The Star Ocean Universe

As the subject line says, the month of November is officially over, and, with it, with NaNoWriMo over, I can resume my Star Ocean duties for this blog. I don't like how my time management for last month turned out - because I wanted to post more often than what I did - for the month, but I can't change how things turned out. I can hope try and do better next November

With that said, I'm glad that the month of November is over. It was quite hectic with the writing and the holidays. (I did reach the goal for NaNo but on an original instead of Destinies - time just wasn't on my side last month and with that blow in losing what I had written on Destinies before the thumb drive . . . note on that, kids. If you're writing, BACK YOUR WORK UP. Hard lesson learned. I'm passing it on to everyone else.) For those of you who participated in NaNo, I hope you made your goal. If you didn't, just keep going. You started something amazing. It's worth continuing.

****************************************************************

Ask the Star Ocean Character - Roger S. Huxley

I'm now taking questions for Roger S. Huxley from Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. Questions can be submitted between now and midnight, December 11, 2012. Limit three questions per character per person, and keep the questions clean of vulgarity and sex talk. I will not use any questions submitted if the person is swearing at the character. Yes, I do realize that this is a fictional universe. There is swearing and sexual situations implied, but I do not tag very many things as containing adult content for this journal. It means anyone of any age can read it. I hate to sound mean about this, but I want to keep this as clean and inoffensive for everyone as much as possible. I don't care if you dislike the character and the question reflects that, but I do care if you use foul language to demonstrate it. I want this to be fun for everyone, not a select few. I realize that I'm a tad bit behind on making this announcement, but better late than never, right?

Also, please let me know if you wish for me to use a specific user ID or wish to remain anonymous. If you don't, I'll use whatever ID I know you by when posing the questions to the character. Questions can be submitted to me via comments, PM, or email (luthersfayt@gmail.com)

*****************************************************************

CALL OUT FOR CHRISTMAS/UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON

Okay, this is going to very much flow in the same vein as Halloween. For the upcoming holiday season in December, I am seeking out the following:

photos - cosplay, figures, etc . . .
fan art
fan fiction

There are quite a few holidays in December so Star Ocean fans have their pick. There is Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Yule/the winter solstice, New Year's Eve, and New Year's. If I'm missing anything, please let me know, and I will gladly add it to the list. I would very much like to celebrate Star Ocean style. If anyone has or would like to do anything for the holidays in the month of December in terms of cosplay photography, figure/toy photography, fan art, and fan fiction, I will gladly post it to the journals. Credit will be given to the people who submit something. Please keep stories to one-shots. I'll accept chaptered fiction as long as it's complete. When submitting stories (and poetry - I'll accept poetry, too), please include the following:

Title:
World:
Character/s:
Pairing/s, if applicable:
Rating:
Warnings:
Disclaimer:
Claimer on any OCs:
Summary:
Author's Note/s, if applicable:

Please email all submissions to me at luthersfayt@gmail.com, and they can be sent to me at any time until midnight of the day before the holiday of choice (Christmas isn't the only holiday next month, and I will be all inclusive for the holidays celebrated). Stories, artwork, and photography do not need to be and will not exclusive to the journals so if you want to post them to other sites like fanfiction.net, dA, tumblr, etc . . ., you can. As far as I'm concerned, such works are not mine to say where they can and can't go on the web. I can only say that for my works.

As far as the artwork and stories go, NO EXPLICIT MATERIAL. Please keep the profanity to an acceptable level. My journal entries are public so that means anyone and everyone of all ages can read them so please use discretion should you decide to write something for the blogs.

***********************************************************

Weekly Schedule for the Week of December 3 through December 9, 2012

Monday:
Fanfiction Writing Tip
Conversation Topic
Convention Talk/Cosplay Talk - Going Solo or Find a Group?

