One of my favorite things to do with older video games is to come back to them after years of playing and test myself with them. I could do 100% completion, see if I can do it without dying, or any number of modifiers and it makes the game new again. Yet, the best modifier (in my opinion) is and forever will be "Just how fast can I beat this game?"
I mean, sure not dying for an entire game seems pretty interesting, but it doesn't really give me anything to compare against. By doing a speedrun of a game, I can say "Hey, I've been able to do it this fast. Can you?" because it sets a definitive level of accomplishment for the game. Plus, I've done it with quite a few games over the years like:
Super Mario 64 - 2:06:36
Super Mario Sunshine - 2:37:12
Banjo Kazooie - 4:56:22
And then I know, I've done it with games like Halo 3, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, Bayonetta, and Metroid Prime but I don't have those times offhand....
But this week I realized that there are two types of game that I just can't bring myself to do a speedrun of. There are those games that are built entirely off of timed events (like racing games or fighting games) and then there are games that it would just be considered a disgrace to rush through.
What would Final Fantasy be like if you never took the time to power level? What would Zelda games be like if you never did a single side-quest? What would Just Cause 2 be like if you chose not to explore anywhere? Its games like these that it just hurts to even try. On the 4th I wanted to spend my day speeding my way through Windwaker like a champ and see how fast I could do it, but it soon dawned on me that I was just missing out on all of the fun that the game had to offer. Sure I can teleport using cyclones to just about anywhere on the Great Sea, but isn't it more satisfying to just cruise along on the King of Red Lions and listen to the ocean theme play? Sure I could power my way through the plot of the game, but never entering any secret dungeons, never getting any Pieces of Heart, never taking the time to seek out Great Fairies ended up just not being fun. Sure I could say "I finished Windwaker in 10 hours and XX minutes" (that's about how long it would have taken me if I didn't just give up) but instead I'd rather dick around in my boat and see what the game has to offer. Hell, I might even do that ridiculously long trading side-quest from Windfall and have highly redundant armor even though I rarely take damage anyways.
But yeah, there will always be those games that I can never and will never attempt to speedrun. Heck, after about 40 hours of play time I think I've only done 3 plot missions in Skyrim. Because why plot when I can run around and crouch to pretend I'm not there and steal the clothes off of ordinary citizens without them knowing?
I'll leave the speed to Sonic, expansive RPGs are meant to be enjoyed.
Showing posts with label Video Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Video Games. Show all posts
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Accept ALL of the Betas!
I've noticed that I've been in an increasing number of video game betas in the last couple of years or so. It's really kind of interesting to be a part of them, because then you get to see how they develop from the early stages of being crappy games to being incredibly awesome over the span of a few months as they fix up all of the bugs in the programming.
This kind of sparked my interest because this morning I was sent an email to be a part of the Ghost Recon Online Closed Beta. Why? I dunno. But while I figure out why, I'll just continue to download the client and see what its all about.
So now I've been in these betas:
Ghost Recon Online
Minecraft
Team Fortress 2
Tribes Ascend
APB Reloaded
DotA 2
Not that I have any time for these betas... I have so much work to do in the next two weeks that I really should just lock my computer away in a box somewhere. But then I realize that I need the computer to do my work, and so I get distracted. Lets work on that....
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
I spy with my little eye....
It's been a little while since I last posted anything on here... I guess I've just been busy. Most of that time has probably been sucked into these new projects I have for CS and practice time for my music jury (which is about 3 weeks away....) and some of it has obviously been eaten by all the new video games that I bought in Game Season 2011. They are FANTASTIC.
So the games came out in this order:
1. Sonic Generations (11/1)
2. Modern Warfare 3 (11/8)
3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (11/11)
4. Assassin's Creed: Revelations (11/15)
And I must say, I'm really sad that Sonic didn't get the spotlight that he deserved. The re-imagining of older stages and music along side of glitch-less gameplay made for a very happy and nostalgic Quinn when playing that game. I thought it was a fantastic addition to the Sonic franchise, and it was a step in the right direction in terms of game design. Because let's face it, the last 5 years of Sonic games have been complete crap (other than Sonic Colors).
But all that nostalgia couldn't stand up to the overwhelming fanbase of the Modern Warfare series and Skyrim.... Which is sad.... Not to say that they aren't excellent series, but I do think that the little blue hedgehog should have had his time in the spotlight.
As for the college aspect of things, my jury absolutely frightens me. Those of you who saw me last year on the two days before juries know exactly how I feel about them.... I basically turn in to a huge stress ball and do nothing until they're over. My mock jury yesterday didn't go so hot either, which means MOAR STRESS for me. If my lips spontaneously explode at the end of the semester, that's why.
