Miiverse Code of Conduct: Understanding The Ban

Remember the first time you posted something that you found witty on the Miiverse, only to be rewarded with a deleted comment?  What about the time you posted your best doodle on the Miiverse, and found out you were banned for a couple days due to inappropriate content?
Many have had those exact scenarios play out, only to be left wondering what they could have done to prevent such bans and deletions.  According to the Miiverse Code of Conduct, there are a very “loose” set of guidelines advising members what can and cannot be posted.
Obviously, harassment, profanity, and sexual content are all content that will get you banned.   Nintendo’s official statement on such violations is stated in item 1.6 of the Miiverse Code of Conduct:
“Our goal is to keep Miiverse fun and enjoyable for everyone. In the event that someone violates the Miiverse Code of Conduct, we will take appropriate action, up to and including blocking the offending user or console.”
Further information about the consequences of inappropriate behavior can be found in item 2.4 of the Miiverse Code of Conduct:
“Users who violate the Miiverse Code of Conduct may find their posts deleted and their access to Miiverse blocked.
If you see content that If presents a credible risk to your or another’s safety, please contact law enforcement. If contacted by law enforcement, Nintendo will work with them directly on their investigation.”

Again, there is no definitive outline for what determines a two day ban, or a lifetime ban.  So, I decided to give Nintendo a call to see if they could provide some answers.
When I called, I had a surprisingly short hold time, only about thirty seconds.  A nice young lady named Lindsey answered and happily offered me her assistance.  I told her how happy I was with the Wii U and how I love the Miiverse interface.  She was quick to thank me for my support in the Nintendo Community and seemed excited to assist me.
Then I asked about the guidelines for being banned.  Her verbal happiness turned to a nervous stutter.  I could hear her fingers frantically striking the keyboard, as though she dreaded the question and knew exactly where to find the vague answer that she had been provided.  After a few deep breathes, she asked what I meant specifically about being banned.  I assured her that I was not banned, but did not want to get myself into such a scenario.
Before I could ask more, she stumbled over her words as she asked me to please hold while she found some more information.
About two minutes passed and she apologetically thanked me for holding.  She still seemed nervous and told me that their admins usually handle ban cases.  When asked if I could speak to an admin, she said that they were not available at the time.
She advised me of the main causes of being banned, as stated in the Miiverse Code of Conduct.  Actually, I think she was reading right from them.  Violent content, inappropriate/ hateful comments, advertising, sexually explicit content, etc…  She did offer to tell me that there is a built in profanity filter that will delete most posts containing cursing immediately.
When asked about actually being banned, she could only say that a ban can last anywhere from a couple of days to permanently.  She then advised me that the types of bans are either limited to restriction on specific online activity (such as a specific game or community), or can result in being banned from all online services.  Once again I asked her how the type of ban was determined, and she became silent for a second.
Assuming my phone had a bad connection, I apologized and said that my phone broke up and could not hear her.  She cleared her throat and said that the admins determine the type of ban.  I, once again, asked if they had specific guidelines that they follow when initiating a ban or post deletion.  Again fumbling over her words, she stated that there was no strict set of guidelines other than the Miiverse Code of Conduct and that it is up to the admins themselves.  She did state that the Admins take into account the type of violation as well as the number of previous violations, and the number of previous bans.
I was starting to feel bad for her now, we were about fifteen minutes into the call and she was beginning to repeat herself.  So, I asked if there was any documentation she could provide me in regards to the policies.  She told me to visit the Miiverse Code of Conduct on either the Miiverse, or Nintendo.com (I have pasted them below for your viewing pleasure).  I thanked her for her time and ended the call.
So, what does this tell us about being banned?  Not a lot at all, except to mind out P’s and Q’s, try not to draw anything that could be misinterpreted as being sexually explicit (be careful with drawing those Pikmin), and be sure to spell check those posts to ensure a random bit of profanity doesn’t slip in.
I know the job of an admin cannot be an easy one.  The sheer number of posts that they must have to review probably makes them a bit cranky, and I am sure if I was one of them I might even throw in a random ban just to confuse the heck out of some kid out there.  But we have to keep in mind that they are doing it to keep the community safe.  Although I wish their guidelines were a bit more structured so things would be more clear, or maybe that they should be a bit more lenient on us.  Until then, be sure to read the Miiverse Code of Conduct below and follow the rules as closely as possible.

