...Until the year 2009 (in the Central Standard Time timezone)!
I got an iTunes giftcard from my mom as a late Christmas present, and I got Pure Frosting, the last PUSA album that I didn't own. So far, I really like it.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Aircoot
I got a haircut today. I like it quite a bit, and it was much more bearable this time than it was last time. I think it's because this time we went at 12:30 in the afternoon as opposed to 5:30, so it wasn't nearly as crowded.
I have also found some kickass stuff on Left 4 Dead. I found out the console codes that let you play Versus in singleplayer, which is something that I've really wanted to do, and I still hope VALVe makes it an option, so I don't have to type in a bunch of codes every time. Also, I'm not sure yet, but I think I can host games now, using my computer as a server. That would also kick major ass. The only problem, though, is that Mason has been helping me test it, so since we're using the same internet connection, and therefore the same IP, I'm not sure if I've been able to host because of that. Hopefully not, though. I'll check it out with ACD tomorrow.
I have also found some kickass stuff on Left 4 Dead. I found out the console codes that let you play Versus in singleplayer, which is something that I've really wanted to do, and I still hope VALVe makes it an option, so I don't have to type in a bunch of codes every time. Also, I'm not sure yet, but I think I can host games now, using my computer as a server. That would also kick major ass. The only problem, though, is that Mason has been helping me test it, so since we're using the same internet connection, and therefore the same IP, I'm not sure if I've been able to host because of that. Hopefully not, though. I'll check it out with ACD tomorrow.
Monday, December 29, 2008
DAMMIT
I got Fable II last night from my grandma as a Christmas present. I played it for quite a while, and before I went to bed, I paused, saved, and turned off my 360. When I went to play today, I tried to load my game, but it was stuck on the loading screen. I just kinda shrugged it off and rebooted my 360. I tried to load my game again and got the same result.
Feeling rather pissed, I tried again several more times, and it never worked. I decided to just go ahead and make a new character. I watched the cutscene of the bird flying around and eventually shitting on my head, and when it got to the actual game, and into the in-game cutscene, it just froze. I got pissed, retried a few more times, but eventually just gave up and deleted my save data from my 360.
Wash, rinse, repeat. I've tried the same thing at least five times over now. Nothing works. I'm pissed. It's so frustrating.
Feeling rather pissed, I tried again several more times, and it never worked. I decided to just go ahead and make a new character. I watched the cutscene of the bird flying around and eventually shitting on my head, and when it got to the actual game, and into the in-game cutscene, it just froze. I got pissed, retried a few more times, but eventually just gave up and deleted my save data from my 360.
Wash, rinse, repeat. I've tried the same thing at least five times over now. Nothing works. I'm pissed. It's so frustrating.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
12/24/08
I'm at my dad's house for a couple of days. On the way to his house, I asked him if he'd ever watched Survivorman. Of course, being the homophobe he is, he made a remark similar to "Well, he's Canadian, so that automatically makes him gay". Seriously? I mean, come on, he's Canadian, not British.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
12/23/08
Well, I got my Christmas present early this year... A 32" LCD 1080p HDTV. My mom gave me money this year, and so I decided to get this TV. I think I got a pretty good deal on it, too, because it was on sale for $300 off. This thing looks and sounds freaking awesome. I can't wait to get some cables to make my PS3 and 360 play in HD.
Monday, December 22, 2008
12/22/08
Having a bathroom connected to my room now is very strange. I can usually pee without closing the door.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sore 3: The Path to Pain - The Exciting Conclusion!
Well, I've been moving a lot. Like, a WHOLE LOT. Fact 1: Mattresses are really heavy. Fact 2: This desk is a bitch to assemble. Fact 3: My back is still extremely sore. Fact 4: Resistance kicks ass.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Strange Dream #8
I had another very strange dream last night. It was like someone took a bunch of things that I've been reading about/watching/playing lately, and put them all into a blender and hit the Purée button.
---
I was in a big open world with a bunch of hills and very few trees, and it looked a lot like Twilight Princess and Guild Wars mixed together. I remember walking around talking to people, but them not saying anything important (that must mean it was Zelda). I somehow got to a giant hill that looked like a level out of LittleBIGPlanet, and Sonic from Sonic the Hedgehog was there. There was some music playing, but I didn't like it, so I got onto iTunes and set a song to loop (I really wish I could remember what song it was). We started running down the hill really fast, just like in a Sonic game. When we got to the bottom, I was a surgeon, and it looked like I was in Trauma Center, and the music changed to whatever it was before I changed it.
After a while, it changed to where I was in a room that looked like a really small library, and there was a guy who looked like Kip from Napoleon Dynamite, but I knew he was one of The Carpenters somehow (the band. I guess they were in there because their music has been on the radio quite a bit). He got up and walked over to one of the bookcases, pulled out a book, and the bookcase spun around, revealing a secret passageway.
I walked through, and I was in Malcolm in the Middle. At first, I thought I was in an episode, but after a while, I realized I wasn't. I was in a place that kind of resembled the parents' bedroom in the show, and they apparently couldn't see me. The were whispering about something, and I somehow knew that they were planning on canceling the Cable, and they were discussing on how to tell the boys. I eventually ran out and found Dewey using a laptop and told him to get on AIM. He got on, and found his parents talking about it (they had apparently switched to AIM because they didn't want the boys to hear them). I started telling Dewey what to say, and although I don't remember exactly what he said, I do remember that it was badly spelled, and it was in all caps. I don't really remember what happened after that, but I do remember that Hal, the dad, found Dewey sitting under a board that was leaning up against the counter.
Then, I went down to the beach, and I saw two nudists, a man and a woman. Well, a man and a transvestite. She had a penis. They were both playing around in the water around waist-deep, when a small boat drove by. Everyone on the boat saw them, and the boat either crashed or tipped over (I don't remember which. It either crashed into a bigger boat, or it tipped over when everyone ran to one side to see the tranny nudist.
---
That's all I can remember out of my dream, but I think that's enough. It was definitely one of the weirdest I've ever had. OH WAIT, I just remembered that I had one the night before last.
---
Apparently, we were moving to some apartments. They allowed most pets, but they wouldn't allow cats unless they were 1 foot long, from nose to tail. They were going to have an inspector come in and measure all the cats, so I only had a few days to find a way to make Cortana a little longer. I tried to get my mom and sister to help, but they hate Cortana, so they wouldn't. It pissed me off and made me sad at the same time, and I woke up.
---
Okay, that's all I can remember from both of those dreams.
EDIT: I just found a fantastic quote.
---
I was in a big open world with a bunch of hills and very few trees, and it looked a lot like Twilight Princess and Guild Wars mixed together. I remember walking around talking to people, but them not saying anything important (that must mean it was Zelda). I somehow got to a giant hill that looked like a level out of LittleBIGPlanet, and Sonic from Sonic the Hedgehog was there. There was some music playing, but I didn't like it, so I got onto iTunes and set a song to loop (I really wish I could remember what song it was). We started running down the hill really fast, just like in a Sonic game. When we got to the bottom, I was a surgeon, and it looked like I was in Trauma Center, and the music changed to whatever it was before I changed it.
After a while, it changed to where I was in a room that looked like a really small library, and there was a guy who looked like Kip from Napoleon Dynamite, but I knew he was one of The Carpenters somehow (the band. I guess they were in there because their music has been on the radio quite a bit). He got up and walked over to one of the bookcases, pulled out a book, and the bookcase spun around, revealing a secret passageway.
I walked through, and I was in Malcolm in the Middle. At first, I thought I was in an episode, but after a while, I realized I wasn't. I was in a place that kind of resembled the parents' bedroom in the show, and they apparently couldn't see me. The were whispering about something, and I somehow knew that they were planning on canceling the Cable, and they were discussing on how to tell the boys. I eventually ran out and found Dewey using a laptop and told him to get on AIM. He got on, and found his parents talking about it (they had apparently switched to AIM because they didn't want the boys to hear them). I started telling Dewey what to say, and although I don't remember exactly what he said, I do remember that it was badly spelled, and it was in all caps. I don't really remember what happened after that, but I do remember that Hal, the dad, found Dewey sitting under a board that was leaning up against the counter.
Then, I went down to the beach, and I saw two nudists, a man and a woman. Well, a man and a transvestite. She had a penis. They were both playing around in the water around waist-deep, when a small boat drove by. Everyone on the boat saw them, and the boat either crashed or tipped over (I don't remember which. It either crashed into a bigger boat, or it tipped over when everyone ran to one side to see the tranny nudist.
---
That's all I can remember out of my dream, but I think that's enough. It was definitely one of the weirdest I've ever had. OH WAIT, I just remembered that I had one the night before last.
---
Apparently, we were moving to some apartments. They allowed most pets, but they wouldn't allow cats unless they were 1 foot long, from nose to tail. They were going to have an inspector come in and measure all the cats, so I only had a few days to find a way to make Cortana a little longer. I tried to get my mom and sister to help, but they hate Cortana, so they wouldn't. It pissed me off and made me sad at the same time, and I woke up.
---
Okay, that's all I can remember from both of those dreams.
EDIT: I just found a fantastic quote.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
It's a Southern Thing, Apparently.
I posted yesterday about drinking Boiled Custard and how freaking delicious it is, and one of my friends posted a comment. She's from waaaay up north, and the Wikipedia entry says that it's mainly a southern thing (because Wikipedia is always right). Judging by her comment, it sounded like she didn't know what it was, so I decided to dedicate today's blog post to it.
It actually sounds disgusting when I read the ingredients, but I assure you, it's not. It kinda tastes like semi-lukewarm vanilla ice cream mixed with eggs. Again, it sounds gross, but it's not.
Like I said yesterday, my mom bought some at the store. It's good, but not quite as good as my great-grandmother's. Her's is the best.
Anyway, it's freaking delicious, and I think everyone should try it at least once.
* 1 quart whole milk
* 5 eggs
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Into the lower pot of a double boiler, add water. In the upper pot, add milk. Heat through over medium heat.
2. Beat eggs together until light. Add sugar and mix well. Pour a small portion of hot milk into the eggs and sugar to warm and thin this portion. Pour slowly into hot milk.
3. Cook, stirring constantly until it will coat a spoon. Do not over cook. Add vanilla extract. Chill in refrigerator before serving.
It actually sounds disgusting when I read the ingredients, but I assure you, it's not. It kinda tastes like semi-lukewarm vanilla ice cream mixed with eggs. Again, it sounds gross, but it's not.
Like I said yesterday, my mom bought some at the store. It's good, but not quite as good as my great-grandmother's. Her's is the best.
Anyway, it's freaking delicious, and I think everyone should try it at least once.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Hot Damn
My mom just got back from the store, and she got BOILED CUSTARD! I could live on this shit.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
12/14/08
We were out shopping all day again today. We saw a bunch of cool stuff again, but we still haven't bought anything, despite closing on the house in a couple of days. Well, we did go by GameStop, and they were having a buy-2-get-1 thing for all used items, so I got Motorstorm, Resistance, and Uncharted. I haven't played them yet, and I'm too tired tonight, but I'm really anxious to.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
12/13/08
I'm so tired. I've been up since around midnight last night, so that puts me in at around 19 hours of being awake.
Today, we went out early to go shopping for furniture for our new house, and we were out all day. We did find some really cool stuff, though, so I'm not complaining too much. I took a lot (more like 5) of pictures of random shit I found while I was out, everything from a cardboard box made up to look like some sort of DOS program, to the cool Mario/Wii/Nintendo cups they had at Burger King. I'll have to post them some other time, though, because as I said, I'm really tired and I can't be bothered right now.
Today, we went out early to go shopping for furniture for our new house, and we were out all day. We did find some really cool stuff, though, so I'm not complaining too much. I took a lot (more like 5) of pictures of random shit I found while I was out, everything from a cardboard box made up to look like some sort of DOS program, to the cool Mario/Wii/Nintendo cups they had at Burger King. I'll have to post them some other time, though, because as I said, I'm really tired and I can't be bothered right now.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Hell yes
I don't remember if I posted about this, but my old headset for my PC messed up a couple of weeks ago. for some reason, the sound would only come out of the left ear-speaker thing. That would have been semi-okay, but there was a problem. They must have been in Stereo mode or something, because all of the "important" stuff I needed to hear (e.g. voices in online games, music didn't sound right because I was only getting the bass tracks, etc.) wasn't coming through on the speakers.
So, I finally got paid the other day, and the very first thing I did was get on Amazon and order another headset, so I got on and ordered this one. I just woke up a few minutes ago, and it was sitting outside, so I opened it up, and it works perfectly. It was also really cold, but that was good, because my ears get hot when I sleep.
So, I finally got paid the other day, and the very first thing I did was get on Amazon and order another headset, so I got on and ordered this one. I just woke up a few minutes ago, and it was sitting outside, so I opened it up, and it works perfectly. It was also really cold, but that was good, because my ears get hot when I sleep.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
12/11/08
Roxy (my dog) was just now pulling stuffing out of her bed. I went and looked at the bed and got her to stop. There was a hole just a little bigger than a quarter. I told my mom, and she said she didn't want to sew it up, so I volunteered. I went and got her mini sewing kit out of her room. After about ten minutes of trying to thread the needle, I started and sewed the hole right up. Now I know that if I were stuck on and island with a sewing kit and my pants were too long, I could probably do something about it.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
12/10/08
AUGH. I want to play Oblivion SO FREAKING BAD. I've been playing Guild Wars quite a bit with ACD, and the same guy (Jeremy Soule) did the music for both games, and if I didn't know any better, just by hearing the music in GW, I would have thought I was hearing music from Oblivion.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
12/09/08
I don't have much to say today. ACD got me semi-hooked on Guild Wars. It's actually really similar to WoW, but somehow, I like it a lot more. One thing that I didn't really like, however, is the character-creation system. You are basically stuck with a certain look, depending on what Class you are. Another thing is that you have to have more than one name. I've never like that in any game, because I can never come up with anything. I ended up naming my character Harlbad del Rodgan. That's how lame I am.
Monday, December 8, 2008
12/08/08
I finally finished the first season of 30 Rock, and then I watched the entire second season last night, then I watched a few episodes of the third season of The Office. God bless Microsoft and Netflix.
Anyway, I woke up earlier and finally finished Fable: The Lost Chapters. I said I had beaten the game a few days ago, and I had beaten Fable, but today I finished the six extremely tacked on final quests that make up the "Lost Chapters". Lost Chapters my ass, it was just a few little quests that led up to one last boss battle, that, as I said, felt extremely tacked on. Don't get me wrong, Fable was a great game, it's just that I think that the Lost Chapters is a ripoff.
