tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46931066840490852042024-02-20T23:04:03.701-05:00A Leper In A Strange LandCovering Newell's Old Boys from Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, but occasionally rants on other teams and sports crop up from time to time.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-77179223786399917732015-03-11T09:01:00.001-04:002015-03-11T09:04:14.029-04:00Early Season DiscontentI'm a bit miffed that Central are sitting on top after four games, but look at who they've played. Racing, Tigre, Crucero, and Olimpo are not exactly the toughest opponents.<br />
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Newell's on the other hand, have lost points to Independiente and Velez. Granted, Newell's have not looked all that impressive even in their wins. While some credit luck in Newell's win over Crucero I'd have to say that Crucero was lucky the score wasn't more lopsided. Scocco had 4-5 good chances he would have buried back in 2012/13.<br />
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Maybe it's Tolo's style that isn't working for the team, or maybe it's the team not working to his style. Maxi and Scocco publicly complaining about it? That's something that didn't even happen when Sensini was in charge. Maxi has been scoring, but still does not appear to be in top form. Scocco has not been anywhere near his best.<br />
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I may not agree with Gallego's system, but play your best before you start complaining boys.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-2740952762683460212013-06-22T12:04:00.000-04:002013-06-22T12:04:02.116-04:00Campeon Torneo Final 2013. To Whom Goes The Credit?<br />
It has been far too long since I visited these pages and written a single word about my beloved Newell's Old Boys. It has been far too long since we last claimed a title. The later was fixed mid-week when Lanús handed Newell's the Torneo Final 2013 title by losing to Estudiantes 2-0, but we do not owe them any thanks. I wish they could have won that game, so that La Lepra could have won the title tomorrow by beating Argentinos Juniors at home. Now that final game will be one big party, but it would have been far wilder, far more enjoyable had we claimed the title on the field.<br />
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<a href="http://www.newellsoldboys.com.ar/page/wallpapers" target="_blank">Newell's Old Boys - Official Wallpapers</a></div>
So who is owed the thanks for this championship? Some will say the return of Ingnacio Scocco, Maxi Rodriguez, and Gabriel Heinze was the key to the victory. Each had there part to play, it's true, but was that truly the key to our success?<br />
<br />
Nacho for all his goals he certainly is significant. But when Super Scocco, as I took to calling him on Twitter, was rested for the Copa Libertadores (a front we are still fighting on) it was Maxi Urruti that stepped up mostly coming on as a late substitute.<br />
<br />
La Fiera Rodriguez was certainly a force to be dealt with. Minor injuries and being rested for the Copa gave room for the likes of Victor Figueroa and Martin Tonso to step in and have their moments of glory.<br />
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Same thing can be said about El Gringo Heinze. In the matches he missed it was up to the rest of the defense to make up for the hole his absence left, with Victor López and Guillermo Ortiz taking his place.<br />
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Some will say that it was Tata Martino as coach that made the difference, and certainly he had a huge influence on this team. Fielding a team that was often said to be a 4-5-1 formation, it more often looked like they were in an old school 4-3-3, the formation that was used by the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4693106684049085204#editor/target=post;postID=2513068678512483891;onPublishedMenu=overview;onClosedMenu=overview;postNum=0;src=postname" target="_blank">first group of Leprosos to claim a title.</a> While other teams that were playing in both the Torneo and the Libertadores concentrated on the Copa at the expense of the league, Tata rotated players so that, having claimed the domestic title, we could see the team claim a double. Or, it could be claimed a double should we beat the Torneo Initial champions Vélez Sarsfield on June 29 in Mendoza. (It is only a game played for pride, as AFA now have backed away from the original plan of this one game crowning one single champion for the 2012/2013 season.)<br />
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Pablo Perez was a huge factor on the right side of midfield. Early on Fabián Muñoz made his mark before sadly going down to injury. The Peruvian international Rinaldo Cruzado did not play often, but certainly had an impact.<br />
<br />
All three of our defensive midfielders played their part. Lucas Bernardi has been as good as he as ever been. Hernán Villalba almost made us forget that Bernardi was serving a suspension early on, but sadly was not available due to injury for the rest of the season. Diego Mateo filled in when needed.<br />
<br />
The play of goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán has gotten stronger with every game he has played. Certainly he has some credit for Newell's winning the title. His back up, Sebastián Peratta, he whom I still call San Peratta filled in and put in his usual solid performance in a number of games.<br />
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So who gets the credit for winning this title? No one, but every one. Every player, Martino and all of his coaching staff, the grounds keepers and the fans. No one deserves to not take some credit for this achievement. May this be the beginning of a new golden age for the team.<br />
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Dale Newell's! Dale La Lepra! Dale Campeon!<br />
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Now let's see about lifting that Libertadores trophy, shall we?David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-25130686785124838912013-02-28T21:18:00.000-05:002013-02-28T21:18:15.619-05:00A Sense Of HistoryNewell's have won a few and lost a few games since I last posted here. Anyone who really cares knows what happened in those games, and I think that may be a part of why I haven't been writing as much. I feel into a trap of reporting match score, rather than talking about my passion.<br />
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Today, something happened that spurred my passion. Today I was browsing through a futbol forum when I came across a posting in the Argentina History and Idols thread that required me to respond. The conversation was about the sense of history the Argentine people have for the sport, along with their neighbors in Uruguay, and their perpetual rivals in England. Someone used Rosario Central fans celebrating a goal scored by Aldo Poy against Newell's Old Boys some 40 years ago as an example of this... <br />
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Poy? You want to talk about a goal worthy of celebration between Newell's and Central? Let's talk Mario Zanabria's goal against Central in 1974 which gave Newell's their first championship. I was not there to see it. We left Argentina to return to the USA mere months before it happened. Thankfully footage has been found, and while the quality is not the best, I can now say I have seen the most significant goal in Lepra history.<br />
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Sadly, the USA has absolutely no sense of history for the sport, or very little at best. There were a number of professional leagues back in the 1920, I believe it was, but they faltered. NASL came and went. MLS looks to stable, but it will be decades before it will really take hold, if it ever does.<br />
<br />
By heritage my family is Welsh (though some of my siblings will argue we're English), a country where Rugby is king. The Welsh league only has one pro team. I'm sure there are a few fans who have a sense for the game's history there, but nothing like Argentina, Uruguay and England. I'm sure that just about every nation where futbol is the main if not only sport will claim to have that feel of the history. On an individual fan basis I'm sure it's true... but on a National level?<br />
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I consider myself lucky to have spent the 3 1/2 years in Argentina during my youth. It infected me with a love for the sport, and of course for Newell's. Had my father's job taken him to any other country? Who knows if I would have gained this passion.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-15216109577372598622012-12-03T18:44:00.002-05:002012-12-03T18:44:30.626-05:00Newell's Old Boys Earn Place In 2013 LibertadoresI had the day off, having scheduled my final floating holiday for the year a few months ago. When I saw that Newell's Old Boys were playing today I was all set to sit down and watch the game. For the first half, it was not meant to be. The channels through which I normally watch had Newcastle United playing Wigan in the English Premier League, a rebroadcast Boca Jrs match, and an Argentine highlight show, but no Newell's against At. Rafaela. I asked for a few via a tweet (twitter post, for those who do not know) and soon had a link... but I did not have the proper plug-ins to run the video via the website. Nothing was going my way.<br />
<br />
So, I watched the first half of Newcastle and Wigan... on TV, no internet needed, and kept track of the Newell's match via Twitter, and checked out the first goal by way of <a href="http://www.ole.com.ar/" target="_blank">Ole</a>.