Miiverse Code of Conduct

Miiverse Code of ConductLast Updated: January 31, 20131  Miiverse MannersThe following are some important guidelines for making Miiverse a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. The Miiverse Code of Conduct contains detailed information, so please read it carefully. 1.1  Posts Can Be Viewed Around the World
Miiverse contains many gaming communities where people from all over the world can share their thoughts.
When you post in a community, remember that everyone can see it, so please express yourself in a way that everyone can enjoy. Use common sense, and think before you post.
Additionally, any comments you make on your friends’ posts will be seen not by just your friends but by people around the world, too. Please keep this in mind.
1.2  Be Nice to One Another
In order to keep Miiverse a fun place for everyone, we ask that you be considerate to other users.
Help us keep Miiverse an enjoyable experience by not posting anything inappropriate or offensive.
1.3  Do Not Post Personal Information—Yours or Others’
Remember, knowing someone in Miiverse isn’t the same as knowing them in real life.
Never share your e-mail address, home address, work or school name, or other personally identifying information with anyone on Miiverse, and never share anyone else’s information either.
Additionally, if someone you meet in Miiverse invites you to meet him or her in the real world, do not accept. Miiverse is an online community and should not be used to arrange real-world meet-ups.
1.4  Don’t Post Spoilers
Some people come to Miiverse looking for tips and tricks for games, but others want to discover a game’s secrets all on their own. Posts that reveal secrets of a game or its story are called “spoilers.”
If you’re posting something about a game that might be a spoiler, be sure to check the Spoilers box before sending your post. This way, people who don’t want to be spoiled won’t see your post.
1.5  Users Aged 12 and Under
For the protection of younger users, direct friend requests are not possible in Miiverse for users aged 12 and under. At the same time, younger users can make friends on Wii U outside Miiverse by entering each other’s Nintendo Network IDs in the friend list on the Wii U Menu.
We encourage younger users to make friends on Wii U only if they are friends in real life (such as friends from the same school or neighborhood). Therefore, do not attempt to exchange your Nintendo Network ID with other users on Miiverse.
Additionally, do not attempt to exchange Nintendo 3DS or other friend codes.
1.6  Code of Conduct Violations
Our goal is to keep Miiverse fun and enjoyable for everyone. In the event that someone violates the Miiverse Code of Conduct, we will take appropriate action, up to and including blocking the offending user or console.

2  A Few Reminders
Please keep the following considerations in mind before posting on Miiverse.
2.1  By Gamers, About Games
Miiverse is a gaming community that allows people from around the world to interact and discuss the games they love.
In communities dedicated to a specific game, please stay on topic, and only make posts relevant to that community and that contribute to the overall discussion. When someone posts on an unrelated topic, it may detract from users who want to discuss the game.
In addition, please refrain from making posts that other users may find irritating, such as those asking for friend requests or asking people to Yeah! your posts.
2.2  Respect Other People’s Work
You can post handwritten illustrations in Miiverse.
Because you can make handwritten posts, you can also make sketches. Please post only your original works or works to for which you have been given permission to use.
As long as you follow the Miiverse Code of Conduct, you can use Nintendo’s copyrighted works within Miiverse.
2.3  Violation Types
The following is a brief overview of the content prohibited by the Miiverse Code of Conduct:
Personal Information

• Personal information includes but is not limited to your e-mail address, home address, work or school name, and phone number. Never use Miiverse as a means of setting up real-world meet-ups.

Violent Content

• Violent content includes anything that depicts violence, promotes suicide, endorses acts of cruelty or violence.

Inappropriate/Harmful

• Inappropriate or harmful content includes anything that promotes dangerous behavior or illegal activities.

Hateful/Bullying

• This includes any content that slanders, defames, or misrepresents another person, as well as any discriminatory, harassing, or abusive content.

Advertising

• This includes any post containing commercial or marketing content, as well as any attempts to sway public opinion for the purpose of financial gain.

Sexually Explicit

• Sexually explicit content includes anything containing nudity, sexuality, or propositions.

Inappropriate Reporting

• Intentionally misreporting a post for violating the Miiverse Code of Conduct is itself a violation of the Miiverse Code of Conduct.

