The Viewpoint
Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556 STUDENT NEWS MAGAZINE MVHS VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4 MARCH | APRIL Take a peek at pages 12 & 13 to learn more about up and coming indie games
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Editorial Since the topic is video games, the staff decided to weigh in on what their favorite aspect of a game is. Juan, Tiara, Alex, and CateLynn think the story element is most important. Tiara said, “I think the most important aspect of a game is the story development or the story behind the game itself. I do enjoy having a good storyline to experience the characters’ thoughts and feelings.” Caroline said, “The most important part to me in a video game is that I can continue to play without having to wait a certain time limit.” Noemi and Zöe find sound design the most interesting. Noemi said, “I would say that the most important part of a video game is that it has a soundtrack that sticks and reminds you of the game every time you hear it.” Emily, Molly, and Michelle like the control and gameplay aspects. Michelle said, “ I love being able to have a lot of control and customization options in a game with my character.” Milana said, “Colorful graphics and ease because I am impatient and very quickly become frustrated with video games.” Preston likes to feel immersed in video games because he finds it much more fun that way. Whatever your favorite aspect is, be sure to enjoy it in an appropriate time frame. Page 7 talks about addictive qualities of video games that you want to be aware of and to monitor.
Index
01 Cover 02 Ads 03 Index 04 Parks and hiking 05 Consoles throughout the ages 06 Women in history 07 Addictive aspects 08 Earth Day 09 Flashback to old video games 10 Hyped indie games
The Viewpoint MARCH | APRIL 2022 VOLUME 16, ISSUE 4
Managing Editor CateLynn Aiman
Social Media Editor Juan Diaz-Gutierrez
Assistant Editors Tiara Bigelow Emily Smith
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11 Hyped indie games 12 Indie fashion 13 Get cultured 14 Media’s portrayal of games 15 Ads 16 Video games vs. time 17 Valorant 18 Popular board and card games 19 Popular board and card games 20 Omori
Staff Writers
Alex Baker Preston Bates Molly Calhoun Michelle Des Rivieres Miya Easley Caroline Fortiz Noemi Höhn Zöe Lucas Tessa Mattison Maia Roscigno Milana Waller The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body at Mountain View High School. It is a forum of expression published by aPrintis. Letters and art to the editorial board are welcomed and should be submitted to room 300. Front Cover CateLynn Aiman 2014-2018 International Quill and Scroll First Place Articles 2014-2016 VHSL State Championship First Place Award 2013, 2014, 2015 Free LanceStar Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556
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Take a Hike
After a long winter cooped up indoors, you’ll want to check out these picturesque places to get fresh air, sunshine, and maybe even a little exercise by Michelle Des Rivieres
Willowmere Park
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Willowmere is only about a 5 minute drive from MVHS, and has a paved path perfect for easy walking or strollers. This park also has soccer fields for activities and an open lawn for picnics. Senior Cailyn Bacchus said, “I’ve been there a couple of times because my little brother plays soccer and sometimes has games there.”
21 Willowmere Pond Rd, Stafford, VA 2255
Pratt Park
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Features: John- Lee Pratt Memorial Park has several scenic hiking trails and a playground for children. It has beautiful views overlooking Fredericksburg and picnic pavilions. Junior Ben Rogers said, “My favorite part of hiking is being able to clear my mind. It is relaxing when I am hiking alone and I can think clearly with no interruptions”.
120 River Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22405
Rappahannock River Heritage Trail Features:
3008 Normandy Avenue , Fredericksburg, VA 22401
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The River Heritage trail has a paved path for walking and bikes. It snakes along the banks of the beautiful Rappahannock River, offering tranquil sounds and stunning scenery. There is also many water activities available along this trail. Junior Shawn Goss said, “My and my family have been wanting to check out the Rappahannock trail for a while now; when the weather is nice again we plan to go!”
Whether its old or new gaming consoles have always been loved learn about how they have evolvedyears through the By Molly Calhoun The Sega was released in 1988 in Japan as the “Mega Drive ‘’, though when it was introduced a year later in North America it was renamed the Sega Genesis. It consisted of a main power box and had an attachable controller, connected by wire. The controller held a rounded shape, three buttons, direction pad and a start button. As for the power box, it held the power button, HDMI ports and volume.
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Finally coming into the 21st century, there is the Xbox, introduced in 2001 was Microsoft’s first gaming console introduced to the world. “The original Xbox console went on to sell 24 million units worldwide,” as said from the Windows Central website. The eight-pound box consisted of the disc tray, two buttons and four ports for controllers. As for the controller, it had vibrating motors, two analog triggers and sticks, direction pad and some buttons. The controller was also equipped with two accessory ports.
Some of the two most popular consoles released recently include the Nintendo Switch released in 2017 and Play station 5 in 2020. The Nintendo Switch, a hand-held console that consists of a 4x9’ screen with two detachable controllers on either side. It stands with over 85 units sold and has definitely been a fan favorite over the past five years. The Playstation 5 is a fifth generation gaming console which allows for some of the most recent features in the gaming industry. With high graphics and a quick loading speed this new console is one you do not want to miss.
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Turning back to handheld consoles, Nintendo introduced the Nintendo 3DS in 2011. The 3DS or N3DS was released in Japan first, and competed with the Play Station Vita throughout its life. The concept of it was similar to the DS which had the same setup as a flip phone. The rectangular box opened up to reveal a small screen at the upper half and another touch pad-like screen below it, accompanied with buttons on either side of the touch screen. Though what’s special about how it has the “...ability of the upper screen to display 3D without the need for glasses…”, mentioned from the Fandom website.
