JONESBORO – A changing of the guard will soon occur at KASU, Jonesboro’s public radio station as its current station manager retires after 32 years of service and a decade of leadership.
KASU staff members reflected on their time with Station Manager Michael Doyle positivity. Mark Smith, development director, said Doyle served as his mentor for many years. He said he hopes the community joins him in celebrating Doyle and his work throughout the region.
“He has been a good leader for KASU and his natural charm has endeared him to so many in his public appearances for the station throughout the region,” Smith said.
Michael Doyle (left) shares a laugh with KASU Morning Edition host Brandon Tabor. Doyle recently announced his retirement as KASU station manager. Photo by Kimberely Blackburn
Reflecting back on Doyle’s leadership in community involvement, June Taylor, KASU’s broadcast production specialist, said he understood the importance of connecting with the community. Doyle served the community in taking up the banner of both entertaining and educating the Jonesboro community. Concerts showcasing local acts include “Bluegrass Monday” in Paragould, “Bluesday Tuesday” in Newport and the Johnny Cash Heritage Festival in Dyess.
Helping local acts perform at the Johnny Cash Heritage Festival proved to be a source of pride for the station. Doyle said these acts performed on the concrete slab where the old commissary stood in Dyess. Cash’s childhood home — recently restored by Arkansas State University’s Heritage Sites — served as the backdrop during the concert.
Although local acts did not perform with headliners Rosanne Cash and Kris Kristofferson, Doyle said performing on that stage served as a source of inspiration and pride for these artists. Helping Arkansans find a sense of pride in the state proved to be important to Doyle. When Arkansas native Glen Campbell died, a social media post composed by Doyle noted while others portray Arkansans as ignorant hillbillies, the state’s rich musical heritage should be a source of pride.
Hear Doyle’s entire social media post and his thoughts on Arkansas music
Arkansas Roots
Doyle first considered a classical music program to fill the noon hour. But after brainstorming with KASU staff members, “Arkansas Roots” debuted. Program director Marty Scarbrough said Doyle shares his own personal knowledge of Arkansas musicians, resulting in the program greatly benefitting its listeners. He said those who tune into the program learn of pioneers who inspired not only Arkansans but many others.
“Without people like them, we wouldn’t have people like Bonnie Raitt or Sheryl Crow,” Scarbrough said. “There wouldn’t be a James Brown or a Ray Charles without people like Rosetta Tharpe or Louis Jordan.”
Not only does the show broadcast the state’s extensive musical history, it also plays current acts who make music for the love of making music. Taylor said the program quickly resonated with KASU’s listeners. Because the program focuses on the roots of Arkansas, people discover upcoming musical events and learn about their community. That, she said, fulfills the purpose of public radio.
Legacy
Doyle said he hopes he leaves KASU better because of his influence. He said 10 years ago, the station gave him an opportunity to do something other than teach four classes a day. This opportunity gave him a chance to make a difference.
KASU staff members said that change will be felt. Since Doyle established such a clear vision for KASU leadership, Scarbrough said he doesn’t foresee any large changes. Taylor agreed and said his leadership kept staff on the right track, continuing on to the goal. Smith said he plans to hold Doyle to his promise of continuing on working at the station as a volunteer.
Doyle told a story of a man he met while doing doctorate work at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. After deciding to do something different for lunch one day, Doyle said he stopped in at the Wesleyan Center, a Methodist center for UTK students on campus. He said he found himself drawn to a man wearing a white shirt and tie and engaged him in conversation. After some time, Doyle learned the man served as the director of the center. Before the man’s tenure, very few students attended and the center appeared desolate and run-down.
The man worked to build the center up, performing repairs and engaging students in hopes they would visit. In doing so, the man’s doctorate work — the reason he first came to campus — fell by the wayside. Looking around, the man proclaimed the center became his doctorate. Doyle said he feels similarly about his work at KASU.
“I feel like I’ve left it better than I’ve found it,” he said. “So, this is my doctorate. I’ve never finished it, but I’m glad to have done something worthwhile. And I think this is it and I’m very appreciative of that.”
Kimberely Blackburn interviews Michael Doyle on NEA Expose’
PARAGOULD, Ark. — The Trinity River Band performed May 21 in the Collins Theater as part of KASU’s Bluegrass Monday.
Known for appearing on the Duggar Mountain Show, the band started playing in 2007. Strictly Country magazine named their song, “A Sinner’s Prayer,” as Song of the Year.
Joshua Harris leads the Trinity River Band in a song. Harris first asked his parents if he could learn the banjo at the age of 10.
Sarah Harris sings as Brianna and Lisa Harris back her up during The Trinity River Band concert. Sarah Harris also learned to play the mandolin in 2009.
Michael Harris interacts with the audience at The Trinity River Band concert. Harris’ grandfather Herndon “Hunky” Jones taught him music at a young age.
Brianna, Lisa and Joshua Harris plays at Paragould’s Collins Theater. Brianna Harris began learning the fiddle at the age of six.
Lisa and Joshua Harris plays while performing with The Trinity River Band. Lisa Harris grew up playing music with her five siblings.
