Forza Motorsport 7: My first ride

Yes, baby, I'm back in Forza Motorsport for their seventh and ultimate installment to date and while some of you got their sweet first ride of the game, my first FM7 ride is not what you call exciting, a tad above average if you may. So, in the spirit of first impression, I will share you which car I began with; it's the Corsa E VXR.



Need a refresher? The Opel/Vauxhall Corsa E OPC/VXR was unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show and it is known to be the ultra-powerful small hot-hatch in the OPC/VXR lineup that is less expensive than its competitors with its £17,995 on-the-road pricing.

Under the hood, this hot Corsa is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that produces 205PS of power output, 245Nm of torque, and mated exclusively with a second-generation six-speed transmission with a short, fluid gear change. It is capable of going 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 143mph - quicker than the outgoing car it replaces.

For this model, they've enlisted damper-supplier, Koni, to develop the Frequency Selective Damping which  allows damping forces to adapt to the car's movements, balancing body control and ride quality depending on the speed.

Customers can opt in for the optional Performance Package which comes with a Drexler limited-slip differential, larger 330mm-diameter Brembo front brake discs, 18-inch alloy wheels with super sticky Michelin Pilot Supersport tyres and enhanced FSD damper settings.



Once a tater tot that can humiliate a supercar in the parking lot, the Corsa VXR is a small wonder that can pull different tricks from its sleeves but when I put it on the track, it's hard to get around through the corners even though this VXR comes with a Performance Package that unleashes its full potential of the smallest VXR hatch ever made. It maybe slower on the straights, it may be harsher on the bends, but when it comes to enjoying your first race, the Corsa VXR always leave first-timers a first impression they will never forget since they chose on from the very beginning.



After having my first impression with the Corsa VXR, I'd decided to see how it fares on a real track where everything comes full circle with this pocket rocket. How about putting it on the Indy Circuit layout of Brands Hatch? That will make it the perfect breeding ground for this small VXR hatch. So, who wants to see it go round Brands Hatch?



Well, that handling left me with a nasty bruise in my arms, but this is a great start for me because now that I'm back in driving real cars in real tracks, Forza Motorsport 7 has a lot of opportunities waiting for me and this is just the beginning.

Blade Runner 2049

35 years ago, the original Blade Runner film that starred Harrison Ford in it was forever known as the original Matrix when it came out in theaters and set the template for the future-set cyberpunk genre even pop-culture critics appreciated how the original went. To celebrate the original's 35th anniversary, the true sequel to one of the most iconic films of the 80's has arrived in theaters and with new and returning faces in store, Blade Runner 2049 pushes the limits to this genre with precise storytelling those who watched the original will surely love.

Blade Runner 2049

The classic sci-fi action flick from the early 80's has returned with the long-awaited sequel that picks up where it left off and with Blade Runner 2049, there are so many reasons why this sequel will fare against the best films of the year with its unique storytelling that sets them apart as well as new and returning characters.

The year is 2049, 30 years after the original film, and with blade runner Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford) went missing in action, the human-like androids known as Replicants are still among us and as Replicant threats are looming in this dystopian future, a new blade runner known as K (played by Ryan Gosling) discovered a deadly secret that would wipe out humanity in one fell swoop and that lead to the search for Deckard himself to finish this powerful new threat once and for all.

In addition to Ford and Gosling, Blade Runner 2049 also stars Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, and Jared Leto. Ridley Scott, who directed the original, returned as executive producer while Hampton Fancher served as the scriptwriter for the sequel and with collaboration with award-winning Denis Villeneuve, who directed this film, this sequel is Blade Runner at its finest and thanks to its new and recurring people that revolved the original like clockwork, the new movie brings out everything sci-fi geeks ever wanted to have; the drama, the suspense, the thrills, everything is possible in this long-awaited sequel.

Come to think of it, 30 years? How long for this story to unfold? Well, thanks to three prequels that spans through the year 2022, 2036, and 2048, people who are eager to watch Blade Runner 2049 had all the answers they need but if you really want to jump through this film without going through the prequel shorts currently streaming on YouTube, as well as the original, feel free to do so. Besides, if you are new to this story, this film won't stop you from enjoying the full experience of what a sci-fi action thriller like this can do. Newbies or veterans, it doesn't matter who you really are because this film blends the past and present through the future like a Saturn V-powered blender.

