Wednesday, July 29, 2009
An Eventful Week
This past week, I finally upgraded my PC. Now working with 2.4 gigs of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT video card, and a BFG 550 watt power supply. I picked up Sins of a Solar Empire, as it's the game that actually drove me toward the upgrades in the first place. Fun game. You build fleets of star ships and colonize worlds in an effort to build up an empire. You can zoom out to see lightyears of space, or you can zoom in so close that you see the hull panels on an individual ship and hear the drone of its engine.
But what I have been obsessed with since Sunday night is Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. I've had Episode 1 for over a year now, but haven't been able to play it on my PC. Now that I have the new hardware, however, I've played through both episodes. Started Ep. 1 Sunday night, finished it Monday afternoon. Immediately, I downloaded Ep. 2, and before going to bed, I had gotten to the last stage of the game. I beat the final boss last night. Episode 3 cannot be released soon enough. In the meantime, I'm trying to find another PC game to try. Sins is fun, and I love real-time strategy, but I'm really wanting an action title, preferably a first-person shooter/adventure.
And then there's Trine. Dear Lord, I want to play that.
While at Wal-Mart last night, I heard a tornado siren that had cleverly been concealed in a small child. From thirty feet away, you could still hear the intake of air as the kid drew in the preparatory breath. The scream could strip your soul right out of your body.
As the creature's parents carry it farther into the store, I utter the words "Sweet Jesus" and look to the end of the aisle this hellish promenade had just passed. In doing so, I lock gazes with a thirtyish woman. The widening of her eyes bespeaks her shock and, perhaps, horror. Then, as I turn away, I notice the swell of her belly. I realize she is pregnant, and I think, "Best of luck, lady. You just saw what you have to look forward to."
But what I have been obsessed with since Sunday night is Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. I've had Episode 1 for over a year now, but haven't been able to play it on my PC. Now that I have the new hardware, however, I've played through both episodes. Started Ep. 1 Sunday night, finished it Monday afternoon. Immediately, I downloaded Ep. 2, and before going to bed, I had gotten to the last stage of the game. I beat the final boss last night. Episode 3 cannot be released soon enough. In the meantime, I'm trying to find another PC game to try. Sins is fun, and I love real-time strategy, but I'm really wanting an action title, preferably a first-person shooter/adventure.
And then there's Trine. Dear Lord, I want to play that.
While at Wal-Mart last night, I heard a tornado siren that had cleverly been concealed in a small child. From thirty feet away, you could still hear the intake of air as the kid drew in the preparatory breath. The scream could strip your soul right out of your body.
As the creature's parents carry it farther into the store, I utter the words "Sweet Jesus" and look to the end of the aisle this hellish promenade had just passed. In doing so, I lock gazes with a thirtyish woman. The widening of her eyes bespeaks her shock and, perhaps, horror. Then, as I turn away, I notice the swell of her belly. I realize she is pregnant, and I think, "Best of luck, lady. You just saw what you have to look forward to."
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Notes
This is more for public record. I'm logging some ideas I've been discussing on forums, in reference to a kind of "Barbarians in Space" story:
I was watching too much Star Trek and reading too much Conan the Barbarian.
For the most part, I'm dealing with a cast of characters who prefer close range weapons, and who scrounge together the parts for kinda hodge-podge equipment. I want something like vibroblades as a counterpoint. For me, the tech isn't really all that important. I'm not all that tech-saavy. It's more like an old adventure story. Creating a bunch of new tech gets in the way of that for me.
Things like axes fashioned from obsolete plasma cutters. Warhammers made from old piston hammers, if I can figure out the mechanics. I'm serious about the hodge podge thing. Vibroblades will be expensive, more like war trophies to this crew.
I was watching too much Star Trek and reading too much Conan the Barbarian.
For the most part, I'm dealing with a cast of characters who prefer close range weapons, and who scrounge together the parts for kinda hodge-podge equipment. I want something like vibroblades as a counterpoint. For me, the tech isn't really all that important. I'm not all that tech-saavy. It's more like an old adventure story. Creating a bunch of new tech gets in the way of that for me.
