THE ROYAL TUTOR - The Licht Spinning Song Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2017-07-21 | #74 is sheer ridiculousness.This is what happens when someone posts an animated gif, and my brain goes off in places that it really shouldn't.My current favorite anime is the absolutely delightful THE ROYAL TUTOR (or in Japanese, OUSHITSU KYOUSHI HAINE). Available now on Crunchyroll (subbed) and FUNimation (dubbed), it is so worth the watch. And for a surprisingly serious, thoughtful, and insightful series, it has moments of absolute WTFery.Like this.So... I set it to music. And added commentary. Enjoy.Please be advised that I approve comments before posting them (to keep spammers off my comments), so yours might take a bit to appear. Fear not!Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from THE ROYAL TUTOR, distributed by FUNimation. Music is that leek spinning song. All rights reserved by their respective owners.http://funimation.comhttp://youtube.com/samuraiko
CRITICAL ROLE - Eine Kleine Zaubermusik Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2023-08-24 | Video #79 arrives at long, long last!I have been a Critter since the early days of CRITICAL ROLE, as I'd been a fan of Liam O'Brien, Travis Willingham, Laura Bailey, and Taliesin Jaffe long before they ever joined forces with Sam Riegel, Marisha Ray, Ashley Johnson, and of course, the man, myth, and legend that is Matthew Mercer for a little show where "a bunch of nerdy-a** voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons."I've seen all three campaigns (some episodes many, MANY times), as well as the one-shots, but nobody was more surprised than I was when I absolutely fell head over heels in love with Caleb Widogast of the Mighty Nein from Campaign 2, BRILLIANTLY portrayed by Liam. (I could go on at length about Liam, and have quite often if you've ever seen my Tumblr, but suffice it to say, he is without a doubt my favorite player at the table to watch.)One of the things that Liam did that utterly won me over was how THOROUGHLY, from a narrative and gameplay standpoint, he immersed himself in Caleb's use of magic. This attention to detail took Liam's playing to an entirely new level (not to mention shining through in how he now plays his fighter, Orym of the Air Ashari, in Campaign 3), and as Caleb progressed in skill and learned new spells, I couldn't wait to see how Liam chose to portray them.Then I wanted to make a video showcasing them.A few caveats here:1. This is not an exhaustive list of his spells - for that, I strongly suggest you visit the ever-awesome CritRoleStats website. These are the spells with somatic components (gestures) that Liam actually showed on camera, and even most of these, that he showed consistently more than once. (Some I left in because they were just cool.)2. Caleb's Dunamancy spells are listed as how they appear in D&D Beyond (i.e., NOT under a separate ninth school of magic), because I wanted to keep the theme of the symbols that appear on the scrolls.3. I tried to use as many different episodes as I could, but there are a few duplicates - either because Liam's renditions were as close to identical as I could find, or because the episodes (and those castings) were more meaningful to those of us in the Critter community. (You'll know them when you see them.)And of course, I HAD to use a good, strong piece of Zemnian music, and what could be more Zemnian than Mozart through the lens of the ever-incredibly talented production music team Hidden Citizens? They graciously allowed me to use the piece, so here it is. (Seriously, give their stuff a listen.)Please be advised that I approve comments before posting them (to keep spammers off my comments), so yours might take a bit to appear. Fear not!Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from Campaign 2 (The Mighty Nein) of CRITICAL ROLE. "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Epic Trailer Version)" by Hidden Citizens. Video editing and graphic design by Michelle 'Samuraiko' Travis.All rights reserved by their respective owners. "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Epic Trailer Version)" used with permission from Hidden Citizens.http://hiddencitizens.comhttp://critrole.comhttp://twitch.tv/criticalrolehttp://critrolestats.comhttp://youtube.com/samuraiko
FAIRY GONE - Warpath Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2020-01-30 | It's been a while, but I'm back with #78!I absolutely fell in love with the anime FAIRY GONE (all 24 episodes are available subbed and dubbed at FUNimation, see the link below) - I love the story, I love the music, I love the world-building (so much that I want to run an RPG campaign in the setting), but especially I love the characters... and chief among those are the leads, Marlya Noel (voiced marvelously by Jill Harris) and Free Underbar (voiced by the ever awesome Ian Sinclair). I adore Free as a character, this tormented Fairy Soldier who's trying to find his purpose in life now that the War of Unification is over. Believing he's only good at one thing (fighting), he makes a point of using that talent to protect Unified Zesskia and the peace after the war with everything he's got. (And Ian's dub is just icing on the cake.)I knew I wanted to do an AMV for the series, but I wasn't sure what... and then I discovered Hidden Citizens' track "Warpath." I've been a fan of theirs for a while (mostly for their covers, and if you haven't heard them before now, go give them a listen at the link below), and "Warpath" is just so apt for Free.A quick confirmation from HC, and thus this video came to pass.Please be advised that I approve comments before posting them (to keep spammers off my comments), so yours might take a bit to appear. Fear not!Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from FAIRY GONE, distributed by FUNimation. Music is "Warpath" by Hidden Citizens & Tim Halperin. Support Hidden Citizens' music via the link below!All rights reserved by their respective owners. "Warpath" used with permission from Hidden Citizens.http://hiddencitizens.comhttp://funimation.com/shows/fairy-gonehttp://fairygone.comhttp://youtube.com/samuraiko
THE ROYAL TUTOR - Fan Trailer Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2018-06-28 | #77 gets me back on the rails again.As you've probably guessed from my last few videos, I've become quite the fan of THE ROYAL TUTOR. I wasn't expecting to at the outset - I hadn't even heard of the show until someone at Todd Haberkorn's panel at SakuraCon 2017 mentioned it. But I thought it looked cute, and so when FUNimation began its simuldub, I decided to give it a watch.I fell in love with it immediately. The 12-episode series is by turns charming, hilarious, serious, and sad, but all the way through, it's wonderful. And as I said in my last video, it's available now on Crunchyroll (subbed) and FUNimation (dubbed), and it is so worth the watch. (And it was just released on DVD/BluRay last week!) And with luck, on September 18th, 2018, we'll be hearing if we're getting a Season 2!But I wanted to spread the word about this show (apart from nonstop raving about it on my Twitter feed), and FUNimation's trailer for the series is much more lighthearted and kinda vanilla, really. So I took a crack at doing my own. It's times like this, though, that I really wish there were an easier way to isolate the dialogue track from the music, because I'd really wanted to use the opening narration. Alas.At about the same time last year, I was introduced to the music of Frederick Lloyd and his musical project, Ursine Vulpine. When Frederick released RESPIRE, the first cue ("Arcanine") so resonated with me that I knew I wanted to use it in something. Then I had this idea, and the lushness of Frederick's music works beautifully with the visuals and the storyline of THE ROYAL TUTOR.Please be advised that I approve comments before posting them (to keep spammers off my comments), so yours might take a bit to appear. Fear not!Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from THE ROYAL TUTOR, distributed by FUNimation. Music is "Arcanine" by Ursine Vulpine. Support Ursine Vulpine's music and other projects at http://main.ursinevulpine.com All rights reserved by their respective owners.http://funimation.com/shows/the-royal-tutorhttp://heine-royal.comhttp://youtube.com/samuraiko
THE ROYAL TUTOR - The Royal (Chibi) Tutor Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2018-06-22 | #76 is where I go completely off the rails.After making the "Licht Spinning Song" video (available at youtu.be/5pTpLtMPXms btw), and then later the "Geek Spinning Song" (available at youtu.be/ycwMY1QiSUg for the curious), I have to admit that I had my heart set on doing a video even more ridiculous because I absolutely adore the random chibiness that pervades THE ROYAL TUTOR. Heine especially keeps shifting to chibi form, usually in response to the four princes (or their father, King Viktor) doing something so moronic that you can't help but laugh. (Or at least feel sorry for Heine!) I also adore Bond's music, and "Allegretto" has this wonderful classical music feel. Since I can't really do an appropriately dramatic ROYAL TUTOR video to it (most of the drama in the show is fairly subdued), I figured I'd go overboard in the other direction.And as I said in my last video, it's available now on Crunchyroll (subbed) and FUNimation (dubbed), and it is so worth the watch. (And it was just released on DVD/BluRay this week!) And for a surprisingly serious, thoughtful, and insightful series, it has moments of absolute WTFery. And with luck, on September 18th, 2018, we'll be hearing if we're getting a Season 2!Please be advised that I approve comments before posting them (to keep spammers off my comments), so yours might take a bit to appear. Fear not!Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from THE ROYAL TUTOR, distributed by FUNimation. Music is "Allegretto" as performed by Bond. All rights reserved by their respective owners.http://funimation.com/shows/the-royal-tutorhttp://heine-royal.comhttp://youtube.com/samuraiko
