A strange mix of words to be sure. But, honestly, its recent events in a nutshell. Yep. Shall I explain?
First, dejavu- a catchall word for things, feelings, or people coming back from your past. Someone did come back: Paulamin Hein, my old CC pal. Back to Illinois to be precise, from the icy realms of the North Woods. It was like dejavu snuck up behind me and whacked me in the back of the head- in a good way. Arriving at CC, backpack slung over my shoulder, a head full of fog, and half-closed eyes, it takes a moment for me to comprehend that PH, that brown blazer-clad tactician himself, is back at CC. I tell ya, there's not much like seeing an old friend again after way to long apart.
Verdict on dejavu: Hallelujah! :D
Next, love. Do I really need to explain? I stroll around with songs like Replay, Hey Soul Sister, I'm Yours, The Way You Are, etc, etc, playing in my head. I love love! :D Sometimes it hurts though. Its the kinda helpless feeling I hate. Love doesn't always bring courage- a freaking 14 year old boy doesn't go around making deep confessions of love. Since love, I find myself looking up more- stars are beautiful.
Verdict on Love: Love it, hate it, but no time to debate it? =S (Nah, I love it too much to hate it!)
And lastly, craziness, I am writing in the aftermath of an awesome 14th birthday. Not too much to say here, other than that my friends rock. Johnny, Brandon, Andrew, Paul, RB, Water Squirter Boy, and Yugi: what better friends could you ask for? :D
Verdict on craziness: Coke + Tabasco = Epic Win! xD
And so ends my twisted version of the nine o clock news. Just had to get that off my chest- especially the love part... =S
@RB: Surely you have SOMETHING to say ;)
Monday, October 4, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
TA T1 Tech Trees: Pros and Cons
Alright my lovely readers, I'm back from my strategy hiatus. Yeah, I'm here to talk about that most beloved and ancient game: TA. But this time, I'll bore you in a new and improved format! ;) You see, I kinda realized that my previous posts were stuffed with monumentally little information. Essentially, I wasted about a page of writing on a single unit. At that rate, I'd be dead and gone before I got to rate the Krogoth. So, I'm gonna tackle my role as a fount of sage wisdom and advice from a different angle. Just in case you don't read titles, I'll be talking about the different tech branches in TA, along with their advantages and liabilities.
I present for your consideration (or mine, at least), the K-bot Lab. For some reason, a lot of players new to online TA play tend to favor these mechs. Maybe its because they're a staple in most campaign missions. Maybe its because they look cool. I don't know. But what I do know, is that I'm gonna break a lot of hearts when I say: they're a bad choice. Well, for a first lab at least. You see, something you'll have to learn about TA, and part of what makes it such a great game, is that there's a time and place for every factory. Though each faction's offers several viable units, K-bot Labs make a poor first plant for several reasons. First, K-bots are generally rather fragile, at least for their price. So you pay precious resources for a unit that is rather easily reduced to rubble. Resources and units are not things you can afford to lose in the first tense minutes of a TA game. Second, their Cons flat out suck. Its the sad truth. Their speed is deplorable, their armor vulnerable, and their nanolathe mediocre. Vehicles cons are better in every way. Having cons that move slower and die to raiding scouts more easily puts you drastically behind in resources and expansion. And lastly, their units are specialized. This isn't bad, per say, but what most players need early on are reliable, versatile units. So, I've spent all this time ranting against K-bots, but I haven't even touched on where they excel. Well, in a usual TA game, you'll want to break out the Kbots mid to late game. As Arm, you might want to bring out some K-bot Labs, and rush a band of Rockos to punch through that MT forest. Core players might do the same with Storms, or use them to support their Slashers. Also they have the option of using Thuds on maps like Luschpuppy, John's Pass, or Great Divide 2, in order to sneak around enemy defenses, by abusing the Thuds' scaling abilities. On Gods of War, and similar maps, K-bots become valuable mid game, for Pelicans, a powerful anti-scoutboat weapon. K-bots are often game deciders, and viable during the second half of a match. There are two exceptions to this mid-game rule. For Core, on low-resource maps, K-bot farming, using their cons, works well. And for Arm, a well executed PeeWee raid can decide the game. However, these two strategies are highly situational, and really require you to know what you're doing (especially the second).
Now, the Vehicle Plant is everything the K-bot lab isn't. It's cheap. It's reliable. It's versatile. And it's cons are beasts. ;) All these attributes combine to make it the best starting lab. One glaring fact is that the Vehicle Plant is cheaper than the K-bot Lab. Also, its units have a cheaper metal to armor ratio. Both factions have a great raiding unit (Flashes for Arm, Weasels for Core), and an amazing missile unit (Samsons and Slashers) that can be produced from this one plant. Along with the sturdy cons, these are exactly the types of units needed early game. In ground battles, many players opt to make two, three, four... even five of these labs before switching tech trees. This is mainly because, while raiding units lose usefulness as the game progresses, missile units like Sams and Slashkers are viable at any point in the game. Even on maps centered around air and sea battles, like Gods of War, players may opt to build a Vehicle Plant first, in order to get its superior cons, and increase their build power for the whole game. Learning to use vehicles is key to success in 90% of TA games. There are more specific requirements for each faction though. As an Arm player, you have to know how to handle Flashes. They are great units, but they wont do all the work. Learn to read your opponent, use terrain to shield you from missile units, and always drive a dying Flash into the front of an enemy Vehicle Plant, as it cant be D-gunned without taking down the plant, and if it dies from regular fire, its wreckage will temporarily throw off enemy production, giving you the chance to get a jump on expansion, or pump out even more raiders. For Core, YOU WILL LOSE every single Arm v. Core game you play unless you know how to use your Slash(k)ers. Slashers love radar. Give it to them. It helps you in two ways. One, it lets you keep an eye out for raiding enemy units. What this does is allow you to keep your Slashers up front, aggressively, instead of gaurding our resources at the back of your base, as you will pick up incoming enemies on radar, giving you time to get your Slashs back there, if necessary. The second, and greatest, way Slashers use radar is to radar target. This is important for Arm players, but its a Core commander's lifeline. Move up that radar line until you see enemy dots. Group your Slashers, and order them to fire on those dots. This way, you get off the first volley, only trigger the return fire of the one unit you are attacking, and your opponent won't know the scope of your Slashker mob. And if you see those dots start moving toward you, I have one thing to tell you: "Run, Forest, run!!" =) Really. Always run, if they're willing to chase. This way, you get off even more volleys, before they even have los. Also, against Flashes, this is VITAL. Those Arm vermin will chew your poor 'kers up like nobody's business if they get in close. After a while, your wimpy tactics will wear down their force, and they'll either die off, or retreat. Either way, you can regroup your (hopefully) unscratched Slashers and press the radar targeting attack once more. The importance of the Flash, Slash, and their respective Vehicle Plants cannot be stressed enough.
