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BulletMagnet\'s Intergalactic Scrap Heap

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Violence: The Gatekeepers

Before going any further into this site-wide discussion, let's take a moment to reaffirm exactly what it is that we're talking about here. Violence, ostensibly the topic at hand, like it or not, is absolutely everywhere, in some form or ...

 
 
 

2013: BM’s Year (So Far) In Weird

Hello everyone, or at least everyone who still remembers me. It’s certainly been awhile since I last had the time or inclination to submit a proper blog post here, hasn’t it? Granted, what you’re reading now still isn’t one, really, but i...

 
 
 

Namco vs. Atlus: Fate of BM's Self-Respect

WARNING: If you object to the idea of a fighting game-related post written by someone unable to cite active frames, stun values, tiers and combo strings from memory at a moment’s notice, stop reading now to save yourself (and others aroun...

 
 
 

Collaboration: IF Only...

Hm. It would appear that my fellow c-bloggers are currently writing about video game-related collaborations and crossovers that they wish would happen. Interesting. Most of the community’s focus, at least so far, has been on theoretical...

 
 
 
 

Resolutions: Fresh Flowers

As both a video gamer and a onetime student of the visual arts, I’ve never felt uncomfortable shining an occasional spotlight on the more “superficial” aspects of my favored pastime, snorts of “graphics whore” from certain unenlightened c...

 
 
 

East vs. West: Where The Old Gods Dwell

Whenever humanity encounters something really big that it can’t explain, it has a fascinating tendency to not only create its own explanations, but to grant them life. The sky, the sea, the past, the future, love, war, all of them have ha...

 
 
 

What I’ve Been Up To: Part 2

Hi again, all: as promised in the previous installment, I’ve got some more stuff to talk about regarding what I’ve been up to lately. Let’s get right down to brass tacks: though I haven’t written much here, there i...

 
 
 

What I've Been Up To: Part 1

Hello everyone…or at least everyone who remembers me! Hope you’ve all been well – as you might be aware, I still pop in here regularly to look around and comment, it’s been some time since I last blogged myself. At this point I feel it’s...

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 60

Well, everyone, I guess this is about it – as was previously announced, this will be the final issue of The Obscurer Tribune, at least for the time being. I suppose it’s fitting that we’re concluding this latest run with one of the larges...

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 59

Issues like this one aptly display both why I started the Tribune and why I need a break from it…there’s so much neat stuff to cover, but trying to track down and transcribe even a halfway-decent amount of it is pretty much a full-time oc...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Graduation Speech

Well, well, well – it seemed like this day would never arrive, but here we are. As all of us bear witness to the conclusion of this ‘Magnet School curriculum, we’re ready to stop, for a little while at least, merely reading and talking ab...

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 58

There’ve been a lot of hefty Tribunes lately, though I doubt you mind….not so much for the bevy of news available, but because it usually shuts me up in these intro/closing sections. Usually. --------- There is a very long video out a...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Extra Credit

As some of you probably guessed, I initially planned to conclude this series with last week’s post: in terms of “pure” puzzlers, everything I have to teach is already before you. As the finishing touches were being applied to Ochige 401, ...

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 57

… --------- Here’s another video of Akai Katana, showing most of the third stage – I dunno, when some ticked-off dude starts summoning trains at me, that’s when I turn around and go home. My Japanese-literate shmup companions tell me...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Ochige 401 (Hon.)

“ANOTHER ochige lesson?” Well, yes and no – while we are still dealing with “falling object” puzzlers here, remember, you’re Honors students by now. Puyo-Puyo and other instantly-recognizable ochige are but distant specks in your rear-vie...

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 56

Once again, happy trails, Anonymouse – it’s been a pleasure being recapped by you. Also, a warm welcome to GamesAreArt – something tells me we’ll be seeing each other regularly (y’know, just a hunch). Anyways, on to this week’s multitude ...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Free Elective

Good afternoon class, I’ve got a bit of a surprise for you today. This installment of ’Magnet School will serve as your “free elective”, an opportunity to celebrate the puzzle genre’s incredible variety: here you will find perhaps the mos...

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 55

There’s plenty of JOY to go around in the Tribune this week, so stop reading this (*snicker*…“read this”…I slay me) and get to it! --------- Okay, so let’s start getting down that the aforementioned JOY – readers already knew that Cav...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Ochige 301 (Adv.)

“‘Magnet School” is a group of articles devoted to the intimate study and increased awareness of obscure and unusual games, presented in a compact, structured format. To read the full, formal introduction to this series please click here....

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 54

You’ll have to pardon me for this week’s issue coming off the presses a few hours late – as you’ll soon see (assuming you bother to keep reading), it’s the biggest one we’ve had of late. That being the case, I’ll step aside and let you di...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Phys. Ed

“‘Magnet School” is a group of articles devoted to the intimate study and increased awareness of obscure and unusual games, presented in a compact, structured format. To read the full, formal introduction to this series please click here....