In the end, consoles have really progressed through the years in unique and fascinating ways, adapting into what they are today to revolve around us and our needs. Some MV students weighed in on about how consoles have changed. Junior Alex Abel thinks that “in some cases for the better, some for the worse.” As for Elizabeth Harvey, sophomore, thinks that “there’s been enough progress that there’s an expanded variety of what you can do. Finally for freshman, Evelyn Shiner, “I’d prefer newer consoles because I like the grip and controls better”. Wikipedia
In 1989 hand-held consoles began to take off, starting with the far less known, Milton Bradley Microvision, though really kicking off ten years later with the Gameboy. The Gameboy was Nintendo’s second handheld console, following the Game & Watch series, though by far the Game boy was the most successful one, with over “118.69 units sold worldwide”, stated from Computing History the website. It consisted of an “A”, “B”, and “START” button as well as a directional pad, all located on the bottom half of the device. At the top held a less than 3”-3” inch screen to play along with.
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The Magnavox Odyssey was the very first home-video game console. It was released in North America in 1972 and did not have the greatest start early on, as not many people remember it nowadays. Due to it being the original, there were not many things to base it off of and add to it, so many of the features were something new and experimental. “The system was incapable of sound output and it was barely able to produce graphics’ ‘ as stated from Digital Display’s website.
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Learn more about famous women, their stories, and their achievements by Tiara Bigelow
According to Britannica’s website, Cherilyn Sarkistan, also known as Cher, was born on May 20, 1946, El Centro, California, U.S. Cher’s father was of Armenian ancestry. Cher’s mother had English and German, with more distant Dutch, French and Irish ancestry. Cher’s mother reportedly had Cherokee ancestry as well. She is also known for her other nicknames such as The Goddess of Pop, The Queen of Reinvention and many more. Cher is most known for her singing abilities but also her acting skills. Cher is a superstar entertainer who has well surpassed the four-decade mark while improbably transforming herself from an artificial, glossy “fashion plate” singer into a serious, Oscar-worthy, dramatic actress. Personal Quotes: She says, “I don’t think of myself as a singer. I don’t have that kind of confidence. I want to put on a show. I want to dazzle people. For me, everything goes through my eyes first. Even when I did ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ I was wondering; “What should I wear?” Fun facts: Cher wore braces as an adult. She is Katharine Hepburn’s biggest Quotes fan. Cher is the only certified female performer in music history to have had a US #1 single in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Hailey Wills, a freshman, said, “ Taylor Swift is my favorite female celebrity.”
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As stated on Space’s website, Sally Kristen Ride was born on May 26, 1951, in Encino, California to Carol Joyce and Dale Burdell Ride. Growing up, Sally and her sister were encouraged to follow their individual interests and they had a happy, loving home. Job or occupation: Astronaut, engineer, physicist, university professor, and children’s writer According to the National Women’s History Museum’s website, Ride became the first American woman to go into space when she flew on the space shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983. She made two shuttle flights, and later became a champion for science education and a role model for generations. Throughout her life, Dr. Ride broke barriers and worked to ensure that girls and women were encouraged to do the same. Personal Quote: She says, “I started thinking about [writing a book] myself for kids, and trying to do it as appropriately as I could with all the issues of death and being gay and being a gay couple.” Ride was the first acknowledged gay astronaut according to National Women’s History Museum’s website. Fun facts: According to the National Women’s History Museum’s website, in her early years, she was a tennis player and reportedly had dreams of becoming a professional. She began playing tennis at age 10, and won a scholarship to the Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles. When she became a teenager, Ride was ranked in the top 20 nationally on the junior tennis circuit.
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IMDb’s website states, Lolatha “Lola” Elayne Falana was born September 11, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lola left home as a teenager to seek her fortune in entertainment. Lola was known as the “First Lady of Las Vegas.” A multi-talented dancer, singer, actress, and all-around entertainer, Falana was a sexy superstar. Under the tutelage of blues singer Dinah Washington, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bill Cosby, and Wayne Newton, Falana became, for a time, the highest-paid female performer in the history of Las Vegas. Falana is known as a dancer, singer, actress, entertainer, and through 1958-90, an evangelist. According to Encyclopedia.com’s website, Falana was known as the “blue singer” and was the highest-paid performer in the history of Las Vegas. However, Falana’s career took an abrupt shift in 1987 when she was struck with multiple sclerosis (MS). She recovered briefly and returned to the Las Vegas strip. After a while, religion had replaced show business as the cornerstone of her life. Converting Quotesto an evangelical Roman Catholicism, Falana founded her own ministry, devoting herself to preaching and to aiding the orphans of AIDS-ravaged Sub-Saharan Africa. Fun facts: In 1976 Falana earned more than $1 million and a Clio advertising award for her commercials for Fabergé’s Tigress. It was the first time that a black woman had represented a major perfume.
According to Asona’s website, Sunisa Lee was born on March 9, 2003, is 18 years old as of 2021. She was born and raised in a well-settled Christian family from St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. She is known as a 2020 Olympian. Lee is known as a American artistic gymnast. As stated on News Jankari’s website, Lee always wanted to make her country proud. Lee is a six-time member of the U.S. women’s national gymnastics team and is the first Hmong-American Olympian. She had a total of six world championship, Olympic medals and was the most decorated American female gymnast. She has faced many difficulties in life to achieve her goals. Fun facts: Won a gold medal, a silver medal, and a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Ashleigh Gray, a history teacher, said, “ Mary Ritter Beard was one of my favorite historical women since she was a historian, author, suffragette, and Quotes women’s history archivist. It is because of the work of women like Mary Ritter Beard, that the achievements of women and their places in history became more visible to the public.” John Hawthorne, a senior, said, “Anne Frank is my favorite historical woman although I have many other favorite celebrity/historical women in mind.”