And now, the Aircraft Plant. This, here, is the hardest tech branch to pin down, one way or another. And that's probably because, more than any other lab, the skill of the player makes it or breaks it. You see, aircraft are risky. For one- they're expensive. Also, they really set you back in resources, because their cons, though handy, have very poor nanolathe. You see, aircraft don't have health, defensive presence, or anything like that- so going aircraft first cripples your economy. All these things are very true. But I have one word for the scoffers: linebombing. Yep, that most sacred of bugs. It makes quick air viable. You see, in the hands of a noob, aircraft are a disaster. But under the control of a veteran, they're jaw-dropping. If you go air first, rush out a bomber, and proceed to pound enemy resources and cons into the ground with it, you can reclaim your plant, go vehicle, and be ahead of your opponent. Early game aircraft are all about disruption. Sure, it sets you back to choose them, but if you play your bombers right, they'll still be scraping rocks together when you're starting your first fusion. =) But you HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO MICRO YOUR BOMBERS. You've gotta know how to linebomb, and linebomb wisely. You gotta know how to dodge missiles, and when to retreat for repairs. And you gotta know how to pick your targets wisely. So if it turns out they have two MTs in there base when you do your first pass, you've gotta high-tail outta there, making liberal use of offscreen, without getting vaporized, remember where the MTs were, take the right angle to hit them both on your next pass, and then successfully carry out the linebomb. So early air is about skill and micro and disruption. But air has another role in TA, and its more about economy, lategame, and mass-production. =) These usually take on the form of Hawk swarms and/or bomber stacks. We're talking half a dozen air plants, guarded by FARKS if you're Arm, or Adv. Vehicle Cons if you're Core. If there was ever a game ender in TA, masses air is it. Not too much to say here, other than you need massive resource income, and no qualms about pressuring your unit limit. Basically, the one time air is not used much is mid-game. Its too late for raid-bombing to be very effective, and too early for the resources needed to mass air. Generally, air first is a risky option, that can pay off very well, or become a disaster. If you want to go fast air, you better know what you're doing... ;)
And lastly, the classy, old shipyards, of course, only usable on water maps. Naval units are an interesting bunch. Con. ships have decent nanolathe, and, most importantly, can mass produce tidal generators, arguably the most effecient T1 energy generator. Its cost is somewhere between that of a solar and wind, while its energy production is consistently high, usually ranging from +20 to even +25. On the flat expanses of ocean, its easy to cue up long lines of tidals, on several cons. A third con ship can be set to producing floating metal makers. This is a consistent and powerful resource engine, which can fuel a sea based war. Also, the T1 Shipyard is by far the cheapest plant, yet the majority of ships are extremely pricey. The main, and very important, exception to this rule is the scoutboat. It carries two weapons, an extremely light laser, and a missile, is rather cheap, and has very acceptable speed and agility. Though this is balanced by rather light armor, it is still an exceptional unit. On maps like GOW, going sea first means a huge advantage against raid bombers, as these little boats make for effecient scramble AA. In team games, one player will often go sea first, simply to be able to share a handful of scoutboats with his allies, in order to warn off the dreaded line bombers. Because of their AA, they're also useful for securing islands on GOW and other island hopping maps. Con A's and Atlases will be cut off from the precious metal deposits and rocks located there, and the only immediate option would be to walk their Commander over there- by that point, it wouldnt be worth it. Scoutboats make a handy default for early game sea production, being similar to Slashers and Samsons in the fact that they are almost always useful, until Pelicans hit the water. Because of a certain glitch, the Skeeters' missiles are unable to hit Pels, rendering them almost useless. Even then, however, they can be used as meatsheilds, to slow down the Pels while your destroyers work from afar. Destroyers, Crusaders, Enforcers, commonly known as collectively as Crussies are formidable weapon. Its range, power, and ability to fend off subs or underwater commanders make it likely the best sea unit, in terms of combat. Often, when two players hit the waves and a Skeet battle developes, a player must decide whether to rush out a Crussie or a sub. Because of their range and firepower, Crussies are overall the better choice, but if your opponent has the clear lead in Skeeter production, a sub can catch him off guard, and even the Skeet count before they can manage to make a Crussie or sub of their own. Advanced Shipyards are almost always built for economical purposes. Carriers, the Arm Colossus and the Core Hive, produce more energy than a Geothermal plant, with their radar turned off. However, if you need a bit of an extra punch in your naval forces, you have a different option, depending on which faction you play. For Arm, there is the Conqueror, which is essentially like a bigger, badder Crusie. However, its greatest advantage is its large range- the longest of any naval unit. If you block well enough with your Skeets, these can sit back and pound your opponent's force into Serpent fodder while taking minimal damage themselves. On the other hand, Core players might want to make the investment in Warlords. Warlords are made effective by their extremely accurate green laser, which also has fair range and great damage. If well micro'd and sheilded, a Warlord can take down indefinite numbers of Skeets, while also picking off enemy crussies and conq's. The key here is to have plenty of scout boats to cushion your 'Lord, find targets, and provide targets themselves, and, should it come under any counterfire, to repair it, with 2, 3, even four con ships in the thick of combat. Your own scoutboats should generally keep out enemy skeets, and your opponent will have to make a hard decision between focusing fire on the Warlord, or the cons. That moment of indecision is sometimes all you need to turn the tide (pun, heck yah ;P) of an intense sea-to-sea war. So in summary, on almost any map with water, going sea is wise. THe AA provided by skeets, along with the powerful resource engine of tidals makes it a must almost anywhere it is available. Even on maps such as Luschpuppy, where there is no sea route to your enemy, players will always go sea sooner or later in order to claim those precious energy-making carriers. However, I think that its also important to note that, for all f its benefits, sea first is usually a poor decision, with the obvious exceptions of mainly/all water maps such as Hundred Isles or Brain Coral. It can be helpful in team games, but otherwise, in most island hopping maps you'd be better off going straight air for disruption, or vehicle, reclaim the plant, then air, for the sake of those ever productive con vehicles, which can then be atlased to other isles as needed.
Hallelujah and amen- my work here is done ;)
I present for your consideration (or mine, at least), the K-bot Lab. For some reason, a lot of players new to online TA play tend to favor these mechs. Maybe its because they're a staple in most campaign missions. Maybe its because they look cool. I don't know. But what I do know, is that I'm gonna break a lot of hearts when I say: they're a bad choice. Well, for a first lab at least. You see, something you'll have to learn about TA, and part of what makes it such a great game, is that there's a time and place for every factory. Though each faction's offers several viable units, K-bot Labs make a poor first plant for several reasons. First, K-bots are generally rather fragile, at least for their price. So you pay precious resources for a unit that is rather easily reduced to rubble. Resources and units are not things you can afford to lose in the first tense minutes of a TA game. Second, their Cons flat out suck. Its the sad truth. Their speed is deplorable, their armor vulnerable, and their nanolathe mediocre. Vehicles cons are better in every way. Having cons that move slower and die to raiding scouts more easily puts you drastically behind in resources and expansion. And lastly, their units are specialized. This isn't bad, per say, but what most players need early on are reliable, versatile units. So, I've spent all this time ranting against K-bots, but I haven't even touched on where they excel. Well, in a usual TA game, you'll want to break out the Kbots mid to late game. As Arm, you might want to bring out some K-bot Labs, and rush a band of Rockos to punch through that MT forest. Core players might do the same with Storms, or use them to support their Slashers. Also they have the option of using Thuds on maps like Luschpuppy, John's Pass, or Great Divide 2, in order to sneak around enemy defenses, by abusing the Thuds' scaling abilities. On Gods of War, and similar maps, K-bots become valuable mid game, for Pelicans, a powerful anti-scoutboat weapon. K-bots are often game deciders, and viable during the second half of a match. There are two exceptions to this mid-game rule. For Core, on low-resource maps, K-bot farming, using their cons, works well. And for Arm, a well executed PeeWee raid can decide the game. However, these two strategies are highly situational, and really require you to know what you're doing (especially the second).
Now, the Vehicle Plant is everything the K-bot lab isn't. It's cheap. It's reliable. It's versatile. And it's cons are beasts. ;) All these attributes combine to make it the best starting lab. One glaring fact is that the Vehicle Plant is cheaper than the K-bot Lab. Also, its units have a cheaper metal to armor ratio. Both factions have a great raiding unit (Flashes for Arm, Weasels for Core), and an amazing missile unit (Samsons and Slashers) that can be produced from this one plant. Along with the sturdy cons, these are exactly the types of units needed early game. In ground battles, many players opt to make two, three, four... even five of these labs before switching tech trees. This is mainly because, while raiding units lose usefulness as the game progresses, missile units like Sams and Slashkers are viable at any point in the game. Even on maps centered around air and sea battles, like Gods of War, players may opt to build a Vehicle Plant first, in order to get its superior cons, and increase their build power for the whole game. Learning to use vehicles is key to success in 90% of TA games. There are more specific requirements for each faction though. As an Arm player, you have to know how to handle Flashes. They are great units, but they wont do all the work. Learn to read your opponent, use terrain to shield you from missile units, and always drive a dying Flash into the front of an enemy Vehicle Plant, as it cant be D-gunned without taking down the plant, and if it dies from regular fire, its wreckage will temporarily throw off enemy production, giving you the chance to get a jump on expansion, or pump out even more raiders. For Core, YOU WILL LOSE every single Arm v. Core game you play unless you know how to use your Slash(k)ers. Slashers love radar. Give it to them. It helps you in two ways. One, it lets you keep an eye out for raiding enemy units. What this does is allow you to keep your Slashers up front, aggressively, instead of gaurding our resources at the back of your base, as you will pick up incoming enemies on radar, giving you time to get your Slashs back there, if necessary. The second, and greatest, way Slashers use radar is to radar target. This is important for Arm players, but its a Core commander's lifeline. Move up that radar line until you see enemy dots. Group your Slashers, and order them to fire on those dots. This way, you get off the first volley, only trigger the return fire of the one unit you are attacking, and your opponent won't know the scope of your Slashker mob. And if you see those dots start moving toward you, I have one thing to tell you: "Run, Forest, run!!" =) Really. Always run, if they're willing to chase. This way, you get off even more volleys, before they even have los. Also, against Flashes, this is VITAL. Those Arm vermin will chew your poor 'kers up like nobody's business if they get in close. After a while, your wimpy tactics will wear down their force, and they'll either die off, or retreat. Either way, you can regroup your (hopefully) unscratched Slashers and press the radar targeting attack once more. The importance of the Flash, Slash, and their respective Vehicle Plants cannot be stressed enough.
