Velocity0156

Alright, suppose I ought to come out of the closet on this matter. Folks, there are two big reasons why the finale for Velocitario VS. Vert is taking so long. The first being me having overreached myself on projects that no one here cares about, but the second is the bigger one. In case it wasn't already obvious, writing a fight scene is my Achilles Heel. My writing style just doesn't suit the action well. Let me explain with some examples...

In general, my style of literature centers around large periods of dialogue and subtlety complimented by short bursts of action designed to epitomize that moment of dawning comprehension (It's what I live for, after all) and spark some internal discussion as to what certain moments could mean for the future. Such examples include MS Tokyo 2020 Chapters 7 and 26, as well as the latter half of Unravelling, which I'm personally pretty proud of in hindsight. So, to contrast, attempting to drag out an action sequence in a way that doesn't seem repetitive or hard to follow is something I just can't seem to get my head around, as evidenced by the Deus-Ex-Machina ending to Trial By Fire, the quick finish to Rise of Ultimate Ch. 18, and the development cycle purgatory that was Proof of Prowess Ch. 4. The way I write scenic descriptions certainly doesn't help, as most of the time I spend writing a fight scene is spent acting out motions I describe just to make sure they're coming across clearly.

So, in short, Velocitario VS. Vert Ch.4 (Currently codenamed "Crossroads") is still in the works, but I'll be honest, I'm probably going to need a helping hand before it can really go anywhere. So, in the meantime, I figured I'd keep you all updated as to the other places my attention is directed towards.

1. The Distance Advent Calendar 2020

For those of you unaware, Distance is an indie racing game that I've fallen in love with over the past two years due to it's surprisingly intricate lore, tightly-knit community, and it's absurd creativity potential in the Level Editor. The last of those three points has led to the creation of the Distance Advent Calendar (DAC), an annual event in which a bunch of creators get together for the month of December to release one level every day in the build-up to Christmas. And, in case you hadn't figured it, I am a part of this effort. Now, I know most of you couldn't care less about this, but since my level's been in the making for two months now AND I have a collaboration partner, I'd really appreciate it if you at least have a look at what's coming on December 23rd. Trust me, I think you'll like it.

2. The Over/Drive Iceberg

It's no secret that the Over/Drive continuity is home to it's fair share of mysteries and riddles, and you all know how much I love making those. So, when the concept of an "Iceberg" meme came across my desk, I figured "Why not do one of those?"... so I am. I guess it'll be more of a director's commentary than an actual iceberg, but I at least want to end the year by giving you all something to chew on in terms of lore. So keep your eyes peeled for when this releases, because HO BOY, things get interesting in a hurry.

3. Velocitario's Garage

Due to my recent resurgence in passion for FH4, not to mention the series' return in the form of the F355 Dirt-Linetta practically EXPLODING in popularity (No seriously, it's my new most viewed deviation), I believe the stars are aligned for me to continue building upon it. Perhaps I could use it to provide some insight on my day-to-day life as a racer, and maybe even convince some folks in the audience to dip their toes in the waters of FH4's professional racing scene. I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

4. "The Experience"

Writing (Or at least trying to write) video game reviews is something I'm no stranger to, and as of recent, I've been trying to get this aspect off the ground with a new series simply titled "The Experience". In my mind, this series is meant to shed some light on lesser-known titles or aspects thereof, as well as give my... well, experience. Here's an example from the upcoming first volume.

"They say there's a first time for everything - but you're never prepared for the first time, let alone the first time of many a first time all at once. For instance, not two days prior, I was smack in the middle of just such an event. Never before had a game frayed my nerves to the point where I had to take a day's rest before returning for another attempt. Never before had I experienced a game where a thing's beauty could equate to it's deadliness, to the point where I had to actively study it in video review. Never before had a game made me wonder what mystical powers could lie beyond in the spirit realm during such a frantic gameplay session, or if the gate to such power has unknowingly been stuck to my back - or even yours. And the real kicker? This is a game made by ONE GUY - and that's not even the craziest part. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the mental bombshell barrage of unrivaled shock and awe that defies all known logic and reason... better known as Touhou."