Anyway, I woke up earlier and finally finished Fable: The Lost Chapters. I said I had beaten the game a few days ago, and I had beaten Fable, but today I finished the six extremely tacked on final quests that make up the "Lost Chapters". Lost Chapters my ass, it was just a few little quests that led up to one last boss battle, that, as I said, felt extremely tacked on. Don't get me wrong, Fable was a great game, it's just that I think that the Lost Chapters is a ripoff.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
12/07/08
From now on, when I can't think of a title to a post, I'm just going to date them. I'm running out of nonsensical titles.
This morning I was laying (lying?) in the bed trying to get to sleep when I remembered that I could watch Netflix on my 360, thanks to the NXE, so I decided to set it up and see if my mom had anything worth watching in the Instant Queue. I started looking through all 123 items she had, and only 3 were worth watching (The Office Season 2, Season 3, and 30 Rock), so I decided to watch 30 Rock. I'd already seen a few episodes, so I knew I liked it, but I wanted to watch it from the beginning. Right now I'm a little over halfway through the first season, and I really like it so far. I just wish Alec Baldwin would stop whispering.
This morning I was laying (lying?) in the bed trying to get to sleep when I remembered that I could watch Netflix on my 360, thanks to the NXE, so I decided to set it up and see if my mom had anything worth watching in the Instant Queue. I started looking through all 123 items she had, and only 3 were worth watching (The Office Season 2, Season 3, and 30 Rock), so I decided to watch 30 Rock. I'd already seen a few episodes, so I knew I liked it, but I wanted to watch it from the beginning. Right now I'm a little over halfway through the first season, and I really like it so far. I just wish Alec Baldwin would stop whispering.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Hurgle
I beat Fable today. I'm at my grandma's house, and virtually without a computer (I have my Mac and her old Windows computer, but neither of them will run any games. Anyway, all I have is my 360 and PSP for games, so I decided to take a few games that I haven't played in a while, or that I've been meaning to beat (like Fable and Dead Rising). Crap, now I want Fable II.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
I just got a load of stuff.
I just got back from my dad's house (we went to drop Mason off), and while I was there, I went through some of the crap in my room. Among the stuff I brought back was:
Gameboy Advance SP
Car Charger for said Gameboy (I couldn't find a regular charger, so now all I can do is charge it in the car)
2 pens
Namco Museum (GBA)
Texas Hold 'Em Poker (GBA) (NOT MY GAME)
Millipede/Super Breakout/Lunar Lander (GBA)
Lilo & Stitch (GBA) (it's actually not a bad game, it just feels like a complete reskin of a Metal Slug game)
Bubble Bobble Part 2 (GB)
Pokemon Blue (GB)
Pokemon Yellow (GB)
Pokemon Gold (GB)
Tetris (GB)
MegaMan: Dr. Wily's Revenge (GB)
Tarzan (GBC)
Metroid Prime Pinball (DS)
Lost Magic (DS)
Brain Age (DS)
and the Nintendo Power guide for Animal Crossing: Wold World
-----
I'm pissed. My DS just stopped working this morning. I tried to play ACWW, but when I try to turn it on, the power light comes on for a second, and then the bottom screen lights up for a split-second, and then it goes off. I'm really pissed, because I had a red turnip that I need to water today, but since it wont come on, I CAN'T FREAKING WATER IT. I JUST LOST 1k BELLS. AUUHGH
Gameboy Advance SP
Car Charger for said Gameboy (I couldn't find a regular charger, so now all I can do is charge it in the car)
2 pens
Namco Museum (GBA)
Texas Hold 'Em Poker (GBA) (NOT MY GAME)
Millipede/Super Breakout/Lunar Lander (GBA)
Lilo & Stitch (GBA) (it's actually not a bad game, it just feels like a complete reskin of a Metal Slug game)
Bubble Bobble Part 2 (GB)
Pokemon Blue (GB)
Pokemon Yellow (GB)
Pokemon Gold (GB)
Tetris (GB)
MegaMan: Dr. Wily's Revenge (GB)
Tarzan (GBC)
Metroid Prime Pinball (DS)
Lost Magic (DS)
Brain Age (DS)
and the Nintendo Power guide for Animal Crossing: Wold World
-----
I'm pissed. My DS just stopped working this morning. I tried to play ACWW, but when I try to turn it on, the power light comes on for a second, and then the bottom screen lights up for a split-second, and then it goes off. I'm really pissed, because I had a red turnip that I need to water today, but since it wont come on, I CAN'T FREAKING WATER IT. I JUST LOST 1k BELLS. AUUHGH
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
This is EXACTLY how I've been for the past week.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3961/bbbtp2.jpg
I'm thinking of writing a review or something. I think the next one will be for Geometry Wars.
I'm thinking of writing a review or something. I think the next one will be for Geometry Wars.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
[Obligatory Post]
I can't really think of anything to write...Oh, I failed at NaNo. It officially ends in about ten minutes, and I only had around 10k words, and it was mostly just crap. Oh, well. Maybe next year.
On a happier not, it's going to be December in a few minutes. I freaking love December. I just like the cold, which is weird, because I never go outside. Go figure. Well, I guess when we start moving (hopefully soon), I will be outside, so that's good. I need to buy a coat or maybe a shirt or something. Seriously, I only own t-shirts. I've been trying to get my mom to buy me this "hoodie" (I hate that word...it sounds like a synonym of gangster), but no luck yet.
Oh, I also got this really cool program called Xpadder, so now I can play Half-Life (and just about everything else) with my 360 controller.
On a happier not, it's going to be December in a few minutes. I freaking love December. I just like the cold, which is weird, because I never go outside. Go figure. Well, I guess when we start moving (hopefully soon), I will be outside, so that's good. I need to buy a coat or maybe a shirt or something. Seriously, I only own t-shirts. I've been trying to get my mom to buy me this "hoodie" (I hate that word...it sounds like a synonym of gangster), but no luck yet.
Oh, I also got this really cool program called Xpadder, so now I can play Half-Life (and just about everything else) with my 360 controller.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
BRAAAIIIINSS
Man, I feel like a freaking zombie. All I've done for the past few days is use StumbleUpon. I've found some really cool stuff, like the link I posted last night, and this.
Hopefully I will have something to blog about soon. Blogging about this kind of shit is getting boring. I will be getting some money within the next week or two (and then some more at Christmas, probably), so I'll probably get some stuff that I might blog about. Soon (hopefully in the next couple of weeks), we will also be moving into the new house, so surely that will give me some new material.
I'm tired, so I'm just gonna go get a shower and get in the bed.
Hopefully I will have something to blog about soon. Blogging about this kind of shit is getting boring. I will be getting some money within the next week or two (and then some more at Christmas, probably), so I'll probably get some stuff that I might blog about. Soon (hopefully in the next couple of weeks), we will also be moving into the new house, so surely that will give me some new material.
I'm tired, so I'm just gonna go get a shower and get in the bed.
Friday, November 28, 2008
C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!
http://208.116.9.205/10/content/14485/1.jpg
I've started playing Animal Crossing: Wild World again. I swore I'd never get into it again, but after playing a little bit of City Folk, I just got an uncontrollable urge to play WW again. Plus, let's face it; City Folk is just WW, but on a console. There is nothing really new to speak of. The "city" is bullshit. There's just a couple of shops, owned by a few of the random characters from ACGC and AC:WW, and some skunk that changes the color of your shoes. It's bullshit.
I've started playing Animal Crossing: Wild World again. I swore I'd never get into it again, but after playing a little bit of City Folk, I just got an uncontrollable urge to play WW again. Plus, let's face it; City Folk is just WW, but on a console. There is nothing really new to speak of. The "city" is bullshit. There's just a couple of shops, owned by a few of the random characters from ACGC and AC:WW, and some skunk that changes the color of your shoes. It's bullshit.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving, I suppose.
I didn't really do anything today. My grandma came over with a shitload of food and cooked for like 6 hours, while most everyone else layed around and watched the Titans kick the Lions asses. Around 2:30 my aunt finally came over and we all ate, then we played Rook for a long time. So now, we have a fridge full of food, I've played enough cards until Christmas, and we actually taught Mallory how to play, and she's really not half bad. Fairly productive day, if I do say so myself.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Last Night
First, let me give you a little backstory of my family. I was born in a town in Tennessee. Two years later, my brother was born. Three years later, my sister was born, and nine months after that, we moved to Kentucky and built a house on my dad's parent's farm. My parents have never gotten along too well. They've never been mean or hostile or anything, but they just never got along very well for about as long as I can remember. Anyway, when I was ten, my mom basically kicked my dad out. My great-grandfather (who had died not long (I don't remember how long it was. It may have been two years or two months.) before this) had lived across the street from us, and since my dad's mom then owned the house, she let him live there.
Since he lived right across the road, I saw him frequently and everything was basically fine (other then my parents being split up), and eventually my dad came back. Two years later when I was twelve, they split up again. My dad still lived right across the street, and again, everything was okay. Well, the years went on, and then last year, about a week after my fourteenth birthday, my mom moved to another town in Tennessee, about an hour from the first town, and my dad moved back to the house we built, and although things were a little worse (we now lived about two hours away from my dad), it was still fine. He called almost every night and came up to see us every so often, blah blah blah.
Now, Mason, my brother, has been staying primarily with my dad for the most part of the past year, and Mallory (my sister) and I have been primarily with my mom, just out of choice (it's not that any of us like a parent more than the other or anything, it's just where we've decided to stay for the time being, and we can go to the other parent's house at any time (within reason)).
Yesterday, Mason, had a dentist appointment. Our dentist is about halfway between my mom's and my dad's. My mom wanted my dad to bring Mason all the way here, so he could see the new house that we have all but bought, so they came yesterday. Everything was fine, it was just a normal visit, until right before my dad left.
See, my mom has been trying to get money from my dad (money that she used to pay for the Kentucky house to be built), so she could pay off some of the house we just bought. I knew all this, and I considered it to be relatively no big deal.
Anyway, right before my dad left, both my parents called us three kids into the living room. I could tell something was wrong. After they started talking for a bit, they went into stuff that I already knew about, like my mom trying to get the money, but after a while, they started talking about not being able to do it...because they were still married. By this time, Mallory, who has always hoped that our parents would get back together, still didn't understand. I wasn't completely getting it, so I asked, "So it's everything BUT a divorce?" and my dad said "It is a divorce." Mallory started crying then, and I could tell that Mason was choking back tears. I was...unfazed. I mean, I knew that there was virtually no chance of them getting back together, but I didn't really expect an actual divorce to ever occur. Still, though, I didn't really feel bad. They kept talking and answering questions and everything, and then after a while, my dad left.
After everything settled down, I just got back on my computer and did whatever I normally do, I even play L4D with ACD for a while. I was never completely concentrated, though. I was just thinking about stuff. I wasn't really bothered by the announcement of a divorce. What bothered me was that I wasn't bothered by the announcement of a divorce. Isn't that something that you should typically feel something for? Even after I slept and was talking to my mom this morning, she asked me how I felt about things, and I just told her that I felt indifferent.
See, since my parents aren't fighting or hostile or anything, this is going to be a rather strange situation for a divorce. Apparently, nothing is really going to change, we can still go to either parent's house at any time and whatnot, it's basically just going to be a title change.
So, even though it's virtually nothing, shouldn't I at least feel a little bad? If I don't feel bad about that, then I feel bad about not feeling bad. Is that bad?
---
So anyway, this is another prime example of why I decided to blog. It has basically documented the last three months of my life. I like that.
Since he lived right across the road, I saw him frequently and everything was basically fine (other then my parents being split up), and eventually my dad came back. Two years later when I was twelve, they split up again. My dad still lived right across the street, and again, everything was okay. Well, the years went on, and then last year, about a week after my fourteenth birthday, my mom moved to another town in Tennessee, about an hour from the first town, and my dad moved back to the house we built, and although things were a little worse (we now lived about two hours away from my dad), it was still fine. He called almost every night and came up to see us every so often, blah blah blah.
Now, Mason, my brother, has been staying primarily with my dad for the most part of the past year, and Mallory (my sister) and I have been primarily with my mom, just out of choice (it's not that any of us like a parent more than the other or anything, it's just where we've decided to stay for the time being, and we can go to the other parent's house at any time (within reason)).
Yesterday, Mason, had a dentist appointment. Our dentist is about halfway between my mom's and my dad's. My mom wanted my dad to bring Mason all the way here, so he could see the new house that we have all but bought, so they came yesterday. Everything was fine, it was just a normal visit, until right before my dad left.
See, my mom has been trying to get money from my dad (money that she used to pay for the Kentucky house to be built), so she could pay off some of the house we just bought. I knew all this, and I considered it to be relatively no big deal.
Anyway, right before my dad left, both my parents called us three kids into the living room. I could tell something was wrong. After they started talking for a bit, they went into stuff that I already knew about, like my mom trying to get the money, but after a while, they started talking about not being able to do it...because they were still married. By this time, Mallory, who has always hoped that our parents would get back together, still didn't understand. I wasn't completely getting it, so I asked, "So it's everything BUT a divorce?" and my dad said "It is a divorce." Mallory started crying then, and I could tell that Mason was choking back tears. I was...unfazed. I mean, I knew that there was virtually no chance of them getting back together, but I didn't really expect an actual divorce to ever occur. Still, though, I didn't really feel bad. They kept talking and answering questions and everything, and then after a while, my dad left.
After everything settled down, I just got back on my computer and did whatever I normally do, I even play L4D with ACD for a while. I was never completely concentrated, though. I was just thinking about stuff. I wasn't really bothered by the announcement of a divorce. What bothered me was that I wasn't bothered by the announcement of a divorce. Isn't that something that you should typically feel something for? Even after I slept and was talking to my mom this morning, she asked me how I felt about things, and I just told her that I felt indifferent.
See, since my parents aren't fighting or hostile or anything, this is going to be a rather strange situation for a divorce. Apparently, nothing is really going to change, we can still go to either parent's house at any time and whatnot, it's basically just going to be a title change.
So, even though it's virtually nothing, shouldn't I at least feel a little bad? If I don't feel bad about that, then I feel bad about not feeling bad. Is that bad?
---
So anyway, this is another prime example of why I decided to blog. It has basically documented the last three months of my life. I like that.
Monday, November 24, 2008
I have some news unrelated to the house crap.