Tuesday:
Conversation Topic
Fanfiction Entry - one shot (holiday)
Fanfiction Entry - One shot (holiday)
Ask the Star Ocean Character - Roger S. Huxley; Reminder

Wednesday:
Fanfiction Entry: Part Two of Destinies Intertwined by Fayt, Chapter 3
Conversation Topic

Thursday:
Game Talk, Part Seven
Conversation Topic
Ask the Star Ocean Character Reminder

Friday:
(Three separate entries)
Ask the Star Ocean Character - Deputy Director Shimada
Ask the Star Ocean Character - Bacchus D-79
Ask the Star Ocean Character - Peppita Rosetti
Character Facts - Deputy Director Shimada
Character Facts - Bacchus D-79
Character Facts - Peppita Rosetti
Character Study - Deputy Director Shimada
Character Study - Bacchus D-79
Character Study - Peppita Rosetti
Dream Houses - Deputy Director Shimda
Dream Houses - Bacchus D-79
Dream Houses - Peppita Rosetti

Sunday:
Game Tip
Conversation Topic
Legos

Sunday:
Weekly Schedule
Ask the Star Ocean Character Reminder
Impromptu December Birthday List

Please note that I will try to add more to each day where possible, with the exception of Friday. It's already going to have three different entries thanks to the number of Ask the Star Ocean Character segments due for that day.

And that's it for today! Here's to catching up and all that wonderful jazz!

 Here is this week's upcoming schedule for topics. I'm leaving a few things open.



And that's this upcoming week's schedule! If there's anything you'd like to see, please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate you.

***************************************************************
Ask the Star Ocean Character Reminder - Deputy Director Shimada, Bacchus D-79, and Peppita Rosetti

I'm doing a triple threat on Ask the Star Ocean Character. Taking questions for the following characters of Deputy Director Shimada, Bacchus D-79, and Peppita Rosetti. Questions can be submitted between now and midnight, October 31, 2012. Limit three questions per character per person, and keep the questions clean of vulgarity and sex talk. I will not use any questions submitted if the person is swearing at the character. Yes, I do realize that this is a fictional universe. There is swearing and sexual situations implied, but I do not tag very many things as containing adult content for this journal. It means anyone of any age can read it. I hate to sound mean about this, but I want to keep this as clean and inoffensive for everyone as much as possible. I don't care if you dislike the character and the question reflects that, but I do care if you use foul language to demonstrate it. I want this to be fun for everyone, not a select few.

Thank you for your understanding. As always, you can submit questions via comment, PM, or email (luthersfayt@gmail.com). The only other requirement is that you let me know what kind of name you wish for me to use or if you wish to remain anonymous. Thanks again!

***************************************************************

Official Star Ocean Character November Birthday Announcement

Because someone at Square Enix was gracious enough to give Bradley Games the information, we have a birthday coming up next month for Myuria Tionysus. Novermber 5 is her birthday. Starting today, I'm accepting fan poetry, one-shots, and art to celebrate. All submissions must be emailed to me at luthersfayt@gmail.com no later than midnight November 4, 2012.

Like with Halloween, this isn't a contest. The only thing I could offer up as a prize for anyone for submitting the "best" is a one-shot based on what the winner wants to see in a story, and I'd have no guarantees as to when I could get the story written. I'd rather it just be a celebratory display for a beloved character and nothing more. If I hold a contest, I want to be able to give out cool and unique items. I do hope to be able to host contests in the near future, though, so please stay tuned!

In a similar vein as Ask the Star Ocean Character, all fan works must be considered work and school "safe". Profanity in stories should be kept to a minimum and sexually explicit material will not be accepted. At all.

This also goes for Star Ocean Halloween fanfiction and poetry. Please, when submitting any Star Ocean fiction of any kind, include the following:
Story Title
World (for everything but birthdays)
Rating
Pairing, ONLY if applicable
Warnings, if any
A Disclaimer
A Claimer on OCs
Author's Notes, if any

***************************************************************

Impromptu October Birthday List

This list will only cover from today until October 31 and pretty much the NPCs from The Last Hope and characters from Till the End of Time. I've asked Kojika to help me compile a list of the playable characters and memorable villains and NPCs from First Departure and Second Story/Second Evolution. It is my goal to have a complete birthdays list that I may have to eventually change. Hehehehe.

