keep a base operating smoothly. Factions in Contracts of Battletech Players in modern games identify in a group of either friends, lore factions, or by temporary contract alliances. Its important for those who have different loyalties in-game. In Mech Warrior Online, friends can join in a group called a "Unit", which allows players to identify with their friends. There isn't too much to do in a unit in-game, which means there is plenty of potential to bring the community together for more unique experiences with "Collaboration Features" with other players around the world to achieve a common goal. There are quite a few benefits to joining an active alliance in State of Survival, not least of which is the aforementioned help in speeding up research and construction projects. As a member of an alliance in this strategy game, you can obtain access to a new store with useful items, which are purchased using the honor points that you receive from donating resources to the alliance. Among some of these items, you can find Peace Flares, production boosters, and other useful doodads, which encourages players to actively donate and participate in alliance activities. (4) Strategic Commands :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Wargame Genre Advances Clash of Clans, State of Survival, Rise of Kingdoms Strategy Wargame Strategy Wargame, People who go into your server or in your Kingdom How (5) Player Monotization :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Monetization Strategy Guide Free-to-Play model is based on a game that makes a good enough value to have players part with their "cash" or engage with players enough to entertain those who are spending to have an addicted and active community. In this inspection we are looking at the consumer's perspective of Mech Warrior Online. (1) Piranha Games: Russ Bullock, Sean Lang, Daeron Katz (Podcast 204- NGNG) 3:40 | wants organic change (+), 13:45 | uptick playerbase (+), 21:00 | longevist niche playerbase (90$) & veteran playerbase ($40), 22:25 | Player Experience Monetization Possibilities (?) | . (2) No Guts no Galaxy: Sean Lang, (3) Competitive Play: Mike 'MDMZERO' (Podcast 207- NGNG), Monetization Player Perspectives Player Perspectives -Beginning Players Perspective, player value feedback -Veteran Players Perspective, player -Competitive Players Perspective, broken system feedback -Longtime Players Perspective, whale feedback Mech Monetization Those who have less than 15 mechs tend to burn-out Those who have 30 mechs tend to stay-to-play Those who have 100 mechs tend to spend-to-enhance Those who have more than 600 mechs Paint Monetization Those who have no paint jobs wish they did have single paint jobs, faction themed paint jobs, and wants to pay-for-skins: color coordinated (+) sense of belonging. Those who have paint jobs want to pay for skins and industry standard of singular paint jobs have been "unlockable" through user play frequency and that extends to longevity of play. Paint jobs make players want Skins, because they can be have their own unlockable Paint Job Objective for point accumulation. Map Monetization Commercial Monetization, Monetization Industry Direction Fortnite ($1.8b-), Dungeon Fighter Online ($1.6-), Honour of Kings ($1.6b-), League of Legends ($1.5-), Candy Crush Saga ($1.5- Level Scheme). Thematic Skins of League of Legends- a 2010's business model of theming of character attachment-thematic. It is more than selling skins- but selling community passion into their fantasy as a purchase. These involve differences in creative hooks and interesting ideas for: (A) Stylistic Character Modelling not Colors, (B) Visual Effects and Animation, (C) Events surrounding such thematics for marketing. Level Scheme of Candy Crush- a 2000's business model of limiting of playtime-per day. It is obvious transparent pay-to-play services for longer times of playing. It is nothing new and from the 80's arcades. This is niche is often found on addiction based games like: gambling, puzzles, and pay-to-win. Rocket League Mechwarrior Masteries & Skill Tree Replaced Certain things like the skill tree for what it is used for needs to be thought out better and simplified. Skilltree is made up of "Skills", a common complaint is that people have to conflict their decision of a "Skill Build" and a buying a "New Mech". The High SP cost for skill trees has been painful for many players, so the Skill Tree should be "Free" to make players focus on riskier Skill Builds. Skills in the Skill Tree is what players spend a large amount of time unlocking with SP. Making runes free will have an impact of those who have already played and invested actual money in mechs for this particular reason. So, while Skills are improved for ease there has to be a way to have more rewards other than Skills to work for. This opens up oppurtunity to overhaul MechWarrior Onlines Reward System as a whole. Take Care of long-term players with the New System to show they have not been forgotten. Untapped Comp Play Role System Mode Diverse Specialty Playstyles MechWarrior Online will have to make a long term investment in the series which will be big changes. By making Skill Tree simplified with more icons and less clicks to get optimized builds and have a consistent way to help make a mech help a players particular style of game play. So, if Mechs have less customization restriction and Skill Trees are simplified, what would help customize a Mech to a players decided Playstyle? The Most common play-styles involve: Focusing Improved Attack Style (minmaxers, build based, tier based, balance obsessed) Sustained Damage Style (heat management, cool run, heat containment) Consecutive Damage Style (jamming management) Hunting Burst Damage Style (hit and run, cool down based, velocity based) Out Maneuver Style (hard brake, torso yaw, torso pitch, anchor turn) Speed Trappers Style (speed + engine focused) Assisting Empowered Weapons (target focused. ex-tag) Target Access Style (sensor focused. target info, gathering, sensor range) Shielding Style (lesson incoming damage, AMS, APDS, Anti Laser, Anti ballistic) Defending Damage Disperse Style (Ignition, Gyros, Speed Retention) Match Longevity Style (shock absorbance, hill climb, speed retention) Armored Style (structure defense points, armor defense, and casing advantage) Commanding Radar Style (radar, enhancements, deprivation, enhanced visuals, ECM) Escape Style (speed ups, lift speed, vectoring & heat shielding, vent calibration) Enhanced Consumables (consumable duration, expanded, consumable slots) Discover New Pilots, with less time worrying about customization and feeling freedom of expression and less time in the Skill Tree (No SP required) there can be a concentration on New Pre-Game functions to focus on to make the experience even better than it already is. Pilots help customize the Base Mech with its Quirk Fixes, More Focus to Less Damage What is the Purpose of the Mech The Mechs themselves have no unique features as was always the tradition of the games, but their customization seems horribly hampered from the availability of laser or missile hard points ETC. When it does not make customization feel free, but more linear. But, what about Minmax builds of each skill Tree? the skill tree could be simplified because people only have so much interest in certain aspects of the game. Something as calculated as skill tree it is many clicks of lost interest for something that should just be a button of style of gameplay. Minmaxing of Customization w/Ghost Heat The reason being is that it is a Minmaxing mechanic that is already seen in the limited customization of The Mech itself. Minmaxing is seen by developers as solved from Ghost Heat, but hurts the player bases creativity and weapon expression during the "Customization Experience" while still not resolving "Death Ball Tactics" and "Focus Fire Play-style". Constant Complaints on Ghost Heat Ghost heat hampers builds as it emphasizes Heat in a way that does not help the gameplay itself, but as a Taxing mechanic when other games use the "Damage Scaling Method" Which is the more of the same weapon that hit a particular part of a mech the total damage is taxed for each weapon. This can be done in a multitude of ways... in MWO they see the number they chose was "Four of a Kind= Ghost Heat"... instead they could go anything above "Four of a Kind"= Scaling Method. Anti-Focus Fire & Death Ball This would result in ,making players not be so restricted in their builds, require thought on death-ball tactics of Focus Fire addiction, and make for more creative playstyles to flourish. Also, the exclusive room of the Mech Lab makes it feel that the world is only as big as the Mech. Very restrictive in terms of the addiction and makes it even more Niche of choices of what to attach oneself to if they arent die-hard fans. Fans Point at High-End Titles to Problems with Much Simpler Solutions Examples they will give at first are High-end games by Bethesda, but then later they notice that they liked titles with Low-end world elements that were snuck in. E-Sports Scene and Organized Play Competitive Scene, Player Balance Issues are Forever Balance is a Pendulum Swing, of Meta Tactics and Player Perspectives -Beginning Players Perspective, player value feedback -Veteran Players Perspective, player -Competitive Players Perspective, broken system feedback -Longtime Players Perspective, whale feedback New Everything Sucks up Constant Resources Monetization of New Everything effected the game from New Mechs to New Weapons to New Maps it created New Meta and New Styles and of course New Problems for each of the listed New Things. The Monetization model of introducing new mechs has created a longstanding resource vacuum from other ways of monetization and prevents funds from going to things like: (1) Quality of Life, (2) UI interface design, (3)Player continuity planning, (4) Music selection, (5) Solaris Announcer features, (6) Match making development, (7) Faction play development and so on. What it does is: (-) for Studio Finances, (-) for Higher Player Burnout %, (-) for Competitive Play. New Introduced Mechs create New Balance Problems and it hit Late in the games development and was more easily spotted after there were a large set of Mech Selection. New Introduced Meta creates New Balance Problems like: Laser focused Single Target Meta, Jump-Jet focused Pop Tart Meta, Players would analyze the Mech Performance is based on Hard Points, Weapon Profile, AMS, ECM, Ton Size, Engine Cap, and Hit Boxes to see its viability. For Example, the Cataphract phased out because of Mech Selection New Introduced Positives of Rescaling for Targeting Balancing (NGNG, Podcast 207: 1:27:00) Previous to Rescaling there were many Volumetric Scaling of how thick in how it effects gameplay Fixing Scaling will be the direction of Profiling Scaling of how thick in how it effects gameplay Balancing of Speed of Engagement (NGNG, Podcast 207: 1:25:59) It takes too long to get to the opponent. You walk slowly to die fast. Walk time versus Engagement time. *California Churros
-Cinnamon Sugar Churro -Chocolate Sugar Churro -Pineapple Sugar Churro -Cookie Butter Sugar Churro -Pumpkin Spice Churro *Cookie Churros -Sugar Cookie Churro -Cookies and Cream Churro -Graham Cookie Churro *Crumble Churros -Choco Cookie Crumble Churro *Candied Churros -Sour Apple Sugar Candy Churro -Peppermint Sugar Candy Churro -Candy Corn Sugar Churro -Sugar Plum Candy Churro -Spicy Sugar Candy Churro *Mini Churros *Sauced Churros -Chocolate sauce -Sweet Milk sauce -Caramel Pecan sauce -Marshmallow sauce -Caramel Apple sauce Hawaii Regional Cuisine which has been developed in the islands from "The Twelve Chefs of the HRC" on the Big Island since 1992.This had brought in ideas of the old back into the spot light, different parts of the food history,and put Hawaii on the map as a respected culinary destination. Hawaii Regional cuisine has been used to promote sustainable produce and local ingredients as a basis for new dishes in the restaurant. Hawaii Regional Cuisine had ended up taking old dishes and making them new in the homes of islanders. As a result a number of recipes have appeared that use traditional and historical tastes and techniques for local palates that are prepared in new ways.