But I'm tired and I need to get in the bed, so I'll just post it tomorrow. I need to sleep on it anyway.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
More Relatively Large News
Well, my mom got a call last night - We have all but bought the house. They didn't accept our original offer, but my mom went up a little, and we got it, so it's ours unless something huge happens and we can't buy it.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Pretty Freakin' Big News
So, as probably none of you know, my mom has been looking for a new house, because the one we are currently living in is pretty small (2 bed, 1 bath) for the three of us (and sometimes Mason) living here. She's been talking about it for a few months now, but I figured she was just talking, and not acting or anything, but apparently not, because we were out all morning looking at houses. We found one that we all really like (although Mallory doesn't really like it because it doesn't have a Bay Window. She's been dying to have one for some reason. I asked her why and she was like, "Because you can put cute pillows on the seat."), and we liked it so much, that my mom actually put in an offer. It's about 5k lower than the asking price, but hopefully that won't be a matter of concern.
Anyway, I really, REALLY like the house. It's a 3 bed 2 bath, but it has a huge den (something like 21 x 11) that my mom will probably use as a bedroom/office, and a huge unfinished basement/two car garage that's as big as the house itself. I didn't look at all the bedrooms, but one I looked at hid FIVE FUCKING POWER OUTLETS (well, five wall plates, so it's actually ten outlets). That's fantastic, because I might be able to get rid of some of my power strips. There are a couple of things I don't like, though, like the entire house painted in bright colors (yellow, pink, and baby blue), but mom said we can repaint that.
My second complaint is a little more major. It's the town itself. I used to live in the town up until I was five, and then we moved to Kentucky. I moved back to a town about an hour away last year, but now we're going to move back to the first town. I don't like the town very much. It's the same town the lady who cuts my hair lives/works in, so that's even more of an excuse for my mom to keep going to her (I don't like her very much). Also, everyone in that town seems to be really weird. It's like they're all typical brainwashed school pride/blonde ditzes/preps. It's a little weird, but I never really get out of the house anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter all that much. I still don't like it very much, though.
So, my mom put in an offer, and hopefully we'll get the house, because I really do like it. It's a nice house in a good neighborhood, but I just don't like the town very much. Oh, well. I guess I'll have to get over it.
P.S. This was cool, so I had to post it. It's my score in iCopter for the iPhone.
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Now playing: They Might Be Giants - Man, It's So Loud In Here
via FoxyTunes
Anyway, I really, REALLY like the house. It's a 3 bed 2 bath, but it has a huge den (something like 21 x 11) that my mom will probably use as a bedroom/office, and a huge unfinished basement/two car garage that's as big as the house itself. I didn't look at all the bedrooms, but one I looked at hid FIVE FUCKING POWER OUTLETS (well, five wall plates, so it's actually ten outlets). That's fantastic, because I might be able to get rid of some of my power strips. There are a couple of things I don't like, though, like the entire house painted in bright colors (yellow, pink, and baby blue), but mom said we can repaint that.
My second complaint is a little more major. It's the town itself. I used to live in the town up until I was five, and then we moved to Kentucky. I moved back to a town about an hour away last year, but now we're going to move back to the first town. I don't like the town very much. It's the same town the lady who cuts my hair lives/works in, so that's even more of an excuse for my mom to keep going to her (I don't like her very much). Also, everyone in that town seems to be really weird. It's like they're all typical brainwashed school pride/blonde ditzes/preps. It's a little weird, but I never really get out of the house anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter all that much. I still don't like it very much, though.
So, my mom put in an offer, and hopefully we'll get the house, because I really do like it. It's a nice house in a good neighborhood, but I just don't like the town very much. Oh, well. I guess I'll have to get over it.
P.S. This was cool, so I had to post it. It's my score in iCopter for the iPhone.
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Now playing: They Might Be Giants - Man, It's So Loud In Here
via FoxyTunes
Review: Galaga Legions (XBLA)
As you may know by now (whether by talking to me or by reading my review of it), I'm a pretty big Galaga fan. When I first saw Galaga Legions being demonstrated at E3 '08, I was a bit skeptical. It instantly reminded me of Pac-Man Championship Edition, which, while it was an okay game, I didn't like it all that much (although I've never been a huge fan of Pac-Man, anyway. I like it, but it's nowhere near my favorite game). Since I'm such a big Galaga fan, all I was doing was praying that they didn't screw Legions up. Somehow, they changed a lot of the gameplay mechanics, but still made a pretty cool game, even by Galaga's standards.
Like I said, they changed a few things for Legions. The first is that you can move all around the screen, and not just left and right. Second, you have two turrets which can be placed anywhere on the screen, or you can just leave them attached to your ship for extra firepower. Third, the enemies and the way they act are way different. They can now come at you from any direction, and there are often very, very many of them. Since there are so many coming from all directions, the developers added a cool system that draws out the path of the enemies and shows you where they're coming from about a second before they do come. It's simple, helpful, and it looks really cool.
Speaking of looking cool, the graphics are a really neat-looking futuristic kind of thing. As I said before, the graphics really remind me of Pac-Man Championship Edition, so if you've seen it, just imagine a white spaceship and about a million green aliens, and you have Galaga. Another neat feature is you have three graphics style options to choose from, Original, Vintage, and Ancient. It's a little confusing, because they could all mean the same thing, but Original is the new, updated Legions graphics, and Vintage and Ancient are the 1981 sprites, but placed on the cool backgrounds and explosion effects.
The controls are much better than Galaga. You have two shooting modes to choose from, Manual and Automatic. You're only going to want to choose Manual if you're looking for a challenge, because you can have as many bullets as you want out at one time, as opposed to only being able to have two in Galaga. But, even if you do choose Manual, you can shoot with the Right Trigger, which feels a lot more natural than mashing the A button. You also use the Right Stick to place and position your turrets. I like the turrets because even though the eliminate the (need for a) double ship, they add a whole new dimension of strategy to the gameplay.
The sound has (obviously) been revamped, with techno/electronic music that, thankfully, stays in the background enough that your ears won't bleed. It also has a techno/electronic version of the little riff that I guess you consider the Galaga theme. The shooting also sounds really good, and the explosions sound pretty good.
There are a few flaws with Legions though, however small they may be. First is that there are only five areas. There are five levels in the five areas, but it's still not very many. Thankfully, the levels aren't that short, so it's not really a game that you can beat in twenty minutes. Second, sometimes there are too many enemies on the screen, and some of them may be shooting, so if you get caught up shooting aliens, you can forget to dodge bullets, resulting in some (seemingly) unfair deaths.
Overall, I really like Galaga Legions, and I think it's a worthy sequel/"enhanced remake" (it actually feels more like a sequel than an "enhanced remake", as the Wikipedia page insists) to the original Galaga, and it's way more than just pretty graphics, it's an entirely new game. 4 out of 5.
Like I said, they changed a few things for Legions. The first is that you can move all around the screen, and not just left and right. Second, you have two turrets which can be placed anywhere on the screen, or you can just leave them attached to your ship for extra firepower. Third, the enemies and the way they act are way different. They can now come at you from any direction, and there are often very, very many of them. Since there are so many coming from all directions, the developers added a cool system that draws out the path of the enemies and shows you where they're coming from about a second before they do come. It's simple, helpful, and it looks really cool.
Speaking of looking cool, the graphics are a really neat-looking futuristic kind of thing. As I said before, the graphics really remind me of Pac-Man Championship Edition, so if you've seen it, just imagine a white spaceship and about a million green aliens, and you have Galaga. Another neat feature is you have three graphics style options to choose from, Original, Vintage, and Ancient. It's a little confusing, because they could all mean the same thing, but Original is the new, updated Legions graphics, and Vintage and Ancient are the 1981 sprites, but placed on the cool backgrounds and explosion effects.
The controls are much better than Galaga. You have two shooting modes to choose from, Manual and Automatic. You're only going to want to choose Manual if you're looking for a challenge, because you can have as many bullets as you want out at one time, as opposed to only being able to have two in Galaga. But, even if you do choose Manual, you can shoot with the Right Trigger, which feels a lot more natural than mashing the A button. You also use the Right Stick to place and position your turrets. I like the turrets because even though the eliminate the (need for a) double ship, they add a whole new dimension of strategy to the gameplay.
The sound has (obviously) been revamped, with techno/electronic music that, thankfully, stays in the background enough that your ears won't bleed. It also has a techno/electronic version of the little riff that I guess you consider the Galaga theme. The shooting also sounds really good, and the explosions sound pretty good.
There are a few flaws with Legions though, however small they may be. First is that there are only five areas. There are five levels in the five areas, but it's still not very many. Thankfully, the levels aren't that short, so it's not really a game that you can beat in twenty minutes. Second, sometimes there are too many enemies on the screen, and some of them may be shooting, so if you get caught up shooting aliens, you can forget to dodge bullets, resulting in some (seemingly) unfair deaths.
Overall, I really like Galaga Legions, and I think it's a worthy sequel/"enhanced remake" (it actually feels more like a sequel than an "enhanced remake", as the Wikipedia page insists) to the original Galaga, and it's way more than just pretty graphics, it's an entirely new game. 4 out of 5.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Review: Galaga (XBLA)
I was never a big fan of arcade machines. Hell, by the time I was old enough to really enjoy them, most of them were gone. Plus, I lived in a small town, so the only one I really ever played was this one in Pizza Hut, and it was a game I'd never even heard of (and unimportant enough that I don't remember the name). There were a few exceptions, though, and Galaga was one of the biggest, and remains one of my favorite games to this day. I first got interested in this type of game while watching my dad play this, and I thought it was so cool. Little did I know, the real thing was so much better, and the XBLA port/remake of the 1981 original is nearly as good.
The gameplay is the exact same as it was in the arcade. You fly around, moving your ship left and right, shooting aliens as they fly around and shoot back at you while they try and divebomb you kamikaze style. It's a basic idea, and it's done really well.
There were a few changes for the 360, however, like changing how many lives you start out with (up to 4), and changing how many points you have to get before being granted another life. The other major change is how you "Continue", if you can even call it that. Instead of having the choice to continue when you die, you're taken back to the menu, but you have the option to start from whatever stage you got to, but you start with no points. This is useful for getting some of the Achievements, but that almost makes the game feel a little too easy. Almost. One change that would have been more than welcome was a Co-op. I think that would have been pretty cool.
As I said before, the main game remains virtually unchanged, so it's got the same graphics and sounds. The controls, however, are a little different. The left thumbstick works well enough to move the ship, but mashing the "A" button to shoot is a little different. It works, but it might take some getting used to Thankfully, they added a Rapid Fire button, so you always have that option.
Galaga is a game that has stood the test of time. It was a great game over twenty-five years ago, and it still is today. It's been through several ports, and while I haven't played them all, I consider the XBLA version to be the best, and even though the graphics and sound are way outdated, it doesn't retract from the overall experience at all. 4 out of 5.
The gameplay is the exact same as it was in the arcade. You fly around, moving your ship left and right, shooting aliens as they fly around and shoot back at you while they try and divebomb you kamikaze style. It's a basic idea, and it's done really well.
There were a few changes for the 360, however, like changing how many lives you start out with (up to 4), and changing how many points you have to get before being granted another life. The other major change is how you "Continue", if you can even call it that. Instead of having the choice to continue when you die, you're taken back to the menu, but you have the option to start from whatever stage you got to, but you start with no points. This is useful for getting some of the Achievements, but that almost makes the game feel a little too easy. Almost. One change that would have been more than welcome was a Co-op. I think that would have been pretty cool.
As I said before, the main game remains virtually unchanged, so it's got the same graphics and sounds. The controls, however, are a little different. The left thumbstick works well enough to move the ship, but mashing the "A" button to shoot is a little different. It works, but it might take some getting used to Thankfully, they added a Rapid Fire button, so you always have that option.
Galaga is a game that has stood the test of time. It was a great game over twenty-five years ago, and it still is today. It's been through several ports, and while I haven't played them all, I consider the XBLA version to be the best, and even though the graphics and sound are way outdated, it doesn't retract from the overall experience at all. 4 out of 5.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
More L4D
Well, ACD and I finally beat L4D, and then played some Versus. I can't speak for him entirely, but I think we can both agree that it is easily one of the top contenders for Game of the Year.
I've been sitting here for 30 minutes, and I can't think of anything else to write.
I've been sitting here for 30 minutes, and I can't think of anything else to write.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
HOLY SHIT
This game DOES kick SO. MUCH. ASS. I haven't played it much (ACD left me before we beat the first scenario D; ), but what I have played is so awesome. This is EASILY a Game of the Year contender. I haven't played past where ACD and I got, because I want to wait for him. I don't know if I can, though. I've been playing Versus mode for a while now. It is SO. MUCH. FUN.
Ok, going to play more.
Ok, going to play more.
Monday, November 17, 2008
T-Minus 5 Hours!
Just 5 hours until L4D!! Hopefully ACD will get online soon so we can play. This game is going to kick so much ass. That's pretty much all I have to say, so I'm just going to go play UT3 for a while.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
That's Unreal, man!
I bought the Unreal Deal Pack thing on Steam today (which includes Unreal Gold, Unreal 2: The Awakening, Unreal Tournament, Unreal Tournament 2004, and Unreal Tournament III, all for $40. A damn good deal if you ask me.). So far I've only played Unreal Gold, but I'm getting ready to play UTIII. I got it for the PS3 from GameFly about a week ago, and I really liked it.
So far, Unreal Gold seems to be a lot like Half-Life (which makes sense, since HL was made using the Unreal Engine), so that's a plus. The textures aren't as good or anything, but that's to be expected. One thing that I find a little strange is that there's no consistency in the levels length-wise. Some levels take me five minutes, some take me forty-five. Oh, well, it seems to be a good game anyway.
I'm off to play some UTIII.
So far, Unreal Gold seems to be a lot like Half-Life (which makes sense, since HL was made using the Unreal Engine), so that's a plus. The textures aren't as good or anything, but that's to be expected. One thing that I find a little strange is that there's no consistency in the levels length-wise. Some levels take me five minutes, some take me forty-five. Oh, well, it seems to be a good game anyway.
I'm off to play some UTIII.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
eMusic kinda sucks.
I signed up for eMusic, mainly to get the song Man, It's So Loud In Here by TMBG, but when I signed up, it gave me 25 free songs. There's a problem with that. They're mostly Indie music, so they don't have hardly anything I like. We also got pizza from Pizza Hut tonight, and it came with a code for 50 more songs. So now I have to try and find 61 (I still have 11 left over from the first 25) songs worth downloading before my 14 days are up. I may just end up downloading stuff I don't really want. I don't know.
