There are a few strange dreams I've had on account of doing bizarre things the night before. While I didn't have a dream last night, I did do something really stupid that I might regret later (possibly).
I played Silent Hill 2. For the first time. At about two in the morning. No lights, door shut, noise-canceling headphones (only twenty bucks at the local pawn shop) activated and cranked to...well, not to the max, but to the highest level I could tolerate.
Silent Hill 2 is my first Silent Hill game. I'd been reading about the series - mainly what's good and what isn't, ignoring the plotline information outside of Shamus' ongoing series about the adventures of the world's dumbest truck driver. I've basically concluded that Silent Hill 2 would be the best of the games to start off with, given some control improvements and that the graphics are the best in the series. And y'know what, I'm glad I chose this one.
I love it when scary games are actually scary, as in, they rely on psychological tactics to set you off balance as opposed to randomly bashing a monster through the walls in your general direction. In playing the game for the first time, I did not encounter a single monster for the first fifteen minutes. But the game was still doing a very good job of spooking me - if not out of my wits, then at least very close to it. As I walked through the ridiculously dense fog (literally cannot see my hand in front of my face), at certain points I can hear other noises mixed in with my own footsteps. I stop moving to listen, but the noises stop with me. A few rounds of this and I think that I'd best get the hell out of here, so after looking at the controls menu to figure out what the Run button is, I book it.
Then I finally DO meet a monster. A seriously fucked up monstrosity that barely even looks human. I knock him down with a few hits from a wooden plank, but he doesn't just lie there. He starts crawling around in hyper speed, making god-awful noises and moving so fast I can't reach him to finish the job. Even after scoring a few additional hits on him, I'm not even positive that these things CAN be killed. Suddenly I feel no confidence in my character's ability to fight, and that's when the real fear sets in. I've elaborated in the past about how games can be much scarier if you can't fight back, and I think Silent Hill wins the day this time because it executes this masterfully.
Now if only I could have found a save point last night, dammit.
Oct 31, 2008
Oct 27, 2008
Songs We'd Like To See In A Future Guitar Hero Rock Band Game
I've played all three main entries in the console Guitar Hero series (that's 1, 2, and 3, not 80's, not Aerosmith, and certainly not On Tour) as well as the first Rock Band for 360. And while most of my desired songs are supplied (whether via the disc or DLC packs), I feel there are several things distinctly lacking. For starters, I understand they may not be available in all the songs, but why have none of the "big band" variants given the option to play the keyboard? Why is there no Bass Guitar career mode? And the following is a list of songs I wish were available...
Pink Floyd - Several
Wish You Were Here would be great for encores, Astronomy Domine is just an all around blast (the live versions especially), Comfortably Numb has a kick-ass guitar solo and would be fun for the vocalist, and Learning To Fly would give some much-needed presence to the "surreal" songs. And - while I'm not holding my breath - Echoes could be the next Free Bird.
Rush - By-Tor and the Snow Dog
Just for the ending. I just want to see how many people who have never played the song before get completely thrown for a loop.
Steve Miller Band - The Joker
Aww, come on, is there anybody that didn't like this song? I remember being pretty amused by it. And nice for anyone who secretly wants to hear the singer do the "WHA!-whhaaaaa" part, a la Homer.
Midnight Syndicate - Not Your Saviour
Go to a Halloween-themed store and you're likely to find Midnight Syndicate on the shelf. This track in particular is part of their latest album, The Dead Matter, as one of the three included bonus tracks. And the song itself gives me kind of a NIN/Rob Zombie feeling. And it sounds awesome on the right kind of sound system. But I have to ask, what's the bassist doing in this song? Anything? I can't tell.
King Crimson - Several
Running the gamut from old to new, my list of KC songs includes Cat Food from In The Wake of Poseidon (in which the guitarist may have to stand in for a piano player), Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With (which will be fun for the vocalist), and ProzaKc Blues would just be fun in general.
Jethro Tull - Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll, Too Young To Die
Jethro Tull needs a lot of representation here. They're probably my favorite classic rock group, even above Pink Floyd. This is a song I grew up with and it would mean a lot for it to show up in one of these games.
Reverend and the Makers - Heavyweight Champion of the World
Like many songs in Rock Band/Guitar Hero, this one's about underachievement. And this one quotes Marlon Brando. Not to mention it must be cool if it's been featured on Top Gear: Seriously Cool Driving Music.
