My mother is back again, which is nice, but at the same time the general carelessness of the rest of my family is kind of annoying. I don't expect a party or medal every time I do the dishes, but does that mean that not doing them shouldn't bother anyone? Or perhaps that saying 'Thanks' or something is too much?
Around my home, things aren't done - they happen. It's not "I cleaned out the dishwasher and scrubbed the pans" it's "The dishwasher is empty and the pans are clean." It isn't helped by the fact that things aren't generally done - when you see something, that doesn't mean you do it. You leave it for someone else to do it, since you're so busy.
That is pretty much what I've been trying to escape. I want to make my father aware that I know when a task must be done before it becomes a hassle to do it. I want my brother to know that he should be doing this stuff as well. When I finish dinner, I bring my plates up and put them in the dishwasher. If the dishwasher is full, I'll empty it. Then I'll tell my Dad and brother that it's cleaned - or that I cleaned it - so they know it's safe to bring their plates up without having to do the dirty task of letting them sit in the sink.
So far it just means that I clean up around the house more, nothing more. My little brother is too spoiled to think of doing any on his own, and my father doesn't really thank me for anything anymore. I guess the only upside is that without things needing to be done around the house, I get to communicate with my family as rarely as possible. Plus the independence makes me feel good for about 30 second, until I remember that the rest of my family is content to sit back and let someone else do work for them.
Anyway, I've been spending less and less time at the computer, and Disgaea is a good way to waste all of my spare time. I'm about 6 chapters in, my highest level character is 36 - she gained about 20 by accident when she got the killing blow on a high-level opponent. I love naming all of my characters, and I finally have the options to make catgirls - though I still need to reduce the cost to make them.
Well, that's all for now. Who knows, something interesting might happen tomorrow.
Showing posts with label video games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video games. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Laharl-sama! AH HA HA HA!
I know I had some more interesting things to discuss, but I've decided to go for a quick update on something else.
I haven't been at the computer much, with my World of Warcraft gamecard having run out and all my of RPG forums dead and likely waiting ressurection, I have little reason to wait around at the computer. Normally I'd spend a couple of hours a day just waiting for people to sign on so I could talk to them, but right now that doesn't seem like a great way to use my time.
So I went through some of my Nippon Ichi games, mostly because they are completely awesome. I thought about playing some of the other titles, ones I had left alone for too long and not completed. Yet, down at the bottom of the pile, another game called out. It was Disgaea, the first big N1 game that came out and led a line of releases that I adore.
Nippon Ichi games are all turn-based strategy games. Earlier ones like Disgaea and its precursor La Pucelle (Which came out after Disgaea - The game was so popular the unconnected original was in demand) are done on a simple grid while later ones like Phantom Brave (The second best after Disgaea - that I've played) are done on a far small grid, to the point where movement is technically free within walking range. What makes the real difference is the systems each one introduces. La Pucelle has a summoning square where character appear and path in the dungeons that can be directed and destroyed for equipment-building points as well as damage and area-range attacks. Disgaea again has the start square, but adds coloured sections of the stage that are effected and altered by special items on the stage. Phantom Brave forces the player to summon their combat characters in items on the stage such as swords, rocks and plants - each one provides certain bonuses and penalties.
The thing that they all share though is the flexible creation system - though I believe it starts more in Disgaea than anywhere. You can make a character of a certain type - say a Female Warrior - spend a certain number of mana (gotten from kills) to pick their power levels - 10 mana for 'Incompetant' is a good start, but provides only 1 point to add to them - alter their stats - like Defense or Attack - then name them - I picked 'Konata'. You've got a fresh, level 1 character ready to be equipped with a wide range of items - some which they are better at than others. Now, the real fun is where the system goes from there. Maximum level is 9999! And you can return a character back to level 1, during which they'll save their levels and turn it into more starting points. After a short while, you'll be growing exponentially with the characters you concentrate on - though you have to start them from level 1 time and time again. Even the items are levelable, you can enter dungeons inside each item or weapon to subdue creatures inside it to move to other items, raise its basic stat, or fight power 'item gods' that hold incredibly powerful items you have to steal from them.
I have a 93 hour game for Disgaea which I haven't touched in ages. The main character, Laharl, is currently level 2950 and has been reduced to level 1 quite a few times. The game really has no end. Even if you get all the way to max level, get one of the final weapons and defeat the final boss, you can still do it with any character you want.