Other
Additional kinds of violation include intentionally posting the following:

• Content that infringes on the copyrights, intellectual-property rights, usage of likeness, or privacy rights of any third party
• Religious or political content
• Content that disrupts the community (multi-posts, etc.)
• Content soliciting donations or participation in fundraisers or demonstrations
• Soliciting people to enter their Nintendo Network IDs on friend lists, publishing Nintendo 3DS or other friend codes in communities, soliciting people to make public their friend codes, using other methods besides friend requests to try and establish relationships in communities. (This does not include making public the community code of a community you created.) The posting of Nintendo 3DS or other systems’ friend codes, usernames, or other unique IDs
• Any conduct that violates the Nintendo Network Services Agreement

2.4  Consequences of Inappropriate Behavior
Users who violate the Miiverse Code of Conduct may find their posts deleted and their access to Miiverse blocked.
If you see content that If presents a credible risk to your or another’s safety, please contact law enforcement. If contacted by law enforcement, Nintendo will work with them directly on their investigation.
2.5  Reuse of Posted Content
Your posts and comments may appear within games and may be modified to appear in those games.
For example, only a portion of a post might be used, the poster’s name might be obscured, or a specific word might be left out.
This is because posts sent to Miiverse will be used to make games more fun, and will be aligned in keeping with the game’s world feel or design. Thank you for your understanding.
2.6  The Use of Messages and Content on Miiverse
Nintendo may use your publicly available posts, comments, drawings, and other contributions to Miiverse as set forth in the Nintendo Network Services Agreement.
2.7  Disclaimers and User Responsibilities
Each Miiverse user is responsible for understanding and complying with the Miiverse Code of Conduct.

3  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you have any questions while using Miiverse, this is the first place to check for an answer.
3.1  I saw a post or comment that violates the Miiverse Code of Conduct. What should I do?
If you encounter a post or comment that violates the Miiverse Code of Conduct, please report the violation using the Miiverse reporting function.
Reported violations will be reviewed by a Nintendo moderator. Any post that violates the Miiverse Code of Conduct will be removed.
Please note: False reporting is a violation of the Miiverse Code of Conduct and is subject to action up to and including loss of Miiverse access.
3.2  I received a comment or message that is offensive, threatening, or upsetting.
Harassment of any kind, including slander, defamation of another user, disclosure of personal information, or invasion of privacy, is a violation of the Miiverse Code of Conduct. Even in messages between friends, such exchanges violate of the Miiverse Code of Conduct.
Please report any posts or messages that violate the Miiverse Code of Conduct. If you are experiencing harassment, please use the Report function on the offending user’s profile screen.
Furthermore, if you do not want to receive comments or friend requests by messages from a particular user, you may use the Block function on the user’s profile screen.
3.3  I saw a comment with a spoiler in it, even though it wasn’t marked as having spoilers.
It’s up to users to mark their posts for having spoilers. However, if someone forgets to do this, you can help by hitting the Report Spoilers button.
Comments and posts that receive enough spoiler reports will be marked as spoilers, viewable only to people who have chosen to keep spoilers visible.
3.4  Why do some users have a green check mark? What are verified users? Can I be a verified user?
A verified user is someone whose identity has been authenticated and certified by Nintendo. Their verified status indicates that they are a legitimate source of high-quality information. Their status as a verified user is indicated on their Mii character as shown below:

Verified user status is granted only to parties as needed based on Nintendo’s determination. We do not accept requests for verification from the general public.
3.5  I can’t see comments for other regions.
Your Miiverse settings may not permit you to see posts made in other languages.
Within your Miiverse settings, find the option that reads “View community posts from users who are using which system language” to control which languages you see in Miiverse communities. You may choose to view all languages (default) or only posts made in your Wii U system’s language.
Remember, when posting in Miiverse communities of another region, the code of conduct for that region applies, as does the code of conduct for your own region.
3.6  I found content that infringes on my copyrighted work, and I would like it removed.
Nintendo respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask users of Nintendo products and services to do the same. If you feel that your intellectual property rights have been infringed, please visithttp://www.nintendo.com/ippolicy to read our full policy and submit a takedown request.

Kickstarter: NES, by Richie Palys

Some of my best childhood memories are of me and my friends playing on our Nintendos, breaking personal records, and imagining that we held the power of saving the universe in our hands.  During our missions, whether swimming away from an electrified squid or standing toe to toe with a mystical demon while exchanging blows turn-by turn-, the soundtrack of our summers and weekends was played out via the music of the game.