The Twelve Chefs of the HRC have created restaurants being at the forefront of development and idea behind the movement by following its mission there have been many interpretations based on the dishes that came from each chefs menus. This could be cuisines that are more personal to the chef that mark where they are from or clientele and place Hawaii cuisine as an influence, some merged the cuisine of east meets west as Hawaii being a fusion melting pot, and some embraced the local culture that reflects societies day to day cuisine of the Hawaii residents. Each chef has had their own contributions of where the movement has spread to after meeting the 15 year mark (1992-2017). A few didn't promote so much and helped more in the background with their skills and offerings. They also had more of a network contribution to the movement to get its start, such as: Shep Gordon, Gary Strehl, Amy Fergusan. Peter Merriman is the catalyst of starting the ball of HRC to put the group together, but it took everyone to network the group to get the word out there. It wasn't until each person created their restaurants and ran their menus the way they wanted to in their kitchens that further effects of each chefs approaches would be seen. George Mavro's Cuisine approach is about bringing wherever the persons unique country and provinces flavors to the table with Hawaii as the focus influence. Roger Dikon brings his california french cooking to the table with hints of asian in it. But the general idea wasn't clearly stated until defined by Bev Gannon in an interview on how her style was an Hawaii-American Cuisine approach. Most of the HRC Chefs had followed this idea with dishes identifiable from its origins while working within the restraints of local ingredients. This keeps dishes separate and makes variations that are uninspired in appearance, but unique in taste. "Kalua Pork Enchilada Pie" that is an american dish with local dish kalua pork version, "Crab Pizza" that is an american dish with local crab. "Macadamia Crusted Mahi" that has local ingredients that are well merged, From her personal stand point Gannon has a customer consideration in familiarity of american cuisine, local comfort foods with Hawaii ingredients, and large portions. This was done to work for business survivability. Sam Choy was seen as the Hawaii Local Cuisine Pioneer, but Alan Wong took Hawaii Local Cuisine and shared his approach. It was all about taking old recipes that merged with hawaii local cuisine and hawaii variations of ethnic cuisines to make something new from the old plantations. These make dishes that have the heart and limitations to make dishes that seem to come out of that time period. "Ginger Crusted Onaga" is an example of a local stack that is a hawaii-chinese and japanese which borrows from already existing dishes, "Loco Moco" that is a classic local dish and is served contemporary at the Pineapple Room, "Ma'o Farms Sassy Greens" that shows the loyalty to the ideals of island sustainable ingredients. Alan Wong being previously a Kapiolani Community College teacher was known before as a teacher who had a way of passing on the skills, which has also made its values into the movement with many HRC chefs learning some of his tips and tricks of making the next generation of cooks. Roy Yamaguchi's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine approach of having no boundaries of Hawaii and going all out into the ethnic merging of dishes to represent old tastes with high class contemporary in appearance while utilizing balance between both cultures cuisines. Yamaguchi's culinary knowledge in flavor balancing was so on point that around the world it opened the flood gates on the popular approach of the general idea of "Fusion Cuisine" of any two cuisines, and so is the most well known chef in the Hawaii scene. A great example is his "Frying Dragon Roll" that uses hawaii ingredients with japanese eel with sauces and america frying technique that merge well and are not separate tasting experiences in each bite. His involvement in HRC had brought many food writers to the Hawaii cooking scene for much of HRC's publicity. The only exception of who could keep Roy on his toes would be colleagues Jean-Marie Josselin and Mark Ellman. Josselins approach is using hawaii-french fusion while Mark Ellman's approach of making hawaii-latin fusion. Ellman shows his fused dishes in his restaurant Malao Ocean Tavern and separation of latin foods in another restaurant Fridas Mexican Beach House that are both successful on Maui. While Hawaii regional cuisine has taken a turn to define Hawaiian Cuisine in all its many sub-definitions: The broad term of Hawaiian Cuisine to define a geological region of the state, Hawaiian Regional Cuisine to define a geological region per island, Hawaiian Cuisine of the Hawaiian people and their traditional Hawaii Food, Hawaii Local Cuisine that targets influential foods up to the plantation era, Hawaii Ethnic Cuisine that targets ethnic cuisines that separate themselves from the local identity like hawaii-korean cuisine as an example. Components of Hawaii regional cuisine is going in its own path from Peter Merriman's original visions that made its way into the movement of the approach of Farm-to-Table before it was popular with chefs: Andrew Le, Mark Noguchi, and Ed Kenney. To the lesser known chefs and home cooks following traditional Hawaiian techniques passed on for generations and asking questions of where else the techniques themselves could take the cuisine. It's exciting to see where the next generation will take the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement! Natures Star Arbor: ARTICLE LIST
Nomnation Filipino Foodie: ARTICLE LIST
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Owl Beach: ARTICLE LIST Blogger Kuraishinobi (2.1.20) Technology as a Tool of the Teacher by Viritasium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEmuEWjHr5c&feature=youtu.be Good Designing for Student Customization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eBmyttcfU4&feature=youtu.be
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Saimin Notes
Hawaii is in the beginnings of a saimin development period. From lost saimin stands of the old time favorites to the long lasting mom and pop stores that remain to visitor standards, there are hidden recipes around the island in family homes. You want lightly tasty dashi broth done da local-style way? Thicker and curly, drymein noodles with condensed sauce on the side? Beef Curry saimin? You want it in Pearl City? In Kalihi? in Wahiawa? onolicious eats! Here is my personal definitive story map of Oahu's saimins, marked with every saimin story I could track down on the island, with a little bit of difference in every bowl. It is too bad I can't yet find all the stories and recipes that can make even more people crave this delicious, yet disappearing dish! The growth of Saimin is a trail of houses with kama'aiana secret recipes, stories of closed establishments, and those who survived the noodle wars of ramen and pho. As people may mention the good old days with nostalgia of living during a time period of various Saimin stands it is important we also figure out what many of those variations were and where they came from. No one should forget about the light tasting warm soup that is perfect during the day or the night with a air conditioner and many sides. There are many variations of Saimin shops that are still on the island of Oahu as well as on other islands, so it can be difficult to figure out which might be the essential expected saimin versus a regional or specialty dish. Hopefully this list will help those who wish to know the difference of the many types. Saimin stands eventually turned into small saimin shops that tended to be not to hard to find with a line of people and a limited counter seating arrangement. There was a noticeable passion for saimin that had slowly vanished with the globalized competition bringing deeper flavored broths, light broth competitors, and noodle variations to the soup wars in hawaii. But, there are still some saimin shops that survived and continue to grow its following of people following them with their additions of miso, curry, and kimchi flavored broths. This change is what would start getting people interested back into local Hawaii cuisine in its changes to adapt to the competition of global cuisine dishes that entered the market. The exploration of those who hunger for Saimin have turned to the elderly, the internet, and the everyday working man for stories of what was and what still is in the noodle scene. In Oahu it seems that the list of variations had grown in the homes and began being experimented with at restaurant establishments to make saimin shops feel a renewed energy of enthusiastic saimin eaters. The steaming delicious bowls of tasty toppings will soon be understood in the collection of articles within this growing list. Hawaii Saimin Varieties A bowl of saimin consists of several elements: the broth (dashi), the sauce, the noodles, and the toppings. The broth tends to have a mixture of poultry carcasses, meat bones, fish bones, shells, and/or mushrooms. Many variations started off with shellfish of clams, shrimps, or scallops as a bases for the broth or the looked down upon shellfish free soups. Diners use specific categories as simple terms that broadly describe the basis of a flavor, because many shops will specialize specifically on a particular saimin-style: alaea, konbu, shrimp, beef, and pork. Alaea Saimin (Hawaiian salt) Alaea (salt) is the Salty seasoning used with dry shrimp. The beginnings of saimin was built from the dried seafoods eaten as snacks in the plantation fields, but none more than dried chicken, dried shrimps, dried ginger, and sometimes dried mushrooms. Konbu Saimin Dried Seaweed Kelp. Using the kelp of the ocean makes for a light shade of green, and seafood is added to make another category of saimin. There are few places that specialize in this style, many shops offer it as just saimin with a secret recipe that offers a blend of seafood mixtures that tend to include dried scallop and fish bones. Shrimp Saimin Fermented shrimp paste (mam tom shrimp paste), dried garlic, pork bones, tomato paste, and shrimp shells. The name comes from the primary after taste of the broth that is the savory shrimp. Beef Saimin Beef bones from all over the animal. As