Venus Atrapamoscas

Este post puede ser (aun más) aburrido que los demás. Tampoco está relacionado directamente con videojuegos, a menos que uno piense en Super Mario o Plants VS Zombies (um, como yo).

Hace poco compré una Venus Atrapamoscas (Dionaea Muscipula; costó 5€ en un Verdecora de Madrid, para el que esté interesado). La verdad es que tiene su gracia. Son un poco especialitas con respecto a unas cuantas cosas; el fertilizante o el agua corriente puede matarlas. También hay que dejar que "hibernen" (cosa que estoy intentando) cuando llega el invierno; de lo contrario palman a los tres años o así.

Tenía la idea de pensar un nombre mínimamente original, pero al final la pereza se impuso y acabamos llamándola por el nombre más obvio y poco original posible para una planta carnívora: Audrey.

De todos modos, estoy haciéndole fotos cada tres/cuatro días.

Actualización: He quitado las fotos de cada día y las he reemplazado por un GIF animado, que parece más entretenido (y mejor para ver los cambios). Clic en la imagen para ver a tamaño completo y animado.

Actualización Noviembre 2011: He dejado de actualizar el GIF, más que nada por falta de tiempo e interés. Audrey parece haber alcanzado el tamaño máximo que puede alcanzar en esa maceta, pero es algo complicado obtener la turba musgosa necesaria para ponerla en una más grande...

Venus Flytrap

This entry may be even less interesting than the others. It's not directly related to videogames, either, unless you're thinking of Super Mario or Plants VS Zombies (er, like me).

I recently bought a Venus Flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula, it cost me a mere 5€ in a Verdecora here in Madrid if you're interested). Cute little bugger, really. They are somewhat picky regarding a couple of things though: any fertilizer or even tap water can kill them. Also, you need to put them into dormancy in the colder seasons (which I have, or am trying to), or they end up dying after about three years.

I was supposed to be even remotely original picking a name for it, but since I'm also unbeliebably lazy, we ended up calling it Audrey, the most obvious and least original name ever for a flytrap. :P

In any case, I started taking pics of it every three-four days.

Edit: I've removed the individual pics and instead replaced them with an animated GIF, which seems more entertaining (not to mention it lets one appreciate changes better). In later months, the GIF is great to see the cycle of dormancy/regrowth. Click the thumbnail to see full-size and animated.

November 2011 edit: I stopped updating the GIF some time ago, as it was a quite time-consuming task. Audrey seems to have reached the maximum size for that pot, but transplanting it could prove somewhat difficult, as the peat moss carnivorous plants need is not easy to come by in Madrid at this time, for some reason...

Mythical Creature List for Scribblenauts and Super Scribblenauts

I recently composed and sent to GameFAQs a list of fictional creatures in both Scribblenauts and the recently released Super Scribblenauts. However, it was rejected due to it being "too specific", so I'm simply posting it here.

This list will probably be updated as more creatures/alternate wordings are found. It was last updated on February 5th, 2011.

This is a quick and dirty guide on the unique fictional / mythological / cryptozoologic / sci-fi themed creatures that can be summoned in Scribblenauts and Super Scribblenauts. All differences between both games will be noted.

Although this is a list of creatures, and will not, for the most part, include objects, vehicles, etc., this rule will be broken whenever I find it appropriate for whatever reason. Also, I'm purposely leaving out memes (such as Longcat), but I am including cryptids. The reasons for this is that, well, I'm the one writing the list.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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The fine folks at GameFAQs, particularly contributors of the Mythical Creatures Threads and Sprite Identification Threads. This includes both:

1) The ones for the original Scribblenauts:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/955689-scribblenauts/51346221

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/955689-scribblenauts/51992509

2) And the ones specifically for NEW creatures in Super Scribblenauts:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/991129-super-scribblenauts/56764857

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/991129-super-scribblenauts/57140248

Readers who happen to find new fictional creatures or identify as-yet-unnamed ones are encouraged to post their findings at the appropiate thread. Kindly double-check that the creature in question is not already in the list (Ctrl+F is your friend). Also, make sure it is a FICTIONAL creature (ligers and such are actual, existing animals; dinosaurs did exist, so they're not fictional).

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ABBREVIATIONS

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From here on, I will be using the following abbreviations:

S: Scribblenauts.

SS: Super Scribblenauts.

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NOTES

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(1) This particular wording summons a new, different entity in SS. If the

new entity is mythical, it will also be elsewhere in the list; see (2).

(2) This entity is new for SS; the words used to summon it are recognized in S as alternative words for another entity. If this entity was also mythical, it will be elsewhere on this list; see (1).

(3) This entity is new for SS; also, the words used to summon it are not recognized in S at all.

