| On replayability |
[Nov. 1st, 2009|11:32 pm] |
One of the things that comes up a lot in the video games I play is replayability. I usually consider the possibility that I'll want to play a game again as a good thing, even though I rarely do so much anymore. Still, its something I often consider when deciding to buy new games, especially since I buy new games so infrequently.
However, a few years ago I started to realize that there is a near-infinite level of replayability that is really, really bad for me. The classic example of this are the games in the Civilization series. Even winning a game doesn't necessarily mean that you've "finished", because you can immediately start again and have a somewhat different experience of playing the game. I find this incredibly compelling, and this style of game has eaten up more of my playtime than any other over the course of my life.
The other example was one I realized only a few weeks ago, but it prompted this post. That was the football game I own, NCAA 08. I don't find that replayability in the individual games of football, but rather in the mode where you act as head coach, guiding a team's strategy and recruiting players to replenish your team. The process is very repetitive, since football seasons are much like each other in an unchanging computer environment. Still, especially in the recruiting aspect, the game continually serves up varied conditions that compel me to keep playing.
So, why do I call this bad? Well, there are two reasons. The first one is actually something I've only been doing the last few years, which is trying to take trophies. I do want to have a stack of good games on my shelf that I have "finished" (by which I mean completing the main plot and as much of the additional content as I find enjoyable: usually probably ~70% of stuff to do in a modern game). I like being able to say I beat something and know it well enough to talk about, and playing more games gives me more geek cred. By contrast, the endless games don't do that. Since they never end, they never go on the shelf(huh. I wonder how MMOs relate to this theory).
The other problem is related. When I'm off a civilization building binge, i suddenly realize that I don't have a lot to show for it: I rarely learn anything, I haven't talked to anybody since it's a solo game, and I've missed out on other things to play turns in games I won't remember. It's a depressing feeling, but I always get roped in again.
Huh, I should sleep. Hope people have enjoyed this.
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| Realization |
[Oct. 22nd, 2009|09:28 pm] |
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Working on a foundation's staff is more or less like BelCon's FOC. Except for way more money. I think I get it now. And I'm tempted to see if I can get a job in the field. |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 8th, 2009|12:32 pm] |
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I now have keys to a condo in one of the most beautiful parts of town. Lease is signed, and I have the month to move in. Which I'm going to need, because I haven't even started packing, school is starting, and I still have to work. Oh well. Glad I'm getting it done. And even though my commute will be longer now, some of it will be through a beautiful neighborhoods. |
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| Eulogy |
[Sep. 5th, 2009|08:45 am] |
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I'm going to miss you, Minnesota Summer 2009. You were the best example of what a summer can be that I can remember: a few days of nasty heat/humidity to remind us of it, and otherwise just generally warm and pleasant weather for us to enjoy. No flooding, no drought, minimal amounts of other bizarre weather...you were great. I hope that those that follow in your footsteps are just as great. |
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| An anecdote |
[Jul. 27th, 2009|07:20 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  groggy | ] |
Last Thursday I stopped at the toll road oasis at Des Plaines, Illinois, mostly to get a few minutes reprieve from the heavy traffic and heavy rain (and hail!) that were making driving rather unpleasant. As I was heading back to my car, I looked up and saw a large airplane flying low overhead. It seemed much too low given how far we were from O'Hare, and so I tried to get a closer look and see what company it belonged to. I looked and saw a white bottom and a light blue top, and on the tail fin was an American flag. With a holy shit, I realized I was seeing Air Force One buzzing the air before Obama touched down to go on the stump. It was a highlight of the trip, certainly. |
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| A plug |
[Jul. 21st, 2009|05:47 pm] |
I would encourage each and every one of you to go visit Cleveland, and just spend an hour or two driving around, especially the residential areas.
After Cleveland, every city that I've visited recently seems vigorous, healthy, and very well maintained by comparison. Sure, they have their bad spots, as Cleveland has it's good ones. But man, even you're average strip mall in suburban Chicago looks a lot better when you see how much worse it could be.
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| In Cleveland |
[Jul. 17th, 2009|10:09 am] |
I'm in Cleveland, visiting ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) nathan_lounge . It's been good, but I wanted to include a few observations of the tour of downtown Cleveland that I got yesterday.
The most striking thing about the downtown is just how empty most of it is. Many of the smaller buildings have "for sale/lease" signs on them, and the street traffic was fairly minimal, even though we were driving around at noon. Shopping centers weren't busy, traffic wasn't heavy, and parking was readily available. It wasn't a pit or a ghetto, but rather almost like a graveyard, with the large old stone buildings towering over the streets. It's unfortunate to see any cities in such decline, even though I doubt Cleveland is the worst in the nation, especially right now.
Another thing that surprised me, is the way skyscrapers are distributed around the downtown. It's fairly haphazard, with them sort of jutting out from the rest of the buildings at some separation from each other. To keep pushing the graveyard simile, they were the obelisks standing up from the sea of headstones, though hopefully they still have some life in them.
A last note was that most of the people in the downtown proper were clearly office workers. Downtown Cleveland is, exculsively, a place of business.