Pie Your RA is tonight too from 8 - 9:30 in the Hess! From what I can tell, I'll be pied quite a bit.... SO BRING IT ON FRESHMEN! Cheeto Face (during RA training) was only the beginning of my whipped cream shenanigans apparently, which I don't mind. This just means some unexpected dry bystander is going to be chased down like a fleeing gazelle for a sticky sugar hug.
Life is good.
So the games came out in this order:
1. Sonic Generations (11/1)
2. Modern Warfare 3 (11/8)
3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (11/11)
4. Assassin's Creed: Revelations (11/15)
And I must say, I'm really sad that Sonic didn't get the spotlight that he deserved. The re-imagining of older stages and music along side of glitch-less gameplay made for a very happy and nostalgic Quinn when playing that game. I thought it was a fantastic addition to the Sonic franchise, and it was a step in the right direction in terms of game design. Because let's face it, the last 5 years of Sonic games have been complete crap (other than Sonic Colors).
But all that nostalgia couldn't stand up to the overwhelming fanbase of the Modern Warfare series and Skyrim.... Which is sad.... Not to say that they aren't excellent series, but I do think that the little blue hedgehog should have had his time in the spotlight.
As for the college aspect of things, my jury absolutely frightens me. Those of you who saw me last year on the two days before juries know exactly how I feel about them.... I basically turn in to a huge stress ball and do nothing until they're over. My mock jury yesterday didn't go so hot either, which means MOAR STRESS for me. If my lips spontaneously explode at the end of the semester, that's why.
Pie Your RA is tonight too from 8 - 9:30 in the Hess! From what I can tell, I'll be pied quite a bit.... SO BRING IT ON FRESHMEN! Cheeto Face (during RA training) was only the beginning of my whipped cream shenanigans apparently, which I don't mind. This just means some unexpected dry bystander is going to be chased down like a fleeing gazelle for a sticky sugar hug.
 |
| This is what happened last time whipped cream and I had an epic battle. |
Life is good.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Face-checking
I get a lot of really funny looks whenever I use the term "face-checking" in the midst of the general population. Most of my gaming friends know what I'm talking about, but I'll leave a little definition here so anyone who wants to can see what I mean.
So the term "face-checking" comes from the game League of Legends. In this game there is a rather large map that has 3 "lanes" of fighting with area in between and most of the action takes place in these lanes.
Since this is a 5v5 game, the game etiquette says that two characters go in the bottom/top lanes and one person from each team goes into the middle lane. With that being said, there are no restrictions to where you can actually go.
Don't worry, this is leading up to the definition.
Now in the "jungle" (the trees section of the map between lanes) and in the "river" as well as in the bottom and top lanes there are bushes. The interesting function of these bushes is that you basically become invisible within the bush. Nothing in the bush can be seen unless there is Line of Sight (LoS) in the bush for your team. This can be done with sight/vision wards, or by having an allied champion in the bush as well. However, if your team doesn't have any LoS inside of the bush, its a dark abyss with unknown occupants.
This is where face-checking comes in. Face-checking is the verb that basically means "running headlong into the unknown and hoping for the best." Because you could run into the bush and have a grand ol' time just sitting in there by yourself, waiting to gank (kill using the element of surprise) the next opponent that happens to walk by. Or if luck seems to escape you, the entire enemy team could be sitting in that bush waiting for a kill and you just so happen to run right into all of them... Bushes are a dangerous place.
Now in world of the living, the term face-checking still exists but in a slightly different context. Instead of blindly running into a bush and hoping the enemy isn't there to kick the piss out of you, it exists in a situational sense. For example: face-checking a test would be going into it with barely any knowledge, but giving it your all anyways because there's no reason not to. Sure all the knowledge may not be there and the thought could be "I'll probably fail" but instead its approached from the standpoint of "LET'S DO THIS!!!"
But as of late after listening to myself it seems to relate more and more to relationships and drama between people. Face-checking a relationship would be more akin to the thought process of:
1. See pretty girl
2. Wonder who she is
3. Ask her on a date
4. ?????
5. PROFIT $$$
Well... Maybe not quite to that extreme, but I think it proves the point I'm trying to make. Just going at something knowing failure is a great probability, but its that little glimmer of hope for success that forces the hand and you go at it with the idea of nothing but success in your mind as you make your move.
Sure its a little ridiculous, but maybe this will stop some of the funny looks I get... I doubt it will stop the ones I get for doing the dance for The Locomotion next to the drinks in the Tilly though... Oh well.
So the term "face-checking" comes from the game League of Legends. In this game there is a rather large map that has 3 "lanes" of fighting with area in between and most of the action takes place in these lanes.
Don't worry, this is leading up to the definition.
Now in the "jungle" (the trees section of the map between lanes) and in the "river" as well as in the bottom and top lanes there are bushes. The interesting function of these bushes is that you basically become invisible within the bush. Nothing in the bush can be seen unless there is Line of Sight (LoS) in the bush for your team. This can be done with sight/vision wards, or by having an allied champion in the bush as well. However, if your team doesn't have any LoS inside of the bush, its a dark abyss with unknown occupants.