I can remember that we would, at times, discuss creating a band that plays the game tunes in a way that would please the ears of non-gamers.  However, we did not play instruments, so the talk never got much further than a conversation or two.  However, being the dreamer that I was, I was able to create a vivid symphony from the solid base that the gaming music provided, hearing something much more intense and sensational that what exhaled form my television speakers.  Even today, when I play the old games, I can hear so much more than was actually there.  When I hear a piano, violin, or any other combination of musical instruments creating the sounds that I heard in my head as a child, it brings back many memories.

When I heard about the NES album, from Richie Palys, I was beyond excited for the opportunity to see the Kickstarter come to fruition.  I was even more ecstatic when I found out that the album would be "The first of a trilogy of Nintendo albums arranged in the style of synth-infused live jazz."  This is definitely an album that I am anticipating, and I encourage you to check it out.  If you cannot give monetary support, please consider sharing it with your friends via facebook, twitter, a personal blog, or anywhere else it might reach the masses.  I believe it deserves all the attention it can muster from fans and friends of fans.

Check out what Richie has to say about the project:

"My name is Richie Palys and I’ve been a lifetime video game player and musician. I've been playing trombone and piano, in both jazz and classical styles, for 14 years. I’m in Chicago right now where I’m working on my master’s in composition because I aspire to be a video game composer. Throughout my life I've played games of every genre from every console getting my hands on anything retro I can find. The music from these games has instilled a great sense of nostalgia in my mind so as I began my musical journey, video game music was always influencing the way I compose and perform. I always figured I'd write some simple covers to my favorite Nintendo tunes, but about six months ago I decided on doing something spectacular. I decided on making a trilogy of albums, one for the NES, one for the SNES, and one for the N64. So I began writing for the first album, the NES album. All the music for this album is finished now and ready to get recorded. Because I grew up playing jazz and falling in love with it, the album is going to be in the style of jazz with a heavy emphasis on synth and production. So this is where things get amazing :) Writing the album was a huge success but the coolest part about the album was how many unbelievably talented musicians wanted to be apart of it!

So let me go into detail about who's on the album. To start, we have Matt Ulery, Marquis Hill, Makaya McCraven, Rob Clearfield, and Corbin Andrick, 5 of the hands-down best jazz musicians in Chicago recording on the album. The recording session will take place at a professional studio called Transient Sound here in Chicago. After that, an incredible musician and producer John Norman will be doing synthesizer work on the album, giving it that nostalgic, crunchy, 8-bit flavor. It will eventually get sent over to the UK where it will get mastered by Mark Dobson, who’s part of a group of producers, ’Ambassadeurs’, who are a huge deal in Europe’s electronic scene. And for our biggest news, mixing our album will be the grammy award winning James Auwarter, who’s gone triple platinum with Kanye West, gone platinum with Rihanna, gone gold with Ludacris and Lupe Fiasco, and has 30 grammy nominations on top of that! The amount of musicians on board and the high level of professional quality recording and production involved is what this Kickstarter is paying for. This is not going to be your run-of-the-mill cover album, this is going to be a huge production because I believe this is the way to truly honor Nintendo’s music!"

here is the track listing:

Super Mario Bros. 2 - Level 1

Duck Tales - Moon Level

Bionic Commando - Level 1

Marble Madness - Level 2

Megaman 2 - Airman

Little Nemo: The Dream Master - Level 1

Ninja Gaiden - Mineshaft

Startropics - Dungeon Theme

The Legend of Zelda II: Link's Adventure - Temple Theme

Kingdom Hearts: The Fans, The Love, The Hate, and the Uninformed

Many of us that love the worlds of Kingdom Hearts have fond memories of playing the game from our younger years until the present.  Although I was not as young as some, being in my twenties at the time, I did enjoy playing with my daughters.  The coagulated appeal of both Disney and Square Enix ensured fun and nostalgia for us all.

Still, there are those that are new to the series.  To assist in bringing those "noobs" up to speed, as well as reignite the passion of us that have followed since the beginning, Square Enix has provided us with a fantastically created collection in the form of Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Remix HD and the future release of Kingdom Hearts 2.5 ReMix HD.

Despite being a family friendly game, themed with friendship, perseverance, and various life lessons, many of the fans choose to embrace the darkness when participating in various forums and groups.  We see this oftentimes when someone posts a simple message stating, "I Luv Roxas, why did he change his name from Ventus?", or"Star Wars/Marvel in KH3".  For those of us that are die hard fans, these silly posts are not only repetitive but detrimental to the Kingdom Hearts community because they inevitably invite the trolls into the mix.  Sadly, the poster tends to become the innocent victim of a serious condition known as "butthurt", when all is said and done.