So that's pretty much my day. I need a life. NO. L4D comes out in a few days. Having a life would just get in the way. I can't decide whether or not to play through the game in Singlplayer or in Multiplayer first. Probably Multiplayer if any of my friends are on.
So that's pretty much my day. I need a life. NO. L4D comes out in a few days. Having a life would just get in the way. I can't decide whether or not to play through the game in Singlplayer or in Multiplayer first. Probably Multiplayer if any of my friends are on.
Friday, November 14, 2008
100th Post!
Holy crap I need a life. This is officially my 100th post on this blog. It's been nearly 3 months. Gosh, that's 1/4 of a year. Yesterday, I was checking my messages on deviantART, and I saw that I had posted a journal entry at the end of August, basically just directing people to this blog. I read that and then remembered I had been posting in that journal for a long time (not daily, mind you), so I decided to read it. Doing so made me realize why I have been blogging every day. It's not for anyone else. It's for me. I was reading a years worth of posts, and I saw how much I had changed. I mean, I was reading posts that really made me sound like a dickhead. I hadn't realized just how different I was back then. I was 13, sheltered, a homophobe, I didn't cuss, and worst of all, I was a Weird Al megafan.
Anyway, that's why I wanted to blog every day. I may not have known it, but I think that's why I started it, and why I don't intend to stop any time soon.
I don't try to make it a secret that I don't like having my picture taken (it was hell just getting my avatar picture), but I feel that blogging produces almost a 3D images of my current self. Will I really care how many zits I have in 20 years? Man, I sure hope not. That would mean that my life really sucks.
Anyway, I'm just saying that I'm glad I've been blogging, and I'm glad I don't want to stop. I just think that words are a much better way to convey the person that I am as opposed to pictures. Thank you and good day.
Anyway, that's why I wanted to blog every day. I may not have known it, but I think that's why I started it, and why I don't intend to stop any time soon.
I don't try to make it a secret that I don't like having my picture taken (it was hell just getting my avatar picture), but I feel that blogging produces almost a 3D images of my current self. Will I really care how many zits I have in 20 years? Man, I sure hope not. That would mean that my life really sucks.
Anyway, I'm just saying that I'm glad I've been blogging, and I'm glad I don't want to stop. I just think that words are a much better way to convey the person that I am as opposed to pictures. Thank you and good day.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Review: Ricochet (PC)
As a reviewer, I feel I should be somewhat balanced in my scores, to not seem so biased. Last night I got to thinking, "Most of the games I reviewed have all gotten fairly high scores. Maybe I should try to find a bad game to review." I was thinking about all that again today, and then I remembered I had gotten Ricochet as part of the Counter-Strike 1 Anthology from Steam (which also included Deathmatch Classic, Day of Defeat, Counter-Strike, and Counter-Strike: Condition Zero), and thought "That game is PERFECT for a bad review!"
Ricochet. The Half-Life mod that nobody knows about (or has tried to erase from their memory). It makes me sad to think that this game has disgraced the likes of Half-Life for eight years now. I was sitting here, thinking about what I was going to say in this review, when I realized that this game is so bad, I'm not sure I can put it into legible words, but I'll give it a try.
Now, I've never seen the movie Tron, but I'm pretty sure that Ricochet was inspired by it. The neon graphics look similar, and I think that there were some throwing discs in the movie.
I'll admit, I haven't played very much of Ricochet, but there isn't really much to do. It's kind of a one-trick-pony. You go into a game (if you can find one. The most servers I've ever seen open at one time was 11, and at 10:30 P.M. CST, there was only 10 servers, and only one of them had any players, and even THEN, there were only two players and they were both assholes.), and you go from platform to platform throwing discs, trying to knock people off the platforms and down into the abyss, where they die and you get a point. There are a few problems with this. First, you can't jump. You just have to run onto little arrows on the platforms which flings you across to another platform. Second, your discs are your only weapon, and you can't aim them up or down. That's right, you can only throw your discs parallel to the ground (more on that in a minute). Third, you can only have 3 discs at a time, and even though they replenish, they don't do so nearly fast enough. When you have 3 discs saved, you can right-click to throw out a Decapitator disc, which is just what it sounds like, but even that is boring.
Now, back to the aiming. There are several levels of platforms which you can get to by going to the right jumps. Separating those platforms are bars that you cannot shoot through. They just bounce off (hence, the title of the game). Since you can't aim up or down, you can only shoot someone when you're on the same platform as them, or when you're in the air. The problem with that is, when you get shot by a normal disc, it doesn't kill you, it just pushes you a little, meaning if you get shot in the air, you'll probably end up missing your jump completely, and then fall to your death. Another problem is that this is one of those games where you can't walk through other players, so if two people are jumping at one another, they bump into each other and fall, killing both. It's also hard to hit people unless they're right in front of you, because your discs move extremely slow.
There are a few power-ups, although they're all things you've seen in plenty of other games, like Multi-Shot, Power Shot, and one that just freezes you, leaving you defenseless.
The graphics are really, really bad, even for the year 2000. They're boring, lifeless, and I think that Half-Life looked better, despite being two years older. Actually, I took a screenshot (click to enlarge (that's what she said)).
When I decided I wanted to review a bad game, I think I did good in choosing Ricochet. This is a game that should never have seen the light of day, much less the $5 that Steam wants you to pay. There is not an ounce of fun in this game, and I really tried hard to like it, but I just couldn't. As a reviewer, and as a person who doesn't generally wish the worst on people, this is a form of torture that I couldn't wish upon my worst enemy, much less recommend it to anyone I care about. If you already have this game, you have my condolences. 1 out of 5.
EDIT: I forgot I took this video earlier today, when there were about 10 people on.
Ricochet. The Half-Life mod that nobody knows about (or has tried to erase from their memory). It makes me sad to think that this game has disgraced the likes of Half-Life for eight years now. I was sitting here, thinking about what I was going to say in this review, when I realized that this game is so bad, I'm not sure I can put it into legible words, but I'll give it a try.
Now, I've never seen the movie Tron, but I'm pretty sure that Ricochet was inspired by it. The neon graphics look similar, and I think that there were some throwing discs in the movie.
I'll admit, I haven't played very much of Ricochet, but there isn't really much to do. It's kind of a one-trick-pony. You go into a game (if you can find one. The most servers I've ever seen open at one time was 11, and at 10:30 P.M. CST, there was only 10 servers, and only one of them had any players, and even THEN, there were only two players and they were both assholes.), and you go from platform to platform throwing discs, trying to knock people off the platforms and down into the abyss, where they die and you get a point. There are a few problems with this. First, you can't jump. You just have to run onto little arrows on the platforms which flings you across to another platform. Second, your discs are your only weapon, and you can't aim them up or down. That's right, you can only throw your discs parallel to the ground (more on that in a minute). Third, you can only have 3 discs at a time, and even though they replenish, they don't do so nearly fast enough. When you have 3 discs saved, you can right-click to throw out a Decapitator disc, which is just what it sounds like, but even that is boring.
Now, back to the aiming. There are several levels of platforms which you can get to by going to the right jumps. Separating those platforms are bars that you cannot shoot through. They just bounce off (hence, the title of the game). Since you can't aim up or down, you can only shoot someone when you're on the same platform as them, or when you're in the air. The problem with that is, when you get shot by a normal disc, it doesn't kill you, it just pushes you a little, meaning if you get shot in the air, you'll probably end up missing your jump completely, and then fall to your death. Another problem is that this is one of those games where you can't walk through other players, so if two people are jumping at one another, they bump into each other and fall, killing both. It's also hard to hit people unless they're right in front of you, because your discs move extremely slow.
There are a few power-ups, although they're all things you've seen in plenty of other games, like Multi-Shot, Power Shot, and one that just freezes you, leaving you defenseless.
The graphics are really, really bad, even for the year 2000. They're boring, lifeless, and I think that Half-Life looked better, despite being two years older. Actually, I took a screenshot (click to enlarge (that's what she said)).When I decided I wanted to review a bad game, I think I did good in choosing Ricochet. This is a game that should never have seen the light of day, much less the $5 that Steam wants you to pay. There is not an ounce of fun in this game, and I really tried hard to like it, but I just couldn't. As a reviewer, and as a person who doesn't generally wish the worst on people, this is a form of torture that I couldn't wish upon my worst enemy, much less recommend it to anyone I care about. If you already have this game, you have my condolences. 1 out of 5.
EDIT: I forgot I took this video earlier today, when there were about 10 people on.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Review: MotoChaser (iPhone/iPod Touch)
There are a ton of racing games on the iPhone. It just seems like the perfect platform for them, and some of them work rather well. MotoChaser seems to fall right in the middle.
There are 3 characters and 10 tracks. Aside from looking different, there is no difference in the characters that I can tell. The maps, however, are totally varied. Like I said, there are 10 maps, (almost) all in completely different locales, ranging from the desert to an icy place that I'm guessing is Russia, because I saw a hammer and sickle sign somewhere.
To call this a racing game would be a stretch. There is no real racing involved. There is a time limit, but I still don't consider that a race. There is no real story, just a couple of pictures in between races. I think that's supposed to explain the story, but it's just a bunch of pictures of guys with masks on holding a cat with a bandana.
The controls can be quite...not really awkward, they're just touchy and unresponsive a small percentage of the time. Sometimes while I'm driving, for some reason, the game will think I let go of the gas button, and if that goes on long enough without you noticing, your iPhone can actually go into sleep mode when you're in the middle of a race. Oftentimes while you're "racing", you will drive up by the guys with masks every once in a while (it happens far more frequently on the later tracks), and you have to hit a button to punch them. This turns out to be more of a hindrance than a fun gameplay mechanic.
One of the biggest complaints I hear about this game is that the steering is too touchy, and it really is. Most games have an options menu where you can change the sensitivity of the accelerometer, but you wont find that in the current version of MotoChaser. Having a far too touchy accelerometer not only makes the game more frustrating, it also makes is nearly impossible to play in places like a car. On the bright side, there is a difficulty slider in the options menu, but that doesn't change the sensitivity, it just adds more time on the clock, which can certainly be helpful, although I would have preferred a sensitivity slider.
Some of the graphics look pretty good. The character models are all look really nice, but the environments ...not so much. The character models remind me of something like Valkyria Chronicles or maybe even No More Heroes, while the environments look like a close-up of Mario Kart 64.
The sound isn't very good, simply put. The only voice acting in the game is some girl who says "Ready...Go!" at the beginning of each "race". Other than that, it's all just generic rock songs that get really old after a while. They're not as bad as some generic rock tracks I've heard, but they're pretty bad.
Don't get me wrong, I like Motochaser, at least in short bursts. This is not a game I'd want to play for hours at a time. However, it is a fun game (and only $1), if you can get past the sensitivity and the awful sound. 3 out of 5.
Version 1.2 of MotoChaser was reviewed.
There are 3 characters and 10 tracks. Aside from looking different, there is no difference in the characters that I can tell. The maps, however, are totally varied. Like I said, there are 10 maps, (almost) all in completely different locales, ranging from the desert to an icy place that I'm guessing is Russia, because I saw a hammer and sickle sign somewhere.
To call this a racing game would be a stretch. There is no real racing involved. There is a time limit, but I still don't consider that a race. There is no real story, just a couple of pictures in between races. I think that's supposed to explain the story, but it's just a bunch of pictures of guys with masks on holding a cat with a bandana.
The controls can be quite...not really awkward, they're just touchy and unresponsive a small percentage of the time. Sometimes while I'm driving, for some reason, the game will think I let go of the gas button, and if that goes on long enough without you noticing, your iPhone can actually go into sleep mode when you're in the middle of a race. Oftentimes while you're "racing", you will drive up by the guys with masks every once in a while (it happens far more frequently on the later tracks), and you have to hit a button to punch them. This turns out to be more of a hindrance than a fun gameplay mechanic.
One of the biggest complaints I hear about this game is that the steering is too touchy, and it really is. Most games have an options menu where you can change the sensitivity of the accelerometer, but you wont find that in the current version of MotoChaser. Having a far too touchy accelerometer not only makes the game more frustrating, it also makes is nearly impossible to play in places like a car. On the bright side, there is a difficulty slider in the options menu, but that doesn't change the sensitivity, it just adds more time on the clock, which can certainly be helpful, although I would have preferred a sensitivity slider.
Some of the graphics look pretty good. The character models are all look really nice, but the environments ...not so much. The character models remind me of something like Valkyria Chronicles or maybe even No More Heroes, while the environments look like a close-up of Mario Kart 64.The sound isn't very good, simply put. The only voice acting in the game is some girl who says "Ready...Go!" at the beginning of each "race". Other than that, it's all just generic rock songs that get really old after a while. They're not as bad as some generic rock tracks I've heard, but they're pretty bad.
Don't get me wrong, I like Motochaser, at least in short bursts. This is not a game I'd want to play for hours at a time. However, it is a fun game (and only $1), if you can get past the sensitivity and the awful sound. 3 out of 5.
Version 1.2 of MotoChaser was reviewed.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
WARNING: THIS POST HAS SHARP EDGES
DO NOT TOUCH THE EDGES OF THIS POST
I have been doing NOTHING in the past few days. Sure, I've been playing Gmod with ACD a lot, but I've been doing nothing of real importance.
I haven't played much L4D online today, but the L4D public demo came out today, so there's sure to be a steady flood of dickheads and asswipes. I CAN'T FREAKING WAIT UNTIL THE FULL GAME!! It's going to be so freaking awesome playing as a hunter or a smoker or something in Versus mode. Arrg, I don't think I can wait a week. I guess I can just keep playing the demo over and over.
I've been filming quite a lot of stuff lately (several gigs, in fact), so hopefully I can get some videos up in a few days.
Okay, I can't think of anything else to write about, so I'm just gonna go to bed now. Fare thee well.
I have been doing NOTHING in the past few days. Sure, I've been playing Gmod with ACD a lot, but I've been doing nothing of real importance.
I haven't played much L4D online today, but the L4D public demo came out today, so there's sure to be a steady flood of dickheads and asswipes. I CAN'T FREAKING WAIT UNTIL THE FULL GAME!! It's going to be so freaking awesome playing as a hunter or a smoker or something in Versus mode. Arrg, I don't think I can wait a week. I guess I can just keep playing the demo over and over.
I've been filming quite a lot of stuff lately (several gigs, in fact), so hopefully I can get some videos up in a few days.
Okay, I can't think of anything else to write about, so I'm just gonna go to bed now. Fare thee well.
