Help Me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, You're My Only Hope!

I officially merged all of my Facebook pages together for a single concise page. If you don't want to follow still, then you know what to do. But, if you do want to help and support, I wouldn't say no to a quick share on your page/s. If you do, let me know, so I know who to thank accordingly!

Let me start with some quick points of interest:

I run a Twitch.tv account on Mondays and Thursdays, usually around 7PM EST. Every stream, I play some sort of video game from my collection. I may play a PC game, Wii U, XBox One, or among many other options as well. I discuss the games I’m playing, give thoughts, reviews, tips, and usually a spew ton of vulgarity as I play and/or die.

But, sometimes prior, I do other smaller streams beforehand, such as ROC Unboxing and WK-ROC. ROC Unboxings tend to be pretty straight-forward. I get the geeky subscription box Loot Crate every month, and every other month I get the Marvel Collector Corps Funko box. I discuss each item and explain the geekdoms as they arise in each box.

WK-ROC is my favorite part. I’ve been a journalist for a very long time, off and on, generally within geeky publications and the video game industry. Something that bothers me about most news anymore is the opinions and peanut gallery fluff that comes pinned onto it. There’s a time and a place, and the middle of the news isn’t it. If I want the news, I want the news. Let Vlogs and opinion pieces handle those bits. Introducing WK-ROC Geekly Weekly News! WK-ROC is done LIVE on Twitch (which I warn everyone on my page beforehand if they want to view it live), and then posted to YouTube afterwards, that night. These broadcasts tend to only fill the stream with news, and I cut out anything that I would consider fluff. The broadcast ends with a quick line about my Live stream for that night and will ask a opinion question for the viewers to answer, either about geekdom or Right On Chime. I do this live, so minor mistakes can happen as I am the news anchor, director, producer, writer, key grip, and best boy. These broadcasts happen at least once a week, but sometimes enough news happens in a short span that a full broadcast can happen twice in a week.

Other places to find me the easiest is on Twitter and on Facebook, among every other major social network you can possibly name. (Just Google it. I even have an Ello.)

The final places that I have are probably the ones I neglect the most and shouldn’t (I’ll do better, I promise!), Blogger and WordPress. Aside from my own personal blogs on both, I also write for www.GraphicPolicy.com and www.cbxcasts.com.

What is my endgame? I currently work a full time job at a glorious electronics retailer. I don’t want that. I want to be able to dedicate all of my time to my love of everything Geek. One day, I’d like to be able to professionally stream on Twitch, write news, be able to broadcast straight from conventions, and do this all day, everyday. How can I achieve this? I’m not asking for money, I’m asking for support. Share my pages. Favorite my YouTube and Twitch. Like the hell out of it all. Comment, collaborate, and become one with my community. That is all the help I need. If I get the support, the ability to reach my dreams and goals will come soon after.

Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, You’re My Only Hope.

Yes, but where IS that cord?

Some people keep a drawer full of extra cords for electronics... I have four of those, a hollowed out ottoman, and a giant box in the attic.

You say it's a wall; I see only Windows.

Windows 10 is on its way. Announced today on Microsoft's Blog, Windows 10 will be out this summer in 190 countries, spanning 111 languages. No specific date is stated on their blog, but Summer gives a much narrower time frame than previously rumored sometime in "2015".

The new operating system will be free as an upgrade to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 users, to help support their singularity as a concise system across all platforms.

With Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia last year, they've been playing the long game, making computers, tablets, and phones work seamlessly across the board.

Coming with a new digital assistant, "Cortana", Microsoft is working towards making themselves a one-stop shop for your tech needs. They're even going so far as being the first Windows in over 20 years to not coming with their standard Internet Explorer browser, but a new upgraded heavy hitter named Spartan. (On a side note, the Halo fan in me always laughs when I realize Cortana is the digital assistant for a Spartan, because Master Chief.)

Also announced recently is the free version available for several developer platforms and devices, such as Raspberry Pi, through partnerships with Intel, Raspberry Pi Foundation, and several others.

This new open platform seems to be going over a lot better than their last major launch in 2012, with Windows 8, so good luck to them!

Hoopy Frood.

Yes, I do have a Firefly Online Cortex, with Big Damn Heroes upgrade. And I'm level 42.

