Last week, my friends and I attended the Esports Gaming Summit held at SMX convention Mall of Asia. The only reason we attended that event was because of Monster Hunter World, which is a game me and my group are crazy about.
I made a few videos about it.
The video above is me trying out the Bow weapon, which is my main weapon of choice. The style I think is a guild hunting style from the Monster Hunter Generation series which extended to MHXX in Japan. The shots are the regular charged shots, power shot, and an arc shot. All these can be used swiftly executed.
The bow has this elegant move that makes it one of the best technical weapons. I love it, I apologize if I was not able to do it any justice as I am not used to the new controls.
Here is where my friends tried it out. I compiled their videos into one and provided a quick look at the weapons they used.
I would make more videos about this especially when the Demo hits the PSN store this December, in the mean time, I will be looking for ways to pass time for the big release date.
Added holes for the air intakes of Nintendo Switch
Docks for all gadgets!
Alright, this is one of my favorites. I made a dock that can be used for the New Nintendo 3DS and also Nintendo Switch, I may have to tweak it a bit like putting holes for the back of the Nintendo Switch. I just wanted a portable dock which I can carry around, and so it gave birth to this Nintendo Switch dock. I made a few of these and will probably sell them for a while.
Not only is it good looking with finely visible grain of wood, it's also a bit stylish. I really dislike the plastic look of every gaming device and accessory ever. Having a bit of style doesn't hurt.
What do you guys think? Should I make more? Will you get one? Let me know! Also, you guys can follow me on Instagram: veronica_laurel is my ID. I make all sorts of art and wooden things often for my video game hobby.
I recently made a key chain out of wood coming from my favorite game, Monster Hunter. Now, the icons from Monster Hunter are very interesting and I really love their designs.
I'm a bow user myself since MH Freedom Unite and is still a bow main user with MHXX.
I didn't feel like buying the glass stained aluminum key chains imported from Japan so I thought I'd make one myself.
I forgot to take pictures of it when I was carving it but I did remember to take pictures of it when I was using the coping saw.
Perhaps I should make a lot of them and sell them. Hmmm...
The Nintendo 3DS is one of the most impressive handhelds today with its amazing library of game titles that continues to grow even after 5 years. I first bought a Nintendo 3DS XL almost 3 years ago and I really loved it. I took care of it that when I sold it early this year it still looked good as new. I also liked the accessories that came with it, as you can see above. I now upgraded to a regular New Nintendo 3DS and I couldn't be happier.
Now, I prefer handheld gaming nowadays because of its portability. I decided to get a decent laptop so that a good number of emulators can run through it. It fits my lifestyle perfectly as I travel abroad once in a while and I don't want to feel miffed thinking that I left one of my consoles back home.
3DS Game Titles
I just bought the 3DS for one game, Monster Hunter. I was really into MH when it came out on the PSP, I was planning to get a PS Vita thinking that a new MH game would release on the platform but I was disappointed that the Vita lied. I just decided to get a Nintendo 3DS because it already has Monster Hunter Games.
Here are just a few games that makes the 3DS a must have:
The Monster Hunter Series
One of the most popular games today on the 3DS, with just the Monster Hunter 4 U, I invested at least 1,000 hours playing it and it's not even 100% complete yet. I loved playing with my friends and it is one of the game that brought a lot of people together. I discovered a Monster Hunting group where we hang out and play online and locally. Eventually, we enjoy each other's company by going on trips. Going to a resort to just enjoy and have fun and there was a time that we went up to the Northern mountains and spent days there.
Monster Hunter XX (Double Cross) will be releasing in Japan next year so that means that it would be the definitive edition of Monster Hunter X which was localized as Monster Hunter Generations in the West. I play MHX and MHGen both, I am in the East side of the world after all so getting first taste of Monster Hunter is easier, the only setback is that my Japanese isn't that great.
There are a lot of Pokemon games on the 3DS, to be honest I no longer play Pokemon. It was fun and the last Pokemon I played was Pokemon Black. If you are a Pokemon fanatic, you probably already have a 3ds. For those who want to get into it, there is Pokemon X & Y, and Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, among other Pokemon games in the library.
I didn't own a Nintendo 64 because I was fan of the Playstation back in the day. However, playing them on the 3DS today is still an amazing ride. I finished Ocarina of Time on the N64 a long time ago through an emulator but even today, it's still somehow fresh. I have the Japanese Ocarina of Time and I love it.
There are two titles of Fire Emblem on the 3DS, Fire Emblem Fates and its predecessor Fire Emblem Awakening. I played Fire Emblem on the DS before and I really liked it. It is also one of the best tactical RPGs on the 3DS. Fire Emblem Fates has content that can be considered as three games because of the path, a lot of content has been put into it and it's really great.
It would be criminal to leave out the Zero Escape series. Started as 999 on the DS and continued to the 3DS.
