Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag the game to own

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Neftaly Josue Perez in Entertainment

By Josue Perez and Hovhannes Maghakyan

Crimson Chronicle Reporters

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, the next chapter to Ubisoft Entertainment’s award winning series Assassin’s Creed, was released Oct. 29. However, this chapter is very different from previous games in the series. In the past the player has played on the side of the Assassins, but due to events in the previous game, Assassin’s Creed 3, the player is now playing as an Abstergo Agent, or better known as a Templar.

To recap what has happened over the course of the series, a secret war has been waging over centuries between the freedom-driven Assassins and the power-seeking Templars. Since the beginning of the series the main character, Desmond Miles, has been a present-day runaway assassin. Desmond was put into a machine called the Animus to relive the memories of his ancestors Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and Ratonhnhakéton or Connor Kenway, using his DNA. In each of his ancestors’ memories the player has learned a little more about this secret war and their role in it. But Desmond’s time has ended and a Templar has taken over his position and is reliving Desmond’s memories.
In AC IV there have been many new changes ranging from the new main character to his surroundings and from the combat system to the weather system. A new transition system has been implemented into the game that has never been used before. A player can smoothly transition from a rugged jungle terrain to a beautiful cove to your ship without a load screen in between each other.

Environments in the game have also had a huge change to them. Jungle, sea, and city have all been improved and an underwater environment has also been added allowing you to go down and plunder for treasure. Many new animals have been also added to the land, air, and water.

Those who have ever played Assassin’s Creed 3 and sailed out into the Atlantic Ocean you know how the weather system and navigation is on the high seas, but ACIV pushes this feature to new levels. You are now able to take your ship out whenever you want either for a nice cruise to La Havana with a sea shanty from your crew or for a bit of privateering. The weather system has become even more intense than before. Before, a rogue wind or wave would throw you off course a little, but now it is better to stay away from storms. Maelstroms, waterspouts, and harsh rains have created an all new obstacle that could severely damage you, your crew, and your ship.
The story mode is not the only one to receive an overhaul, multiplayer has also been revamped. New characters, abilities, weapons, maps, and game modes have been added along with a new feature, GameLab. GameLab gives the player the power to create their own game type by letting them create their own settings and rules to already existing game modes. Players will be able to decided what maps they play on, what abilities sets can be used, how long game sessions are, and many more things.

Like many modern games, AC IV has an app tied to it that allows you to hook up your game to your Apple or Android device and access all your stats and items from your tablet or phone. So now, instead of constantly pausing the game to view certain items, you can look at your tablet or phone and fluidly play your game. The items it lets you look at are treasure maps, a progression tracker for your game, an Animus database, and Kenway’s fleet.
A recent change done to the game is the exclusion of the Uplay Passport that allowed players access to Uplay, a service that held exclusive information and content for their games. However, the exclusivity of Uplay brought about many complaints from players over the need to buy the passport when the game is already so pricey. In a smart move, Ubisoft decided to release the passport for free and players who wish to use Uplay can either download one from the Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. AC IV will be the last game to have Uplay as Ubisoft will be discontinuing it with future games.

The new game runs for around $65 and about $60 when used, depending on where you buy it. Exclusive content also varies between which store the game is bought at. Stores such as GameStop, Best Buy, Walmart, or Amazon have different exclusive content that the game comes with. PlayStation users also have a treat in-store for them because they receive 60 minutes more of gameplay.
Assassin’s Creed has been an amazing series filled with mystery, excitement, betrayal, action, and suspense. AC IV does not seem like it will fall short of its predecessors. Ubisoft has created another award winning game that any true AC fan will be proud to own.

Adios, Arrivederci, Au Revoir to upper level classes?

Posted on November 21, 2013 by walter carrero in News

Walter Carrero

Chelyah Miller

Chronicle Reporters

The Classes of 2015, 2016, and beyond should learn how to say “goodbye” in French, Italian, and Spanish as there is soon to be a major decrease on the amount of students per class according to foreign language teachers . Future freshmen, sophomores, and juniors must take two to three years of a foreign language as part of their A-G requirements.

All students in the second year of their foreign languages may not be able to advance to the next level, because there are more level one and level two classes and only one level three. More students are also being put into the classes, making it hard for them to learn what they need because of the student to teacher ratio.

Three consecutive years of a language are needed to qualify but because students in the second year classes might not be able to move on to the third year, they may not qualify for a UC.