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hy are video games such a common source of entertainment? There are many factors contributing to the overall appeal of video games. Such elements work together to create an immersive environment in which players can escape reality and plunge into a seemingly endless digital world. According to Video Game Addiction’s website, game designers purposely create their games to lead their players towards addiction with high levels of intrigue that maximizes playing time from the targeted audience. Because a well designed game will lead to more engagement and therefore more profit, it is an extremely intricate factor for both the designer and the player. Video Game Addiction’s website also gives credit to a multitude of other contributing factors. For example, the implementation of the high score incentivizes players to return to the game in order to beat themselves and reach a new personal record. Similarly, introducing rivalry and allowing players to interact with
their friends or anonymous entities institutes the goal of either rising on the leaderboard or earning bragging rights amongst peers. Furthermore, these interactions often lead to online relationships or friendships that allow the player to build a place of belonging for themselves which continuously urges them to catapult themselves into the game because they are now obligated not only to the game, but to another player. The goal of beating the game in its entirety also encourages players to continue playing to advance by leveling up or identifying clues. The idea of all of these factors is to allow visual progress to emerge clearly for the players so that they can recognize advancement and mentally associate that feeling of accomplishment with the game at hand. According to both Video Game Addiction and the Association for Psychological Science (APS), the adoption of identity through video games is a major attraction for many players. Players are able to create their own characters with individual experiences which develops an emotional appeal that further
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attaches players to the game. Often, players will project personal idealisms that they cannot obtain in reality onto their curated character(s) so that they can indirectly experience what it would be like to alter their appearance, gender, role, etc. APS research shows that such adopted identities “make people feel better about themselves and less negative”. Because some individuals are more susceptible to boredom than others, video game obsession frequently reaches those who are easily bored or have poor familial relations which cause them to feel outcasted and more attention seeking. The constant gaming ultimately leads individuals towards an incessant craving for escapism. Video Game Addiction’s website states that studies prove a frequent involvement in video games leads to eventual brain changes associated with excessive dopamine release, meaning unrestrained feelings of pleasure. Therefore, because video game addiction is so heavily associated with mental relief, it causes users to abuse the hobby as a necessity rather than a simple enjoyment.
Many can attest to loving video games, but what exactly gets that love on your brain by Milana Waller Senior Ty Debish states that he liked to play video games because it is a “good way to socialize with friends and work together as a team”. Similarly, Ty’s senior friend TJ Johnson, also states that his favorite thing about video games is socializing with friends. In contrast, senior Elijah Hernandez shares that he plays video games because they give him a “sense of progression”.
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I U planet earth Take a break from technology and celebrate Earth Day by Caroline Fortiz Another way to celebrate outdoors would be to go on a picnic. Pack up an assortment of delicious snacks, a large blanket, and bring friends or family members along with you. Not only is this an opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors, but you can also spend time with your loved ones. Senior, Allie Cuellar, expressed how much fun she has had on picnics previously and thinks it’s especially important to pick up the trash once done. Cuellar stated, “We’re going to be living here for a while so make sure to clean up after yourselves because you wouldn’t want to live in dirt. The world has feelings too, so be nice.”
This year, Earth Day falls on April 22. As stated on the website Grow Ensemble, the first Earth Day was started by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. After he saw the energy that was put into anti-war protests, he wanted the same amount of energy to be used towards advocating for saving the Earth. This year’s theme is ‘Invest In Our Planet’. Celebrate the Earth by spending some time outdoors or participating in an environmental-friendly activity.
cdefcdefcde One Earth Day activity to participate in is thrifting. According to Goodwill’s website, the top reasons why thrifting is beneficial are that it reduces waste, one can score high quality goods at a low price, and it is a great way to support the community. Throwing out clothes, as opposed to donating, causes landfills to have too much textiles. These textiles take forever to break down, creating less space and more waste. However, when donating and thrifting, these clothes are now being recycled and reused. Head on over to the local thrift store and explore the racks and bins for some new closet additions.
Another environmentally friendly activity is making t-shirt bags. The Free LanceStar wrote a story on the Fredericksburg Food Co-op’s efforts in “turning old shirts into reusable grocery bags.” The group is led by Gloria Lloyd, and they started this initiative to help reduce plastic and provide a new sustainable option with Fredericksburg now implementing a 5-cent fee on plastic bags. Senior Madi Bice made some t-shirt bags this school year through her Learn and Serve class with Lauren Terrill. Bice noted, “Making t-shirt bags was a fun way to learn about recycling and upcycling. I made a bunch and have been using them when I go shopping.”
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A classic option to celebrate Earth Day is to plant some flowers or trees. Not only is it a fun activity, but it helps to beautify the community. Colorful flowers help to spread happiness by brightening up people’s days. Take the day to go to a local shop such as Lowes to buy some seeds or plants. After that, put them into the ground. Make sure to water and tend to them so that they stay alive. Watch the flowers bloom and continue to grow throughout the season. Sometimes, butterflies may be looming near the newly planted flowers.
Going along with the theme of trying to save the Earth, a way to cut down on carbon emissions would be to ride a bike around for the day. If you don’t own a bike, another option would be to walk or even carpool with others. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “a typical passenger vehicle emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.” Carbon dioxide is bad for the environment because it is a greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide traps the sun’s heat in the atmosphere and in turn causes the planet to warm. This then changes weather patterns and kills the species residing on Earth. As the years go on, the threat is increasing.