THE ROYAL TUTOR - The Geek Spinning Song Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2017-08-25 | If #74 was sheer ridiculousness, #75 is the sequel.After making the "Licht Spinning Song" video (available at youtu.be/5pTpLtMPXms btw), I couldn't help wondering if there was a way to make a Bruno variant, and sure enough, there was!My current favorite anime is the absolutely delightful THE ROYAL TUTOR (or in Japanese, OUSHITSU KYOUSHI HAINE). Available now on Crunchyroll (subbed) and FUNimation (dubbed), it is so worth the watch. And for a surprisingly serious, thoughtful, and insightful series, it has moments of absolute WTFery.Like this.So... I set it to music. And added commentary. Enjoy.Please be advised that I approve comments before posting them (to keep spammers off my comments), so yours might take a bit to appear. Fear not!Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from THE ROYAL TUTOR, distributed by FUNimation. Music is that leek spinning song. All rights reserved by their respective owners.http://funimation.comhttp://youtube.com/samuraiko
Destination Tokyo 2040 Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2017-04-02 | #73 and counting!From the moment I first heard Klayton (of Celldweller fame)'s other project, Scandroid, this child of the 80s just fell in love with the music. A bit of old, a bit of new - if Vangelis, Wendy Carlos, and Celldweller were to collaborate on tracks, it'd sound like this. And as soon as I heard "Destination Unknown", I knew I wanted to make a video to it. And what I wanted to use it for.One of my favorite anime of all time (first discovered back while I was in graduate school) is Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040. Yes, I know it's a 'remake' of sorts of the original BGC series, and having seen both, I still prefer the latter. (And we are not getting into an argument about this - you have yours and I have mine.) For all its faults (and yes, it has them), this series gave me some of my best memories while I was finishing up my degree - including the two CREEPIEST episode cliffhangers of all anime-dom.I like to think that Red (Klayton's clone from 2517 and the force behind Scandroid) would have a lot in common with Priss Asagiri, lead singer of the grunge-techno band Sekiria, badass biker babe, and the melee combatant of the Knight Sabers.Thanks, Klay - looking forward to Scandroid's next album!Please be advised that I approve comments before posting them (to keep spammers off my comments), so yours might take a bit to appear. Fear not!Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from BUBBLEGUM CRISIS TOKYO 2040, distributed by FUNimation. Music is "Destination Unknown" by Scandroid, used with permission via license from FiXT. All rights reserved by their respective owners.http://funimation.comhttp://fixtonline.comhttp://youtube.com/samuraiko
King of Thorn Trailer (fan-made) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2016-11-27 | #72 - My first anime video in almost SEVEN YEARS! After rewatching KING OF THORN a few days ago, I just couldn't get it out of my head. It's a surprisingly good film, even with all of its flaws, and I'm a huge fan of the English dub by FUNimation.When friends ask me about this movie, I describe it as "Sleeping Beauty meets survival horror". But the problem is that the US trailer for it is so heavily spoiler-ridden that I'm reluctant to share it with others, so I figured I'd make one that doesn't give nearly as much away. :) I'm weird.For music, I went with one of my favorite artists of all time - Klayton (aka Celldweller) has had his music show up in trailers and commercials and whatnot for years (including in one of my RIFT videos), but I wanted to use one of his instrumentals for a change. So I opted for the killer track "Faction 5" off his END OF AN EMPIRE album (which is SO worth the listen). He used to fantastic effect in his 'trailer' for Chapter 2 (Love) of EoaE.And strangely enough, it's BECAUSE he used this track to represent Love as an empire that I wanted to use it here - there are a lot of types of love (both healthy and unhealthy) represented in KING OF THORN.Please be advised that I approve comments before posting them (to keep spammers off my comments), so yours might take a bit to appear. Fear not!Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from KING OF THORN, distributed by FUNimation. Music is "Faction 5" by Celldweller, used with permission via license from FiXT. All rights reserved by their respective owners.http://funimation.comhttp://fixtonline.com
RIFT - Tales of the Riftwalker, Part IV Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2016-08-08 | Video #71 - The "Tales of the Riftwalker" continue in Part IV -- "Marked by Fate"!In Part I ("Guardian of Telara"), Raelskye becomes an Ascended Guardian; in Part II ("Nightmare of the Ascended"), she heads to the Plane of Water in an attempt to confront her growing nightmares. In Part III ("The Flames of Faith"), she faces them. And here in Part IV, the devout Guardian and lady saint of the Vigil must confront a god... at any cost.Since I first created her, Raelskye has always been a devout Guardian, with an unwavering faith in the Vigil. But sown throughout RIFT's storyline are hints of a sixth god in the pantheon, a missing goddess... and one who apparently has had her hand in things for far longer than Rael ever imagined. And starting in Ghar Station Tau, at the edge of Tarken Glacier, comes one of my other favorite storylines.This was another arc where I was yelling at my computer monitor about Rael's interactions with Aia. And like Tales III, I ran the "Goddess" questline I don't know how many times to film what I needed.The music for Tales IV needed to be sweeping, epic, and dark... enter Thomas Vo, whom I had worked with previously on some of my CITY OF HEROES videos. Thomas' track "Fractures" was utterly perfect for this video, and I'm proud to work with him again.I was really surprised at how well Parts I, II, and III have gone over with the RIFT community! (And yay for cameos - I promised Laeti@Laethys and Mupi@Faeblight that I would get them in, and now I have!) Thank you guys so much for all the support! :DFirst, thank you VERY much to everyone who entered the giveaway! (And especially to those who liked Tales IV enough to go back and watch the rest of the series!)Second, thanks to Trion for giving me additional codes! Instead of having just 6 winners (3 snails, 3 corgis), I was able to have TWENTY (10 and 10)! WOOOOO!For the full list of winners, go here - http://forums.riftgame.com/general-discussions/general-discussion/485796-tales-riftwalker-giveaway-winners.htmlPlease be advised that I approve comments before posting them (to keep spammers off my comments), so yours might take a bit to appear. Fear not!(Of course, Liking this video, subscribing, or leaving gushing praise is always welcome, but won't increase your chance of winning, alas.)This video is Part IV in the "Tales of the Riftwalker" series. Prologue: What's Past is Prologue -- youtu.be/l8xNVpOV0g4Part I: Guardian of Telara -- youtu.be/f4yWAi3wdPAPart II: Nightmare of the Ascended -- youtu.be/nYkewCkwjpwPart III: The Flames of Faith -- youtu.be/zFqpaJMOIdELike my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from RIFT, used per general permission from Trion Worlds. Music is "Fractures" by Thomas Vo -- licensed for use via AudioJungle. All rights reserved by their respective owners.RIFT - http://www.riftgame.com"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
Welcome to the Rogues Gallery! Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2016-01-21 | Video #70 was made purely for fun... I'd discovered the Rogue's Gallery Podcast a couple of weeks ago, and as a former City of Heroes/City of Villains player, I absolutely ADORED the on-air hijinks of Freakuency and Fugitive Color (aka Josh Danforth and Colin Wilson).Since their show is too good not to spread the word, I decided to pitch in via this video, which, admittedly, makes them look perhaps a bit more bada**/competent (pick one) than they actually ARE. Either way, they are WELL worth the listen.You can hear the Rogues at http://www.roguesgallerypod.comYou can support the Rogues at http://www.patreon.com/TheRoguesGalleryThe music, appropriately enough, is "Dubstep Apocalypse" (how's THAT for a name, Freakuency?) by TrackHarvest. You can find their music at http://audiojungle.net/user/trackharvestAll related video footage, photos, and art are the property of the Rogue's Gallery (or their respective creators as per agreement with the Rogue's Gallery).Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!