Why is there such a strong level of hate and meanness in the fandom of Kingdom Hearts?  I think we can split this up into three categories.  The first being the uninformed noobs of the Kingdom Hearts series that have played one, maybe two games and believe they know more than they actually do, or ask questions that were easily answered in the games themselves.  Next, we have the roleplayers that hide behind a pseudonym and refuse to break character, even during a serious conversation.  Finally, we have those that understand the series, enjoy the complexity within, but dislike the annoyance of the other two groups.

If we start off by looking at the noobs, we find that they are usually the people that ask questions about Sora/Roxas/Venitas/Ven/Xion.  For a serious Kingdom hearts fan, explaining the differences and their roles
becomes tiresome and tedious.  Not to mention, the trolls feed on their ignorance, causing flame wards of keybalde war proportions.Despite their lack of knowledge on the games, especially with the individual titles placed on multiple platforms, the best way to treat them is to point toward the game that contains their answer.  Forcing them, or suggesting, to do their own research will draw them in further and provide them with he tools to be knowledgeable and intellectual members of the community.  Maybe they will even provide a different perspective on various theories.  As much as the noobs tend to get on my nerves at time, I do have a soft spot for them, assuming they do not take their minimal knowledge as a complete truth, while refusing to accept that answers lie elsewhere than Kingdom Hearts 2 and Dream Drop Distance, which seem to be the two games that many base their knowledge off of.

Next up comes the Role Players.  This group of fans actually become a character, oftentimes an original, and refuse to break out of the role for any reason.  Now, there are some that only role play in certain scenarios,
and that is fine.  However, those that dedicate themselves to the cause tend to upset the community to the World's End!  Why?  Simply because they inject their own truths into the role play that are not canon to the series at all..  This tends to not only confuse the noobs, but they can easily assimilate the falsities as truths, creating more confusion and ignorance among the fans.  At times, the Role players can become irate when others do not want to play along, hiding deeper within their character (which is usually an Organization Member) and cause arguments to ensue.  Oftentimes, those argument become grammatical in scope, bringing out the persistent Reich that aims to protect the English language to no end.  I will admit, I have joined the ranks at times.  The best way to confront a fickle band of role players is to simply dedicate a thread or two to their story, allowing them the freedom within to express their creativity.

Finally, there are those that know the series inside and out.  They are the leaders, the teachers, the peace keepers of the various groups and forums out there.  They show no fear when confronting those that are
spreading untruths, yet will take a noob under their wing to educate them on the ways of the worlds, all while encouraging the role player to be creative.  However, they also seem to be the meanest of the grammar Nazis, encouraging pride in their written communication, rather than give in to the darkness of internet speak.  They battle trolls with the ferocity of a Chernabog and the finesse of Marluxia's flowing hair whipping through the air on a breezy day.

Trolls are not included in the mix, because they are simply everywhere and cannot be avoided.  However, they can be controlled with proper adminship.

One of the most common questions asked within the Kingdom Hearts community is about the inclusion of Marvel or Star Wars in the next installment of the game. These questions upset everyone except those asking the questions, who are usually trolls in disguise.  Simply put, their inclusion should never happen.  Other than the original characters within the games, and the supporting actors provided by Square Enix, only the classical Disney characters and world's should remain in the current saga.  It would be ridiculously detrimental to insert something completely different just for the sale of fanservice.

With that said, we will be approaching a new saga after the release of Kingdom Hearts III.  Although I am
not a fan of Marvel or Star Wars included, because again it would be nothing more than fan service, I am not against the movement towards another set of worlds, like the Looney Tunes as an example.  Moving away from the safety of Disney to the more unpredictable and chaotic realm of Warner Bros. could be a perfect transition for the aging Sora and gang. The new saga could even begin in Toon Town, where Mickey and Bugs already live in chaotic harmony with each other.  But, that is just a thought.