In the end, Blade Runner 2049 is a worthy contender as one of the best films of 2017 and because it fares better than the original Blade Runner from 1982, the legend is back and it's now more thrilling than ever to satisfy even the most entertainment industry elites with its explosive storyline. Needless to say, you can forget about that lousy Ghost in the Shell film you saw last spring because this BD 2049 film eats it for dinner and it was deliciously addictive and insane from start to finish.

My rating: 4.4 out of 5.

My Little Pony: The Movie

When Hasbro's My Little Pony franchise got reborn seven years ago with the launch of the Friendship is Magic TV series, it garnered a whole new bunch of fans, especially grown male adults who secretly can't get enough of this show and forever labeled themselves "Bronies". Because of its unusual fanbase, the little girly stuff has grown into one of the most successful franchises in history and no matter how old or who you are, they are the ones that made the Mane 6 great again. As a reward for their greatness since seven years ago, there is now the long-awaited movie adaptation of My Little Pony; Friendship is Magic and this is where our favorite ponies pushing themselves to the limit.

My Little Pony: The Movie

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, even Bronies, the long awaited movie adaptation of the My Little Pony franchise has arrived and this film is where everyone who watched the whole show or binge-watched for the first time got rewarded to witness the Mane 6 into full circle as Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity take on a brand new adventure from the comfort of the kingdom of Equestria. A powerful new threat has arisen in Ponyville and as darkness plunges, the Mane 6 sets off to an all new adventure by land, by air, by sea, in an all-out effort to save their home.

Unlike the TV series, the movie features an all-star cast lending their voices to this film including Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Peña, Sia, Taye Diggs, Uzo Aduba and Zoe Saldana. I know, using celebrities in lieu of the TV show's voice actors is sacrilege for the fans and for purists, this film is nothing but sacrilege or treason to the fanbase because all they ever wanted for the film they've desperately waited since eternity is to have the same feeling as they get from the TV show but this is what they get. They replaced them with Hollywood stars to do the voices of the characters they're familiar with and that sounds painful for some.

Despite the use of Hollywood actors for our favorite MLP characters, this film is all about beyond the bounds and when I say "by land, by air, by sea", they really did mean it because in one part of the film, we get to see the aquatic version of Equestria and seeing both sides of the coin does made up for the ultimate My Little Pony experience the fans will surely adore. Even though this is a movie, all the signature My Little Pony moments we all love are still there and despite the loopholes, this is definitely the long-awaited film the world's been craving for. I'd expect post-movie chatters when they got out from watching it with mixed results.

My rating: 3.9 out of 5.

Forza Motorsport 7

With the upcoming launch of the XBOX One X, which is known to be the most powerful XBOX One to date, it didn't took long before the Forza producers took off the wraps for their latest installment built to prepare for its stunning 4K HDR detailing the most powerful X1 has to offer. Welcome to Forza Motorsport 7, the most definitive Forza Motorsport title to date, or is that what I think it is...

Forza Motorsport 7

Exclusive for XBOX One and Windows 10 PC (via XBOX Play Anywhere), Forza Motorsport 7 is the definitive installment of the Forza racing simulation franchise because as the producers say, this is Forza at is best because of returning racetracks, over 700 cars to choose from, a revamped career mode, and all the classic Forza goodies we love since FM2 such as the livery editor, auction house, and so much more. There's something to notice about the ultimate Forza to date, although just as I thought Turn 10 will call themselves quits after FH3 but I was wrong.

First off, let's take a look of the cars and in Forza 7, they have over 700 cars to race with, modify with, or design it, spanning half a century of timeline from American muscles, European exotics, Asian street racers, vintage racers, and so much more. Although the diverse range of vehicles, past and present, are here to satisfy every criteria, how to obtain them can be a challenge. Of course, you can buy them with your hard-earned cash but there are some cars that you can't obtain by normal means. Each car represents a tier and you can't get your dream ride below your tier and if you want to get that sweet ride you're desperate to have, you need to collect more and more cars. The more cars you collect, the higher your tier is and you will gain access to powerful cars, including the game's star car, the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

There's another hurdle when it comes to obtain cars and while tiers are something to worry about, these hard-to-get cars can be obtained via prize crates, time-limited specialty dealers, Forzathon, Forza Driver's Cup, and Showcase Events. Easier said than done.