Anyway, I logged a few hours into the game today. Playing through the story is just wonderful. It's funny, clever, and the Japanese voice actors (Yay for JPN soundtrack mode) are really skilled.
Anyway, it's getting late and I've been trying to get on a better sleep schedule, so that's all for tonight. I was able to sleep - badly - at 'appropriate' times like night and I don't feel any better for it. I'll keep you updated, as always.
I haven't been at the computer much, with my World of Warcraft gamecard having run out and all my of RPG forums dead and likely waiting ressurection, I have little reason to wait around at the computer. Normally I'd spend a couple of hours a day just waiting for people to sign on so I could talk to them, but right now that doesn't seem like a great way to use my time.
So I went through some of my Nippon Ichi games, mostly because they are completely awesome. I thought about playing some of the other titles, ones I had left alone for too long and not completed. Yet, down at the bottom of the pile, another game called out. It was Disgaea, the first big N1 game that came out and led a line of releases that I adore.
Nippon Ichi games are all turn-based strategy games. Earlier ones like Disgaea and its precursor La Pucelle (Which came out after Disgaea - The game was so popular the unconnected original was in demand) are done on a simple grid while later ones like Phantom Brave (The second best after Disgaea - that I've played) are done on a far small grid, to the point where movement is technically free within walking range. What makes the real difference is the systems each one introduces. La Pucelle has a summoning square where character appear and path in the dungeons that can be directed and destroyed for equipment-building points as well as damage and area-range attacks. Disgaea again has the start square, but adds coloured sections of the stage that are effected and altered by special items on the stage. Phantom Brave forces the player to summon their combat characters in items on the stage such as swords, rocks and plants - each one provides certain bonuses and penalties.
The thing that they all share though is the flexible creation system - though I believe it starts more in Disgaea than anywhere. You can make a character of a certain type - say a Female Warrior - spend a certain number of mana (gotten from kills) to pick their power levels - 10 mana for 'Incompetant' is a good start, but provides only 1 point to add to them - alter their stats - like Defense or Attack - then name them - I picked 'Konata'. You've got a fresh, level 1 character ready to be equipped with a wide range of items - some which they are better at than others. Now, the real fun is where the system goes from there. Maximum level is 9999! And you can return a character back to level 1, during which they'll save their levels and turn it into more starting points. After a short while, you'll be growing exponentially with the characters you concentrate on - though you have to start them from level 1 time and time again. Even the items are levelable, you can enter dungeons inside each item or weapon to subdue creatures inside it to move to other items, raise its basic stat, or fight power 'item gods' that hold incredibly powerful items you have to steal from them.
I have a 93 hour game for Disgaea which I haven't touched in ages. The main character, Laharl, is currently level 2950 and has been reduced to level 1 quite a few times. The game really has no end. Even if you get all the way to max level, get one of the final weapons and defeat the final boss, you can still do it with any character you want.
Anyway, I logged a few hours into the game today. Playing through the story is just wonderful. It's funny, clever, and the Japanese voice actors (Yay for JPN soundtrack mode) are really skilled.
Anyway, it's getting late and I've been trying to get on a better sleep schedule, so that's all for tonight. I was able to sleep - badly - at 'appropriate' times like night and I don't feel any better for it. I'll keep you updated, as always.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
All about Docu-Games
For those of you who are into video games, game legislation, censorship, politics or want to keep up with the insanity of Jack Thompson, I'd suggest heading over to GamePolitics if you don't already.
I'm not sure how many of you heard about 'Super Columbine Massacre RPG', a documentary-style look at the Columbine school shootings realised into a 16-bit downloadable game, but I'd suggest not getting outraged if it's only the first time. Released in 2006, it caused a lot of complaints from people who felt it was a complete betrayal of all of the suffering of the shooting, and still gets used as a case against actual videogame developers, even though it was made by a single man on the internet. I've never played the game, but descriptions of it is that it is quite fair to the incident, based on real events the occured during the shooting, is extremely hard and does not at any time make light of the incident.
SCMRPG is still brought up today due to it's controversial subject matter, and often raised as a first piece of 'game art', where touchy subjects can be explored. People even compare it to film documentaries such as Bowling for Columbine, though it can't be claimed to be as professionally done or anything of the kind.