Yes - Long Distance Runaround
There seriously needs to be some Yes available, but this is the best of their shorter songs that I can think of that would actually work in a Rock Band context.
Frank Klepacki - Hell March
Considering EA, the publisher of Rock Band, presumably has the right to use their own previous works, they could theoretically get this classic Red Alert song into a playable Rock Band song. Well, thinking about it a bit, the later half of the song is a bit synth-heavy, there are no real vocals (except the commandant shouting orders), and they'd also need to contact Klepacki for permission (which, given that they've snubbed him twice, probably will not be granted), the likeliness of this being in Rock Band is slim. But I can dream.
Pink Floyd - Several
Wish You Were Here would be great for encores, Astronomy Domine is just an all around blast (the live versions especially), Comfortably Numb has a kick-ass guitar solo and would be fun for the vocalist, and Learning To Fly would give some much-needed presence to the "surreal" songs. And - while I'm not holding my breath - Echoes could be the next Free Bird.
Rush - By-Tor and the Snow Dog
Just for the ending. I just want to see how many people who have never played the song before get completely thrown for a loop.
Steve Miller Band - The Joker
Aww, come on, is there anybody that didn't like this song? I remember being pretty amused by it. And nice for anyone who secretly wants to hear the singer do the "WHA!-whhaaaaa" part, a la Homer.
Midnight Syndicate - Not Your Saviour
Go to a Halloween-themed store and you're likely to find Midnight Syndicate on the shelf. This track in particular is part of their latest album, The Dead Matter, as one of the three included bonus tracks. And the song itself gives me kind of a NIN/Rob Zombie feeling. And it sounds awesome on the right kind of sound system. But I have to ask, what's the bassist doing in this song? Anything? I can't tell.
King Crimson - Several
Running the gamut from old to new, my list of KC songs includes Cat Food from In The Wake of Poseidon (in which the guitarist may have to stand in for a piano player), Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With (which will be fun for the vocalist), and ProzaKc Blues would just be fun in general.
Jethro Tull - Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll, Too Young To Die
Jethro Tull needs a lot of representation here. They're probably my favorite classic rock group, even above Pink Floyd. This is a song I grew up with and it would mean a lot for it to show up in one of these games.
Reverend and the Makers - Heavyweight Champion of the World
Like many songs in Rock Band/Guitar Hero, this one's about underachievement. And this one quotes Marlon Brando. Not to mention it must be cool if it's been featured on Top Gear: Seriously Cool Driving Music.
Yes - Long Distance Runaround
There seriously needs to be some Yes available, but this is the best of their shorter songs that I can think of that would actually work in a Rock Band context.
Frank Klepacki - Hell March
Considering EA, the publisher of Rock Band, presumably has the right to use their own previous works, they could theoretically get this classic Red Alert song into a playable Rock Band song. Well, thinking about it a bit, the later half of the song is a bit synth-heavy, there are no real vocals (except the commandant shouting orders), and they'd also need to contact Klepacki for permission (which, given that they've snubbed him twice, probably will not be granted), the likeliness of this being in Rock Band is slim. But I can dream.
Oct 22, 2008
That Telltale Buzzing Noise
Last night marks my first real experience with Red Faction multiplayer. My brother and I both acquired a copy of Red Faction for PC, supplemented with the Pure Faction patch (necessary for me to get the graphics working), and a server was started. One on one. Mano a mano.
I have to say, honestly, that Red Faction is probably the most fun I've had playing straight deathmatch in a while. Although glitchy and simplistic by today's standards, the Geomod system is still loads of fun in MP (and makes for some interesting escape routes when someone's being chased by a rocket). The weapon selection isn't bad at all (love the Rail Driver) and the levels are usually small enough to accommodate one on one matches with reasonably good gameplay.
But my favorite part was when I discovered that the Control Baton is almost an instant-kill weapon when used with the alternate fire. I'll explain, because I'm not positive everybody that reads Blaugh has even played Red Faction. The Control Baton is the very first weapon you get in Red Faction. It's a simple riot prod that can either be swung around as a club, or as a stun gun. The stunner's energy is not unlimited, however, and the battery needs to be changed after about three seconds of use. It also makes a neat little buzzing noise when it's being fired. Ammo for it is hard to find in multiplayer.
Now, the baton doesn't do a lot of damage in melee - enough to defend oneself, but probably not enough to use as a primary weapon. However, against an ordinary foe - full health, full armor - the stun gun attack can kill them in at least half a second of sustained fire.