Anyway, these are the impromptu birthdays that I will be celebrating on this blog. All fellow Star Ocean fans are welcome to join me and submit fan art, poetry, and one-shot fiction. Suggested format for fiction is under Myuria's birthday, and the same rules do apply.

Robert Leingod - October 24
Stephen D. Kenny - October 27
Albel Nox - October 30

Submissions will be accepted until midnight the day before the "celebration" commences. I know it's very impromptu and very short notice. I hope to get the list compiled faster in advance so everyone has a better chance to write/draw something.

*********************************************

Merchandise Announcement

Sadly, no, this doesn't mean what everyone thinks and hopes it means. There is no new official Star Ocean merchandise - I checked. The announement I'm making has more to do with the old merchandise that was released in years past and how I plan to proceed in letting everyone know what there is. Here is the deal:

As I buy the official merchandise release for each game, once I have enough, I'll take pictures of what I have and post them to share. I know I've asked for other people to send me their lists (missnox, you, tri-ace super fan, and Charry are life savers on that) and for pictures as well . . . I'm still accepting photos and lists from anyone who wants to submit them (lists should be submitted via PM or email ONLY whereas photos should be submitted to me via email or links only), but I'm going to wait to post what's available until I have it in my hands. This will be the procession:

Games and their Strategy Guides
- already listed in the January 31, 2012, entry, but I'll start over. Once I have my hands on Second Story for the PlayStation One, Blue Sphere for the Nintendo Gameboy, and The Last Hope for the XBox360, I'll repost the games list along with the picture of the games. Yes. One picture. The same will apply to the strategy guides, including my new very beat-up guide for The Last Hope.

Additonal Books
- This will not include manga or doujinshi, but the variants for the strategy guides in Japanese and art books. I know what's available and what I can find on eBay and yahoo! auctions. I will be working on it. This will probably be ongoing due to the number of variant Japanese strategy guides for Till the End of Time and The Last Hope.

Manga
- The only game that hasn't had a manga released for it was The Last Hope. Second Story/Second Evolution, from what I've been able to gather, has enjoyed a few different releases with cover variants. There is also supposedly an English version of the Till the End of Time manga. I want to get my hands on that. Once I have all of them, the pictures will be posted.

Anime
- One game has been turned into an anime. Once I have all of the DVDs, the pictures will be posted.

Figures
- These will appear once collections are completed.

CDs
- These will be listed, along with track titles, once my music collection is completed.

Miscellaneous Merchandise
- From what I've learned in talking with tri ace super fan (I don't know if she has an LJ or not, but that's how I know her), of the games, Second Story and Till the End of Time enjoyed great popularity in Japan so there's a plethora of merchandise out there, from cardboard standees, posters, and keychains to trading cards and other unusual items (she had a picture of a Peppita alarm clock up on her site). This will also include the themed console covers released.

Unofficial Merchandise

Doujinshi
- Expect this to be forever ongoing. eBay doesn't even cover half of what's been released in Japan

Plushies and other hand-crafted Items
- I have found people with commissioned Fayt and Albel plushies. I even know of someone who crafted a Fayt and Albel plushie set for herself. Charry has done some work with clay as well as sewn a Star Ocean bunny and her own Albel plushie. missnox designed her own coffee mug, I do believe. Fans are crafty individuals. I'll find what I can and ask for permission to post who's done what plus try my hand at creating my own Star Ocean merchandise. Be afraid. Be very afraid. :)

Bootleg Items
- Basically, this will be whatever I've bought on eBay that's come from China, Korea, or Taiwan. It looks official, but chances are it probably isn't official. We may never know.

And this concludes Sunday's entry. Hope everyone has enjoyed a safe and wonderful weekend!

Here is the schedule for the upcoming week.

Monday:
Writing Topic - The Eternal Sphere: Game or Reality?
Fanfiction Writing Tip
Convention Talk

Tuesday:
Writing Topic - Ideas for Fanfiction Item Creation
Call out for Doujinshi titles
Creating Family Trees

Wednesday:
Writing Topic - tba
Dream Houses - tentative
Ask the Star Ocean character

Thursday:
Writing Topic - The Educational System of the Future
Game Talk, Part 3

Friday:
Ask the Star Ocean Character
Writing Topic - Weather Patterns

Saturday/Sunday:
Celebrating Mother's Day - A Look at Ryoko Leingod
Who Will Make a Good Mother? A Look at the Cast of Heroines from The Last Hope and Till the End of Time
Free

Leaving the rest of the weekend free for just in case.

