#windjammers

Hiromi Mita

Well, that's an interesting question with an interesting and nuanced answer.

So most people, everyday people living their 'normal' lives, don't really think of sailing on traditionally-rigged vessels as like. A thing anymore? It kind of exists in their mind as an old-timey thing, or something that's so niche and small that it may as well not exist anymore. It just doesnt occur to them- especially if they live in a more land-locked region, where they don't see even modern boats super often. There's only so many places that get the right wind and currents to sail like that, after all- the coasts, and the Great Lakes. Everywhere else is just too small for anything bigger than a personal sailboat, and wouldn't really drum up enough business to be worth it to bring/build one there.

The west coast also has much, <em>much</em> fewer tallships/similar vessels to her name compared to the east coast, or even the Gulf of Mexico (note: all I say is US-biased, since that's what I know about. I've heard there's loads of tallships around Europe though! Hell, all over the world- just go looking!). I don't know what it is about the waters here, but there's only a few scattered up here in the Puget Sound, and a few more down in SoCal, with not much else between. Meanwhile, if you pop over to the east coast, you can't spit without hitting a private schooner or windjammer in need of crew.

If you want an easier time getting into the field, the east coast would definitely give you a higher chance of being hired. A warning, though, because you can't have something good without the cons: since they're privately owned vessels and for-profit companies, they're a bit more vicious when it comes to what they demand of the crew, and, depending on who's running things, how they <em>treat</em> said crew. Lots of horror stories from people coming over from the Main Windjammers. I'd ask around other blogs for specifics, I'll toss this in the appropriate tags to see if anyone wants to warn you off, but yeah.

Honestly? Tallship sailing is a dying art. You don't get into the field because you want to be paid well, because you want to build up savings. And with more and more of living life requiring a hefty paycheck you just can't get onboard without several licenses under your belt, more and more people drop off for land jobs with better security and higher pay. It's hard work, and sometimes it isn't rewarding, but sometimes it <em>is,</em> and it can be the most fulfilling thing ever.

Definitely a job I recommend anyone able to, to give a shot at if they can. Even if you don't end up staying around, sailing and being part of a tallship crew is an experience that changes you. It broadens your horizons, gives you skills, and honestly makes you cooler for it. Who wouldn't want to say they've crewed on a (shudders as I say The Forbidden Words) pirate ship?

Sowing, rigging, pigs on ships, shark fishing, hard work, a rainbow, sailors getting their hair clipped by their colleagues, half naked men, drag, an equatorial baptism with neptune and his daughters (see drag), beautiful sails. What's not to love!?

After nearly a year and a half, we are finally getting another full on, Nintendo Direct. I am one among many who thought the Direct as we knew it was gone, but I am also so very happy to be wrong. While I’m also one to not put any expectations on a presentation like this, and please do not let this list hype you to the point where you are disappointed if they don’t happen, I can’t deny how fun it is to speculate. So, with only a little less than 12 hours to go before the show begins, let’s talk about 6 things that will hopefully be at the show. Please remember my lists are not ranked based on how much I want something or how popular it is, so much as how much I want to talk about it. That means your favorite possible thing can be in the first, or last spot of the list. Now let’s begin.

6. A Zelda Collection of some kind

There are a lot of important anniversary’s in 2021 for games, and none may be more important to many fans than Zelda itself. The series is turning 35 in four days if you can believe it. Mario got a lot for it’s recent anniversary and while it’s pretty likely something is planned for Zelda, getting a good idea of what that might be, would be nothing short of fantastic. Perhaps we’ll see Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD, and something completely out of left field to round it up. Who can really say, but it is absolutely the perfect time to announce something, and something big at that. Nintendo does love to surprise people, so let’s hope something surprising pops in. 

5.  Falcom get’s some much needed attention

Falcom, one of the oldest developers in Japan, has been releasing hit after hit, after hit, but like many other fantastic developers making the best double A experiences, they’ve never really made it into the limelight like they deserve. With two games coming for the Switch YS IX: Monstrum Nox, and The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV set to come out in April and Summer respectively, and with so many eyes on Nintendo, it’s time they got a proper slot to be talked about. It would also be nice to see something new come from Falcom that isn’t previously announced, as even though the focus of the direct is seemingly about the next 4 months leading up to E3, hints of something more are always possible. Falcom is a brilliant developer, so hopefully, they manage to get their time to shine. 

4. A Sonic Collection of some kind

Sonic is yet another franchise that’s hitting a major anniversary, as it’s turning 30. With that kind of history behind it, Sonic has a lot of ups and downs. Surely more than enough to make an enticing collection. to be...sure. Perhaps a remake of Sonic Adventure 2, a remaster of Sonic generations and maybe a fixed version of Sonic ‘06? Wouldn’t count on that last one especially, but Sonic has such a rich history of games it could pull from that could get everyone hyped. There’s also rumors of another 2D Sonic game, which would also be nice, but what’s an anniversary if you don’t target nostalgia in more ways than one? Hopefully, we’ll find out soon. 

3. Something Indie

While Nintendo has had some...issues with quality checks with the Switch, there’s no denying that it’s absolutely got hundreds of amazing Indies, and that the Switch is a great source for them. A couple of possible exciting indies could be Windjammers 2, Atomic Heart, Mineko’s Night Market (please gawd let’s hear about that one) Sports Story, Hollow Knight Silksong, Eastward and Garden Story to name but a few. Indie games need love just as much as any other game out there, and with so many potential high quality indies coming our way so far as plans go for 2021, it would be a sad thing to miss out on some spectacular games that are headed for the Switch. 

2. The next Mainline Pokemon game

Rumors were abound a few weeks ago that Pokemon’s 4th gen was already set to be remade for release this fall, 2021, and while as I’ve said this direct is planned and meant to tide us over until Summer when E3 comes along, it doesn’t change the possibility that something coming out past that point, if not several somethings will still be given an update or announcement. I think it’s safe to say based on the hype of the rumor that for a lot of people, Pokemon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum are top tier games and in a lot of ways, and rightly so. Sure, they could use a good number of updates, but that’s what remakes are for, and while a Pokemon direct on Pokemon day itself would suit just fine, I feel if something is coming for Pokemon 25, this is the time to get it out there. Just please, don’t throw in any DLC Pokemon you get for buying a special item. 

1. Metroid/Bayonetta/Breath of the Wild 2, get something. 

Am I mashing a whole bunch of entries into one, yer damn right I am, otherwise I’d be here until the direct started, and where would the fun in that be? Jokes aside, these franchises all of have been lying kind of dormant in the mainline entry department at the very least, and while it’s like I said, something for Zelda is going to be announced mostly likely anyways, to see a continuation of that as we look to the future for the series would be amazing. It would also be nice to see Metroid Prime 4 get an update, or see the original trilogy hit the Switch. Bayonetta 3 is the Devil May Cry of Switch these days despite having DMC on it, and darn it all, it’s time we got SOMETHING for it. Sure, none of these games are coming out before the holiday season this year and that’s fine, but just to know they are on their way, would be good enough. 

Warmup - Hiromi Mita from Windjammers

Drawing Data East characters and games for all of Karnovember. Got something you want to see? Send me an ask.