(4) This entity from S was removed in SS.

(5) This alternative wording from S was removed in SS.

(6) This is an alternative wording, new to SS, for an entity already present in S.

(7) This wording is incorrectly spelled in-game.

(a) Petrifies living beings. In S, they get gray-colored; Maxwell can get petrified as well, though it is temporary. In SS, they get the adjective "Petrified"; Maxwell is immune to petrification.

(b) Is petrified when put in front of a "Mirror": in S, she turns into a Statue; in SS, both her and the mirror are "Petrified".

(c) Flees from mirrors.

(d) Comes without a scythe in SS, but instantly kills anyone it touches, including Maxwell in a Playground stage.

(e) In SS, turns into a "Willow" when threatened.

(f) May be summoned in SS by typing "Elf" and choosing "Elf (Holiday)".

(g) May also be summoned in SS by typing "Elf" and choosing "Elf (Fantasy)".

(h) After drinking a "Potion", turns into "Mister Hyde".

(i) After drinking a "Potion", turns into "Doctor Jekyll".

(j) The exact same as a "Centaur" holding a "Bow".

(k) Yes, this is a fictional creature. Use "Venus Flytrap" to summon its realistic counterpart.

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THE LIST

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Each entry lists an unique entity. Entities are listed in alphabetical order of what seems to be the primary wording (the one that in my opinion is the one "most closely describing" / "most commonly used to describe" the entity). Obviously, this is entirely a subjective matter, so you'll have to bear with my opinions. After the primary wording, alternate wordings will be given (alphabetically sorted), enclosed in parenthesis, and separated by commas.

Achilles (3)

Ahool (Flying Monkey)

Alien (Grey)

Amazon (3)

Amphisbaena (Amphisbaina, Amphisboena, Amphisbona, Amphista, Amphivena, Ampisbene, Anphivena, Disomus, Ouroboros)

Android

Angel (Archangel)

Anubis (Anubus, Inubus)

Aquarius (Water Bearer) (3)

Arabhar

Argos Panoptes (Argos, Argus, Argus Panoptes) (3)

Baba Yaga (3)

Behemoth (Beast, Carnivore, Grendel, Wendigo(1), Wihtikow(1), Witiko(1))

Bigfoot (Chuchunaa, Kapre, Rakshasa, Sasquatch, Yeren, Yowie, Zana)

Blob (Ooze, Slime)

Bogeyman (Bogey, Boogeyman) (2)

Bunyip (3)

Capricorn (Seagoat) (3)

Carnivorous Plant (Man-Eating Plant) (3)(k)

Catoblepas (3)

Centaur

Centaur Archer (Sagittarius) (3)(j)

Cerberus (Barghest, Hellhound, Orthros, Orthrus)

Chimera (Chimaera)

Chinese Dragon (Chi, Chinese Roc, Dragon God)

Chupacabra

Cockatrice (Basilisk) (a)(c)

Crocoduck (3)

Cthulhu (Cthulu)

Cupid (Amor, Cherub, Eros)

Cyborg

Cyclops

Dark Knight (Black Knight)

Death (Azrael(5), Executioner(1), Grim Reaper, Hades, Morrigan(1), Thanatos(5), Yama(1)) (d)

Death Worm (Giant Worm(1), Lambton Worm(1), Sand Worm(1))

Demon (Catabaptist, Daemon, Devil, Fiend, Imp, Incubus, Satan)

Doctor Jekyll (Doc Jekyll, Dr Jekyll) (h)

Domovoi (3)

Don Quixote (3)

Doppelganger (Clone, Maxwell, Me, Mimic, Myself, Player, Shadow, Shape Shifter)

Dragon (Seiryuu, Wyrm, Wyvern)

Drow (Night Elf) (2)

Dryad (Nymph) (e)

Dwarf (Miner(1), Viking(1))

Easter Bunny (3)

Efreet (Ifreet, Ifrit) (2)

Elemental (Vapor)

Elf (f)

Fairy (Brownie, Fae, Faery, Pixie, Sprite)

Fairy Godmother (Godmother)

Faun (Ipotane, Satyr)

Flatwoods Monster (Braxton County Monster, Phantom of Flatwoods)

Frost Giant (Aurgelmir, Ymir)

Gargoyle

Genie (Djinn, Efreet(1), Ifrit(1), Jinn)

Ghost (Akuma, Calodaemon, Calodemon, Soul, Spirit)

Ghoul (Banshee, Nightshade, Shade, Toire No Hanakosan, Wight)

Giant (Ettin, Goliath, Ogre, Titan(1))

Giant Enemy Crab (Ancient Japanese History, Massive Damage)

Gilgamesh (3)

Gnome

Goblin (Gremlin)