Moving on to tracks and while FM7 retains some of the most notable tracks from the last installments, in addition to the new Dubai track, three fan favorite tracks made a comeback in this installment such as Mugello, Maple Valley, and Suzuka. Depending on the track, you are challenged by the game's dynamic weather which adds some life to the racetrack and that meant extra concentration is strongly advised because with the weather now changing its mind on the race, you'd better think fast.

Then, there's the revamped career mode called the Forza Driver's Cup. This solo-player campaign gives players the freedom of how they can progress through the career. There are six main categories in the career and to proceed to the next stage, players need to gain enough points by completing races, especially showcase races. Also, to accommodate certain races, you car gets homologated for the category it set foot. It is automatic by default but feel free to do some tweaks as long as you're not exceeding the homologation regulations.

Need a little style before you race? Don't worry because for the first time, Forza 7 allows players to personalize themselves with a wide range of driver gear that can be unlocked through normal gameplay or by crates. Although showing off won't do any good, picking your favorite driver gear is a clear way of showing your style, your pride, or bragging rights.

As esports becoming the new norm for real competitions, Forza 7's come fully prepared with a wide array of improvements in terms of multiplayer. With this, it is now possible for players to practice round the track before the race starts or even host non-racing lobbies, either for fun or for real. With Forza 7's esports features refined, it won't be long before the next ForzaRC comes to Forza 7 in the near future but until then, feel free to organize a multiplayer race whatever you like.

My take? Well, even though the car list is massive in numbers, the lack of Toyotas is what made JDM fans disappointed. Also, the majority of cars are more oldies than newbies, perhaps this is just the main reason why the Forza franchise is poisoned against them by baby boomers. Come on, this is a 4K-powered game in the 4K generation and we deserve cars built from the millennial era, not from the baby boomer era and with incoming DLCs, I'd expect the producers to make the right thing or draw flak from Forza fans complaining why there are so much oldies in the DLC rather than focusing the latest and the hottest cars straight from the press. Although the car list is worth criticizing, the lively graphics, the career mode, the community features, and the dynamic weather is what impresses the players the most and Forza 7 is a racing game that breaks its limits for the pursuit of creating the most definitive Forza to date. So definitive, you would definitely want to play this game all day long to see what the craze is all about and that's just the half of the story.

Welcome to the ultimate Forza experience, drivers. The tracks and cars are waiting your call...

Bubble Gang - October 6, 2017 #BGDramarama

On the October 6, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Teleserye gags

- See how much money you wasted for everyday beers

- Gay lingo interview

- Mr. Assimo goes shopping with his mate.

- Boys go beer-drinking with a gal

- Life at the departure area

- Inmate teaching jailed criminals a painful lesson

- We serve free wife for solo customers.

- Robot kasambahay

- Basa-basa-pik

THE IDOLM@STER.KR finale

THE IDOLM@STER.KR, a South Korean TV drama inspired by Bandai Namco's hit video game franchise, THE IDOLM@STER, revolves on the life and times of ten girls; Suji, Youngjoo, Yukika, Sori, Jane, JeeWon, JiSeul, HaSeo, YeEun, and Mint, on their road to become K-Pop superstars from the comfort of their talent agency they called home; the 825 ENTERTAINMENT.

THE IDOLM@STER.KR

Since the beginning, their lives went out of control ever since the death of a member of a successful girl group and in the case of Producer Shin Hyuk Kang (played by Sung Hoon) who witnessed her death, well, you get the idea. With the advent of 825 ENTERTAINMENT, the girls are adapting to their new lives while the producer tries to move on from the tragic moment upon the fateful encounter of Suji, who happens to be the twin sister of the late popstar he had an affair with.