The Sunday comment in the subject line isn't a writing topic. It just means I'm not taking a day of rest due to religious observances. At least, I'm not taking a break from working on my Star Ocean blogs or from staring at word documents I want to write in. :) (Remember, this is mirrored at Livejournal, too.)

First up, the Weekly Schedule

Monday:
Writing Topic - to be announced
Fanfic Writing Tip - to be announced
Convention Talk - The Fun of Conventions; List of Upcoming Events
One-shot - to be announced

Tuesday:
All About Arumat (Birthday celebration entry)

Wednesday:
Free day - I'd like to get some fanfiction posted, be it in the form of a few one-shots or the next chapter to Destinies Intertwined by Fate. Otherwise, I'm just going to leave it open.

Thursday:
Writing Topic - to be announced
Game Talk, Part 1
One-shot - to be announced

Friday:
Birthday Determination - Figuring out Which Characters Were Born When Based on Astrological Signs
Half of a Free day - Same as with Wednesday. I'd like to post some more fanfiction.
Game Review: The Last Hope Revisited

Saturday/Sunday:
Dream Houses, Part 1 - What Reimi Saionji's Dream Home Would Look Like
Free Day in here somewhere - potential fanfiction postings as well as potential photo postings. I got toys. Why not have some fun with them? (just need to repair Edge first. He broke. Much sadness.)
Beverage Talk, Part 1

Yeah, some unusual things are listed for the upcoming week, especially next weekend, but I figure if we can't have a little fun with our fandom, what's the point? And I know I've already reviewed The Last Hope once. Unfortunately for Star Ocean fans, there are only five games to review. If you'd like for me to share your thoughts on a particular Star Ocean game, have a fanfiction piece or fan art, let me know, and I will gladly post it with the following requirements:

For Game Reviewing:
1 - You've at least defeated the game. Defeating the post-game dungeon bosses isn't required, but defeating the final boss is. That way it's an in-depth review and complete.

2 - Explain why something has hasn't worked for you in the game. Simply saying a particular situation sucks or was spectacularly awesome isn't helpful. I'd like for people who've never played the games and who find this blog to know why we like Star Ocean as much as we do. The more in-depth the review is, the more likely a person who's never played the games before is going to want to play the games.

For Game Review, Fanfiction, Fanart, Ask the Star Ocean Character submissions:
1 - Provide me with a preferred User name. Otherwise, I will provide you one based upon what I see in the places where I know you've posted works. As for Ask the Star Ocean Character, if you wish to remain anonymous, I will keep you as anonymous.

2 - Keep the rating levels for fan art and fanfiction to the PG13 range. I will accept R rated material so long as certain things like nudity, sex, violence, and language are kept to a minimum. I don't use my age restriction options for  my journals very often, and I'd like to keep it that way. Explicit material will not be accepted.

3 - This applies to fanfiction and reviews: Check your spelling and grammar before submitting to me. I'm not your high school grammar teacher, and I'm not going to go read over each fanfic piece or review to be sure you've done your job properly. If you'd like for me to check over spelling and grammar before posting, please let me know, and I will gladly read over everything and correct any misspelled words or misplaced punctuation. However, it is up to you, the fan, to be sure that you're speaking in a clear and concise voice. I can't do that for you. While this is all for fun, there's still a certain amount of decorum that should be maintained.

Finally, when it comes to commenting on this journal and interacting with me and others, please be kind and respectful, even when the views aren't the same as your own. I won't hesitate to ban someone from commenting on my journals and making it so only people who are my friends can comment on my entries. I don't want it to be that way, but, to protect the love of the fandom, I won't hesitate. The only one who's allowed the God-like attitude is Luther. ;)

Hope everyone's had a great weekend so far. I'll catch up with everyone tomorrow!