And now, the Aircraft Plant. This, here, is the hardest tech branch to pin down, one way or another. And that's probably because, more than any other lab, the skill of the player makes it or breaks it. You see, aircraft are risky. For one- they're expensive. Also, they really set you back in resources, because their cons, though handy, have very poor nanolathe. You see, aircraft don't have health, defensive presence, or anything like that- so going aircraft first cripples your economy. All these things are very true. But I have one word for the scoffers: linebombing. Yep, that most sacred of bugs. It makes quick air viable. You see, in the hands of a noob, aircraft are a disaster. But under the control of a veteran, they're jaw-dropping. If you go air first, rush out a bomber, and proceed to pound enemy resources and cons into the ground with it, you can reclaim your plant, go vehicle, and be ahead of your opponent. Early game aircraft are all about disruption. Sure, it sets you back to choose them, but if you play your bombers right, they'll still be scraping rocks together when you're starting your first fusion. =) But you HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO MICRO YOUR BOMBERS. You've gotta know how to linebomb, and linebomb wisely. You gotta know how to dodge missiles, and when to retreat for repairs. And you gotta know how to pick your targets wisely. So if it turns out they have two MTs in there base when you do your first pass, you've gotta high-tail outta there, making liberal use of offscreen, without getting vaporized, remember where the MTs were, take the right angle to hit them both on your next pass, and then successfully carry out the linebomb. So early air is about skill and micro and disruption. But air has another role in TA, and its more about economy, lategame, and mass-production. =) These usually take on the form of Hawk swarms and/or bomber stacks. We're talking half a dozen air plants, guarded by FARKS if you're Arm, or Adv. Vehicle Cons if you're Core. If there was ever a game ender in TA, masses air is it. Not too much to say here, other than you need massive resource income, and no qualms about pressuring your unit limit. Basically, the one time air is not used much is mid-game. Its too late for raid-bombing to be very effective, and too early for the resources needed to mass air. Generally, air first is a risky option, that can pay off very well, or become a disaster. If you want to go fast air, you better know what you're doing... ;)
And lastly, the classy, old shipyards, of course, only usable on water maps. Naval units are an interesting bunch. Con. ships have decent nanolathe, and, most importantly, can mass produce tidal generators, arguably the most effecient T1 energy generator. Its cost is somewhere between that of a solar and wind, while its energy production is consistently high, usually ranging from +20 to even +25. On the flat expanses of ocean, its easy to cue up long lines of tidals, on several cons. A third con ship can be set to producing floating metal makers. This is a consistent and powerful resource engine, which can fuel a sea based war. Also, the T1 Shipyard is by far the cheapest plant, yet the majority of ships are extremely pricey. The main, and very important, exception to this rule is the scoutboat. It carries two weapons, an extremely light laser, and a missile, is rather cheap, and has very acceptable speed and agility. Though this is balanced by rather light armor, it is still an exceptional unit. On maps like GOW, going sea first means a huge advantage against raid bombers, as these little boats make for effecient scramble AA. In team games, one player will often go sea first, simply to be able to share a handful of scoutboats with his allies, in order to warn off the dreaded line bombers. Because of their AA, they're also useful for securing islands on GOW and other island hopping maps. Con A's and Atlases will be cut off from the precious metal deposits and rocks located there, and the only immediate option would be to walk their Commander over there- by that point, it wouldnt be worth it. Scoutboats make a handy default for early game sea production, being similar to Slashers and Samsons in the fact that they are almost always useful, until Pelicans hit the water. Because of a certain glitch, the Skeeters' missiles are unable to hit Pels, rendering them almost useless. Even then, however, they can be used as meatsheilds, to slow down the Pels while your destroyers work from afar. Destroyers, Crusaders, Enforcers, commonly known as collectively as Crussies are formidable weapon. Its range, power, and ability to fend off subs or underwater commanders make it likely the best sea unit, in terms of combat. Often, when two players hit the waves and a Skeet battle developes, a player must decide whether to rush out a Crussie or a sub. Because of their range and firepower, Crussies are overall the better choice, but if your opponent has the clear lead in Skeeter production, a sub can catch him off guard, and even the Skeet count before they can manage to make a Crussie or sub of their own. Advanced Shipyards are almost always built for economical purposes. Carriers, the Arm Colossus and the Core Hive, produce more energy than a Geothermal plant, with their radar turned off. However, if you need a bit of an extra punch in your naval forces, you have a different option, depending on which faction you play. For Arm, there is the Conqueror, which is essentially like a bigger, badder Crusie. However, its greatest advantage is its large range- the longest of any naval unit. If you block well enough with your Skeets, these can sit back and pound your opponent's force into Serpent fodder while taking minimal damage themselves. On the other hand, Core players might want to make the investment in Warlords. Warlords are made effective by their extremely accurate green laser, which also has fair range and great damage. If well micro'd and sheilded, a Warlord can take down indefinite numbers of Skeets, while also picking off enemy crussies and conq's. The key here is to have plenty of scout boats to cushion your 'Lord, find targets, and provide targets themselves, and, should it come under any counterfire, to repair it, with 2, 3, even four con ships in the thick of combat. Your own scoutboats should generally keep out enemy skeets, and your opponent will have to make a hard decision between focusing fire on the Warlord, or the cons. That moment of indecision is sometimes all you need to turn the tide (pun, heck yah ;P) of an intense sea-to-sea war. So in summary, on almost any map with water, going sea is wise. THe AA provided by skeets, along with the powerful resource engine of tidals makes it a must almost anywhere it is available. Even on maps such as Luschpuppy, where there is no sea route to your enemy, players will always go sea sooner or later in order to claim those precious energy-making carriers. However, I think that its also important to note that, for all f its benefits, sea first is usually a poor decision, with the obvious exceptions of mainly/all water maps such as Hundred Isles or Brain Coral. It can be helpful in team games, but otherwise, in most island hopping maps you'd be better off going straight air for disruption, or vehicle, reclaim the plant, then air, for the sake of those ever productive con vehicles, which can then be atlased to other isles as needed.
Hallelujah and amen- my work here is done ;)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
An Important Note on Music in My Life
Before you can fully understand my life, we have to get something straight. I live my life to music. Its always there, in the back of my mind. No spontaneous choreographed dancing or anything. But when I wake up in the morning, a mousy-looking teen with hair that looks more becoming of a scimitar than scissors, I wake up with "Hey Soul Sister" in my ears. "How to Save a Life" plays in my head as I do home work, sprawled on the floor. Taking a walk, marveling even at the pitiful amount of greenery in our neighborhood, "Your Love is a Song" is in the back of my mind. "I'm Going Home" is all I hear as I wrench open a screen door that's far from melodious. I'm sitting on my wasp-ridden back porch, thinking about a girl way over my head, listening to "You and Me" over and over again. And I climb back into my unmade and thoroughly disheveled bed with "Starry Night" ringing in my ears. And that's how it is, every day. Not that I dislike it, though it kinda feels like I'm going insane. That's alright though, I put it down to hormones. All I can say is that music, along with God above and the people around me, makes up a lot of who I am. And I love all three of them.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Inside The Awesome Yet Insane Life of an 8th Grader: Profiling, Part 2
So, where was I?
Believe it or not, there're MANY more characters you need to know about here- I'm not even halfway done. And while these characters aren't exactly Jacobs (he's really the one and only), I still wouldn't dream of leaving them out.
Oh, and by the way, Ryan's gonna do some profiling to. So, whatever he says about me, don't believe it! ;) But no, however much I'd like to be the author who gets to sit back with my bag of popcorn and see how ridiculous, insane, and amazing everything, and everyone else is, we've gotta be fair here. As my readers, you deserve to know just what kind of maniac is telling you this stuff. Also, if RB tries to make me out as some witty, charismatic, outgoing guy- I'm not that great. (So don't try it RB!) In fact, I'm lucky to have friends like him.
Okay, so you caught me. I'm rambling again. But you've come to expect it by now, right? Eh, guess that's no excuse. Well, better late than never, here's Role Call, part 2.
Critical Thinking- where we think about our thinking, while we're thinking, in order to make our thinking better. That's a lot of thinking. And that's also very early in the morning. At this time, good old, store-brand, regular thinking is difficult for me. So you can probably imagine why critical thinking would be a bit of a struggle. However, I do my best.
Collapsing at the nearest table, I look around and get my bearings. Next to me is Jacob- looking wild as usual- yes, even shortly after dawn. Beside him, is Ryan, bright-eyed and and bushy-headed. I don't know whats in those vitamins he takes each morning, but I still don't know how he does it. (Yeah, this kid sends me emails at 6 something in the morning. Crazy stuff.) At the other end of the table, I finally find a kindrid spirit- Mike looks pretty dead too.
Back to the profiling. Michael Jones, alias Pope. Yeah, I'm still trying to figure that one out too... Anyway, he's got pale skin, glasses, and dark curly hair, and bears a passing resemblance to a monk. At first glance, he pretty much seems like a stoic. On second, you realize you're wrong. His sense of humor is essentially the polar opposite of Jacob's: quiet. But that doesn't make it any less funny. To appreciate it, you would need some examples- and though I would so love to give them right now- I'm here for profiling. (Stay focused here, Ben) Anyway, Mike's the kinda friend you get to appreciate more and more the longer you know him. Plus, he owns on Super Smash Bros. Brawl. ;)
The remainder of Critical Thinking passes rather uneventfully, at least in light of profiling. So its not until I'm leaving class that I rub shoulders with our next character.
Yeah, I got to the point this time. This boy is Kyle Trojan. Kyle's a pretty straight forward guy. He's honest, care-free, and basically loves to laugh. Oh, and when Kyle laughs, his face turns some rather shocking colors- and since he's usually laughing, and he tends to be kind of red in the face. He's yet another chap with blond hair and blue eyes, but his huge smile sets him apart. Also, anyone who's at least vaguely aware of his existence knows (Knows!) that Kyle is a lizard lover and a manic Tennessee Titans fan. Trust me, he makes it known! ;) Oh, and he has an age-old Super Smash rivalry with Mike...
So I head to Latin with Kyle. And thankfully, I'm truly starting to wake up- which is good, since there are all of 5 people in our Latin class. It would be hard to bear a fifth of the class discussion with my eyes crossing. Again, Latin doesn't provide too many profiling opportunities, so I'm gonna gloss over this a bit.