many other varieties it is based on a key ingredient in which its name is derived from. Pork Saimin Pork bones. The ingredient of roasts and the oils that can be saved in the form of kalua, char siu, and sweetened black vinegar gives shops many variations of possibilities with pork saimin. Old Story 2 The Hawaii noodles and soup, Saimin, is a comfort food that has a light broth that is fairly clear with minimal cloudiness and an array of toppings. With its history from the plantation and immigrant families who shared what they could to the bowl of soup made what we know today as Saimin, which was once a necessity for food to a preference that brings the feelings of home. In its process the saimin noodles are boiled in a pot, while another pot held the broth that would simmer away and not boiled, and famed for its large amount of add on toppings to make for a delightful meal. Every island has their own variations of regional saimin as well as their top favorites for types of saimin, but what was once a commonplace recipe has vanished from most families recipe books and gone to the grave with those who departed from the world of the living. So, who holds the secrets? The businesses that still are alive with the dish carrying sale being the most vibrant and the families that have a recipe hidden away somewhere with a story, somewhere through recipe cards, or somewhere with their most elderly and wise of cooks. With each family crafting their own blend of broth, noodles, and flavoring there are overlapping recipe types that go under flavor categories of: alaea, shoyu, mushroom, shrimp, and beef types. While there are a few unique variations that use different carcasses or bones to make stock from like: chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetables. There are even types of saimin based on noodle sizes and richness of the broth. For example Dry Saimin is known for having a much stronger tasting broth than typical light flavored Saimin. Documentation has been tricky, since people in the islands were taught to be humble and not bring widespread attention to their families, which is polar opposite of todays social media scene and technology. Eldars, Middle Aged, and even youngsters all have a prepared speech to remain anonymous, even more so if they reveal their families way of doing the secret broth. When asked, some people said “Because im not one chef or professional saimin maker”, another answer was “It is peaceful when no one bothers you or your family”, or “my mom would roll in her grave if she knew i let out the family recipe, since it was specially made just for our family and no one else”. With the trust of sources being stayed anonymous and no direct profit group for selling the recipes there have been many stories that have emerged from the islands. It can be explained as dishes that had made their mark in the families they were cooked by, but have finally flown the nest for everyone else who lives in Hawaii to see. Dishes that are unique to certain areas and are different enough and tasty were listed in the highlighted groups of Saimin. Learning from the old stories that some do indeed include recipes are important for preservation and necessary to understand the ingredient limitations of the time period for certain dishes to maintain a taste of the era to respect the old while moving forward with the very close limitations. In regards to Saimin this hits especially hard with knowing that many of the Maui Saimin shops that were really good had shut their doors like: Hanaduda Saimin, House of Saimin, Suda Kihei Store, and The Nagata Store, just to say a few. There was also an urgency from the strength of Ramen shops had in its trendiness taking over the noodle soup wars, so it made an increased need to explore what is left of Saimin before there was no one left to reference from the time period. Ceviche Master Ceviche Master, is a master of the freshness from the bowl and is known for skills in balanced sauces that emphasize natural salts. Countries as well as states, counties, and provinces have their own styles, but the balance of the flavors of the sauce is important. The salt that brings out the natural flavors are even more important to the secrets of a Ceviche Master as it is a trained tongue to make a ceviche taste just right in its mixture. Ceviche Masters are well versed in the knowledge of the ocean and its freshness of ingredients, the strength of the sauce, and the seasonings strength to not take away the flavor of the ingredient too much. Understanding the different ingredients separately is important in making a flavor that stands out from the rest from the salted mixture. The size of the onion slices must be thin depending on the onion type and shape, the sauce depends on its marination time, and the picking of the ingredients is important in knowing which food tastes the best in what season. There are different sorts of Ceviche Master, such as the original Peru Ceviche Master where the art of making Ceviche had been developed. The Mexico Ceviche Masters who started Ceviche Tostadas had their dish move up to North America with Tostadas spreading through California. And there are even Carribean Ceviche Masters who used coconut milk in their variations. While there were limited sorts of favored ingredients of Ceviche around the world the ingredients have varied based on available ingredients from local Fish markets and have become very regional in their choice of seafood. A Ceviche master in North America has to have a understanding of boiling times due to the large availability of mollusks used in recipes like: clams, mussels, abalone, octopus, squid, and oysters. This was done to create the amount of chewiness to lesson. There are different techniques like tenderizing the octopus, cutting fish fillets from the whole fish, and finding that optimum flavor for the ceviche the chef is trying to make. Inside the back of the kitchen if there is someone who specializes in Ceviche they are a "Chevichero" which is a Cheviche Master. The title plays back to the origins of Latin America to inform those that the dish is a traditional Peruvian dish that has traveled all across the Americas. Go back further and the technique of using Spanish Explorers preservation techniques of proteins in vinegar to survive long voyages. Appearance wise depends on the sort of Ceviche have it be cubed, or chopped, or even smaller pieces depending on how its mixed. The training that it takes to get that sort of practice in comes from doing the dish over and over again in order to make the sizes look organic, but still be of a similar size. The refreshing effect and the clean taste of the seasonings are important and come into play when the pieces or being mixed, so the importance on the size has to be consistent. Americas Battle of Ceviche Peruvian Ceviche Chilean Ceviche Mexico Ceviche American Ceviche Canadian Ceviche California Ceviches California has a seafood dish that has an old world dish that has been rising up the ranks in its interest in the state. The story goes is that it came from Tijuana area of Baja California Mexico as a coastal dish favorite often eaten on tostadas with shrimp, fish, and octopus as a appetizer that would find itself a home in California San Diego area with "Baja California Cuisine". As it has grown to be a tradition in Mexico it came over served with: salt, tomatos, onions, fish, lemon juice, and water. Ceviche is viewed as a American-Mexican Cuisine appetizer that is eaten often times with soft-tortillas wrap or crisp-tortilla shell. The name meaning is numerous as in latin it means "food that is for man and animals" or it could be from the spanish word escabeche which means "pickle". It sort of tastes a bit like the ocean as it hits with a bit of a bite and tang that is salty and clean along with its toppings or mixture. Ceviche tends to be categorized by The Toppings, The Marinade, and The Cubed Seafood. California is a place that has a culture that has interest in its coastal food sources and sustainability of the seafood like oysters, fish, clams, octopus, and shrimp. It is a good way to prepare a fish that is caught on a boat and have a ceviche mix handy and have a covered bowl that has the mix inside ready for some freshly cut catch and that could be a upper outside deck breakfast snack or even lunch. The battle ground of what was nicknamed "Baja Ceviche" is San Diego and its oceanside community that had all sorts of restaurants try their hand at making a distinctive variation unique to California State. The fish would be based on the residents themselves that would involve many different ingredients as well as the local grown foods that became popularized from the California Cuisine Movement. Ceviche was seen as a local food that had a decent price tag, but it would be worth the cost as it was highly addictive from the citrus kick. Fish markets had the largest knowledge pool of information on the different sorts of fish available and would begin explaining properties of seafoods that would lead to types of Cevich being regional to the area of both San Diego and then Los Angeles and later on San Francisco. The North American standards for fish would be Sea Bass, Grouper, Halibut, Sole, Bream, Pollack, and Flounder for those playing it safe. However California always breaks the rules with its cuisine and moved into a very different direction as more food trucks starting serving Fish Tacos and Ceviche Tostadas. As more places started to specialize in Ceviche there were cooks that set off to make their own Cevicheria establishments or create "Ceviche Counters" and entered the ever growing market demand as its popularity grew. Many people were introduced to eating ceviche from Taco trucks that were driving around the streets and it was a sort of street food that would grow into a more high class sort of dish that was more respectable. With more Ceviche Masters popping up it would be a real experience to talk to the people mixing it up fresh up front and in person. The usual order would be Avocado Onion Shrimp Marlin Ceviche in a Taco and the rest of the varieties would become appealing from the initial time the person ate at the Taco Truck. While different sorts of Swordfish are common there is are more places serving up Sole Flatfish Ceviche and Pacific Octopus Ceviche as the new norm. ________________________ THE COOKED- As all ingredients it