Finally, there is much anger about the release of Kingdom Hearts III on the Xbox One.  Honestly, why does it matter which consoles it is released on:?  For the first time, Square Enix is allowing fans of multiple consoles to partake in the wonder that is Kingdom Hearts.  I think the real question here is why not the Wii U?  Some would argue that the Wii U is inferior, but they would be wrong.  A console is only as great as the games that are released on it, not by the graphics or the processing speed.  What if the PS4 was full of beautifully graphic enriched games, but they were all equivalent to Knack?  Not so great anymore, is it?  The Wii U would be able to natively provide an extra layer of challenge to the game, similar to the bottom screen of the 3DS when playing Dream Drop Distance, when using the gamepad by incorporating a flick rush type experience within.  However, for whatever the reason behind the decision, we should be happy that we are getting the game, someday, rather than complain about the launch consoles.

Despite the diverse fanbase, one thing is for certain, there are many that love the game and want to see it evolve beyond the Xehanort Saga.  If only we could agree on the path that evolution takes.

Violence, Video Games, Ignorance, Blame Game

It seems that lately, there has been continuing discussion around Video Games  and their contribution to violence in society.  Even Glen Beck has stated that video games are a gateway to violence.  This is a subject that I am VERY passionate about, so I thought that I would share an article that I posted previously on Nerdzy.com.



As a Husband, Father, and Gamer, I cannot justify blaming a video game on future violence.  Instead, I blame those surrounding the individual for not stepping in and being part of their life.  If they were active with the individual's life, they would have seen warning signs...and got the person the help that they need.



Too many times, we allow inanimate objects, such as video games, movies, etc... to become babysitters as we go about our daily lives.  We need to be more involved with our friends and loved ones.  Together, we can stop the violence if we just know what is going on in the lives of the ones we love.



Maybe I am biased because I am a gamer, and write for both Nerdzy.com and Infendo.com, and am co-host on Infendo Radio.  However, gaming has been a part of my life since I was very little, and I have many friends in the same scenario, none of which felt the need to shoot someone in real life.



Hit the jump below to read my article originally posted on Nerdzy.com

I know this is not an upbeat story, but I feel that too many times video games, anime, comic books, music, cosplay etc… get a bad wrap.

In Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture Japan, a 14 year old boy was arrested  on February 19, 2012 at approximately 5:40 PM for stabbing his mother.

Why did he stab his mother?

According to “Japan Today” the boy bought a video game without his Mother’s permission.  The Mother was clearly upset that the Young boy had bought the game without her knowledge, so she took it from him.  The Student lost his temper and stabbed his mom in retaliation.  Luckily the Mother was okay and Paramedics were able to treat her wounds.

The young boy, who’s name was withheld due to his age, was arrested on charges of attempted murder.  There is no word on whether he has been released or what game the quarrel started over.  I had a brief conversation with a friend about this sort of happening recently.

  Are video games to blame for this violence? 

I have to believe that they are not the cause of violence, nor do they stoke the flame.  It seems that too many times violence of this nature is blamed on Video Games, Loud Music, Anime, etc…  For many, these video games, Music and Anime become an escape.  It is the one place they can go and be free of bullying from their peers, or abuse from those that claim to love them.  A place to meet people likethem, without judgement or pain. 

To be honest, I was bullied as a kid in school and my home life was not happy and cheerful, in fact it was pretty horrible at times.  My escape from the pain was Comic Books, Music, and Video Games.  I would immerse myself in the World’s of Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior,  andHyrule.  In the background my stereo would wear out the cassettes that I played over and over.  My Room became a fortress from outside harm.

During those lonely times, not once did I feel the need to fight off the urge to mimic my characters and act out against my Bullies.  Video Games, Music and Anime did not teach me that.  In fact, they taught me the opposite.  They Taught me to be myself, to follow my Life’s path and I would become what I am supposed to be.  I suffered through the hard times, and made sure that I shared some happy times and created some good memories.  I battled through the mental obstacles and became the Man I am today.  I am a Father, a Husband, and I am Me.  I would not say that I am the “perfect” Husband or Father, but I do my best to give my Family what I did not have.

I did not have a computer when growing up, so I did not have the opportunity to meet people like myself on forums such as Infendo.com, or Nerdzy.com.  I had to go to local game stores that were similar to Nintendosforsale.com to find others like me.  Even then most kids my age did not feel comfortable sharing their stories.

Today, I still enjoy losing myself in games such as Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and Many others.  In fact, over the last year, I have meat some really great people in a Kingdom Hearts group.  Within that group I found some people that have a similar background as myself.  Some are experiencing the pain and bullying now, and others have been through the pain and hurt.  After one conversation in particular, I created a page called “the Zone” where people that are misunderstood and bullied can hang out and share their stories and get support.  Many times we just discuss various topics of interest but other times posts can get serious. 