As I'm exiting Latin with Kyle and Jacob (I told you I was gonna gloss...), Ryan falls in beside us (he's in a higher level). We're headed for the gym, to grab stuff for Physical Science. In the gym (you know what the hallway experience is like by now, right?) I grab my safety goggles (much to Jacob's joy, we were working with fire that day...), change out my binders, and sling my backpack back over my shoulder- which is thoroughly dislocated at this point, by the way- before I realize that Ryan never made it to the gym. Now, for a split second, I fear the worst. Could it be possible that, while turning into the gym from the hall, Ryan got caught in the undertow, and was swept away? I'm about to grab my oxygen tank again when, who should stroll into the gym but Root Beer himself, side by side with Spencer.
Yep, after that irrelevant story snippet, I'm back to profiling. Spencer Kolssak is his name. And describing this kid might be tough. Looks first, I guess. He has light brown hair, blue eyes (come to think of it, there are a lot of blue-eyed people at CC...), and a casual stance. Anyway, he tends to get in extremely confusing arguments with Christopher (is Christopher's refutation of logic illogical?), always carries bottled water around, and likes pawning Mentos. Yep, its true. Also, he might be a young political activist, or something along those lines- he always seems to be handing out Constituting America wear (P.S. Cheers on the winning essay, Spencer!). He's in Christopher's grade (R1- AKA Freshmen), and I'm assuming most of their bizarre arguments start in class. Other than that, I'll have to show you Spencer play by play- kinda like Mike- there are some things you have to learn via example! ;)
So, we eventually get over to Physical Science. I'm gonna gloss here too, however, I do have to mention this. This day, Physical Science involves an experiment, which involves fire. Jacob is in this class. Mrs. Ludwig was wise- she gave Ryan a fire blanket, just in case. That's all I'm going to say about that class. =)
Okay, so I think I've made my feelings concerning the hall very clear. But after Physical Science, things are even worse. Because, you see, by this period, there are several classes full of very hungry, very sweaty children just waiting to get outside and eat. Jacob can intuitively sense when lunch is near, so he's tense as a mousetrap and ready to spring when Physical Science lets out. Apparently, quite a few others in CC possess this not-so-unique ability, because the hall is swamped by the time I stagger out of class. Even worse than usual. Yeah.
So, surrounded by the masses of half-starved CCers, I notice one kid who doesn't seem affected by the insanity brought on by hours without food, in a building without air condition, wearing suit coats and ties. Now that's inner strength. Rick Doherty is his name. Oh, and if someone tries to tell you his name is Nick- don't believe it! This is a running controversy, but us guys know the truth... ;) Nick, er Rick, also has blue eyes (You know, I never noticed this trend before), and jet-black hair. He's an avid cat lover, an unofficial drummer (most of what I've seen has been on tables), and one of the few sane people in R1 (;]).
I don't go crazy like some, but I have to admit, I'm pretty glad to be outside eating. I must say though, going from the rather stale, electrically-lit classes of CC to the bright, golden, and breezy outdoors is culture shock to the first degree- not to mention blinding. But hey mates, lunchtime is a perfect stopping place! =) Now, I know, I know. This has gotta look like an excuse to weasel my way out of more writing, but really- I'm done! Now you can kick back, relax, and let Ryan profile! :D ;] Oh, any thoughts on these people? Suggestions, revisions, or questions? Lay em on me. =) And now I conclude my rather anticlimatic ending.
Adios mates. =)
(I love CC...)
I don't go crazy like some, but I have to admit, I'm pretty glad to be outside eating. I must say though, going from the rather stale, electrically-lit classes of CC to the bright, golden, and breezy outdoors is culture shock to the first degree- not to mention blinding. But hey mates, lunchtime is a perfect stopping place! =) Now, I know, I know. This has gotta look like an excuse to weasel my way out of more writing, but really- I'm done! Now you can kick back, relax, and let Ryan profile! :D ;] Oh, any thoughts on these people? Suggestions, revisions, or questions? Lay em on me. =) And now I conclude my rather anticlimatic ending.
Adios mates. =)
(I love CC...)
Monday, August 30, 2010
Inside the Awesome Yet Insane Life of an 8th Grader: Profiling, part 1
Well, you might remember a post from RB a while back on TotalRB, titled something along the lines of "The Awesome Yet Insignificant Life of an 8th Grader."
I found that title to be shockingly profound and accurate, in light of my own life at least. So, this is sorta a continuation of that I guess, but a bit different. You see, me 'n' RB go to a little something we call CC- short for "Classical Consortium". Essentially- we're home schooled. But here's the catch. Every Monday, we all pile into our vans and conversions and have a full-fledged school day. We've got great teachers and a good program- but some of the most interesting things happen in the halls. Insane and crazy things. Things that shouldn’t make any sense. But they do. This is a chronicle of what could end up being the best days of our lives.
So here's the plan. Every week (not sure what day) me or RB will post a post (that's worded right, right? =D), switching off between the two of us every week. One week, I'll weigh in. The next week, RB will enlighten us. Then the pattern continues. Get it? Got it? Good.
So anyway, each of these posts will give you a little insight on what its like to walk the (untied) shoes of an 8th Grader.
(They're known as L2's at CC, by the way)
(The 8th's, not the shoes)
But I think this series needs a bit more introduction: on a little thing I like to call profiling. Unfamiliar with the idea? Well, it’s essentially introducing the main "characters" in mine and RB's recounts, so you'll have a better idea of what's to come. I’m new to this too, so bear with me. ;)
Long intro, wasn't that? (No I'm not stalling. The word is rambling, sonny.) Well, without further ado, I present Role Call.
Last you left me, I believe I was half-asleep in a Buick with the sun in my eyes. Well, as deeply touching and strangely satisfying as that ending was (learn to recognize sarcasm my friends. If you can't, don't read the writings of an 8th grader.), the story is only beginning.
So me and my loving pater are making the long voyage to CC. In a way, this time on the road is a sort of twilight zone in my day. Neither fully dark, nor fully light, and pretty much detached from everything else. And it’s always over before I know it. So I just have enough time to remind myself to start narrating this day in the first person before I'm thrown into the halls. Then all else is forgotten as I struggle through masses of loitering kids (Oh, I could say so much about that hall...).
Gasping for breath, I'm thrown from the great mass of humanity, and into the relative quiet of the gym. It also subs as a place for lockers and a lunchroom. Considering the fact that I'm still recovering from motion sickness, kind courtesy of the hall, I'm here for the lockers. Throwing my backpack down (My shoulder was just starting to heal, too =/), I turn in my homework, grab my oxygen tank, and brave the hall once more. I'm hoping I'll end up in the Chapel Room.
Several long seconds later, I find myself standing in that very room. Huh. Guess I got lucky. Anyway, the Chapel Room, is well, the room where we start the day with a chapel service (shocker)- including devotionals, worship, and a pep talk- and is generally the preferred place to catch up with friends. Trying not to look too beat up, I walk over to the seats, and collapse next to RB. You guessed it, profiling time.
Really, his name is Ryan Burns. But that just sounds too formal. I call em RB. Come to think of it, he's called many things including Root Beer, Rooty (long story on that one), and of course RB- anything but Ryan. His skin is pale, his eyes blue (turquoise maybe), and he generally looks nothing like a chilled mug of Barque's. But his hair is by far his most distinctive feature. It’s as if somewhere along the way to CC, his scalp had some serious mishap with an electric fence, car battery, or generally anything else containing dangerous amounts of electricity. Combine this with his blond hair color, and you have a guy that's pretty easy to spot. Other than a victim of voltage, RB is also an aspiring writer, has a fetish for quotes, and will likely one day be President of the United States. He's smart for sure, if not a bit random, and essentially my right hand man. He's gonna protest that by the way. Maybe I'm at his left hand instead.
He's currently humming "Over My Head" by The Fray- one of his favorite songs (Yet another topic to revisit). He’s a keyboardist, guitarist, and generally a wannabe rock star. What can I say; the boy’s a Renaissance man. He pauses briefly, giving me one of his signature "Hey Ben"s, then resumes singing. Before long, I'm singing too. Hey, it’s contagious. Together, we produce something that vaguely resembles harmony. Music is a wonderful thing. =)
Before we completely finish our melodious croaking, someone else enters the chapel. Profile Numero Dos. He's wearing khakis around four sizes too big for his anemic legs, a clip-on tie, and a suit coat. Brown hair, tan skin, hands in pockets. Whipping a lime green yo-yo out of his pocket, he proceeds to stroll toward us, throwing out a casual greeting of "Hello froobizoids." Classy? Maybe. Insane? Of course. Meet Jacob Selvig. My left hand man, I guess. And you've probably got him to thank for the existence of this series of stories. It wouldn't be CC without him. He’s also good on a guitar, deadly with pressure points, and sure to have some gadget (the yo-yo being the example of the day) up his sleeve. Also, feeding him anything that contains higher than 2% sugar content is flat out dangerous (again, a topic for another time). Just be warned.
During worship, Jacob yodels, I try to figure out just what octave I should be singing in with my cracking voice, and Ryan out does us both. By the way people, the amazing thing is that God heard all three of us out. =)
After chapel, chaos ensues. This chaos is supposedly folding chair cleanup- but it feels a smidge like trial by claustrophobia. It’s through these crowds I see Christopher.