starts raw and the cooking process starts with the citrus and salt curing of the food. It is cubed but in a organic way and not so much a strict square shape, it has seasonings, toppings, sauce, and marinade made from seafood broth thrown together called "Tigers Milk". The appearance of ceviche is cooked due to the outside cooking from the citrus liquid, but it does still have some raw elements, which is why freshness is important. The mixes tend to have shrimps, flatfish, and/or crab as other sorts of selections. THE BOILED- The Ceviche that uses boiling tends to be either to capture the flavor of the coast sort of Marinade "Tigers Milk" aka "Ocean Broth Marinade" with different types: Clam Marinade, Octopus Marinade, Squid Marinade, Oyster Marinade, Crab Marinade, and/or Shrimp Shell Marinade. Boils originally were with water, however it isn't uncommon in North America to season the water-boil with herbs and wine. While it can also get unique flavors into the fish it also tenderizes super chewy meats, specifically of octopus and squid, while other shell fish may need less time or even just a dip inside the hot boil for a blanch. THE STEAMED- The process of gently steaming meats creates a sort of hydration of the meats with whatever is the steaming liquid and can add another level of flavor. It is often done with shellfish like: Mussel, Oyster, Scallop, Abalone as a way to preserve as much of the meat instead of it cooking away and shrinking as it normally would with other cooking methods. The steamed sort of ceviche would be for those who wanted something cooked more thoroughly without hurting the delicate taste of the seafood. ________________________ THE TOPPINGS- Toppings that are mixed in are what enhances the experience of eating Ceviche to see it mixed to order. The way the dishes texture is worked with is with the decision of the types of toppings that add flavor layer such as crunch or smoothness with what the texture is of the meat. It can be a complicated process in know ingredient by ingredient how each topping will effect the prepared dish, so it is a planning process that is not taken lightly. -Avocado [avocado chunks, jalapeno, tomato, yellow onion, cilantro] -Cucumber [cucumber, korean pickled radish, red onion, cilantro] -Tomato [tomato, avocado, red bell pepper, yellow onion, cilantro] -Verde [tomatillo, garlic, serrano pepper, yellow onion, cilantro] -Mango [mango, orange bellpepper, tomato, yellow onion, cilantro] ________________________ THE SEASONING- The seasonings for most Ceviche are salt and in California there is an abundance of Sea Salt. Some people use Kosher and some people use Sea Salt or sometimes it is a mix of the two. There are different sorts of seasonings that have been served up from restaurants with complex seasonings and food trucks go with the usual salt , but having options is good for flavor variety. If in doubt with more complicated flavors most just go for straight salt as it was traditionally made and a little black pepper is an option too. -Salt [california sea salt] -Peppers [ancho, guajillo, california peppers, mexican oregano, garlic, cumin, paprika] -Garlic [salt, garlic powder, onion powder, celery seed, paprika, dry mustard, nut meg] -Truffle [salt, dried truffle powder, porcini powder, onion powder, black pepper, thyme] -Hickory [pacific smoke salt, celery seed, black pepper,] ________________________ THE MARINADE- The Leche Marinade sauce (Leche de tigre) is the main flavoring aspect of the ceviche that plays the role of re enforcing flavor with additional juices that cover toppings and cubed meats. Usually it is in a bottle of its own and sprayed in and mixed right before serving as it is important in being the main flavoring technique. The creation of a marinade maybe one of the most tedious of tasks to bring out the necessary flavor. -Flatfish Leche Marinade [flat fish parts, flat fish juice, salt] -Clam Leche Marinade [clam meat, clam juice, salt] -Crab Leche Marinade [crab carapace, crab juice, bonito dashi] -Shrimp Leche Marinade [shrimp shells, shrimp head, bonito dashi] -Oyster Leche Marinade [oyster juice, bonito dashi] -Uni Leche Marinade [uni juice, salt] ________________________ THE SAUCE- the sauce is used on dishes that want to add a complex flavor element to the dish that compliments the already existing flavors. It is not bad at all to have a sauceless ceviche as most are just seasoned and mixed with marinade and ready to serve with the quality of the ingredients being easily to taste. However if there is a burrito, tostada, or taco that has a tortilla that is either soft or crispy it may improve the flavor by making it taste more complicated instead of its simple flavors. -Ponzu [ponzu, pureed yellow onion, garlic, olive oil] -Avoverde [pureed tomatillos, serrano chiles, garlic, avocado, cilantro, salt, lime juice] -Coctel [ketchup, tomato puree, jalapeno puree, topatio sauce, lime juice, black pepper, salt, olive oil] -Romesco [pureed bellpepper, red vinegar, lemon juice, tomato, almonds, dried ancho, cumin, paprika, olive oil] -Crema [mayonnaise, kerned yogurt, evaporated milk, cauliflower puree, lemon juice, queso fresco, olive oil] -Rojochili [pureed tomato, onion, ancho, guajillo, cinnamon, lime juice, olive oil,] ________________________ THE CUBED SEAFOOD — Traditionally it has always been flat-fish in Lima Peru for Cevich, but with all the culinary knowledge of immigrants from many asian countries the development of cubed meats changed overtime. It can be seen as not authentic or called not mexican or too fusion, but what it really is would be Californian. As a more affordable dish than high-class sushi the raw fish that were used were what fisherman could get from fishing at the shores or on smaller sea vessels for a simple meal. This would start to include fishes from the sea food open markets of opaleye, dungeness crab, striped bass, sheep head, uni, and scallops as desired ingredients with several specialized recipes for different species of octopus. -Atlantic Blue Marlin [Blue Marlin] -Opaleye Fish -California Mackeral -Striped Bass -White Sea Bass -Rockfish -Sheep Head (Eastpac Wrasse) -Tooth Halibut (California Halibut) -Monkeyface Eel -Dover Sole -Boiled Black Cod ________________________ THE SHELL FISHES -- -Mussels -Razer Clams -Bay Scallops -White Abalone ________________________ THE CRUSTACEANS -- -Dungeness Crab -Shrimp -Lobster ________________________ THE CEPHALOPODS -- -Vulgaris Octopus [Pacific Octopus] -Northpac Red Octopus [East Pacific Octopus] -Two-Spot Octopus [Southern California] -California Uni CALIFORNIA CEVICHE NOTES:
The Standard Ceviche in California is Shrimp Ceviche (Avocado Onion Shrimp Marlin Ceviche) that often times is tossed up with Krab (imitation crab), Kamaboko (Fish Cake), Lime, Cilantro, Garlic, Salt, Black Pepper, Marinade, Tomatoes, and Jalapeno diced. Los Angeles Ceviche (California South Coast Cuisine) became noticed from "Border Grill Restaurant" of Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger that made guidelines of Shrimp Halibut onions, jalapeños, cilantro, tomatoes, and carrots cilantro mayonnaise: in a food processor, add the cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Javier Wong "Godfather of Ceviche" from Peru says that Traditional ceviche is simple with dedication to the fresh fish, cooked octopus, seafood, salt (sodium), onion, black pepper (seasoning), and lime (citrus marinated). In Mexico there is a dish called Aguachile which would involve cooking ingredients such as the octopus, but in California Cuisine it is still a sort of Ceviche. California Ceviche takes techniques of cultures of preparing seafood from Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos, and more for even more variations on an age old dish. Ceviche in California is apart of California Cuisine from San Diego California and referred to as Baja California Cuisine. It is influenced from Mexican State of Baja California which has its own Baja California Cuisine and that can make figuring out which regional cuisine difficult unless someone asks Baja California Cuisine in America or the State of Baja California in Mexico. It is important to note this, because Ceviche had been brought over from the Mexican traditions of Baja for American menus and it had changed overtime into its own sort of Ceviche which is referred to as California Ceviche. Origins of Ceviche is Peru (National Dish) in South America and is made with Mexico variations along the shorelines and is practiced along the North American coastline as well. Each Latin-American culture has their own take of this famed dish and California Cuisine is no exception with its own variations. It could be said that Ceviche connects the entire coast of South America to North America with its blessings. https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/peruvian-ceviche https://www.ciaprochef.com/wca/baja/ https://www.foodandwine.com/cooking-techniques/how-make-perfect-ceviche California Barbecue California is always has pressure to be the next big thing as there are so many who chase their dreams in the state that it can seem overwhelming for those sticking to something not new or not trendy or not being motivated to try too hard and be the next big thing. The no boundaries of just about everything make it difficult to know where the dishes that stick are which are local from the area and that counts for barbecue. Closer to the central area of the state there has been California cooking practitioners, travel housing with guest cooks, and those who cook at home with recipes past on over the years. Being covered by Food & Wine Magazine, Huffington Post, Television shows, and other articles have seen its slow rise. There are people who practice cooking on the hard wood grills available at home and those who try and go on to use the Santa Maria Style Grill (aka. Barbecue Lift-Broiler) as does: Hitching Post II (Frank Ostini), Shaw's Famous Steakhouse, Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ, and the Alisal BBQ Bootcamp. It is said to come from the Vaqueros in the mid-1800s of local cattle ranches that would have fiestas in the Santa Maria Valley as its namesake. Additional equipment that is used in the tradition of California food is the spinning spit broiler "Vertical Spit-Broiler" that is used for meats that need to be served up for sandwiches, tacos, and other dishes. Barbecue curious notice that