Fabián Muñoz scored his first goal of the season in the first minute of the match to give Newell's a 1-0 lead. And that is how the first half ended.<br />
<br />
At half time I took a break to take a shower, I'd spent the day doing some cleaning up around the house and really needed one. When I got back to the computer I again checked my usual sources for futbol feeds and found that yes indeed someone was showing the match. I loaded it up and found they were fifteen minutes into the second half, and Muñoz had scored his second goal of the day. Meanwhile, I still had Newcastle and Wigan going on the television. When Newcastle took a 3-0 lead my gut told me that Newell's were going to get a third as well. I put it off as wishful thinking...<br />
<br />
And then, in the 84th minute Muño, the man of the match, sent a ball toVíctor Figueroa who launched a looping ball that set Ignacio Scocco with only the goalkeeper to beat. Scocco scored and Newell's ended the day with a win that sends them into the 2013 Copa Libertadores in style.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j01au-SnOcM?fs=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
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With only one game left Newell's find themselves in a three way tie for second place along side Lanús and Belgrano with 33 points. There is no longer a chance at a title as Vélez Sarsfield claimed that with a 2-0 win yesterday against a hapless Unión de Santa Fe.<br />
<br />
Final match for La Lepra will be next weekend away to Argentinos Jrs.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-78937320895751769902012-12-01T19:16:00.000-05:002012-12-01T19:20:51.613-05:00City Of Heroes - Anyone Have A Rez?<br />
Going into the final day of City Of Heroes (COH,) I had a plan as to how I'd spend it. I would bounce around a few of the servers, playing several of my characters I'd created (in some cases recreated - I've been playing Champions pen & paper super hero game since it first came out... yes, I'm that old.) An hour or two before the hour of doom would strike I planned on signing into both my accounts (yes, I have more than one computer, and had more than one COH accounts) and have the sons of Thor, Magni and Modi facing Ragnarok once again. (Hope you are familiar enough with Norse Mythology to at least recognize the names.) This would have been on the Virtue server.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVANWlXg1JfRjoXlreiePsn7xMnA3HGEC4pBoCJGY16Kwzs1LXjuulq4ZJcW00LZMwhqf5WKHc5-lTzxZFRVjLOjytDRMcAxBBs1dxjHSgFM7sek7SL6AmFHPtJlqxsHfLkRT90pRhso/s1600/All+of+Willowbright%27s+Outfits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVANWlXg1JfRjoXlreiePsn7xMnA3HGEC4pBoCJGY16Kwzs1LXjuulq4ZJcW00LZMwhqf5WKHc5-lTzxZFRVjLOjytDRMcAxBBs1dxjHSgFM7sek7SL6AmFHPtJlqxsHfLkRT90pRhso/s320/All+of+Willowbright%27s+Outfits.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willowbright - ever costume she had in COH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My main, Willowbright - my only character to make it
to level 50, made it in a couple of times, and did a couple of Rikti
invasion team-ups. Willow is my <a href="http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Positron" target="_blank">Positron </a>(<a href="http://www.mmodesigner.com/?page_id=2" target="_blank">Matt Miller </a>- MMO designer extraordinaire, former chief developer for Paragon Studios, created the character long ago) you could say. She was first created, as Willow, some 20 plus years ago for a Champions campaign.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwI_6-1nv-hljjnNu4R56XOroa5iHMMlKKSCs-5sb_dCX5ErAR4XHjcAVpMdxtVwj41_ZxiRqoM8u-zCqxuMlkdm1TX7oweEhQY5djFvTFP9UrBpr7evG0i6KvaOUmNHZ6PDGyLOEY9LI/s1600/Willow.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwI_6-1nv-hljjnNu4R56XOroa5iHMMlKKSCs-5sb_dCX5ErAR4XHjcAVpMdxtVwj41_ZxiRqoM8u-zCqxuMlkdm1TX7oweEhQY5djFvTFP9UrBpr7evG0i6KvaOUmNHZ6PDGyLOEY9LI/s200/Willow.bmp" width="110" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow - Mk II</td></tr>
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A second version of Willow was created just a few years ago, again for a Champions campaign with my Sunday Night gaming group, suggested by my fellow gamer and published author Anne Harris. In that game she was part of a group called SUPA - Supers United to Protect Anyone. Her teammates included Helix, Cougar, Jaime Justice, and a robot named Murtalizer (not sure on that spelling, though.) Jaime Justice was the true figure head for SUPA, our version of Superman you could say. It was her family business that provided SUPA with the funds to have our Superbase. Because of this I started my time in City of Heroes on the Justice server. Willowbright moved to Virtue due to the impending shutdown of the game.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBHJqIBbkjYbc2K5Clxiv7qdeq3s-m2Mx2mAYMGD5GJ3M-IBXyL_Ha6lLsGtHHC5hIGrL_Qrs72pS95LjhotMESmhH75NROyYGcRtxera_tr6PXHwG-9pYhljkVKrJzQUuonMriZcZp4/s1600/screenshot_121201-01-27-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBHJqIBbkjYbc2K5Clxiv7qdeq3s-m2Mx2mAYMGD5GJ3M-IBXyL_Ha6lLsGtHHC5hIGrL_Qrs72pS95LjhotMESmhH75NROyYGcRtxera_tr6PXHwG-9pYhljkVKrJzQUuonMriZcZp4/s320/screenshot_121201-01-27-14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willowbright in the Matrix room</td></tr>
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But I digress...<br />
<br />
I managed to sign in under a few others, but honestly don't remember it
all. Tired after a long week at work, then playing from around 7:30 PM
until 3 AM is not conducive to perfect recall. I know I did make it onto the Triumph server, but only because I have screenshots of Venusian Vixen, and Squirrel Gal back on Virtue.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZlmViPhv2zdlbIvOejsY3vMcKdHi4AYo83AF4Z_VoINLsHeuOsOGiN1LoD-Jv1OPMvo869d1is7jDKyhFbG7AJKppt4rky1p9UNUxthsFx_j0zH6pTA2q4LEHa-Ps-EoJ8lm-1142bA/s1600/screenshot_121130-22-04-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZlmViPhv2zdlbIvOejsY3vMcKdHi4AYo83AF4Z_VoINLsHeuOsOGiN1LoD-Jv1OPMvo869d1is7jDKyhFbG7AJKppt4rky1p9UNUxthsFx_j0zH6pTA2q4LEHa-Ps-EoJ8lm-1142bA/s320/screenshot_121130-22-04-06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squirrel Gal helping fight off a Rikti invasion.</td></tr>
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As it got closer to the dreaded hour I gave up getting into Virtue last night after losing the connection for
a second time. Virtue was so full that people were getting booted, and then there would be a long queue to try and get back in.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVJPtqxTbcQIlaAfnalnsFHjC6WKCK_0JEJQ1TTLFxpYQoAKRn_ENZ3_d8XCyylRqxcu8H4aQmwukaG_pMTwgGmCkucQ2_NdKFV47IejamTNIn-1WcHVSfltD4L6QkyxceTHbz4E75Ss/s1600/913+in+Virtue+Queue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVJPtqxTbcQIlaAfnalnsFHjC6WKCK_0JEJQ1TTLFxpYQoAKRn_ENZ3_d8XCyylRqxcu8H4aQmwukaG_pMTwgGmCkucQ2_NdKFV47IejamTNIn-1WcHVSfltD4L6QkyxceTHbz4E75Ss/s320/913+in+Virtue+Queue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like sitting in a Queue waiting to get in.</td></tr>
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So much for the sons of Thor.<br />
<br />
Plan B
turned out to be logging into Liberty as Devine Pixie, whom I hadn't
played since NCSOFT made the announcement that COH would be closing (August 31st. 2012 - another date we will not forget.) She
joined a smallish team, there were 5 of us, for one final mission
against the minions of Lord Recluse.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xufmtRaEqy9W3xFNjmcIV1KOOIz3N8bO5MvZ1Qe3KuSvIXIBEHMu0bgtURVrlX2UtrKZ_zTDIRPaLyfaXBmYeiy9PQeXiATO3fD8L4VTjXpXTvstpYzibCOvu_zkSIP3KhTc2p0l110/s1600/screenshot_121201-02-40-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xufmtRaEqy9W3xFNjmcIV1KOOIz3N8bO5MvZ1Qe3KuSvIXIBEHMu0bgtURVrlX2UtrKZ_zTDIRPaLyfaXBmYeiy9PQeXiATO3fD8L4VTjXpXTvstpYzibCOvu_zkSIP3KhTc2p0l110/s320/screenshot_121201-02-40-06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devine Pixe - dancing on top of the Atlas statue in Atlas Park as the clock ticked down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of all the characters I signed in last night, it was the little pixie on Liberty that amazed
me. I totally submerged into the character to the delight of her
teammates as we fought the evil spiders of Arachnos. Only bit I can
remember at this point was someone complimented her on her wings, to
which she replied: "Thanks, I grew them myself..."<br />
<br />
I do have her,
and several other characters, saved via Sentinel Plus. There were also a
few I didn't bother with, toss away characters, who are either easy to
replicate, and not so high level that if COH does see a new dawn it
won't be a big deal to reconstruct them, and a few that I looked at and
said, meh, don't really care if I ever play them again. I did get shots of them all, at least from the sign in screen.<br />
<br />
I will miss them all. Even if I can, and will play them in other forms, it won't be the same. City Of Heroes truly brought these character to life for me, in ways no other game has.<br />
<br />
November 30th, 2012. For those of us who played and loved the game that date will live on, for the rest of
our lives, as the day that the game's publisher, NSCOFT, killed a small
part of us.<br />
<br />
Granted, they took the servers offline at
11:59:59 (actually a little bit after that) PST, so it was 3 AM my time,
Saturday morning, December 1st. Minor detail that. All the
announcements, all the news stories, all the blog entries will list the
date as 11/30/12, or 30/11/12 for those who use that format...<br />
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<br />
Will I play other games? Yeah... I do have a free Champions Online account. Isn't the same, not even close. I have tried playing DCUO, but don't like the "designed for a console" controls. And, yes, I do still play pen & paper Champions, and Mutants and Masterminds as well.<br />
<br />
Not the same. Nothing ever will be. Unless City Of Heroes gets the resurrection it truly deserves.<br />
<br />
Anyone got a rez?<br />
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<a href="http://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,6354.0.html" target="_blank">Anyone?</a>David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-45300053738664184262012-11-18T20:58:00.001-05:002012-11-18T20:58:16.226-05:00All Boys Hand Old Boys 1st Loss Of SeasonSo much for the unbeaten run as All Boys discovered the formula to beat Newell's Old Boys. First, score early, as Jonathan Ferrari gave the visitors the 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Second, start taking out Newell's key veteran players, as first Maxi Rodriguez (Víctor Figueroa came on for him in the 17th minute,) then Gabriel Heinze (Víctor López on for him in the 38th.) and finally it was Lucas Bernardi (Maximiliano Urruti for him in the 55th) all left the game due to injuries. Hopefully, none of them will be out long, but we'll see what the medical reports say on that later.<br />
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Once all that was settled, Newell's goalie, Nahuel Guzmán, took down an opposing player midway through the second half after a mad scramble to award All Boys a penalty, and receiving a yellow card in the process. Mauro Matos converted and Newell's were down 2-0 at home.