Bluegrass Monday concerts typically occur on the fourth Monday night of each month.
JONESBORO – With many of the Delta’s residents living without a home, area organizations assist in putting lives back together.
After being homeless for seven years, Travis Howard said he doesn’t like living on the streets. He said his parents raised him to live better than he currently does.
“My momma told me one time: ‘Before I die, I want to see you get better,'” Howard said. “(She said) I know it’s in you.”
The grandfather of three boys began coming to Jonesboro’s Helping Underserved Belong after its opening. The HUB assisted Howard in getting his birth certificate and insurance to help him find his way back from living on the streets.
Howard’s journey to homelessness began after he worked for many years in various jobs, including an assistant manager position. He said he attended two years of college and still likes to try and keep his mind sharp. He goes to the public library every day, reading newspapers.
Untreated physical and mental problems caused his downward spiral. He said he began drinking alcohol at the age of 13, but no one tried to get him into an alcohol-treatment program until he came to the HUB. Howard said he doesn’t blame others for his situation, he knows he can do better … but he needs help. Many, he said, don’t want to help, they just want to lock him up.
Providing Help
Kimberly Bartee, director of the HUB, said she hears stories similar to Howard’s too often. Many need help after a single event caused their lives to spiral out of control. She said after the HUB volunteers grow to know their guests as people, they begin to understand what needs to be done to truly help.
“They may have gone through drug rehab, but that was yesterday,” she said. “Who is that person today? Who do we want that person to be? Who does that person want to be?”
After being concerned with the homeless situation in Jonesboro, Mayor Harold Perrin created a task force in 2016 to determine how best to help. He said they created Jonesboro’s HUB after visiting a similar facility in Memphis. Perrin said while he plans to take the program further and build a shelter, more can be done now.
Hoping to help area panhandlers, Perrin said he authorized city employees to assist the homeless in finding work within the city organization. Finding a way to put them back into society will help them to help themselves, he said.
Director of Community Involvement Tiffny Calloway said Jonesboro receives Community Development Block Grant Funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This grant provides funding to aid in issues low-to-moderate income families face in their daily lives. She said the city allocated part of the funding to help Jonesboro’s homeless. These funds help fund the HUB and provide transportation and other basic services.
Jonesboro also received the Continuum of Care grant to provide housing and utility assistance to eight individuals for a year. Calloway said the grant will pay 100 percent of the utilities for the first few months, 75 percent for the next few months and gradually decrease to help the recipients get on their feet and save money.
A Place to Stay
The HUB works with Mission Outreach in Paragould to provide emergency shelter for Jonesboro’s homeless. Program director Cheri Peters said they assist Northeast Arkansas and parts of Missouri in providing shelter for those who need it. The facility holds 58 individuals and they house men, women and families in separate dorms.
The philosophy of Mission Outreach seems similar to the HUB’s as they both seek to determine what each individual needs, and works with those in the community to provide services. Mission Outreach works with Families Inc. to provide counseling services and local government offices to find needed identification documents.
Peters said after an individual obtains an identification card, they must find employment within two weeks. Mission Outreach provides transportation to and from their work and each one must save 75 percent of their wages.
While not an emergency shelter, Jacob’s Place in Searcy assists area women and families needing help getting back on their feet. Melanie Kiihnl, program director, said Searcy Ministerial Alliance established the shelter after a Searcy High School student did a study on the homeless situation in the area. The 2007 study found 80 homeless families in White County.
Jacob’s Place houses up to 15 individuals and those seeking shelter must submit to a criminal background check and drug screen. Kiihnl said they try to work with other area programs to assist when an individual fails either test. She said they often work with Wilbur D. Mills drug-treatment facility when one fails a drug screen.
Those staying in Jacob’s Place must obtain a job and save 40 percent of their wages.
Both Mission Outreach and Jacob’s Place enforce strict rules and regulations upon those staying at their shelters. All must do chores and be inside the facility by curfew. Mission Outreach’s doors lock at 9 p.m., and Jacob’s Place residents must be back by 10 p.m. Peters said the rules help to maintain order and maintain relationships with other families living near the facility.
While Jonesboro officials currently search for a place to establish a homeless shelter, Perrin said he believes the citizens of Jonesboro will take care of the needs of their own.
Howard said he wished a shelter existed in Jonesboro. He said it’s difficult to get and keep employment when one cannot keep up with personal hygiene. He often attempts to clean up in area hospital bathrooms, but can only take what he calls “bird baths.”
Until the city completes a shelter, Bartee said HUB volunteers will continue to help those in need, whatever their situation.
“To the druggie on the street who has a habit that they cannot beat, we’ve got resources for you,” she said. “To the person who just lost their house in a fire, we’ve got resources for you. To the grandparent who needs custody of their grandchildren or whatever they should need, we’ve got resources for you.”
BROOKLAND, Ark. – Arkansas residents may get away from pharmaceuticals because of the benefits of the cannabidiol oil derived from the hemp plant.
