Category Archives: Michael Pepin

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Nintendo leaves E3 shocking investors, gamers

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By Michael Pepin

Anyone who is remotely interesting in gaming or anything technology related has probably been looking forward to E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, this June.  This event is considered by many to be the greatest event of the year for companies looking to target gamers and investors.  However, Nintendo, which is arguably the most popular gaming company in the world, will not be attending E3. 

This shocked a lot of people, and various rumors of all sorts have been flying across social media in response to this.  While random sites whisper of Nintendo being ashamed of their new product, the Wii U, in comparison to competitors like the Playstation 4 and others, the real reason behind this decision is more simple.  Nintendo felt that it was no longer necessary to attend the E3 event and showcase the Wii U,  feeling that with the expanse of social media and Nintendo’s great reputation, it was no longer necessary to attend E3.  Instead they will be hosting smaller events outside of E3 to reach out to their audience and plan to use the new Nintendo Direct conference to contact their customers. They felt that people are going to continue with the Wii U whether it makes an appearance at the Expo or not. Instead of E3, Nintendo spent a much smaller sum of money to attend several smaller conferences, which they feel will make a much bigger impact than E3. 

Some feel that this was a smart move for Nintendo, being the first to cut out of E3 and break tradition in this new era where such conventions are no longer needed.  In the past, E3 was for gamers, and investors.  Gamers want to learn about the games and not spend ten minutes hearing about this new game and an hour about stock and regulations and business related stuff.  With several other smaller events, it allows Nintendo to get a much more focused audience for each end of the spectrum rather than simply appealing to everyone at E3.  In addition, at E3 they would have to compete against Sony and Microsoft’s new systems while all they would have is the Wii U, which is already in production and was shown last year as well.  Without new content, it would be a disadvantage for them to spend so much time and effort at E3.
However the outcome of this endeavor could easily be disastrous.  E3 has become a tradition for all of the major companies, and Nintendo is one of the big three of the E3.  Simply not showing up is almost unthinkable, it is the biggest event of the year.  Many fans feel betrayed that Nintendo is simply relying on their reputation to carry on with the sale of their products, and this arrogant act could easily be their  downfall.  People come to E3 to see the progress of the companies and see upcoming consoles and games.  By not showing up other companies, like Sony and Microsoft, take the stage in their absence.  
This could be the downfall of E3 rather than the downfall of Nintendo.  In this new age of technology, contacting customers directly through their console could be the new path that advertising and display is taking.  Other companies like 2K Games and Rockstar have backed out of E3 as well in Nintendo’s wake.  Attending and hosting these conventions is expensive.  This could be the beginning of a new era for gamers, or it could be the end of Nintendo’s time as a major console developer, only time will tell.
 
Baseball, Michael Pepin

Recent injuries jeopardize baseball team’s perfect season

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By Michael Pepin

The baseball team is in the middle of one of their most successful seasons ever. Currently they are undefeated with 12 wins. However, this success could be in jeopardy due to the recent injuries that the team has been experiencing.

“In any sport you are going to have your injuries; every year it seems like something happens and you don’t know when or who but its going to happen,” said baseball coach Casey LaDuke.

This year has been unusual due to the amount of injuries.  In addition to the two major injuries, there have been a number of smaller incidents and injuries that present a worry to the baseball team fans and their undefeated record. Especially since it appears senior Cody Sunderhaus and junior Aaron Sneed will be out for the season. However the baseball team remains confident that they will be able to keep their undefeated record despite these setbacks.

“We have already won a couple games since then, so if we keep working as hard as we have been then we could have an undefeated season,” said Sunderhaus.

During one of the baseball games Sunderhaus broke his hand.  It is still undecided whether or not his injury will keep him out for the entire season.

In addition to Sunderhaus, junior Aaron Sneed also severed the labium in his shoulder. His injury will require surgery and will leave him unable to play for the remainder of  the season. Both had been stellar players for the team, which left some fans worrying about the impact their absence will have on the team. Several other players suffered minor injuries like sprains, strains and overextension pains.

“I do not think that the injuries will affect the team overall because it is a group effort to be able to win a game, not just one individual’s efforts,” said athletic trainer Becky Clifton.

The other members of the baseball team are confident that they will be able to fill in for their injuried comrades. It was hard work and practice that has carried them through this winning streak and it will take even more effort to continue to win.

“It’s going to be tough to keep winning every game, but we are going to keep working hard and see how long we can keep it going,” said LaDuke.
A&E, Michael Pepin

Project Keep the Inspiration proves successful

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By Michael Pepin

Inspiration has a great deal to do with success, and for many FC students involved in music, this inspiration began with the elementary school tour, in which Highland Hills middle school eighth graders play for the elementary school kids to inspire them to pursue music in middle and eventually high school. However, when it became known that the school board was thinking about cutting this program, several students stepped up to the plate and formed Project Keep the Inspiration to show just how important this tour was to the school board.

“We first heard about the elementary school tour being cancelled by Mr. Thomas in band class.  It’s something that a lot of people look forward to and it’s a big part of the program,” said eighth grader Alleson Estar, who, along with her friend Camden Hardin first formed the project.  With the number of arts programs being cut from schools, they said they felt inspired to make sure that the same thing does not happen to their music program.

