Ahri's unqualified thoughts #26

Random articles, quotes, videos, musings. Easy to consume content: 1 quote, 1 tweet/storm and 1 article/video.

Today's agenda includes a wonderful tweetstorm discussing one of my favorite web3 intellectual properties, Forgotten Runes Wizard's Cult, as well as an article that explores two of my preferred subjects: Japan and video games.

1 quote

“You can dress a monkey in a suit, but it is still a monkey.”—Pakistan Proverb

1 tweet/storm

In this excellent thread, dotta from the FRWC team delves into the details of the IP, its various applications, ongoing projects, and potential future prospects. As someone who has always held a deep fascination for both magic and pixel art, I felt an instant connection when I stumbled upon the brand. Unfortunately, the price of the NFTs skyrocketed rapidly, making it unaffordable for me at that time. However, during the bear market, I managed to acquire one that I truly like (although my ultimate goal is to obtain a white-bearded wizard!).

I am closely monitoring the development of the Runiverse game, as it perfectly aligns with my interests: an MMORPG featuring pixels, quests, farming, PvE, and more. The same level of excitement extends to the anime they unveiled last year!

1 article/video

In this intriguing piece, GameInformer's Marcus Stewart accompanies author Jake Adelstein, known for Tokyo Vice, on a visit to Kabukicho. The article provides a fascinating exploration of the historical evolution of this central area in Tokyo/Shinjuku, which also plays a prominent role in the acclaimed Yakuza/Like a Dragon game series.

Personally, I have enjoyed playing all the games in this series and have had the chance to visit Japan on multiple occasions. It's always fascinating to see how games, anime, and manga draw inspiration from real-life places, and Yakuza does an excellent job capturing the essence of Kabukicho. I invite you to read the article to discover more about this connection, as I don't want to spoil too much.

On a side note, Jake Adelstein's book, Tokyo Vice, has been adapted into a TV show. While reading it, I was always curious about how a foreigner (gaijin) managed to gain such proximity to the Yakuza and share their stories publicly. Some argue that there may have been embellishments or exaggerations, but I personally view it more as entertainment than strict journalism.