Many Arkansas businesses submitted their applications for a dispensary license in September 2017, but they will not receive clarification until official announcements expected sometime this year. One NEA business, Emerald’s Triangle LLC of Brookland, still awaits its results. Owner Richard Johnston said they planned to get into the medical marijuana industry once the store opened in 2016.
“I went to a convention in Los Angeles in February (2017) that was the big industry show that had to do with vape, CBD and medical marijuana. That’s where I decided to pick up my first company when it comes to CBD: Blue Moon Hemp,” Johnston said.
The store began to sell CBD products and contains CBD tinctures, topicals and powder in its selection. Buyers can purchase it in vape oil, edible and shatter form as well.
Employee Alfred Holland continually researches CBD.
“Israel has been on the forefront of CBD, and they’ve been doing research for over a decade,” Holland said. “It can be used for anything from fibromyalgia, general inflammation in all of the major parts of the body, osteoporosis, diabetes and some psychological issues like PTSD, depression, seizures and anxiety. Some even buy it for their animals.”
Emerald’s Triangle LLC continues to see a positive response from the community. Employee Zach Slater said the stigmas associated with the marijuana industry remain their main hurdle.
“The reception of the CBD has been great as more people learn the information, like what it does and doesn’t do, so some of the stigma behind the cannabinoid is kind of being dematerialized. I think that it will just grow bigger and bigger,” Slater said. “Some people need to realize that it’s not a fad dietary trend; we’re all at the very beginning of a new era.”
Emerald’s Triangle owns a closed group on Facebook where users can provide their input on CBD and find answers to their questions.
Paragould resident Hannah Foster said the use of CBD changed her life drastically.
“It helps with my insomnia, vomiting and nausea, eases the pain in my joints and bones, dulls my lisp so I can speak clearly, as in it helps slow down my talking and it helps anxiety dramatically,” Foster said. “You can put the tincture in any food or drink — I love it in my tea — or you can take it directly by mouth.”
What is CBD?
As the compound extracted from hemp plants, CBD allows the user to reap the physical benefits without the “high” associated with marijuana. CBD oil contains little to no traces of tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical which causes the psychoactive effects associated with marijuana. You can read more information here.
CBD affects the endocannabinoid system within the body that regulate the body’s functions, such as sleep, pain, mood and autoimmune responses. The therapeutic effects happen when the cannabinol interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors located throughout the body system.
CBD helps to reduce inflammation, a condition that worsens many pre-existing health issues. The secret to seeing positive results from CBD involves figuring out the right method and amount that will suit the condition.
Dr. Betsy Hendricks of Conway works at the Arkansas Center for the Study of Integrative Medicine. The center’s mission combines the mental, spiritual and physical aspects of health to heal and relieve those of their pain.
Food and Health Study Group member Elene Murray said Hendricks does her research.
“She’s a super sleuth. She’s traditionally trained but uses supplements and knows the labs to run for food sensitivities,” Murray said. “She helps people heal as where traditional medication just runs around in circles.”
Shaman’s Reach, a CBD product line manufactured in Brookland. (photo by Kayce Wilson)
The staff at Emerald’s Triangle LLC recently released Shaman’s Reach, a line of CBD products that they manufacture in Brookland.
Shaman’s Reach combines CBD and medicinal herbs aiming to target inflammation, pain, fatigue and even allergies. The most popular form of this product is a tincture, which is to be dripped under the tongue. There are also capsules, salves, isolates and infused honey as well as smokable products, which makes the product accessible to all. Their informational website regarding medical marijuana can be accessed here.
As the uses for CBD increase, many common issues are expected to decrease. The staff at Emerald’s Triangle said there’s a change coming.
“It’s happened in many other states and now Arkansas has a chance. They’re going to see that the opioid epidemic is going to drop, the addiction problems will drop, the prescriptions will drop. The state will save tons of money on insurance,” Johnston said.
Emerald’s Triangle LLC. recently opened a store in downtown Jonesboro where shoppers can get access to CBD and its other products. For more information on Emerald’s Triangle and CBD, click here.
JONESBORO – “Star Wars Battlefront 2’s” new progression system breathes new life into the multiplayer experience for new and returning players.
Designed to help new players, this comprehensive guide breaks down how the progression system works and offers a few effective play style choices to get players started.
Progression
Let us start with the basics: how players progress through the game.
At launch, player progression came from three parts: player level, a class’ card level and items called “supply crates.”
Supply crates offered random in-game items including emotes, victory poses, star cards and crafting parts. Only the last two proved to be important for player progression.
This style of progression proved confusing and dissatisfying with upgrades being given out at random or through hours of grinding to earn enough crafting parts.
After backlash from fans DICE changed the progression system to focus on linear progression. Now upgrades must be earned them the old fashion way, through gameplay. This brings us to star cards, or upgrades equipped to soldier classes, vehicles and heroes.
Star cards offer players the ability to customize their classes to fit their specific play style. Whether running and gunning through enemies or taking a more passive, long-range approach.
An example of how players upgrade star cards. Note the increased values from upgrading. Photo by Christopher Lee
Upgrading star cards provide better stats including reduced ability cooldown timers and new abilities or resistances.