This is where face-checking comes in. Face-checking is the verb that basically means "running headlong into the unknown and hoping for the best." Because you could run into the bush and have a grand ol' time just sitting in there by yourself, waiting to gank (kill using the element of surprise) the next opponent that happens to walk by. Or if luck seems to escape you, the entire enemy team could be sitting in that bush waiting for a kill and you just so happen to run right into all of them... Bushes are a dangerous place.
Now in world of the living, the term face-checking still exists but in a slightly different context. Instead of blindly running into a bush and hoping the enemy isn't there to kick the piss out of you, it exists in a situational sense. For example: face-checking a test would be going into it with barely any knowledge, but giving it your all anyways because there's no reason not to. Sure all the knowledge may not be there and the thought could be "I'll probably fail" but instead its approached from the standpoint of "LET'S DO THIS!!!"
But as of late after listening to myself it seems to relate more and more to relationships and drama between people. Face-checking a relationship would be more akin to the thought process of:
1. See pretty girl
2. Wonder who she is
3. Ask her on a date
4. ?????
5. PROFIT $$$
Well... Maybe not quite to that extreme, but I think it proves the point I'm trying to make. Just going at something knowing failure is a great probability, but its that little glimmer of hope for success that forces the hand and you go at it with the idea of nothing but success in your mind as you make your move.
Sure its a little ridiculous, but maybe this will stop some of the funny looks I get... I doubt it will stop the ones I get for doing the dance for The Locomotion next to the drinks in the Tilly though... Oh well.
Monday, September 26, 2011
This is my Dominion
So today a new game mode came out in League of Legends called "Dominion." To put it bluntly, it is freaking awesome. Plus it has a few new features that I really like about it, like the fact that each game doesn't necessarily have to take anywhere near an hour. The longest game of it that I've played so far has been 18 minutes and the shortest has been 8. That's NOTHING compared to the normal Draft/Blind pick modes available in the regular game.
Also, everything is always happening ALL OF THE TIME. It isn't so much of a waiting game as it is an "always in combat" game type.
I love it. Now to go bury myself in it for hours on end and see how that turns out.
In my personal life, things are doing okay. Not great, not terrible, just a mediocre. Sure I have a frustration every once in a while, but I think I'm done trying to bottle things up. If I have a problem, I'll address it nicely and swiftly so that there isn't any confusion on where I stand.
But classes are going well (for the most part), my job is awesome, my friends are still fun to hang around, my newly met friends are hilarious, and I can now wear the MEB shirt and be alright.
And this is my Dominion. I am what I am in the place I want to be.
Also, everything is always happening ALL OF THE TIME. It isn't so much of a waiting game as it is an "always in combat" game type.
I love it. Now to go bury myself in it for hours on end and see how that turns out.
In my personal life, things are doing okay. Not great, not terrible, just a mediocre. Sure I have a frustration every once in a while, but I think I'm done trying to bottle things up. If I have a problem, I'll address it nicely and swiftly so that there isn't any confusion on where I stand.
But classes are going well (for the most part), my job is awesome, my friends are still fun to hang around, my newly met friends are hilarious, and I can now wear the MEB shirt and be alright.
And this is my Dominion. I am what I am in the place I want to be.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Tourney Time
So today I finished up in a League of Legends tournament at an internet cafe here in Fairbanks. Lately it has been my favorite team based game to play and I'm pretty good at it and I had a good team (myself, Skyler, and Kaleb) so we figured we would head over there and enter in to play. It even went alright, but we ended up losing twice and winning three times within the tournament.
Here's how it went as a whole for us:
There were a few off games... We lost games 2 and 5. But I think I did the best considering those facts.
Compared to my team, I had 9 less deaths than the next closest teammate and my Kills/Deaths/Assists ratio was much higher than everyone else. So I feel accomplished.
Maybe next time we can win... And pick better characters. I think Kaleb should be banned from Xin for a while.. Hahaha.
Here's how it went as a whole for us:
There were a few off games... We lost games 2 and 5. But I think I did the best considering those facts.
Compared to my team, I had 9 less deaths than the next closest teammate and my Kills/Deaths/Assists ratio was much higher than everyone else. So I feel accomplished.
Maybe next time we can win... And pick better characters. I think Kaleb should be banned from Xin for a while.. Hahaha.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
School, sports, and creativity
My classes are pretty awesome this semester. I enjoy all of them except for Communications and Calc III really..... Comm is annoying. I'm already proficient at public speaking. I'm also not saying that I am perfect at it, but considering the fact that the course is a "skill development" course I really would rather not take it... I mean come on, today I was the only kid in the entire class that gave a speech without any visual aids or notes and I still made it to the time limit without sounding like a complete moron! RAWRG. This class will annoy me. And its 3 hours long every Tuesday.... I hate Tuesdays... Calc III is Calc III. Heh. Math.... I can survive it!