Monday, November 10, 2008
L4D Demo
Well, I've been playing the L4D Demo for several days now, and I've had Fraps for a while, so I figured the next logical step was to film myself playing through the demo to make people who haven't played it extremely jealous (no offense, ACD). The result:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 1
Part 2
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Current Music Tastes
I used to think I had diverse music tastes, when in reality, I don't. Sure, there are a few songs that are different from the rest (Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis, You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette, and Time After Time by Sparklemotion are all a little different. Don't judge me.), but other than that, it's all pretty much the same. I wish they had more PUSA, YFF, and TMBG, but alas.
Side note: I think Lump is my all-time favorite song. It never seems to get old.
Other side note: I'm also listening to Man, It's So loud In Here by They Might Be Giants, but imeem doesn't have it (they do have a remix, but I like the original better), so otherwise it would be on the list.
Side note: I think Lump is my all-time favorite song. It never seems to get old.
Other side note: I'm also listening to Man, It's So loud In Here by They Might Be Giants, but imeem doesn't have it (they do have a remix, but I like the original better), so otherwise it would be on the list.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Fallout 3 Videos, A Heartfelt Poem, and a NaNo Update
I wrote an intentionally shitty poem last night.
I never understood why it's still considered a poem if it doesn't rhyme. Sure, it's literature in some form or another, but I don't think it should be considered a poem. Whatever.
I finally put Fraps to a good use today. I filmed a couple of really cool parts of Fallout 3 and uploaded them to YT. The first video is a demonstration of sorts of the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.), one of Fallout 3's best combat options.
In this second video, I found an overturned truck, and found out the hard way that it explodes. I decided to save and blow it up intentionally, with a variety of weapons.
I have decided to go a different way with my NaNo. I can't say anything about it on account that He will find me.
I was sitting there, on my computer.
Not doing anything, nor harming anyone.
Just posting RickRolls, but not intentionally.
“I swear I didn't mean to, officer!”
But it was too late.
I never understood why it's still considered a poem if it doesn't rhyme. Sure, it's literature in some form or another, but I don't think it should be considered a poem. Whatever.
I finally put Fraps to a good use today. I filmed a couple of really cool parts of Fallout 3 and uploaded them to YT. The first video is a demonstration of sorts of the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.), one of Fallout 3's best combat options.
In this second video, I found an overturned truck, and found out the hard way that it explodes. I decided to save and blow it up intentionally, with a variety of weapons.
I have decided to go a different way with my NaNo. I can't say anything about it on account that He will find me.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Guitar Hero Harmonica Picture
About a week ago, I posted my review of Guitar Hero: On Tour, and I mentioned that it came with a Guitar Hero Harmonica, and I think somewhere in the article, I said I'd post a picture, so here it is in all it's glory.
Posted via Pixelpipe.
Posted via Pixelpipe.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Random Ramblings
Well, last night I was really mad and tired, hence the terrible blog post. Tonight I'm tired, but not as mad.
I signed up for eMusic.com, just to get the 25 free songs. So far, I've only gotten 4, because it's all Indie music and I can't find much of anything I want. They DO, have, however, all (I think) of Jonathan Coulton's albums, both of What Made Milwaukee Famous's albums, four of the Young Fresh Fellows albums, a few of They Might Be Giants albums (I finally got my digital hands on Man, It's So Loud in Here), the album from The Giraffes that Chris Ballew was on, Chris and Tad's only album (which I already have), and two of PUSA's albums (both of which I already have), so I'm sure I can find something to get.
The Left 4 Dead pre-order demo came out today. This game is EPIC. Sure, there are a few bugs here and there, but if they can work them out, I can easily see this a the Game of the Year, although this year, it has some pretty tough competitors. I'm trying to talk my brother into pre-ordering, so he can get the demo, and ACD wants it, but he'll have to talk his mom into letting him get it. I hope he can do it, too, because no-one should miss out on this game.
AUGH, I'm so behind on NaNo. I haven't written anything for a few days now, and I'm just stuck in the story. I'm thinking of just writing portions of stories, and then compiling them all in one book, you know, so you can make up the ending for yourself. That way, you will never be let down by a shitty ending. Kids today need to use their imagination more anyway.
I signed up for eMusic.com, just to get the 25 free songs. So far, I've only gotten 4, because it's all Indie music and I can't find much of anything I want. They DO, have, however, all (I think) of Jonathan Coulton's albums, both of What Made Milwaukee Famous's albums, four of the Young Fresh Fellows albums, a few of They Might Be Giants albums (I finally got my digital hands on Man, It's So Loud in Here), the album from The Giraffes that Chris Ballew was on, Chris and Tad's only album (which I already have), and two of PUSA's albums (both of which I already have), so I'm sure I can find something to get.
The Left 4 Dead pre-order demo came out today. This game is EPIC. Sure, there are a few bugs here and there, but if they can work them out, I can easily see this a the Game of the Year, although this year, it has some pretty tough competitors. I'm trying to talk my brother into pre-ordering, so he can get the demo, and ACD wants it, but he'll have to talk his mom into letting him get it. I hope he can do it, too, because no-one should miss out on this game.
AUGH, I'm so behind on NaNo. I haven't written anything for a few days now, and I'm just stuck in the story. I'm thinking of just writing portions of stories, and then compiling them all in one book, you know, so you can make up the ending for yourself. That way, you will never be let down by a shitty ending. Kids today need to use their imagination more anyway.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Hmmm
Well. Let's talk about censorship. My mom saw me posting a huge post about a really bad time I had getting a haircut tonight, but she made me stop. She thinks I'm being "unreasonable". If you would've read my blog post, maybe you would think so too, but I don't really care. I'm pissed. I was going to shorten it down to a tl;dr format, but even that would probably be deemed "unreasonable" by my mom. I think she's the one being unreasonable, but whatever. Let's just leave it at "I think that two hours is too long to spend getting my hair cut. I have many better things to do than listen to gossip about people that I don't even know, and I don't appreciate being bitched at for not having my driver's permit and for spending 'too much time on the internet'."
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
RB2 PUSA DLC KICKS AWESOME!
The PUSA Track Pack 01 (!!!) for Rock Band 2 came out today, and it kicks major ass. It's especially strong on Bass, which is great, because there are generally very few bass-oriented tracks in RB2.
In other PUSA-related news, their new music video for Ladybug, which has been exclusive to Xbox Live for around two weeks now, was supposed to be put up on the internet today, but I haven't seen it yet.
In actual Presidential news, both Obama and McCain suck ass. I should probably care more about the election, but I just don't.
In other PUSA-related news, their new music video for Ladybug, which has been exclusive to Xbox Live for around two weeks now, was supposed to be put up on the internet today, but I haven't seen it yet.
In actual Presidential news, both Obama and McCain suck ass. I should probably care more about the election, but I just don't.
Monday, November 3, 2008
*BRRAAPP*
Ugh, I've been burping up hard-boiled eggs for an hour. They're damn good the first time down, but not so much the second time through. I don't like the yolk, though. I used to, but I just can't get myself to eat it now. I cooked the eggs, though, and that's like the first thing I've cooked that didn't involve a microwave in like, I don't know, a year maybe?
I had such a strange dream last night. Two, actually. I don't remember the second one, though. Oh god, this is so weird. I just remembered one of the details of the dream...it makes absolutely no sense. Anyway, here's what I do remember.
I was in a car dealership, and it was really tall. like, maybe four stories or something. I was in the top floor, and I was in a cylindrical room with spiral stairs in it. I don't remember if I was racing somebody or if I was running away from them, but nevertheless, I was trying to be faster than one of the people who worked at the car dealership. Anyway, there was a door to the outside on all the floors, and they were all locked except for the ground floor, so once I got out that door, I ran out to the parking lot where they keep all the cars, and right up front, I saw a minivan with no doors and no windshield. I ran over to it and jumped in, and then I realized that the pedals were weird. There were three pedals in all, and they were, starting from the left, a reverse pedal, a forward pedal, and then the brake pedal. So, not only were the pedals switched, the brake pedal was in the passenger side floorboard.
Anyways, I jumped in and took a few seconds to figure out the pedals, and then I took off (for some reason, it didn't need a key or anything) and drove through the glass double-doors and started driving through the car dealership. Another weird thing about the pedals was that they were really loose and the car didn't go very fast. It felt exactly like what I would expect a golf-kart to drive. So, I was driving through the place, and most everybody was just talking on their phones and not even paying attention to me, although a few people gave me weird looks.
I kept driving (through several more panes of glass), and ended up in what looked like the clothing departments in Wal-Mart or something. I ended up driving all the way to the front of the store right behind some people who were leaving and one lady said "I'm never coming here again." and when I heard that, I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. After I drove through those doors, I just went out and parked in the parking lot with all of the other shoppers. I was lucky and got one of the front spaces, too.
So I walked back in and was just minding my own business, and being overwhelmingly surprised and happy to see that nobody had realized that I was the crazy guy who just drove a really slow van through the store not two minutes ago, and then I saw this girl about my age following me and she said "I know it was you." I was like "Whatever.", so she started yelling "SECURITY!!!", trying to get me in trouble, but nobody was paying attention to her, so she went over to a girl who was stuffing clothes in her purse, obviously shoplifting. The second girl started yelling "HELP ME, I'M BLIND!", trying to help the first girl get someone over to get me in trouble, but her attempts weren't working, either. Just then I saw the first girl start shoplifting, too, and I started yelling "SHOPLIFTER!" and three guards ran over and arrested the girls.
After that, I started walking outside, extremely giddy that I had just gotten away with all that. I got my cellphone out (it was weird because it was my old phone, and not my iPhone.), to call my mom to pick me up, but I couldn't remember what number I had her speed dial set to, and I couldn't remember her phone number, so I just started messing with my phone trying to get into the address book. I was walking the whole time, and by now I was close to the end of that parking lot, and I was walking next to four bikers, and when I did, one of them stuck his hand out and grabbed my face and I said "Don't do that, please." and one of the other bikers said "Yeah, leave him alone.", so I just kept on walking. When I got to the end of the parking lot, I was just walking around the back of a Bank for some reason, and then the girl came back and was taunting me and stuff, trying to get me in trouble, saying stuff like "Why don't you go back in the store? You won't get in trouble.", and I was just like "Piss off. You're just trying to get me caught.", and then I woke up and had to pee really bad.
I think this is the strangest dream I've ever had.
I had such a strange dream last night. Two, actually. I don't remember the second one, though. Oh god, this is so weird. I just remembered one of the details of the dream...it makes absolutely no sense. Anyway, here's what I do remember.
I was in a car dealership, and it was really tall. like, maybe four stories or something. I was in the top floor, and I was in a cylindrical room with spiral stairs in it. I don't remember if I was racing somebody or if I was running away from them, but nevertheless, I was trying to be faster than one of the people who worked at the car dealership. Anyway, there was a door to the outside on all the floors, and they were all locked except for the ground floor, so once I got out that door, I ran out to the parking lot where they keep all the cars, and right up front, I saw a minivan with no doors and no windshield. I ran over to it and jumped in, and then I realized that the pedals were weird. There were three pedals in all, and they were, starting from the left, a reverse pedal, a forward pedal, and then the brake pedal. So, not only were the pedals switched, the brake pedal was in the passenger side floorboard.
Anyways, I jumped in and took a few seconds to figure out the pedals, and then I took off (for some reason, it didn't need a key or anything) and drove through the glass double-doors and started driving through the car dealership. Another weird thing about the pedals was that they were really loose and the car didn't go very fast. It felt exactly like what I would expect a golf-kart to drive. So, I was driving through the place, and most everybody was just talking on their phones and not even paying attention to me, although a few people gave me weird looks.
I kept driving (through several more panes of glass), and ended up in what looked like the clothing departments in Wal-Mart or something. I ended up driving all the way to the front of the store right behind some people who were leaving and one lady said "I'm never coming here again." and when I heard that, I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. After I drove through those doors, I just went out and parked in the parking lot with all of the other shoppers. I was lucky and got one of the front spaces, too.
So I walked back in and was just minding my own business, and being overwhelmingly surprised and happy to see that nobody had realized that I was the crazy guy who just drove a really slow van through the store not two minutes ago, and then I saw this girl about my age following me and she said "I know it was you." I was like "Whatever.", so she started yelling "SECURITY!!!", trying to get me in trouble, but nobody was paying attention to her, so she went over to a girl who was stuffing clothes in her purse, obviously shoplifting. The second girl started yelling "HELP ME, I'M BLIND!", trying to help the first girl get someone over to get me in trouble, but her attempts weren't working, either. Just then I saw the first girl start shoplifting, too, and I started yelling "SHOPLIFTER!" and three guards ran over and arrested the girls.
After that, I started walking outside, extremely giddy that I had just gotten away with all that. I got my cellphone out (it was weird because it was my old phone, and not my iPhone.), to call my mom to pick me up, but I couldn't remember what number I had her speed dial set to, and I couldn't remember her phone number, so I just started messing with my phone trying to get into the address book. I was walking the whole time, and by now I was close to the end of that parking lot, and I was walking next to four bikers, and when I did, one of them stuck his hand out and grabbed my face and I said "Don't do that, please." and one of the other bikers said "Yeah, leave him alone.", so I just kept on walking. When I got to the end of the parking lot, I was just walking around the back of a Bank for some reason, and then the girl came back and was taunting me and stuff, trying to get me in trouble, saying stuff like "Why don't you go back in the store? You won't get in trouble.", and I was just like "Piss off. You're just trying to get me caught.", and then I woke up and had to pee really bad.
I think this is the strangest dream I've ever had.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
More NaNo #2
Well, so far I have 4265 words. I ended up typing about 1500 more words after I posted yesterday, but I haven't written much today. I'm still about 1000 words above what I need for today, so I can afford to just stop for tonight. I've just been really tired lately. I went to sleep at like, 7 P.M. yesterday.
Oh, and if you didn't know, today is Daylight Savings Time (or just coming out of it, I don't remember. I do know, though, that you set your clocks back an hour.), so don't forget to set all your clocks.
I played some more Fallout 3 today. It's just so freaking awesome. I've been procrastinating, though. I haven't played t as much as I've wanted to. See, I get scared really easily. I even used to be afraid of my bedroom curtains when I was 3 (but that's an entirely different story for another time) and just watching my mom play Myst would give me nightmares for a week. I was scared to death of those talking books. Fallout 3 is a lot like Oblivion in the sense that it's got "dungeon"-like places, and those things scared the shit out of me. It's just so dark and creepy, and several times people and enemies just pop out from around the corner and almost literally scare the shit out of me. FO3 and Oblivion are both fantastic games, but those freaking dungeons scare me half to death.
