TokyoBob loves....

Notes from Pictoplasma 2013: Berlin, a truly free city. I...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:50:17 -0400

Notes from Pictoplasma 2013: Berlin, a truly free city.

I recently made my first proper trip outside of the United Kingdom in order to attend this year’s Pictoplasma character festival, which I did so alongside two of my fellow friends; MrJimeLee and KDDoran. The festival was based in Berlin, Germany and it was certainly interesting to see how some everyday things differed in this country as opposed to back home. Probably the biggest of these differences was seeing people smoking outside and in social places, a sight that has been almost completely removed from sight here in Britain due to the public smoking ban.

Vehicles in Berlin drive on the right hand side of the road and this often led to some near misses whilst at the crossing, though not due to a confusion of where the traffic was coming from but rather the misunderstanding of the traffic light system. Here the green man indicates every man, car, cyclist and tram for itself. However, I was very impressed to see that they have a second smaller set of traffic lights at junctions specifically for the attention of cyclists. Almost all streets have cycle lanes or are open to riders, again something you wouldn’t see often in our city centre.

‘The land of small dogs’ as we came to know it over the week was another aspect of freedom in the city as you literally couldn’t walk a few steps without seeing (or leaping out of the way of a) dog turd. I think perhaps this is something they could try to crack down on, but no one really seems to mind it.

Without a doubt the most striking thing about Berlin is the street art/graffiti, as there is not a single street in the city that doesn’t have at least several tags or doodles on the walls, windows roofs and in some cases the parked cars. It definitely seemed like graffiti is openly welcomed and accepted, something which I could imagine in England would draw away the attention of youths who might otherwise turn to violence as a means of expressing their feelings or frustrations. Visiting the Neurotitan gallery in Haus Schwarzenberg as part of the festival character walk was quite a bizarre sight to see as every floor of the building staircase was covered from top to bottom with art, graffiti and random messages lost in time. This will be the enduring memory that I hold from my time in Berlin.

Video game music? ….preposterous! It was quite a surprise...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:23:13 -0400

Video game music? ….preposterous!

It was quite a surprise for me when I was directed to a web page earlier today regarding a recent poll by the radio station; Classic FM. It was announcing the results of the ‘Classic FM Hall of Fame 2013’ list, a survey which is held every year in which their listenership vote on what they consider their favourite works.

The surprise was in the knowledge that Nobuo Uematsu, the famed video games composer and my greatest inspiration, had placed 3rd on the list. Above Beethoven. Above Mozart. Above Bach. The list goes on. Does this mean that his works are better? ….not at all. But it says a great deal for game music and game composers.

It’s clear to see just looking at some of the comments on the announcement page that people not familiar to games are taking notice, and with such a high billing in respectable polls such as this is certainly something more to make them take notice.

The tag line of Classic FM boldly proclaims ‘The World’s Greatest Music’. It’s a good day for game music.

Judge Anderson

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:38:24 -0500

Judge Anderson

Photo

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:05:35 -0500

them's good broth: Shameless pluggage.

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:06:20 -0500

them's good broth: Shameless pluggage.:

stiobhart:

Hey you! -yes, you over there with the stupid face!

Isn’t it about time you did something constructive with your life, instead of sitting there, picking your nose and writing “LOL” and “ROFL” on FacePuke all day?

Well now, thanks to the miraculous properties of the scroodl…

abbyarsonist: OH MY GOD, ITS SO CUTE!

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:01:28 -0500

abbyarsonist:

OH MY GOD, ITS SO CUTE!

fer1972: Obliteration Room by Yakoi Kusama Insane in the...

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:42:45 -0500

fer1972:

Obliteration Room by Yakoi Kusama

Insane in the membrane.

missisanfi: Dafuq You Just Say?!

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 08:42:08 -0500

missisanfi:

Dafuq You Just Say?!

fer1972: Steampunk Insects by Mike Libby

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 07:36:22 -0400

fer1972:

Steampunk Insects by Mike Libby

Maeuschen and Muschi Best friends forever.

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 07:41:23 -0400

Maeuschen and Muschi

Best friends forever.

Why yes dear boy I think that would be a marvellous idea.

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 12:26:59 -0400

Why yes dear boy I think that would be a marvellous idea.

Photo

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 08:24:56 -0400

First one reminds me of ‘Knightmare’....

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:54:55 -0400

First one reminds me of ‘Knightmare’. Awesome.

fer1972:

Street art by Nomerz

Photo

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:14:18 -0400

The Adventures of Kim Jong Un

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:46:12 -0400

The Adventures of Kim Jong Un

Photo

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:27:33 -0400

Photo

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:23:30 -0400

Photo

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:21:44 -0400

thingsthatilearnedfromthismovie: HANNA - Cate Blanchett cannot...

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:42:00 -0500

thingsthatilearnedfromthismovie:

HANNA

- Cate Blanchett cannot pull off an American accent.

stecav: The British Board of film classifications certificate...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:27:21 -0500

stecav:

The British Board of film classifications certificate has had a bit of a beautiful update; very classy, very prestigious and very attractive, a nice colour palette .. A subtle nod to a by gone era of design.