GTA V: So Good, it’s a Felony
Posted on October 12, 2013 by Neftaly Josue Perez in Entertainment
Courtesy of Rockstar Games
By Josue Perez and Hovhannes Maghakyan
Crimson Chronicle Reporters
Grand Theft Auto V, one of the most anticipated games of the year, was released on Sept. 17. It is the successor of Rockstar’s 2008 game, GTA IV. GTA V takes place in the fictional city of Los Santos.
In GTA V, the city of Los Santos is based upon the city of Los Angeles, including landmarks as the Hollywood Sign, Venice Beach, and the Santa Monica Pier. In the game, players are able to interact with the world more than in previous games. Players are able to visit Del Perro Pier (Santa Monica Pier) and ride on the roller coaster, The Leviathan, and the Ferris Wheel, appropriately named the Ferris Whale.
In the game, a new ability the player has is to play as three different characters. The three characters of choice are Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. Each character has a specific skill set. As one plays, the level goes up for each skill set even further. Each character also has a special ability (like Franklin’s ability to slow down time). In the game, these three characters are always doing something even if you are not playing or near them. With the use of three characters, missions and free roam have become much more diverse and enjoyable.
The ability to switch between characters within missions can have a major impact on your results. If one is better at doing something like driving or creating a distraction, one is able to switch to a character that is doing that task and have a Non-Player Character or NPC take over your previous task. In free roam, if using one character gets boring, players can switch to another character that could be something much more interesting.
GTA V’s open world is nothing less than amazing and beautiful. The world is triple the size of GTA IV’s. The game world feels much more open. The new structures, landmarks, and environments give the players motivation to continue playing and exploring everything the game has to offer.
The game still manages to include previous iconic landmarks from past GTA titles such as San Andreas, Mount Chilliad. With the addition of the new ocean environment players are able to go fishing. They can even get attacked by a shark.
GTA would be nothing without its vehicle buffet. The brand new, long awaited addition to the game is the use of airplanes. Airplanes can now be used whenever the player wishes. Ever wanted to go for a joyride in a submarine? Of course you have, and lucky for you, submarines have also been added to the game. Later in the story, players will gain access to a submarine in order to explore the seafloor.
There are also new cars available in the game along with a improved garage to customize cars. The garage has been given many more additions to it, including upgrades, parts, and much more. Always running into gunfights or want some extra protection? Go over to the garage and upgrade your armor. Want a better looking car? Give it a nice paint job. Driving in the game has also been improved, handling is better than it was in GTA IV and it feels much more smoother.
In previous Rockstar games the graphics engine Criterion Games’ RenderWare was used, but GTA V has implemented a new graphics engine, Rockstar Advanced Game Engine or RAGE, created by Rockstar games.
The price for a brand new copy of GTA V is around $60 with used copies around $55. The game has only been released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but for anyone wanting to play it on Next Gen consoles such as the Xbox One or PS4 you will have to wait until 2014.
Throughout the years, Rockstar games has created several timeless classics that many people have enjoyed to the fullest extent. GTA V was the most anticipated game of the year, but it could also very well be the best game of the year.
No More D’s for the Class of 2017
Posted on October 12, 2013 by Azniv Derdzakyan in News
New A-G requirements will affect future students graduation status
By Azniv Derdzakyan
Chronicle Reporter
Graduation requirements and college admission “A-G” requirements, which were passed by LAUSD a year ago and take effect as of this year starting with the freshmen.
“Some people are so worried about it, in reality its not adding much to the basic diploma, just a few classes. Nothing is beyond any student. They need opportunities for a better life,” said Assistant Principal Craig Alessi.
College counselor Heather Brown supports the new requirements. “To be college ready, to be college prepared, students should take math,english,science, and history every semester until they graduate,” she said. Students should “always do more than the bare minimum,” Brown said.
The minimum credits needed for the class of 2016 is 210, whereas the classes of 2014 and 2015 can only graduate with 230 credits. Classes of 2014 – 2016 could graduate with a D or higher, but the class of 2017 has to graduate with a C or better. The new requirements include the A-G curriculum (15 college prep classes) health, and physical education.
“The district’s most important goal is to have students graduate from LAUSD,college ready and prepared for careers,” Superintendent John Deasy told the Huffington Post.
The classes of 2016 and 2017 require 30 credits (three years) for math and 20 credits (2 years) for world languages to graduate high school. However, the classes of 2014 and 2015 require 20 credits for math and no languages for high school graduation.
“It is challenging us freshmen to graduate,” said SAS freshman Edgar A. Castro. LAUSD made the requirements for high school graduation and university similar so that they could accordingly be considered for admission.
COFFEE: YOUR BEST FRIEND OR YOUR WORST ENEMY?
Posted on October 12, 2013 by Beatriz Sison in Op-Ed
By Beatriz Sison
Crimson Chronicle Reporter
Every morning at school, I always see people walking around and drinking coffee from Starbucks or Coffee Bean. Throughout my years here, I have noticed that more and more students are drinking coffee. Now I wonder if students know the effect of caffeine in their bodies.
I drink coffee, too. I drink a few times a week whenever I don’t get enough sleep from school work and other activities to wake me up and give me energy in the morning or when I just want to hang out with my friends, but I didn’t know what can the caffeine to do my body until I researched it.
According to Teens Health website, teenagers should limit their caffeine consumption to no more than 100 mg of caffeine daily. Drinking too much coffee can cause anxiety, dizziness, headaches, and jitters. It can also interfere with sleep.
Before, the only thing I knew about drinking coffee was that it increases your mental awareness and gives you energy. Who knew something so beneficial could be capable of doing such damage?
Coffee Caffeine (mg) ranges from tall-venti
- Brewed Coffee 260 mg -410 mg
- Cappuccino 75 mg-150 mg
- Caramel (Frappuccino) 70 mg- 130 mg
- Java Chip (Frappuccino) 75 mg- 145 mg
- Caffe Americano 150 mg-300 mg
(Some of Starbucks Caffeine Content)