Hello World!

So... My fiance is taking courses on html. Close enough.

JANUARY LOOT CRATE “REWIND”: UNBOXING, WITH DETAIL

January's Loot Crate theme was REWIND: “A Look Back At Geek & Gaming Past”. As the prior announced themes of Star Wars and Voltron indicated, we're going on a trip down memory lane for people my age. So, let's get started.

Spoilers start HERE, so if you don't want to know what's in this Loot Crate yet, I'd STOP now!

Here's a nice shot of the exterior of the shipping box. Inside it, many surprises await...

Careful incision on the tape. Oh, look at that neatly packed, full box.

First thing's first. The nicely folded T-shirt on top is a Loot Crate exclusive Voltron Blueprint print, courtesy of Flophouse. The Japanese accents add a perfect flair to complete the style. Retro doesn't even begin to explain how awesome it is.

Let's go, Voltron Force!

Next, we have some 8-Bit Sunglasses, by Loot Crate Labs. These are not unlike a pair that came with a prior Loot Crate, but the orange frame gives me a very Michelangelo feeling when I look at them. ThinkGeek sells a very similar solid black pair of these on their website. Yes, I have a pair. Yes, they're neat looking, goofy, and fun. No, these are not incredibly comfortable after 10 minutes, due to the nose part being squared off. Oh, well, I guess style comes with a price. On the upside, UV 400 Protection is clearly stated on the sticker, so there's that.

8-Bit Sunglasses with an Orange style frame.

Side View of 8-Bit Sunglasses, complete with Loot Crate logo.

The next item is by far one of my favorite items in this Loot Crate. This stylish tie, by Black Tie Geek, has a very Space Invader inspired design. Made of 100% polyester, this tie is unique and absolutely wearable in a lot of occasions, due to its black and white design. I know several places and event I'm going to, personally, utilize this. It comes in a small cube box with the company's logo on it.

Snazzy and Stylish!

Okay, so this is kinda cute. Squid Kids Ink presents Loot Crate Exclusive “10-Doh! Figures”, which are adorable little anthropomorphic Nintendo Entertainment System cartridges. Six options could show up between subscribers, including “games” inspired by The Fifth Element, Firefly, Doctor Who, Mars Attacks, and two Back To The Future options. Each little guy comes with an old school NES Zapper accessory.

My Crate came with a Mars Attacks themed figure. ACK ACK ACK!

The Box. Classic NES case look

Gotta build the little guy!

Pew Pew!

Yes, the Mars Attacks Reference is amazing.

The next item is really neat. The Comic Note Book, by Unemployed Philosopher's Guild, is a nifty little creativity tool. The notebook comes with 64 Pages of comic book style panels and a removable stencil for speech and thought bubbles, as well as a small guide for making proper panels in back.

Make your own comic!

Interior of the Comic Note Book

As per always, the Loot Crate comes with a small monthly guide/magazine and button to celebrate the month and current Rewind theme. The magazine, “REWIND NO. 18” includes a couple articles about Nintendo and Voltron that are worth the quick read, as well as customer submitted photos and a visual list of the items offered into their Mega Crate (Subscribers get entered to win a high end Crate with expensive items in it.). The last few pages involve giving a little more detail about the items in the current Loot Crate.

January REWIND NO.18 Magazine

Always a nice souvenir in each Crate.

Finally, the major Exclusive item of the month was a Loot Crate Variant of Marvel's Star Wars #001. It comes with its own sealed poly bag and board to keep it in pristine order. Han and Chewbacca adorn the front cover of this beautiful art piece. Since I already have a handful of the variants and the digital edition, I've already read this particular issue. And may I say, it's well written, beautifully crafted and drawn, and will make any fan of Star Wars happy and content that Marvel got Star Wars back after so long away.

Out of all of the variants of this issue, this one's my favorite.

Now, for a look at a secret to the shipping box. Flip it inside out and it suddenly becomes The Loot Crate Entertainment System. Almost identical to an original NES, despite coloring, even the “ports” are accurate. Decals on the system make references to old NES games and classic geek jokes. Personally, I'm a fan of the “I Got Slimed” decal, myself. The back of the mini magazine has a pop out, cardboard NES controller to go with the system (not pictured due to need of tape/glue to make it stay together.