During the serious times, we all band together to help each other out.  It is never easy to learn that someone is suffering from depression, abuse, or even suicidal tendencies.  But gaming, comics, and anime has brought us together to help each other out. 

Very recently a member inspired me to write this article after he shared the story about the young boy that stabbed his mother.  

He later shared a s story about his life that was very open, honest, and demonstrated more bravery than anyone I know.  We may not hear from him again on the page, but if he is reading this I want to say” thank you” for being our friend.  I hope that by being a friend , we have helped to put a smile on his face a few times and maybe help him through a few rough patches.  The zone is an open group for anybody that would like to join and hang out with people just like themselves.

If you know anyone that is showing warning signs of any sort of depression, abuse etc.., I urge you to reach out to them and just be a friend.  show them that they have someone they can go to and talk to.

Video Games, Music, and Movies didn’t cause our problems…they were our escape from the pain.

Do you have a go-to-game that you lose yourself in when things aren’t going well for you?  What is it about the game that makes you feel free?

Iwata Addresses the Managerial Staff

If you have seen my work over at Infendo.com, there is no doubt that I am a huge fan of Nintendo. However, my gaming love does not stop there, in fact it extends to all consoles.

It is no secret that the Wii U has not lived up to its expectations in sales.  I attribute this to the lack of advertisement around why it is different from the Wii. regardless, it is a fantastic console that has a bright and prosperous future ahead of it, which can be foretold by Nintendo's refusal to give in to the pressure of the competitors.

Today, Iwata spoke to his managerial staff regarding Nintendo's plans in the future.  Nintendo UK has provided the following following topline summary:

"We can confirm that on Jan. 30 in Japan, Mr. Iwata made several announcements at Nintendo’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing regarding the short- and long-term plans for the company. Some of the topics covered in Mr. Iwata’s presentation include: 

Plans to drive momentum for Wii U, which includes launching Mario Kart 8 globally in May and releasing new software titles and services in 2014 that use the unique strengths of the Wii U GamePad.The global installed base for Nintendo 3DS has now exceeded 42.7 million units, and the company is well-positioned to drive strong profits from that business moving forward.While Nintendo does not have plans to port existing games from its library to smart devices, it will begin using smart devices in the near future to form stronger ties with its consumers and communicate the value of its entertainment offerings. This includes launching a dedicated smart-device service by the end of this year and considering if services previously implemented on Nintendo platforms could offer greater consumer benefit if moved to smart devices.Plans to expand Nintendo’s global character licensing business, including proactively finding appropriate partners and looking for new ways to expose global consumers to Nintendo characters. This approach will give consumers an opportunity to experience Nintendo outside the realm of video games.In the next few years, Nintendo will establish a new platform business that is independent of our existing video game platforms. This new venture concerns “quality of life,” and will focus first on health. This will leverage Nintendo’s history of creating engaging, nontraditional entertainment experiences such as Brain Training and Wii Fit. More details will be revealed in 2014, with the new venture scheduled to launch during the fiscal year ending in March 2016 (April 1, 2015 – March 31, 2016)."

The rest of the translated speech can be seen at the following link:

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/140130/index.html 

The contents of the link are pretty telling in regards to Iwata's passion for Nintendo and his refusal to be bullied by the competitors.  What are your thoughts about his presentation, and the future of Nintendo?  

Southington Plans Video Game Burning

I wrote the following article for Nerdzy.com.  Please be sure to visit Nerdzy regularly for my daily articles.





http://www.nerdzy.com/2013/01/04/conneticut-town-to-burn-violent-video-games/

In 1692 and 1693 we saw Witches burned at the stake in Salem, MA.  Throughout the 20th century we saw many book burnings to protest risque or misunderstood content.  In 1966, there was even a record burnings as a result of a comment John Lennon made.



Looking back, it seems pretty silly to burn something because we do not understand it.  Our lack of comprehension on the subjects seem to translate to evil, so we must burn it to rid it from our presence.  I would assume that most people, looking back, would have reacted differently knowing what we know now.

However, to a group in the town of Southington, Conneticut, burning violent video games seems like the solution to America’s violence problem.