5. Story Plans for 2021

Oh, boy... here's the biggie. I've spent a lot of time over the past few days pondering where I want to go with not only Velocitario's character, but also the storyline in general over the course of next year. So many concepts have already solidified themselves in my head that I'm really excited to share with you all, but of course, there's the pain of knowing I can't allow myself to do that until I take care of all the aforementioned projects. So, at the end of the day, just know that I've got some big moves planned for next year, and assuming the world doesn't screw us over again, those plans will come to fruition.

Until then, this is 'Tario, signing out.

Alright, Unraveling and the (first bit) story of Acryllia is officially FINISHED, and boy howdy, was it a doozy. I honestly had a lot of fun writing the earliest and latest chapters of the series and exploring what I could do with a mysterious, surreal-esque setting, and it's something you'll be seeing more of in the future. Speaking of the future, the astute of you may be asking: What's next? Well... a couple things.

One: TVM Season Fourteen. Real talk, with everything that's been going on in the canon regarding Terminal Velocity Motorsport, I kinda just forgot about the vast majority of the fourteenth season. Heck, saying it aloud, I can hardly believe I've done this many already. However, rest assured that they are coming around, and a good portion of them will be pertinent to the canon. And speaking of which...

Two: #Conquest. What's going on with that? You may have noticed the hashtag pop up once or twice between me and Trish, and that's for good reason. While I can't reveal many details right now (And by not many I mean next-to-none), #Conquest is the next big collaboration project going on between myself and Trish, and possibly a few others. All I can say is, this series is going to be my MASTERPIECE with how much I have planned out, and I think you're really going to enjoy what we have in store. However, that's not the first thing that'll be coming out. THAT priority spot goes to this:

"Over my tenure as a digital driver, it stands to reason for me to say I've gotten behind the wheel of many a machine. Old and new, fast and slow, cool and mediocre, some with two wheels, others with six, or three, or eight, or even sometimes zero. However, there are a distinct few I have pointed out as being exemplary in their field, or at least outstanding to me in some way or another. So, this begs the question: Out of all of them... which one is my personal favorite? The answer... may surprise you."

Three: 'Tario's Take: Top Ten Custom Builds

Boredom does odd things to people. (To be fair, so does Gensokyo.) Have a meme.

IMAGINE THIS FOR A MOMENT.

Take any character you please. Could be an OC, could be one from an existing franchise, whatever. Now, imagine they were a boss or some other form of character in a Touhou game. What would the name of their theme song be?

CONTEXT

For those unaware, Touhou is a Japanese "Danmaku" (Rough Translation: Bullet Hell) game series with a massive following, of which I have recently become a part. (Thanks, Demetori.) They're generally known for their difficulty and... let's say something between Overwhelming and Dazzling visuals in battle. Really, nothing I say can do it justice, so check it out for yourself if you haven't already.

TEMPLATE

(First Phrase) ~ (Second Phrase)

The name of your theme song should describe something about your chosen character, and should do it as flamboyantly as possible. Keep in mind this is a game where you don't "Restart", you "Make the Current Events Nonexistent". You also don't "Resume", you instead "Cancel the Moratorium".

EXAMPLES

Nivisa

Glacial Soul ~ Secrets of the Sub-Zero Maiden

Velocitario

The Tale of a Heart Long Constrained ~ The Chaotic Dichotomy of All Creation

A.M. Gina

Heavy Caliber Catharsis!! ~ The Ribbon-Dancer of Ten Thousand Rounds

Donkey Kong ('Cuz Why Not)

Potassium Pulse ~ The Wild's Rhythmic Ringleader

So... yeah. Have fun with this, tag me if used. I just want to see what comes of this.

Hey, gang. Glad you could take the time to listen, and even more so that you could listen now of all times. As I'm sure you know, I haven't exactly been the personification of activity as of recent. Nowadays, I seem to only get around to posting every once a week, whereas in my hayday, I was able to post daily. And after I thought it over for a while and searched back through my archives, I discovered that perhaps I just haven't been posting with as much passion as I had beforehand. You can tell because I normally open up these sorts of things with a monologue, as I do with my literary works. So, I've decided that I just need to take some time to myself, take a break from everything, and come back in perhaps a week or so with a fresh set of hands. I'm telling you this so it doesn't sound like I've suddenly disappeared off the face of the planet, and also to tell you what's coming when I come back around.