Well, GamePolitics has a lot to say about SCMRPG and the aftermath of it, including when it was forced out of a game competition due to the controversy around it. They've also covered more games from the internet that have caused more controvery, such as a cheap flashgame about patrolling the American-Mexican border that was decidedly racist. So I didn't really bat an eye when they made mention of a new game that a flash artist had put together was released, titled 'V-Tech Rampage', the topic which should be quickly obvious.
Like I said I didn't care too much for it, since it seemed like another cheap grab at people's attention by releasing something just for the controversy. Obviously people would compare it to SCMRPG due to its nature, but at the same time it was cheapened by the creator's attitude, the low quality of the work and the stunt he pulled just recently - demanding money to remove his game.
Now he claims it's a joke, but people don't have a great sense of humour after you make a cheap flash game about a mass-murdering. So instead of his game being treated as the usual controversy-creation games, he had to turn it into a big story about what a dick the guy has to be. Really, I've met a lot of people who like to create friction in order to get some attention - hell, I've played the devil's advocate more than once in High School to keep students from nodding their heads for 70 minutes - but you really have to wonder what goes through people's minds when they produce some of these games. It probably comes down to getting famous for something, even if its stupid, and getting all those links, diggs and page hits from the frothing public.
I don't want to get into the whole issue of the web-going gaming public constantly sabotaging the mature, aging gamer population in the eyes of the politicians and news circles who are always looking for easy targets for scaring viewers, I'll have to save that for later. Until then, I just want to say that the V-Tech game sucked. It was slow, I was bored, and I hope the creator of it grows up a bit and doesn't try to revel in his controversy like a pig.
Regardless, I'd suggest reading GamePolitics for updates on news stories like this and related topics with video games. Sometimes the legal scene really heats up but you wouldn't know it without a dedicated source.
I'm not sure how many of you heard about 'Super Columbine Massacre RPG', a documentary-style look at the Columbine school shootings realised into a 16-bit downloadable game, but I'd suggest not getting outraged if it's only the first time. Released in 2006, it caused a lot of complaints from people who felt it was a complete betrayal of all of the suffering of the shooting, and still gets used as a case against actual videogame developers, even though it was made by a single man on the internet. I've never played the game, but descriptions of it is that it is quite fair to the incident, based on real events the occured during the shooting, is extremely hard and does not at any time make light of the incident.
SCMRPG is still brought up today due to it's controversial subject matter, and often raised as a first piece of 'game art', where touchy subjects can be explored. People even compare it to film documentaries such as Bowling for Columbine, though it can't be claimed to be as professionally done or anything of the kind.
Well, GamePolitics has a lot to say about SCMRPG and the aftermath of it, including when it was forced out of a game competition due to the controversy around it. They've also covered more games from the internet that have caused more controvery, such as a cheap flashgame about patrolling the American-Mexican border that was decidedly racist. So I didn't really bat an eye when they made mention of a new game that a flash artist had put together was released, titled 'V-Tech Rampage', the topic which should be quickly obvious.
Like I said I didn't care too much for it, since it seemed like another cheap grab at people's attention by releasing something just for the controversy. Obviously people would compare it to SCMRPG due to its nature, but at the same time it was cheapened by the creator's attitude, the low quality of the work and the stunt he pulled just recently - demanding money to remove his game.
Now he claims it's a joke, but people don't have a great sense of humour after you make a cheap flash game about a mass-murdering. So instead of his game being treated as the usual controversy-creation games, he had to turn it into a big story about what a dick the guy has to be. Really, I've met a lot of people who like to create friction in order to get some attention - hell, I've played the devil's advocate more than once in High School to keep students from nodding their heads for 70 minutes - but you really have to wonder what goes through people's minds when they produce some of these games. It probably comes down to getting famous for something, even if its stupid, and getting all those links, diggs and page hits from the frothing public.
I don't want to get into the whole issue of the web-going gaming public constantly sabotaging the mature, aging gamer population in the eyes of the politicians and news circles who are always looking for easy targets for scaring viewers, I'll have to save that for later. Until then, I just want to say that the V-Tech game sucked. It was slow, I was bored, and I hope the creator of it grows up a bit and doesn't try to revel in his controversy like a pig.
Regardless, I'd suggest reading GamePolitics for updates on news stories like this and related topics with video games. Sometimes the legal scene really heats up but you wouldn't know it without a dedicated source.
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