Now we're playing with power!

The Whole Shebang

An action shot of me, donning some of my new gear. This shirt is very slimming, and the glasses are totally geeky and cool, even if they start to hurt my nose after a few minutes.

So, this is the part where I mention an upcoming giveaway of some of the featured items in this article, since I got TWO of these bad boys this month.

Keep An Eye Out On Graphic Policy and Right On Chime for details!


Original Post on: Graphic Policy

BREAKING: CLUB NINTENDO BEING DISCONTINUED, REPLACED WITH SUCCESSOR

Unfortunate news has just been posted by Nintendo of Europe, and then by Nintendo of America soon after, for all Club Nintendo members. Club Nintendo is being discontinued as of June 30th, 2015 in America and September 30th in Europe and Japan.

These gray skies come with a bit of silver lining as they are working on a new program that will replace Club Nintendo and “launch later this year”, according to NoE.

American Club members will receive a free download code for Flipnote Studio 3D (For Nintendo 3DS) in February as a thank you, whereas Europe Club members will obtain it as a free sign up bonus during the launch period of the new program later this year.

Points will need to be used prior to the cut off dates below, with an assortment of rewards in their catalog being redeemable until June 30th, 2015.

UPDATE: During the writing of this article, Nintendo of America posted their official release, as well as a change to the prizes being offered on their rewards catalog. This article has been changed to reflect this.

Below are both of the press releases that have both appeared within the hour on Nintendo’s official websites.

Posted to the American Club Nintendo‘s main page:

Dear Club Nintendo Members,

 

Thank you for your continued loyalty to Nintendo.

 

We launched Club Nintendo 6 years ago in North America, and we’re grateful for all of the feedback that our members have provided on their experiences with our products.

In order to focus on planning for a new customer loyalty program for our fans, we’ve decided to wind-down the Club Nintendo program. We are deeply thankful to our members for being a part of Club Nintendo for all of these years.

We will share details about our new program at a later date. For now, please see the schedule below for information on the discontinuation timeframe for Club Nintendo.

All Coins will be deleted when Club Nintendo accounts are closed on July 1, 2015. As a result, to give our members the best opportunity to use their Coins, we will add dozens of downloadable games and a limited quantity of exclusive reward items to the rewards catalog in February. In addition, as a small token of appreciation for your loyalty, all Club Nintendo members will receive a free download code for Flipnote Studio 3D in February 2015. Please visit here for information on the software and how to get the download code.

Club Nintendo program discontinuation schedule

1/20/2015

Products released after this date are not eligible for registration with Club Nintendo

3/31/2015

Last day to earn Coins, register products with Club Nintendo, and sign up for new Club Nintendo membership

6/30/2015

Last day to redeem Coins or access you account on the Club Nintendo website. Club Nintendo program shuts down at 11:59pm PT on 6/30/2015.

Your Account and Coin Balance

The information in your Club Nintendo account will not be transferred to the new loyalty program. We are adding multiple items to our reward catalog, so please be sure to redeem your Coins before the deadline on June 30, 2015. Unused Coins will be deleted as of July 1, 2015.

2015 Elite Status

In order to reach Elite Status, you must earn 300 Coins (for Gold Status) or 600 Coins (for Platinum Status) between July 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. Members who reach Elite Status will be able to choose a downloadable game from a wide selection of Nintendo 3DS and Wii U titles. Your free Elite Status gift will be available between April 1 and April 30, 2015. A list of the Elite Status 2015 gifts will be posted here once announced.