With the changes to the progression systems, acquiring and upgrading star cards proves to be easier than ever. Now players earn experience points which level up both their account and the individual classes, vehicles and heroes.
Level up a class or hero gains a skill point. Players use skill points to unlock and level up star cards.
Unlocking and upgrading star cards also require a certain account level. This prevents individuals from acquiring powerful star cards at lower levels. However, players gain plenty of experience playing the game earning credits.
Along with gathering star cards, players acquire iconic “Star Wars” weaponry.
Weapons tie into to class progression. Earning them comes from getting kills in a specific class. Getting kills with specific weapons also unlocks attachments for them.
DICE designed the class progression is straightforward. Any needed supplies can be earned through gameplay. Players will find their progress in the “Career” tab on the main menu.
Star Cards and Weaponry
The play styles mentioned in this section offer interesting or strong options for new players, but I encourage new players to experiment with different star cards as they become familiar with the game.
First, let us start with the most straightforward class: assault.
I have two loadouts for assault. I call them “ol’ run-and-gun” and “the mid-range monster.”
“Ol’ run-and-gun” packs the CR-2 as its primary weapon. With its high rate of fire and devastatingly quick time-to-kill, this weapon will win any close-up fight.
For star cards, I went with “Recharge Vanguard” for extra close range damage. This card brings abilities back after the player gets a kill, which goes well with the other two cards.
The last two cards, “Resourceful” and “Toughen Up,” proved to be useful. “Resourceful” brings a player’s abilities up more often, and “Toughen Up” heals damage suffered by the player. I suggest unlocking “Resourceful” for every class. These cards do the most damage at close range. To deal damage at long range, I suggest my next loadout, “the mid-range monster.”
With the right weaponry, assault deals with mid-range opponents surprisingly well – the A-280 fills this niche. With a three-round burst fire mode and balanced weapons stats, it packs quite a punch close-up or far away. For cards, I suggest “Survivalist,” “Bounty Hunter” and “Resourceful.”:
“Survivalist” reduces the time required before a player’s class heals from damage taken. This means a player can get back to fighting faster after getting shot, blown up or burned.
With “Bounty Hunter” equipped, more “battle points” can be earned. With battle points, powerful reinforcements can be purchased during a multiplayer match to help in team play. If a player wishes to play as a powerful Jedi or Sith, battle points will be needed.
This loadout focuses more on team-play, making it more passive but just as lethal. I suggest this loadout on large, open maps with multiple objectives.
Next up: heavy, big guns and dealing plenty of damage.
Heavy offers two styles of weapons: high rate-of-fire with low damage and low rate-of-fire with high damage. In my time playing, I found all of the heavy guns to be rather consistent. I suggest using the most comfortable gun. For cards I suggest these:
Star cards for the “heavy tank” loadout. Player preference determines the best weapon. Photo by Christopher Lee
Introducing the “heavy tank” loadout. With all the provided resistance, a player will never be blown up. I designed this loadout to solve the heavy class’s biggest weakness: getting blown up.
The heavy possesses an ability called the sentry gun, a mini-gun that does huge amounts of damage, but it makes the heavy move slowly. Because of the slow-moving play style, enemies will throw grenades. Players will need to take a few explosions to do the job, and this loadout helps with that.
“Supercharged Sentry” proves to be the bread, butter and whole kitchen; doing ridiculous damage and healing while in use. The sentry ability offers another fun feature by reducing damage from explosions. Combine this with “Bodyguard,” which does the same thing, and a player can basically “tank” a rocket at their feet.
“Survivalist” provides healing from damage quickly. I recommend this loadout for attacking or aggressive roaming. My next loadout (for defense) proved to be just as fun.
Big guns and bigger explosive guns define this play style, and it will have players yelling “fire in the hole!”
The “artillery inbound” heavy basically works around explosions and nothing else. It consists of a grenade launcher, the “Barrage” star card for general explosion needs, and an explosive sentry for when an area needs to be locked down.
Beware using the explosive sentry offensively, as it cannot move while in use and it fires slowly.
Instead of using small, rapid-fire explosive shots like the supercharged sentry, the explosive sentry sends out massive, highly-explosive rounds capable of killing an enemy with one shot. It works for locking down a hallway or small room for several seconds.
The last star card remains optional. I like “Resourceful” because it gives the sentry back faster.
Sometimes in “Star Wars Battlefront 2,” players need to lead by example and be the guiding light for teams. I have two officer loadouts just for that.
Nothing can get a player to the top of a scoreboard like an officer.
Example of officer’s ability to score big. Photo by Christopher Lee
Like the heavy, I have a hard time justifying one officer weapon over the others. Use them all and figure out which one works. But, I offer some fun cards.
I offer two powerful play styles. One leads the team from the background and the other leads by example from the front lines.
Always use “Resourceful.” Officers need their abilities at all times to defend themselves and their squads. The other two cards differ depending on the situation and play style.
For those interested in helping their team more than helping themselves, I suggest the “guiding light” loadout.
Besides “Resourceful,” players equip star cards revolving around passively supporting their team before using their improved battle command to make a push into enemy lines. The improved battle command gives a team shields and damage mitigation for a short duration, which proves to be crucial for taking objectives.