If anybody dares challenge me to Red Faction...pay attention for that telltale buzzing noise. It may be the last thing you hear.
I have to say, honestly, that Red Faction is probably the most fun I've had playing straight deathmatch in a while. Although glitchy and simplistic by today's standards, the Geomod system is still loads of fun in MP (and makes for some interesting escape routes when someone's being chased by a rocket). The weapon selection isn't bad at all (love the Rail Driver) and the levels are usually small enough to accommodate one on one matches with reasonably good gameplay.
But my favorite part was when I discovered that the Control Baton is almost an instant-kill weapon when used with the alternate fire. I'll explain, because I'm not positive everybody that reads Blaugh has even played Red Faction. The Control Baton is the very first weapon you get in Red Faction. It's a simple riot prod that can either be swung around as a club, or as a stun gun. The stunner's energy is not unlimited, however, and the battery needs to be changed after about three seconds of use. It also makes a neat little buzzing noise when it's being fired. Ammo for it is hard to find in multiplayer.
Now, the baton doesn't do a lot of damage in melee - enough to defend oneself, but probably not enough to use as a primary weapon. However, against an ordinary foe - full health, full armor - the stun gun attack can kill them in at least half a second of sustained fire.
If anybody dares challenge me to Red Faction...pay attention for that telltale buzzing noise. It may be the last thing you hear.
Oct 19, 2008
Use The Fucking Bike Lane!
In this rather rant-filled weekend, today I'm going to lash out at bicyclists. Yes, I appreciate that they aren't guzzling gas like the cars on the road (unless they actually drink gasoline, which is stupid and I hope nobody actually does that) but I really wish they would not ride on the damn sidewalks. I'm walking here! Leave me the hell alone!
There are bike lanes for a reason. Y'know, those things on the edge of the road, between all the cars and the sidewalk? I really would appreciate it if bicyclists were to use THOSE - since, y'know, they EXIST and all that - as opposed to barreling down the sidewalks from behind me and damned near running me over! THREE TIMES so far!
So please, for the love of fucking God (wow, wouldn't that be something, to fuck God?), use the bike lanes! It's called a sideWALK, not a sideRIDE!
There are bike lanes for a reason. Y'know, those things on the edge of the road, between all the cars and the sidewalk? I really would appreciate it if bicyclists were to use THOSE - since, y'know, they EXIST and all that - as opposed to barreling down the sidewalks from behind me and damned near running me over! THREE TIMES so far!
So please, for the love of fucking God (wow, wouldn't that be something, to fuck God?), use the bike lanes! It's called a sideWALK, not a sideRIDE!
Oct 18, 2008
More Like ImagesHack, Am I Right?
I used to be a devotee towards Imageshack for all things image hosting. They seemed to have it all. Simple interface, the ability to access your images anytime with little more than an email address, images up to two megs, SWF files...and of course, blazing fast speed. It was tons better than their main rival at the time, Photobucket. The only time I ever saw an Imageshack-hosted image go over the bandwidth limit was when it was posted on Fark.
Nowadays though...Jesus, what happened to these guys? Not only is the formerly simple front page now cluttered as hell with ads and offers, but the interface has become more confusing in favor of looking all Web 2.0 without actually functioning like it (but that's a rant for another day) and the blazing fast speed is now closer to being a blazing fast trip off a cliff. Nearly every attempt I make to either upload or view images on Imageshack takes at least ten minutes, does not even bother timing out, and basically just hangs there...loading for all eternity. Until I close the browser.
Another service, though, comes by recommendation of my good friend Marty. Majhost might require that you sign up for an account first, but it's fast, it's simple, allows direct linking, and generally is very pleasant to work with. I'm sticking with it from here on out. Until it starts to suck again, at which point...well, I'm sure there'll be another service to use at that point.
Nowadays though...Jesus, what happened to these guys? Not only is the formerly simple front page now cluttered as hell with ads and offers, but the interface has become more confusing in favor of looking all Web 2.0 without actually functioning like it (but that's a rant for another day) and the blazing fast speed is now closer to being a blazing fast trip off a cliff. Nearly every attempt I make to either upload or view images on Imageshack takes at least ten minutes, does not even bother timing out, and basically just hangs there...loading for all eternity. Until I close the browser.