RIFT - Tales of the Riftwalker, Part III Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2015-07-06 | Video #68 - The "Tales of the Riftwalker" continue in Part III -- "The Flames of Faith"!In Part I ("Guardian of Telara"), Raelskye becomes an Ascended Guardian; in Part II ("Nightmare of the Ascended"), she heads to the Plane of Water in an attempt to confront her growing nightmares. And here in Part III ("The Flames of Faith"), she faces them. How successfully she does so... well... that is open to debate.The Extinctions storyline in Draumheim is among my absolute favorites in the game, and of all the Extinctions quests, "Extinguishing the Fires of the Wanton/Flame On!" is probably the best, especially if you're playing a Guardian whose backstory and character is strongly tied to canon... which I am. (A close second is the Extinction of Extinction quest at the end of the arc. I hate the mechanics of that one, but oh, is the story GOOD!)The first time I ran that arc, I was SHOUTING at my monitor (something along the lines of "NONONONONONONONONONONONO!" at roughly the volume of a five-alarm fire) -- in-character yelling is always the hallmark of a good arc. Thank you, CaptainCursor and Morticus! GIVE ME MORE ARCS LIKE THIS!!(By the way, fun fact -- I ran that arc no less than FIFTEEN times up on the Public Test Server so I could film it. THAT is dedication. Or sheer pigheadedness. Pick one. Other fun fact -- not once did Rael ever actually consume the hearts she took. I didn't care how much harder it made the fight at the end -- there are some places where you just have to draw a line. That was one of them.)At any rate, I really wanted to make a video about this arc almost as soon as I played it, but I wasn't really sure what music to use.Enter Celldweller, and his utterly fantastic Klash-Up of "Cry Little Sister" (from the LOST BOYS soundtrack) and "Hello Zepp" (from the SAW soundtrack).Klayton is an amazingly talented artist, and he has one of those voices that just GETS you. (Not to mention his original stuff is utterly brilliant.) And his Klash-Up was just so PERFECT for that arc... especially considering who Raelskye is related to. (If you run on Faeblight, you probably know. If you don't, you can probably guess from this video. No, he's not her brother, but they're family all the same.) Seriously, look up Celldweller's music -- you can thank me later.I was really surprised at how well Parts I and II went over with the RIFT community! (Especially since now people are asking me how they can get cameos in these... to which I will say that there is room for a couple of cameos in Part IV!) Thank you guys so much for all the support! :DThis video is Part III in the "Tales of the Riftwalker" series. Part I: Guardian of Telara -- youtu.be/f4yWAi3wdPAPart II: Nightmare of the Ascended -- youtu.be/nYkewCkwjpwLike my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from RIFT, used per general permission from Trion Worlds. Music is "Cry Little Sister vs Hello Zepp (Celldweller Klash-Up") by Celldweller -- used with permission from FIXT Music. All rights reserved by their respective owners.RIFT - http://www.riftgame.comCelldweller - soundcloud.com/celldwellerCelldweller - http://www.celldweller.com"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
RIFT - Tales of the Riftwalker, Part II Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2015-06-08 | Video #67 - The next "Tales of the Riftwalker" is ready to go... and so is Raelskye as she prepares for her journeys to the Plane of Water.I'll be the first to admit - while I liked Storm Legion as an expansion, it has NOTHING on Nightmare Tide. Holy hell, the stories, the maps, the EVERYTHING. And originally, Part II of the "Tales" was going to be Rael going to Brevane and Dusken. Forget that - as soon as Nightmare Tide hit, I chose to skip that video and go straight to Nightmare Tide.As has been earlier shown in Part I, and hinted at again during my "What's Past is Prologue" Rift Retrospective video, Raelskye has been troubled of late, and more recently plagued by nightmares. This was a great lead-off for Part II here, which I opted to do as more of a 'trailer' than an actual music video like Part I was. (Don't worry - Part III, which I'm filming right now, will be an actual music video.)The music here is Twelve Titans' "Dust and Light", which you probably heard in the fantastic ad for "The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies". It is such a great, great piece of music, and sweeps you along with it. Ironically, I'd intended to use this music for a LATER Tales video, where Raelskye encounters... well, you'll find out when you get there.This video is Part II in the "Tales of the Riftwalker" series. Part I: Guardian of Telara -- youtu.be/f4yWAi3wdPAPart II: Nightmare of the Ascended -- youtu.be/nYkewCkwjpwPart III: The Flames of Faith -- http://youtu.be/zFqpaJMOIdELike my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from RIFT, used per general permission from Trion Worlds. Music is "Dust and Light" by Twelve Titans Music. All rights reserved by their respective owners.RIFT - http://www.riftgame.com"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
RIFT - Whats Past is Prologue Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2015-01-27 | Next one up on the roster -- with Rift's recent release of the Nightmare Tide expansion (and the release tomorrow of 3.1: Storm at Sea, I wanted to do something of a retrospective of the various updates starting with River of Souls through the current day.It's remarkable to see just how many updates we've had since Rift first launched back in February 2011 (I was part of the closed beta group before that). Of course, some updates were larger than others (such as the full-on expansions of Storm Legion and Nightmare Tide), but each one brought new flavour and depth to the game.But what music to use?I went back and forth on a few different possibilities, until Audiomachine was kind enough to allow me to use their FANTASTIC track "Helios". Remixing both their original version and the later "Witchman" remix, the end result is what you hear... with voiceover by yours truly.And the narration from the beginning, by the way, is a nod to the game's lore -- playing as a Guardian, you find a text in Sanctuary during the tutorial called "The Prophecy of the Ascended." It is repeated in its entirety here.Quick shout-out to the following players on Faeblight for their help as film crew and extras: Bloodspeaker, Gunnaelf, Takaixia, Navira, Roosty, Devros, Haazard, Agrros, Baelea, Thegame, Slippeh, and Nebucent@Deepwood. (Apologies if I got names wrong!)Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from RIFT, used per general permission from Trion Worlds. Music is "Helios" by Audiomachine, remixed by Michelle Travis, and used with the artist's permission. All rights reserved by their respective owners.RIFT - http://www.riftgame.comAUDIOMACHINE - http://www.audiomachine.com
RIFT - Tales of the Riftwalker, Part I Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2014-12-30 | Video #65 - my first *real* RIFT video. Oh sure, I'd done my teaser trailer for the River of Souls update way back when, and then more recently did a dimension video for my main character's home on Faeblight, but it wasn't really the same thing as making a full-on music video like I had back in City of Heroes.I wanted to change that.As is appropriate for a character on the roleplaying server of RIFT, my main character Raelskye actually has a fairly extensive backstory that fits (mostly) in the canon lore of the game. (I'm still scripting THAT video.) But for a long time, I'd wanted to make a music video for her. The problem was finding the right music.Enter Les Friction.Their song, "World on Fire," is a fantastic song for RIFT (and actually works well for both Guardians AND Defiants, when you think about it), and from the first time I'd heard it, I knew I wanted to use it for a video. (Seriously, their music is BRILLIANT; see below for the link to their website and support their music.)This video is intended to be the first in a series of music videos about Raelskye and her adventures. Part 1, "Guardian of Telara", is the start of Raelskye's journey, beginning with her resurrection by the Vigil as an Ascended.Part I: Guardian of Telara -- youtu.be/f4yWAi3wdPAPart II: Nightmare of the Ascended -- youtu.be/nYkewCkwjpwPart III: The Flames of Faith -- http://youtu.be/zFqpaJMOIdELike my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from RIFT, used per general permission from Trion Worlds. Music is "World on Fire" by Les Friction. All rights reserved by their respective owners.RIFT - http://www.riftgame.comLES FRICTION - http://www.lesfriction.com"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
Samuraiko and Tygenco do the #ALS #IceBucketChallenge! Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2014-08-23 | Challenged by TonyV of the COH Titan Network, Alisa and I step up for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge! (Me first, Alisa second.) In addition to the two of us donating to alsa.org, we will both also be donating to cleanwater.org.I have challenged:Matt 'Positron' MillerChris 'ChrisWarcraft' KluweMichelle 'Jobcat' LarsonAlisa has challenged:Liz 'SyrusB' ChestersonNick 'Doug the Troll' PiersMelissa 'War Witch' BiancoGO FOR IT!
RIFT - Raelskyes Refuge / Faeblight (Dimension: Moonshade Pools) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2014-03-08 | I admit, when I played City of Heroes, I wasn't all that into base-building. Not the least of which was because of all the delightful problems like enforced positioning based on power needs, "magic desks", no windows, and so forth.In Rift, on the other hand, I absolutely fell in love with dimension building, and my first one was this - Raelskye's Refuge, an RP-friendly dimension on Faeblight open for others to visit. A nature refuge in the Moonshade Highlands, it started out fairly simple and then got more and more elaborate as I became more confident about dimension building. I took it as a mark of pride when people would enter, look around, and swear that there was no way it was Moonshade Pools. And then they'd get lost in all the trees!(Seriously - of 2000 items in the Refuge, at least 500 of them are TREES. Oh yeah, and the herb garden? EVERY dimension plant is there.)So since I wanted to show it off for some time now, I decided to finally film it.The Refuge contains a fairy ring, a blessed pool, Raelskye's cottage, a Nexus Cannon, an Elemental Conflux, an herb garden, an observatory, a library, a meditation garden, a larder, shrines to all five Gods of the Vigil (Bahralt, Mariel-Taun, Tavril, Thedeor, and Thontic), as well as a Vigil Chapel.(Visitors are welcome to +1 the Refuge, but it's not required.)The music is the absolutely lovely "The Stars are Out" by Dexter Britain.Footage from RIFT, used per general permission from Trion Worlds. Music is "The Stars are Out" by Dexter Britain, licensed via Creative Commons 3.0 through FreeMusicArchive.org (see below for appropriate links). All rights reserved by their respective owners.Source album: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dexter_Britain/ZenithArtist's Website: http://www.dexterbritain.co.ukAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE - Take the Hobbit to Isengard Challenge! (Gladden) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2014-02-08 | Okay, this one was a total goof-fest, but so much fun!LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE has been holding a series of server-wide events called #TAKETHEHOBBITSTOISENGARD, where Community Manager Sapience creates a Hobbit on each server, gets it to level 10, and then goes ON FOOT from the Prancing Pony in Bree to the gates of Orthanc in Isengard. Players are challenged to either try and get low-level characters of their own there, or bring high-level characters along to run interference.My home server, Gladden, had their turn on Friday, February 7th, 2014, at 5pm EST/2pm PST. And of course, I HAD to get in on this!And there was no question as to which song I would use..."They're Taking the Hobbits to Isengard!" remixed by Erwin Beekveld - http://www.beekveld.comFootage shot in LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE, Gladden server, by my character Raelskye Riftwalker.All rights reserved by their respective owners.