It was a remarkable contrast from Minneapolis, where even on the end of downtown where I work, there is a constant swirl of activity, and by people from all levels of society.
Alright, it's time for another adventure, so I better wrap it up. It's been a good trip, so far.
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 27th, 2009|10:47 pm] |
Just had the house broken into. The guy got spooked when he opened my bedroom door to find Zee and I talking. I chased him out, and he got away clean.
Nobody hurt. Nothing stolen, even though there was a 10-spot on the kitchen table. Counting my blessings.
I need renter's insurance. And, quite possibly, a new address.
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 7th, 2009|03:19 pm] |
I've been playing a LOT of TES:Oblivion. It's consumed a fair portion of this weekend, and most of the last one. Good times, generally.
I bought a DS from a roommate(who is moving out) Thursday night. Maybe not the best deal, but it came with two Final Fantasy games, so I know I'm getting something I'll like. I haven't played with it much, though, because I can't play it at work, and I have Oblivion at home.
Other than that, life is alright. I work a lot, because we've been short.
I only have one other roommate right now. It's strange, but it's a luxury that I know I'll be paying for, so I'm glad that somebody else will be moving in in July.
Oh, and I've been enjoying the cold weather, especially if it means we'll have less full-blown summer.
Good luck out there. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 9th, 2009|07:21 am] |
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I may be really, really late for it, but it's about time I jumped on the West Wing bandwagon. Seen two episodes and already hooked. |
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| Good day |
[Apr. 18th, 2009|07:46 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  content | ] |
Days where the government tells you it owes you more money than you thought are always good days. |
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| big grin |
[Mar. 12th, 2009|11:21 pm] |
I have a ps3. Again. And I'm too tired to play it. And I(foolishly) agreed to work overtime tomorrow.
Oh well, I've waited long enough already(the seller said he shipped, then didn't), another day or so isn't much more. |
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| (no subject) |
[Feb. 10th, 2009|04:55 pm] |
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I have developed a persistent sore throat today, which means I'm probably getting sick with a head cold of some variety. Oh well, it's a good excuse not to do anything besides go to work, where I can be a wonderful plague dog. |
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| Car wrapup |
[Feb. 4th, 2009|03:09 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | pleased | ] |
Ended up calling a towing company, and got a great truck driver. He was able to tell me that the problem wasn't the battery, it was actually the safety switch. It must have gotten stuck, possible due to the cold. A little fiddling with the shift and he got it to start right up. Its a problem I may have chronically, or may never have again for the life of the car. In any event, he showed me to how to handle it if it does happen again, and gave my battery a shot of WD40 for good measure. So, all in all, the easiest possible resolution to the problem. |
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| Better and better |
[Feb. 3rd, 2009|05:06 pm] |
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Apparently I have a nasty group of gremlins attacking my stuff. I went out to start my car last night and get nothing. Not sputter-and-die, but just turn the key and the only thing that happens is the "check engine" light comes on. Looks like I need a new battery. The one I have has had some pretty gnarly corrosion on it for a while, but seemed to work fine in spite of it. Now, though, I have to figure out where to take it, how to get it there, etc. Really, this is the kind of service I should have gotten familiar with when I moved to town(get relationships started so that I know that I'm getting good service), but didn't because I felt awkward doing so and had no immediate cause for it. So now I'm in a pickle. |
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| DnD 4e |
[Feb. 2nd, 2009|11:33 am] |
At the urging of a certain cleric of my acquaintance, I took it upon myself to acquire the latest incarnation of a venerable game of some popularity and controversy: Dungeons and Dragons. These are my thoughts about the game at this point, after a (partial) first read through and a clumsy attempt to gen a character.
( Read more... ) |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 29th, 2009|03:18 pm] |
So I my plop myself down on the couch today, hoping to enjoy another rousing round of FFXII, and discover to my consternation that my Playstation 2 won't start. I haven't touched it in days, and it was fine the last time I did. The light is on, I have no idea what's wrong with it. Any ideas?
The official troubleshooting has suggested the problem is static(there has been a lot in that area, come to think), and that the solution is to completely unplug it for a while. Giving that a try. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 13th, 2009|06:28 am] |
So much to talk about...that's what I get for vacationing and otherwise neglecting this journal. However, I'm kind of crunched for time right now, so instead of a real post you get a reading recommendation.
I became enamored some months ago with the columns of Frank Rich, over at the Times. Certainly of the columnists I have read, I think he does a good job of pointing out just how hypocritical the outgoing administration has been, without being obsessive or belaboring the point too much. So, my recommendation is to go and take a look at what he has to say. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 7th, 2009|11:21 pm] |
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I'd say the first quarter-century has turned out alright. Here's hoping the next is even better. |
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| Books of 2008 |
[Jan. 1st, 2009|09:07 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | books | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  awake | ] |
I entertained the idea early in the year of setting a mandatory daily reading amount, something that I put into practice in August. My policy is that I am supposed to read 5 pages a day, and I can let myself get behind but not ahead. Hence, if I read 50 pages one day I still owe 5 the next. Seeing as I'm currently about 100 pages behind, that wot be a problem again for a while. Here's what I've been reading this year:
( Read more... ) |
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