Newell's drew one back thanks to a late goal from Pablo Perez, but even with 7 minutes of extra time in the second half was not enough for La Lepra to manage to draw level.<br />
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The good news is that while Newell's lost to All Boys, Vélez Sarsfield also lost at home, 1-0 against Boca Juniors.<br />
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Oh, right... I did not get around to talking about the previous two matches, which saw Vélez take over first place. Not much to say, really, both Newell's games ended in 0-0 draws, first to Quilmes at home, then on the road against Boca Juniors.<br />
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Problem: Lanús are tied with Newell's at the moment with 29 point (Vélez have 32,) but will be facing Belgrano tomorrow. If Belgrano they will join the congestion in second place with Newell's and Lanús, if Lanús win they will be tied for first with Vélez. Not sure what out come would benefit Newell's most at the moment, even a draw really does not suit me... isn't there a way where both teams lose?<br />
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No?<br />
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Ah, right.. Belgrano also have a mythical additional game that is yet to be settled there match with Independiente was suspended with Belgrano in front 1-0.<br />
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And Racing Club play tomorrow, and are also with in reach of the congestion in second place<br />
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Where once things were looking fairly simple, it is now very complex. <br />
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Up next Newell's have a short trip as they will be facing Unión. Should be an easy match, as Unión have only managed five points from sixteen matches... but at this point I am not going to make any bets.<br />
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It will also be interesting to see if Unión fans will be facing any punishment for their behavior during their 2-0 lost in their clasico against Colón. That match had to be stopped twice due to security (read, police at the grounds) having to deal with people in the Unión stands acting like idiots.<br />
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Thank you again Guillermo Lorente for doing your best to eliminate such behavior from our stands!David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-25990512143614730202012-11-06T21:01:00.001-05:002012-11-06T21:01:13.961-05:00Two Points Tossed To The WindSunday afternoon Newell's Old Boys went to Mendoza in first place tied with Vélez Sarsfield. At the end of the day their 1-1 draw with hosts Godoy Cruz gave them a one point lead in the standings, and for that I am happy. The way we tossed away what should have been a win, however, has me disappointed. I'm not the only feeling that way, either. <a href="http://www.rosario3.com/deportes/nob/noticias.aspx?idNot=120780&Martino,-%22desencantado%22-con-el-empate-en-Mendoza" target="_blank">Newell's coach Gerardo Martino expressed his feelings about the game known</a>, and he was far from happy with the way we let this one slip away.<br />
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Newell's were up 1-0 at half time from a brilliant 10th minute goal from league leader Ignacio Scocco, with his 9th of the year. We also had a man advantage after Jorge Curbelo was red carded from a vicious foul on Maxi Rodriguez in the 41st minute. Had we kept playing the way we had in the first half victory would have been relatively easy. That was not to pass.<br />
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In the second half Newell's played poorly, letting more room than a team down a man should have had. In the 79th minute Nahuel Guzmán made a poor save on a shot taken by Alexis Castro just inside the penalty area. The ensuing rebound was pounced on by Mauro Obolo. There was little that Guzmán could have done at that point, but I am left wondering, as well as Guzmán has played, why Sebastián Peratta is still sitting on the bench.<br />
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Up next, Newell's will be hosting Quilmes on Friday. Due to the kick off time of the match, I will probably miss most of it, if not all. David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-72372091441689956172012-10-27T21:13:00.000-04:002012-10-27T21:18:05.936-04:00Super Scocco Nets TwoHad a friend come over an hour before Newell's Old Boys and Arsenal de Sarandí and we spent a few hours watching cheap horror films in honor of Halloween. Needless to say, that meant I did not see La Lepra take a 2-1 victory from the visitors off a stunning brace from Ignacio Scocco to remain in first place. It also gives Newell's super scorer eight goals on the season putting him on top of the individual scorer race.<br />
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As I write Vélez Sarsfield have taken over second place from Racing
Club as they are playing each other. Vélez are up 1-0 at home with about
twenty minutes to go.<br />
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Here's to Racing coming up with the tie. That would pad Newell's lead.<br />
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Getting back to Newell's, we had a player take a red card. One source I have lists Gabriel Heinze facing a suspension, while another says it was Victor Figueroa. Checked a third source and looks like it was Heinze. May just have been a second yellow, anyone able to fill me in, please do.<br />
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Up next Newell's travel to Mendoza to face Godoy Cruz.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-27703425461331924802012-10-21T19:46:00.002-04:002012-10-21T19:46:36.266-04:00Away Draw To 2nd Place Racing Keeps Newell's In 1stWhat can I say about yesterday's 0-0 draw between Racing Club and Newell's Old Boys that has not already been said? Yes, the point earned keeps Newell's on top, and unbeaten. No, it was not the prettiest of games. One of the prime reasons for that was poor officiating. Patricio Loustau should be forced to watch the full footage of this match and be ashamed.<br />
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Since we are some twenty hours after the fact, I don't remember everything that happened, but in the 83rd minute Racing's Mauro Camoranesi fouled Newell's Gabriel Heinze warrented a red card. Camoranesi went studs first into Heinze's shin, and while I understand that studs first isn't anywhere in the referee's handbook, this certainly was a dangerous tackle, and came no where near to touching the ball. Apparently the referee forgot to bring his red card, and the Racing midfielder walked away with only a yellow.<br />
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If you watch the highlight video above you will see Newell's coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino turn to Racing Clubs bench in disbelief. Even with out hearing what he is saying one can tell that he was sharing a moment with Luis Zubeldia, his counter part on Racing's bench. I imagine it went something like this:<br />
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Tata: "Unbelievable... that isn't a red card?"<br />
Zubeldia: "What? You blaming me for this?"<br />
Tata: "No... no, no, no. We are both suffering under Loustau." <br />
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What that footage doesn't include was the fouls that didn't even get called. Not claiming favoritism, either, as the referee was missing calls both ways. In total he called 14 fouls, 8 against Newell's, and gave out 7 yellow cards. In my estimation the total could have been as high as 20 fouls. Of course, if Loustau had started out making all the calls he should have been making from the start the totals probably would have been the same.<br />
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Still, I would not put him in the same category as some of the <a href="http://leperinastrangland.blogspot.com/2010/04/adios-collado-may-your-stay-away-from.html" target="_blank">other referees I have had issues with over the years.</a> But that does not mean I will be looking forward to the next time he officiates a match that Newell's are involved with either.<br />
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Up next Newell's are back home to face Arsenal de Sarandí, game time is scheduled for Saturday, October 27th at 6:15 PM local time.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-56606223743845003592012-10-15T08:31:00.000-04:002012-10-15T08:31:04.682-04:00Destruction Of BeautyOver the weekend we had an break from league futbol/soccer due to the World Cup Qualifiers. The three teams that I like seeing do well all won their matches, Argentina with a 3-0 victory over Uruguay, the USA with a 2-1 win away against Aintigua and Barbuda, and Wales with a 2-1 win in an all Celt match against Scotland (shouldn't there be a rule about the Celt Nations facing each other in Tournament Qualifiers? Just asking...)<br />
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I saw a bit of the USA's match, it wasn't televised here (at least not on any of the channels I have access to,) but did find an internet feed that was showing it. Not much to tell, really, the footage looked on a par with some High School sports events I've seen. I tried getting a feed showing the Argentina match, but every time I found one it got shut down with in a few minutes... so I went and signed into City Of Heroes...<br />
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Problem was, for whatever reasons, I just couldn't really get into playing this weekend. Maybe the fact that NCSoft has no intentions of saving/selling/putting the game in maintenance mode is starting to sink in. Maybe it was just that I need a break from the game for a bit. I have been playing way more than I normally did before they announced the game's impending shut down. Even then I was taking the occasional vacation from playing now and again.<br />
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Still, I did end up playing a bit here and there, and took my "main toon" (character I've played the most,) Willowbright, and went to a zone I'd never visited called Founders' Falls. A while back someone, and forgive me for not remembering who, made the case that City Of Heroes was a 3D piece of art, a world of beauty that is going to be taken from us by NCSoft on November 30th, 2012. I think this zone is a prime example of this, and I ended up spending a good deal of time just playing tourist and snapping screenshots. Rather than ramble on, I'll let those shots speak for themselves:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxixwYgo6QQsW5CDCLOjUklrGuq4yHz9MLy_ALRXK2Ph6psI-kjolEfsTFfGoF5pM7PTiExUE8rF2OmxDv5ixO4IQ_NBRb41PW8C-4qkhiuq6t-2CxkyksCRWT7yFqgBAdiTuVq8lRGM/s1600/screenshot_121014-14-58-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxixwYgo6QQsW5CDCLOjUklrGuq4yHz9MLy_ALRXK2Ph6psI-kjolEfsTFfGoF5pM7PTiExUE8rF2OmxDv5ixO4IQ_NBRb41PW8C-4qkhiuq6t-2CxkyksCRWT7yFqgBAdiTuVq8lRGM/s320/screenshot_121014-14-58-57.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, this isn't Founders' Falls, it's Atlas Park. I had reset my graphics to the highest settings while in FF, and then went to Atlas and just couldn't resist taking this shot.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEDDsdSyCDotRQIS7ab81IuzrZH_HEd1smRHXQCMeME5Y4C02rsyfACD8_Jhrfvr4gZ3sVkeOf7L_y_6KnWRxV5N_24H_CxfZO-8NSkMz-GNjoNr_b41rB1oSvCMW_Fl5z7TdrrHEOKM/s1600/screenshot_121014-14-32-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEDDsdSyCDotRQIS7ab81IuzrZH_HEd1smRHXQCMeME5Y4C02rsyfACD8_Jhrfvr4gZ3sVkeOf7L_y_6KnWRxV5N_24H_CxfZO-8NSkMz-GNjoNr_b41rB1oSvCMW_Fl5z7TdrrHEOKM/s320/screenshot_121014-14-32-48.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With water this clear, how could I resist taking a bit of a swim?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7I16zrliDwbr_iIC6075dbnIJOTUDXhJtx6YXzzeKdXpkGNNBGUUW-Jku32sS9Vjpl7deH1aqmH_WPVRrI7QZGKEC71bb8AjUFrSwL4KnZ5NBPOa_dX25asXo5FEnHJXEFUV5KwcLEk/s1600/screenshot_121014-14-32-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7I16zrliDwbr_iIC6075dbnIJOTUDXhJtx6YXzzeKdXpkGNNBGUUW-Jku32sS9Vjpl7deH1aqmH_WPVRrI7QZGKEC71bb8AjUFrSwL4KnZ5NBPOa_dX25asXo5FEnHJXEFUV5KwcLEk/s320/screenshot_121014-14-32-18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailboats were everywhere on the river. Nice weather for it, too. If the game gets saved, might I suggest to whoever takes over development that our toons should be able to have sailboats as river travel powers? Please, oh pretty please?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUYLHEd1XIEwVJkLrEuz-h84Hsxw7HGr_nwQTcx_7tEXO8r2MHoLNNRJNaiGl-F7J9rq_HZkPnginA0vILtBXbcTzfkRvhYsrkmGQB5suGJBenSbrazzytk1LhhfxXJOBFMLNHpa-viw/s1600/screenshot_121014-14-37-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUYLHEd1XIEwVJkLrEuz-h84Hsxw7HGr_nwQTcx_7tEXO8r2MHoLNNRJNaiGl-F7J9rq_HZkPnginA0vILtBXbcTzfkRvhYsrkmGQB5suGJBenSbrazzytk1LhhfxXJOBFMLNHpa-viw/s320/screenshot_121014-14-37-22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got so wrapped up in taking this shot I ended up getting ambushed by some bad guys... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zFyE-GxTOX5_L7D7YB3qTqoFRTutbXbyR0OSfLVFGC0L2PzdLLuX8MpDptJ1ixskPUBGXuou-rVF6RUcQdXj9IetkeGGzFNhyyetqZyDdova7c_7cD9_PkL1wmihIrIX4Lc6qWfaio0/s1600/screenshot_121014-14-40-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zFyE-GxTOX5_L7D7YB3qTqoFRTutbXbyR0OSfLVFGC0L2PzdLLuX8MpDptJ1ixskPUBGXuou-rVF6RUcQdXj9IetkeGGzFNhyyetqZyDdova7c_7cD9_PkL1wmihIrIX4Lc6qWfaio0/s320/screenshot_121014-14-40-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another boat... this time a speed boat... about those river based travel powers, can we have these, too? (I know... first we have to get someone to agree to save the game.)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqb5qu8c48yRmarNUjTpRNw4UvDoepD6PspHRU5dqxpfx1vOEMdh-vgvOzWra4mVYW9wttV0A8Ajh_NcbivLMWRoIB0C6kdZ3_I_JP8A7IEL4mLotG8TyJl4ZZ-OZpPVovNb9VzcUals/s1600/screenshot_121014-14-51-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqb5qu8c48yRmarNUjTpRNw4UvDoepD6PspHRU5dqxpfx1vOEMdh-vgvOzWra4mVYW9wttV0A8Ajh_NcbivLMWRoIB0C6kdZ3_I_JP8A7IEL4mLotG8TyJl4ZZ-OZpPVovNb9VzcUals/s320/screenshot_121014-14-51-48.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racing a sailboat... guess who won.</td></tr>