“Officer’s Presence,” allows allies to heal faster from their injuries, similar to the “Survivalist” star card. This loadout makes one a team player and gets higher scores.
On more close-quarters maps I suggest players “lead by example” with this loadout: “Resourceful,” “Bounty Hunter” and “Disruption.”
As discussed previously, “Bounty Hunter” gains more battle points, and “Resourceful” lowers cool down. “Disruption” makes a fun twist by momentarily preventing all enemies from firing their weapons. This extremely powerful ability can save lives when one “lead by example.”
Last, the specialist class offers sniper gameplay and comes with one loadout useful for every job.
The specialist possesses the lowest health of all the classes. Because of this, survival must be placed at top priority to successfully help the team.
Start with the “Survivalist” card. The specialist’s low health means they will heal the fastest with this card. It proved to be useful when dueling other snipers on the battlefield.
Next, the “Marksmen” star card restores a small amount of ammo after killing an enemy with a headshot.
The “Personal Shield” allows survival from almost any bad situation. It provides shields to absorb a large amount of damage, allowing players to scout ahead or retreat without dying instantly. It also helps when peaking over ridges to look for enemy snipers.
These loadouts should help any newer player start their games off on a strong foot. Best of luck to everyone in all their multiplayer endeavors, and may the force be with you.
JONESBORO – DICE and Electronic Arts recently updated its newest entry in the fan-favorite “Star Wars” franchise.
“Star Wars Battlefront 2” marks a rather controversial entry in the long-running first and third-person shooter franchise. Players fight in single-player and multiplayer, whether on the ground or in space in some of the best battles from the “Star Wars” films.
With an underwhelming predecessor and negative press connected to it, the game started off shaky. Over the months leading up to the game’s release, critics and fans alike flamed the game for the potential “pay to win” elements found in the game during the open multiplayer beta back in October.
The game went through many changes since then, with the game developers addressing many of the problems. This comprehensive review of the single-player and multiplayer campaigns determines whether the game lives up to its ancestors.
Single-Player Campaign
The “Battlefront” franchise provides an interesting history with single-player campaigns. The first “Star Wars Battlefront” in 2004 did not have a cohesive campaign.
The sequel, 2005’s “Star Wars Battlefront 2,” offered a great, dedicated campaign following the exploits of a clone trooper in various battles from the films.
The single-player campaign for 2017’s “Star Wars Battlefront 2” bears similarity to the 2005 “Star Wars Battlefront 2.” Players control a soldier taking part in important battles between “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” and “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.”
The story revolves around Iden Versio, an Imperial special forces commander, as she leads her unit, the “Inferno Squad.” The campaign follows her exploits after the destruction of the second Death Star, during the Emperor’s mysterious “Operation Cinder.”
The “Star Wars Battlefront” of 2015 lacked a single-player campaign, earning points in the sequel’s favor. The campaign pleasantly surprised me with high quality, but some flaws stuck out.
The Good
The creators designed one of the most beautiful games I ever played. From the characters to the environment, everything looks amazing and creates the feeling of actually being in a “Star Wars” film. The visuals, combined with the excellent sound design, create a truly immersive experience.
Luke Skywalker leaps into combat on a mysterious Imperial outpost. Photo by Christopher Lee
Along with Iden, players have the opportunity to play as and alongside famous “Star Wars” characters.
To avoid spoilers, this review will not go into much detail about the campaign’s story, instead focusing on the impressive campaign features.
As players travel through the campaign, they will see moments pulled straight from the “Star Wars” universe, both from films and other media like Marvel’s “Star Wars: Shattered Empire” comic series. These moments come to life from the perspective of Iden as she fights her way through memorable battles.
This brings me to one of the most impressive visual elements: character designs.
Many of the characters in this game look just like their real-world actors and actresses. Iden, portrayed by Janina Gavankar, provides one of the best examples. The motion-capture work and facial animations made her performance come to life.
Overall, the solid performances and great character chemistry round out the single-player. Misty Lee, one of my favorites, does a wonderful job filling in for the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.
Great story and characters, however, do not make a game. Gameplay remains the most important part of a game, and “Star Wars Battlefront 2” does not disappoint.
A small number of Iden’s many abilities. Photo by Christopher Lee
Iden utilizes several abilities available to her as she fights her way through the smooth and fast-paced combat.
DICE uses the single-player as an opportunity to introduce players to all the sides of combat they will face in the multiplayer game option.
The single-player section involves ground and space combat connected with vehicle sections and action. All this comes together to make the gameplay both fun and cinematic.
Very few game developers can make the gameplay feel like a movie like DICE can. Players really feel the seamless gameplay as they sprint, shoot and roll to victory.
I enjoyed the single-player campaign more than I thought I would. From the characters to the settings, it all came together to form a well-structured narrative. Unfortunately, the campaign possesses noticeable, unavoidable faults.
The Bad
Almost every bad thing about the campaign comes from its length. While I enjoyed every moment of the campaign, I must mention its disappointing length.
