Category Archives: Ascension

Before the days of in-depth single-player campaigns and cinematic storytelling, nearly every videogame shared the same basic premise: survive as long as you can. From Pong to Missile Command, most early gaming experiences werent about concluding story-arcs or even defeating a final boss, they simply tasked players with trying their best at a certain task until they met with an inevitable defeat our natural instinct to persevere and earn high score bragging rights is what made that journey satisfying.

Thats why I find it curious that survival games as a genre only really took off during the mid 2010s after the success of titles like Minecraft and Day Z. While this was likely due to rapidly advancing technology allowing for more complex mechanics that could better simulate real world survival, youve got to admit that theres no better universal motivator than being forced to find shelter and attend to basic human needs like food and water.

Of course, not all survival games are created equal, and today Id like to shine a light on IonFXs criminally under-played Miasmata, a decade-old title that not only helped to pioneer the genre as we know it today but also hasnt been surpassed when it comes to sheer dedication to its premise.

Originally a part of Valves ill-fated Greenlight Program, which allowed gamers to vote for independent titles to be approved for distribution on Steam, Miasmata was developed by a couple of Minnesotan brothers that had previously specialized in simple puzzle games and Pocket PC ports of older titles. Wanting to set their sights on something more ambitious, the duo looked towards the real world for inspiration and came up with an idea that would blend pharmacology, cartography and botany into a challenging yet addictive digital cocktail.

Uh-oh.

Over the course of four years, Joe and Bob Johnston began developing a custom-built engine that could support unique terrain and physics, as well as an innovative map mechanic that would force players to pay attention to their environment. Settling on a name inspired by the now-debunked theory that noxious air is responsible for disease outbreaks, the duo would release Miasmata in November of 2012 with little-to-no fanfare.

In the finished game, players take on the role of the plague-infected Robert Hughes, a scientist who finds himself trapped on a deserted island with only his wits and some abandoned lab equipment to help him. Forced to study the local flora in order to find a cure for his condition, Robert soon discovers that hes being stalked by a tiger-like Beast that aims to prevent him from escaping, resulting in a thrilling fight for survival unlike any other game available at the time.

Despite this thrilling setup, theres no denying that Miasmata is a janky experience in both mechanics and presentation. From glaring quality-of-life omissions to animations that have aged about as well as a year-old jug of milk, its easy to see why the game doesnt usually make top ten lists when it comes to best survival games. However, much like other idiosyncratic classics in the vein of Deadly Premonition and even Shenmue, its precisely these offbeat and often unfriendly creative decisions that make the game such a memorable ride.

For example, the titles more realistic approach to inertia means that simply stumbling down a hill while dehydrated can result in a near-fatal incident, and dont even get me started on trying to navigate the dense jungle while sprinting away from your seemingly supernatural pursuer. Hell, the only other time Ive had to be this careful with my virtual footwork was in Death Stranding, but even Kojimas title didnt go so far as to allow its protagonist to die of a jungle-borne fever after becoming lost in the unmapped wilderness.

Miasmatas heavily simplified depictions of amateur botany and pharmaceutical science is also based in reality, with the Johnstons consulting with real scientists in order to get the basics right. However, the real star of the show here is the advanced cartography, which teaches players how to triangulate their position through recognizable landmarks instead of a constantly updating mini-map. It can be a little frustrating to find yourself losing hours of progress simply because you took a wrong turn and can no longer find your way back to camp, but it also means that you end up paying more attention to your surroundings and its a shame that this mechanic hasnt shown up again in more recent games.

I think this is beyond my medical abilities.

While the real horror of the experience comes from the protagonists fragile state as hes forced to confront nature itself, the game also boasts a more immediate threat in the form of the ever-pursuing Beast. Survival titles often rely on in-game timers to keep players on the edge (such as Dont Starves ravenous Hounds), but the creature in Miasmata is unique in how its specifically designed to hinder your scientific progress. The developers actually programmed the beast to spawn more often when the player character is sick and/or close to ingredients for the cure, making it even more dangerous a typical enemy.

Sure, the creatures often-inexplicable AI (which was modeled after a pet cat) and the titles lackluster stealth mechanics mean that youll probably stop being scared of the beast after a handful of encounters, but its still an incredibly unique way of keeping the exploration fresh. I also really appreciate the Beasts bizarre design, with its fever-dream-like appearance actually hinting at one of the games final twists.

Miasmata may not have aged as gracefully as some other survival classics, with its conceptual reach clearly exceeding its technological grasp, but its still a shame that IonFX didnt continue to refine these ideas in future games. Even in 2023, youll be hard-pressed to find another survival title as committed to its mechanics as this one, with most of the genre focusing on player-friendly experiences and forgetting that the challenge of surviving is supposed to be half the fun.

It may not be a polished AAA experience, but Id argue that Miasmata remains a stellar example of creative survival mechanics in gaming and is still worth revisiting today if you can stomach some uneven presentation.