Many of the foreign language teachers think that if we hire more  teachers, this problem will be resolved. The teachers realize that if this keeps up, it will be difficult not only for them, but for the students as well.

“We need to hire another foreign language teacher to depopulate the amount of students per class,” said Alonso Rolland-Estrada, French teacher.

Currently, all foreign languages have 30-50 students not only for their first level classes but for their second level classes as well. This makes it hard not just for the teachers to help everyone but for the students to learn the material correctly. “If you’re  a student who struggles with foreign language and you’re in a class with 40 or more students, then it’s going to be harder for not just the student but for the teacher as well to help you acquire the help you deserve,” said Emily Taron, Italian teacher. Also, with such amount of students, only 25% of the student in the second level will advance to the next level. We are looking at 60 students not being able to take their third year of the foreign language they are taking.

The Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA), a grant that Hollywood High school gets every year, provides money as long as the requirements are met. There can be no more than 27 students for each social studies, math, science, and English class. As long as these requirements are met, the school can continue to buy books, computers, etc. However, the money can’t be used to hire teachers for  non-core classes or the money will be taken from the school. Non-core classes include PE,  and electives, such as foreign language.

“I support the QEIA funding: however, the money does not go to the foreign language classes,” said Ana Estangui, head of the foreign language department. “Not only does it not affect the foreign language classes, but also for non-academic classes.”

The only way the school can afford to hire more foreign language teachers would be to cut a teacher from another elective class or a Physical Education class.  The general funds only gives enough money to hire 36 teachers and the money from QEIA makes it able for the school to hire the rest.

When the school had complete Title 1 funding, hiring more teachers was possible but now that the school’s Title 1 budget is only $300,000, firing a teacher is the only way a foreign language teacher can be hired.

“I cannot cut any academic classes because the QEIA fund won’t let me, and if I do, we will lose the QEIA funds,” said Principal Alejandra Sanchez. “If I wanted to add another foreign language teacher, I have to eliminate a teacher. The hardest part is which teacher should I eliminate?”

 

Students get their hands dirty for the good of the environment

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Gerardo Chan in News

      Josie Medrano, SAS senior, has started The Environmental Club to promote the care of the environment.  The club meets in room 209 on Tuesdays during lunch.

      Josie wishes to aid the environment throughout the community as well as the school. “I plan on putting recycling bins and compost bins inside the school, maintaining our school’s garden, informing students on their impact on the environment,” she said.

      The compost bins would be used for the garden, as well as fundraising, if successful. Compost promotes a healthy garden, and many people desire it for their own gardens. It would be sold around the community directly to people, or maybe a farmer’s market.

     Josie’s plans also include taking field trips, and cleaning up around the area. She plans to do beach clean ups first and then attempting bigger projects in the future.

Thor hammers through the box office

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Li Dulce Cruz in Entertainment

Dulce Mandujano

Abril Chuvac

Chronicle Reporters 

Marvel Studios has come to making another Thor Movie called Thor: The Dark World which opened on Nov. 8. One of the many Marvel movies that are most watch today.

Most ladies are waiting for the amazingly good-looking Chris Hemsworth star playing role as Thor to give off his romantic side and take his lover to his world, to find what has happen to her. As well to see that one shot of his shirtless body. Guys come looking forward to the comic book action. Asgard, the world that Thor lives in, is needed to protect when an old mysterious enemy comes for revenge. An enemy that not even Odin or all of Asgard can prevent, when Thor reunites with the beautiful Earthling Jane Foster played by Natalie Portman.

To the fans of Doctor Who, remember the ninth Doctor? Yes, that’s right, Christopher Eccleston has become the darkness Malekith the accursed. Knowing that Thor would ask help from his adopted brother Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, seems to show that it will be going in the direction of being a good film. This film is not a disappointment at all and many will probably would love to see a third movie. Which there might be since the ending leaves the audience with a cliffhanger and if you stay after the credits there is another cliffhanger that makes you wonder what will happen next.

This film brings three elements that are great in a film for a family movie or a group movie. A main element is action, many are looking forward to this movie because of its action. There was enough action in the film to keep it entertaining and suspenseful. Another element is comedy, which Loki’s character brought into the film.

 One of the most important themes of the movie is that the ladies have been looking forward to is the romance between Thor and Jane. The romance throughout the film was a combination of tenderness and comedy. The movie brings romance and an action genre that guys can take their girlfriends to go watch it on a date!