sauce is not the main flavoring agent and is really left as a sort of condiment, which makes the smokiness come out lightly as well as the highlight on the spices as many other sauce-less style rub based cooking. As their are more people who are exposed to the way the different methods of barbecue are done they start to specialize from what they knew before and what they had learned with having places to observe and practice the California Barbecue arts. This brings titles like: Californian Parilla Grillmaster, California Spitmasters, California , and coastal Barbecue practitioners. The style had been followed from historian R.H. Tesene in which it started to be called "Stag Barbecue" in 1931 and favored top sirloin, salt, pepper, garlic, and red oak coals. In 1950s, Bob Schutz brought unique flavor in using the Tri-tip Steak in its development with other notable restaurants: Far Western Tavern, Hitching Post, and Jockos. It has become a home grown regional barbecue that people who remember it would refer to it as California Barbecue and that Coastal Red Oak was the favored wood and coals, however several woods are found in peoples cooking, including: Oak Logs, Pecan Logs, and Hickory Logs. Starting California Barbecue California Barbecue & Cultural the Meat Board Large amounts of rules and restrictions make it really hard to have outdoor grilling in California and residents do not have many ways to easily find out if they are not already familiar with years of living in the state. Many fires in the area are started from open fires due to the very dry climate that is not to be disturbed in the slightest or else a fire will go on for awhile and become out of control. The equipment in the area is developed more for limited smaller cooking areas and having a really strong way of controlling the flame itself like in a reverse flow smoker As it is something with the feeling of meeting up with friends and having that flavor of smoke that speaks out of california middle century tradition that keeps people wanting for of it, so many set up their barbecue set up indoors and use things like smoke salts instead or set up what they can outdoors with a tent and as controlled of a cooking space as they can put together. Its a gathering experience that brings people together have it friends over to watch some movies or a discussion in the garage the California Barbecue scene has always been around and is more diverse than some give credit for. In the 1920s, there had been waves of immigrants always moving to California as a spot of arrival before heading off to other states in which they would set their roots, and some would come to call California home. Transplants have been a constant part of California and set the culture to grow in its food and that has really shown in the diversity of California Barbecue basis of spice mixtures from salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika, salt evolved into a more escalated mixtures that would be specific to the areas, especially in K-town Los Angeles and San Diego with Baja California Cuisine. The favorite thing about the eating experience was being closer to people through food and this was done through a tradition of eating shared from Korean Barbecue using the table as a place to cook. Family and friends would gather around an open grill with a smoke ventilator above the table for choice pickled dishes, choice platter of meats, and choice dipping sauces, which has become apart of the dining experience of California Barbecue. There was no wrong way to eat it and with optional vegetables for grilling like corn on the cobb, carrots, onions, bellpeppers, and mushrooms there was something for everyone in a casual setting. At its origins California barbecue was established from the close-knit community in the Santa Maria Valley area which is known for agriculture, cattle ranches, strawberries, and wines, which has a feeling of a small town where everyone knows everyone. It is there that the native to California slow burning Red Oak would be the wood of choice along with the dry rub and characteristics of the style would make its way. The established Pinquito Beans, Garlic Bread, and a Strawberry Desert. In California, the environment concentrated in the state so much especially when getting into the city that people can just go to a bunch of random spots in the area and still find something a little different and a little new. The feeling can go from one part of town to another for completely different feelings a vibe for sure and that can go gfor barbecue as well. In the China Town area there is Chinese Barbecue, in K-Town there is Korean Barbecue, each Taqueria is a Barbecue, and Lebanese to Middle Eastern Barbecue. There is just so much to explore and in the homes is where they all converge for the California-style of cooking. One of the largest enablers of California cuisine in its competitive nature of the grill and the meats came when there was a large popularity growth in all American Barbecue joints. This would bring southern cuisine to the forefront and bring along with it interest in Barbecue from all around the united states barbecue map: including Kansas City Style, Texas Style, and Memphis Style Barbecue. The California style of Barbecue would have to either let all the other incoming state-transplants take over or the locals would have to step up their flavors and make their own styles to compete in a sport of having Local Barbecue versus Transplant Barbecue. California has its own culture of Barbecue that often does the standard rub method of sitting in the seasoning mixture for a couple of hours. The difference can be found in the seasoning flavors of emphasis's on garlic-based, citrus, and earthy tones in the taste like a complex herb mixture is added to most rubs found in the state. Additions like dashi (msg), ginger powder, and a variation of asian and latin dried chilies and pepper corns make for a unique taste that is unlike many other places. The standard California Dry Rub comes from Santa Maria style Barbecue that had its flavor profile popularized by the Susie Q's Brand of seasoning that made a must of salty, sweet, and umami overtones in the flavor. Flavors of California Barbecue Santa Maria Dry Rub (aka. California Barbecue): salt (4 tbsp), black pepper (2 tsp), garlic powder (2 tsp), parsley (2 tsp), white sugar (1 tsp), dashi powder (like susie Q seasoning). Grind extra fine.
San Francisco Dry Rub: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, ginger powder, onion powder, lemon peel powder, dried scallions, brown sugar, tien tsin pepper, sichuan pepper corns, bonito dashi powder. Marinade with: shoyu, white wine, apple cider vinegar. Haninmaul Dry Rub (K-Town Barbecue): salt, garlic powder, ginger powder, brown sugar, ground sesame seeds, lemon peel powder, black pepper, gochugaru powder, kombu dashi powder. Marinade for with: shoyu, apple cider vinegar, sesame seed oil, soybean paste (miso). Glendale Dry Rub: salt, garlic, black pepper, ginger powder, oregano, paprika, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon peel powder, brown sugar, shiitake dashi. Marinade: apple cider vinegar, olive oil, San Diego Dry Rub: guajillo, ancho, verbena (mexican oregano), cumin, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, brown sugar, kombu dashi. Marinade for with: sweet mayo, apple cider vinegar. Baja California Dry Rub (aka. Baja Border Barbecue): salt, lemon peel powder, lime peel powder, verbena, coriander, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, white sugar. Marinade for with: sweet mayo, apple cider vinegar. Before we start out talking about how Anime and Manga or Animanga is a portal to Japan and the culture its good to discuss a bit about Danny Choo the pioneer who showed everyone it was possible. Knowing a bit of his back story can get people into the idea of how someone worked from almost nothing and got to Japan and made a career for himself and set the road for others to walk on. So lets talk about Danny Choo and his effects on peoples perspectives of Foreigners making it out in Japan. Pioneer of the Weeb Dream Danny Choo had discovered anime from Japanese imports of the Sega Megadrive and London Japanese Specialty Book shops that had magazines which featured manga, anime, and idols. He would do self study at the university while earning money at Benihana restaurant where he met his wife. Danny would go on to work at Japan Airlines and work in Tokyo at a office job and he started his webs site dannychoo.com which over the years developed into the side business of Mirai Inc (Future Inc) with a ever growing online community. In 2009, Mirai Gaia would start up to share Japanese culture with the world and provide a bridge of the media web, videos, and conferences which helped Japanese companies overseas and spread Japanese culture to the masses across the world, so much so he was nicknamed online as Danny Choo "The Japan Cultural Ambassador". He really set a highlight on Japan and even more so on by putting the spotlight on Animanga before there was even a term for it. His persona reflected plenty of the culture as he was very kind and had the proper etiquette down as he would speak softly and still get the message he wanted across while still being polite about it, which would get people to really take notice about his changes in western to Japanese mannerisms. Choo showed how you could be a otaku radical and open up an entirely wild experience while still being yourself while being aware of the national difference in perception of the nations of residence as well as the world, he still definately was Gaijin, but a model one. Pioneering the path of what would be later on in the 2010's as "The Weeb Dream" there would be many who would continue to follow his blogs online to see what he did to immerse, adapt, and respect the culture to properly beable to live in the Japanese society from a western origin. It was sort of like he would take viewers through this Japanese culture fascination and into a portal of interests of Animation and Media and it would keep on going like a sort of road that showed the way of how to live in the land of the rising sun. It gave other people interested in Japan to summon the courage to travel there and study there or even try to work there with the goal of living in Japan as a sort of dream. Many would take his stories into their minds and see it as