Oh, and if you didn't know, today is Daylight Savings Time (or just coming out of it, I don't remember. I do know, though, that you set your clocks back an hour.), so don't forget to set all your clocks.
I played some more Fallout 3 today. It's just so freaking awesome. I've been procrastinating, though. I haven't played t as much as I've wanted to. See, I get scared really easily. I even used to be afraid of my bedroom curtains when I was 3 (but that's an entirely different story for another time) and just watching my mom play Myst would give me nightmares for a week. I was scared to death of those talking books. Fallout 3 is a lot like Oblivion in the sense that it's got "dungeon"-like places, and those things scared the shit out of me. It's just so dark and creepy, and several times people and enemies just pop out from around the corner and almost literally scare the shit out of me. FO3 and Oblivion are both fantastic games, but those freaking dungeons scare me half to death.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
More NaNo
Well, NaNoWriMo starts today. I've gotten 1857 words so far. You only need 1666 words per day to make the 50k in 30 days, but since I finished today's early, I'll probably write even more later, because I know that eventually I'm going to get bored writing, so it'll be good to be ahead, just in case I miss a day or something.
Mallory (my ten-year-old sister, if you didn't know) has been bugging me a lot lately. She seems to get obsessed with TV shows really easily, and it seems like every time she has talked to me in the past month, she starts the conversation with "Hey Matthew, I was just watching Family Matters and..." She even woke me up one night to tell me her theory as to why Steve and Stefan (Steve's clone (she didn't know he was a clone at the time, hence her theorizing)) can be in the same room at the same time. It's really getting annoying.
Oh, well, I'm going to go play Guitar Hero.
Mallory (my ten-year-old sister, if you didn't know) has been bugging me a lot lately. She seems to get obsessed with TV shows really easily, and it seems like every time she has talked to me in the past month, she starts the conversation with "Hey Matthew, I was just watching Family Matters and..." She even woke me up one night to tell me her theory as to why Steve and Stefan (Steve's clone (she didn't know he was a clone at the time, hence her theorizing)) can be in the same room at the same time. It's really getting annoying.
Oh, well, I'm going to go play Guitar Hero.
Friday, October 31, 2008
I Beat LBP
Yeah, I beat LittleBIGPlanet. It wasn't all that hard, the story mode is only about 8 hours long. I've been playing user-created levels for a while, and I found what is now one of my favorite levels, purely for originality: a working Pac-Man level. It's absolutely fantastic. I'm also hoping to write a review on LBP soon, so keep an eye out for that.
I've got to get in the bed now. I've been up for 22 hours and I'm freaking tired.
EDIT: OH FUCKING SHIT NANO STARTS TOMORROW OH SHIT I HAVE NOTHING PLANNED
I've got to get in the bed now. I've been up for 22 hours and I'm freaking tired.
EDIT: OH FUCKING SHIT NANO STARTS TOMORROW OH SHIT I HAVE NOTHING PLANNED
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Review: Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS)
The Guitar Hero games on consoles have always been hit, both critically and commercially. Guitar Hero: On Tour for the Nintendo DS was a little different. Some reviewers loved it, some didn't like it very much, but nevertheless it sold over 300,000 units in the first week. In my opinion, it's a decent start for the franchise in it's transition to handhelds.
First, let's talk about the hardware. Guitar Hero: On Tour comes with the Guitar Hero Guitar Grip peripheral which plugs into the DS' GBA slot. It also comes with a cool guitar pick-shaped stylus which fits into a convenient slot on the Grip. I don't know if they still come with this, but when I got my copy of the game (I got it within the first week it was released), it came with a really cool Guitar Hero Collectible Harmonica. Seriously.
I hear a lot of people get cramps in their hands from the Grip, but I never had that problem. My problem was that my wrist started to get stiff after a while, but that's to be expected I guess. Another problem that a lot of people (including me) have is that, especially in the faster songs, everything can get too hectic and the Grip can slide out of the GBA slot, thus ending the game and forcing you to reboot your DS. It doesn't happen too often, but it happens more than it should. The last major control problem is on the faster songs when you have to strum a ton of notes really fast, the touch screen can be quite unresponsive.
The first thing you'll notice about the Grip is that it only has 4 buttons, as opposed to the regular 5 buttons on the console versions. This may sound like a bad thing, but take it from me, 4 buttons is plenty. If there were 5 buttons, not only would you be straining your had to reach all of them (either that or the buttons would have to be smaller, and they're already hard enough to hit as it is), but it would just be chaotic.
Now, for the software. This definitely feels like a Guitar Hero game. It may not always feel responsive and the Grip may be a little different than what most people are used to, but the gameplay is totally Guitar Hero, and it is a mobile version worthy of the Guitar Hero name.
The Set List in On Tour isn't quite as strong as it could be, though. There are only 26 songs total (only one of those is an unlockable song), and several of the songs are a little unorthodox by typical Guitar Hero standards (This Love by Maroon 5 and Stray Cat Strut by Stray Cats stand out a little), but there are some decent songs in there. All songs, however are brought down a notch by bad audio quality. Maybe the developers ran out of room on the DS card and had to compress everything, I don't know. I just know that the audio quality could have been a lot better.
As you know if you've played any other Guitar Hero games, to initiate Star Power, you either hit Select on the Guitar, or just tilt the neck up. Since neither the DS nor the Grip has an accelerometer and it would be near impossible to hit Select in the middle of a song, the developers decided to remedy this by forcing you to blow (or you can do what it says to do in the tutorial and yell "ROCK OUT!") into the microphone. This is both awkward and occasionally ineffective.
On Tour also has a few characters returning from previous GH games, and a couple of new characters, too. The game also features Local Mulitplayer, but seeing as I never go anywhere and know no-one, I have yet to test this.
So, Guitar Hero: On Tour is not a perfect game. Far from it. It's not a terrible game, but it definitely could have been better. It is no Guitar Hero III replacement, but it's not a bad mobile version, as long as it's not played for too long at a time (for both your wrist and/or hands, and your sanity), and it get a little repetitive. 3 out of 5.
First, let's talk about the hardware. Guitar Hero: On Tour comes with the Guitar Hero Guitar Grip peripheral which plugs into the DS' GBA slot. It also comes with a cool guitar pick-shaped stylus which fits into a convenient slot on the Grip. I don't know if they still come with this, but when I got my copy of the game (I got it within the first week it was released), it came with a really cool Guitar Hero Collectible Harmonica. Seriously.
I hear a lot of people get cramps in their hands from the Grip, but I never had that problem. My problem was that my wrist started to get stiff after a while, but that's to be expected I guess. Another problem that a lot of people (including me) have is that, especially in the faster songs, everything can get too hectic and the Grip can slide out of the GBA slot, thus ending the game and forcing you to reboot your DS. It doesn't happen too often, but it happens more than it should. The last major control problem is on the faster songs when you have to strum a ton of notes really fast, the touch screen can be quite unresponsive.
The first thing you'll notice about the Grip is that it only has 4 buttons, as opposed to the regular 5 buttons on the console versions. This may sound like a bad thing, but take it from me, 4 buttons is plenty. If there were 5 buttons, not only would you be straining your had to reach all of them (either that or the buttons would have to be smaller, and they're already hard enough to hit as it is), but it would just be chaotic.
Now, for the software. This definitely feels like a Guitar Hero game. It may not always feel responsive and the Grip may be a little different than what most people are used to, but the gameplay is totally Guitar Hero, and it is a mobile version worthy of the Guitar Hero name.
The Set List in On Tour isn't quite as strong as it could be, though. There are only 26 songs total (only one of those is an unlockable song), and several of the songs are a little unorthodox by typical Guitar Hero standards (This Love by Maroon 5 and Stray Cat Strut by Stray Cats stand out a little), but there are some decent songs in there. All songs, however are brought down a notch by bad audio quality. Maybe the developers ran out of room on the DS card and had to compress everything, I don't know. I just know that the audio quality could have been a lot better.
As you know if you've played any other Guitar Hero games, to initiate Star Power, you either hit Select on the Guitar, or just tilt the neck up. Since neither the DS nor the Grip has an accelerometer and it would be near impossible to hit Select in the middle of a song, the developers decided to remedy this by forcing you to blow (or you can do what it says to do in the tutorial and yell "ROCK OUT!") into the microphone. This is both awkward and occasionally ineffective.
On Tour also has a few characters returning from previous GH games, and a couple of new characters, too. The game also features Local Mulitplayer, but seeing as I never go anywhere and know no-one, I have yet to test this.
So, Guitar Hero: On Tour is not a perfect game. Far from it. It's not a terrible game, but it definitely could have been better. It is no Guitar Hero III replacement, but it's not a bad mobile version, as long as it's not played for too long at a time (for both your wrist and/or hands, and your sanity), and it get a little repetitive. 3 out of 5.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Fallout 3 and LittleBIGPlanet Both Totally Rock
LittleBIGPlanet finally came in the mail today, and it's even better than the Beta was. Fallout 3 is still freaking awesome, too. In fact, I got several screenshots of the game (Click to enlarge (That's what she said)):
This is (probably) the first town you will find after leaving Vault 101, Megaton:
This is what I can only imagine is a horribly mutated cow, called a Brahmin:
I went in the women's restroom in Megaton to see if I could find anything worth stealing. This was all I found. Why are women's restrooms always so much fancier?
And then I took a couple of landscape shots for scale. If you look really hard (That's what she said), you can see what I think are the remains of the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument (the game takes place in and just outside of a post-apocalyptic Washington DC):
This is (probably) the first town you will find after leaving Vault 101, Megaton:
This is what I can only imagine is a horribly mutated cow, called a Brahmin:
I went in the women's restroom in Megaton to see if I could find anything worth stealing. This was all I found. Why are women's restrooms always so much fancier?
And then I took a couple of landscape shots for scale. If you look really hard (That's what she said), you can see what I think are the remains of the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument (the game takes place in and just outside of a post-apocalyptic Washington DC):
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
So Overwhelmed
I just realized that NaNo starts in like 4 days...and I have NOTHING planned. I don't think I'll be able to make a single story stretch out to 50k words, so I may just write several short stories. I don't know.
I bought Fallout 3 today, and so far, this game fucking rocks. I haven't played much of it, because one of my friends started talking to me, but what I did play was great.
I bought Fallout 3 today, and so far, this game fucking rocks. I haven't played much of it, because one of my friends started talking to me, but what I did play was great.
Monday, October 27, 2008
5 A.M. Ramblings
Oh God, I'm so freaking tired. I've been up since like, noon, and I've been trying to sleep for at least two hours. Nothing worth watching comes on TV on the weekends, so my DVR is empty. I could play a game, but that would keep me up. I have a lasagna TV dinner in the microwave right now. Why the hell do I have to stir the pasta and the sauce separately? Okay, the microwave is dinging and I'm uber-tired, so I need to go.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
[Untitled]
Man, there are so many games coming out (or have already come out, or were supposed to have come out. I'm looking at you, LBP) that I really want. I started playing Fable (the first one) recently. I've had the game for months, I tried to play it once, but was put off by it's really long "tutorial" type of thing (it's probably an hour or so before you actually get to play the game), but I'm really liking it this time through. Anyway, there's several games that I can think of right off the top of my head (Fallout 3, LittleBIGPlanet, Fable 2, Left 4 Dead, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Guitar Hero: World Tour, etc.), but I don't know how I can scrape up enough money to get them (have enough for LBP (I have it preordered) and Fallout 3, and possibly another, but I still need to start spending my money better).
I also have several game reviews in the works, so keep an eye out.
I also have several game reviews in the works, so keep an eye out.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Strange AIM Messages and General Bullshittery
I don't normally get random AIM or Skype messages, and when I do, it's usually just an ad or something, so I respond with "Fuck off" or "Go Fuck yourself" or something like that. Today was a little different. I got the strangest message I've ever gotten.
Then, I tried to look at one of my buddies info. She didn't have any, but there was a GoogleAd on the page, and I don't think I've ever read so much bullshittery:
EDIT: I just saw another ad saying the Britney Spears has an IQ of 137...now THAT is true bullshittery.
OppositeCoho is offline and will receive your IMs when signing back in.
OppositeCoho (5:01:03 PM): Ever watched a marmot bite a lamb to death while blindfolded? No? Well, you're sure in for a treat!
OppositeCoho signed off at 10:47:34 AM.
[My AIM username] (10:50:18 AM): What the hell is a Marmot?
[My AIM username] (10:50:31 AM): But I don't really care
[My AIM username] (10:50:53 AM): Seeing lambs get bitten to death by anything is pretty kickass
Then, I tried to look at one of my buddies info. She didn't have any, but there was a GoogleAd on the page, and I don't think I've ever read so much bullshittery:
EDIT: I just saw another ad saying the Britney Spears has an IQ of 137...now THAT is true bullshittery.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Even More Oblivion
When I got Oblivion for the 360 several months ago (I think it was around last Christmas), I liked it. It wasn't my favorite game by any means, but I liked it. A few months ago, I got it for the PC (the version I find superior, mainly for all the mods), and I didn't play it much. Actually, I'm not sure I even made it out of the tutorial "level". I find the tutorial to be pretty bland. Not even Patrick Stewart was enough badassery to save it.
When I got my new PC last month, I had pretty much forgot about Oblivion, at least up until about a week ago. Man, am I glad I started playing again. I never realized how much fun this game actually is, and I don't even usually like RPGs (I want to like them, but there are very few that I do like. All the Pokemon game up until Ruby and Sapphire (with the exception of FireRed and LeafGreen) and Oblivion are the standouts of my favorite RPGs). Maybe it's because I'm not playing a weak character this time through. I usually play a weak Thief or a sad attempt at a Mage, but this time I chose to play as a Spellsword, which combines Spellcasting and Swords (duh), so I am pretty powerful.
Also, I chose to use Heavy Armor this time through, so I don't have to just stick to Chainmail and other crap like that. I also got a pretty badass Glass Sword:
I'm currently level 13, Arena Grand Champion, halfway through the Dead Drop quests for the Dark Brotherhood, almost done with the Thieves Guild quests, not very far in the Fighter's Guild, and I still haven't joined the Mages Guild. I keep trying to continue with the main storyline, but there's just so many goddang sidequests, and I just get distracted.