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<br />David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-87649903481517017462012-10-09T21:33:00.000-04:002012-10-09T21:33:03.559-04:00Maxi Scores His First Since Returning To Newell'sIn my last post about Newell's Old Boys I wondered why Maxi Rodriguez had not scored since his return to the club. After nine games all the goals seemed to be coming from Ignacio Scocco, and I stated that we needed to spend less time trying to set up Nacho so that our opponents would give him more room. It did not take long for that to be resolved...<br />
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In Sunday's match Scocco turned provider, and from his near perfect cross Maxi scored his first goal of the season. This all came about with the match barely under way, and that lone goal was enough for Newell's to beat Vélez Sarsfield 1-0 and remain unbeaten for the season.<br />
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After ten matches Newell's are still in first place, two points ahead of Racing Club, who had briefly been in first after they had beaten Colón, also 1-0, on Saturday.<br />
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Boca Jrs faded from the top as they lost 3-1 away to Belgrano. As much as that score might be surprising, the least likely of out comes was River Plate beating Godoy Cruz 5-0.<br />
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Next week is an off week due to World Cup Qualfiers. After that, Newell's will be facing Racing in a fight for first place... Newell's has an edge in that as even a draw will see them stay on top.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-29432275097065245342012-10-07T09:56:00.000-04:002012-10-07T09:56:34.898-04:00Imaginary Interview With NCSoftHello. Today I again will be writing about something other than Newell's Old Boys. I apologize to any Lepra (Leper... it's the team nickname... long story, for anyone interested who doesn't know feel free to do a bit of research on the matter) who may stumble in and wonder what is going on... well, that is also a bit of a long story.<br />
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Today I am interviewing the MMO killer NCSoft, the former publishers of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_Assault" title="Auto Assault">Auto Assault</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Runners" title="Dungeon Runners">Dungeon Runners</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonica" title="Dragonica">Dragonica</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exteel" title="Exteel">Exteel</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Blank_%282008_video_game%29" title="Point Blank (2008 video game)">Point Blank</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabula_Rasa_%28video_game%29" title="Tabula Rasa (video game)">Tabula Rasa</a></i>, and soon to be <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Heroes" title="City of Heroes">City of Heroes</a></i>.<br />
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Leper In A Strange Land (LIASL): Hello, and welcome to my blog, NCSoft.<br />
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NCSoft (NCS): Thank you, good to be here.<br />
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LIASL: Let's get right to the question that everyone wants to know the answer to: Why did make the decision to sunset City Of Heroes (CoH)?<br />
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NCS: You no worry about reason why or how... you play Blade And Soul now. You will like, promise.<br />
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LIASL: OOOOOk... moving right along. You have stated that you're attempts to sell CoH have been exhausted, would you care to go into any details on that?<br />
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NCS: Guild Wars 2 out now. We have plenty good games.<br />
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LIASL: Alright, since it's obvious you're not going to answer anything about CoH, let's move on...<br />
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You have been accused of forging a resignation letter from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Garriott" title="Richard Garriott">Richard Garriott</a> when <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabula_Rasa_%28video_game%29" title="Tabula Rasa (video game)">Tabula Rasa</a></i> was shut down. This was released while Garriott was in quarantine after returning from a space flight. If you did not forge it, how did he manage to get it to you?<br />
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NCS: He big fat liar. He never even been in space. <br />
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LIASL: Excuse me, but didn't Mr. Garriott sue you over this and win a settlement of US$28 million, 4 million above and beyond what he was asking? How did that happen?<br />
<br />
NCS: Where you here that? We know nothing about it. Why you no ask about Blade And Soul?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANbNpup3eWv_tswJXSt_xYhQGMunWNTGAV_AX6l0ZPu9mg2oWM7bYOOByFWN1eMBoV-9LjfKTE4oy7L_zT7_i3lQC_YUdbKLIoGmVmQUPsrjcNUPqKA_7xGfItLnyNWrpr_16DXaIWCY/s1600/kun_female3_800+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANbNpup3eWv_tswJXSt_xYhQGMunWNTGAV_AX6l0ZPu9mg2oWM7bYOOByFWN1eMBoV-9LjfKTE4oy7L_zT7_i3lQC_YUdbKLIoGmVmQUPsrjcNUPqKA_7xGfItLnyNWrpr_16DXaIWCY/s200/kun_female3_800+cropped.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only normal looking female I could find</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
LIASL: Alright, I will. I have seen many people posting articles and comments that the female characters in Blade And Soul border on soft core porn, with grossly exaggerated breasts and hips, and costumes that make them look more like prostitutes than combatants. I have provided a picture from the <a href="http://us.bladeandsoul.com/en/" target="_blank">Blade And Soul </a>web site that actual has normal proportions and a very lovely dress. How do you respond to all of this?<br />
<br />
NCS: What? Her boobs not big enough? We can make them bigger for you...<br />
<br />
LIASL: No, that's not what I'm...<br />
<br />
NCS: We can change dress, show more skin, you like, no?<br />
<br />
LIASL; Oh, boy... you really don't get what I'm saying here, do you?<br />
<br />
NCS: What you mean? You no like girls? You sure you a man?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbD3f_mKbO2-EdNQZJnGykunZ_f3tF_0djwK_otJQS9tedS8Cq_SiRxmrAtF414hNQS4HhM-bmNmsIXwFe6rLQsnGJ_l0drpPBkshIQTZnKIAdv33Alg6o2DJ7lxp90Z-2UUoGve_hwo/s1600/04_BnS_SCREENSHOT_LYN_FORCEMASTER_SUMMONER+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbD3f_mKbO2-EdNQZJnGykunZ_f3tF_0djwK_otJQS9tedS8Cq_SiRxmrAtF414hNQS4HhM-bmNmsIXwFe6rLQsnGJ_l0drpPBkshIQTZnKIAdv33Alg6o2DJ7lxp90Z-2UUoGve_hwo/s200/04_BnS_SCREENSHOT_LYN_FORCEMASTER_SUMMONER+cropped.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10 year old animal human hybrids?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
LIASL: Yesh, moving right along... speaking of girls, here's another picture, this one showing Blade And Soul's fantasy creatures called Lyn. Is it just me, or do they look like ten year old girls with animal ears?<br />
<br />
NCS: No, no... they magical creatures. Very fun to play. You should try.<br />
<br />
LIASL: Em, thanks, but no thanks. To be brutally honest the only game you have that I care to play is City Of Heroes, thank you very much for killing it.<br />
<br />
NCS: You very welcome.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-14040206154641535262012-10-03T06:55:00.001-04:002012-10-03T06:55:39.044-04:00Newell's Remain UnbeatenWhat can I say, it is Wednesday morning and I have yet to say anything about Newell's Old Boys and their 0-0 draw against Tigre. With that single point La Lepra remain in first place, and are still unbeaten on the season. Still, there were things about this game that worry me.<br />
<br />
First and foremost is the fact that Tigre are having a terrible season. We should have been able to beat them, easily. Sure, they had home field advantage, but that should not have been a problem. From what I saw the problem was that Newell's constantly looked to set up leading scorer Ignacio Scocco (now tied with former Lepra Iván Borghello) while Tigre focused on him defensively.<br />
<br />
In my opinion to remain in first La Lepra need to find more scoring from the rest of the team. It is really a mystery to me that Maxi Rodriguez has yet to score a single goal since his return to the team. He is more than capably of doing so, his career has proved this. So why has he not been able to score now?<br />
<br />
Mauricio Sperdutti only has one goal so far this season. He also is capable of more. The same thing can be said about Pablo Pérez. I can not blame Maximiliano Urruti for not scoring, as he has only been used off the bench this season.<br />
<br />
Our next match is at home against Vélez Sarsfield. This will not be an easy match, and to win we will need everyone playing at their best... and hopefully we can draw the attention off Super Scocco and get a goal or two from another source.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-10843067910438429922012-10-03T06:03:00.000-04:002012-10-03T06:04:35.637-04:00NCSoft Attempts To Silence City Of Hero FansHere is NCSoft's latest attempts to silence our attempts to save City of Heroes:<br />
<br />
"We wanted to let you know that your voices have been heard and your
concerns have been taken into serious consideration. We appreciate the
overwhelmingly constructive and positive messages in the emails, notes,
and packages you've sent in support of the game. It has not been an easy
decision for us to close Paragon Studios® and prepare to shut down City
of Heroes. We've exhausted all options including the selling of the
studio and the rights to the City of Heroes intellectual property, but
in the end, efforts to do so were not successful. City of Heroes has a
special place in all of our hearts, and we want to ensure its reputation
and the memories we share for the game end on a high note.<br />
<br />
Once again, we will be holding events throughout the process of
preparing for the game's end, and we encourage players and fans of the
franchise to join forces and enjoy their time in a game that we've
enjoyed supporting for more than eight years.<br />
<br />
The NCSOFT® Team"<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCWaRxOZJw2_58XLALZxe3xYzI22HMZZvza8SrPa9IOuIyUA6r2jMNnNNRKZAwn5zRIryq4zbmyWVIzG7k7QYvJiBTnlhyLdXU7REUqlZA1OwN7p7FJoITrEqKLibYnbeQgp4yEzUp78/s1600/screenshot_120925-22-34-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCWaRxOZJw2_58XLALZxe3xYzI22HMZZvza8SrPa9IOuIyUA6r2jMNnNNRKZAwn5zRIryq4zbmyWVIzG7k7QYvJiBTnlhyLdXU7REUqlZA1OwN7p7FJoITrEqKLibYnbeQgp4yEzUp78/s320/screenshot_120925-22-34-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willowbright and a Furry friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After going to bed early, and then waking up way earlier than I normally
do, I sent my response to this bit of "news" to all the NCSoft emails I
have at my disposal:<br />
<br />
"Really? Giving up a month after you announce you no longer are
interested in publishing the game? And you expect us to be satisfied
with that? Don't make me laugh. Every successful sale of any commodity I
have ever seen has been made with rumors and news reports of the
impending sale showing up in various sources. We have seen none of this.