Hiking is a great way to go outdoors and enjoy some exercise. Senior David Reiten loves to go on hikes whenever he has the time. He exclaimed that his favorite hikes include Tuscan, the Grand Canyon, and Government Island. Reiten also went on to explain that “when you get to the top of the mountain, being able to see the view is the best part.” Other activities that he enjoys that go along with hiking are camping and kayaking. The Sports Marketing teacher Jason Williams agreed with Reiten and said that he “loves to be one with the Earth and enjoys being outside.” Take a look at page 4 to find your perfect hike.
From Gameboy to VR How Video Games have changed over the decades by Noemi Hohn
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It is an absolute classic and a lot of people get a childhood flashback when being reminded of it. The Guardian’s website described the Gameboy as ``The screen was tiny, the graphics limited to shades of gray on a dull green background, but the Nintendo Game Boy was a revolution when it launched”. Sophomore Candence OpokuMensah said, ‘’ I feel like the Gameboy has a certain childhood nostalgia for a lot of people.”
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Nintendo DS
The Nintendo DS was the next grand success of Nintendo. Especially for our generation, the Nintendo DS is more familiar than the Gameboy. Madison Frashure, sophomore, said,’’ I still remember always hiding my DS from my mom under my pillow.” Freshman Quinn Primmer explained that when he thinks of a DS, he thinks of long car rides as a child. The DS has more game options and newer technology. Still, it is more of a classic and its technology is not nearly as advanced as newer products, for instance VR.
With the invention of VR, video games started not just being played with a controller, but it brought the user into the game, a new dimension of video games started with far more possibilities than classics like the Gameboy. Surprisingly, ”The first VR headset was patented in the 1960’s and was named the `Telesphere Mask`” as the Institute of Imagination stated on their website. Although it may not seem like it, VR has existed longer than most people would think.
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With the evolution of technology, a lot has changed over the past decades. Looking at classics, like the original Gameboy, it is almost impossible to believe that nowadays something like Virtual Reality (VR) even exists. Virtual Reality is just putting a VR-set on and immediately being in a completely different, non existent world. Advanced technology like that makes us forget how different video games were a couple years ago. In a way, it makes us feel nostalgic, but also lets us enjoy the amazing progress animation made. Quinn Primmer, freshman, said:” I think it is great to just go from something that you can hold in your hand to a completely different reality.”
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Hyped up games in 2022 Check out new indie games this year by CateLynn Aiman
OlliOlli World Release Date: February 8, 2022 Genre: Action-Platformer Rating: Suitable for all Developer: Roll7 Platforms: According to the publishing studio’s website Private Division, the is released on Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S Overview: Skateboard through the world named Ralandia. Explore, take on missions, and learn tricks as you skate in the open world.
Tunic Release Date: According to Steam the release date is March 16, 2022 Genre: Action-adventure Rating: Suitable for all Developer: Andrew Shouldice Platforms: Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems Overview: Explore a land filled with ancient ruins and powers. A small fox must embark on a big journey to discover the secrets of the land.
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“I think users are trying to be on to the next big thing. Similar to all companies - I think younger users are playing games by developers that meet their life views. For example, an upcoming developer may believe in a standpoint that coincides with users they may purchase that game vs another option.” Gabriel Cerillo, Game Club sponsor
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Release Date: According to Bluetwelve Studio’s website, early 2022 Genre: Adventure Rating: Teens Developer: BlueTwelve Studio Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Microsoft Windows. Overview: A cat must discover what has been destroyed: humanity. Play in a world overtaken by robots as a cat who is alone and separated from his family. You must solve puzzles and explore to get back home. “I know about this game; it’s interesting. The color palette, with the blues and purples, are nice to look at, and I like cats.” -Jacob Decatur, junior
Little Devil Inside Release Date: 2022 Genre: Adventure-Role playing Rating: Teens Developer: Neostream Interactive Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Linux Overview: According to Playstation’s website, a professor needs help on an adventure. Set in a Victorian era, you will explore the lands while going on missions and fighting monsters.
Goodbye Volcano High Release Date: According to the website Goodbye Volcano High, the game is coming in 2022 Genre: Adventure Rating: Mature Developer: KO-OP Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5 Overview: A teenage girl, who plays in a band, is about to graduate high school. She struggles with becoming an adult. Meanwhile, an asteroid plummets towards Earth.
Sea of Stars Release Date: 2022 Genre: According to the website Sea of Stars, this is a retro turn-based role-playing game Rating: Teens Developer: Sabotage Studio Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch Overview: Two children, one from the sun the other from the moon, have to put their powers of fire and water together to fight an evil alchemist, known as the Fleshmancer.