For six months, the whole world witness how the Real Girls Project rose, fell to their knees, and then risen again after numerous odds that come across, including the scandal that plagued the agency and HaSeo's secret to her family was blown and locked her up at her home for good.

Now, the finale. How did it turned out? Following the producer's resignation from the agency because of the scandal, Suji and Youngjoo came up with a brilliant plan that will save their ruined reputations and that meant going around town with a surprise show to spread the word. Meanwhile, Producer Kang and his boss are remembering the time when he will settle the loans to him on a due notice.

Suji, meanwhile, met up with the reporter behind the scandal she leaked throughout the world. When Suji tries to give the reporter an invitation to their "final mission", the reporter disagrees and they made arguments about how Suah died because of that producer. But in the end, the reporter decided to watch their concert as long as Suji tells the truth.

After Suji left the invitation to Suah's wake, the producer suddenly arrives and picked the invitation, and then he rushes off to the park where the two encountered themselves and Suji gave him a shoelace that he gave it to her in an earlier episode.

After a day of publicity stunts, the time has come for the girls to shine at the Hanggang Outdoor Court. The girls are feeling hopeful everyone will watch, including HaSeo who tries to sneak her way out until she was caught off-guard by her brother and her grandfather. However, her grandfather let HaSeo go to the concert. Change of heart, isn't it?

When HaSeo arrives, a sudden downpour occurs, leaving them no choice but cower in agony when their concert's going to be postponed. Their boss said he's going to cancel the event because the stage is too slippery after the rainfall and there aren't enough audiences in the venue. Just as we thought all is lost, the producer makes his grand comeback, saying the concert will proceed as planned. Despite the slippery stage and the lack of audience, the Real Girls Project proceed as planned for their first and last concert onstage.

Day after the concert, Suji's back to her normal life...only this time, she's a commercial model. Not only that, the whole country witnessed a viral video about the Real Girls Project's "slip and slide stage" concert and because of their sudden popularity, the RGP''s dream to perform at a mass audience came true. Youngjoo, on the other hand, held a jamming session alongside her sister. Everything's gone well for these two. The reporter, meanwhile, rewrote the whole truth about what happened to Suah and things are back to the way things were. The finale ends with the Real Girls Project performing onstage with the show's theme song, DREAM.

And that is the end of THE IDOLM@STER.KR. When the project began last year, many girls from across the globe wanted to vie for the spot to be in the show and thanks to numerous supporters, Suji, Youngjoo, and all the other girls became honorary part of THE IDOLM@STER franchise as the Real Girls Project. We watched them mature through six months, 24 episodes, meet and greets across South Korea and Japan, and digital singles, and thanks to their new kind of fanbase, the whole world will remember who are the REAL GIRLS PROJECT. The show maybe over but who knows what's in store for them next.

As part of saying thanks for watching THE IDOLM@STER.KR, the REAL GIRLS PROJECT are holding two fan meetings this November. They'll be in Japan on the 3rd of November and then in South Korea on the 11th of November.

RGP FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!

Last Night (film)

Imagine having your stay in a hotel for a night, you'd encounter someone having his stay at the same hotel and has the same fate as yours. Sharing common ground, you'd became fast friends with that someone. So, what happens next? In this film made by Star Cinema, Spring Films, and N2, we find out more about the two strangers who ended up became fast friends because of that certain fate that brought them together.

Last Night

Last Night is a romantic drama film that stars Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga and this is all about two different strangers residing at the hotel while sharing the same fate that involves committing suicide because of their bitter pasts. That fateful encounter between two different strangers coping with their painful backstories became a wonderful moment they would remember forever.

In typical rom-com style, this film is tad decent and there's nothing special about a film that only featured two characters that revolve the storyline like clockwork. In fact, this film is somewhat regular for its own good but in terms of chemistry, seeing the two of them can be an above average experience for the moviegoers, especially those who are big fans of either Piolo, Toni, or both. Come to think of it, there's nothing wrong with it but as a whole, I guess this is how a rom-com like this film is capable of, blocking every distraction and get the film along very smoothly with almost no excitement whatsoever. Only romance and romance is what Last Night goes like clockwork.

My rating: 3 out of 5.