All indications have been that NCSoft has had NO interest in selling
City of Heroes, that you just want to kill our beloved game and wash the
virtual blood off your hands.<br />
<br />
The end is not until you, NCSoft, sees it's own sunset, or City of
Heroes finds a new home. Until then you should expect us, the fans of
City of Heroes, to continue to make noise, continue to refuse your
resignation, to continue to fight for the game that we love.<br />
<br />
Do yourself a favor, if you want to prove to us that you can not sell
the IP, prove it. Put it up for sale PUBLICLY. Announce to the world
that you are willing to sell to the highest bidder. See what kind of
reaction you get from that.<br />
<br />
A City of Heroes Player"<br />
<br />
Yes, NCSoft, we will continue enjoying what time we have left in the game. No, we are not going to give up our fight to save it.<br />
<br />
We are Heroes, this is what we do.<br />
<br />
To those who do not know what that phrase means, let me put it another way:<br />
<br />
Never give up, never give in.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-6769269486389398082012-09-23T22:59:00.000-04:002012-09-23T23:02:37.788-04:00On Top Of The TableThis afternoon Newell's Old Boys walked into El Cementerio de los Elefantes in second place. Normally playing Colón in Santa Fe one does not expect to win, but after taking a 2-0 lead La Lepra held on for a 2-1 victory which propelled them into first past Boca Juniors. Boca had yet to play at that time, but after they lost 2-0 at Lanus we Lepra will have at least a week in first.<br />
<br />
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<br />
I am going to leave it at that, as it is late and I need to get to bed. I have to work tomorrow, and it has been a rather rough weekend.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-33832873152851325562012-09-23T13:24:00.000-04:002012-09-23T13:24:55.003-04:00Tensions In City Of Heroes BuildingCity Of Heroes (CoH), the MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) game that I so love, is starting to show signs of the pending demise that NCSoft announced back on August 31st. No, I am NOT saying that the game itself is no longer playable. It is still the best Super Hero game going. The problem is that as the weeks go by and the end date grows nearer I am seeing fewer and fewer people logging in and actually playing. There is also signs of people getting on each other's nerves in the game...
<br />
<br />
What is really sad is that I have been running into people who are obviously new to the game, even with the impending doom of the servers shutting down (scheduled for November 30th by all accounts.) I was in Atlas Park 33 when someone tried to get a Death From Below (DFB) trial going (a mission designed for low level character that earns them a lot of experience... I have seen characters go from 1st level to 7th in just a couple of runs.) Sadly, I was the only person who asked to join before they became
discouraged by all the people who had toons (toon is a slang term for a
character) standing on the stairs in front of City Hall, holding torches
while the actual players was non-responsive... there are ways of
keeping the game from putting you in AFK (away from keyboard) mode,
which would eventually sign you out.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBvakWzVEj-XoH6-2o1YThco-vWC9NPlUECtn3D8P9Su0Dpu6uXX667rB1l2ZInSYZojB_Fw9deWh_vzErPF5LapsMNGvfhQF28ULfTca8UuO1-KiEgbXV11RgVq5yu7-zd3SHAbbfow/s1600/screenshot_120922-16-37-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBvakWzVEj-XoH6-2o1YThco-vWC9NPlUECtn3D8P9Su0Dpu6uXX667rB1l2ZInSYZojB_Fw9deWh_vzErPF5LapsMNGvfhQF28ULfTca8UuO1-KiEgbXV11RgVq5yu7-zd3SHAbbfow/s320/screenshot_120922-16-37-38.jpg" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circle Le Faye and some team mates fighting a Hydra Head in a DFB mission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As to people getting on each other's nerves in the game... I know I had a bit of a breakdown after the person who had tried to start the DFB run left (the last thing they said indicated that they would not be back, they were so discouraged.) <br />
<br />
I basically announced what had happened to the CoH world at large... and got all kinds of negative feedback from the few people that were actually paying attention. They took it as if I was blaming them for not joining up on the DFB mission. WRONG! The complaint that I did make was that too few of the people that were signed in were there to play the game at all. There were the aforementioned torch holding toons, and a group in Perez Park that were holding a walk...
What really is going to make a difference is keeping the chatter up OUTSIDE the game. Start up a blog, hit the forums, write letters... do things that get attention in the real world. The best thing you can do when signed into CoH to prove how much you love the game IS TO PLAY THE GAME!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwJwJWJ34A-3SPXhyphenhyphenU_zdfl1Q3v0zBYX7RAQEfpVThx6O2gc3_xnc5LscDx2GPeqzv-Q0EC4a7eXR0yQwGopI50AT1ZwWDSn4UsgMI5Bss5JEMEtA472jLJu9yB7Ip8-FvnLL9p13iqU/s1600/Circe+Le+Faye.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwJwJWJ34A-3SPXhyphenhyphenU_zdfl1Q3v0zBYX7RAQEfpVThx6O2gc3_xnc5LscDx2GPeqzv-Q0EC4a7eXR0yQwGopI50AT1ZwWDSn4UsgMI5Bss5JEMEtA472jLJu9yB7Ip8-FvnLL9p13iqU/s200/Circe+Le+Faye.png" width="137" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circe Le Faye</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While the in world rallies have gotten the us some attention, and I do still feel there is some value in doing them, we need to take into consideration that they can also have adverse effects. I would not doubt that, if there are any negotiations still going on, that all parties involved in them may well have people signing into the game to see what is happening. If all they see is a bunch of people holding torches, few of whom are actually paying any attention to what is going on? I do not think that is going to help our cause. <br />
<br />
One thing that has discouraged people is that Star Trek Online, developed and owned by Cryptic Studios (original developers of CoH) announced that they have hired in some of the developers that had been laid off by Paragon Studios when NCSoft dropped the bomb on CoH.<br />
<br />
To those people I would have to say that all the efforts to save CoH were never going to save Paragon Studios. Anyone that thought we could change the minds of NCSoft were not really thinking things through. As soon as you get laid off/fired, if you are a rational person, you start looking for your next job. What we need to hope for is a buyer, someone willing to take CoH off the hands of NCSoft... and we also need to hope that NCSoft will be willing to sell.<br />
<br />
Let us start with <a href="http://www.crypticstudios.com/frontpage" target="_blank">Cryptic Studios</a>, the original developers of the game. They still have a page up dedicated to <a href="http://www.crypticstudios.com/cityofheroes" target="_blank">City Of Heroes</a>, though it is in need of updating. As they have just hired a group of developers from Paragon Studios to work on Star Trek, they could easily be slide back over to working on CoH. Still, odds are against Cryptic buying CoH back, as that would give them two Super Hero MMOs (they designed <a href="http://www.crypticstudios.com/champions" target="_blank">Champions Online </a>before selling CoH off to NCSoft. Could there be an issue with the license between Cryptic and Hero Games, though? Pipe dream that, I suppose... but I have tried playing Champions Online, and will probably switch to it once CoH is dead... but I will never PAY for it.)<br />
<br />
That said, I really would not want to see CoH end up in anyone's hands if they would not support it properly (not that NCSoft ever did.. from the start they could have advertised it better.) Plus, I do not really know that much of any other MMO companies, as I am strictly a Super Hero MMO player. If anyone knows enough about the other companies out there that might be interested in the game, please post a comment...<br />
<br />
In the end, I wish I had enough money of my own to give NCSoft an offer they could not refuse.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyone know where I can get a multi-billion dollar winning lottery ticket?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-44867118596568009162012-09-18T23:41:00.003-04:002012-09-18T23:41:44.983-04:00NCSoft Announces City Of Heroes Refunds<br />
<a href="http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=297472" target="_blank">"As the long history of City of Heroes draws to a close we understand you have questions regarding the cessation of customer services such as recurring billing and outstanding account balances. Today we have some details regarding compensation and the refund process."</a><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ7YhEbWUZQCufHaAGoryAq_ZW-k026GZB9IziEhmgRQBToIvXdTxBYMMWQJcEL68LEQo0xp9VuX32bmnPHXdYSSUVemR2kyoSH02PldM53ZQY78Z6XdzGZkGzHbN_au-qXI8XCkKcqI/s1600/Baron+Hundekopf.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ7YhEbWUZQCufHaAGoryAq_ZW-k026GZB9IziEhmgRQBToIvXdTxBYMMWQJcEL68LEQo0xp9VuX32bmnPHXdYSSUVemR2kyoSH02PldM53ZQY78Z6XdzGZkGzHbN_au-qXI8XCkKcqI/s200/Baron+Hundekopf.png" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baron Hundekopf </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thus starts the latest news on closure of City of Heroes. The bottom line is that NCSoft is changing their tune in regards to a policy that when a game is shut down they offer the players who have paid for subscriptions beyond the closure date credit to subscribe to one of their other games. Guess our campaign as had at least a small effect.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMop7OXWFUWVQr48asKYz9nXx9QbbgOeTvdoxM-nsCxDr28hcvhoxX8WfsaE0snjcujq2YOjCUw_hc_xdO71icf9y8IqHxs_Ig2WfDnUnXWIkGwh8r031Nu1GwwmmMa1Awov43MoYp6c/s1600/An+Inquiry.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMop7OXWFUWVQr48asKYz9nXx9QbbgOeTvdoxM-nsCxDr28hcvhoxX8WfsaE0snjcujq2YOjCUw_hc_xdO71icf9y8IqHxs_Ig2WfDnUnXWIkGwh8r031Nu1GwwmmMa1Awov43MoYp6c/s200/An+Inquiry.png" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Inquiry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While the statement about does sound pretty final, we have to remember that has been the case with others before us. The original Star Trek TV show was cancelled after three seasons, but the fans would not let it die, and look what happened there. The original cast did several movies, granted not all of them gems by any means, but those were followed up by Star Trek: The Animated Series, ST: The Next Generation (with movies of it's own when the TV show was shelved), ST: Deep Space Nine, ST: Voyager, and ST: Capt Quantum... er, Enterprise. And then there was the Star Trek relaunch movie based on the original characters with a whole new cast (and a returning Leonard Nimoy as a very old Ambassador Spock.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE3EGXpOJJGn2jUv71XkCbi2lQJh0O3s9eBnBiyFkdCMPK87RuOyhkahsKSdDSHhFg2CTxYQFqijplZV9cCa2o6l0dHsgCo56PsxfuK8-grGnJcJVRz2Yfd415NyIiI6R08K_8-7_3TI/s1600/Lightning+Gal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE3EGXpOJJGn2jUv71XkCbi2lQJh0O3s9eBnBiyFkdCMPK87RuOyhkahsKSdDSHhFg2CTxYQFqijplZV9cCa2o6l0dHsgCo56PsxfuK8-grGnJcJVRz2Yfd415NyIiI6R08K_8-7_3TI/s200/Lightning+Gal.png" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lightning Gal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More recently, there was the case of Farscape, which was shorted on little notice from five seasons to four. Fans made demands, and a special four episode/movie was produced to try and give the story closure.<br />