CITY OF HEROES - Ill Be Home for Christmas Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2013-12-28 | #63 was so hard for me to make, but I had to do it. I owed it to myself, and to the community of the game I loved so much. And I still want to do a memorial video for the players we've lost, but for now, I think this says it all.I know, I know - Michael Buble and Christmas almost inevitably go together, but of all the renditions I've heard of "I'll Be Home for Christmas," this one remains my favorite. There is something so heartbreakingly sad about it, and it just so fit what I wanted to convey here.By the way - I've been working on this video since September 2013. It's not easy making videos when you can't just log into the game and round up a filming crew. I went all the way back to footage I'd shot in 2008 for this one.Here's another video "first" for me - this is the first time I've appeared in one of my own videos (my Toons on Film series doesn't count - that was more like a documentary). But here I am, and by the way... to any trolls, don't bother making fun of me and how I look. There is absolutely nothing you can say that could possibly be worse than what I already say about myself. Move along.Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Michael Buble. All rights reserved by their respective owners."Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
NEXUS: The Zoraidian Oracle - Playthrough Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2013-11-25 | Help support NEXUS and the Ætheric Worlds IndieGoGo campaign at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nexus-the-zoraidian-oracle - every bit helps!----------In this video, NEXUS' lead designer plays through the current demo version, showing how sets are formed, possible strategies when playing, and explaining features that are going to be implemented in the game. ----------Nexus is the first of the games Ætheric Worlds is planning. Based in the world of Tyanaphos, Nexus: The Zoraidian Oracle provides a glimpse into the larger world that is waiting to be brought forward, while also providing an engaging game of itself. A strategic solitaire card game inspired by Hanafuda (a traditional Japanese flower card game similar to mah jongg or rummy), Nexus can be either relaxing or challenging to your critical thinking skills, all based on how you approach it. As with any solitaire game, you can choose to go after the highest points available in any hand -- but there are other options as well, and sometimes points aren't the final goal. In the end, it's all about the choices you make.
NEXUS: The Zoraidian Oracle - What is NEXUS? Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2013-11-19 | Help support NEXUS and the Ætheric Worlds IndieGoGo campaign at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nexus-the-zoraidian-oracle - every bit helps!----------In this video, NEXUS' lead designer talks a bit about what the Zoraidian Oracle is, and how exactly to play NEXUS. From the Lesser and Greater Arcana to the hidden achievements in the game, this offers a brief glimpse into the first offering of Ætheric Worlds.----------Nexus is the first of the games Ætheric Worlds is planning. Based in the world of Tyanaphos, Nexus: The Zoraidian Oracle provides a glimpse into the larger world that is waiting to be brought forward, while also providing an engaging game of itself. A strategic solitaire card game inspired by Hanafuda (a traditional Japanese flower card game similar to mah jongg or rummy), Nexus can be either relaxing or challenging to your critical thinking skills, all based on how you approach it. As with any solitaire game, you can choose to go after the highest points available in any hand -- but there are other options as well, and sometimes points aren't the final goal. In the end, it's all about the choices you make.
NEXUS: The Zoraidian Oracle - Support our IndieGoGo Campaign! Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2013-11-15 | Help support NEXUS and the Ætheric Worlds IndieGoGo campaign at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nexus-the-zoraidian-oracle - every bit helps!----------To most people on the world of Tyanaphos, Zoraidia is nothing more than a mysterious figure in history; a reclusive Prophetess who guided her brother, the great leader and teacher Sang Aparo. To those who know both magic and history, however, Zoraidia is a figure that looms as large as her legendary brother, for it was through her hands that the Oracle Deck first came into being.Half-Human, half-Forestborn, Zoraidia learned about the Tarot from her human relatives. In her hands, the deck helped her focus her untrained abilities, but because of its history, she found it alien to her world and her understanding. Guided by instinct, she created a new, larger deck that encompassed all of the races within her world -- the tall Forestborn, the amphibious Wavecalled, the nocturnal Stoneforged, and the diverse Starmade from so many other worlds and times, all gathered and divided into seven Lesser Arcana, each embracing an overarching concept. She formed a Greater Arcana based on the Archetypes and Artifacts from legends and the conflicting Dualities that govern fundamental nature of all living things. When she was done with this great Master-work that consumed many years of her life... Zoraidia fell prey to her gift, and began to prophesies the major nexus points for Tyanaphos for decades to come.Scholars came to study Zoraidia's deck, and thus, slowly, copies were made and distributed. In the hands of the truly gifted, nexus points for the populous can be foreseen. Those with minor gifts may be able to see for others, while most can only discern the barest glimmer of their own path. And yet, for most of the people, regardless of race or ability, the Zoraidian Oracle remains only a game.----------Nexus is the first of the games Ætheric Worlds is planning. Based in the world of Tyanaphos, Nexus: The Zoraidian Oracle provides a glimpse into the larger world that is waiting to be brought forward, while also providing an engaging game of itself. A strategic solitaire card game inspired by Hanafuda (a traditional Japanese flower card game similar to mah jongg or rummy), Nexus can be either relaxing or challenging to your critical thinking skills, all based on how you approach it. As with any solitaire game, you can choose to go after the highest points available in any hand -- but there are other options as well, and sometimes points aren't the final goal. In the end, it's all about the choices you make.
ATOP THE FOURTH WALL - Ghost of the Machine Teaser Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2013-10-09 | #61 is one of the faster videos I've done, but my mind just wouldn't let it go until I made it.After discovering the joys of THAT GUY WITH THE GLASSES and its reviewers, Lewis 'Linkara' Lovhaug and his review series ATOP THE FOURTH WALL quickly became one of my favorites. In addition to insightful reviews and hilarious commentary on comics, his interwoven storylines are well-written, dramatic, and intriguing.The lateset arc, "Ghost of the Machine," deals with Nimue, the sentient AI of Linkara's spaceship, Comicron-1. A dark and troubled storyline, the viewers see Nimue's descent into corruption and madness, but whether by her own choice or an outside influence remains to be seen...At any rate, I liked it so much that I decided to make a quick teaser for the last episode of the arc, set to air on ATOP THE FOURTH WALL on October 28th, 2013.This one's for Lewis. Thanks, man.Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from episodes of Atop the Fourth Wall, courtesy of Inked Reality and ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com. Music is "Gothic" by zero-project, remixed by Michelle Travis, and used with permission. All rights reserved by their respective owners.http://atopfourthwall.blogspot.comhttp://www.thatguywiththeglasses.comhttp://www.zero-project.gr
THAT GUY WITH THE GLASSES - Save Me: A Tribute to the Nostalgia Critic Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2013-05-10 | HONORABLE MENTION: 2013 ConBravo InVid Showcase!#60 was, well, in a word... inspired.Sometimes I'll hear a particular music track and think, "That would make an awesome video," and then I spend a long while figuring out exactly what to use it for. Other times, it's the reverse.This video is the exception to both circumstances - it sprang to mind almost immediately after I became aware of the source material, and I knew what music I wanted to use with it. It completely wrecked my concentration at work, so I took an early lunch break and spent an hour frantically scripting it before I forgot it.The material - the story of the Nostalgia Critic.The music - "Save Me" by the group Globus.The Nostalgia Critic is probably the most famous character created by Doug Walker (aka That Guy with the Glasses). Originally a simple alter-ego movie reviewer, known for his caustic personality, scathing sarcasm, quick wit, and sheer volume, the Critic evolved over time into a much deeper character, with a backstory and complex issues, leaping off the screen and taking on a life of his own.But as the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end," and eventually Doug decided to retire the character after the fourth anniversary special.*Enter the aforementioned video idea.Although a relatively recent arrival to the Critic's fandom, I was quickly drawn in, and after watching the character's swan song, I really wanted to do a video. The day after watching TO BOLDLY FLEE, while sitting at work, I suddenly had my concept, and what song I wanted to use.Enter the song "Save Me."Globus, a group related to the music production firm Immediate Music, has long been one of my favorite bands. For ages, I'd wanted to do a video to their music, and this was my chance. They graciously gave me permission to use "Save Me" (I think the fact I openly grovelled probably helped).Still, I was reluctant to actually make this - several other people have created some fantastic videos about the Critic (and several of the other Channel Awesome producers), and the idea of even trying to join their ranks was a daunting one. However, the simultaneous events of receiving permission to use "Save Me", and the announcement by Channel Awesome and ConBravo of a video contest in celebration of "geek"... I figured, "what the hell." So here is my "celebration of geek". Whether or not this will even make the Honorable Mention list for the contest, I have no idea. But I'm glad I made this. It is, in effect, a tribute not only to the Nostalgia Critic, but to Doug Walker as well. So this one goes out to the Critic and the Creator. Cheers, you two. You've both made my world a brighter place.Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from episodes of the Nostalgia Critic, Kickassia, Suburban Knights, and To Boldly Flee, courtesy of ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com - http://www.thatguywiththeglasses.com - and Channel Awesome Productions. Music is "Save Me" by Globus, remixed by Michelle Travis, and used with permission. Globus - http://www.globusmusic.com - appears courtesy of Imperativa Music. All rights reserved by their respective owners.*Suffice it to say, I was ecstatic when four months later, Doug brought the character back in suitably awesome fashion in "The Review Must Go On." There was much rejoicing.**********Lyrics (from the liner notes):See me take my bowsAnd I'm heading for the exitsI can't stick aroundThis life's been hardAnd I can't see the sense in fighting it any moreCan't you let me goWon't you show me the door'Cause I've made mistakesThat have hurt the ones I've lovedAnd I've thrown them under the busOne too many timesThere can be no redemption for a sinner such as IWon't you wish me to the cornfield nowWon't you help me stop living a lieSo here I am in the corner of a dark roomThe same way I beganAlone with these mournful thoughtsAnd a loaded gun in my handBut a foolish part of me still holds out for a shred of humanityFor a queen in a robe or a knight on a steedCan't you see that I'm just a child on his knees?Save me from fear and painAnd love will rain on meSave me today 'fore tomorrow finds me at restNow I'm standing alone at the moment of truthAs the judgment's handed downAnd my feet are scarred from the broken glassStrewn across the groundThen you come to my side and only to you I confideThat I've been battered and shattered and bruised and abusedFor the very, very last timeWon't you help me, justSave me from fear and painAnd love reign o'er meSave me, save me todayFor tomorrow, find me at restFind me at rest
