Dear Capcom....

I wish I could start this by saying "it's not you, it's me," but that would just be a lie, and I don't want to sugar coat this. This has been on my mind for a while now, but I still don't really know how to tell you this. So I'll just come out and say it.

I'm done with you, Capcom.

It feels so much better to just get that off my chest. I think you deserve to know some of the reasons why, especially considering all the great things we went through in the past. It started out as little straws here and there, but recently you dropped a figurative brick that broke this camel's back.

For the last 2 years or so, you have been smothering me. I bought Street Fighter 4 and loved it. But that wasn't enough attention or money for you, so you started releasing costumes. Then new characters. Then more costumes. Then more new characters. After that, the cycle began again with Marvel vs Capcom 3. And it is starting again with Street Fighter X Tekken. It feels like you are trying to suck me dry, but at least these are things that I am able to deal with or avoid. These were the straws.

Then I started to hear about what happened at Cross Assault. I understand that you are sorry, but this is something that I can't just turn my back on and ignore. I realize that people are people, and some of them are dicks who are stubborn and set in their ways, and there is nothing I can do to change that.

But Capcom, you are a company, not a person. You were in charge. This was your event. You were responsible. And you didn't do anything. No one should have to endure that level of harassment for any amount of time. But you let it go on for 5 days, without even attempting to intervene!

Well, I've decided that I won't stand for it any more. That's why we are through, Capcom. I may call from time to time, just to check in, but there are plenty of other game companies that I can give my money to. Game companies that won't try to suck me dry at every turn. Game companies that won't tolerate sexual harassment.

And I'm sure there are plenty of other gamers for you too, that are more willing to turn a blind eye to your shortcomings. But I hope not. I hope that there are more people like me, that will expect more from their game companies in today's world. And I hope that you can change. Otherwise, I see a very lonely future for you, Capcom.

Sincerely,
NPB

Time to tie up some loose gaming ends.

Don't worry, true believers. The Sonic challenge still continues. But I have far too many mid-progress games that need resolving. Some of those are Sonic games. I am about halfway through Sonic 3, 2 worlds into Sonic & Knuckles, 1/3 through Sonic CD, and about the same with Sonic 4.

Those aren't the egregious ones though. Here is a taste of what I'm talking about.

• I just bought the new Alan Wake XBLA game, just recently finished the first DLC for the original game, and haven't started the second DLC yet.
• I bought the Martian Bear expansion for Trenched, but am 2 stages (I think) from finishing the original storyline.
• Mrs. NPB and I crossed into Mexico in Red Dead Redemption, but haven't played it very much since December (blame Skyrim).
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Bulletstorm, and Beyond Good and Evil (XBLA) were all purchased months ago, but haven't even been started.
• I'm on the Episode 5 boss in Pixeljunk Shooter 2.
• I've had Super Mario 3D Land from Gamefly for over a month, and am only on World 3.
• Just got Rayman: Origins from Gamefly, and have only played the first level.

And probably the worst offense of them all: I am on the final boss in Insanely Twisted: Shadow Planet!! The last guy! In case you didn't get it already, I am very bad about focusing on one game, start to finish. And I'm not saying that I am going to change or anything. I'm just gonna try to clear out a few of these to make room for others!

Meanwhile, in other NPB news, I've started reading again! Hooray! Add more to my plate of content that needs consuming!

Most recently, I finished Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. If you like 80's pop and sub culture (video games, movies, music), sci-fi, fantasy, or just good books, you owe it to yourself to go start reading it. Here's a link that should whet your palate: http://www.readyplayerone.com/

I've also been cutting through all of the Marvel Civil War comics, and am starting in on August 2006 now. I don't have any comic planned to start once I'm finished with Civil War, so if you have any suggestions, let me know via Twitter!

Well, I don't want to ramble any more than I already have, so I'm gonna call it a night on this blog post. Thanks again for reading!