<br />
Another example is Firefly, a TV show I did not think much of when it was first on, but now I own both the entire series (only lasted a season) AND the movie, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_%28film%29" target="_blank">Serenity</a>, that was produced after the fans of that show made enough noise to give it enough backing to hit the theaters.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C1D594OqNKsuaV2jKYSU82Dw2r2LRGRZeO3ZHwn1fhAmPPlk0JhaieBqroFOLJdmaZfCBGuiPpS6NhRAna_m0jK1X71Fxh0nnNmeAmn69YElPcgYrzwFIbPmRcl1w9MwPHlb0dV6vLk/s1600/Xi+Chin.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C1D594OqNKsuaV2jKYSU82Dw2r2LRGRZeO3ZHwn1fhAmPPlk0JhaieBqroFOLJdmaZfCBGuiPpS6NhRAna_m0jK1X71Fxh0nnNmeAmn69YElPcgYrzwFIbPmRcl1w9MwPHlb0dV6vLk/s200/Xi+Chin.png" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xi Chin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Granted, these examples are all TV shows, some becoming movies... but they all had something that one thing in common with City of Heroes: a fan base that is like no other. We will NOT go quietly into the night and fade into memory. We will continue to make noise, and hopefully someone will take up our torch and be able to either City of Heroes will continue, or will be resurrected.<br />
<br />
Granted, if and when that happens, odds are that the developers from Paragon Studios that have been working on the game since Cryptic let go of the reigns will not be able to continue their work. Someone else will have to take over. Will it be the same? Probably not. But the alternative is oblivion to all the characters we as a community have developed by playing over the years.<br />
<br />
So let's keep up the fight, for we ARE heroes, and what we have done so far has changed the way MMOs will close their doors forever.<br />
<br />
But there is still much work to be done.<br />
<br />
Again, to my fellow Lepras, Dale Newell's... and long live City of Heroes!David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-27588845069005657372012-09-18T22:41:00.000-04:002012-09-18T22:41:04.116-04:00A Win Nearly RuinedI should be happy after Newell's Old Boys beat San Lorenzo 1-0, but I am not. Yes, the win keep La Lepra in second place, only a point behind leaders Boca Juniors. I am happy about that. Problem is, a late mistake by goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán nearly cost us precious points.<br />
<br />
Even the goal was not all that thrilling. After a game of near misses, the goal finally came after a shot by Leonel Vangioni was block by the hand of a San Lorenzo defender Abel Luis Masuero with about ten minutes to go. Legitimate penalty, which Nacho Scocco converted with ease, giving him five goals so far during the Inicial.<br />
<br />
<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zZgu0n4FJY0?version=3&hl=en_US"></param>
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zZgu0n4FJY0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="250" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Half way through injury time, with San Lorenzo down to ten men after had received a second yellow card to earn a red (he somehow was not carded on the hand ball that gave Newell's their 1-0 lead), Newell's were passing the ball around when it was passed back to Guzmán, rather than kicking the ball up field as he should he stopped it... at which point a San Lorenzo forward rushed him. Guzmán then tried to chip the ball over his opponent's head, which is something better left for your forwards to do to the opposition goalkeepers. He did not get the lift necessary and the forward (anyone know who it was?) headed just barely wide of the goal.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Sebastián Peratta remains on the bench. I wonder if this will bring him back between the posts next week?<br />
<br />
Also of note, former Newell's and current San Lorenzo coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Caruso_Lombardi" title="Ricardo Caruso Lombardi">Ricardo Caruso Lombardi</a> (former everyone in Argentina coach, is he not? 16 teams since he started coaching back in 1994) went after the referee after the match. You can argue about whether or not he is a good coach, but one thing is certain... he is always an entertaining one.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-30261241176992795932012-09-15T12:48:00.001-04:002012-09-18T08:17:59.630-04:00A Letter To NCSoft<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtItkPNyZ45vRU68fCtWkLBVV8i3v9YY2KZyOM5NFdf6UMEyNBMbIfkC9svIpNqrMKP3CADVm3MNgU30SS8LXsHQErWtdrQot_hf5nzjawiq4Yc8NW-nBn_tvPd-WyxzpSEWGZlsLuFK8/s1600/Orebh+Raven.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtItkPNyZ45vRU68fCtWkLBVV8i3v9YY2KZyOM5NFdf6UMEyNBMbIfkC9svIpNqrMKP3CADVm3MNgU30SS8LXsHQErWtdrQot_hf5nzjawiq4Yc8NW-nBn_tvPd-WyxzpSEWGZlsLuFK8/s200/Orebh+Raven.png" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orebh Raven</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The fight to save City Of Heroes continues. On Wednesday there was a drive to buy all the developers who had been laid off from Paragon Studios dinner, and, while it was thought that collecting the money would take days, they had overshot their fund raising goal with in a few hours!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=297365" target="_blank">Today in the City Of Hero forums a new drive is on</a>, this time a campaign to send e-mails to the head honchos at NCSoft to explain what City Of Heroes means to you. Here are the e-mail addresses, as provided by:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOTC47h4_CjhgcG36h5v6ygRv0OL0CwRUCSJqrnnnQ3GuYmjtjWJ0S6io67WFvcRrpTrzvyzk6S46yJ6sFlXHHuLhDD0VMkbcbK-3Cz4Xtbj39WSpiFhabzIPLsE-8AGNtkc67EuXOiw/s1600/Kzintia.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOTC47h4_CjhgcG36h5v6ygRv0OL0CwRUCSJqrnnnQ3GuYmjtjWJ0S6io67WFvcRrpTrzvyzk6S46yJ6sFlXHHuLhDD0VMkbcbK-3Cz4Xtbj39WSpiFhabzIPLsE-8AGNtkc67EuXOiw/s200/Kzintia.png" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kzinti Tigress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Edit: [E-mail addresses removed] *</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> <br />
And here is what I sent:<br />
<br />
<div id="yui_3_2_0_16_134772324489942">
"Hello,</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_16_1347723244899148">
<br id="yui_3_2_0_16_1347723244899261" /></div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_16_134772324489961" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
I
am sure you have gotten a number of e-mails regarding the impending
shut down of City of Heroes imploring you to change your minds. I will
not be doing that. What I do want to do is explain WHY I will not be
playing any of your other games.</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_16_134772324489975" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
<br id="yui_3_2_0_16_134772324489983" /></div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_16_134772324489978" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
It
is NOT because of the situation with City of Heroes. I did not start
playing City of Heroes because it was an MMO but because it was, and
still is, the best Super Hero computer game out there. I am not looking
for a fantasy game, not looking to fight monsters or vampires. If and
when the servers for City of Heroes go dark I will look at the
alternatives to find a Super Hero game that will fill the void left in
my world by your actions.</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_16_1347723244899266" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
<br id="yui_3_2_0_16_1347723244899274" /></div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_16_1347723244899269" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
Here's wishing you the best in your new direction... I will not be following."<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35I8mJH2hCzkntN20fC1brYlOzdA-0bFR5XiKZfxbhubVjXc7AE51ifOSnYQUsNIBWdd9_K4E2DfOcDAIky0oIgCAHUpDwKigw19vqlgHRCMr8Nc0UW8Jjd00FUUfuxnM0qVoF0kOvpc/s1600/Gray+Mantis.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35I8mJH2hCzkntN20fC1brYlOzdA-0bFR5XiKZfxbhubVjXc7AE51ifOSnYQUsNIBWdd9_K4E2DfOcDAIky0oIgCAHUpDwKigw19vqlgHRCMr8Nc0UW8Jjd00FUUfuxnM0qVoF0kOvpc/s200/Gray+Mantis.png" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray Mantis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's a bit off from what was asked for, but I do think it gets the message across. So far NCSoft still has no announcement of City Of Heroes demise on their website, that only appears on the City Of Heroes specific website. NCSoft has, however, taken all reference to City Of Heroes off their website at this point. It makes me wonder if they are trying to keep what is happening from the people that play their other games.<br />
<br />
Whatever... we who love City Of Heroes will continue to spread the word, we will continue to strive to save our beloved city of Paragon.<br />
<br />
We are heroes, this is what we do.<br />
<br />
* As noted in the thread I got the e-mail addresses from:<br />
"<span style="color: red;"><b>UPDATE</b></span><br />
<br />
I have received a request from NCsoft to remove these addresses from
being publicly posted. I have decided to comply, and I wanted to make
sure everyone understands my reasons for doing so.<br />
<ul>
<li>I read up on
the legalities of the situation before posting this Call to Action, and I
am convinced that I am well within my rights to do what I did.
However, I want NCsoft to understand that this isn't about exercising
legal rights, it is about trying to reach people with the ultimate
authority to determine the fate of City of Heroes. I have said all
along that this is not a campaign of annoyance or denial of service and
repeatedly requested that the community be respectful and positive and
constructive. Having read many of your e-mails, I believe that this
goal was achieved admirably and that our community was well-represented.</li>
<li>I believe that everyone in our community who would want to contact
management at NCsoft has now had ample opportunity to do so.
Accordingly, I do want to minimize the opportunity for others who might
have an ax to grind with NCsoft in the future to come along and find
this information and use it for ill purposes.</li>
<li>I believe that by now, executive management at NCsoft has gotten
adequate representation of our community, for better or for worse.