FAQs about Club Nintendo program discontinuation

1. How long can I keep earning Coins?
   1. The last day to register products with Club Nintendo, take surveys, or earn Coins is March 31, 2015. Surveys in your To-Do list will be deleted after March 31, 2015, so please be sure to register products or take surveys by that date. Please note that products released after January 20, 2015 cannot be registered at Club Nintendo, and will not be eligible for surveys or Coins.
2. But I have Club Nintendo PIN # that is valid past March 31, 2015.
   1. Products cannot be registered after March 31, 2015, regardless of the expiration date written on the PIN card.
3. Will the games I download still be registered with Club Nintendo?
   1. Club Nintendo-eligible games that you download will continue to be registered to your account automatically until March 31, 2015 if your Nintendo eShop account is linked to your Club Nintendo account. After that date, games will no longer be registered with Club Nintendo. To find out which games you can register, please see Eligible Products. Click here to learn how to link your Nintendo eShop account to your Club Nintendo account.
4. When is the last day to join Club Nintendo?
   1. You can join Club Nintendo until March 31, 2015.
5. When is the last day to redeem Coins on Club Nintendo?
   1. The last day to redeem your Coins is June 30, 2015. Any unused Coins will be deleted on July 1, 2015. We are offering a large number of digital games, and select physical rewards, so we are sure you can find something you like. Limited quantities are available for the physical rewards, so please be sure to check out our Get Games & Rewards page for each item’s availability.
6. What happens to my Coins if I don’t use them all?
   1. Any unused Coins in your Club Nintendo account will be deleted on July 1, 2015.
7. When is the last day to get the download code for the digital games I chose?
   1. The last day to access your Club Nintendo account is June 30, 2015, so please be sure to get your 16-digit download code(s) for any games you’ve received before that date.
8. Will the download code ever expire?
   1. Yes, all download codes redeemed from Club Nintendo will expire on July 31, 2015, so please be sure to download your game from the Nintendo eShop before that date.
9. Do I need to cancel my membership?
   1. No, your account will automatically be cancelled on July 1, 2015, so there is no need for you to cancel your account.

Posted to Nintendo of Europe‘s site:

Important information about the discontinuation of Club Nintendo

20/01/2015

 

Nintendo’s first loyalty programmes, VIP 24:7 and Club Member, started in May 2002, and were combined in December 2007 to become Club Nintendo. Over the years, players have enjoyed the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U platforms, and countless software titles across them all. We’ve also heard the feedback and opinions of around six million Club Nintendo members across Europe and South Africa, which we have used to help shape our business.

We’re working hard to create a new programme, which we plan to launch later this year. And as a special offer, users who sign up to the new programme during the launch period will be able to download Flipnote Studio 3Dto a Nintendo 3DS system for free. Please stay tuned to the Nintendo website for further details.

This new membership programme will replace Club Nintendo, so we will discontinue Club Nintendo according to the schedule given below. Thank you for all your support.

As Stars in your account will expire on September 30th 2015, please make sure you use them before this date. There are plenty of unique and exclusive items already available in the Stars Catalogue, and we’ll keep adding more over the coming months, so there’s plenty to spend your Stars on before September 30th 2015.

Please stay tuned for more information about the new membership programme, including its launch date.

Club Nintendo Discontinuation Schedule

• April 1st 2015: From this date, Nintendo will no longer include product registration cards with its packaged games, so such products cannot be registered in Club Nintendo. You may still find product registration cards in games that were in stock before this date, however.
• April 20th 2015: Termination of the registration of digital products downloaded from Nintendo eShop. Digital products obtained from Nintendo eShop after this date will no longer appear in the My Registered Games & Systems page in Club Nintendo. In addition, surveys for download software titles will no longer be available.
• September 30th 2015: End of Club Nintendo programme. All Club Nintendo features, such as signing up as a new member, logging in as a registered member, earning Stars, and exchanging Stars for items from the Stars Catalogue will no longer be possible from this date.

New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL

These new handheld systems, which will be released on February 13th 2015, are not registerable in Club Nintendo. However, hardware bundles will still include a product registration card for the included software until April 1st 2015, so software bundled with hardware can still be registered until September 30th 2015.

Stars

Please exchange any Stars in your account for items from the Stars Catalogue before September 30th 2015. Any Stars not used by this date will be lost, so be sure to use them as soon as possible. There are plenty of unique and exclusive items already available in the Stars Catalogue, and we’ll keep adding more over the coming months, so there’s plenty to spend your Stars on before September 30th 2015.

 

Seemingly, they are still honoring all prior obligations, including, what appears to be the Mewtwo DLC offer for Super Smash Bros Wii U and 3DS. No word on if final Gold and Platinum gifts are being sent out this holiday, though.

Article published originally on: Graphic Policy