CITY OF HEROES FREEDOM: CoVIDEO HELL Sample - Computer Ad Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2013-04-28 | Just to give my Twitter followers a hint of the weirdness that is in progress for their viewing entertainment.#SaveCoH
CITY OF HEROES - My COH Voice Cast Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2013-02-23 | #59 is a bit... different. It's not a video, per se.For a long time, I'd wanted to create a feature-film-length COH machinima, featuring a full voice cast, score, etc. Set during the First Rikti War, I'd scripted a storyline that paralleled the events chronicled in the game, seen through the eyes of both canon and non-canon heroes.Funds, time, and legal rights, however, kept it from ever coming to fruition. (And believe me, as far as legal rights went, I did everything I could to pull it off.) But my mind kept coming back to the project, wanting to share with others what I'd always somehow hoped to bring to life.As I was going to be using machinima to create it, I chose to cast voice actors. So what you'll be hearing here are samples of some of the voice talents I'd hoped to enlist in this project.As always, your mileage may vary.STATESMAN - John GremillionSISTER PSYCHE - Christine AutenMANTICORE - Patrick SeitzPOSITRON - Dameon ClarkeNUMINA - Kelly ManisonSYNAPSE - Chris PattonCITADEL - Christopher SabatBACK ALLEY BRAWLER - Bob CarterLORD RECLUSE - Mike KleinhenzBLACK SCORPION - Rob MungleCAPTAIN MAKO - Chris CasonGHOST WIDOW - Stephanie Young BrehmSCIROCCO - J Michael TatumSORINA TAVARISCH - Jennifer Seman
CITY OF HEROES - Safe Within You (A Bella/Zach Tribute) (Alternate Version) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-12-05 | #58 - This one was a very special commission. Imagine my surprise when I got asked to do a tribute video... for Mercedes Lackey, and her characters Belladonna Aura and Zach Marlowe.We chatted extensively about what she wanted, hammered out a script based on the storyline she'd given me, and then she cut me loose. "Make me cry," she said. Well, I think she did.The end of Bella and Zach's story was forced upon Mercedes by the closure of CITY OF HEROES, a game near and dear to both our hearts. For two creative spirits, this was a heartbreaking event for us both. Still, out of sorrow comes something of meaning. I am privileged and grateful that I was able to make this for her, thus preserving a story that might otherwise have been lost.When she first gave me her script idea, she asked me to use VNV Nation's "Illusion." But I thought of a different piece of music that I believed would work just as well - Poets of the Fall's absolutely beautiful track "Sleep" off the SIGNS OF LIFE album. She told me I was welcome to do it my way as well, so this is the recut version of her video, using "Sleep" instead.Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "Sleep" by Poets. All rights reserved by their respective owners."Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
CITY OF HEROES - Safe Within You (A Bella/Zach Tribute) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-12-05 | #58 - This one was a very special commission. Imagine my surprise when I got asked to do a tribute video... for Mercedes Lackey, and her characters Belladonna Aura and Zach Marlowe.We chatted extensively about what she wanted, hammered out a script based on the storyline she'd given me, and then she cut me loose. "Make me cry," she said. Well, I think she did.The end of Bella and Zach's story was forced upon Mercedes by the closure of CITY OF HEROES, a game near and dear to both our hearts. For two creative spirits, this was a heartbreaking event for us both. Still, out of sorrow comes something of meaning. I am privileged and grateful that I was able to make this for her, thus preserving a story that might otherwise have been lost.The music, as chosen by Mercedes, is VNV Nation's "Illusion."Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "Illusion" by VNV. All rights reserved by their respective owners."Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
CITY OF HEROES: FREEDOM - One Last Day Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-10-18 | #57 - One of the hardest videos I've ever made. Not just in terms of scale, but because of the origin of this video - the closure of the MMORPG CITY OF HEROES.COH was my first MMORPG (my first MMO, for that matter!), and though it took me the better part of three months to get over the motion sickness so that I could play longer than five minutes at a stretch, it was worth it. For over five years, I played, made friends, had fun, and of course, made almost three dozen videos for the game.But on August 31st, 2012, just as I was leaving a job interview, my husband told me that NCsoft had decided, with virtually no warning, to sunset the game as of November 30th. I thought he was joking. When I realized he was serious, I went down to my car, sat there for a few minutes stunned, and drove home in a fog of shock. I cried on and off for over a week.But even then, I knew what video I'd want to make - not an angry protest, but one that celebrated the game through the eyes of my very first character: the intrepid in-game videographer Johanna Sinclair. She was my 'author avatar', more often than not the character who would blithely run from server to server with the battle cry, "I'M FILMING, EVERYONE LOOK AWESOME!"And so, this video is from both Jo and me. Cameos abound, not only of my alts, but of friends, of fans, and as always, of players who rallied to the cry, "I need to film, who wants to be in one of my videos?!" Several servers' worth of characters are here, because Johanna Sinclair exists on every server in CITY OF HEROES. "Have camera, will travel" is her motto.This is not my last COH video - I still have at least two more I hope to finish before the closing of the game. But it is my 'farewell' to Paragon City, my home away from home.The music is the painfully beautiful and all too appropriate track "Sleeping in Light" from BABYLON 5, as scored by Christopher Franke.Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "Sleeping in Light" from BABYLON 5, composed by Christopher Franke. All rights reserved by their respective owners."Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
CITY OF HEROES: FREEDOM - CoVIDEO HELL Teaser Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-05-30 | #56 is something new - a preview for a later, longer project of mine!Returning once again to CITY OF HEROES, this teaser is for a project that has been YEARS in the making. (Not kidding - YEARS.) The video project dubbed "CoVIDEO HELL" is the result of six friends (all COH players) brainstorming over dinner and drinks at T.G.I. Friday's, with one weird idea after another.(If you've ever seen "AMV Hell", you have an idea of what kind of project this is. While ours will be a bit more in keeping with COH's "T for Teen" rating, this thing STARTS in left field and promptly wanders all over the landscape.)The full video itself is still in progress (and with luck, aiming for a summer release date), but to give you just a hint of the weirdness to come, we agreed that an intro by everyone's favorite COH mad scientist-wannabe, Vernon von Grun, was just icing on the cake.Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES: FREEDOM, used by general permission from NCsoft and Paragon Studios. Narration and music from the teaser trailer for STRANGE DAYS.All rights reserved by their respective owners.
SOUL CALIBUR II - Warrior Kata Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-04-16 | #55 is a slightly different take on my usual music videos! I love martial arts - I studied kendo (briefly) while in college, have had roommates and friends who were also practitioners of various martial arts (of much higher skill and dedication than I, admittedly), and it's one of those things I can just sit and watch as the day is long. While watching actual sparring is an intense experience, I really enjoy watching kata/forms. Something about the concentration, the focus... it's a really hard thing to explain. Anyway, being the video game geek that I am, I learned to play quite a few fighting games - Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Killer Instinct, and of course... Soul Calibur. (Some I was better at than others.) But my FAVORITE part of the Soul Calibur series was the Exhibition Theatre, where the characters would go through weapons demonstrations with their weapon of choice. These I found endlessly fascinating, especially since I know that some of them are based on actual martial arts forms. Fast forward to now, and my fortuitous watching of a particular Fiat ad, featuring The Glitch Mob's distinctive rendering of Vivaldi's Concerto in D Major, Rv 228: Allegro... aka "Warrior Concerto." And I knew I had to have that music, and what I was going to use it for. So I tracked down a high quality capture of Soul Calibur II's Battle Theatre exhibitions, remixed "Warrior Concerto" slightly to make it longer, chose my favorite of the exhibitions, and set the whole thing to music as you see here. Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from SOUL CALIBUR II (Battle Theatre), created by Namco. Music is "Warrior Concerto" by The Glitch Mob. (Don't forget to visit http://www.theglitchmob.com and join the Mob's supporters!) All rights reserved by their respective owners. ADDENDUM: As I mentioned above, I know that some of these exhibitions are based on actual martial arts forms. (Others aren't.) My goal is to create a list of the ones that are, and WHAT they are. If you recognize one that I haven't listed here, please mention the style/school, the form, and cite your sources. KILIK: Wushu compulsory staff long form IVY: Wushu Chain whip/9-11-13 sectional staff form XIANGHUA: Wushu sixth dan straight sword form
CITY OF HEROES - The Woman in His Arms (music video) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-03-22 | #54 is a different type of video for me... and one based on a concept I'd been wanting to try for ages! As much as I adore art, I really can't draw, which makes life really irritating when I have all these ideas of scenes I want to see, but can't render. And especially ever since I started writing my series of novels THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE, set in the CITY OF HEROES MMORPG universe, there's been so very many scenes... and me unable to bring them to life. Even within the world of CITY OF HEROES and its extremely useful demoediting system, it still has its limits, leaving me unable to create the video I truly wanted. Enter the talented syrusbliz aka Liz Chesterman of Imaginator Central. I explained to her my idea, which she loved, and so with my script and her artistic talent, paired with music by the absolutely incomparable Linda Eder, this video was born. Rough sketches were traded back and forth, plus concept ideas, script changes, editing suggestions, until the finished product became what you see here. (While the SUPERHERO ROMANCE novels are told from the perspective of Raymond "Positron" Keyes, this video is from the viewpoint of Sorina Tavarisch, Raymond's ladylove.) Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! CREDITS: THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE created and written by Michelle Travis - available at http://www.superheroromance.com Raymond "Positron" Keyes created by Matt Miller Sorina Tavarisch created by Michelle Travis All black and white art created by Liz Chesterman - http://www.imaginatorcentral.com // http://syrusbliz.tumblr.com "A Woman in His Arms" performed by Linda Eder - http://www.lindaeder.com All rights reserved by their respective owners.
