Logo for Byte Magazine at Ball State University

Reality Check




Image from Wikimedia

‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ creator Stephen Hillenburg dies of ALS at 57

Hillenburg was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS, in March of 2017 and died of neurological complications at his home in Southern California. Nickelodeon tweeted the news today stating, “We are sad to share the news of the passing of Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants. Today, we are observing a moment of silence to honor his life and work.” Nickelodeon went on to say that the characters and world Hillenburg created, “will long stand as a reminder of the value of optimism, friendship and the limitless power of imagination.” 



Rising Indiana star: An interview with Lauren Sanderson

There are plenty of local artists paving their way and searching for the opportunity to make it in the music industry. Lauren Sanderson, an up-and-coming artist from Fort Wayne, has made that dream a reality.




Spyro Reignited Trilogy’ – Reunited with an old friend

 No matter if you are looking for a trip down nostalgia lane or  introducing a younger generation to the world of Spyro, 'Reignited  Trilogy' is a solid remaster of the classics. Even though lackluster  gameplay and rushed design choices plague the experience from the start,  it still comes off as enjoyable for both veterans and novices.  Hopefully this eternal flame can find space to roar once again. 


J Mascis welcomes you to a dark, mellow, and easy-going world on ‘Elastic Days’

 ‘Elastic Days’ is a moody, soft, and introspective album. The  instrumentation helps put the listener into the world that the lyrics  paint. The guitar solos are crisp and effective in bringing out the  emotion of the lyrics. The contributors to the record add enough extra  layers to certain songs to help expand the album’s sound. Near the end  of the album, the music tires out and kept me wanting something  different in sound.  


‘Origins’ should have gone back to where it came from

 'Origins' sounds like a car crash involving quite a lot of albums.  Unfortunately, none of those albums happen to be good ones. Whether it  is the flaccid, lifeless electro-pop and EDM, the overblown radio rock  destined to plague arenas across the world, or the departures from those  two sounds that should’ve been left on the cutting room floor, all the  directions that Imagine Dragons attempt to go in lead to dead ends.  Based on the consistently decreasing quality of their records, seeing  how it could possibly get worse is the one thing worth anticipating for  their future material.