Clocking in anywhere from four-to-six hours (depending on the difficulty setting), the campaign comes across as too short. This short length brings one of the biggest problems of the campaign to the forefront: the pacing.
This game goes way too fast. The game seems to move at breakneck speed from one location to another, and this only hurts the story overall.
Important decisions, clashing loyalties and huge game-changing events seem to fly by. Spending more time developing the characters and their motivations would have been better.
Single-player Conclusion
DICE did a fantastic job with the campaign. Even with a short length and overly-fast pace, The story’s pros outweigh the cons. The way DICE integrated Iden’s story into the established “Star Wars” canon makes it a “Star Wars” experience.
The following video showcases “Star Wars Battlefront 2” at its finest. Watch Iden fend off the rebel attack on Fondor Station.
Multiplayer
The Good
Most of the good about the multiplayer gameplay comes across as “second verse same as the first.” The fluid, fast-paced combat shines in the multiplayer, rewarding skilled players without punishing newer players.
The multiplayer shines in the maps and the game modes, an area where its 2015 predecessor failed. It appears DICE listened to the complaints.
The game came out with 11 maps and five game modes. DICE planned to add more maps later through free downloadable content and updates – a major step forward after the rather disappointing 2015 release.
The addition of free content proved to be a step in the right direction, but it resulted in one the worst criticisms towards the multiplayer.
Overall, I found myself being fully immersed in the beautiful maps as I fought in some of the most iconic locations in the films. The maps and modes vary in terms of gameplay and should keep a player invested for many hours.
This review quickly lists and describes the different game modes. It also includes gameplay for the two largest game modes: galactic assault and starfighter assault.
Galactic Assault
The bread and butter of “Star Wars Battlefront 2,” — galactic assault — offers large-scale 40-player combat. The player fights across well-known battlefields piloting different vehicles and fighting as iconic heroes or villains. Focusing on multiple-objective gameplay, this game mode allows players to truly utilize all the game offers.
See an example of galactic assault gameplay. Watch the defense and attacking phase of the planet Jakku from “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.”
Starfighter Assault
Similar to galactic assault, players accomplish multiple objectives while piloting powerful and iconic vehicles like X-Wings and TIE Fighters.
Watch the video below to see just what Starfighter Assault offers.
Heroes vs. Villains
Finally, players can find out who would win in a fight between Yoda and Darth Vader. The game mode proved to be pretty self-explanatory.
Hero Showdown
A small-scale take on the established heroes-versus-villains format. Find a friend and fight the forces of good or evil in two-vs-two combat. P.S. Don’t split up.
Strike
This mode boils down to a smaller-scale galactic assault match. Its fast-paced combat usually revolves around capturing an objective and getting it to a location for extraction.
Blast
Standard team deathmatch: score 100 eliminations before the enemy team to win.
Ewok Hunt
They may be fuzzy but they prove to be ruthless. Join a group of stormtroopers as they try and survive, or hunt them down as one of the cute little murderers. This mode will only be available for a limited time.The multiple maps and game modes come together to form a fun, exciting experience. This may be the most fun I experienced with a shooter in some time. But, even the best experiences have flaws.
The Bad
One of the biggest problems with the game tends to be balancing. While the game designers mostly balanced the weapons and vehicles, the maps provided the main problem.
More than a few maps seem to lean heavily to one side or the other. Winning on these maps can feel far more difficult than needed. Of course, this can vary greatly depending on the map, enemy team skill level and team composition.
Consistent updates alleviate annoying balancing problems, but “Star Wars Battlefront 2” lacked in new content.
Updates to “Battlefront 2” felt slow with many content updates being separated by months of waiting. Long wait times are ok if the final product lives up to it, but updates tend to fall flat.
The first large-scale update coincided with the release of “Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.” Since then the majority of the patches have focused on balancing heroes, rebuilding the progression system and quality of life changes. All necessary and appreciated, but content felt lacking since December. Though it appears the waiting might be over.
As of the writing of this review, the two most recent updates from April and May have included the addition of a new temporary game mode, Ewok Hunt, and a new content update to coincide with “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
With the inclusion of new monetization options after the removal of loot boxes maybe updates like these will become the norm. That brings me to the most important part of the review.
The Ugly, or What Used to Be
The character progression system brings the biggest problem. This sentence meant something entirely different with the game’s original release. Now it summarizes many the problems “Battlefront 2” currently face.
Originally, players could equip upgrades to their favorite classes, vehicles and heroes to fit their favorite play style. These upgrades, called “star cards,” could offer anything from a few seconds off an ability timer to completely changing how the character plays. While still true today, game creators changed how players unlock these upgrades.
Example of the old progression system. Photo by Christopher Lee
The Controversy
Players unlocked star cards in one of two ways, but both ways relied on the same system.
Players earned three forms of in-game currency: credits, crystals and crafting parts. All of it revolved around the “supply crate” system.
Supply crates describe items earned in the game that gave players random in-game items. These items included emotes, victory poses, star cards and crafting parts. The last two being of most importance.
Players could earn star cards from supply crates. Each crate gave the player the possibility of earning any star card up to a certain rarity. The real problem came from how players acquire supply crates.