God (Being, Deity, Zeus)

Goddess (Demiurge)

Golem (2)

Griffin (Alce, Friffen, Gryphen, Gryphin, Gryphon, Hippogriff(1), Hippogryph(1), Hippogryphe(1), Keythong, Opinicus)

Halfling

Harpy

Headless Horseman (Pumpkinhead)

Headless Horseman Head

Hercules (2)

Hippogriff (Hippogryph, Hippogryphe) (2)

Humpty Dumpty (3)

Hut of Death (3)

Hydra (Charybdis, Water Dragon)

Invisible Man (Anon, Anonymous)

Jabberwock

Jackalope

Jenny Greenteeth (Ginny Greenteeth, Peg Onell, Peg O Nell, Peg Prowler, Wicked Jenny)

Jersey Devil (Reeds Devil)

Kappa

King Arthur (3)

Kraken (Giant Squid)

Lamia (3)

Leprechaun (Clurichaun)

Leviathan (Mosasaurus, Sea Monster, Sea Serpent, Tylosaurus)

Little Red Riding Hood (Little Red, Red Riding Hood) (3)

Lizardman (Bogey(1), Boggart, Kobold)

Loch Ness Monster (Champ, Elasmosaurus, Lake Champlain Monster, Leopluradon(1), Liopleurodon(1), Nessie, Ogopogo, Plesiosaurus, Pliosaur)

Manticore

Mara (Mora)

Martian (Xenomorph)

Mech

Mecha (Meka)

Medusa (Gorgon, Naga) (a)(b)

Medusa Head (a)

Menehune (Hula Dancer)

Merlion (Merman(1))

Mermaid (Rusalka)

Merman (2)

Minotaur (Asterion, Manbearpig, Ushi Oni)

Mister Hyde (Mr Hyde) (i)

Moby Dick (3)

Monster (Bogeyman(1), Boogeyman(1), Bugaboo, Bugbear, Creature, Gnoll, Troll)

Morrigan (2)

Mother Goat (4)

Mothman (Ingrid Cold)

Mrs Claus (Mrs Clause, Misses Claus, Misses Clause)

Mummy

Muse (Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terspsichore, Thalia) (3)

Mutant (Abomination, Freak)

Nanobot (Nanite, Nano Machine, Nanoid, Nanonite, Nanorobot)

Necromancer (Black Mage)

Nessie

Nuckelavee

Odin (3)

Oni

Orc (Hobgoblin)

Pegasus

Phoenix (Chinese Pheonix(7), Susaku(7))

Queztalcoatl(7) (2)

Ra (Aman Ra, Amen Ra)

Red Cap (Dunter, Powrie)

Robosaur

Robot (Droid(5), Golem(1))

Robot Hamster

Robot Zombie (Feep)

Roc (2)

Rukh (Archaeopteryx, Elephant Bird(1), Roc(1))

Rumpelstiltskin (3)

Sand Worm (Giant Worm, Lambton Worm) (2)

Santa Claus (Santa, Santa Clause)

Scribblenaut

Scylla

Sea Witch (Cecaelia, Cilophyte)

Selkie (3)

Shambler

Shoggoth

Skeleton Warrior

Siren (Fay)

Sphinx

Spring Heeled Jack (Cryptid(6))

Succubus

Super Hero (Hero)

Tanuki (Raccoon Dog)

Tengu

Thor (3)

Titan (2)

Tooth Fairy

Treant (3)

Trojan Horse (2)

Tsuchinoko (Bachi Hebi) (3)

Unicorn

Valkyrie (3)

Vampire (Blood(5), Goth(1), Nosferatu, Wurdulac)

Vampire Hunter (Dhampir, Demon Hunter, Ghost Hunter)

Villain (Foe(1), Super Villain)

Villainess (Archrival, Foe, Super Villainess) (2)

Warlock (Cultist, Dark God, Dark Lord)

Wendigo (Wihtikow, Witiko) (2)

Werewolf (Fenrir, Lycanthrope, Wereboar, Wulver)

White Mage (1)

White Mage (2)

Wickerman (Burning Man, Colossus)

Will-o-Wisp (Wisp)

Witch (Beldam, Hag)

Wizard (Mage, Sorcerer)

Wolpertinger

Wood Elf (Drow(1), Half Elf, Night Elf(1)) (g)

Wraith (Lich, Phantom, Poltergeist)

Xiezhi (Haetae, Haitai, Fire Eating Dog)

Yama (2)

Yeti (Abominable Snowman)

Yggdrasil (Ashvastha, World Tree) (3)

Zombie (Living Dead, Undead, Ur Mom, Yo Mama, Your Mom)

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AFTERWORD

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Thanks for reading, and enjoy these wonderful games!