Planet of Lana Release Date: 2022 Genre: Adventure Rating: Teens Developer: Wishfully Platforms: Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows Overview: Programmed machines are taking over the land. According to the website Planet of Lana, this game is not about a war against machines, but it is about keeping the planet the way it is. Explore the worlds in this off-earth odyssey. feature u march | april 2022u the viewpoint u11
BABY, LET'S GET INDEPENDENT! The big brands might have it all but sometimes the small ones do it better by Zoe Lucas
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he exploration of fashion and personal style has exploded exponentially during the world’s (continuing) Covid years. Growing out of the debris are upcoming indie brands and their refreshing takes on classic fashion. Indie style, or independent fashion, could easily be coined as the persevering chameleon of the fashion industry. The key characteristics of an indie brand are often classified into two overarching categories: Inspiration and/or Aspiration. According to Shikatani Lacroix’s website, a strategic design agency, independent brands often “have taken a typical mission statement and turned it into a purpose that guides their very existence. Whether it be through innovative products, supporting social issues, or simply creating a sense of belonging for their customers, successful indie brands are able to attach themselves to something larger than their own brand.” These days independent brands have mostly latched onto a cause, some sort of beacon of light that distinguishes them from the rest of the crowd. The most popular seem to be the environment, which is easily seen through social media platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram, and social justice causes that display their embroidered slogans on pastel baby tees and artfully cropped, nude blazers. The goal is to make a statement, establish a “mission” while refusing to be a part of the “in” crowd and deciding to make something completely and utterly their own. Gen Z has claimed most of the up-and-coming brands as theirs, filming videos of their outfits that they’ve worked to make stylishly symbolic of their personal and ever-evolving identities. Senior Megan Shaw, an aspiring graphic design student, had remarked that she “appreciated new and innovative ideas” that don’t “prevent the [individuality] of the wearer”. Many indie clothing brands, such as Vogue denoted one-towatch Coperni and the small but bright light of rising Chelmak, focus purely on the idea of sustainability and how it can translate to a beautifully illustrated sense of self that diverges from modern-day trends. Independent brands often have the luxury of being cheaper, as senior Nella Bayard points out. “It’s kind of like thrifting,” she says, her tone bubbly and gentle. “It’s there until it becomes popular. Then it’s gone.” And the trends reflect the truth of her statement. Often these businesses start out small and inexpensive compared to high-end haute couture brands and in comparison look shiny, new, and accessible. Some start raising prices when there’s a sharp uptick in popularity, but most seem to realize that relatively lower prices attract a larger crowd and result in success and even hauls of sales, such as the cool and sleek SourceUnknown, who sells a darling pair of parchment-colored “Boy Cotton Trousers’’ for $95. While this price does pack a punch, it’s not as strong as one from Gucci which sells floral print cotton shorts for $930. It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to finding brands that produce excellent quality clothing without taking your two legs and an arm in exchange. To help bridge that gap is the wonderful world of social media, which is filled to the brim with fashionable influencers such as the charis-
matic Mina Le and the refreshing Rachel Everitt on Instagram. Even in our own quaint county, there is a close source for consumption: Phosphene Studio.Full disclaimer: the prices at Phosphene can be seen as exorbitant for many, given that they range from around $78 to $300 and up. But the quality is not lacking and the aesthetic is full of earth tones and brusque business-like blazers that contrast excellently with their looser sets of blouses and pants. For people like junior Noor Naim who likes to keep it “chicly comfortable”, brands like Phosphene and Chelmak would be right up their alley. Independent brands allow us to come into contact with the art of exploring ourselves without “paying the price” for it. We’re introduced to newer versions of the overdone and the previously underwhelming. We feel beautiful and new and shiny, turned into cutouts of who we hope to grow into based on what we choose to wear. Clothes are power. They create a new narrative or diverge from a commonly accepted one. Through innovation and creativity, these smaller stars within the fashion industry are slowly shaking the bigger ones loose and flashing a bright smile, saying “Anything you can do, I will do better.” And well, I think I could agree with that. Phosphene Studio can be found at 907 Charles St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 or online at phosphenestudio.com.
Get Cultured Sometimes we just need to appreciate some old cinema classics by Juan Diaz
Rashomon is a Japanese movie taking place in a gatehouse that is known as Rashômon; where a priest, woodcutter, and another third individual are talking about the body of a dead samurai who was recently murdered. The three men are the only witnesses at a trial being held with the two suspects are the samurai’s wife and a bandit named Tojômaru. According to IMDb, Rashomon is one of the reasons a category for “Best Foreign Film” was created at the Academy Awards. This film has won an Oscar and nine other awards at the Academy Awards. Rating: 8.2/10 (on IMDb)
Old films have helped influence modern media and society in a variety of ways. As you watch older films you can see developments in technology from that time period or how some of the movies made societal breakthroughs with lead minority actors such as Josephine Baker. Junior Lia Valbrun said films such as ZouZou could “provide an encouragement for minorities to be cast for films”. Classic cinema has also set up inspiration among the newer generations to express themselves via messages portrayed through films, which as junior Sophia Steska stated are important because storytelling that was done this way “helped pave the way to movies and films that are being made today.”