This visual novel adventure game is dark, sinister, and so much fun to play. These are gems in the 3DS.
Playing all three only requires a 3DS. So make sure to include this on your buying list when
you go out to buy a 3DS.
Games like Super Mario Bros. series, Bravely Default, Bravely Second, Professor Layton series, Phoenix Wright series, Tomodachi Life, Fantasy Life, Rune Factory series, and the list goes on. The gaming library of the 3DS is stunning and makes it a must have gaming gadget.
Just go ahead and look up the titles available on youtube, they have a lot of top games videos on the 3ds.
Backwards Compatibility (Play Nintendo DS, GBA Games and more)
Simply a master piece on the Nintendo DS. 9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors
is definitely a must play before you die kind of game.
It is the Zero Escape Trilogy and the two other games
are available on the Nintendo 3DS.
The Nintendo 3ds can also play DS carts, so the already expansive 3ds library combined with the previous handheld console giant and you have a massive arsenal of games just waiting to be played.
So games like Fire Emblem, the Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros. games on the DS can be played directly from the cart, you don't have to buy a Nintendo DS to play it. You get the best of both worlds already, so why would anyone pass up on this?
Not only that, but GBA, GBC. and Snes games(New 3DS Only) are also available on the e-shop. So if you missed some games from the past, it's not too late to play them.
Play synthesized music on your 3ds
Korg M01(DS) Korg M01D(3DS), Korg DS-10 (DS), Korg DSN-12(3DS), and other Korg titles on both DS and 3DS, you can whip out amazing tunes like this guy~
Hyrule Field in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Now, the Korg DS line is synthesizer and the Korg M01 line is music station.
Other Stuff
You can do a whole lot of things with the 3ds because of its wide array of game library, some of them can be quite educational. Go ahead and explore it.
For homebrews and custom firmware, I will put that on another post. Homebrew and CFW can be in the gray area for gamers so it could be a sensitive matter but taking advantage of it can be very rewarding in itself as you can open up new possibilities for your Nintendo 3DS.
What kind of 3ds is for you?
If you are on a budget, I would highly suggest the 2DS
PROS
Perfect and safe for kids
No hinge that will break
SD card access on the side for convenience
Ships with an adapter
Inexpensive
Comfortable to hold
DS backward compatibility
Ships with 4GB MMC
CONS
No 3D camera (it's not really utilized, so it's no big deal)
The matte finish can give off some sort of toy like feel (kids don't really care about this only some)
Screen size is only available in small, no XL counterpart available
Screens may get scratched easily so having a carrying case for it is advised
Single speaker
Won't fit in your pocket most of the time
Nintendo 3ds
This is the standard Nintendo 3ds, which is pretty okay. It does have the usual features of the 3ds, so let's find out if this is for you.
PROS
Lightweight and small enough that it is easy to put in the pocket
Clam shell style prevents the screens from being scratched during travel
3D feature (In game and Camera)
Stereo speakers
SD card can be accessed on the side
Ships with an adapter
Better aspect ratio
CONS
3D effect can make you dizzy
Ships with 2GB MMC
Fingerprint prone because of glossy finish
The screen may be too small to some (I love it though)
Nintendo 3ds XL
Pretty much the same features with the regular Nintendo 3ds, just bigger
PROS
Larger screens
Longer battery life
Bigger unit may mean it is more comfortable for people with bigger hands
3D feature
Ships with an adapter
Ships with 4GB MMC
SD Card can be accessed on the side
Clam shell type
Stereo speakers
CONS
Heavier and may not pockets
The screen sort of stretches out the resolution of the game
A bit more expensive
New Nintendo 3ds
The "New" nintendo 3ds series is the latest iteration of the Nintendo 3ds. I think it is what the Nintendo 3ds was supposed to look like but Nintendo did a half hearted job first then decided to provide the definitive version, perhaps to gather more revenue.
It has the old Nintendo 3ds goodness and more.
PROS
Portable, will fit in most pockets
Faster processor
Stable 3D
C-Stick addition and ZL and ZR buttons
Matte rubberized design to prevent finger prints
Interchangeable Faceplates
Slightly bigger screen than the regular Old Nintendo 3ds
Better speakers
CONS
May be a bit more expensive to some
Doesn't Ship with an adapter
Hard to remove the micro sd card as you need to remove it's back plate
Unimpressive battery life
New Nintendo 3ds XL
The bigger sister of the New Nintendo 3ds. At first it was the only unit available in North America but eventually they released the regular New Nintendo 3ds.
It has the same features of the New Nintendo 3ds in terms of processing power and so on.