Before I continue, please advise that I am saddened by the Sandy Hook Tragedy.  That day will forever be in our American history, and we must now live with that.  The event should not have happened and could have been prevented.  However, I refuse to believe that video games are the cause of the perpetrators unspeakable acts.  His issues reside much deeper in his soul.  However, much like the burnings of the past, we focus on one element of his lifestyle and condemn it to burn into ashes, rather than focus on the true issue because it is too hard to fathom.



The group, named SouthingtonSOS, has organized the “Violent Video Games Return Program”, which will take place on January 12, 2013.  In a press release, they stated the following:



“As people arrive in their cars to turn in their games of violence, they will be offered a gift certificate donated by a member of the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce as a token of appreciation for their action of responsible citizenship. Violent games turned in will be destroyed and placed in the town dumpster for appropriate permanent disposal.”

 

Now, SouthingtonSOS is not blaming video games for the tragedy, at least not outright.  They are leaning heavily on evidence that video games lead to violence:



“The publication of the first press story today has attracted a significant response which was no surprise to SouthingtonSOS. The group’s action is not intended to be construed as statement declaring that violent video games were the cause of the shocking violence in Newtown on December 14th.

Rather, SouthingtonSOS is saying is that there is ample evidence that violent video games, along with violent media of all kinds, including TV and Movies portraying story after story showing a continuous stream of violence and killing, has contributed to increasing aggressiveness, fear, anxiety and is desensitizing our children to acts of violence including bullying. Social and political commentators, as well as elected officials including the president,are attributing violent crime to many factors including inadequate gun control laws, a culture of violence and a recreational culture of violence.”



Honestly, I am almost at a loss for words.  They state that they are not blaming violent video games, yet go on to say that video games have given evidence to violent behavior, such as bullying, increased aggressiveness, fear, etc.  I have to say that I am very disturbed that our nation has moved on from taking responsibility for our actions, and passed blame onto scapegoats.



As a child, I can remember being bullied.  I was not rich, I never had the latest clothes, or swatch watch.  When not around my friends I was a loner, and I was okay with that.



Before Sophmore year of High School, I had to attend a two week band camp for marching band.  While waiting my turn to march in a line, I sat on the sidelines with all the other band students.  We had a band of about 200 students, and only twenty were marching at a time.  As I sat there, in the grass, awaiting my turn, I just daydreamed.  Finally, it was my turn.  As I stood up, some of the juniors were laughing.  Apparently, there was a small amount of dog poop right where I was sitting.  Just enough to make it look like I had soiled myself.  I was immediately embarrassed, and could not wait for the next hour to pass.  Although I had hoped they would forget about it, I was known as “Mr. Poopy Pants” for the next two years by that small group of bullies. Of course, they took every opportunity to bully me in the class.



That was only one example, however there are many more.  For me, video games were an escape from all of that.  I could go home and be Link or Samus, or Raiden.  I could escape in the other worlds and be the hero.  Not once did I ever feel the need to take it to the next level and become violent.



Today, I am grown up with children of my own.  They play video games as much as I used to.  One of my 15 year old daughter’s favorite games is Call of Duty: Black Ops.  I am okay with that.  Why, you ask?  Because I am involved in her life.  I do not use the XboxMicrosoft Xbox 360 Slim 4GB Kinect Holiday Bundle Video Game System - S4G16P (Google Affiliate Ad), PlayStation, Nintendo, or any of the 40 plus gaming consoles as a babysitter.  Her Mother and I make it our business to know what is happening in her life.  It is not always easy, and we are not always the “good guys”, but parents are supposed to be the bad guys sometimes.



I do not condone the burning of the violent video games.  However, I hope that by coming together for the event, a dialogue opens about what can be done to prevent future atrocities from happening.  I hope that, in that dialogue, people realize that the best way to prevent violence is to be there for those you love.  Be involved, know what they are doing, who they are hanging out with, who is picking on them.  Whether a Parent, relative, or friend, you must step into the lives of those you care about.  If there is an underlying issue that you cannot solve, then seek out professional help.  Remember, if you are aware of the potential for violent behavior, and you do not step in to help, you could be contributing to the outcome.


Violence is preventable.  As a society, we can prevent future tragedies, as long as we step in and take responsibility.  Burning/banning inanimate objects is not the answer.  It just draws attention away from the true issue at hand.  From witches to books, to records, to video games, when do we learn that we cannot continue to pass the blame?