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A music maestro known as Svengali has sinister powers that allow him to control women, through hypnotism and telepathy. Svengali falls for a young model named Trilby, who has feelings for a new artist, Billee who also likes her. Using his magic Svengali convinces Trilby to stage a suicide, in hopes that Billee will forget about her. Trilby, now married to Svengali and known as Madame Svengali, is going on a musical tour throughout Europe, but Billee eventually finds out about what happened and is now attempting to chase down Svengali and Trilby into Egypt after they prematurely cancel the tour. Svengali was nominated for two Oscars but has not won any awards, according to IMDb. Rating: 6.8/10 (on IMDB)
“New media is inspired by old media”. - senior, Isaiah Rothwell
Don and Lina are an on-screen Hollywood couple who are only really together to please their fans who believe they are together and to promote their careers. However, they both just tolerate each other. Don gets help with his career from Cosmo Brown, his friend who is hired as a musical director, as the movie is set in 1927, sound is now being recorded to be used in films, thus creating the “talking picture bandwagon” that Don intends on following. Don also meets an aspiring actress named Kathy Selden who Don is now secretly dating. Meanwhile, Lina is also trying to remain in the spotlight, and she is willing to throw people under the bus to get what she wants. The film was nominated for two Oscars and won 7 awards, including the best actor award at the Global Globe (1953), according to IMDb. Rating 8.3/10: (on IMDb)
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As a child, Zouzou worked in a traveling circus, along with her friend Jean, who considered her as his sister. When they are older, Jean gets accused of murder, and to get money to mount for his defense, Zouzou decides to become the star on a show to get money for Jean, according to IMDb. This film featured Josephine Baker, who was the first black woman to take on a leading role in cinema history for this film in 1934, as stated on Blackenterprise’s website. Rating: 6.4/10 (on IMDb)
During a plague, God and Satan are bickering over where they can corrupt the soul of the alchemist, Faust. The demon Mephisto is sent by Satan to tempt Faust by providing information on how to become young again and find the cure for the plague. Fausts sells his soul to be young again. Faust tries to find forgiveness after selling his soul to Mephisto, but Faust also falls in love with Gretchen, which causes him to choose between forgiveness or Gretchen. Faust has five alternate versions made by F.W Murnau. Each alternate version has different costumes, camera angles, and action sequences between each other, according to IMDb’s website. Rating 8.1/10: (IMDb) feature u march|april 2022 u the viewpoint u13
Gamer’s Guide to Movies A review of the most recommended video game movies and tv series adaptations by Miya Easley
Sonic the Hedgehog
Arcane
Rampage
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Sonic the Hedgehog was inspired by a video game of the same name. The movie is about police officer Tom Wachowski discovering the existence of Sonic and helping him escape and defeat Doctor Robotnik, an evil scientist that wants him for experimentation. The animation was smooth and I enjoyed Sonic’s playful personality and Tom’s freakout about the strangeness that is Sonic. Doctor Robotnik was also highly amusing, as his attempts at capturing Sonic are foiled and ultimately backfire in his face.
Arcane is an animated series inspired by the video game series League of Legends. The story follows two sisters, Powder and Vi, through their struggles with each other and their respective circumstances. I loved the development of the protagonists and the personalities even the minor characters displayed throughout the show. They were all interesting and complex in their own ways, with each their own motivations and struggles behind every action. The animation was incredible and the background music in some scenes made me shiver. Some of the songs were so catchy I had to put them in my playlist.
Rampage is a movie inspired by an old video game by the same name. The movie follows Davis Okoye and his gorilla, George, and their adventure as they uncover the cause of George and two other animals’ sudden mutations. I found the protagonist interesting and I loved George’s characterization throughout the movie. The dynamic between the two characters and their interactions were hilarious, with Davis as the antisocial animal lover and George as his ever intelligent and sarcastic companion.
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Tomb Raider is a movie inspired by a video game by the same name. I’ve never played the game, but I enjoyed the storyline and the personalities of the characters. The protagonist, Lara Croft, was a fun character with a well developed motivation for the setting of the movie, and her interactions with others throughout the movie were fun. I especially enjoyed the characterization of her ambitions and her quips in conversation.
Tomb Raider
The Cuphead Show
The Cuphead Show is an animated series inspired by the video game Cuphead. The series was fun, and I loved the animation style of the show following the game. The two protagonists, Cuphead and Mugman, were full of laughter each episode, and every interaction they had with the main antagonist was amusing, almost like they couldn’t take the Devil seriously. My favorite part of the show was probably the song and dance routines that some of the antagonists got during the introduction of their characters.
Interviews Elizabeth Buckman, freshmen, recommends watching Avatar and Matrix for their video game-esque worldbuilding, interesting plot, and inspiring story. Damien Howie, sophomore, recommends the video game For Honor for those wanting anything new to try. LaBelle Gnansounou, junior, says, “I loved Arcane; every girl was a total boss.”
Check out the website: https://tinyurl.com/4hzjz8u3 Looking for someone to publish your work? Want to bolster your resume? Are you seeking an audience for your creations? Submit your artwork, poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction to Ms. Brooks via the website above for consideration by May 1. ad u march| april 2022 uthe viewpoint u15
WHO HASN’T HEARD OF... Video games and game franchises that have stood the test of time by Emily Smith “Mario Bros. is a very good platforming game.”
“I thought the character customization at the time was pretty good.”
Jason Barsan, senior
-Daniel Kuykendall, freshman (In reference to Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D)
Mario Bros.(1983) Mario is easily one of Nintendo’s most popular and recognizable characters. Mario made his first major debut in Super Mario Bros. back in 1983, making this the oldest franchise on this list. How has this Italian plumber, his signature bushy mustache, and his enthusiastic “Let’s a-go!” captured the attention of so many? According to Arcade Mania’s website, there are a few major things that make this franchise so popular. First, the gameplay in these games is fairly simple for anyone to pick up and learn. Second, this game’s colorful, cartoony design and likable characters also make it appealing and memorable.
Sonic the Hedgehog(1991) Sega’s flagship series Sonic the Hedgehog focuses on, you guessed it, Sonic the hedgehog. The speedy blue blur was made to compete with Nintendo’s ever-popular Mario brothers, and he does his job well. How has Sonic managed to speed his way into the hearts of so many? According to Complex, the sheer amount of exposure Sonic got helped. He wasn’t just confined to his games; like Mario, Sonic appeared on lunchboxes, blankets, clothes, and more. With Sonic appearing in more and more places, he shaped up to be a pretty good competitor for a popular video game character. Each game he appeared in also took the franchise’s gameplay and universe to a new level, meaning each game was something new.