Things like axes fashioned from obsolete plasma cutters. Warhammers made from old piston hammers, if I can figure out the mechanics. I'm serious about the hodge podge thing. Vibroblades will be expensive, more like war trophies to this crew.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Dork Knight
Daniel came over to swim for a bit. And by "swim", I mean, we more or less stood around in the pool having increasingly inane conversations. And because I am the mosquito magnet of any group, I'm constantly having to swat the little bastards away from my forehead.
That's a very inconvenient place for mosquitoes to alight.
At a certain point (it's after nine), a bat starts swooping in to scoop up sips of water from the pool. Immediately, we are fascinated by this bat. Daniel entertains notions of catching the bat. I merely beg it to return so I may use it as an emblem to fight crime. This, suprisingly, does not work. Eventually, I am struck by a far more prudent idea:
"Hey! Get back here and catch some of these damn mosquitoes!"
That's a very inconvenient place for mosquitoes to alight.
At a certain point (it's after nine), a bat starts swooping in to scoop up sips of water from the pool. Immediately, we are fascinated by this bat. Daniel entertains notions of catching the bat. I merely beg it to return so I may use it as an emblem to fight crime. This, suprisingly, does not work. Eventually, I am struck by a far more prudent idea:
"Hey! Get back here and catch some of these damn mosquitoes!"
Monday, July 13, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Get a Grip
A month ago, when we went to Katie's graduation, I ran into one of my comic-shop buddies. It was a surprise, mostly because I had no idea he knew Katie, so I did something I don't normally do. I offered a handshake. And I regretted it. Dude had a dead-fish handshake.
I don't know exactly why, but every time I encounter someone with a limp grip, I feel just a bit dirty.
Anyway, I've been thinking quite a bit about this. Ultimately, I think most people would do well to learn the proper etiquette. Things like,
a) NO LIMP HANDSHAKES! There are a lot of people who judge character by the strength of your grip. I am one of them.
b) Don't overdo it. You don't want to come across as over-bearing. You want a firm grip, enough to let the other person know you're there, but you don't want to crush his or her hand. My general rule is to match the other person's grip.
c) Don't start too far away. With one arm stretched out in front of you, people will wonder when you'll start the goose-step.
d) Don't prolong it. One or two pumps of the arm, if you're old fashioned. Most of the time, though, just grip and release. And definitely don't hold the other person's hand through a conversation. For one thing, it's awkward. For another, people like me will start entertaining notions of chopping off your hand.
e) If you're a man, never--NEVER--offer your hand to a lady. It's presumptuous as hell. Some women don't shake hands. Some do. Always let them initiate it. And if shaking hands with a woman, same rules as before.
Those are just some very basic things. I could go on a bit longer, and there are others who could out-talk me on the subject.
Bet you didn't think a geek could shake hands.
I don't know exactly why, but every time I encounter someone with a limp grip, I feel just a bit dirty.
Anyway, I've been thinking quite a bit about this. Ultimately, I think most people would do well to learn the proper etiquette. Things like,
a) NO LIMP HANDSHAKES! There are a lot of people who judge character by the strength of your grip. I am one of them.
b) Don't overdo it. You don't want to come across as over-bearing. You want a firm grip, enough to let the other person know you're there, but you don't want to crush his or her hand. My general rule is to match the other person's grip.
c) Don't start too far away. With one arm stretched out in front of you, people will wonder when you'll start the goose-step.
d) Don't prolong it. One or two pumps of the arm, if you're old fashioned. Most of the time, though, just grip and release. And definitely don't hold the other person's hand through a conversation. For one thing, it's awkward. For another, people like me will start entertaining notions of chopping off your hand.
e) If you're a man, never--NEVER--offer your hand to a lady. It's presumptuous as hell. Some women don't shake hands. Some do. Always let them initiate it. And if shaking hands with a woman, same rules as before.
Those are just some very basic things. I could go on a bit longer, and there are others who could out-talk me on the subject.
Bet you didn't think a geek could shake hands.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