a path towards becoming a resident of Japan instead of simply fantasizing about it. How is Animanga linked to Japan? As time went on there would be other influential figures that would pave the way for linking people around the world to Japan, but other than people, what would catch peoples interest in looking for such people? This would be those who were intrigued and inspired by anime and manga, even if it certainly was not real the language was undeniably there as well as the unique traits of people interactions and the themes that were very specific to the animanga industry and not usually seen outside the realm of animation. Even as Japan had some of its roughest times in economic decline the "soft power" of entertainment and its global appeal creates larger interest in culture, exports, and travel. When looking at the appeal of anime and manga as well as other forms of entertainment it is important to see the amount of total "Cool" a country has to their appeal as a sort of magnetic pull that makes interest in the destination as either a place of living or travel that effects residents and travelers and their personal interests, mental attitudes, and even regional pride. Since Japan is an nation of many islands there is only so much money it can gain from its internal economy and some business are looking for overseas expansion, which in case the power of having something appear cool or interesting gets more people exposed to the country and thus the products and services it has to offer. As a business its great and for the people it builds up interest as well in wondering why so many people overseas find certain things interesting and they check it out for themselves. Everyones hearts become more invested inthe place it self and that is really starting be known as the "Gross Total Cool" of a nation. Brings the Idea of Traveling to Japan This sort of cool has left people with a longing and want to see their beloved described places and inspired areas or even the people who life every day as normal as a sort of sight to behold from their consumed media. It has led people from Asia and the West on "Animanga Pilgrimages" which are tours to the most famous scenes in anime or manga and subcultures that were inspired from what was trending come as well. Those who are interested in Shibuyakei come to Shibuya and people interested in Arcas which has its roots in electric towns go to visit those areas and Otaku who hear of the wonderland that is Akihabara go to pray at the shrine. For example there is a temple in Okayama Prefecture where people who are fans of "Tenchi Muyo" go all the way in the mountains in the middle of no where to show respects for the series. There are hundreds of these locations from all sorts of stories that it makes almost any prefecture in Japan apart of the experience. So, what many of these visitors do is they travel and they share these experiences with the world on the internet as well as in person and by word of mouth get others interested through oral marketing and then they study even more into the area and plant to return with even more things to share. The travelers, especially otaku go to travel and collect as well as write about it in a way that is really enthusiastic and almost obsessive to find every detail of what they can to find interest in a place. It is so popular there is even a " Anime Tourism Association". The numbers of tourists who primarily come with going to at least one anime related experience has countless and almost expected by many locals who live in Japan. The anime industry has become almost like a large long commercial for the country and is like the biggest mascot it could have ever dreamed and the bigger and better and longer the anime and more different places it increases growth in everything in those shows and comics and sold products. Some fans went to such pilgrimage sites and started to replicate experiences in their own countries or searched across anonymous chats and social media to write down everything they could that was in relation to the animanga and the actual location for some things even people who live there haven't heard of. The bottom line is it truly is connecting tourists, pilgrimage sites, and oral stories to create everlasting relationships with the people and country itself. Makes Japanese Class Fun & Relevant Definitely anime and manga have inspired many people to learn about Traveling to Japan, Japanese culture, and even be interested in the language. Many young adults talk about their favorite Japanese anime and how it inspired them to pick up their first Japanese book. For instance, Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films are extremely popular overseas such as “Spirited Away”, which won an American Academy Award. It is fun to learn a different language! Japanese is especially fun because some words sound really funny and I remember my former students were getting a kick out of the word, “tokidoki”! They said it sounded like “okidoki!” Also, when you are learning a foreign language, you get to learn a lot about its culture and it is one of the most rewarding aspects of learning Japanese language. Japanese courses offered in the community colleges in the 00s were hitting their Enrollment Capacity by the first registration deadline, because it was so cool to study Japanese. Not many might have put any deep thought into it there were definitely the few and people could tell who those were, but most weren't and that the power of "soft power" where people who aren't thinking too deeply just get hooked onto the culture. Some professors might be wondering out there that it might be strange to see so much enthusiasm to learn about Japan and certain phrases that might not even be used day to day in Japan, because they came from Animanga, but they would still roll with it because it was job security on their part. But, what is for certain is it made a language class that was a necessity into a relevant subject that could be used for understanding some words without subtitles. Opens the Ideas of Japanese Music Most Animes tend to have an opening and an ending theme to each season, sometimes its different, sometimes the option to hear it in dubbed or the raw Japanese. With being exposed to more songs the more Anime the person watches it is inevitable to like a few of them. Thanks to the internet its really easy to go online and check out a few songs from the same artist by simply searching the song name to link it to the artist themself and get to a music track. When searching for the track online it is typical to find both the Anime opening or ending and the actual Japanese music video, so even browsing by mistake may capture some interest. Singers like M-Flo, Namie Amuro, Kyary Kyary Pamyu, and Utada Hikaru are popular outside Japan, but many of them don't know what they are singing about until they search the translated lyrics. This makes a curiosity to learn more phrases, more words, and more language structure to further understand the Anime itself. It really makes people want to learn a language. Familiar Scenario of Japanese Schools After people have seen enough shows of either J-Dramas or Historical Reproductions or in this particular case Anime and Manga they have a sense for a sort of scenario. They watch enough slice-of-life anime and they are going to know the normal set up of: How schools organize their class rooms, or How important exams are for getting into high school, and how most people are expected to be perfect performers and not get questions wrong. Or other small things like mandatory school uniforms, school club days, no janitor to be seen, and how school grades are publicly posted on a school board. It really makes people wonder what it would be like to be in a Japanese School and experience all that as well as want to know what it would be like to live in Japan knowing all those things are apart of everyday life. It might be an eye opener and be something they themselves from their country may have never experienced before and that can make it either very scary or very interesting. While Animanga would show people the artistic colors and beautiful animations and scripts that would come out of the Japan as a country there would be others who would spark the same groups interest and even those outside of the animanga scene. This would be the Japan Video Bloggers or J-Vloggers Rachel and Jun (2012) who would slowly show some very basic ways of living in Japan, daily life in Japan, and was sort of a sneak peak into living in Japan as a multiracial couple in Japan. For those who were already interested in anime as self proclaimed Otaku or those who just had any curiosity or interest in Japan at all would have seen the Video Blogs as a sort of Virtual experience through the couple and live through their recorded experiences. It would be referred to at times as a sort of genre of Virtual Vicurious Slice-of-Life channel. It enhanced the urge to find out more about Japan as more content was released and people started looking for multiple Japan Vloggers, but there were few at the time: Kimdao (2011), Sharmander (2013), Texan in Tokyo (2014). People who were once into animanga and took the plunge into real life couldn't get enough of how much the living in Japan experience was like an anime would be addicted to watching the show as if it were watching an anime of someone elses slice-of-life genre show. But that would just be the beginning as there were many more people to come up in the ranks of hosting their own J-Vlogs. This would lead the world to discovering Chris Broad (2012) and his channel of someone who knew almost nothing about Japan except experiencing it in his imagination and through research without the actual experience of traveling abroad in Japan. Funny enough it was the name of his channel due him being smart and clever with his last name "Broad" that would be the keyword people would think of when searching for his content that was said to have a sort of transformative power. There was just something about it as his negative and sarcastic tones would change into happier and very enjoyable smiles in the moment it would be someone who has peeked with a Aha Moment where he gets it and the viewers felt the same. People would experience the journey that it is discovering everything in Japan for the first time through his eyes through the sights and sounds of his lense.
