Tag: Afterglow

Geekscape Reviews ‘BanG Dream! Girls Band Party PICO’ Episode 1

by Josh Jackson

In the “age of warring girl bands”, only one rival band can stand supreme. That’s the premise of the debut episode of Bang Dream! Girls Band Party PICO, (or Bandori Garupa PICO to preserve my finger joints), a micro sized gag anime featuring the characters of the recently released mobile game. Foregoing the more traditional art style of the main anime series, PICO tells its lighthearted stories using a super-deformed style reminiscent of the main map in the mobile game. As expected, hilarity ensues when you get all 25 girls in one room, especially when the space is so cramped you have to crash through a window to get in.

Serving as an introduction to the series, most of the episode is dedicated to introducing each of the five main bands. Afterglow, the alt-rock group of childhood friends, Pastel Palettes, the pop idol group, Hello Happy World, the eccentric band built on the whims of an eccentric billionaire, Roselia, the dedicated goth J-Rock group, and Poppin’ Party, the up and coming band that shine like the brightest stars, all arrive in dramatic fashion for practice at CiRCLE. Except there’s not nearly enough room for everyone, causing PoPiPa front-woman, Kasumi, to shift their attention to, “a family restaurant.” You can’t get much rehearsing done there, but at least there’s space to move around!

As a first episode, it does a good job of generally introducing the bands to new and familiar audiences alike, but with the strict three minute run time, there’s not a whole lot of time for character exploration. Yet, during the brief run time, a few things are immediately apparent. First, Kasumi’s lucky to not have a face full of glass after failing to stick the landing when breaking into CiRCLE. Second, this show is setting up its adorable charm quite nicely, especially with the ending theme animation. Lastly, in the main game, Hello Happy World and PoPiPa are the only overtly silly bands in the game, but with these introductions being as strange as they were, it’s clear that even the likes of Afterglow and Roselia are going to be at their comedic best going forward. Hopefully the show can keep up with the laughs!

Episode Thoughts:

– Marina should really have a booking system to prevent everyone from showing up at the same time for rehearsal.

– Does PoPiPa have a thing against doors? Or was busting through the window just the cool thing to do? Maybe they were in a rush to get out of the rain.

– Speaking of, I wonder how often Marina needs to pay for building repairs with clientele like that.

– The best way to rehearse is to do so in full costume if HHW and Roselia are examples to go by.

– Afterglow and Pastel Palettes don’t seem to notice the rain storm outside, especially the latter showing up in shoulder-less dresses.

– How much longer will it be before Arisa is fed up with the stupidity that surrounds her? I’m guessing not long.

BanG Dream: Girls Band Party PICO is a weekly gag anime placing the cast of the multimedia franchise in comedic situations over the span of three minute episodes. Find more at the official BanG Dream YouTube channel.

Geekscape Tech Review: PDP Afterglow AG 9 (PS4), Afterglow LVL 5 Plus (PS4), and Titanfall 2 Backpack (with OGIO)

by GadgetMan

If you have heard of PDP, then you know that they make some great video game accessories. These particular accessories, made for all three consoles, have a habit of glowing, which has become their trademark. I’ll talk more about them tomorrow, but today, I’m going to cover two headsets for the PS4 and a specially made Titanfall 2 backpack made in partnership with OGIO.

I’ll start with the Afterglow AG 9 wireless headset, and it has powerful 50 mm drivers with two distinct audio modes of Bass Boost and Pure Audio. It also has a unique headband design for adjusting for comfort, and it has the blue lights. The wireless capability is achieved thanks to the included USB transmitter.

Another feature is the boom microphone that is flexible and removable. Yes, it is made for making conversation online while you are playing on the PS4.
You should be able to purchase the Afterglow AG 9 on the PDP site for $99.99.

As for the Afterglow LVL 5 Plus, it has 40 mm Neodymium drivers as well as a dynamic haptic driver. This great sound will be on your on your head in the form of a comfortable headband design, and you can drown out the rest of the world with some over the ear cups.

While I’m on the subject of ear cups, PDP was smart enough to put the volume and mute right on the ear cup of the Afterglow LVL 5. There is also a nice and adjustable boom microphone.

You should be able to find the Afterglow LVL 5 Plus on the PDP site for $49.99.

Oh, and by the way, both PS4 headsets have the lights. They are blue because it is the PS4. I think the model for the Xbox One is green. I wonder if the color of the lights is some kind of standard for gaming systems.

Time to change gears and talk about something Titanfall 2 related. This Licensed Titanfall 2 PDP product is also an OGIO Backpack, and I have to say that it is not necessarily for hardcore Titanfall fans only. PDP apparently had some kind of partnership with OGIO, who makes some really great backpacks.

Most backpacks designed for laptops usually do 15-inch ones, but this one is good for 17-inch laptops, and the padding will keep not only your computer safe, but you can slip a tablet in there as well. Yes, a lot of backpacks have this, and this is just the first zippered area. The second zippered-off area is good to stuff quite a few things in.

Then there are two zippered pockets on the outside, and they can store a lot of pens, calculators, as well as accessories to your laptop and tablet. Hey, you got to put those charging cords and other things somewhere.

Yes, you could just get an ordinary laptop backpack for that, and there are a lot to choose from. However, does your backpack have Velcro patches from Titanfall 2? I’m just going to say no.

Now, I couldn’t find the Titanfall backpack on either the PDP or OGIO site, but I was able to find it on Amazon for $90.22.

Also, do you want to hear more about the latest in technology? In early January, there is a big event in Las Vegas known as CES (Consumer Electronics Show). I want to go and report on it, but I need some help. I have a new GoFundMe site that will “Send Mark (me) to CES 2017”. Please click here and make a donation.