DIVINE BLOOD I: Semester Start by Luke Green (Book Promotional Trailer) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-03-12 | For #53, "Divine Blood I: Semester Start" is a book promotional trailer for Luke Green's novel of the same title (available now from Amazon)... ________________________________________ "Evolution can be inconvenient. It's no different at Bravura Academy. Yoon-Ji "Yooji" Jeon considers herself an average girl, perhaps smarter than most. However, she's found herself stuck in the role of the school's student body disciplinarian with a reputation for strength that she thinks is going to get her in trouble sooner or later. When the pack of new students at the school includes three unique siblings and a serious young man from Europe, she'll have more than just her worries to consider. Semester Start is the first novel in the Divine Blood series." ________________________________________ More information and preview chapters at http://thrythlind.deviantart.com Purchase at http://amzn.to/divinebloodsemesterstart Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Artwork for "Divine Blood I: Semester Start" provided by Luke Green and used with permission. Music is "Hacking the Mainframe", licensed from Footage Firm. All rights reserved by their respective owners. NOTE: Comments are subject to approval prior to posting to prevent spamming.
CITY OF HEROES: FREEDOM - Death Incarnate (Issue 22 Trailer) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-03-04 | Spring may be a-comin' in, but the darkness is also coming in video #52 - a trailer for CITY OF HEROES' Issue 22: Death Incarnate! From the moment I saw the concept art and original screenshots at the CITY OF HEROES: FREEDOM Player Summit last November, I knew I had to do a trailer for this one. Even from those few hints, I could tell this issue was going to be something special... and it is! "Death Incarnate" takes us back to a zone rich in lore and possibilities - Dark Astoria. From the perpetual night that shrouds the place to the abandoned vehicles and buildings, from the gothic majesty of Moth Cemetery to the ghosts that wandered in unending purgatory, it was a zone that players on both sides begged to see more of. And now they will... in ways they never dreamed possible. This issue brings several new contacts and story arcs, plus repeatable missions, and an Incarnate-level Trial, all in a Dark Astoria that is on the brink of being consumed by a dark god... And that's not all! To fight the darkness, sometimes one must become the darkness - and Issue 22 gives us Darkness Control! Proliferated now to more archetypes, heroes and villains alike can channel the depths of the Netherworld in furtherance of their goals, however noble or vile they may be. (Astute viewers will notice a few other little hints and Easter eggs in here about Things to Come! That's right... additional features will be implemented shortly after Issue 22's release that you might catch a glimpse of here!) But this return to Dark Astoria needed music that was up to the task. Enter composer Thomas Vo, whose creation "In Ruins" beautifully showcases all that is bright and dark in "Death Incarnate", from Paragon City struggling to accept the loss of two of its most well-loved heroes, to the desperate battle to contain the evil poised to destroy Dark Astoria and everything along with it. (Visit Thomas' website at http://www.thomasvomusic.com for more information.) Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "In Ruins" by Thomas Vo, licensed from Thomas Vo Music. All rights reserved by their respective owners.
CITY OF HEROES - Tribute to Marcus Statesman Cole (WWD5 ending) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-01-17 | #51 is a quick little video that came to mind after completing arc #5 of the Who Will Die storyline in CITY OF HEROES. It's extremely simple compared to most of my other work, but I just couldn't resist the idea of making it. It was no secret that at the end of the arc, Marcus 'Statesman' Cole, leader of the Freedom Phalanx and hero of the world, would lose his life. (We just didn't know HOW.) Today the arc went live - and players (including myself) flocked to play it. It has one of the neatest cutscenes in the game, and if you don't play with the music on, you should. This, however, is my little take on what happens AFTER the cutscene and the ending of the mission, and it uses (appropriately enough) the "Finale" from the musical JEKYLL & HYDE. It's just so sweet and sad, and I love it to pieces. Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "Finale" from JEKYLL & HYDE. All rights reserved by their respective owners. "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use." Because links get removed from comments: Statesman with blonde hair: ftp://ftp.coh.com/comics/topcow/comic_04.pdf (States in the hospital after getting stomped by the Thorns) ftp://ftp.coh.com/comics/topcow/comic_02.pdf (States after he's rescued by the Phalanx) Monica with dark hair: Web of Arachnos, page 31 - Monica is described as having "a few curls to her dark short hair" Who the girl in the login screen (and the video trailer) is: http://na.cityofheroes.com/en/community/fan_site_kit/fan_site_kit.php - identified as "Goldie" Manticore's "Fodder for the Canon" thread: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=133919 I can't link the forum PM from Hero 1, but here's the quote: "Blonde hair for Marcus. As far as Stefan, it's hard to say. I don't think anyone has really ever sat down and drawn him pre Incarnate, but I'd say Stefan would likely have black hair." ***** I repeat - I did not, REPEAT - did not - create the model of Monica used in this cutscene. This is the model from in-game for Monica Richter Cole. The model I used for Statesman was approved by the dev team (Hero 1 and Manticore both) back when I made Incarnate. I stand by how I see them in this video, using the approved canon materials for the game and the advice of its developers. If the video doesn't meet your approval, by all means "dislike" it as is your right as a YouTube client and then forget it. I personally consider this discussion closed.
DEATH BY CHOCOLATE by Julie Anne Lindsey (Book Promotional Trailer) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2012-01-11 | Ringing in 2012 with video #50! "Death By Chocolate" is a book promotional trailer for Julie Anne Lindsey's upcoming novel of the same title (available now from Amazon and Barnes & Noble)... "Ruby Russell has reached her limit. When she discovers her hipster husband has a dirty little secret, she whips him up a Viagra-infused-chocolate mousse punishment, but in the morning, her husband's a stiff. Armed with a lifetime of crime show reruns and Arsenic and Old Lace on DVD, Ruby and her best friend Charlotte try to lay low until after Ruby's son's wedding, but a nosy therapist, meddling minister and local news reporter are making it very difficult to get away with murder. Despite the growing chaos, bristling conflicts, and a mounting body count, these delightfully unstable girlfriends are determined to get away with murder come what may." To purchase via Amazon, visit http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937629260/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=musfrotheslup-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937629260 To purchase via Barnes & Noble, visit http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-by-chocolate-julie-anne-lindsey/1038363573?ean=9781937629267 Visit Julie's website at http://julieannelindsey.com/death-by-chocolate for more information! Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Photography and clipart licensed for use from PhotoDune.net and ShutterStock.com. "Death By Chocolate" cover art used by permission from Julie Anne Lindsey. Music is "Comic Umpah" by Sonority, licensed from AudioJungle.net. All rights reserved by their respective owners. NOTE: Comments are subject to approval prior to posting to prevent spamming.
CITY OF HEROES: Freedom - Convergence (Issue 21 Trailer - Come Together) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2011-09-13 | #49 rings in with my full-length trailer for CITY OF HEROES: FREEDOM, and its inaugural issue "Convergence"! While the official launch is still in our future, the VIP Head Start begins today, so I wanted to make sure it started with a bang... This one was TOUGH... there's so much involved in COH:F and I-21 that I was stuck for the longest time on how to fit everything in! (I was originally looking at a 10-minute video... no joke.) From new story arcs to a new hybrid subscription model, the Paragon Market and Rewards program, a new zone, and so much more! Plus all the little goodies like additional costume sets and graphics/sounds/music updates that just enhance the overall experience, it is just fantastic! (And let me just give a quick shout-out here to Paragon Studios' Beastyle and TheNet, who were just hell-on-wheels great for helping me get filming done. Neither beta server downtime nor borked demofiles, reclusive Seeds of Hamidon nor permanent daylight in First Ward could stop this video from being made.) Of course, to showcase this awesomeness, I needed an awesome piece of music to go with it, and am proud to feature an original piece, "Power", by Esolate! (Check out Esolate's AudioJungle profile at http://audiojungle.net/user/Esolate - it is well worth the listen!) Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "Power" by Esolate, licensed from AudioJungle.net. All rights reserved by their respective owners.