The Streaming community of Japan has become stronger as the years have gone on and many YouTubers have come and gone, but overall there hasn't been a time that it was so hyped and normalized to tell another that they were going to travel to Japan. This is thanked to those who talk about Japan specifically like Rachel and Jun, Chris Broad, and all the rest. And the ones who get that interested started often times is the Animanga community through its western otaku and asian otaku from foreign countries who just can't seem to get enough from the strengthening force of Ani-Tubers from Geeks Plus. That being said what captures your interests in Japan and what brought you from Anime to real life Japan? most likely everyone will have some sort of different answer of what drew them to Japan and thats whats so special about the experiences all these people have done for all their audiences. Onos for North Shore Shrimp Truck
Looking Online for the North Shore Marinade It begins with going to the North Shore on the island of Oahu for a group of trucks that have their own styles of shrimp. The famous food truck of Giovannis Shrimp was the beginning of a classic called Hawaii Shrimp, which had later on became one of several styles that were named after the locations they reside in. North Shore Garlic Shrimp Giovanni's has set the bar with a marinade for the recipe that gives it signature blast of buttery goodness. The search begins to make the way to find out another recipe of a island classic that makes people want to head out to the North Shore. Kahuku Garlic Shrimp Fumi's Kahuku Shrimp and Romy's Prawns and Shrimp have had a war of crustaceans for quite some time. It leans much more on the garlic butter in its taste. It differentiates its flavor with a creaminess and spiciness of black pepper and some lemon pepper. Ko'olau Garlic Shrimp The shrimp craze had reached the side of Kualoa Ranch where it got people in Kaneohe to work with the kahuku shrimp style. It would only be a matter of time before the recipe had taken a turn to the Ko'olau garlic shrimp style that include sake, shoyu, and mirin to the mix with the butter. Shoyu Butter Marinade If you read previously! the marinade came about from the Windward side of Oahu by the residents of Kaneohe who enjoyed putting shoyu and butter together with some salt and tang. Garlic Butter Marinade The scampi that started it all, but the measurements everyone is looking for! the Garlic butter marinade is a food truck recipe that is being sought after for the expansion of the Hawaii's food cuisine identity! Lemon Butter Marinade The popularity of lemon butter started with the shrimp trucks, but it ended with the southern cajun cuisine that merged with local tastes. Most notably the Raging Crab had brought a nice lemon pepper sauce that would later be the stepping stones to the lemon butter marinade. Plenty of butter, olive oil, lemon zest, thyme, garlic, black pepper, lemon pepper alaea seasoning, and cilantro. Tobasco Butter Marinade Known to the local fisherman as the must have secret sauce that is not so secret... Butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, tabasco, and light shoyu. https://www.desumama.com/hawaiian-shrimp-truck-recipe-butter-with-butter-and-garlic/ Version I: https://therecipecritic.com/hawaiian-style-garlic-shrimp/ Version II: 1 pound White Shrimp 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 4 tablespoons salted butter 3 heads fresh garlic, minced 1 lemon ½ teaspoon course Hawaiian sea salt (regular sea salt is ok) ¼ teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon paprika https://www.micheleannajordan.com/cooking/recipe/fish-flesh/giovannis-shrimp-truck-scampi/ Version III: 12 shell-on large or extra large shrimp, preferably wild and fresh, deveined and rinsed 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon sweet Spanish paprika 2 teaspoons hot Spanish paprika 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste 4 tablespoons clarified butter 8 to 12 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 cup dry sherry 2 tablespoons butter Steamed white rice Hawaii Magazine Article on North Shore Shrimp: http://sugarandshake.com/shrimpin-aint-easy/ Taking a Look at Hawaii's Shrimp
The long Koolau mountains that spread across the landscape on the windward side seems empty for food inspiration, but if you drive all the way our to Kaneohe and Kailua you will be pleasantly surprised from the history of the Andy's Empire that begins the journey of our commitment to historical inspired sandwiches. Drive a little more passed that to the Shrimp Farms on the North side...and youll be entering the world of the Shrimp. When on the North Shore which is far no matter how you get there. Will have a variety of trucks on the side. The most popular side food is Shrimp. Picking up some inspiration from the shrimp trucks sauce and combine that with a Maryland missionary Crab cake and you got the makings of a great concoction. But one more part of the equation includes the historic Andy's empire classic Shrimp Burger. This weekend there is a private party of friends from TRIO windward who are going to biting in some great Shrimp Burgers. The sauces are simmered with the garlic to get all the flavors out. The white wine is added with some sugar and shoyu... and then the concept of more butter more betta! The sauce is done~ let it cool down, caramalize sweet maui onions, lemons, and garlic powder, and let them soak in the garlic butter sauce we just finished. We then head for the batter that puts everything together with mayonnaise for creaminess, bread crumbs with mochiko, sriracha, and shrimp paste. Its going to look pink... and with everyone in the pool of flavors you know its gotta be good. This a sandwich you won't forget. Responsibilities and Learning Fishery Ocean Rightness and Balance of being Pono Connecting with a Seafood Specialist Doing Sustainable for Supporting the Community Working with Meat of the Whole Animal Filleters go to Fisherman, Aquafarmers, and Picklers Filleter Aquafarmers consist of Aquaponics Farmers and Hydroponics Farmers that use a method of growing plants without soil. Lomi Counter Musubi Section aaa Pickle Section
aaa Manapua Man, is a neighborhood food truck that serves delicious dumpling snacks, plenty of packed noodles, candy in the back of the white van. He promises fond childhood memories, cheap eats from long ago, and portable food that he gets from his kitchen. Depending on if its a brick and mortar specialty Manapua shop with a Snack Shack of Dim Sum or its a Chop Suey Restaurant as home base can depend if its a Manapua Truck or a Lunch Wagon.
Manapua Delivery has declined. How we get our food in Hawaii has no doubt changed in time and so has the needs of when someone would need to serve food. At first the Manapua Man would go door to door selling his snacks that were slung over their shoulders on a bamboo pole that had baskets filled with manapua. Eventually, food became centralized with super markets and food got globalized and local establishments began to disappear like manapua shops, chop suey restaurants, and manapua deliverers. Manapua Delivery supports the community through affordable food that can be eaten on the go from a Manapua Man (aka.uncle) or the lesser seen Manapua Miss (aka. auntie). The seemingly distant manapua delivery is kept alive by the few who still enjoy the feeling of stepping back into the stories that mention the manapua man from the olden days. Competition has placed an importance on modernizing nostalgia of knowing your cook, connecting to the offline community, eating from the local establishments that deliver to variety of customers like: young children after school, elderly people, homemakers, and anyone who is hungry for food. Standards set by Lunch Wagons of today have made some practices in modernizing the Manapua Man's Mysterious Van. Starting from tracking vans is based on social media from a website or people who are simply stalking the vehicle. There are more varieties of dishes available than the older days of classic fried noodles, manapuas, candy, and dumplings from the portable snack shack. While many drinks were available in the past the one that seems to reoccur is customers memories of fruit sodas on the menu of: (red strawberry, green river, orange passion, the dark purple grape). Snack Shacks were slang for Manapua Shops dumpling window that started when describing places like "Royal Kitchen" and "Aiea Manapua". The need came up when youth had to describe the differences between lunch wagons versus food trucks and then food trucks to manapua vans. As there is no clear standard of what a manapua man's van is called... it is still referred to jokingly as "the mysterious creepy white van that hands out candy to little kids". Filling up on affordable food had youth saying "Kanak Attack from da Snack Shack" as a sort of joke of being too full from the manapua and snacks from a certain manapua man from Pearl City under a bridge. Pork Long Rice
I first found out about Pork Long Rice when I went over to a friends house in Mililani where they served it. I asked for the recipe which was interesting indeed! Tomato, Smoked Hamhock, Chicken bones, Portuguese Sausace, and left over kalua pork. My friends mom told me its a recipe from the plantation, so i went on the hunt to find out where! What was inside? Chicken Broth Smoke Hamhock Portuguese Sausage Sweet Onion Garlic Ginger Bean Thread Noodles Alaea Salt Black Pepper Green Onions The tradition of the upcountry seems to be the tradition that doesn't change of being a place for the local cuisine with Iwaishi Restaurant and Soda Fountain (1927) and later a reflection of the Maui Paniolo cowboys that would work the ranches as a Steak House (1982) from Larry Philips. Looking back at the building it looks like the store front was nice, but the building never expanded to suit the need of the large amount of overtourism that came to the island to visit the now historic area. The Makawao Steak House had closed down as many other mom and pop shops, because it was really hard to keep traditional menu items, evolve the menu to modern times, and build a following that was different from all the other steak houses out there on Maui.
As Maui drew more tourists and the fake plastic leis the expectation from those on the mainland were high for the already declining popularity of the relic old Steak house. In the 1970s-1980s there were more upper class restaurants that served steak and of course steak houses were under those, so for Makawao Steak House to survive it would have to serve something drastically different from the rest. Looking at the old menu there were: steaks, jumbo shrimp, pork, prime rib... a not so updated salad bar: Iceberg lettuce, shaved carrots, sliced cucumbers, croutons, sunflower seeds, raisins, and the dressings were whats usually found at home… As it says on the menu Asian Style Braised Shortribs, Braised Lamb Shank, Jidori Chicken, Tempura Mahimahi & Chips, Herb Grilled Vegetagbles, Kobe Beef Burger, Colossal Shrimp Pasta, Top Sirloin, Steak, Angus Ribeye Steak, Beef Tenderloin, Hawaii Ranchers New York Steak, T-Bone Steak, and Prime Rib. With going to a large amount of restaurants from all over the world it is missing a few of the things which keep regional areas alive. The menu sort of looks like it was playing it too safe by seeing what sold in the tourist area, which is not quite the expecation of the area. So what is the expectation? the local taste, reinvention, and timeless experience. Either steak houses can be that old school flair that a million dollar look or have a steak house for the cowboys. With it being near the ranches it would most likely be a way for an affordable meal and need some sort of take out as well as eat in reservations. With meat being a big expense, it can be hard to do typical steak house dry age with the limited space and no space for a large wine cellar, so this particular establishment would have to depend on their sides as well as their dishes. Trends in Hawaii are something to notice and with steaks the hotels tend to have the trends calculated for the most part. A side that has grown in popularity is Buttered Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Steakhouse Fries, and when in Hawaii people think of Prime Rib as the number one steak dish, ichiban giant, numero uno of cowboys! So, luckily that cut was on their menu. Makawao has access to the nearby areas of Kula with high elevations for farm and produce, Haiimaile where there are some great fruits, and Maui is famous for its goat cheese and mushrooms. The establishment was previously owned by Japanese and many techniques are similar to the plantation, so that sets the scene of what would be expected of such a steak house. So the expectation would be a mix of all these elements with a emphasis on what creative local ways the area can sell moderately but not high priced meals on the go and large value meals for families. It is sad for whatever reason the circumstances were that the place had to shut down there was a lot to be desired and I feel it is not the problem of the establishments efforts, but the rising prices of the area boutiques and traveling high spenders. As I learn more about Maui-Paniolo culture I think it might be the key to ask the right questions on what is the local cowboy meal experience? what is the local recipes people eat at home when they make their dine at home meal? what sort of things do people want to eat in Hawaii and then share it with the rest of the world. That is where the real secret lies and thats the real foods that can bring this place back hopefully. I will check out a book I heard called "Whats cooking in Makawao" and talk to some people who lived or are living there now. It was a good historical study of a place that has that old school appeal. But, I don't think there will be much I can be taking away menu wise of a regional dish, but I can always hope there are hidden stories coming my way by those who knew of the hayday of this place when so many people had come for a great meaty meal... See Less is a variety of Saimin in Hawaii Oahu and originated in Waipahu. It is apart of Waipahu regional cuisine as a specialty dish of the area of Waipahu with shoyu, dashi, oyster sauce, and other ingredients, which are typically cooked into the noodles themselves on a flat top. Traditionally the dish is topped with sliced barbeque beef or pork chop and served with fried saimin noodles. In Waipahu, Oahu, Waipahu Fried saimin is referred to as Sato's Fried Saimin.