At least, I hear him. It’s hard not to- he and I have an unspoken law. Practically a sacred rite. Every time he sees me, he cries, (and I quote) “Beeeeeen!!” And of course, I yell back, “Chriiiissssss!!” A high-five, or something along those lines follows. This brings me to my third profile: Christopher Gearhart. He, like Ryan, has very blond hair. But unlike Ryan, its not standing up on end, his skin isn’t as pale, and his eyes are most definitely blue. Anyway, imagine the most random and light-hearted guy you know. Okay, triple those attributes, and you have something close to an unimaginative stoic compared to Chris. Its hard to bring him down- that’s what I like about him. Like me, he’s a Lego fanatic, but he’s also good with stop motion videos. The results are pretty amazing. He’s actually in the grade above me, but hey, who cares? In short, if you need to lighten up, he’s the guy for you.
So Chris and I have actually managed to get close enough to high-five when I get caught in a riptide of backpack bearing kids and thrown back into the hall. So much for that.
Muttering darkly about traffic control, I’m halfway down the hall when I realize my first class is in the other direction. Let’s just say I step into Critical Thinking a bit battered.
Alright, this isn’t the end, people. I’m still working on the rest. I’m just putting this out here now so you can read what I have so far, and not have to wait decades for me to finish bumbling around on my keyboard. Please please please tell me what you think so far, and what you think of these shady characters, especially if you are NOT RB. ;) If you ARE RB, give me some suggestions on who else I should profile. (Heck, you can do that too, PH) I already have some ideas, but input is always welcome.
Adios mates.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
His Children
Life hurts. Life hurts a lot. And though I realize just how much of an understatement that is, I don't know how to convey the fear, bitterness, sadness, and loneliness that tears up every heart and mind on planet earth. It only makes sense to look around us, see our world falling down, and wonder how an all-powerful, loving God could care. When evil and sadness rip into our lives, separating families, breaking spirits, scarring children, and ending lives, God's love seems impossible. Why doesn't he stop the pain? How could he even allow it to exist? These questions have destroyed the faith of many. Lately, I've been asking the same questions- living mechanically, and refusing to allow myself to think about the pain. I knew that if I thought about it too hard, I'd realize it wasn't a dream- and I wouldn't be waking up any time soon. Putting on crooked smiles and false fronts around those I loved seemed a small price to pay to avoid the pain. I don't know where a life like this would have led me, except that it certainly wouldn't be good. But all that changed. You see, last night, I slept in the hands of God.
Allow me to explain. Last Sunday, God made His first move. Arriving at church, we discovered that our pastor would be speaking- of all things- on why God allows pain in this world, a fitting topic. However, little of at least the first half of the sermon pierced the fog in my mind. But God made sure I heard what I needed to: let me describe my pastor's analogy as best I can:
When a small child is hurt, a dad can do one of two things. The first option is for the parent to set the baby down, look it in the eye, and begin to calmly explain what happened, and why it happened. Usually this doesn't get very far. The father's second option is to pickup the crying infant, holding it tight, whispering, "Don't worry. Daddy's got you. Daddy loves you." The child, though still not understanding what happened or why it had to happen, is rapidly calmed, knowing they were in their father's arms. We are God's children. When darkness falls, and we cannot fathom how God could let it happen, He has reasons. But our minds could never understand or comprehend his perfect plan. So instead, God holds us in our dark days, He carries us through the pain, all the while reminding us, "Don't worry. Daddy's got you. Daddy loves you." We can't understand the reasons, so instead, He holds us.
Last night, I experienced this. I had been wrestling with my feelings all day, and when night fell, I cried out to God. Now, you may have heard this phrase many times before, but don't worry, it really isn't anything too metaphysical- I literally screamed to God. Not with my mouth, but with my mind. And the tears fell. And I wasn't sure if they would ever stop, if they ever SHOULD stop. I totally fell apart. But when I cried out to God, He heard. And I heard, in my mind, through the chaos, as surely as I'm typing now, "I LOVE you." Now it wasn't a voice really, but instead a thought placed in my mind. But I got the message. And not seconds later my tear-wracked body stopped shaking. My breathing grew steady. And an indescribable sense of warmth and security surrounded me... He was holding me. That was all I had time to realize before I slipped into a quiet sleep.
So for those who encounter pain, suffering, and a world that just doesn't make sense, I want you to know that God offers a peace that transcends ALL understanding. And he carries us when we can go no farther.
Friday, August 6, 2010
An old saying goes...
You play the cards dealt to you. But sometimes, people throw down their cards mid-game. What they don't realize is, they end the game for themselves, and all the others.
Please don't ask me to explain this post right now....
Please don't ask me to explain this post right now....
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Video Blog!
Hey everyone, it's RB. I just wanted to inform all people who watch this blog that I have started a video blog series for my first blog Total RB!
You can see the series by searching ballsticmario232's (that's me!) videos on YouTube. I will make a new one every Tuesday for the rest of summer. I might make another certain weeks on Saturday. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, however, I will make one every Saturday only.
Get it? Got it? Good. As you have noticed, I'm serious about getting viewers. That's why I have a Twitter account and a YouTube channel. Please be sympathetic to my blog(s) and follow both. Friend me on Google, follow me on Twitter, and check out, comment, and rate my vids. RB OUT!
You can see the series by searching ballsticmario232's (that's me!) videos on YouTube. I will make a new one every Tuesday for the rest of summer. I might make another certain weeks on Saturday. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, however, I will make one every Saturday only.
Get it? Got it? Good. As you have noticed, I'm serious about getting viewers. That's why I have a Twitter account and a YouTube channel. Please be sympathetic to my blog(s) and follow both. Friend me on Google, follow me on Twitter, and check out, comment, and rate my vids. RB OUT!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Don't worry mates...
More posts on the way! I've just had my mind on other things lately, but the blog is far from going cold...!! Don't worry- updates from my current book project, more Democracy's Demises, and more TA unit summaries!! Plus the occasional wild card from my mate RB... =P
Stay Tuned!
Stay Tuned!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
A Treastise on A Reply To ThinAir's Post
No, I'm not really going to write a really long paper on ThinAir's nostalgic and understandable recent post. But this is an addition.
His friend that left is my friend too.
In fact, all three of us have been friends for 4 years.
But, as almost everyone will have to learn, friends come and go. I would do a lot of things to change that, but it happens.
You have to know that someday, there's going to be a fork in the road. You will take one path. Your friend will take the other.
This has happened with another friend of mine. ThinAir knows this story, but I can't help but think about it. I know that this friend will come back, and until then, I'm going to be very lonely, very pained, very longing.
But it's not going to last forever. And I hope this will be true for both of our friends. But life weaves it's own tale. And fate has drawn the line between my future and another person's.
All we can do about it is pray.
His friend that left is my friend too.
In fact, all three of us have been friends for 4 years.
But, as almost everyone will have to learn, friends come and go. I would do a lot of things to change that, but it happens.
You have to know that someday, there's going to be a fork in the road. You will take one path. Your friend will take the other.
This has happened with another friend of mine. ThinAir knows this story, but I can't help but think about it. I know that this friend will come back, and until then, I'm going to be very lonely, very pained, very longing.
But it's not going to last forever. And I hope this will be true for both of our friends. But life weaves it's own tale. And fate has drawn the line between my future and another person's.
All we can do about it is pray.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Highs and Lows
You remember my nostalgia post a while back, right? In a way, this will probably end up being the same kind of thing. It won't be on the same subject, but it will be similar in the sense that I'm not here to joke around, make an important announcement, or talk strategies. Rather, I just have some things I need to get off my chest and out into the open. I don't expect sympathy, or even advice, I just need to say it, so bear with me.
I always used to hear people say that everything changes when you turn 13. I never thought one year could make that much of a difference, I was sure it couldn't be that bad. And now, at the ripe age of 13 years, I stand corrected. When you turn 13, all the lines that used to be black and white blur. All the normality of life disapears, and you feel like you're fighting just to keep your head above water everyday.
Now, before I go into detail about these struggles, let me tell you something else. I am a Christian. I follow Christ. And the only thing that's keeping me from being swept into this raging void of uncertainty is His Word- the Bible. I've got to trust His Words even when its hard to trust anything else. And the Bible clearly states that two are better than one- as a Christian, I take friendship seriously. So as a result, its hard to see a friend leave. Physically, or emotionally, its always hard. If you don't know what I mean about leaving emotionally, then you've probably never experienced it. When a friend leaves emotionally, you no longer feel like they are the same person, they seem to turn away from you, and start going a different path. That's how I've felt about some of my neighborhood friends for a while now. It seems like the differences between us are ever growing. Cause you see, I'm a Christian. But they aren't. And it seems like every year that goes by, the rift widens. Another close friend of mine is also leaving, but only physically. He and his family are moving up to Wisconsin, to small and wonderful town known as Minocqua. And even though its sad to see him go, I KNOW we'll keep in touch, by phone, email, this blog, or a friendly (hehe) game of TA. They might even return to Illinois in the future, should God will it. But the main thing is, I know we'll still be friends, even though far apart, because he's only leaving physically. What's even harder, is to be near someone, yet know you are no longer friends. All these things combine to put me on a sort of emotional rollercoaster. Highs and lows. For example, a couple days ago, when on a tube, behing a boat, over a blue lake, under a clear sky I was (though admittedly scared) on top of the world. I knew everything would turn out fine. Yet just last night I practically cried myself to sleep, with hardly a trace of hope. With all these emotions flying by at a dizzying speed, its really hard to know what to beleive, which is why I've found I have to cling to God's Word all the more.
I always used to hear people say that everything changes when you turn 13. I never thought one year could make that much of a difference, I was sure it couldn't be that bad. And now, at the ripe age of 13 years, I stand corrected. When you turn 13, all the lines that used to be black and white blur. All the normality of life disapears, and you feel like you're fighting just to keep your head above water everyday.