While we could continue sending e-mails, by now I'm sure that they will
likely not be read. If you didn't get a chance to convey your story, I
apologize, but such is the nature of some of these calls to action, that
they will be time-sensitive.</li>
<li>Even though it is not an especially positive response, it is not an
especially negative or threatening one, either. Frankly, I expected a
bit worse than it is. Accordingly, I want to extend them the courtesy
of complying with the request as a good-faith gesture."</li>
</ul>
</div>
David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-65772408570959157322012-09-11T21:14:00.001-04:002012-09-11T21:14:32.107-04:00Two Days Later... I did manage to keep half an eye on the 3-3 draw between Newell's Old Boys and River Plate on Sunday, but have not had time to sit down and write about it until now. Half an eye allowed me to see the first two goals from River to come from behind and take a 2-1 lead, and Ignacio Scocco scoring from a penalty to make it 3-2.<br />
<br />
All I can really say is thank God for Youtube which let me to see all the goals... and this time around the reason for the penalty that lead to Newell's second goal. I have to admit that it was a rather weak penalty call, but it was, technically, a hand ball in the penalty area.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Even though Newell's only came away with a single point this weekend they are now in second place all alone, just one point behind leaders Boca Juniors. You could say that it was not a good weekend for the teams at the top of the table.<br />
<br />
I am very happy that Newell's managed to go into Buenos Aries and take a point off of River. Especially since La Lepra were with out Maxi Rodriguez, who is on a call up with the Albicelestes.<br />
<br />
One thing to remember, however, is that there is more than the league standings to worry about. Newell's also have to worry about the Relegation standings. At the moment we are safe, but any slip in form could change that.<br />
<br />
Not that I see that happening, mind you. There are too many good players on this team, with a great coach in Gerardo Martino leading the way.David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-67970167653311399052012-09-09T15:39:00.000-04:002012-09-09T15:39:22.173-04:00Hoping For More HeroicsTonight, while Newell's Old Boys face River Plate in Buenos Aries, I will be at a weekly gathering of friends. I may end up taking my laptop and keep half an eye on the game, but my friends will not understand. This is one of the reasons I call myself a Leper In A Strange Land.<br />
<br />
Facing River Plate is not going to make for an easy match. Yes, I know this is a River Plate that just returned to the Primera from the B, but they were a different team when they took the drop. Newell's will need to be on top of their game, and one or two players will need to step up their games. Hopefully we will see some more heroics from La Lepra. Hopefully they will not wait until the last minute this time.<br />
<br />
Speaking of heroics, here is a couple more of my characters from City Of Heroes. (For those of you reading this as Lepras, please indulge me as I do this... my love for Newell's is not endangered, City of Heroes is.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJFYLMWWgX5P3SHwak2MrzLT-qiFUpHun79W_ORwtQdhEbouePA6xrJn4G6aA4ml5VzYB69D3EIxg0JwpDE_2xPM4EHiHrMvKnX1oI1PdYoo6jiwE75WTlLTRZvqFcFrzHbedRheyMyc/s1600/Timelord+Tom.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJFYLMWWgX5P3SHwak2MrzLT-qiFUpHun79W_ORwtQdhEbouePA6xrJn4G6aA4ml5VzYB69D3EIxg0JwpDE_2xPM4EHiHrMvKnX1oI1PdYoo6jiwE75WTlLTRZvqFcFrzHbedRheyMyc/s200/Timelord+Tom.png" width="145" /></a></div>
Here we have Timelord Tom. Yes, this character is my tribute to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who" target="_blank">Doctor Who</a>. He is a Time Lord who has dismantled his TARDIS and created devices with which to fight crime in the streets of Paragon City. In the game he is a Technology Controler, powers are Gravity Control, Time Manipulation, and Teleport.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yB-Z9b_0V3yRAIgnWB_1MESH7k7i4NQ-6Bslp3sE_hGsz9g5tv0AmAzFLs6u0FSANFAvYYKwkjtaWKjbHiuk9P7ZiprHy6jLBSe_gu0jogQPbPgW-pmBOloLpFd4UWN6hK0zWs16lAk/s1600/Willowbright.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yB-Z9b_0V3yRAIgnWB_1MESH7k7i4NQ-6Bslp3sE_hGsz9g5tv0AmAzFLs6u0FSANFAvYYKwkjtaWKjbHiuk9P7ZiprHy6jLBSe_gu0jogQPbPgW-pmBOloLpFd4UWN6hK0zWs16lAk/s200/Willowbright.png" width="132" /></a></div>
Next up is Willowbright. She was the first character I made in City Of Heroes. I say made rather than created as she is based on a character I created and played twice while playing
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champions_%28role-playing_game%29" target="_blank">Champions</a> (the pen and paper role playing game, not the online version of the game.) I made her in City Of Heroes as a Natural Blaster, though I suppose I should have really used the Mutant origin. Her powers are Psychic Blast (closest thing I could come to her ranged attack in Champions, which was a No Normal Defense attack,) Energy Manipulation (again, an approximation... in the most recent Champions incarnation of the character she had Density Increase which gave her superhuman strength), Flight, and Concealment. She is my highest level character in City Of Heroes, and is just about to get to 31st level as I write this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwMWW2ScVh7GOA2Xyp44ZrkUYJEgzZJPdUMRg7yOD4VqhB-xeNQRDjZqDJL6VO5_EhLScybrVG13oHlrdhNWUr3guKhHNLJs6zP8er3-PGGsO_zJI6o0giMsHpIdxq2r7OoJDeLfH4Ac/s1600/Cryptman+Jones.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwMWW2ScVh7GOA2Xyp44ZrkUYJEgzZJPdUMRg7yOD4VqhB-xeNQRDjZqDJL6VO5_EhLScybrVG13oHlrdhNWUr3guKhHNLJs6zP8er3-PGGsO_zJI6o0giMsHpIdxq2r7OoJDeLfH4Ac/s200/Cryptman+Jones.png" width="145" /></a></div>
And here we have one Cryptman Jones, a character that was inspired, sort of, by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Men" target="_blank">The Shoveler from the Mystery Men movie</a>. He is a Natural Tanker, powers are Willpower, Battle Axe (he hits people with a shovel - yes, there is an option for that in the game,) and Fighting. He is another early character, and the Fighting power probably should have been left off the slate, but it fits the concept of the character... so there it stays.<br />
<br />
If you are a fan of super heroes, I would urge you to play City Of Heroes... but at this point? Wait, if the game is saved from oblivion, then give it a shot. Right now I am not even sure that you can download it. In the mean time, please do sign the petition:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/ncsoft-keep-ncsoft-from-shutting-down-city-of-heroes" target="_blank">Petition to save City Of Heroes</a>David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-4668666119137584922012-09-08T17:17:00.000-04:002012-09-09T04:48:12.834-04:00City Of Heroes Rally<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLtUYsSrQHC0RC4L21pS0SM_jHHU5kxGsHGmzNMZ1V7JKLwHndQu3q7ZcO7nEK8-vw-asEKQkHrdJE5L3i99CDZfI0gH7Q_v5cnzmlFwLHm1VL4arLuqwqRF_nzSfKm_Kc6TZ9TLumpY/s1600/Atlas+Park+4+-+Virtue+Server+-+Protesters+9-8-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLtUYsSrQHC0RC4L21pS0SM_jHHU5kxGsHGmzNMZ1V7JKLwHndQu3q7ZcO7nEK8-vw-asEKQkHrdJE5L3i99CDZfI0gH7Q_v5cnzmlFwLHm1VL4arLuqwqRF_nzSfKm_Kc6TZ9TLumpY/s320/Atlas+Park+4+-+Virtue+Server+-+Protesters+9-8-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlas Park, 10 AM on the Virtue server</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion">Today, Saturday, September
the 8th 2012 there was an in game rally at 5PM EST on the Virtue server. I
signed in this morning, and people were already gathering, while a few
of us (myself included) were there to actually play the game and earn
some experience points. There got to be a bit of a discussion about how
the attending should be spending some time actually playing the game
rather than picketing 24/7, posting their messages into the broadcast
channel rather than local, etc. At one point one of the games
developers, </span><span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion"><a class="bigusername" href="http://boards.cityofheroes.com/member.php?u=490975"><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Zwillinger</span></a>,
(Community Manager at Paragon Studios - the company that works on the
development of the game) signed into the game and suggested, via the
Admin channel, that those there for the rally early should perhaps
spend sometime actually go out and, well, fight crime for a bit.</span><br />
<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion"><br />In each area of the game there is a maximum of number players, so when one extra person walks into the door a new instance of the location comes into existence. This morning Atlas Park was up to 4 when I signed out. With a about half an hour before the scheduled start of the official protest, and we were up to 23. At the height of the rally we were up to 33 instances of Atlas Park, and over 300 people trying to get into the Virtue server on a waiting list.</span><br />
<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0kgGlwNJ8T1wD4UOoMg44_jjHmU94yjyx6FvCk3i9SfWuYapB0tjrIVi6_TmBoQyy0t9SIzeusJdvChU62v1hgbRWOEtpkJqHJhZC8c1hFXFHay3WqTQnAYX7UMNw8Bkr5VQ1HXHICE/s1600/Aqua+Medic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0kgGlwNJ8T1wD4UOoMg44_jjHmU94yjyx6FvCk3i9SfWuYapB0tjrIVi6_TmBoQyy0t9SIzeusJdvChU62v1hgbRWOEtpkJqHJhZC8c1hFXFHay3WqTQnAYX7UMNw8Bkr5VQ1HXHICE/s200/Aqua+Medic.png" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aqua Medic</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion">I was signed into Virtue as Aqua Medic, a character I came up with because I did not have any suitable characters on the Virtue server. He is an exile from the undersea kingdom of Atlantis, and is really not happy with the thought of losing his new home. He is a Empathy/Water Blaster. Empathy is healing powers, which is good for teaming. In the two days of playing the character I have joined up with others on missions that have taken the character from 1st level up to 10th in, for me, record time.</span><br />
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<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion">More later.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A2TRfd3CUAIN7Th.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A2TRfd3CUAIN7Th.jpg:large" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vitrue - Atlas Park #22 - Aqua Medic just in the picture on the right</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-5262948356978298542012-09-08T15:52:00.001-04:002012-09-08T15:52:31.697-04:00Tough Decisions AheadTomorrow Newell's Old Boys venture to <span id="cuerponoticia_lblbajada">Buenos Aires to face River Plate. This match may well be the first real test for La Lepra in the Torneo Inicial so far. River, just back to the Primera after a season in the B, are off to a decent enough start with two wins and two draws after their first five games.</span><br />
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<span id="cuerponoticia_lblbajada">Newell's, on the other hand, are only a point off the pace set by early leaders Boca Juniors. Three wins and two draws is a great start to the season. Newell's are the only team after five matches to yet concede a goal. If we can survive our sixth and still be able to say that it will be amazing.</span><br />
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<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion">What worries me about Newell's however is our lack of goal scoring so far. Five games in, and we have only four goals ourselves. Other worries for Sunday is that defender Marcos Cáceres will be out due to an ankle sprain, and midfielder Maxi Rodriguez will be missing due to being called up to the Albicelestes (Argentine National Team.) That leaves questions as to who coach Gerardo Martino will have playing in their place.</span><br />
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<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion">Milton Casco or Cristian <span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion">Díaz are listed as the possible replacements in defense. With Maxi not available it seems that either Lucas Bernardi will play in midfield in a 4-4-2 formation, or Ignacio Scocco will start with the team shifting to a 4-3-3.</span></span><br />
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<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion">Guzmán; Casco or Díaz, Vergini, López, Heinze; Pérez, Villalba, Bernardi or Scocco, Vangioni; Sperduti, Figueroa</span><br />
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<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion">Personally, I'd rather both Bernardi AND Scocco started. Figueroa could easily be dropped to the bench. We will see what happens.</span><br />
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The fans also have some choices to make later this year as the team president <span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion">Guillermo Lorente will be facing likely candidate Jorge Griffa in elections in December. The two met this week and are reported to have agreed to a "non-aggression" pact. We will see how long that lasts.</span><br />
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<span id="cuerponoticia_lbldescripcion"><br /></span>David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-57743350344857992492012-09-05T21:56:00.000-04:002012-09-05T21:56:57.060-04:00City Of Heroes... 3 Argentine Inspired HeroesI know, I know... this blog is supposed to be about futbol, Newell's Old Boys to be specific, but when it was announced that the massively multiplayer online game (MMO for short) City of Heroes was being closed down by publisher NCSoft I made a decision to not just sit down and let it go.