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Tome 15: Ascension Available Now for 'Dead by Daylight' [Trailer] - Bloody Disgusting

Oregon-based death metal outfit Ascended Dead return with their new track Inverted Ascension. The track is a precursor of the bands impending second LP, Evenfall Of The Apocalypse. Evenfall Of The Apocalypse will be released on 20 Buck Spin. Evenfall Of The Apocalypse is their first new album since 2017.

Listen to Ascended Deads Inverted Ascension on YouTube:

According to the press release:

Uniting guitarist/vocalist Jon Reider, guitarist Ian Lawrence, bassist Kevin Schreutelkamp, and drummer Charlie Koryn, Ascended Dead plays death metal the ancient way with an intrinsically malign pedigree and methodical cruelty scarcely heard nowadays. Flesh-peeling intensity at warp-speed, technically frenzied leads that cut straight through bone, and a relentless annihilating force that rarely ceases long enough to take a breath. Yet amidst this fiery conflagration, a wholly deliberate and fanatical attention to detail and craft remain undeniable, allowing the pandemonium a distinct structure and memorability.

Ascended Dead have also announced the first tour supporting the new. The tour will be called The West Coast Apocalypse 2023 tour. Ascended Dead will perform in nine cities in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia from June 2 through June 11 alongside Irelands Coscradh.

Ascended Dead West Coast Apocalypse 2023 w/ Coscradh:

6/02/2023 The Nile Underground Mesa, AZ6/03/2023 Til Two San Diego, CA6/04/2023 Knucklehead Los Angeles, CA6/05/2023 Cafe Colonial Sacramento, CA6/06/2023 Thee Stork Club Oakland, CA6/08/2023 John Henrys Eugene, OR6/09/2023 Dantes Portland, OR6/10/2023 Central Saloon Seattle, WA6/11/2023 The Wise Hall Vancouver, BC

Follow Ascended Dead on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Ascended Dead

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News: Ascended Dead Share New Track Inverted Ascension - New Noise Magazine

Working with children, both as a catechist and as a choir director, has taught me many things, but first among them, is that sharing your faith involves all of your senses. This rings true for kids of all ages, from four to 13.

For those of you with children or grandchildren that extend across that age range, you have likely already learned the very important lesson that I did: children of different ages and personalities learn differently.

For some, all they needed was words. Nothing more. They were comfortable and confident learning from a piece of paper, a hymnal, or a poster.

When all you need is the right words, then Ascensions Catechism of the Catholic Church, Ascension Edition with its exclusive, newly designed Foundations of Faith approach is just for you. Everyone can learn and understand the teachings of the Catholic Church that can transform their lives with this Catechism.

If you are searching for a deeper understanding of the Divine, Paul Cotinhos Awaken to the Divine: 52 Contemplative Reflections to Transform Your Spirit from Twenty-Third Publications would be a good fit. This book takes a unique approach that combines words from the spiritual traditions of both Eastern and Western religion and philosophy, and is filled with memorable quotes, Scripture passages, and sacred stories.

For other students, words are a good starting point, but need to go further. That can be through a deeper conversation about the meaning, a closer listening to the music, or sometimes even an activity that connects the words to something bigger.

We adults arent that different. We often need tools to deepen our journey, understanding, and practices.

The 50 Days of Joy: Easter Reflections for New Catholics from GIA Publications and Grieving: A Spiritual Process for Catholics from Liturgy Training Publications, both available through CatholicsRead, explore more deeply the journey of death and Resurrection, especially during this Easter season.

The 50 Days of Joy provides Scripture readings and reflections for each day of Easter week, all the Sundays of the Easter season, and Ascension and Pentecost.

In Grieving: A Spiritual Process for Catholics, Paula Kosin combines deep wisdom from the Christian tradition with current insights from the social sciences to create a book that can be an effective companion for grievers. It also recommends concrete practices to support their process such as journaling, mindfulness meditation, prayer, and nature therapy.

Sometimes words need to be put into motion. Alongside my wonderful colleagues in the Catholic ASL community, my students and I learned how to put our words into beautiful motion that required them to be actively engaged and present.

There is no better way to learn the virtues than by practicing them. Saintly Habits: Aquinas 7 Simple Strategies You Can Use to Grow in Virtue from Ascension is this weeks CatholicsRead tool to help you do just that. In Saintly Habits, Professor Andrew Whitmore will transform your understanding of what a virtuous life looks like and teach you how to put your new knowledge into practice.

When all else fails, good teachers turn to pictures. We have to look no further than the great cathedrals of the Catholic world where our faith has inspired immensely colorful and detailed stained glass and impossibly graceful and strong carvings and architecture. We hold onto the adage that pictures speak a thousand words for a reasonthey do.

In two of this weeks CatholicsRead titles, two amazing artists take the incredible words of a pope (Francis) and the Scripture (the canticles) and create vibrant, exciting, seemingly endless pathways to better understanding words, some of which we know well and some we should know better.