City of Heroes: Freedom - Convergence (Issue 21 Teaser - Who Will Die?) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2011-07-25 | Onwards! #48 is the second of five planned teaser trailers for the upcoming CITY OF HEROES expansion, FREEDOM, and its inaugural issue, #21: Convergence. (Yep, five, PLUS a trailer later on down the road. Why me?) AND AGAIN, BEFORE EVERYONE GETS IN MY FACE OVER THIS: Let me reassure you, this video does NOT break any kind of NDA whatsoever. It was shot ENTIRELY on the LIVE servers (thank you, Justice). All of the maps, all of the models, all of the effects, they are all available in the CURRENT version of COH. This is STRICTLY my take on what things MIGHT be like, based on information that has already been PUBLICLY RELEASED by the official Paragon Studios team. Whew. Now that THAT'S out of the way... Information on COH:F continues to come our way at a deliciously tantalizing rate: thanks to the U-streams, and especially the information that came our way from San Diego Comic-Con, COH:F Issue 21 looks like it's going to be nothing short of spectacular. And now they've begun a new ad campaign, which inspired THIS teaser! The focus on this teaser stems from the artwork from the ad campaign (done by the brilliant David Nakayama) in which it's implied that one of the Freedom Phalanx is not long for this world. (Take your bets on who it is - I have my own theories but nothing I can prove.) For this, SmartSound's "Epic Metal Trailer Music 16" was everything I needed - a slow, dramatic open to non-stop action, and then a heartbreaking ending. (Check out SmartSound's AudioJungle profile at http://audiojungle.net/user/SmartSound - the epic metal trailer music set ALONE is worth the trip!) Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "Epic Metal Trailer Music 16" by SmartSound, licensed from AudioJungle.net. All rights reserved by their respective owners.
City of Heroes: Freedom - Convergence (Issue 21 Teaser - Freedom of Thought) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2011-06-26 | Just when I think I'm out, I get pulled back in again - #47 is ONE of my teaser trailers for the upcoming CITY OF HEROES expansion, FREEDOM, and its inaugural issue, #21: Convergence. (Yep, there will be multiple teasers, PLUS a trailer later on down the road.) BEFORE EVERYONE GETS IN MY FACE OVER THIS: Let me reassure you, this video does NOT break any kind of NDA whatsoever. It was shot ENTIRELY on the LIVE servers (thank you, Justice). All of the maps, all of the models, all of the effects, they are all available in the CURRENT version of COH. This is STRICTLY my take on what things MIGHT be like, based on information that has already been PUBLICLY RELEASED by the official Paragon Studios team. Whew. Now that THAT'S out of the way... COH:F holds a great deal of promise, and looks to be almost brimming with possibilities, as discussed by the developers and community team on the Paragon Studios Ustream chat over the course of this past week. Between the chats, the Overview on the main COH site, and the screenshots that have been shared, a lot of story threads, both old and new, will finally be coming to the forefront. The focus on this teaser was inspired by screenshots of Mother of Mercy Psychiatric Hospital, the bastion of Praetor Tillman (aka Mother Mayhem) and her cadre of Seers. With luck, Issue 21 will allow players to strike at her stronghold, whether to free the Seers from her tyranny... or bend them to some other purpose. To that end, I chose "Child's Play", a hauntingly lovely piece by Vladimir Coman (aka Bandesnaci) - check out his YouTube profile! (http://www.youtube.com/bandesnaci - he's also on Twitter as @Bandesnaci). And yes, the woman singing in the background is none other than yours truly. Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "Child's Play" by Vladimir Coman aka Bandesnaci, and licensed from AudioJungle.net. All rights reserved by their respective owners.
RIFT - River of Souls Teaser Trailer Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2011-04-14 | Number #46 on the Samuraiko Productions roster is a teaser trailer for my other favorite game - the newcomer to the MMORPG scene, RIFT! With a rich history, lush graphics, spiffy music, and an AWESOME system, it's just so much fun to play! (No, I haven't forgotten CITY OF HEROES.) I got into RIFT just as the beta was ending, and fell in love with the game. Now with characters on both sides of the war (both Guardian AND Defiant), it's a blast seeing how the same events have affected the two halves of Telara. I wanted to try my hand at an ad for the game, and RIFT proved to be a far greater challenge than COH for one big reason... RIFT has no /demorecord feature. Which meant I had to shoot and reshoot footage until I got it right. However, Shadefallen Server has an awesome community of players who cheerfully helped out by directing me toward rifts, posing for shots, offering advice, running interference when I needed tougher monsters out of the way, and general encouragement. So this is for you guys! The music for this ad is the audio for the trailer to the DA VINCI CODE. A rapid blend of several different cues (some of which I still haven't been able to identify), its almost religious choral feel, driving rhythm, and sheer scope so beautifully suited the setting of RIFT that I had to use it. I'm looking forward to creating more videos for RIFT in future! And maybe I'll get lucky and they'll add /demorecord! :) Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from RIFT used per general permission from Trion. Music is the audio from the DA VINCI CODE trailer. All rights reserved by their respective owners.
City of Heroes - A Heart Divided Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2011-02-07 | My 45th video is a birthday present to a very dear friend of mine - a fellow COH player and creative spirit, I wanted to give her something memorable, so I did what I (sort of) do best! Drawing on the storyline given to me about her character, it shows why Star Patrol members of the Freedom Corps are sometimes better off not falling in love... The music for this one was tough... but in the end, I went with the simply beautiful "Please Don't Make Me Love You", from DRACULA: THE MUSICAL, as sung by Kate Shindle. And I was intensely gratified when after seeing the video, my friend was QUITE pleased with the result. Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES, CITY OF VILLAINS, and GOING ROGUE used per general permission from Paragon Studios/NCSoft. Music is "Please Don't Make Me Love You" by Kate Shindle. The character Cende used by permission. All rights reserved by their respective owners.
City of Heroes - Alpha Strike (Issue 19 Trailer) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2010-11-17 | Video #44 is here for your viewing pleasure... as the CITY OF HEROES community eagerly waits for the official release of Issue 19: Alpha Strike, Samuraiko Productions beats the deadline to offer you a hint of what you'll be facing on your road toward the first hints of Incarnate... Featuring both the sweeping beauty of John Williams' "Finale" (from "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban") and the heartpounding strength of Patrick Doyle's "The Quidditch World Cup" (from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"), these two pieces together make a wonderful counterpoint to the newest content to grace the game. From the moment heroes, villains, vigilantes, and rogues answer Mender Ramiel's call, the game advances in a direction that we have only seen hints of before now. Finally, the players can reach levels of power that only the likes of Statesman and Recluse have previously attained. And boy are we going to need it! And the new Task Forces available once you unlock your Incarnate abilities will have your jaw hanging and your heart pounding. Whether it's saving the Earth or advancing on Praetoria, you'll need everything you've got and more to be up to the challenge! Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES, CITY OF VILLAINS, and GOING ROGUE used per general permission from Paragon Studios/NCSoft. Music is "Finale" by John Williams, and "The Quidditch World Cup" by Patrick Doyle. All rights reserved by their respective owners.
Real World Hero - A CITY OF HEROES Charity Event (P4A: PROJECT FOR AWESOME!) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2010-11-01 | "Real World Hero is a charity donation drive created by City of Heroes players. In our real lives we are not super-powered, but we can still be super-purposed." An ad created in support of the REAL WORLD HERO charity event - for more information, see http://www.realworldhero.com - where the playerbase of the MMORPG "City of Heroes" raises funds for four select charities. In 2009, over $10,000 was raised for Child's Play, Donate Games, and Operation: Gratitude. This year, the RWH team has added Heifer International to the charity list. The event kicks off on November 19th, 2010, and goes through the end of the year. The music is the stirring "Rise of the Heroes" by OminousVoice (a fantastic reversioning of the main "City of Heroes" theme), and the end shot features over a THOUSAND unique heroes and heroines! REAL WORLD HERO can be found online at: http://www.realworldhero.com http://www.facebook.com/realworldhero http://www.twitter.com/realworldhero Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from Paragon Studios/NCSoft. Music is "Rise of the Heroes" by OminousVoice, used with permission. All rights reserved by their respective owners. UPDATE: This video is being submitted for the Project for Awesome Charity Drive on YouTube! Please spread the word so that RWH can benefit!)
City of Heroes - Allegiances (Issue 18/GOING ROGUE Trailer) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2010-09-24 | Video #42 - the answer to life, the universe, and "where the hell has Samuraiko's GOING ROGUE video been all this time?!" It's my fault, I know - between moving, job-searching, and other real life stuff that just insists on getting in the way, this video is far later than it should have been. And for that, I apologize. Honest! But here it is, at long last - "Allegiances," my trailer for the City of Heroes: GOING ROGUE expansion! Featuring custom music created just for this video by the talented Zero-Project (follow him here on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/zeroprojectgr or on his website at http://www.zero-project.gr ), "Allegiances" displays all the myriad shades of grey that is Issue 18/GOING ROGUE - from heroes to villains, from Loyalists to Resistance, and everything in between! Explore the deceptive beauty that is Praetorian Earth, learn the history behind the Praetors and their plans, and more! Plus, there's four new powersets, a TON of new missions via the Tips system, morality missions, awesome cutscenes, merged markets, and so much more! Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES, CITY OF VILLAINS, and GOING ROGUE used per general permission from Paragon Studios/NCSoft. Music is "Darkness Falls (Epic Remix)" by Zero-Project, licensed for use (Zero-Project's portfolio located at http://www.zero-project.gr - visit his page for more details). All rights reserved by their respective owners.