Another service, though, comes by recommendation of my good friend Marty. Majhost might require that you sign up for an account first, but it's fast, it's simple, allows direct linking, and generally is very pleasant to work with. I'm sticking with it from here on out. Until it starts to suck again, at which point...well, I'm sure there'll be another service to use at that point.
Oct 10, 2008
We're All In A Rock And Roll Band
Your Debut Album
1 - Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
2 - Go to Random quotations: http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
If you want to do this again, you'll hit refresh to generate new quotes, because clicking the quotes link again will just give you the same quotes over and over again.
3 - Go to flickr's "explore the last seven days" http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
Put it all together, that's your debut album.
My band is Fresno Kangaroo Rat, my first album is Match for Natural Stupidity, and the album artwork is this:
Oct 9, 2008
MAKE THE BEEPING STOP
The batteries in two of our smoke alarms are dying. I know this because the one in my room and the one in the computer room both emit a single, loud BEEP roughly every ten minutes. It started at around 7 AM today and I am hoping we can get the batteries changed sometime soon because I HAVE LOST SLEEP TO THIS BEEPING MENACE. Aaargh!
Oct 7, 2008
Oct 4, 2008
I fucking want my fucking money, right. fucking. NOW.
ADP TotalPay is one of those "doesn't even sound good on paper" kind of deals. Basically, you work for somebody, and they give you a little plastic card as payment. This card is where they deposit your pay every two weeks. Thing is, this means that by the end of the day, THEY control your money and YOU have very little freedom to do whatever you want with it.
I got my card on Monday, pay day, and activated it immediately. I looked over the fee schedule they so helpfully gave me, and upon noticing just how damn much these guys charge for (computer customer service? 50 cents. talk to a human? a buck fifty. withdraw money from ANY ATM? TWO FUCKING DOLLARS plus the fact that there is no ATM that will NOT charge you extra, since the ADP TotalPay card doesn't have a bank associated with it.), I immediately decided to just set up the card to transfer its whole balance to my regular bank account.
The process to set up a transfer account basically involves me typing in a few numbers from the bottom of one of my checks, and then ADP puts that information up their asses and sits on it for a week while they "verify" that the account is good. They couldn't do it PayPal-style, where they put in a couple tiny deposits and then quiz me on how much they were worth. That'd make it too easy.
I set up my transfer account on Monday, the very day I got the card and activated it. It is now Saturday. I cannot transfer funds to my checking account, and as a result, I cannot write a check to Mom so she can buy fucking groceries. ADP has dropped the ball.
I hate not being in control of my money. Especially with how little of it I have floating around.
UPDATE 10/7/08: The transfer function now works, but upon using it, the money disappeared and has not yet shown up in my bank account. God dammit.
I got my card on Monday, pay day, and activated it immediately. I looked over the fee schedule they so helpfully gave me, and upon noticing just how damn much these guys charge for (computer customer service? 50 cents. talk to a human? a buck fifty. withdraw money from ANY ATM? TWO FUCKING DOLLARS plus the fact that there is no ATM that will NOT charge you extra, since the ADP TotalPay card doesn't have a bank associated with it.), I immediately decided to just set up the card to transfer its whole balance to my regular bank account.
The process to set up a transfer account basically involves me typing in a few numbers from the bottom of one of my checks, and then ADP puts that information up their asses and sits on it for a week while they "verify" that the account is good. They couldn't do it PayPal-style, where they put in a couple tiny deposits and then quiz me on how much they were worth. That'd make it too easy.
I set up my transfer account on Monday, the very day I got the card and activated it. It is now Saturday. I cannot transfer funds to my checking account, and as a result, I cannot write a check to Mom so she can buy fucking groceries. ADP has dropped the ball.
I hate not being in control of my money. Especially with how little of it I have floating around.
UPDATE 10/7/08: The transfer function now works, but upon using it, the money disappeared and has not yet shown up in my bank account. God dammit.
Oct 3, 2008
It's Meme Time Again
Shamelessly stolen from Atma's livejournal (who in turn stole it equally shamelessly from this guy)...
IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.
Opening Credits: Korn - No Place To Hide
Korn is no place for a mighty warrior.
Waking Up: JSRF - Shape Da Future
Fits well enough. I'll admit I skipped a track here: Fanfare 2 off the Chrono Trigger soundtrack.
First Day at School: HL2 Episode 1 - Disrupted Original
Must be one seriously screwed up school...
Falling in Love: Animal Crossing - K. K. Western
WTF?!
