Hello there!

My name’s Luis, and I like stuff! Well, it turns out a lot of people do, but I just had an urge to write about some of it. Thanks for stopping by though I really appreciate it! The way I want to do this is to have 3 separate topics (i.e. music/games/other) and keep each section limited to two things that I’m into lately. I would also like to do this at least semi-regularly.

These things won’t always be new or trending, but just what I’m into at the moment. I also would love to hear from y'all about what you love, so without further ado…

Let’s get positive!

Music

I love music, and it plays a major role in my life. I played violin for 12 years, and through that I developed an extreme love and appreciation for music theory, composition, and originality. This, in turn, has led me to the world of Jazz influenced styles as well as more Progressive genres. I also will mention that I only ever listen to albums as a whole. I like to experience what the artist wanted me to hear, so I will always recommend an album as opposed to a single track, with maybe a highlight track or two to give you a snippet of what the artist is about. So, here’s some tunes that I’m into lately.

yeah whatever by Owane

Mar. 2018

Jazz Fusion, Progressive Rock

Owane is a mostly solo project with three releases since 2015, but this release really trumps them all. As with most Jazz Fusion outfits, Owane’s work is incredibly interesting in terms of composition, especially when it comes to complex rhythms and absurd time signatures. In yeah whatever, Owane plays musical gymnastics, but at the same time got my head bobbing along to the crazy, but understandable rhythms and melodies. It has an upbeat feel, and makes me smile with every listen.

Highlight tracks: Rock is Too Heavy, One Curl in Bangkok

Three Gods & Me by Hungry Lights

Dec. 2017

Symphonic Metal, Progressive

Hungry Lights is a solo project by a guy named Justin Bonitz. Three Gods & Me is the third part of a five part series called “From Windfall to Hell.” The interesting thing here is that Justin Bonitz is writing a series of novels that follow along with the story being told in the albums. I haven’t read his work, but what he’s got going on here in these three concept albums so far is incredibly interesting. In terms of genre it’s incredibly hard to pin this guy down. His vocal stylings are incredibly unique and his screaming is just as unique if not downright crazy. Not only does he sing, scream, and play characters in his music, but he also will rap in certain parts of these albums. His work kept me guessing and surprised at his experimenting and I can’t wait to see more.

Highlight tracks: Reflaugh, Cowardice

He also started a new band by the name of Tallah with Mike Portnoy’s son Max as the lead vocalist. Look into it you’re curious, but the one word I would describe them as is: insane.

Video games, right?

Maelstrom - Gunpowder Games

Apr. 11^th in Steam Early Access

Sailing, PVP, Battle Royale (Boat-le Royale…?)

I picked this up yesterday and almost instantly fell in love with it. In Maelstrom you play a boat and are placed in a map with up to 15 other boats in a fight to the death, and yes of course there is a “circle” that closes in. The “circle” in this case is called the “Dead Waters” and it doesn’t tick away at your health. Instead, giant sea monsters roam the Dead Waters, and if you hang out too long they will chase you down and kill you in one hit. There are also AI mobs that spawn on the map (you could call them creeps, I guess) and they will drop buffs on death that you can pick up. In terms of ships, there are three races with 3 ships each. They have different speeds, armor, cannon positions, size, and many other things that you can pick from. On top of this, you can unlock 3 captains per race, who each have different active abilities that will give you versatility or an advantage depending on the situation.

This game controls so well, feels so good, and is incredibly exciting when getting in a 6 ship scuffle surrounded by 4 sea monsters waiting to pick you off. Very fast-paced, and very fun, with an average match time of 15-20 minutes.

Project: Gorgon – Elder Game

Mar. 2018 in Steam Early Access

MMORPG

Gosh this game is so interesting. I like playing MMOs, but they are definitely a sort of mindless thing for me. This is especially true when they are extremely “hand-holdy” in the vain of WoW. In Project: Gorgon there is zero hand holding. The game wants you to read what the npcs have to say, because they actually tell you where to go and what to do. There are no waypoints, no exclamation marks over quest givers’ heads, and no markers over quest objectives. It very much reminds me of Morrowind in this way, and I adore Morrowind.

The game doesn’t have an overall level, but each skill in the game, of which there are way too many, levels as you use them. The game also touts itself as a “new old school MMO” so take that for what it’s worth if you played “old school” MMOs. I really am enjoying this game, and hope to see some more people talk about it.

Other things I’m into

Giant Bomb Infinite

This almost goes without saying, but Giant Bomb Infinite is one of the greatest things this site has done. I have a laptop hooked up to my TV running GBI 24/7 and I will have it that way for a long time to come. I absolutely love being reminded of some of GB’s greatest/silliest/craziest moments over the past 10 years, and GBI does this for me instead of me having to do it manually on my second monitor.

School

I am currently studying Digital Video and Cinema Production, and am loving it so dearly. I graduated high school in 2011, but didn’t start college for almost 6 years. I’m happy I didn’t go straight into college, because I didn’t know what I wanted to do at the time. Over time, I found out that I really love video production. Learning about and doing stuff that I love has been such a boon for me these past few semesters. I am in currently in the middle of production for my Cinematography class doing scene recreations (I’m doing a scene from Twin Peaks) among a bunch of other things I’m doing for my Editing, Screenwriting, and Production Management classes.

Screenwriting specifically has been so so much fun for me. I am currently working on the first act of a feature screenplay. I never really considered myself a writer, but it turns out when I am writing creatively I love it! Granted, writing screenplays isn’t the same as writing novels or poetry, but I love the creative process all the same. I currently am developing a story that has really grown on me. It has become way bigger than I thought it would, and I plan to write it in novel form over the summer. I will keep the name and concept of it to myself for now, and hopefully later on I will have something to share.

I think that does it for me this time, I’ll write up another post at some point in the future. I think writing this is just good positive thinking for me. I would love to hear from y’all though, maybe about what I’ve written or just whatever you like, old or new. So...

What are y’all into lately?