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 53

Okay guys, it’s time to finally make a decision – you’ve got to choose, once and for all, whether to utterly ignore The Obscurer Tribune, or ‘Magnet School. Seriously, who has the time to so completely disregard both? You must be driving ...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Ochige 201

“‘Magnet School” is a group of articles devoted to the intimate study and increased awareness of obscure and unusual games, presented in a compact, structured format. To read the full, formal introduction to this series please click here....

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 52

Has it been as sticky weather-wise where you guys are as it’s been here? I certainly hope not…it makes you feel like not doing anything, and attempting to get both this and the next ‘Magnet School article ready when one’s limbs feel like ...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Tossology

“‘Magnet School” is a group of articles devoted to the intimate study and increased awareness of obscure and unusual games, presented in a compact, structured format. To read the full, formal introduction to this series please click here....

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 51

While everybody else was busy covering E3, The Obscurer Tribune was…well, actually we were covering the exact same stuff, since all our material comes from other places anyways. Still, there was plenty for fans of the unusual to follow, a...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Ochige 101

“‘Magnet School” is a group of articles devoted to the intimate study and increased awareness of obscure and unusual games, presented in a compact, structured format. To read the full, formal introduction to this series please click here. ...

 
 
 

The Obscurer Tribune # 50(!)

Okay, so since I actually got around to posting something other than The Obscurer Tribune, and have in the process eliminated the need to offer hints about what I’m up to in the Tribune, there is officially no more reason whatsoever for a...

 
 
 

'Magnet School: Introduction to a New Blog Series

This blog’s handful of occasional readers may have noticed that, over the past few months, little content has been posted here apart from weekly Obscurer Tribune issues. There is a reason for this. It has little (if anything) to do with “re...

 
 

About BulletMagnetone of us since 9:04 PM on 10.04.2008

Thanks kindly for paying my blog a visit.

I'm currently looking for paid writing gigs, so if you might want anything written shoot me a message (craighats at hotmail dot com).

In case the contents of this blog don't make it obvious enough, I have something of an affinity for slightly "offbeat" titles, so if there's something out there that few others cover, there's a fair chance I'm at least somewhat up on it.

If there's any sort of (reasonable) inquiry you'd like me to address, please don't hesitate to be in touch.

Below are a handful of recaps and other links (oldest listed first by section), in case you're interested - asterisks mark promoted articles.

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'Magnet School

Introduction

Curriculum: Puzzle Games

Course 1: Ochige 101
Course 2: Tossology
Course 3: Ochige 201
Course 4: Phys. Ed
Course 5: Ochige 301 (Adv.)
Course 6: Free Elective
Course 7: Ochige 401 (Hon.)
Course 8: Extra Credit
Graduation Speech

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Reviews/Impressions/Rants/etc.

King of Fighters: Orochi Saga
Ar Tonelico II - Part 1 and Part 2
Prinny and Street Fighter IV
King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match
Nintendo DS
*King of Fighters XII
How-To: Atelier Annie
How-To: Mushihime-sama Futari

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The Forgotten Essentials

Part 1: RPGs
Part 2: Shmups
Part 3: Fighters
Part 4: Puzzlers

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The Obscurer Tribune

EXTRA! EXTRA!

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Monthly Musings/Writers Wanted

The Fear: The End
*A Time to Destroy: I Cast Thee Out
*Expanded Universes: Triple Triad X
*Those About to Die: Nocturne's Demons
*Untapped Potential: The Second Dimension
*I Suck at Games: and I'm Here to Help
*The Forgotten: Real Life
*Love/Hate: The Weirdo, The Wall, and The Beast
*The Future: A Refreshing Cup of Hemlock
*More Than Just Noise: Digital Cheese LIVE
East vs. West: Where The Old Gods Dwell
Resolutions: Fresh Flowers
Collaboration: IF Only...
Violence: The Gatekeepers

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Assorted Ramblings

Why Am I Here? (intro)
Non-Portable Portable Gaming
Hating the Unhateable
*Soul Bubbles, Mickey Mouse, Journey of the Self
Dreamcast: The Other Shmup Machine
One-Year Anniversary Reflections
Shmups: Gaming's EOE

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Non-DT Writing

Racketboy

Saturn Shooter Rundown
PS1 Shooter Rundown
PS2 Shooter Rundown
Shmups 101
Shmups That Defined the Genre
"Hidden Gem" Shmups

HG101

Deathsmiles
Espgaluda
Shadow Hearts

Misc.

Unofficial Shmup Glossary (shmups.com, WIP)
My Backloggery (Warning: Inherent Shamefulness May Be Too Intense for Some Readers)
 
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