The Secret of Mania

Since I'm wasting time with a video game, I have to do some semi-related sketches as penance. (Click it to see the full-sized image, of course.)

Here are my kids playing with various deadly weapons available to Mana's adventurers. Bud is sporting the traditional sword and shield a la Legend of Zelda. This is not Zelda and Mana dude does not have a shield, but I'm willing to sacrifice integrity for style. Autumn is sporting the Xena-esque chakram, level two of the boomerang progression. In the background, we have a traditional domestic scene: Suzette, armed with the whip, is after the javelin-wielding Jacob. Aww.

Those troublesome gingers

I missed a day. I have no good excuse. Was I working too much to touch the computer? No. I was abusing the Wii's virtual console. Secret of Mana is the one game I wanted to pick up as soon it was available - I've coveted it ever since I had a Nintendo Power subscription while owning a woeful Sega Genesis - and this week it appeared. What kind of man would I be if I didn't follow my dreams?



Anyway, here's the Annelise painting as it stands. Like Moreh, the "shirt" is just a block of color for now. I think I'll tackle that last. The hair and knife are going to be far more fun. (By the way, the knife will be bigger in the end, but it's still of the tiny and decorative variety.) The hands, although not fun at all, are also vital. If I rock them, no one will care if I cut all corners possible with the top!

You should be glad I resisted it this long...

In case of emergency, break glass. (Gently.) LOLcats and Tiffany go together so well.

In theory, Mega Man 9 shouldn't be a problem. It's not addictive, because it's HARD AS FUCK! I haven't played it that much, but today it's the only thing in my life that's shown progress. Seven robot masters down! (Fuck you and your spiky floors, Plug Man!)

Without any *actual* progress today, I did at least capture my ineptitude in picture form. So I got that going for me, which is nice.

It was the manual transmission that held me back!

So what have I been up to while my internet was down this past week? Mario Kart! Turns out that by switching to automatic, I suddenly got WAY better! And now it's fun, which might be the worst thing that could happen to me!

It's not like I could have dabbled online anyway...but when the internet returned what did I do? ONLINE MARIO KART! Not good.

Here is my attempt to make up for it... (click for the large version)



Bud (in his Dr. Oven supervillain goggles) is driving the ducky...whatever it's actually called. It's ultra maneuverable, and thus handy for twisty tracks! Tiffany seemed perfect for the cloud-flying Latiku. Autumn and Roddy are driving whatevermobiles. This is not an accurate recreation.

Oh yeah, that's Roddy Finnegan - the one non-Gemstone kid who my kids will recognize. This was accomplished by brute force, antagonism, pestering and general annoyance. Roddy is frustrated by the insular group, and it is his purpose to make them face the world. Good luck, Roddy. You're doomed!