Now, before I go into detail about these struggles, let me tell you something else. I am a Christian. I follow Christ. And the only thing that's keeping me from being swept into this raging void of uncertainty is His Word- the Bible. I've got to trust His Words even when its hard to trust anything else. And the Bible clearly states that two are better than one- as a Christian, I take friendship seriously. So as a result, its hard to see a friend leave. Physically, or emotionally, its always hard. If you don't know what I mean about leaving emotionally, then you've probably never experienced it. When a friend leaves emotionally, you no longer feel like they are the same person, they seem to turn away from you, and start going a different path. That's how I've felt about some of my neighborhood friends for a while now. It seems like the differences between us are ever growing. Cause you see, I'm a Christian. But they aren't. And it seems like every year that goes by, the rift widens. Another close friend of mine is also leaving, but only physically. He and his family are moving up to Wisconsin, to small and wonderful town known as Minocqua. And even though its sad to see him go, I KNOW we'll keep in touch, by phone, email, this blog, or a friendly (hehe) game of TA. They might even return to Illinois in the future, should God will it. But the main thing is, I know we'll still be friends, even though far apart, because he's only leaving physically. What's even harder, is to be near someone, yet know you are no longer friends. All these things combine to put me on a sort of emotional rollercoaster. Highs and lows. For example, a couple days ago, when on a tube, behing a boat, over a blue lake, under a clear sky I was (though admittedly scared) on top of the world. I knew everything would turn out fine. Yet just last night I practically cried myself to sleep, with hardly a trace of hope. With all these emotions flying by at a dizzying speed, its really hard to know what to beleive, which is why I've found I have to cling to God's Word all the more.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
I'm gonna talk (erm, tweet) all about it
I'm now an official Twitter user.
Follow me at www.twitter.com/TotalRB
I've got two current followers and I am following people like Sarah Palin and Rick Riordan.
I promise you, if you follow me...
You won't be disappointed.
Follow me at www.twitter.com/TotalRB
I've got two current followers and I am following people like Sarah Palin and Rick Riordan.
I promise you, if you follow me...
You won't be disappointed.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Okay, this randomness thing is my life, so why not do it again!
Okay, since this is my second really uber-random post, I will not advise the squeamish to not see this. But it's recommended if you are easily scared.
So, I just took my first guitar lesson! WooHoo! Washington Mutual!
In celebration, will do the Hamster Dance. Hold on a sec...
______________________________________________________________________
Man that hurt. Curse the Hamster Dance! No seriously, I hurt my knee.
Maybe I'll take up curling. Or should I sweep the street? No, I'll just eat salty snacks and lounge around!
I'LL SAVE THAT FOR LATER. OMGOSH! WHY AM I TYPING IN ONLY CAPS? FOR GOSH DARNDARNdarn. Heywaitasec,mycomputerimashingtogetherallthewords! Boohoohoo! Nopinnochioherejustthetruth! ;)
Okay, it was all the wok of Dr. Eggman. You know, the obese dude from Sonic the Hedgehog? He threw a baseball at my screen. Or was it a bass crumpled up? IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?? I WONDER??? OH CRUD THE CAPS THING IS IN ACTION AGAIN!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!
"O, Steven Spielberg, you're the greatest film maker, film maker...
O, and Betty Crocker, you're the best baker, baker...
But I'm the greatest of all...
BEFORE ME YOU MUST FAAAAAAALL!"
Pardon my reverie, but that was one wicked song, don't ya think? I agree, because I know you said "yes, you're the greatest, Master RB". That's skill. Pure skill...
Ugh, Michael Bouble is stuck in my head, so I'm going to remove him from my cerebrum.
Peace out!
So, I just took my first guitar lesson! WooHoo! Washington Mutual!
In celebration, will do the Hamster Dance. Hold on a sec...
______________________________________________________________________
Man that hurt. Curse the Hamster Dance! No seriously, I hurt my knee.
Maybe I'll take up curling. Or should I sweep the street? No, I'll just eat salty snacks and lounge around!
I'LL SAVE THAT FOR LATER. OMGOSH! WHY AM I TYPING IN ONLY CAPS? FOR GOSH DARNDARNdarn. Heywaitasec,mycomputerimashingtogetherallthewords! Boohoohoo! Nopinnochioherejustthetruth! ;)
Okay, it was all the wok of Dr. Eggman. You know, the obese dude from Sonic the Hedgehog? He threw a baseball at my screen. Or was it a bass crumpled up? IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?? I WONDER??? OH CRUD THE CAPS THING IS IN ACTION AGAIN!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!
"O, Steven Spielberg, you're the greatest film maker, film maker...
O, and Betty Crocker, you're the best baker, baker...
But I'm the greatest of all...
BEFORE ME YOU MUST FAAAAAAALL!"
Pardon my reverie, but that was one wicked song, don't ya think? I agree, because I know you said "yes, you're the greatest, Master RB". That's skill. Pure skill...
Ugh, Michael Bouble is stuck in my head, so I'm going to remove him from my cerebrum.
Peace out!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The TA Community
Now, a certain PH fellow has been harping on me to lay down that sacred game (TotalA), and become a SupCommer. For those unfamiliar to the game- SupCom (short for Supreme Commander) is like TA's modern nephew. And in stats, its better than TA in almost every way. SupCom has better graphics, better storyline, better user interface, more factions- the works. But for some reason I can't convey, SupCom can't compare to Total Annihilation. So as a struggled to put my feelings into words, I stumbled unto some TA forums (www.tauniverse.com, www.tazone.com). And although some of the talk was typical and crass, I immeadiately fell in love with their random, sarcastic, and witty banter. Here are some quotes:
Trippen: Who else can't get a job for the life of themselves?
I'm know I'm not alone, but how much so on TAU?
I blame flashbang, for his ignorance. (It is a bliss, I suppose)
~~~~~~~~~
Colonel Sanders: Sure, everyone's always in favor of saving Hitler's brain, but put it in the body of a great white shark oooooooohh, suddenly you've gone too far.
~~~~~~~~~
Notthatkindoforc: ... So your locked in a room with flashbang, a seriously ticked off hedgehog, 4 mexican jumping beans and pikachu, wat do you do?"
Colonel_Sanders," I declare these threads too stupid for even flashbang."
~~~~~~~~~
Chocoabom 2047: just to fun-up the forum!
What's your favourite food? tell it here with much enthusiasm, like you told your grandma once!
Chocoabom 2047: Mine is everything but paprika
Tomcat: Lobster.
Francois: Things that are too good for you to even know about them!
Bidigam: All foods on this post seem delicious- If you never ate before in your life.
DoomsDay: I make a mean guacamole.
~~~~~~~~~
DannyU: "Fail" creates a depression in space-time, "flames" eventually "roll" into this funnel, and as critical mass is reached, I eat a kitten whole, and beat up a puppy.
~~~~~~~~~
Get the picture? I could keep going... =)
But anyway, some of these guys have been playing each other for nine years, ever since they were young, and got the game. In a weird way, they kinda seem like a family. Their love of TA and hate of Flashbang keep 'em together. This game has a DEDICATED following, that manages to avoid being cultish. Anyone here know about R2-D2, that beloved droid from StarWars? Or maybe Wall-E? they had been around so long that they developed personalities of their own. In a way, thats kinda how I look at this old game. This game- a game that hardly anyone knows about anymore, a game you won't find on any gamestore shelf, a game with a pitiful excuse for graphics, a game with only the bare bones of storyline- has history. 13 years of it, in fact, and still counting. The kind off spirit SupCom could only dream to have.
Now pardon me if I'm getting all mellow-dramatic about a simple computer game, but their's something beyond gameplay in it that I admire. Anyway, in my opinion, Chris Taylor threw a lot away when he gave up on TA....
P.S. What would YOU do if you were locked in a room Flashbang, a seriously ticked off hedgehog, 4 Mexican jumping beans, and Pikachu?
Monday, June 28, 2010
Prepare for a very, Very, VERY random post...
Read this post at your own risk. If you prefer consistent posts, then you might want to turn away now.
You can read this, but don't say I didn't warn you...
If watermelons could speak, what would they say? "I'm a dang cross between H2O and a fruit!!!"
I mean, I would feel that way... Now, I'm going to quietly hum the UK's national anthem:
"Oh, I don't know this SOOOOOOOONG!"
Come to think of it, I don't know Britain's national anthem... I'll give up then...
Why try? I mean, really? I'm not British! So why must I learn the song to appease everyone else?!
Ugh, you people are getting very annoying: making me sing that songy thing and all, so I'm going to talk about watermelons again.
You've gotta love 'em. They're so round and delicious!
I'm going to stop talking about watermelons and talk about cardboard. If you eat cardboard, you'll have a faint hint of egg mayonnaise in your breath. WHY? Because cardboard tastes like mayo. Period. Don't ask.
How about shoes. In fact, I'm going to telekenetically make one go onto my foot! Oh, bad idea. There goes that expensive vase.
Yeah, have you seen Avatar? I don't really know. Neither do I care. But my favorite characters are the floating, omen-bringing jellyfish things. Or that big bird that the wheelchair guy rides in Navi form...
CHEESE! Told you this post was random.
Should I stay or should I go. Nanananana naaaaaa (in electric guitar sound)! I should stay AND go. And use the bathroom while doing all of this.