Overview The noodles for the Waipahu Fried Saimin is from Okahara Saimin Factory which have a bit of a chewiness to them. The noodles are prepared by having an oil coating on them and fried up for a little while until golden in appearance. Additional thrown in ingredients are diced char siu pork, spam, cabbage, green onions, carrots, salt, and garlic or garlic salt. For service at the table are additional ingredients of salt, black peper, shoyu, and sriracha. Gravy Fried Saimin Variation Fried Saimin is popular for its fried taste. Many saimin noodles with this type of sauce are nick named "Gravy Fried Saimin" thanks to the experimentation and failures of the development of the old-fashioned Sato's Okazuya Saimin. This type of fried saimin was to compete with other establishments that specialized in country fried saimin that is more crisp and has a lighter sauce. Waipahu Saimin Variations A distinctive feature is the thicker sauce quality and chewiness of the noodles. Depending on the person making it or family the recipe can be different. There is the: (1) Long-established Sato's Fried Saimin with visible fat, (2) Spicy Gravy Saimin which uses Sriracha sesame seeds and garlic, (3) Barbeque Gravy Saimin that uses a darker soy sauce, brown sugar, and chicken fat. History Fried Saimin was relatively common on the island with shoyu, dashi, and vegetables, and many tasted like Hawaii Fried Saimin with slight changes. So, Fried Saimin served at Sato's Okazuya which slightly changed the texture of the sauce made it different from the usual recipe. The Sato Family is given recognition of popularizing the dish. In the background, Saimin noodle makers were prosperous back in the day and there were many Saimin shops that served Saimin and Fried Saimin. The history of food for survival would create the need for the typical mixture thrown inside most fried saimins. Waipahu, is located near the west central area of Oahu Hawaii and was nearby the Sugar plantation. The sources point that the influence of Waipahu's plantation culture of local mixed people would lead up to the strong taste of the hearty fried saimin. It is said the strong oily flavor was influenced from the Waipahu residence themselves. There was a group of three old filipino men who had their backs turned to their food in a McDonalds in Waipahu. This McDonalds was where I went to get myself some food and coffee, since it was still the early hours of the weekend. They drew my attention, because I wondered why they all were wearing shades in the restaurant. The first one said can you see her? the second one said I can see, but i can not see! the third one asked is it because you have shades but no prescription shades? and then the first one almost fell down laughing because they all missed a young wahine who had booty shorts on in the eating area that left through the doors.
I walked up to them and asked them what they were looking at? the first one said nothing at all and the second one asked why did you approach us? the third one made a statement that maybe the boy wants to see girls too and invited me to sit next to them. I noticed their food was to their backs as they were looking towards the door. I asked if they happen to know any history about those who worked the plantation... in surprise the first one took off his shades and said the Sakada? and I said... whats a Sakada? he responded and said it is a life style, a merging of Filipino ideals of today with due respect to where we left, and the respect of local hawaiano filipino conpadres! Sakada and the American Dream He asked me if I would like to hear about some of the Sakada that came to Hawaii... I said okay and he began telling me that the Filipinos that came to Hawaii came originally for the american dream and to get rich through contracts they signed for different jobs. Coming to Hawaii meant working hard in the sugar fields with the opportunity to help the families back home and to come back the Philippines with wealth from America. They were the Sakada, Filipino men who came by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association to Hawaii as unskilled laborers from 1900 to 1940. They paved the ways for the kids to get a better education, created large local familys that lived in a nice house, and livable wages. This was the dream of many Filipinos who came to work for the sugar plantations in the islands, but where I come from is Waipahu area. A Man of his Hawaii Hometown I asked why Waipahu area? the man had taken a bite from his breakfast burrito and looked at his friend with a smile. He said it was a long story... a very long story... but he said for a youngster like you looking for some knowledge I will tell the story. It will make you a better man! He started by saying originally they viewed themselves as Filipinos from the Philippines seeking a better life and return, however as we lived on the plantation we got an island daze. An island daze? The man readjusted his shades and was distracted from a young wahine who was walking past the register and he giggled as his head went up and down. I asked again daze? as I looked closer to his face about two feet away... he said that he was distracted from the nice one walking by and then continued. He said that back then there was something about everyone being in a similar situation, living in a time of survival, and the sharing that made island life feel the Aloha in the air. Something unique to Hawaii that never could be the same back home. He then corrected himself and said that Waipahu is home now actually, because he is too different from today's Filipinos that might mark him as a foreigner. And that he had lived the local lifestyle so long that he didn't know any other way to live, nor would he want to at his old age. He said that Amang Lolo and Inang Lola would do it all again if they could. I wasn't sure if he was referring to himself or his own family... He continued... The Fighting Among Races The Aloha was not always present he said, because many of the ethnicities had so many reasons to separate from each other. They would separate because of their religion, separate because of their areas of the Philippines, and further separate if any other ethnic group barged in on a Filipino gathering. It was like intrusion would be met with a knife or cracks. Many guarded their family from other Illacano from the Visayan. The Japanese really didn't like the Chinese and the Polynesians... and all had mutual dislike for the Haole and the Portuguese. Everything was for money and the land, but nothing for the people and the lifestyle. But, eventually we settled our differences, because the Sakadas agreed that doing the right thing was more important for a people to come together than to fight each other of Illacano versus Visayan. Sakada became so much more than just a title for the unskilled laborers. In my family we viewed it as special, since it also meant a agreement of people in different Filipino families to stop the fighting and to get to work. This was only possible from the need to share of those times. Other groups had settled their differences as well... the Japanese and the Okinawans... the Chinese and the Koreans... and the Hawaiians and the Haoles settled things along with the portuguese (lunas). The plantation had made its workers a field way back when called the Oahu Sugar Co Field which is now the Hans L'Orange field. It was like once we settled things with our own people... everyone elses social walls started coming down and we could see the similarity. We were all human beings. Local Community Gatherings The Sugar Cane Mill brought the community together in its harsh working environment and brutal working conditions at low wages, but it was enough to support the family. At first many of us would go to community meet togethers to talk about current events and about the day of work with our own race and later on it was with multiple ethnic groups. The Japanese taught us filipinos how to assemble as a group through generational importance, the okinawans helped with their sewing skills when clothes were torn,and many filipinos had food shared from the backyard pig cook outs on the dirt road. Eventually everyone from all racial backgrounds would come to take on the title of local, but as always there were the few trouble makers. Our family had brought out wood to start a fire that was cooking a whole pig near the dirt roads. It was all in the backyard with our families from our camp and people were allowed to invite other friends who worked with us. The parties started being all Filipino, but over time it got very diverse. Even if there were people who wanted the separation of the camp the love that people shared for one another through shared meals during work and after work provided a bases to a deep relationship to multiethnic acceptance made it difficult to not go along with everyone else with the Aloha everyone shared. It was our hometown now. It was where we lived and where we all helped each other. We were a area affiliation of the Hawaii town we were from and where we came from was different entirely. We were people of our town of Waipahu. Leaving the Aloha and the Plantation Not everyone wanted the plantation life and life filled with Aloha. They wanted the modern city life and were more of the go getters. They wanted their own businesses and more money and often times that led to racial separation into towns where they could help each other from race. Immigrants from peoples home countries kept on coming in... waves of all the filipinos, japanese, chinese, koreans, polynesians, and haoles still come in the modern day. It was also much more like the mainland where there were Chinatowns... we too had a Chinatown where many businesses flourished like Wo Fat. Saving the Aloha Spirit Those who stayed on the plantation eventually moved off to start their own careers, but they would never forget their past and use it to better their future. After Hawaii became a state and after the war the different groups would gather to be ethnic supremacists of their own full bloodline race. However many who had hapa children would go in their own direction of raising their children with the plantation values that seek that Aloha way of life... Once you felt that sense of Aloha, no one would ever want to trade that feeling for anything else in the world. It is something that those who separated from the plantations in their own way lost touch with what made Hawaii different from the mainland United States. Back at Segregation and Divide The Filipinos who disconnected from the plantation became a racial power on their own in american society, so they separated from those who saw themselves as now the Hawaianos Filipinos. The Chinese, Japanese, Okinawans, Koreans, Samoans, and Hawaiians would have a similar divide from the urban way of life.By this time there were less and less people working for the plantations and more and more urban development. It went more and more in that direction as many lost the history of our land and the lessons our ancestors have lived their lives searching for, so here we are today. The home of where people immigrated from was their immigrated area and their home area was now their hometown. Can't change a person once they are from Waipahu Hawaii he said. The experience of the plantation had changed everyone who worked there and made people decide differently of going back to their home... because now, Hawaii was their home. It was no longer about eagerly leaving the island, but wishing that there would be a time you could bring your family to Hawaii and live here together with the ukelele playing and the children running in the fields. What a time it was to be alive. |
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