PROS
Largest Screen in the 3DS Family
Longest battery life in the 3DS Family
Pretty much that's it
CONS
Heavier and may not fit most pockets
Glossy finish prone to finger prints
No interchangeable face plates
Doesn't ship with an adapter
Micro sd card has to be accessed by removing the back plate
May be a bit expensive
Note: The New Nintendo 3ds / 3ds XL series has some minor issue with the battery seating at the back of the unit. A good number of owners experienced their handheld console dying suddenly during gameplay and can be fixed by re-seating the battery at the back. This means you have to remove the back plate with a screw driver and fix the seat of the battery. It may not be an exact snug fit so sometimes the console would die or the battery won't charge properly.
I had to attach some paper on the battery of my New Nintendo 3ds unit and it also happened to my friends. It may not affect all but most people experience this.
I didn't experience this back when I had a Nintendo 3ds XL.
I’ve
seen people online covering their analog sticks on the Vita with ear bud pieces
so I decided to do the same. It’s probably the cheapest way of covering and
protecting the sticks because I couldn’t find anyone selling them around here.
It’s a
good thing I have a pair lying around that is just cheap headsets that sounded
like music comes from a tin can. I love how the color is red and match my slim
PS Vita’s color, red and black.
Turn the ear bud inside out and you will see a short tube there. What I did was cut it by approximately 2mm. I then attach it to the analog stick afterwards.
It sort of looks like a nipple. It also feels okay to the touch, much better than without it.
Just repeat the cutting of the tube on the other analog stick and you'll be done in a jiffy.
There, done on both sticks. Some people may not like the feeling but for me it was a good alternative.
I realized I shouldn't be too fancy with my PS Vita because even Sony has neglected it.
Ah yes, the PS Vita, a handheld console some people call the PS Muerte but even so, I managed to get myself one at a steal price, it was still smooth and barely have any scratches, also my favorite color too. The local Target Mall in my town (Should not be confused with Target Malls in the US) has these stalls selling electronic gadgets. It was a pretty good price that was hard to pass up and the Vita was on a low firmware, which means I can do a lot of things with it.
I bought it and while playing Final Fantasy Type-0 on it, my hands began to hurt a bit which means I would need a grip. Sadly it's hard to get accessories in my place and I couldn't find one that also has a face cover, most of them has the face exposed and I don't want that.
So what to do? Well, since I have a lot of scrap wood lying around, I made the grip myself.
A few scraps, a bit of time, and a bit of ingenuity, I managed to make a very comfortable grip.
Carving up the wood to shape to act as the handle and making wood clay out of wood soot and saw dusts.
I used wood stain and a bit of varnish to finish off the grips.
The grips were attached using wood glue, it is strong enough to stick to the crystal case but is also easy to remove with force if I wanted to. Maybe after two years it would pop off on its own without leaving any residue.
From scraplings to grapplings... I know it doesn't make sense.
Kind of looked like two canine teeth, it's irregular shape makes it a bit realistic. My brother thought it was a pair of horn. One of the wood was hard to carve up. It has become too old and tensile which makes it hard to carve so as you may notice one of them is slightly thicker than the other one. If I force it, it would break.
I'm very happy with the results, and I didn't spend money on it, except for the brush and lacquer thinner I needed. The rest were sourced from my art studio, I just have them lying around.
I prefer not to be a human so adept in consumption especially on my hobbies. I know it's so easy to buy a grip out there but the earth's resources are finite. I didn't want to import, just imagine the carbon footprint that would incur but people don't think about those things, they just mindlessly devour stuff.
I'd rather make use of the things I have lying around and I also got rid of the stuff, at least somehow.
Next project would be a grip for my New Nintendo 3DS that can be used even with the TPU case and can be attached / detached easily.
I recently got my MHX New 3DS bundle from Japan and one of the things I was excited about it was the ability to have interchangeable face plates. Unfortunately, New 3DS face plates don't come cheap, they usually come in prices above $20 and in my country, almost double the price because of importation taxes and nasty sellers taking advantage of its scarcity.
Third Party New 3DS Face Plates and Skins
So when I bought my New 3DS online in Japan, I also bought third party plain colored face plates that come at a fraction of the average price and decided to just get decals or skins on the plate.
So above is a sample of plain black face plate with Fire Emblem Fates skin, the design is not the exact copy of what the original face plate looks like but it is pretty close.
Not bad :) for a skin
The difference between the original was Takumi's location, and
the proximity of Joker and Felicia
The background is also different from the original but all in all it's
a pretty close match. I tried to get a high res photo of all them and this
was the best I could find.
The plates that came with my New 3DS was the MHX plate and it was pretty awesome but I also wanted to give my idea a try so I would probably be using my Fire Emblem Fates plates for now.
The original face plate
I was pretty happy with the results of the decal because I didn't spend a lot of money on it. I saved up a lot and it looks pretty good even with my clear TPU case on.
Below are photos of the plate I bought, in black to match my new 3ds.
One thing I really like about this method is that the designs available are limitless, I can also just paint on the plates if I wanted to. I bought a couple more plates so I would definitely go crazy one of these days and have an awesome one of a kind plate for my New 3DS.