I have only been playing the game for about a year and a half, and have enjoyed every minute of it. In my previous post, which did mostly involve <a href="http://leperinastrangland.blogspot.com/2012/09/last-minute-heroics.html">Newell's come from behind victory over Estudiantes</a>, I promised to post one of my characters every day... so much for my ability to keep promises.<br />
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To make up for the days I have missed, here are three characters:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGkdRcgYQFwjZngcbxEcmPUccdCxnKh7ymweMzJAHvtPjdKX263_sHsEQ0Mrc8z47VCS25i9yMHjY1-f_ObvOYmuoAQvM0g9c84cl3Bh7grEGxmOQcxtFGmTyv1Vf5HYnRlyPM_B-_k8/s1600/Libertador.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGkdRcgYQFwjZngcbxEcmPUccdCxnKh7ymweMzJAHvtPjdKX263_sHsEQ0Mrc8z47VCS25i9yMHjY1-f_ObvOYmuoAQvM0g9c84cl3Bh7grEGxmOQcxtFGmTyv1Vf5HYnRlyPM_B-_k8/s200/Libertador.png" width="134" /></a></div>
Libertador. Shield bearing leader, and highly skilled hand to hand fighter. Carries a shield, hand to hand fighter... hmmmm... sounds like Captain America. I have seen many people do up near to almost exact copies of Captain America in City of Heroes. I went with different coloring, light blue and white... no mistaking where this hero comes from. I also added a cigar just to give him more of an edgy feel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5JhxYTKiW3S_XiC9brAZlrUfBx9c6jRiDkH-TNAOHKWGQWXwMtxBjcUQ9Uuw2j6hGFhPzZOcYqK8v5yyerzrvLMDVeefDOhgRbN5xZEi-jcNvh1h5iAK4OSsfzv9EwrVgVvnPgVPDDU/s1600/Acero+Guerrero.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5JhxYTKiW3S_XiC9brAZlrUfBx9c6jRiDkH-TNAOHKWGQWXwMtxBjcUQ9Uuw2j6hGFhPzZOcYqK8v5yyerzrvLMDVeefDOhgRbN5xZEi-jcNvh1h5iAK4OSsfzv9EwrVgVvnPgVPDDU/s200/Acero+Guerrero.png" width="132" /></a></div>
Next we have Acero Guerrero: Translated that becomes <span lang="en">Steel Warrior, and yes, this is my attempt to do an Argentine version of Iron Man. For what ever reasons I chose red and blue for the color scheme of his armor. Perhaps he is a fan of San Lorenzo?
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<span lang="en"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCbKhlLlD1B3gHUZbTb4DliKw-eL5G1VpD737YXfB_t5Dg9eohPOGMw_m5ZTJaDJYtaKI2oPnS7gQC9Bwl____w_ZmhGGj44anCw5bEDq8sM_vqH61-p_KWKEkUsDJlYpr-L9oYoI3M4/s1600/Avispa+Asesina.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCbKhlLlD1B3gHUZbTb4DliKw-eL5G1VpD737YXfB_t5Dg9eohPOGMw_m5ZTJaDJYtaKI2oPnS7gQC9Bwl____w_ZmhGGj44anCw5bEDq8sM_vqH61-p_KWKEkUsDJlYpr-L9oYoI3M4/s200/Avispa+Asesina.png" width="146" /></a></span></div>
Lastly we have Avispa Asesina: Apparently we have a theme here, if I am not mistaken. First a character that is comparable to Captain America, and then Iron Man, both members of the Marvel super hero group The Mighty Avengers. Avispa Asesina... translation: Assassin Wasp. Yes, Avispa is based on the Avenger known simply as Wasp. Difference here is I did her up as a villain, not a hero, and instead no shooting energy blasts Avispa fights with a Rapier and Main Gauche.<br />
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OK, again, I know... nothing to do with futbol, and nothing to do with Newell's. But I hope you can forgive me this indulgence of posting my characters from a game that will soon I will not be able to play.<br />
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Unless there is some last minute real life heroics...<br />
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With that in mind:<br />
<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/ncsoft-keep-ncsoft-from-shutting-down-city-of-heroes" target="_blank">Petition to save City Of Heroes</a>David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693106684049085204.post-30353130387457111002012-09-02T14:09:00.000-04:002012-09-02T16:18:06.674-04:00Last Minute HeroicsOK, I did not post last week when Newell's Old Boys were held to a 0-0 draw on the road by Belgrano in Cordoba. I saw most of the game, but did not come away with anything I felt I could really say about it, good or bad.
Yesterday in Rosario it was looking like we were headed towards another 0-0 draw, this time against Estudiantes. After ninety minutes no one had scored. A full five minutes of added time was signaled for, and it took almost all of that when a poor clearance was taken by Maxi Urruti who fought for control of the ball before slotting a neat little pass just behind Ignacio Scocco, who spun around and took a one touch shot that beat Estudiantes keeper Justo Villar (yes, he once played for Newell's) and found the far side of the goal to give La Lepra their third win of the Torneo Inicial.<br />
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The win placed Newell's on top of the standings alone... though later in the day Arsenal de Sarandí beat Lanús by the same 1-0 score to draw level with Newell's at 11 points.
Time at the top will likely be short, as Colón de Santa Fe (10 points) and Boca Juniors (9 points) will be playing later today.<br />
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Now, a few words about why I have not been posting as much as I used to. There are several factors. Certainly the year and a half of miserable play the team recently had an effect. It is sometimes hard to write about something you love when they are going through bad times. Then there is my health, which has not been the best over the past couple of years.<br />
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Also to blame is the fact that I do enjoy playing computer games. I have written about <a href="http://leperinastrangland.blogspot.com/2011/01/city-of-heroes-city-of-lepers.html">City of Heroes</a> before. It is a game where you get to play Super Heroes or Villains of your own design in an online world where you can team up with other players. I have been playing it for around two years now and enjoyed every minute of it, and really just started to team up with others.<br />
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This weekend the company that runs the City of Heroes has announced their intent to close down the game by the end of the year. This news does not make me happy, but I will keep playing until they close it down. I have also started taking screen shots of my characters, and will be sharing them here.<br />
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With that in mind, here is the first two:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8CLIZpkmcoWsj1heJou-Y0LpfXxGc4j4VxhfpWtAgS0HVBCp9h4282mesveCzDJB5YEFYLannerkc0vpt7-Aa2rSfHkc4i_zrev3Y9XtC_uYErQpP5tzcM9-HPjxDKnE9y95IUhLp8k/s1600/Cherry+Rebel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8CLIZpkmcoWsj1heJou-Y0LpfXxGc4j4VxhfpWtAgS0HVBCp9h4282mesveCzDJB5YEFYLannerkc0vpt7-Aa2rSfHkc4i_zrev3Y9XtC_uYErQpP5tzcM9-HPjxDKnE9y95IUhLp8k/s200/Cherry+Rebel.png" width="145" /></a></div>
Meet Cherry Rebel, a Super Villain I had come up with some time ago, but just recently started to really enjoy playing. She is evil to the core, and does not make friends, merely uses people as she will just long enough to get what she wants.<br />
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Her origin is magical, she is a Scrapper with Electric Melee and Electric Armor... all of which will only make sense to those who played the game. I customized her powers to match her outfit, so while her powers in the game were electrical based, I imaged them being a dark mystical energy.<br />
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Posted previously, Leproso is a character who needs little explanation to those that know about Newell's Old Boys. He is another Scrapper, but his origin is Science... basically he was a leper who was cured by a new drug. The cure also gave him super powers. He is a Martial Artist with Invulnerability.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBhhhWWDcwk6ERKWI1x9iGl_FvfvGTEUnY5wWVWneYIP3FfxnDP0OE8AT1TArkumZ3zcLKHjgWvtuW1rXENF0s6gB0hwLc-9c5H5ABW0S0lXBqImzYdIZfzl1XuFMBt3zPAbfZnuDNZc/s1600/Leproso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBhhhWWDcwk6ERKWI1x9iGl_FvfvGTEUnY5wWVWneYIP3FfxnDP0OE8AT1TArkumZ3zcLKHjgWvtuW1rXENF0s6gB0hwLc-9c5H5ABW0S0lXBqImzYdIZfzl1XuFMBt3zPAbfZnuDNZc/s200/Leproso.jpg" width="84" /></a>Yes, a lot of my characters wear a lot of red and black. if you ask why you are here because of my writing about City of Heroes and not Newell's Old Boys. I have no problems with that.<br />
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I will be trying to post City of Heroes picture a day, until I run out. I am hoping that my Lepra readers will not mind... I am hoping that this helps me get over the fact that once they close down the game, I will never be able to play it again. (Though there is the small hope that this is a hoax, or that some other company will come in and buy the game to keep it going.)<br />
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A lot of people are flooding <a href="http://boards.cityofheroes.com/forumdisplay.php?f=547" target="_blank">City of Heroes Forums</a> with protest, pleading with the company to change their minds. I have seen a lot of people in the game just standing around holding protest signs (yes, that option is available in the game) or just ranting on the chat channels. Every now and again some one signs in that has not heard the news.<br />
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I shall continue playing till the end.<br />
<br />David Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552746618648913743noreply@blogger.com0