Soilwork is probably going to be a lower priority. In my time off, I'm going to be working in collaboration with Trish on the ongoing Unraveling arc, in a similar fashion to other series I've worked with her on. Personally, I feel like I'm most efficient when I have someone else to work with, so perhaps doing that and that alone will rekindle the flame that seems to have gone missing. The reason Soilwork is important to this is because as it stands, it's meant to be a sidestory that works on the relationship between Velocitario and Shioriko whilst simultaneously giving IdolShine Academy a new, plot-relevant location and giving a couple more hints concerning Acryllia all while running parallel with Unraveling. But, as it stands, the latter is most likely going to be finished before the former. So, here's the plan: We're going to finish Unraveling first, then revisit Soilwork in an attempt to patch any holes that may be left behind.

TVM Season Thirteen is going to be a little more lore-intensive that previous installments of the team. With all that's been going on in the various iterations of Japan, I want setting up a character to deal with this negative PR to be a priority, and I think I already have a perfect fit for the job. Not to mention a story behind it, so more literature is going to be a thing.

The CloudCutter Crew Resurrection is a plan I've had in my head for a while. Only problem is, it's kinda been stuck up there as of recent. I have everything about it planned out and ready to go, but I just can't seem to get it down onto a document and out into the light. Maybe after I come back from this search of mine, I'll get around to it, but let me tell you two things that are for certain: Velocitario is going to get a pretty awesome character moment, and Nitestrom (Don't expect you to remember him) is going to be the means by which he gets it.

Ranking the NFS Games is something I've wanted to do for a while ever since Heat got binned, but ever since I got my hands on the PC Ports of Hot Pursuit 2010, MW2012, and more recently Undercover, I've gotten a lot more material to work with. Expect either a detailed list or a slightly more detailed tier list similar to the ones Trish has been making.

Well, I believe that accounts for everything. Thanks for tuning in, and I'll see you on the other side.

-V

I like to think that I'm a person who spends a lot of his time looking forward. To the future, to new things, to new stories. However, it's necessary that every once in a while, I use my hindsight and look back for a change. Back to cherished memories... and those that are somewhat less cherished. And today, I look back on a memory that is both of these things.

Some people call it a nostalgia trip. Others can call it facing a ghost. Some might even call it masochism, considering what I'm up against. In any other situation, I'd call it all three. But I know it by one name. A two-word name that brings all these feelings and more back to my heart, feelings I'd long considered lost.

The feeling of a true adrenaline rush. The feeling of having everything else fade away. The feeling where everything comes together, and it's just your car, the road, and the music accompanied by the sound of your heart in your ears. And in the case of this one, especially the music. And your heart. (I'd be kinda worried if it was just the music.)

Of course, I don't just walk back down this road with happy thoughts, for I have a vendetta to settle and a question to answer. Every road I've driven down has allowed me passage, considered me worthy as a racer, having bested all it's challenges. Rockport... Carbon City... Seacrest... Fairhaven... Redview... Blackridge... Ventura... Fortune Valley... Palm City... Within the title I return to today lies the one exception.

Maybe it's that man's face that drew me back. Knowing that on the journey, it wouldn't just be my voice in my ears, but also the voice of a guide and the voice of someone in the same situation I am. Well, maybe not the exact same, but at least we have one thing in common: We're both looking for a rush, and we're both willing to do some pretty crazy stuff for it.

And how could I forget the cars... not like I didn't have time to get to know them. A trip like this one makes sure you know them like a family member, whether it was the Gallardo, the Shelby, the Huayra, the RS4, the Golf, the M3... and who could forget that Agera. I certainly wouldn't, considering my bias. Either way, it all boils down to this.

Is it true that TEN YEARS LATER* , the title of the best Need For Speed game, and possibly the best arcade racer of ALL TIME... goes to NFS: The Run?

(It's closer to nine, that just sounded better in my head)