Fight Song: Necros - Eden
A bit too calm for my liking, but I suppose if it's like a hacker battle or a battlebots duel or something...or maybe I'm misunderstanding the "fight song" category.
Breaking Up: We Love Katamari - Killing Hot Savannah
My breaking up song is a medley of Katamari Damacy music played by barking dogs and cats?!
Prom: XOC - End Credits (What's Pink and Sucks?)
...Okay, that settles it: I wish I had gone to THIS prom.
Life is Good: Phoenix Wright - Detective Gumshoe
I...guess this kind of fits?
Mental Breakdown: Final Fantasy XII - The Royal Capital of Rabanastre
God I hate this song. I'm seriously going to have a mental breakdown if I have to listen to it again.
Driving: Final Fantasy Tactics - Ultima: The Nice Body
I suppose so. We'll roll with that one.
Flashback: Alexander Brandon - Theme from Deus Ex Invisible War
This'll do nicely. No comments or complaints with this one.
Getting Back Together: Valkyrie Profile - Weeping Lilies
OH MY GOD. IT ACTUALLY FITS.
Wedding: Purple Motion - Charts Overdrive
I totally want to get married to a fucking chiptune.
Paying the Dues: Max Coveri - Running in the 90's
Dude, how did I get this song again? Oh wait. YTMND. *facepalm*
Night Before War: Deus Ex - NYC Streets 1, Part 4
In the game I'd usually hear this song before getting into a gunfight. So it fits. Kind of.
Final Battle: Earthbound - Game Over
Uhh...that's very...optimistic.
Moment of Triumph: Hotel Dusk - Resolution
Doesn't sound so much triumphant as it does "Book 'em, Danno."
Death Scene: Trigun - Suna-no-Hoshi
Melancholy guitars. Shuffle is being too kind.
Funeral Song: Rammstein - Du Hast
It's better than "Brother in a Jar," though Eks would rather have that.
End Credits: Chrono Cross - Ancient Dragon's Fort
Must have been a rather WTF ending to get a song like this.
IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.
Opening Credits: Korn - No Place To Hide
Korn is no place for a mighty warrior.
Waking Up: JSRF - Shape Da Future
Fits well enough. I'll admit I skipped a track here: Fanfare 2 off the Chrono Trigger soundtrack.
First Day at School: HL2 Episode 1 - Disrupted Original
Must be one seriously screwed up school...
Falling in Love: Animal Crossing - K. K. Western
WTF?!
Fight Song: Necros - Eden
A bit too calm for my liking, but I suppose if it's like a hacker battle or a battlebots duel or something...or maybe I'm misunderstanding the "fight song" category.
Breaking Up: We Love Katamari - Killing Hot Savannah
My breaking up song is a medley of Katamari Damacy music played by barking dogs and cats?!
Prom: XOC - End Credits (What's Pink and Sucks?)
...Okay, that settles it: I wish I had gone to THIS prom.
Life is Good: Phoenix Wright - Detective Gumshoe
I...guess this kind of fits?
Mental Breakdown: Final Fantasy XII - The Royal Capital of Rabanastre
God I hate this song. I'm seriously going to have a mental breakdown if I have to listen to it again.
Driving: Final Fantasy Tactics - Ultima: The Nice Body
I suppose so. We'll roll with that one.
Flashback: Alexander Brandon - Theme from Deus Ex Invisible War
This'll do nicely. No comments or complaints with this one.
Getting Back Together: Valkyrie Profile - Weeping Lilies
OH MY GOD. IT ACTUALLY FITS.
Wedding: Purple Motion - Charts Overdrive
I totally want to get married to a fucking chiptune.
Paying the Dues: Max Coveri - Running in the 90's
Dude, how did I get this song again? Oh wait. YTMND. *facepalm*
Night Before War: Deus Ex - NYC Streets 1, Part 4
In the game I'd usually hear this song before getting into a gunfight. So it fits. Kind of.
Final Battle: Earthbound - Game Over
Uhh...that's very...optimistic.
Moment of Triumph: Hotel Dusk - Resolution
Doesn't sound so much triumphant as it does "Book 'em, Danno."
Death Scene: Trigun - Suna-no-Hoshi
Melancholy guitars. Shuffle is being too kind.
Funeral Song: Rammstein - Du Hast
It's better than "Brother in a Jar," though Eks would rather have that.
End Credits: Chrono Cross - Ancient Dragon's Fort
Must have been a rather WTF ending to get a song like this.
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