Our Common Home from GIA Publications with the words of Pope Francis Laudato S and Brother Mickey McGraths drawings will help you discover and remember the popes instructional words of wisdom as he speaks of the God-given gifts that surround us, and how we have been mandated to care for creation with all of its beauty and inspiration.

Also from GIA Publications, Canticle: Biblical Songs Illuminated is a unique book where you can discover twenty canticles illuminated by the evocative art of the late G.E. Mullan. Each piece of art includes a scripture followed by a poetic reflection written by theologian and master storyteller John Shea.

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Therese Brown is the Executive Director of the Association of Catholic Publishers. She holds a master of arts degree in youth and liturgy from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She previously served as senior marketing specialist at United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Publishing Office. She isthe author ofGraced Moments: Prayer Services for the Lives of Teens (World Library Publications). She resides in the Baltimore area.

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Beyond the Words on the Page - Where Peter Is

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) Wendy Wilson, 50, of St. Amant was taken into custody after a traffic stop on Monday, April 17.

The stop took place around 2 p.m. on Evangeline Street by a member of the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office. Before the stop, the deputy could not fully see the Louisiana temp tag which was inside the vehicle.

While approaching the vehicle, the deputy was able to see that the temp tag and inspection sticker were both expired. Wilson was driving the vehicle at the time of the stop and was subsequently questioned by the deputy. The St. Amant woman claimed that she was on her way to a mechanic shop. At some point, the deputy smelled what they thought could be marijuana, according to EBRSO. Wilson denied that she was in possession of marijuana.

A search of the vehicle was executed by the deputy and these are some of the items that were seized:

According to the affidavit, the quantity of the suspected cocaine was indicative of narcotics trafficking. Tests later confirmed that the seized substances were cocaine and heroin.

Wilson was arrested and charged with these crimes:

The St. Amant woman was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Monday, April 17.

Wilson remains behind bars on a $15,000 bond.

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Ascension Parish woman arrested after deputy finds drugs inside car during traffic stop - BRProud.com

A New Orleans-born rapper facing rape and other charges in Ascension Parish won't go to trial next month as planned and remained in jail Tuesday without bail or a new trial date.

The new defense attorney for Mystikal asked a state district judge last week to continue her client's jury trial that had been set to start June 21, court papers say.

The attorney, Tiffany Myles Crosby, told the judge she needed time "to become abreast of all pertinent issues in this matter in order to provide efficient representation."

Mystikal, whose given name is Michael Lawrence Tyler, has been accused of a violent attack and rape of a woman in his Prairieville home in late July.

Tyler, 52,has pleaded not guilty tofirst-degree rape, robbery, false imprisonment and other criminal counts. Conviction on the rape charge alone would bring life imprisonment.

Crosby asked for the continuance without a new trial date. Prosecutors in Ascension did not oppose the delay, court papers say.

Judge Steven Tureau of the 23rd Judicial District Court granted the trial continuance the same day it was sought, on April 18. Tyler is next scheduled to appear in court in Gonzales on Aug. 21.

The delay came about a month after Tyler dropped his defense attorneys on March 15. Crosby took over and she sought and receiveda gag order barring attorneys and others connected to the case from commenting to the news media.

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Rape trial delayed for Mystikal; New Orleans-born rapper to remain in jail without bail - The Advocate

Free Heart Health Screening event will be held at the Ascension Borgess Heart Institute on May 6{p}{/p}

The last time Ascension Borgess hosted a screening event to look for potential heart problems, doctors said it made a difference.

"There were a number of situations that arose where people were made aware of a significant potential heart problem and results on an EKG showed that they may be at a higher risk of something happening", said Dr. Stephen Peck, cardiologist Ascension Borgess, "There ended up being an immediate referral to have more elaborate testing done as a result of this."

Free heart screenings are returning to five locations across Michigan, including in Kalamazoo, May 6 2023. This will be the first time for the event since before the pandemic started.

The no-cost heart screenings will start at 7 a.m. with walk-in registrations ending at 11 a.m.

It is happening at the Ascension Borgess Heart Institute, 1722 Shaffer St., Kalamazoo, 49048.

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Free heart screening event could save lives - WWMT-TV

How 2 dogs, a cat and a new fence sparked a dispute that could change the law in Ascension  The Advocate

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How 2 dogs, a cat and a new fence sparked a dispute that could change the law in Ascension - The Advocate

Armed carjackings reported in Baton Rouge, Ascension Parish, sheriff says; suspects at large  The Advocate

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Armed carjackings reported in Baton Rouge, Ascension Parish, sheriff says; suspects at large - The Advocate

Sugar Mill students gear up with codable robots thanks to Ascension Fund grant  The Advocate

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Sugar Mill students gear up with codable robots thanks to Ascension Fund grant - The Advocate

Ascension Blue Gators working on basics in preparation for postseason run  The Advocate

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Ascension Blue Gators working on basics in preparation for postseason run - The Advocate