Players earned credits just by playing the game. Credits purchased supply crates, which carried star cards and crafting parts. Crafting parts could craft and upgrade star cards, and the best star cards could only be gained through crafting.
While confusing to newer players, it also came with another, bigger problem.
When the game first released Nov. 17, players could purchase supply crates using real-world money. This created backlash from the fans.
Fans called this a “pay-to-win” system, where players could spend real-world money for in-game advantages. DICE answered by removing the option to purchase “supply crates” with money.
After several months DICE changed the progression system entirely to focus more on linear progression. Now players earn experience points to level up their account and classes unlocking new star cards in the process.
As players level up classes they earn skill points which are spent leveling up star cards. This new system stream-lined the progression and rewarded players for playing their favorite classes.
This change brought new life into the game and turned the ugliest mechanic into the simplest.
Multiplayer Conclusion
Despite its flaws, this game provides one of the best shooters I have played in a while. The fun and immersive game play makes me feel like my skill matters during fights, as my many deaths playing as a sniper showed me.
Overall, the multiplayer left a positive impression. I think DICE fixed many of the games biggest problems and could easily fix the rest.
The legacy the unrewarding progression system left behind leaves me more emotionally conflicted than Luke Skywalker after Darth Vader said, “Luke, I am your father.” On the one hand, DICE and EA acknowledged their mistakes and took action to change them, but on the other hand, they tried implementing a clear pay-to-win system in the first place.
Newer players should enjoy the multiplayer just fine, but I wonder how many of the original playerbase like myself left because of how bad it used to be.
Final Thoughts
My time with “Star Wars Battlefront 2” proved to be pleasant and immersive. Short-but-fun single-player combined with fast-paced multiplayer creates a delightful experience.
The game shows several good ideas, but, even with the potential of the progression system, things still need some ironing out.
With the recent changes to the game and the new reduced price, I don’t see any reason to not pick it up.
Even with all of its problems, I still consider it to be one of the best “Star Wars” games I’ve ever played. I just hope DICE and Electronic Arts learned from its mistakes.
POCAHONTAS, Ark. — Prison can make or break a person. It’s said some enter soft as silk but exit hard as nails. But the same cannot be said about a man who, after 12 years behind bars, has become a beacon of hope to many.
Time behind bars may have worked a number on Cameron Todd’s physical appearance, but behind the physique lies a heart of gold.
“Back in the days when he ran a martial-arts school called the Blue Dragon, he was all muscles and abs. He had tried to recruit me to join the school, but I had already enrolled in another,” said Jason Cummins, Todd’s former neighbor.
With a Dan rank (i.e. black belt) in martial arts among his accolades, one would not expect any less. Todd, 50, said he’s not worried about getting those six-pack abs back, but he’s slowly working on it.
Twelve years of confinement taught him patience, resilience and faith.
Resilience Through Adversity
Todd worked as a police officer in Houston, Mississippi and was on duty when police arrested him for sexual battery. Todd said he did not commit the crime and his original trial ended in a hung jury. During a second trial, he was convicted and sentenced to prison. Todd said his accuser retracted her statement, but the Supreme Court of Mississippi upheld the jury’s verdict in his direct appeal, as did the Court of Appeals during a second appeal.
“We were all shocked when we heard the charges brought against him. He was that guy who was just cool with everyone,” Cummins said.
When Todd went into Marshall County Correctional Facility in Holly Springs, Mississippi, he possessed only his GED. But while in prison, he immersed himself in books, finished his associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, pursued a master’s degree in music ministry and eventually graduated with a doctorate in theology from Gulf Coast Bible Institute and Seminary in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
Todd, a “jack of all trades” as his former business partner Herman Lopez calls him, engaged in many businesses. Working with Lopez, he trained ex-inmates to work as freight agents. This provided opportunities to many former prisoners who found it hard to get jobs after doing time behind bars. While Todd consistently worked on new projects, Cummins said only music remained constant.
Todd said life as an inmate proved to be almost unbearable but faith, discipline, hard work and determination coupled with his guitar’s melodies brought him hope for a better tomorrow and saw him through.
An Underground Sanctuary
Todd calls the studio in his basement his “getaway island.” The bright-red walls with an occasional splash of black are strikingly inviting. The spirit of rock ‘n’ roll pours from all corners of the room.
A lonely chair in red leather sits in the middle of the room, swiveling left and right. Under the chair, a rag with a red cross lay flat on a zebra-print mat, contrasting with the rest of the floor covered by soundproof carpeting.
On the left of the room, a piano rests on a tabletop next to the wall. A painting on a black canvas of a white-and-red guitar camouflaged in a raging fire hangs on the wall above the keyboard — it looks like a masterpiece.
Adjacent to the door on the right, a small room with his guitar collection lining soundproof walls. Everything seemed carefully selected and arranged — red and black items made up his decor. Four speakers are strategically mounted in the room’s corners; two more rest on the table opposite the keyboard. That same table held two computer monitors. A long, black-leather sofa sits quietly adjacent to the door.