LAVATORY OCCUPIED
*Flush*
Ah, that's better. Oh, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, I was talking about that new iPhone 4. THE THING IS A TIME BOMB! I mean, I love iPods, but this one really tries to kill you. Look, at what happened to me. I survived an onslaught of deadly golf balls and whacked an evil fez-wearing monkey with a ping-pong paddle. I was scarred for life.
Ah, mind lapse! Don'ttell me I was talking about a green soccer ball! Curses!
I've got to buy some ShamWow. You know, to clean the oil spill up.
I'm gonna need some more ShamWow. But I can't trust Oxi Clean now. The beloved Billy Mays is no longer the spokesperson.
Peace out!
You can read this, but don't say I didn't warn you...
If watermelons could speak, what would they say? "I'm a dang cross between H2O and a fruit!!!"
I mean, I would feel that way... Now, I'm going to quietly hum the UK's national anthem:
"Oh, I don't know this SOOOOOOOONG!"
Come to think of it, I don't know Britain's national anthem... I'll give up then...
Why try? I mean, really? I'm not British! So why must I learn the song to appease everyone else?!
Ugh, you people are getting very annoying: making me sing that songy thing and all, so I'm going to talk about watermelons again.
You've gotta love 'em. They're so round and delicious!
I'm going to stop talking about watermelons and talk about cardboard. If you eat cardboard, you'll have a faint hint of egg mayonnaise in your breath. WHY? Because cardboard tastes like mayo. Period. Don't ask.
How about shoes. In fact, I'm going to telekenetically make one go onto my foot! Oh, bad idea. There goes that expensive vase.
Yeah, have you seen Avatar? I don't really know. Neither do I care. But my favorite characters are the floating, omen-bringing jellyfish things. Or that big bird that the wheelchair guy rides in Navi form...
CHEESE! Told you this post was random.
Should I stay or should I go. Nanananana naaaaaa (in electric guitar sound)! I should stay AND go. And use the bathroom while doing all of this.
LAVATORY OCCUPIED
*Flush*
Ah, that's better. Oh, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, I was talking about that new iPhone 4. THE THING IS A TIME BOMB! I mean, I love iPods, but this one really tries to kill you. Look, at what happened to me. I survived an onslaught of deadly golf balls and whacked an evil fez-wearing monkey with a ping-pong paddle. I was scarred for life.
Ah, mind lapse! Don'ttell me I was talking about a green soccer ball! Curses!
I've got to buy some ShamWow. You know, to clean the oil spill up.
I'm gonna need some more ShamWow. But I can't trust Oxi Clean now. The beloved Billy Mays is no longer the spokesperson.
Peace out!
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Insignificant Yet Awesome Life of an 8th Grader
I have decided to write little stories on the blog about my life. Here's the first one, dubbed "If Music is the Food of Life...*"
I walked into a music shop with my mom and my redhead brother. I gazed upon fine electric guitars, basses, drum sets, and trumpets. Yes, even trumpets. The clerk greets me and asks what I wished to buy. "We would like to buy a guitar for this guy right here," my mom said for me, pointing at me while she talked. The clerk showed me a stool and told me to sit down. My mom asked if I could try some acoustics out, and so the clerk gave me a 3/4ths size Ibanez guitar. The moment I held it, the guitar shined with the light of the sun. Cherubs lifted the guitar into the air and heavenly choruses sang 'Hallelujah' in the background. The voice of the clerk snapped me back to reality "Do you like this one? It's very deluxe, especially for a beginner." I asked if I could test a full-size black guitar. This time, frogs appeared to raise it above their puny bodies and crickets chirped in the background. "I think I'll stick with the Ibanez," I finally said. My mom let me pick out a stand, a tuner, two picks, and a carrying case. The clerk's assistant inserted the guitar into the case and handed it to me. "Here you go, bud," he exclaimed as cheerful as possible (though he seemed tired) and I walked out the door, guitar and accessories in hand. Finally, I had the instrument I had always wanted!
You like? Leave a comment!
*It's part of a Shakespeare quote.
I walked into a music shop with my mom and my redhead brother. I gazed upon fine electric guitars, basses, drum sets, and trumpets. Yes, even trumpets. The clerk greets me and asks what I wished to buy. "We would like to buy a guitar for this guy right here," my mom said for me, pointing at me while she talked. The clerk showed me a stool and told me to sit down. My mom asked if I could try some acoustics out, and so the clerk gave me a 3/4ths size Ibanez guitar. The moment I held it, the guitar shined with the light of the sun. Cherubs lifted the guitar into the air and heavenly choruses sang 'Hallelujah' in the background. The voice of the clerk snapped me back to reality "Do you like this one? It's very deluxe, especially for a beginner." I asked if I could test a full-size black guitar. This time, frogs appeared to raise it above their puny bodies and crickets chirped in the background. "I think I'll stick with the Ibanez," I finally said. My mom let me pick out a stand, a tuner, two picks, and a carrying case. The clerk's assistant inserted the guitar into the case and handed it to me. "Here you go, bud," he exclaimed as cheerful as possible (though he seemed tired) and I walked out the door, guitar and accessories in hand. Finally, I had the instrument I had always wanted!
You like? Leave a comment!
*It's part of a Shakespeare quote.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
This Can't Be Good For Digestion...
~Democracy's Demise #4~
Enjoy mates
The clack of silverware was all that prevented utter silence from engulfing the room. Mister Emerson didn't talk unless he had to. He preferred to think. And when Emerson thought, no one was safe. Doctor Keltz picked at the decadent meal before him, uncomfortable beneath Mr. E's black eyes.
Clearing his throat, he ventured, "Emerson, I lost a good messenger yesterday. I lent him to that blunderer Rhalington, then never saw him again. He claims he never returned. Do you know anything of this?"
Quiet seconds passed before the man responded. "There are some scary people on Terra Prime. Especially in this area."
Inwardly, Keltz cursed. That boy was supposed to my eyes and ears in Emerson and Rhalington's affairs. Should have known Emerson would smell a rat...
But outwardly, he smiled. "Scary people, eh? I suppose you might be one of them?"
A smile slowly formed on Emerson's face. Then suddenly, he was laughing. Head back, roaring with sickening laughter. Then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. Only the smile remained. "Yes, I suppose you could say that."
Keltz shuddered. The last time he had seen Emerson laugh was at a funeral. Trying his best to sound casual, he changed the subject. "Well, Emerson, the night grows late. Perhaps you would care for a glass of wine?"
"Of course."
"Keltz called his attendant over, murmuring, "Two glasses of wine."
As the servant departed, another silence fell upon the pair. It wasn't until the wine had arrived that Emerson finally spoke. "Do you know why I killed him?"
Keltz was suprised by the question. Taking a sip of from his glass, he resp0nded, "No. Why?"
"'Cause I couldn't trust him."
The doctor didn't like where this was going, and he breathed a sigh of releif when Emerson took a draught of his wine. But he never swallowed. His face grew pensive as he swished the liquid around in his mouth. Suddenly, his face darkened, and he spit it directly into Keltz's glass, growling one word. "Poison."
Keltz's veins filled with ice. Emerson continued, rising from his chair as he did so. "Yes, Keltz. I couldn't trust him, so I killed him. Can I trust you, doctor?"
All pretences of confidence had left the man, as he stuttered frantically, "Y-yes, yes!! Y-you can t-trust me!"
Emerson advanced on the quaking doctor, drawing the Chesterton-7 laser pistol from his coat pocket. The barrel of the sleek weapon hovered inches from the man's left eye. Keltz clenched his eyes shut, and felt Emerson's musty breath on his cheek. "Oh, but I don't know if I can." He waited, but the shot never came. Haltingly, he opened a eye. Emerson was practically nose to nose with him.
"I won't kill you, though should. No, instead, my dear Keltz, you will work. You will work on your technology, day in, and day out. You will have no privileges, luxuries, or assistants. And if your work is not complete by the end of the week, you'll wish I had killed you here." The dark-eyed man ground out every word. "Are we understood?"
Keltz was beyond words, but he nodded frantically.
Emerson smiled. "Good." With a shove that toppled the traumatized doctor and his chair, he whirled, hands in pockets, and headed toward the door. The butler rushed to open it for him. Doctor Keltz heard Emerson mutter one phrase just before the door slammed shut. "I'm getting soft with age."
So, what are your thoughts, questions, or reactions? Lemme' know- a good writer lives off of feedback! =)
Enjoy mates
The clack of silverware was all that prevented utter silence from engulfing the room. Mister Emerson didn't talk unless he had to. He preferred to think. And when Emerson thought, no one was safe. Doctor Keltz picked at the decadent meal before him, uncomfortable beneath Mr. E's black eyes.
Clearing his throat, he ventured, "Emerson, I lost a good messenger yesterday. I lent him to that blunderer Rhalington, then never saw him again. He claims he never returned. Do you know anything of this?"
Quiet seconds passed before the man responded. "There are some scary people on Terra Prime. Especially in this area."
Inwardly, Keltz cursed. That boy was supposed to my eyes and ears in Emerson and Rhalington's affairs. Should have known Emerson would smell a rat...
But outwardly, he smiled. "Scary people, eh? I suppose you might be one of them?"
A smile slowly formed on Emerson's face. Then suddenly, he was laughing. Head back, roaring with sickening laughter. Then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. Only the smile remained. "Yes, I suppose you could say that."