When I got my new PC last month, I had pretty much forgot about Oblivion, at least up until about a week ago. Man, am I glad I started playing again. I never realized how much fun this game actually is, and I don't even usually like RPGs (I want to like them, but there are very few that I do like. All the Pokemon game up until Ruby and Sapphire (with the exception of FireRed and LeafGreen) and Oblivion are the standouts of my favorite RPGs). Maybe it's because I'm not playing a weak character this time through. I usually play a weak Thief or a sad attempt at a Mage, but this time I chose to play as a Spellsword, which combines Spellcasting and Swords (duh), so I am pretty powerful.
Also, I chose to use Heavy Armor this time through, so I don't have to just stick to Chainmail and other crap like that. I also got a pretty badass Glass Sword:
I'm currently level 13, Arena Grand Champion, halfway through the Dead Drop quests for the Dark Brotherhood, almost done with the Thieves Guild quests, not very far in the Fighter's Guild, and I still haven't joined the Mages Guild. I keep trying to continue with the main storyline, but there's just so many goddang sidequests, and I just get distracted.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Two Months Already?
Yeah, so today is my two month "blogiversary". I've blogged at least once a day for the past two months, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. Yay for me, sucks for you.
Review: Portal: Still Alive (X360)
Back at E3 '08, VALVe surprised and excited many gamers by announcing Portal: Still Alive, and expansion for the award-winning Portal, which was one of the five fantastic games in The Orange Box. The day has finally come, and Portal: Still Alive is finally released.
First: Portal by itself was an absolutely fantastic game. It was fun, challenging and humorous all at the same time. The Portal Gun was something that hadn't been seen in games before. You played as Chell, a female Test Subject for Aperture Science. Throughout the game, you were guided by the often witty and sarcastic GLADoS, a talking supercomputer who would taunt, threaten and applaud you, sometimes all at once.
Portal: Still Alive is not a full-out sequel. It's an expansion of sorts. It adds 14 new Challenge Maps in the game, all of which amazingly creative and super fun to play. The maps are based off a fan-made map pack which was based on Portal: The Flash Version, so if you play through P:TFV, you not only get the general gist of Portal itself, but you also get a sneak-peek of sorts at P:SA.
Since it's based on the Flash version, which had several hazards that weren't in the original Portal, a few of those hazards are in P:SA. In turn, P:SA "feels" a lot different than Portal. P:SA requires an entirely different way of solving the puzzles, so you'll have to learn to "Think With Portals" all over again. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing. The thing that I always liked about Portal was that it never seemed to get so frustrating that I would want to quit, and the same goes for P:SA. Even though it can get frustrating, it's never too much.
Now for the bad. For one, it's an Xbox Live exclusive, at least for a while. It's also the biggest XBLA game right now (it's about 630Mb). This isn't necessarily bad, but it can take up quite a bit of space if you don't have a very big Hard Drive. Next, since it's basically just a Map Pack, GLADoS isn't in any of the 14 new Challenge Maps. A lot of people will say that since it doesn't have GLADoS, then it's no good. That is not true. It's still amazingly fun, just not as humorous. The last thing is a problem that everyone had with the first: it's ridiculously short. Most people can beat Portal in about 3 hours. I beat P:SA in a little over two.
Portal: Still Alive is a fantastic game, and an even more fantastic deal. 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15) may seem a little steep, but it's well worth it. If you haven't played Portal then this is a definite buy, and if you have played it, then you should still buy this, as even though it contributes nothing to the storyline, it's still a fantastic game, and on top of that, the original Portal in it's entirety is also in there. 5 out of 5.
First: Portal by itself was an absolutely fantastic game. It was fun, challenging and humorous all at the same time. The Portal Gun was something that hadn't been seen in games before. You played as Chell, a female Test Subject for Aperture Science. Throughout the game, you were guided by the often witty and sarcastic GLADoS, a talking supercomputer who would taunt, threaten and applaud you, sometimes all at once.
Portal: Still Alive is not a full-out sequel. It's an expansion of sorts. It adds 14 new Challenge Maps in the game, all of which amazingly creative and super fun to play. The maps are based off a fan-made map pack which was based on Portal: The Flash Version, so if you play through P:TFV, you not only get the general gist of Portal itself, but you also get a sneak-peek of sorts at P:SA.
Since it's based on the Flash version, which had several hazards that weren't in the original Portal, a few of those hazards are in P:SA. In turn, P:SA "feels" a lot different than Portal. P:SA requires an entirely different way of solving the puzzles, so you'll have to learn to "Think With Portals" all over again. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing. The thing that I always liked about Portal was that it never seemed to get so frustrating that I would want to quit, and the same goes for P:SA. Even though it can get frustrating, it's never too much.
Now for the bad. For one, it's an Xbox Live exclusive, at least for a while. It's also the biggest XBLA game right now (it's about 630Mb). This isn't necessarily bad, but it can take up quite a bit of space if you don't have a very big Hard Drive. Next, since it's basically just a Map Pack, GLADoS isn't in any of the 14 new Challenge Maps. A lot of people will say that since it doesn't have GLADoS, then it's no good. That is not true. It's still amazingly fun, just not as humorous. The last thing is a problem that everyone had with the first: it's ridiculously short. Most people can beat Portal in about 3 hours. I beat P:SA in a little over two.
Portal: Still Alive is a fantastic game, and an even more fantastic deal. 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15) may seem a little steep, but it's well worth it. If you haven't played Portal then this is a definite buy, and if you have played it, then you should still buy this, as even though it contributes nothing to the storyline, it's still a fantastic game, and on top of that, the original Portal in it's entirety is also in there. 5 out of 5.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
I Feel Überw00t Right Now
Holy shit. I just got the PUSA newsletter, and I have been overcome with awesome. New music video, upcoming EP album, and a fucking Rock Band 2 Track Pack! Hot damn, I can't breathe.
Side note: Shit, my speakers just fell of the wall. I started peeling the duct-tape...and I'm not sure if some paint came off with it. Oh well, these walls are white anyway (or off-white at least).
Man, this post wasn't as long as I thought it would be.
I had a dream last night...I don't remember the first part, but in the last part, I was in Nevada, it was in the year 2000, close to the presidential elections. John Kerry was there, and he was really short. Frankie Muniz was also there (I have to stop watching Malcolm in the Middle before I go to sleep), and he was taste-testing bean dip. Whenever he would say it needed something added, John Kerry would run out and get it.
...
I've never put much thought into the myth(?) that eating before bed gives you strange dreams, but I don't know now.
P.S. I am the fastest pee-er I know. Faster than both ACDude800 and FranceFreak.
Side note: Shit, my speakers just fell of the wall. I started peeling the duct-tape...and I'm not sure if some paint came off with it. Oh well, these walls are white anyway (or off-white at least).
Man, this post wasn't as long as I thought it would be.
I had a dream last night...I don't remember the first part, but in the last part, I was in Nevada, it was in the year 2000, close to the presidential elections. John Kerry was there, and he was really short. Frankie Muniz was also there (I have to stop watching Malcolm in the Middle before I go to sleep), and he was taste-testing bean dip. Whenever he would say it needed something added, John Kerry would run out and get it.
...
I've never put much thought into the myth(?) that eating before bed gives you strange dreams, but I don't know now.
P.S. I am the fastest pee-er I know. Faster than both ACDude800 and FranceFreak.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
An Exerpt From Game Informer
Top Ten Things We're Neglecting While We Play All The Great Holiday Games
10 - Our dog Fido, who can probably just eat in January
9 - Christmas Shopping; Seven Eleven is a godsend on Christmas Day
8 - Car maintenance; overrated, if you ask us
7 - Heating bills, which probably aren't important in the winter
6 - That gaping bullet wound
5 - Our jobs - this issue was originally slated to be 300 pages long
4 - Parole officer; what are they gonna do, throw us in jail?
3 - Your whiny emails - zing!
2 - The ever-widening expanse of space and time as the universe balloons outward
1 - The Wii
I thought that was funny, had to post it.
Monday, October 20, 2008
More Oblivion
Well, I'm level 9, and I'm Grand Champion of the Arena, I just got to the level of The Dark Brotherhood where I can access the sanctuary from the well, I'm not very far in the Fighter Guild, and I haven't even joined the Mages Guild (and I won't until I complete The Dark Brotherhood). I've played Oblivion on the 360 and had two characters, but neither one was as powerful as the character I've been playing (Pruane, named after the YouTuber Pruane2Forever). Pruane is a Dark Elf Spellsword, so while I mainly use a one-handed sword, I have some pretty good spells, too.
The night before last I had a strange dream. I was in the game Dead Rising, but there were several more friendly characters than in the real game, and the AI was substantially better. The weird thing was, my allies were mostly old Sunday School teachers and celebrities I've heard of maybe once or twice. Such a strange dream.
Then last night, I had a dream that LittleBIGPlanet wasn't delayed a week. But alas, twas a dream.
The night before last I had a strange dream. I was in the game Dead Rising, but there were several more friendly characters than in the real game, and the AI was substantially better. The weird thing was, my allies were mostly old Sunday School teachers and celebrities I've heard of maybe once or twice. Such a strange dream.
Then last night, I had a dream that LittleBIGPlanet wasn't delayed a week. But alas, twas a dream.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
OblivionW00T
I've gotten back into playing Oblivion lately. Man, this game is great. I have it on both the PC and 360 (I've been playing on the PC though), and despite getting kinda far on the 360 (I think I was head of both the Thieves Guild and The Dark Brotherhood and I did an assload of sidequests) I think I like it better on the PC, because there's a ton of mods, which add a ton of playabilty/replayabilty to the game.
On a side note, I finally got fed up with my speakers falling off my desk, so I duct-taped them to the wall. It's pretty good for a sense of surround-sound. I'll post a picture from my phone in a minute.
On a side note, I finally got fed up with my speakers falling off my desk, so I duct-taped them to the wall. It's pretty good for a sense of surround-sound. I'll post a picture from my phone in a minute.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Ugh
Man, I can't talk much, but I have to go pick up my brother tonight. He's not that annoying until he's been here for a while. GTG
Thursday, October 16, 2008
EndWar Demo and Chris and Tad
The demo for Tom Clancy's EndWar came out either today or yesterday (I don't know which, but it doesn't matter), and it's really good. It's been hyped for being able to be fully controlled through voice, and it actually works pretty well about 95% of the time. I'll probably be getting this game pretty soon.
Man, Chris and Tad rock. That's Chris Ballew from PUSA (PUSA broke up for two years in 1998), and Chris formed the short-lived but totally awesome Chris and Tad with Tad Hutchison, formerly of the Young Fresh Fellows (another great band).
And here's Picture Book by YFF
Man, Chris and Tad rock. That's Chris Ballew from PUSA (PUSA broke up for two years in 1998), and Chris formed the short-lived but totally awesome Chris and Tad with Tad Hutchison, formerly of the Young Fresh Fellows (another great band).
And here's Picture Book by YFF
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Review: World of Goo (PC)
First off, you just need to know that I love physics-based games. The Incredible Machine, Garry's Mod, Fantastic Contraption, I love them all. Therefore, I went into World of Goo (PC version, I haven't played the WiiWare version, but I expect them to be the same) expecting a great game. Somehow, this game met every one of my expectations. This is a damn good game. Sure, it's frustrating at times, but even then you don't want to give up, you want to go back and try again.
If you're looking for a game with a deep storyline or fast-paced action, look elsewhere. While World of Goo has a story of sorts, it's not very deep. There are a handful of cutscenes, but nothing epic or groundbreaking. Throughout the levels of the game, you'll find signs which narrate the game. They are all signed with some variation of "The Signpainter", and they can be pretty funny at times.
The graphics are simple, but they're stylized and look very good. It's completely 2D, but don't let that put you off. This game may not have the best graphics ever, but it doesn't need them. These simple graphics get the job done quite nicely.
The sound is very good, like the funny little Goo Ball shrieks. One of the biggest things that shocked me, was that the music didn't make me want to rip my ears off. It's actually good, and fits the situation pretty well.
One of my favorite things, however, is the World of Goo Corporation feature. Whenever you finish a level with any extra Goo Balls, any extras get sent to the World of Goo Corporation, where you can try and build the tallest tower you can. The cool part is that if you're connected to the internet, you can see how tall other players' towers are in the form clouds.
Now for the bad. There is no options menu. That's not a very good thing for people like me who have widescreen monitors, much less a 1440x900 screen resolution. I'm guessing that the game runs at 1024x768 (that's a guess. I don't know the real resolution, but it's definitely not 1440x900). Another thing I would've liked to see is an option to run the game in a Windowed mode. Neither of these make the game unplayable, but it wouldn't hurt, at the very least.
This is a fantastic game. Yeah, it can be a little frustrating, there are no options to change the screen resolution, and it's pretty short (I beat it in about 6 hours, but if you go back through and try to perfect everything, I'm sure the game would be considerably longer), but it's just so great. The graphics, sound, and especially gameplay are all very stylized, and I love it.
4 out of 5 (5 out of 5 if they add an option to change screen resolution)
EDIT: After lurking on the forums for a while, I happened upon a thread about the screen resolution, and this is what an Admin had to say about it:
I tried it, and everything works perfectly except for the "Continue" button that pops up after you complete a level. If they can fix that and put it in a patch, it's a 5 out of 5.
If you're looking for a game with a deep storyline or fast-paced action, look elsewhere. While World of Goo has a story of sorts, it's not very deep. There are a handful of cutscenes, but nothing epic or groundbreaking. Throughout the levels of the game, you'll find signs which narrate the game. They are all signed with some variation of "The Signpainter", and they can be pretty funny at times.
The graphics are simple, but they're stylized and look very good. It's completely 2D, but don't let that put you off. This game may not have the best graphics ever, but it doesn't need them. These simple graphics get the job done quite nicely.
The sound is very good, like the funny little Goo Ball shrieks. One of the biggest things that shocked me, was that the music didn't make me want to rip my ears off. It's actually good, and fits the situation pretty well.
One of my favorite things, however, is the World of Goo Corporation feature. Whenever you finish a level with any extra Goo Balls, any extras get sent to the World of Goo Corporation, where you can try and build the tallest tower you can. The cool part is that if you're connected to the internet, you can see how tall other players' towers are in the form clouds.
Now for the bad. There is no options menu. That's not a very good thing for people like me who have widescreen monitors, much less a 1440x900 screen resolution. I'm guessing that the game runs at 1024x768 (that's a guess. I don't know the real resolution, but it's definitely not 1440x900). Another thing I would've liked to see is an option to run the game in a Windowed mode. Neither of these make the game unplayable, but it wouldn't hurt, at the very least.