But Computer Science is amazing because I code and do fun things and make projects and confuse my professor with "if statements." Recital Attendance is glorified nap time with beautiful music, so what's not to like? Physics is interesting, but the labs are lame... But it was to be expected. And I freaking love Wind Symphony. Its the best class ever. I go in and play music with a large ensemble 3 times a week and this semester I managed to snag 3rd chair out of 7! FREAKING STOKED! NO MORE 4th HORN FOR ME PLEASE! (This is incredibly exciting. I was 4th horn on every single song except for Hillulah last semester.) This semester we are playing some pretty sweet music too so it will definitely be a concert worth watching!
Our intramurals have also started! As stated before I'm playing basketball, soccer, and broomball. Our games on Monday went kind of like this:
We freaking suck at basketball. It was a painful game in which I was knocked on my ass once, Denali dislocated her shoulder, Ashley was having problems breathing, and Elika forgot how to dribble. It was pretty amazing how awful we were. Heck, we didn't even make it to the second half due to the mercy rule (25 points down at any point). We ended up losing 34-7 with Levi scoring 2 points for our team and I scored the other 5. Maybe we will become better? Or maybe not... I hate basketball, but I love playing sports with my friends so I'll stick with it.
Soccer is going to be awesome this quarter. We all work well as a team and we have a freaking rock-solid defense. ATP (our team) even won our first game 1-0! I think this is a promising start to this season of my favorite sport of all time.
Broomball is getting progressively better. We are still losing, but teamwork is finally allowing us to have some good passes down the ice and some shots on net! Elika, Sarah, Levi, and Denali are beasts on offense for reals. I only came out with one bruise too! It was a pretty exciting game and today we will play against the team from the music department and we had better win.... We should win. For once. I really missed playing broomball as the goalie, but I didn't really miss the losing. Oh well. The game is still fun!
I have also started a new side project/game recently and it is amazing what you can do in that game. Minecraft is awesome. Our floor even has a pretty sweet server that we are putting together with about 10 of us from on campus. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE SKIES! And I love that game. Our most recent production (server-wide) is a road/skybridge (I love my skybridges :D ) project that now spans between everyone's house on the server. Our server will be flourishing for quite some time I'll bet and the finished project will be a sight to behold, trust me.
So I guess that's it for now. And I leave you with a Tonberry.
(I didn't draw it)
But Computer Science is amazing because I code and do fun things and make projects and confuse my professor with "if statements." Recital Attendance is glorified nap time with beautiful music, so what's not to like? Physics is interesting, but the labs are lame... But it was to be expected. And I freaking love Wind Symphony. Its the best class ever. I go in and play music with a large ensemble 3 times a week and this semester I managed to snag 3rd chair out of 7! FREAKING STOKED! NO MORE 4th HORN FOR ME PLEASE! (This is incredibly exciting. I was 4th horn on every single song except for Hillulah last semester.) This semester we are playing some pretty sweet music too so it will definitely be a concert worth watching!
Our intramurals have also started! As stated before I'm playing basketball, soccer, and broomball. Our games on Monday went kind of like this:
We freaking suck at basketball. It was a painful game in which I was knocked on my ass once, Denali dislocated her shoulder, Ashley was having problems breathing, and Elika forgot how to dribble. It was pretty amazing how awful we were. Heck, we didn't even make it to the second half due to the mercy rule (25 points down at any point). We ended up losing 34-7 with Levi scoring 2 points for our team and I scored the other 5. Maybe we will become better? Or maybe not... I hate basketball, but I love playing sports with my friends so I'll stick with it.
Soccer is going to be awesome this quarter. We all work well as a team and we have a freaking rock-solid defense. ATP (our team) even won our first game 1-0! I think this is a promising start to this season of my favorite sport of all time.
Broomball is getting progressively better. We are still losing, but teamwork is finally allowing us to have some good passes down the ice and some shots on net! Elika, Sarah, Levi, and Denali are beasts on offense for reals. I only came out with one bruise too! It was a pretty exciting game and today we will play against the team from the music department and we had better win.... We should win. For once. I really missed playing broomball as the goalie, but I didn't really miss the losing. Oh well. The game is still fun!
I have also started a new side project/game recently and it is amazing what you can do in that game. Minecraft is awesome. Our floor even has a pretty sweet server that we are putting together with about 10 of us from on campus. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE SKIES! And I love that game. Our most recent production (server-wide) is a road/skybridge (I love my skybridges :D ) project that now spans between everyone's house on the server. Our server will be flourishing for quite some time I'll bet and the finished project will be a sight to behold, trust me.
So I guess that's it for now. And I leave you with a Tonberry.
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