Legend of Zelda(1986) Another well-known series of Nintendo’s, The Legend of Zelda follows Link, a mighty hero on a quest to save the land of Hyrule and its princess, Zelda, from the evil clutches of Ganon. The first game in the franchise came out in 1986, and there have since been 25 more games added (including remakes). But what is it about Link’s adventures that are so intriguing? According to Goomba Stomp’s website, the games are so appealing because they are immersive, simple, and fun. The games paint a picture of a happy life for the residents of Hyrule, then evil comes and threatens to take that all away, and it’s your job as the player to stop it. The games also do a good job of making sure the player is never lost on where they need to go next, while still keeping the experience fun.
Call of Duty(2003) One of the more well-known first-person shooter franchises, Call of Duty got its start in 2003. The games have both story-driven campaigns and other various game modes to play. How have these games become so popular? According to Subspace’s website, the games are popular for optimizing player experience and getting its community invested. The game’s high-quality graphics and audio lend to the player’s immersion into the experience of the game, and the quality multiplayer experience helps communities grow. On top of this, Activision, the company that produces the Call of Duty games, works to get its community invested by building an esports league for the games, the Call of Duty League.
“Minecraft was a vital part of my childhood, and very enjoyable and good for the creative mind.” Skyler Dickerson, senior
Minecraft(2011) Minecraft. What is there to say about Minecraft that hasn’t already been said? This 16-bit open-world sandbox survival game has captured the imagination of a massive player base, and it’s not hard to see why. According to FunTech’s website, the game’s appeal largely comes from the vastly different ways to play. The main three modes in the game are Creative, Survival, and Hardcore. In Creative, you have infinite health and resources, so you can do just about anything; in Survival, you have to collect resources and survive attacks from the various enemies; Hardcore works similarly to Survival, except you can’t respawn when you die. On top of that, you can choose to play solo or play with your friends in multiplayer. With practically limitless ways to engage, it’s easy to see how Minecraft has become so popular.
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FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S(2014) Created by Scott Cawthon in 2014, Five Nights at Freddy’s started out as a simple point-and-click horror game. You play as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, watching the building from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. However, the animatronic characters the place is known for aren’t as friendly as they seem. Their target? You. Now, the franchise has evolved to have many more games, books, and even a potential movie. What about these games and their dark, mysterious lore is so appealing? According to ScreenRant’s website, FNAF’s simple concept and overarching story helped lead to its appeal. The simple mechanics make it fun for both players and spectators, and knowledge of the game’s lore isn’t necessary to enjoy the game, meaning it’s engaging for both the newcomers and the lore aficionados . This helped the game gain massive popularity through YouTube let’s plays from people like Markiplier, the self-proclaimed “King of Five Nights at Freddy’s.”
Valorant is Amazing Valorant is a fun team-based game to play with your friends by Preston Bates Valorant is a team-based first person shooter video game released on June 2, 2020 that I recommend playing. I have been playing the game since launch and have reached the rank of immortal 3. The game consists of multiple ranks you can achieve by playing competitive play. The ranks go in order from Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Immortal and Radiant which is top 500 in the players region. Every rank has an interval of 1, 2 and 3. For each rank, you must achieve 100 rr which is the in game rating to rank up. So for instance, if I am Gold 2 and want to rank up to Gold 3, I need to win as many games as it takes to earn 100 rr and rank up. If you win, you will win around 15-25 rr and if you lose, you lost around 15-25. It is a ladder-based game and to climb you need to be the best of the best. Though the game is a first person shooter, and a bit hectic, it can also be very satisfying. Gaming is a great way to kick back and relax and Valorant appeals to that. The visuals are amazing in this game. There are a total of 7 maps in the game and the scenery is absolutely stunning. The colors are extremely vibrant and offer very satisfying scenes. The names of the maps are Bind, Haven, Split, Icebox, Breeze and Fracture.
IGN’s website stated the game was a solid 9/10 on their ranking scale. PC Games website stated the only downside to Valorant was that cosmetic items such as skins cost a fortune, so if you want to look better than your opponent, you better be prepared to spend a few bucks.
Valorant
“The visuals of the game were super nice, I did not have any problems with them” -Aidan Baldwin, junior “The game was cool at first, but it got pretty hard” -Mark Simms, junior “ The game isn’t my favorite, but it is fun” -Soe Lwee, junior
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Growth of the Games Take a trip down the gaming time line throughout the decades by Maia Roscigno and Tessa Mattison
1980s PICTIONARY
Pictionary is a simple game that only requires pen, paper and the board game Pictionary which provides you with the game board, a timer, two dice and cards with words on them. The aim of Pictionary is to guess what the drawer is aiming to depict, from a list of cards. According to the Fact Site, the creator of Pictionary is Robert Angel who has said that when creating the game he would choose a word from a dictionary and draw the word he chose to get everyone to guess and play along.
1990s
The Settlers of Catan from Mayfair Games is a game where players collect resources and use them to build roads, towns, cities, etc to try and achieve victory by being the first player to get ten victory points. Klaus Teuber was a German man who invented the game The Settlers of Catan. He originally made the game in German; the former title was “Die Siedler von Catan” as stated by the Fact Site.
CATAN
2000s BETRAYAL AT HOUSE ON THE HILL
Betrayal at House on the Hill is a game with 50 different spooky haunts for players to try to solve and survive together. However, not everyone will be on the same side as one of the group members may be a traitor, trying to work against everyone else to achieve their own win alone. After the success of the original Betrayal at House on the Hill and the comparison made by lots of fans to the game to Scooby- Doo. The designers of the game took note of the popularity and comparison and they decided to create a Scooby-Doo version of the game.