City of Heroes - Retrospective (6th Anniversary Commemorative Video) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2010-04-30 | Number 41 was six years in the making! To cap off Anniversary Week for CITY OF HEROES (which celebrated its sixth birthday by launching Issue 17: Dark Mirror), I offer for your viewing enjoyment "Retrospective," which takes you through six years, seventeen issues, and three releases of CITY OF HEROES! To the best of my ability, I tried to keep things as appropriate to the timeline as I could. Human nature being what it is, though, you may occasionally see something that is 'anachronistic.' To that end, I claim the Rule of Cool (look it up on TvTropes.org). Also, little cameos and references abound in this video - see if you can spot them all! Once again, Samuraiko Productions teams with BADADAM (follow him on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/ofbadadam - great stuff!), with "Retrospective" featuring his track "M.S.T." Its rocking rhythm and hard edge perfectly suited the in-your-face action that is our favorite MMORPG. And after so many people enjoyed his music from my last video ("Mirror, Mirror" - the Issue 17 trailer), I just had to work with him again! Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from Paragon Studios/NCSoft. Music is "M.S.T." by BADADAM, licensed for use (BADADAM's AudioJungle portfolio located at http://audiojungle.net/user/adamjamescuz - visit his page for more details). All rights reserved by their respective owners.
City of Heroes - Mirror, Mirror (Issue 17 Trailer) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2010-04-14 | And number 40 is here for your enjoyment! For once I got a video done well before the deadline, a nice change I have to admit! :) And as Open Beta for Issue 17: Dark Mirror begins today, here it is, in all its Ultra Mode glory, featuring the awesomeness that is Issue 17 of CITY OF HEROES! Featuring the music of BADADAM (follow him on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/ofbadadam - great stuff!), "Mirror, Mirror" highlights the newest features of CITY OF HEROES' latest issue, from the new hero and villain arcs (featuring amazing new in-game mechanics and storytelling options) to the graphics upgrade of Ultra Mode (which were impressive even on my nVidia 8800 GTS 512), and lots of spiffy stuff in between. And let me tell you, the new badges in the game will keep you guys roaming Paragon City and the Rogue Isles with new eyes! Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from Paragon Studios/NCSoft. Music is "Drifter" by BADADAM, licensed for use (BADADAM's AudioJungle portfolio located at http://audiojungle.net/user/adamjamescuz - visit his page for more details). All rights reserved by their respective owners.
City of Heroes - Avatar: CoH Style! Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2009-12-28 | My 39th video was actually supposed to be my 36th video - a while back I did a poll of the video my fans most wanted me to create, and this one won. But I got sidetracked doing the GOING ROGUE teaser and my FRUITS BASKET video, so this one went on the back burner. But now here it is, in all its twisted demo-edited glory... "Avatar: COH Style!" Returning once again to the world of CITY OF HEROES, this video is part parody, part tribute, and all fun... thanks to the ingenuity of a fellow CoX player (@Burnin Up), and his hilarious one-shot arc "Developer Distress: Save the Secrets of the Architect System" (Arc ID: 39372 - PLAY IT!). His designs for the CoH developers' real personae were too good to pass up, and he generously allowed me to feature them in this video. So here you can see Matt "Positron" Miller, Joe "Hero 1" Morrissey, Floyd "Castle" Grubb, and Chris "Back Alley Brawler" Bruce, along with my (in)famous dark/psi defender flirt, Agent Andrea Blake (Justice server, Star Patrol SG)... like you've never seen them before! (And the in-jokes and references abound in this video... some you might catch, others you might not... hard to say!) However, this video would not have been possible without the absolutely terrific song "(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar", by The Guild (featuring Felicia Day). It was so deliciously apt for CITY OF HEROES that I knew I just had to use it. Thankfully, I was able to get permission to use the song, so please remember to visit WatchTheGuild.com and show your support! Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Paragon Studios. Music is "(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar" by The Guild (featuring Felicia Day). "Avatar" used courtesy of The Guild Management. All rights reserved by their respective owners. HONORS: #47 - Most Discussed (This Week) - Film & Animation #16 - Most Discussed (Today) - Film & Animation #57 - Top Favorited (Today) - Film & Animation #68 - Top Rated (Today) - Film & Animation
Fruits Basket - The Truth About Cats and Dogs Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2009-12-15 | Number 38 finds me back to doing AMVs! I'd started this little video a couple months ago, but got sidetracked what with job searching, working on CITY OF HEROES videos, and all that fun stuff. But here I go again, this time to FRUITS BASKET! My friend DeAnna got me started on this series, and I admit I was very hem-haw about watching it, but since I trusted her judgment (and the FUNimation voice cast was doing it), I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did - I absolutely adored it from the getgo. (Note - though this video is about Tohru and Kyo, my favorite characters hands-down are Shigure and Hatori. Deal with it.) Styx has long since been one of my favorite bands, and the song "Love is the Ritual" seemed so perfect for this mismatched pairing that I just had to make it. (It was a tie between this and Van Halen's "Love Walks In," by the way. This marginally beat out LWI because DeAnna is also a diehard Styx fan.) This is VERY spoiler-heavy, so watch at your own risk! Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy!
Auditorium - Promotional Teaser Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2009-11-29 | My 37th video is different than many of the others I've done before. Done as an experimental project in browser screen capturing, this little teaser promotes the browser-based (and now iPhone-based) game AUDITORIUM. (If you've not played it, do try it - it's hypnotic, addictive, and both relaxing and challenging at once - visit http://www.playauditorium.com to try it!) The game has you directing and redirecting an energy flow through colored filters, black holes, warp gates, and other means to fill containers with energy. As the containers are filled, the music grows stronger, and depending on the number and color of the containers, even adds layers to the music. The music you hear in this video is from the game itself, from Act 1 (Hajimemashite), composed by Dain Saint. All of the music in AUDITORIUM is lovely, but the music from Hajimemashite is still my favorite, and the effect of layering the multiple tracks was a terrific challenge for me! Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! Footage from AUDITORIUM, used per general permission from Cipher Prime. Music is "Hajimemashite" by Dain Saint for the game AUDITORIUM, and used with permission from Dain Saint and William Stallwood. All rights reserved by their respective owners.
City of Heroes - A Mirror Dimly (GOING ROGUE Teaser) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2009-11-23 | The few, the proud, the dedicated... my fans who are still refusing to take "no" for an answer when it comes to me making videos, so here I go again with #36 - the teaser trailer for the upcoming CITY OF HEROES expansion, GOING ROGUE. By all accounts, the expansion is going to push the limits of CITY OF HEROES in almost every way - from graphics to play style, from storyline to character development. And from the day it was announced, I knew I wanted to do a teaser and a trailer for it. Returning once again to the brilliant sounds of Brand X Music, "A Mirror Dimly" features the track "De Ja Vu." The contrasts of light piano with dark crashing hits, along with its undertones of building menace, worked beautifully with the notion that all is not as it appears in the world of Praetoria, and in GOING ROGUE in general. Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! (If you like my stuff, swing by the SAMURAIKO.COM website for more videos that YouTube doesn't control.) Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Cryptic Studios. Music is "De Ja Vu" by Brand X Music. All rights reserved by their respective owners. HONORS: #12 - Most Discussed (Today) - Film & Animation #67 - Most Discussed (This Week) - Film & Animation
City of Heroes - No Limits (Issue 16 Trailer) Samuraiko Productions Video Archive 2009-09-17 | Seems that retirement is just not in my future... not as long as there are a handful of devoted fans who want me to continue. So, after four and a half months, I give you video #35 - my Issue 16 trailer titled "No Limits." It was a tough call, deciding whether or not to come back to making trailers for CITY OF HEROES. I'd had my reasons for leaving, and they are still valid ones... but thanks to the efforts of several players on the COH forums, not to mention I-16 looking to be one of the coolest issues yet, I leapt headfirst back into moviemaking. The music you hear in this video is a drastic change from my earlier selections, since this is the first time I've used techno trance in a video (of ANY kind). The song "Suneater" by This Morn' Omina (from their CD "Le Serpent Blanc") was certainly appropriate for the theme of I-16 so I contacted Ant-Zen about featuring This Morn' Omina's work in my video. And so, by special arrangement, I am able to bring their work to you. (Incidentally, This Morn' Omina does SERIOUSLY awesome music - please support the band and visit their website at http://www.hegira.be and their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/thismornomina - just be careful about driving to their music, it's been known to cause serious speeding!) Like my other videos, this one is tagged as Samuraiko Productions, for those who follow my work. Enjoy! (If you like my stuff, swing by the SAMURAIKOPRODUCTIONS.COM website for more videos that YouTube doesn't control.) Footage from CITY OF HEROES and CITY OF VILLAINS, used per general permission from NCSoft/Cryptic Studios. Music is "Suneater" by This Morn' Omina, remixed by Michelle Travis. This Morn' Omina appears courtesy of Ant-Zen. All rights reserved by their respective owners.