Since then, they have created a page on Facebook to advertise the project, and wrote a formal letter to the school board to persuade them against their decision.  In addition, they got over 130 students from the middle school and Floyd Central high school to sign a petition.  They presented all of this to the school board on Monday, April 8th.

They argued that music was vital to the growth of elementary and middle school students, and that the elementary school tour encouraged students to join the music program.

“I remember when I was in elementary school and when the band came to visit Galena.  He (the band director) stopped and turned around and asked a question, ‘Who would like to come up and direct the band?’ Out of the hundreds of kids that raised their hands, he chose me.  At that moment when I walked up there, I realized that I wanted to be in band, and play music,” said former FC student Zach Stigler.

“I believe that the elementary school tour is necessary because if we don’t have it, then people will be less inclined to join band,” said Hardin.  She believes that the tour is necessary to inspire the younger generation to play an instrument, and that they will join because they wanted to.  This tour was, after all, first designed to show the elementary school students what they can do in middle school.  When they see firsthand the result of the work it will take to learn an instrument, more are willing to put in the effort.  With more students that are willing to put in the necessary effort, the band program improves.

“The elementary school tour is the reason that I did band in middle school.  Without it, I would not have learned how to play the saxophone and then gone on to marching band,” said sophomore Christian Bush.  When middle school band students progress to the high school level, they are required to participate in one year of marching band.  For many, that one year leads to a lot of good times and memories.

“Marching band has become part of my life, a lot of great memories were made during band season,” said Bush.

In addition to inspiring the elementary school students, the middle school students receive a surge of inspiration as they see first hand the effect of music on others and get to show off their talent.

“The elementary school tour is something that really benefits all the students; the eighth graders get a lot out of it as well as the middle schoolers,” said senior Christian Thomas.

Recently, Highland Hills principal Steve Griffin relayed the information that the school board has decided to keep the tour active annually.

The school’s decision to keep the elementary school tour was brought about heavily by Project Keep the Inspiration.  The HHMS eighth graders will continue to display their talents to the nearby elementary schools.  The musical arts program will continue in the years to come.

“I treasure my four years in marching band, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the elementary school tour,” said senior Derek Hanke.

Michael Pepin, Sports

Fans weigh in on U of L and IU’s basketball seasons

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By Michael Pepin

With the Big East and Big Ten conference tournaments next week, many people are beginning to formulate their own predictions and opinions of how this month of madness will turn out.

“There are six teams in the Top 25 right now [in the Big East], more than any other conference, just beating the Big Ten, which has five.  I think that while U of L is vulnerable at any given time, they have what it takes to make win the Big East Conference,” said biology teacher  Kirk Moldenhauer, who believes that U of L will also win the NCAA Basketball tournament, barely triumphing over IU.

However others have different predictions about the two local teams.

“I think that U of L will make it to the finals in the Big East Conference and then lose to Georgetown, since their team is really good this year.  IU will only make it to the Elite Eight, if not just the Sweet 16,” said sophomore Harrison Rice.

Many agreed that the teams this year are very talented, though flawed.

“If (point guard Peyton) Siva doesn’t play well, the rest of the team doesn’t play well.  Sometimes he rushes the shots, and that costs the team points.  However the team this year is easily capable of making it to the finals,” said Rice.

The opinion remains generally the same even with fans of different teams.

“IU has the best team in college basketball, but sometimes when we turn it over, we don’t get as many possessions as we should.  Yet, even with that there is no doubt that the team will make it to the final four.  We are still ranked number 2 in the country,” said freshman Landon Receveur.

However, triumphing over the other teams in the NCAA basketball tournament requires more than a prestigious name or a good team and skillful players.

“Anybody can beat anybody these days; 15 years ago there were only a few good teams that stood a chance of winning.  In order to win the NCAA, even the best teams need a lot of luck,” said Moldenhauer.

A&E, Michael Pepin

Freezing rain reschedules band concert

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By Michael Pepin

On Thursday Feb. 21, all after school activities taking place after 5:30 p.m. were cancelled due to the prediction of freezing rain.  This included the band spring concert, also known as the POPs Concert.

“I had seen the weather forecast and I was not at all surprised by their decision.  I think they did the right thing, even though the freezing rain never really came,” said band director Harold Yankee.

The rain started around 5 p.m. and continued off and on for several hours, however in many areas it was just rain because the temperature was not right for the precipitation to freeze.

“I am really glad that they cancelled the concert, by the time I got home it there was a thin layer of ice on our driveway already. I know that some areas received next to nothing, but that just comes with freezing rain I guess,” said senior Zachary Butcher.

This is the first time in Floyd Central history that this particular concert had to be rescheduled due to weather. Yankee explains that nearly twenty years ago a band concert was cancelled on account of a tornado warning, but that is the only other time any concert has ever been cancelled and rescheduled.

“I can remember that last year the Parent Show for marching band was cancelled twice on account of heavy rain, but I never thought that the POPs concert would be rescheduled,” said senior Brian Young. “It’s one of those things you think will never happen, then it does.”

The concert has been rescheduled to March 19, nearly a month after its planned time.

“The concert has not really changed anything.  We are just going to keep playing and practicing to get better.  We might try to add a new piece with all the extra time, but otherwise nothing has changed,” said Yankee.

“The weather can’t stop us, only delay us a bit,” said senior Shelby Reynolds.