2010s
A game using three decks of cards, you are the leader of one of the seven great cities of the Ancient World. Gather different resources, make routes for traveling, and affirm your military supremacy. Build your city and architectural wonder which will transcend future times. The 7 Wonders lasts three ages. Players of the game have said that the object of this game, unlike many other board games, is not money. The gaming strategy that more money means you’re more likely to win is not the case for this game and it really is more based on your creativity and thinking abilities.
“I prefer board games to card games they’re usually always more enjoyable and fun. My favorite is probably Candyland.” - Jade Pickering, sophomore
“I think that board games are more appealing because they are fun and creative.” - Natalie Arce, freshman
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7WONDERS
“I enjoy board games more than I do card games.” - Ellie Brewer, freshman
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1980s
Gin Rummy, a simple game that only requires a deck of cards, is one of the many old card games that can be played by two people. According to Rediscover the 80s website, this game was created for either gambling or as a regular game. It’s usually played in 15 minutes and requires a master plan and a strong memory. It’s a quick battle for the winning score of 100 points.
PoKéMoN
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1990s
According to Pop Decades website, back in 1996, the game that has taken everywhere by storm was born: Pokemon Trading Cards. To announce the new game, Nintendo went all out to make sure that everyone, everywhere was talking about the game. After taking over Japan, the game finally traveled to the U.S. in 1998, where it continued to become the beloved game that it is now. Whether trading or battling, this game connects two players and tests a Pokemon’s strength.
Cards Against Humanity
“My favorite card game is Poker because it requires knowledge of human behavior and people’s actions. I find it interesting and the best way to get to know a person.” - Quin Snyder, freshman
DOMINION
poKéMoN Green grasses and trees, flowing and bubbling rivers, all the ingredients for the perfect kingdom. According to Board Game Geek’s website, in the card game Dominion, this is what you call home, But there’s more that can be done, more to grow to make it the greatest kingdom ever: a Dominion. In order to achieve your dreams, this game provides you with 25 Kingdom types and various other benefits to choose from in the remaining 475 cards.
DOMINION
2000s
2010s
Cards Against Humanity is the card game that defines dirty and dark humor. To start laughing non-stop, one player is assigned the role of judge and the remaining players are the jokesters. According to The Spruce website, the trick to winning this game is knowing the judge’s sense of humor. While this game is endless amounts of fun, it can also be a bit risque. Some similar family-friendly card game options are “Apples to Apples,” “What Do You Meme?,” or different decks from the Cards Against Humanity creators.
“What makes a card game appealing to me is the person I’m playing with. I really like the competition.” - Reese Ponder, freshman
“My favorite card game is Uno because it’s the only game I can remember.” - Emma Cohen, freshman
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ori:
What's under a childhood?
Friends, Monsters, Pictures and Trauma. All bundled up in a cozy RPG blanket by Alex Baker Quick Facts About the game:
Omori was originally a project on Kickstarter, which planned on re-adapting the Webcomic (also named Omori) OMOCAT created. It passed its goal in a matter of days. The game itself was released on Christmas day in 2020. It took about six years to develop. The game follows a standard Japanese RPG party combat system with each character having their stats, weakness, benefits, and items of use. With its easy to pick up mechanics, Omori received an overall average reception of 87/100 on Metacritic and 8/10, according to PC/Gamer.
Hikikomori is defined by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare as a mental condition where individuals refuse to leave their parentshouse, don’t interact with society as a whole and those in their inner circle and isolate themselves in a single room for a longer period than 6 months. It is also where the main character’s Sunny’s dream alter, Omori’s name is derived. Omori begins in a large wide open white void like room called the “white space.” A place that Omori has lived in for “as long as he can remember.” Omori then leaves and enters “headspace” to me with his friends, Aubrey, Kel, Hero, and Basil and his sister Mari. After an argument you collect pictures from Basil’s scrapbook. Pictures are used as not only literal fragments of memory but how memory can be distorted when suffering from many respective mental illnesses. After collecting each photo Basil finds a picture that no one in the group recognizes, creating a black shadow surrounding them. Then we switch to the real world. Less color, names stay the same, however, charm and personality is stripped from the previous characters. A distorted reflection. Over the course of the story you learn that many layers of headspace are not only related but directly linked to each other. It is best described by feature reporter Jonathan Goodman: “In a reduced mental state, he creates a dream world filled with exaggerated, ideal versions of his friends (Hero, Kel, Aubrey, and Basil) as well as his late sister.” The game continues to use the themes of reflection and memory to their fullest, delving into the repression of memory, how we can create false memories, events, and even alternate representations of others when suffering from traumatic experiences. Sophomore Ky Hopping said, “I think it’s handled really well… Most times other media will use trauma as a blanket for a backstory or character reasoning. However, not here.” The game finds the need to remind you at times that a lot of your experiences in headspace are not only unreal, but simply clever facades made by Sunny to cope with the trauma he has endured. However, the game never tries to make that fact discouraging. In fact through the entire game there are nearly always attempts to try and heal, whether from others such as Sunny’s friends, or from simply trying to help oneself. Junior Hunter Chandler said, “I like how this is being represented” in reference to the inner turmoil. Omori is an experience that not only represents the inner turmoil a developing mind can endure with subtlety and sympathy. Rather than trying to simply hide away from the bleak ways we can cope from unforeseen experiences and the pain that comes with that suppression, but embrace it as something that others do not have but can overcome with acceptance to reflect on memories. feature u march|april 2022u the viewpoint u20