This is a fantastic game. Yeah, it can be a little frustrating, there are no options to change the screen resolution, and it's pretty short (I beat it in about 6 hours, but if you go back through and try to perfect everything, I'm sure the game would be considerably longer), but it's just so great. The graphics, sound, and especially gameplay are all very stylized, and I love it.
4 out of 5 (5 out of 5 if they add an option to change screen resolution)
EDIT: After lurking on the forums for a while, I happened upon a thread about the screen resolution, and this is what an Admin had to say about it:
hey guys, if you go to the directory where the game is installed, inside a directory called properties is a file called config.txt. you can edit that file to specify the resolution you want the game to run in. it doesn't work for all resolutions because we didn't have time to fully test this feature, so use at your own risk, and if it doesn't work right, return the values to 800x600. we'll probably fix this feature in a future patch.
I tried it, and everything works perfectly except for the "Continue" button that pops up after you complete a level. If they can fix that and put it in a patch, it's a 5 out of 5.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Former Future Career Choices
I'm tired. Really tired. I was laying (lying?) here in the bed, and I thought "Oh crap, I almost forgot to blog", so I don't really have anything to blog about. I guess I'll just ramble.
I think I have decided that I want to be some sort of writer when I get older. I don't know how long this decision will last, because none of my other future decisions have lasted. For instance, when I was younger, just a few of the things I had thought about were: Game designer, game tester (I might still decide to do this, at least on the side), private investigator, professional musician, professional athlete (Karate, most specifically. I'll have to write about my karate escapades sometime), professional video editor, cameraguy, conman (I quickly gave up on this. I can't keep a straight face), magician, animator, artist, and most recently, writer.
So far I really enjoy writing videogame reviews, even though I don't think I'm very good. I have to practice to get better, right? Too bad anyone who reads them has to suffer, though.
I think I have decided that I want to be some sort of writer when I get older. I don't know how long this decision will last, because none of my other future decisions have lasted. For instance, when I was younger, just a few of the things I had thought about were: Game designer, game tester (I might still decide to do this, at least on the side), private investigator, professional musician, professional athlete (Karate, most specifically. I'll have to write about my karate escapades sometime), professional video editor, cameraguy, conman (I quickly gave up on this. I can't keep a straight face), magician, animator, artist, and most recently, writer.
So far I really enjoy writing videogame reviews, even though I don't think I'm very good. I have to practice to get better, right? Too bad anyone who reads them has to suffer, though.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Ahhhhh
I was reading the IGN review for the PC version of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, and it had this little tidbit, regarding the enemy AI:
BAHAHAHAHAHA
Such awkward gameplay is further hindered by unsophisticated enemy behavior. Akrid, bosses, and VSes mount some interesting attacks, but the humanoid enemies are as intelligent as anyone who genuinely enjoys watching Deal or No Deal.
BAHAHAHAHAHA
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Review: Mouse About (iPhone/iPod Touch)
With the iTunes App Store being such a mess with so many things that aren't worth your time or money, it's always great to find one from the other end of the spectrum. One of these games is Mouse About, and it's probably the best $3 you'll spend for a while.
You control Marv, a mouse, as he scoots through mazes trying to eat all the food on the screen. Marv can move in straight lines and he doesn't stop until he either hits something, be it food or nuts and bolts, or moves off the screen to Sacha the cat, waiting to kill him and eat him. The goal is to eat all the food on the screen, so you have to plan out your moves to go from one piece of food to another without moving off the screen. You have to be fast, however, because there is a timer at the top of the screen, and when the timer runs out, Sacha will eat him anyway.
Of course, there's never any violence. This is a bright and colorful kid-friendly game. All of the graphics in Mouse About are great looking, with nicely drawn sprites and great backdrops. There are even several different environments Marv runs through, including a kitchen, underwater and space.
The sound effects are also good and everything is very nice to hear. I don't, however, like the music very much, because it sounds almost exactly like music from a really bad game I used to play (Casper: Friends Around the World for PS1), but that's just a personal problem I have, and it's one that I'm sure not many other people will have. If I weren't biased that way, I'm sure I'd like the music.
If you look at Mouse About for what it is, a casual puzzler on a mobile platform, you'll be very pleased with what you get. It's a game that looks great, sounds great, it's a helluva lot of fun, and since it has a practically nonexistent learning curve, it's very easy to pick up and play. Probably the best $3 you'll spend in the App Store. 4 out of 5.
Version 1.1 of Mouse About was reviewed.
You control Marv, a mouse, as he scoots through mazes trying to eat all the food on the screen. Marv can move in straight lines and he doesn't stop until he either hits something, be it food or nuts and bolts, or moves off the screen to Sacha the cat, waiting to kill him and eat him. The goal is to eat all the food on the screen, so you have to plan out your moves to go from one piece of food to another without moving off the screen. You have to be fast, however, because there is a timer at the top of the screen, and when the timer runs out, Sacha will eat him anyway.
Of course, there's never any violence. This is a bright and colorful kid-friendly game. All of the graphics in Mouse About are great looking, with nicely drawn sprites and great backdrops. There are even several different environments Marv runs through, including a kitchen, underwater and space.
The sound effects are also good and everything is very nice to hear. I don't, however, like the music very much, because it sounds almost exactly like music from a really bad game I used to play (Casper: Friends Around the World for PS1), but that's just a personal problem I have, and it's one that I'm sure not many other people will have. If I weren't biased that way, I'm sure I'd like the music.
If you look at Mouse About for what it is, a casual puzzler on a mobile platform, you'll be very pleased with what you get. It's a game that looks great, sounds great, it's a helluva lot of fun, and since it has a practically nonexistent learning curve, it's very easy to pick up and play. Probably the best $3 you'll spend in the App Store. 4 out of 5.
Version 1.1 of Mouse About was reviewed.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
My Thoughts on The Toxic Avenger
My thoughts throughout the whole movie: What the hell? I can't really tell what type of movie they were trying to make it, but whatever it was, it turned out laughably bad. That has to be one of the biggest shit-bombs I've ever seen. I have absolutely no clue what they were thinking when they actually made that movie, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to know. They must've been on something when they started writing it(maybe Toxic Waste? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOL). There was little to no continuity throughout the whole thing, it reminded me of the book Lord of the Flies. I didn't like that book.
LBP Beta ends tomorrow ;,(
LBP Beta ends tomorrow ;,(
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
LittleBIGPlanet is Amazing.
This game freaking ROCKS. It's so simple, and yet so deep. I've seen so many awesome themed levels, like a remake of the SMB 1-1 level, the Green Hill Zone from Sonic, a Metal Gear Solid level, a remake of the obstacle course from the Ninja Warrior show, and a Grand Theft Auto themed level. I've also seen many musical levels. I think those are some of the coolest in design, because you have to set up every single not in a very 2.5D Mario Paint kind of way.
Oh, and I got a haircut last night, and I actually almost like it for once. I think it's because it doesn't actually look cut. I hate it when everything is just...cut.
Going to play more LBP, kthxbai.
Oh, and I got a haircut last night, and I actually almost like it for once. I think it's because it doesn't actually look cut. I hate it when everything is just...cut.
Going to play more LBP, kthxbai.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
O SHT
OHMYGOD
I never got an email from G4 about the LBP beta, but today I found out that USA Today was giving away 15000 beta keys, and this one was first-come first-serve, as opposed to the random drawing that G4 was doing...I FUCKING GOT IN. I'M IN THE FUCKING LBP BETA. It's only until Sunday, but still. I said I would get in, and lookey here.
FUCK YEAH
I never got an email from G4 about the LBP beta, but today I found out that USA Today was giving away 15000 beta keys, and this one was first-come first-serve, as opposed to the random drawing that G4 was doing...I FUCKING GOT IN. I'M IN THE FUCKING LBP BETA. It's only until Sunday, but still. I said I would get in, and lookey here.
FUCK YEAH
Review: Sneak King (Xbox/X360)
Way back in November 2006, Burger King started selling actual videogames based on the Burger King (the creepy guy in the commercials) for the Xbox and the Xbox 360 for an extra $3.99 with any value meal. Sneak King was one of the three titles they sold (alongside Big Bumpin' and Pocketbike Racer), and it's my favorite out of the three. It borrows heavily from games like Metal Gear Solid, and does it fairly well, at least to some extent.
The basic premise is that you play as the King, and you run around the four levels, hiding in places like bushes, garbage cans, and piles of leaves, waiting for someone to walk by so you can jump out and give them a hamburger. Sounds fun, right? It is, for a while at least. As you can imagine, sneaking around handing out food gets a little repetitive after a while.
As I mentioned, there are only four levels (ranging from locales like a lumberyard to a Burger King parking lot), but there are twenty challenges per level, so there are 80 challenges in all, and each one only takes a few minutes to complete. You start out the levels in a sandbox-style, and from there, you run around the level looking for floating newspapers that represent the challenges in the level. After you finish a challenge, you are graded with a letter. The challenges are all pretty simple, just typical stuff like having to deliver so many hamburgers in so many minutes, that kind of stuff.
Now, you can't just run up to someone and give them a hamburger, you have to find hungry people (you can tell who they are because they have hamburger icons over their heads) and get food to them before they faint. The people all walk on a set path and have a Metal Gear Solid-style vision cone, and if you step in that cone, you're caught and they lose their appetite. If you do get the food to them in time, a meter pops up, and if you hit the "A" button at the right time, you get a Flourish score (depending on your button timing, and depending on your Flourish score, the King will do a little dance to celebrate, which is funny at first, but it gets a little annoying after a while), which multiplies your score for that particular delivery. If you deliver more than one burger without getting caught, you start building a chain, which also multiplies your score.
The graphics in the game are surprisingly decent. Don't get me wrong, it's no GTAIV, but they're decent. That being said, this is one of the creepiest looking games I think I've ever played. Think about it, you play as a giant-headed King (who already looks pretty creepy alone) jumping out of places giving people food. There are a few graphical glitches here and there, mainly with shadows, but nothing major. The sound is just...there. Nothing special, but nothing that will make you want to mute your TV right away.
All in all, this is a decent game...for about 3 hours, if that long. After that, it's pretty bland. This isn't exactly the deepest title out there, you know. You'll probably just play it for a weekend and then be done with it forever. This game is more for just sitting on your shelf and looking cool (which it does) than for playing. You do have to remember, though, that this was a budget-title, and basically just a big Burger King commercial, and on top of that, it was only $4. What can you get for $4, a hamburger?
I give this game a 3 out of 5.
The basic premise is that you play as the King, and you run around the four levels, hiding in places like bushes, garbage cans, and piles of leaves, waiting for someone to walk by so you can jump out and give them a hamburger. Sounds fun, right? It is, for a while at least. As you can imagine, sneaking around handing out food gets a little repetitive after a while.
As I mentioned, there are only four levels (ranging from locales like a lumberyard to a Burger King parking lot), but there are twenty challenges per level, so there are 80 challenges in all, and each one only takes a few minutes to complete. You start out the levels in a sandbox-style, and from there, you run around the level looking for floating newspapers that represent the challenges in the level. After you finish a challenge, you are graded with a letter. The challenges are all pretty simple, just typical stuff like having to deliver so many hamburgers in so many minutes, that kind of stuff.
Now, you can't just run up to someone and give them a hamburger, you have to find hungry people (you can tell who they are because they have hamburger icons over their heads) and get food to them before they faint. The people all walk on a set path and have a Metal Gear Solid-style vision cone, and if you step in that cone, you're caught and they lose their appetite. If you do get the food to them in time, a meter pops up, and if you hit the "A" button at the right time, you get a Flourish score (depending on your button timing, and depending on your Flourish score, the King will do a little dance to celebrate, which is funny at first, but it gets a little annoying after a while), which multiplies your score for that particular delivery. If you deliver more than one burger without getting caught, you start building a chain, which also multiplies your score.
The graphics in the game are surprisingly decent. Don't get me wrong, it's no GTAIV, but they're decent. That being said, this is one of the creepiest looking games I think I've ever played. Think about it, you play as a giant-headed King (who already looks pretty creepy alone) jumping out of places giving people food. There are a few graphical glitches here and there, mainly with shadows, but nothing major. The sound is just...there. Nothing special, but nothing that will make you want to mute your TV right away.
All in all, this is a decent game...for about 3 hours, if that long. After that, it's pretty bland. This isn't exactly the deepest title out there, you know. You'll probably just play it for a weekend and then be done with it forever. This game is more for just sitting on your shelf and looking cool (which it does) than for playing. You do have to remember, though, that this was a budget-title, and basically just a big Burger King commercial, and on top of that, it was only $4. What can you get for $4, a hamburger?
I give this game a 3 out of 5.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Quantum of Solace Demo
If you didn't know, the demo for the new James Bond game, Quantum of Solace came out yesterday, and I just played it. From what I could tell, it's actually pretty good, although short (I beat it in about ten minutes). Is it strange that I've never seen a James Bond movie? Or that the only Star Wars movie I've seen was Episode 1? Probably.
You know what? I'm just going to stop here. I'm tired and just not in the mood to blog, but I have to, because I'll probably sleep the rest of the night. Sometimes I wonder why I decided to blog at all, much less a post a day. I never can remember the real reason, but I'm pretty sure I was out of my mind at the time.
Oh, and you can get the aforementioned QoS demo here.
You know what? I'm just going to stop here. I'm tired and just not in the mood to blog, but I have to, because I'll probably sleep the rest of the night. Sometimes I wonder why I decided to blog at all, much less a post a day. I never can remember the real reason, but I'm pretty sure I was out of my mind at the time.
Oh, and you can get the aforementioned QoS demo here.
Monday, October 6, 2008
i think Age of Chivalry is a pretty cool guy. eh makes for some epic battles and doesn't afraid of anything
As you may know, VALVe has recently started hosting Half-Life 2 Mods directly from Steam, as opposed to just having a page with a link to a site that hosts the Mod. Due to this new feature, I finally got around to downloading Age of Chivalry, and it's actually very good. If you can get on a server with several people (which isn't too hard right now, but the player numbers may eventually start to go down as soon as the "new" wears off) on a large map, it can actually make for some pretty epic battles, because there's maybe 30-something people all fighting fairly close together (all classes are melee except for the archer, but even then you have to be pretty close because it's kinda hard to aim the arrows), and the classes are, for the most part, pretty balanced, so it's actually pretty great.
I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't have anything of importance to blog about, but I needed to go ahead and do it now, because I plan on going to sleep soon and I probably won't be up for twelve hours or so.
I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't have anything of importance to blog about, but I needed to go ahead and do it now, because I plan on going to sleep soon and I probably won't be up for twelve hours or so.
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