Quite frankly, if one more person wishes me a 'happy holiday' in reference to Memorial Day, I will break their jaw. If there is one holiday that America has managed to bastardize more than bloody Christmas, it is the day we are SUPPOSED to set aside to pay our respects to all of those who died in service to our country. Now it's a day off, a time to get drunk and, for those who can afford it, shop for things we really don't need. So, before the day begins and ends without anyone thinking twice about it, I figured someone should deliver some statistics to bring Memorial Day back to reality.
Since the inception of the United States, over 1.3 Million soldiers have died in active duty. The bloodiest war in our history was the Civil War where over 600,000 men laid down their lives. An average soldier is lucky to make over $40,000 a year before being discharged. Every day, an average of twenty-two veterans commit suicide and according to our government one active member of the military out of every five are suffering from a mental or psychological disorder: the most common being, unsurprisingly, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, despite the gloomy statistics, the American military is the most frequently requested aid in the world whenever there is a disaster or tyrant destroying human lives. No group of people have done more for total strangers than the American military. Entire nations exist only because an American marine or battleship is nearby to ensure the evil of the world doesn't take advantage of the good and all that has been asked for in return is enough land to bury our dead.
Every year, on every Internet platform I control, I put up the picture you see above you: the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Not all of the 1.3 Million dead have a name, but their service is another drop in the stream of blood that keeps America connected. I usually post them with a quote that, in light of recent controversies, has proven more true today than ever before:
It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
NOW, to the news!
The group has been busy with finishing the production of Backstage Pass and, due to that, news has been a bit slow. However, in the past week we have gotten a few big updates on their progress; including a look at the cover for the game. You can see the full video on their YouTube page. Currently, the Standard Edition of the game will retail for $29.99. There is some talk about a Deluxe Edition, but it is still in the early stages. Ayu Sakata discussed it on their Tumblr page but to save on postage, here's the important bit:
We’re also working on the special edition right now, and this is where I need feedback from you guys. Right now, the special edition includes the following:
- The game (duh)
- CD of the OST
- CD of Adam Eaton’s EP, “Island Heart”
- Companion book with designs, sketches, info, and other stuff
- Five character postcards
- Codes for Steam and Desura
As it stands, I’m not sure how many copies I should have made, so I need a show of hands to get an idea of how many people are interested in having a special edition. Right now I’m being told the final price will be around $70 each, but if we get a lot of people interested, they can lower the price, and I think we would all really like that.
We have a few new releases to note. First from the creates of Gods of Nowhere comes Gravedigger: Episode 1. Available for 99 Cents, this game brings in the popular 'Point and Click' element that is taking Western gaming by storm right now. Here's a quick preview of the tale;
Grave robbing is what Sasha’s best at. Top of his class and nationally infamous. But after a tomb heist goes not-so-smoothly, he’s suddenly being haunted by Ellery, the ghost of the particular crypt he robbed.
Not wanting to give back the stolen watch, Sasha delves into research about Ellery’s past along with looking for a means to get rid of him. He unexpectedly becomes more and more intrigued by Ellery’s past while he was alive. Meanwhile, the ghost attempts to make Sasha’s life as miserable as possible and an obsessive detective uses whatever means possible to find the graverobber and arrest him.