Cameron Todd plays in his home studio. He said he wants to be known for contributing to music. (photo by Christine Miyawa)
“Hey, listen to this,” Todd said in an almost whispering voice while grabbing an electric guitar and striking a note. The sound of music brought a sudden calmness that instantly toned the room’s energy. Striking several notes in rapid but steady succession, his fingers gyrated back and forth on the strings as the music blared.
The bronze-looking cross dangling on a silver chain around his neck glowed from the reflection of light coming from the lampstand at the corner of the room. In a moment Todd seemed lost in his world, a world familiar to him, a man indeed in his forté.
“My interest in guitars started when I was 5 years old, but I never was serious about it. I would play and once my fingers began to get tired, I would break it off,” he said. “Besides, I was learning to play on my own, and the way the VHS and books back then taught was so difficult to master. It wasn’t until the year 2003 when the inspiration truly hit me.”
Todd said after he watched a CBS special when a man appeared on the show playing guitar using his toes, he thought to himself, if that guy could use his toes to play the guitar, he could handle his fingers getting tired. That became his turning point. He started doing what he loved.
His other inspiration came from listening to Mason Williams while he remained on the top of the classical chart in the 1960s. Todd said he doesn’t make music for money but for the passion. He only wishes to leave a legacy of music.
Todd said his genre resembles old gospel hymns, the kind of music that everyone can remember.
“Music from the ’40s, the ’50s all the way. The kind of music that people played when everything was simple, when life was so simple all you worried about was if you had air in your bicycle tires and a bologna sandwich waiting for you when you get home,” he said.
He struck the last chord and set the guitar on the chair, then grabbed a book titled “Rockin’ the Cross Guitar: Effortless Praise Guitar System,” available on Amazon. He said he published the book in 2016 to teach the guitar in a quick-and-fun way. He struggled to learn from the previous books he found.
He also published “C Scale Confident Zone.” Todd said the C scale method he developed makes basic guitar playing comfortably for beginners with its straightforward method. He said the large and easy-to-understand graphics, cut-out flashcards, practice exercise and easy-to-understand explanations make it easy to get one playing guitar in no time. He said his other books on Amazon cover topics from preferred internet marketing to mixed martial arts training.
Giving to Receive
Todd plays music regularly at Living Waters Church in Pocahontas and other events. Lopez said Todd proves to be a pro while playing the sacred gig. Todd’s wife, Teresa, only said beautiful things about the man she loves.
“Playing music is his passion, be it a keyboard or a guitar,'” she said. “But he enjoys playing guitar the most. I like to sing; we sometimes make music together. I don’t play any instrument, so Cameron plays and I sing. We do the same in church too.”
Todd (right) interviews Bret Harris during his web-based Christian radio show. Harris is a proponent of Gospel Bluegrass. (photo by Teresa Todd)
Teresa Todd said her husband loves to inspire and make people happy. She said his positive and bigger-than-life outlook towards life initially attracted her. Todd inspires others to go beyond what they ever thought possible, she said.
Todd wants to give back to society. He stays busy helping clients building business websites. Todd also owns and runs a web-based Christian radio station that plays gospel music from all over the world. He said he’d use his studio to record others free of charge.
Although he would like to form a band, he said he still enjoys playing solo, which feels like therapy to him. He said he likes modern styles, too, and he would like to wear all leather and spiked hair.
“I’m sure people will make jokes saying, ‘Hey, check out this dude; he is so heavy-metal-Christian,'” he said. “I don’t mind doing something contemporary. I don’t just restrict myself to old Christian hymns.”
Todd said he enjoys contemporary break-up music as it’s more fun to hear somebody crying because they lost their love. He said the raw nature relates to feelings everybody feels at times. He cited examples such as Johnny Paycheck’s ’70s song “Friend Don’t Take Her She’s All I Got,” Johnny Rivers’ “Poor Side of Town” and the Eagles’ “Lyin’ Eyes.”
Todd sells his book, “Rockin’ the Cross Guitar,” on Amazon. He wrote it to help others easily learn to play. (photo by Christine Miyawa)
Todd said he hopes to have a guitar line and would like to see every musician, church choir or interested person use the book “Rockin’ the Cross Guitar: Effortless Praise Guitar System” to learn how to play because of its easy-to-use and fun nature. He said those who want to learn to play music should find an instrument they like and learn as fast as they can.
Todd said he considers himself spiritual, but not religious. He said one should not let time go by without having some way to appreciate it.
Todd expressed his gratitude for his 24-year-old married son. He fondly remembers after his birth thinking, “‘Now I am responsible for this life. I can’t even balance my checkbook!’
“God has blessed me in so many ways; I feel like I’m trying to give back. I’ve got my hands, my fingers, but every time I see on YouTube or the web or TV somebody missing their hand or fingers, yet they are still doing amazing things.”
Over the last 20 years, Todd said he learned to give freely with no expectation of return in order to receive a blessing. He said using the time as an inmate to better himself helped him to no longer be bitter about the whole ordeal.
“I just hope people will take every minute of their lives to appreciate that they are alive and breathing. Life is not a guarantee.”
Delta Digital News Service 