Keltz shuddered. The last time he had seen Emerson laugh was at a funeral. Trying his best to sound casual, he changed the subject. "Well, Emerson, the night grows late. Perhaps you would care for a glass of wine?"
"Of course."
"Keltz called his attendant over, murmuring, "Two glasses of wine."
As the servant departed, another silence fell upon the pair. It wasn't until the wine had arrived that Emerson finally spoke. "Do you know why I killed him?"
Keltz was suprised by the question. Taking a sip of from his glass, he resp0nded, "No. Why?"
"'Cause I couldn't trust him."
The doctor didn't like where this was going, and he breathed a sigh of releif when Emerson took a draught of his wine. But he never swallowed. His face grew pensive as he swished the liquid around in his mouth. Suddenly, his face darkened, and he spit it directly into Keltz's glass, growling one word. "Poison."
Keltz's veins filled with ice. Emerson continued, rising from his chair as he did so. "Yes, Keltz. I couldn't trust him, so I killed him. Can I trust you, doctor?"
All pretences of confidence had left the man, as he stuttered frantically, "Y-yes, yes!! Y-you can t-trust me!"
Emerson advanced on the quaking doctor, drawing the Chesterton-7 laser pistol from his coat pocket. The barrel of the sleek weapon hovered inches from the man's left eye. Keltz clenched his eyes shut, and felt Emerson's musty breath on his cheek. "Oh, but I don't know if I can." He waited, but the shot never came. Haltingly, he opened a eye. Emerson was practically nose to nose with him.
"I won't kill you, though should. No, instead, my dear Keltz, you will work. You will work on your technology, day in, and day out. You will have no privileges, luxuries, or assistants. And if your work is not complete by the end of the week, you'll wish I had killed you here." The dark-eyed man ground out every word. "Are we understood?"
Keltz was beyond words, but he nodded frantically.
Emerson smiled. "Good." With a shove that toppled the traumatized doctor and his chair, he whirled, hands in pockets, and headed toward the door. The butler rushed to open it for him. Doctor Keltz heard Emerson mutter one phrase just before the door slammed shut. "I'm getting soft with age."
So, what are your thoughts, questions, or reactions? Lemme' know- a good writer lives off of feedback! =)
Super Mario Galaxy 2: Do's and Nintendont's
Hey, while we're on the subject, why not let Mario join the party? Here are some tips for his newest game:
Do's:
Do's:
- Use long jumps whenever you think it necessary. Do a long jump by running for a bit, then pressing Z for a split-second, and then jump.
- FEED HUNGRY LUMAS! They're starving, for crying out loud! hey need love and care! But most importantly, YOU need stars. All hungry Lumas give you an opportunity to get Power Stars. Feed the Rainbow. Taste the Raibow.
- Get coins and star bits. End of story. Get them and then get the heack out of there.
- Switch with Luigi whenever possible. I mean, HE'S LUIGI! What else is there to say?
- Get power-ups as soon as you see them. They are either necessary or helpful.
- Use your spin to the best of your ability!
- Go with Yoshi. Just hitch a ride. It will all be fine if you have Yosh with ya.
Dont's:
- Do not leave enemies that you think are cute alone.
- Do not rely on Yoshi's flutter jump.
- Do not miss the mouth when feeding a hungry Luma.
- Do not jump when you think the gap is to big.
- Do not stand under any moving light. It will end badly if you do.
- Do not underetimate Goombas. Stupid yet Deadly.
- Do not think that Mario is Kirby. Mario cannot float, so use your jumps wisely.
There you have it, a complete list of do's and dont's for Super Mario Galaxy 2, available for the Wii gaming console.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Hate to Steal Your Thunder, RB...
'Cause I completely agree with you. However, it's been awhile, and the summaries must go on! ;)
Faction: CORE
Unit Type: Kbot
Tech Level: 1
Summary: This unit, the Storm (costing 118 metal and 985 energy, is the Rocko's CORE cousin. And in many ways, is nearly identical to his ARM kin. However, there are a few differences. The first is that the Storm is faster than the Rocko (which I am, btw, giving a 3 instead of a 4 for speed). This not only means reaching the area its needed in faster, but also better evasion of enemy fire (AKA: a longer lifespan). The second difference is rate of fire. Now, before we go any further, I need to say something about animation and TA units. Animation looks cool- the Zeus whipping his gun from his shoulder, the Maverick unclipping guns from his sides, the Hammer opening gun breaches in order to fire, etc. But the sad news is- these animations only slow a unit down. It can't fire until this animation is complete. The Rocko has one such animation, small as it is. Before firing, it has to rotate its missile launcher to face forward (it was facing down) before it can fire. But on the other hand, the Storm has no qualms about opening fire just as soon as he claps eyes on some ARM scum. This means that in a fight, Storms will almost always get off their first volley before the Rockos do. More about rate of fire- the Storm's is slightly higher. However, the Rocko's rockets do slightly more damage. In a one on one fight, just sitting and shooting each other, the Rocko and Storm will die at the same time. However, many will say that the Storm's higher rate of fire is preferable to the Rocko's higher damage- more volleys fired means more hits, and the difference in damage is so miniscule that almost anything a Rocko could kill in a certain number of shots, a Storm could kill in the same number. The last difference between the Rocko and Storm, has actually little to do with the Storm itself, but rather, the factory from which it's built. The CORE Kbot Lab can be gaurded by a construction vehicle- unlike the ARM Lab. And with a Construction Vehicle gaurding it, a Kbot Lab builds units TWICE as fast! This is essentially like having two Labs, and is a great advantage to a CORE player. In fact, Storms, along with Slashers, make up the core (no pun intended) of CORE early ground forces. Like the Rocko, use the Storm for base busting, or to provide support for Slashers. Also, because of their higher speed, Storms can run from enemy forces, and score hits on their mobile forces as they pursue, because having enemy units moving in the same direction at yours, at close to the same speed, makes them almost as easy to hit as stationary targets.
All these things combine to make the Storm a slightly better unit than the Rocko.
Final Summary:
Speed: 1 2 3 4 5
Agility: 1 2 3 4 5
Firepower for Cost: 1 2 3 4 5
Armor for Cost: 1 2 3 4 5
Overall: 1 2 3 4 5
Now, go and run 3 miles, or something! ;)
Faction: CORE
Unit Type: Kbot
Tech Level: 1
Summary: This unit, the Storm (costing 118 metal and 985 energy, is the Rocko's CORE cousin. And in many ways, is nearly identical to his ARM kin. However, there are a few differences. The first is that the Storm is faster than the Rocko (which I am, btw, giving a 3 instead of a 4 for speed). This not only means reaching the area its needed in faster, but also better evasion of enemy fire (AKA: a longer lifespan). The second difference is rate of fire. Now, before we go any further, I need to say something about animation and TA units. Animation looks cool- the Zeus whipping his gun from his shoulder, the Maverick unclipping guns from his sides, the Hammer opening gun breaches in order to fire, etc. But the sad news is- these animations only slow a unit down. It can't fire until this animation is complete. The Rocko has one such animation, small as it is. Before firing, it has to rotate its missile launcher to face forward (it was facing down) before it can fire. But on the other hand, the Storm has no qualms about opening fire just as soon as he claps eyes on some ARM scum. This means that in a fight, Storms will almost always get off their first volley before the Rockos do. More about rate of fire- the Storm's is slightly higher. However, the Rocko's rockets do slightly more damage. In a one on one fight, just sitting and shooting each other, the Rocko and Storm will die at the same time. However, many will say that the Storm's higher rate of fire is preferable to the Rocko's higher damage- more volleys fired means more hits, and the difference in damage is so miniscule that almost anything a Rocko could kill in a certain number of shots, a Storm could kill in the same number. The last difference between the Rocko and Storm, has actually little to do with the Storm itself, but rather, the factory from which it's built. The CORE Kbot Lab can be gaurded by a construction vehicle- unlike the ARM Lab. And with a Construction Vehicle gaurding it, a Kbot Lab builds units TWICE as fast! This is essentially like having two Labs, and is a great advantage to a CORE player. In fact, Storms, along with Slashers, make up the core (no pun intended) of CORE early ground forces. Like the Rocko, use the Storm for base busting, or to provide support for Slashers. Also, because of their higher speed, Storms can run from enemy forces, and score hits on their mobile forces as they pursue, because having enemy units moving in the same direction at yours, at close to the same speed, makes them almost as easy to hit as stationary targets.
All these things combine to make the Storm a slightly better unit than the Rocko.
Final Summary:
Speed: 1 2 3 4 5
Agility: 1 2 3 4 5
Firepower for Cost: 1 2 3 4 5
Armor for Cost: 1 2 3 4 5
Overall: 1 2 3 4 5
Now, go and run 3 miles, or something! ;)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thought I'd Chime In
Look...
This TA thing doesn't scare me. It drives me nuts only because people "overdo" it.
I like Brawl because, well, that's the way I am.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not TotalA's biggest fan. But I used to play it for hours on end.
That's when the problems came. I rushed through schoolwork to play it. I skipped time outside just to launch a pixelated weapon at a non-existent rival.
I totally threw the rest of life away.
The same happened with Brawl. And it didn't hit me until I had logged almost three hours per DAY on it. And before this all started, before I even knew ThinAir, I was addicted to Battlefront II, logging five hours on it one time.
But now that I'm off TA and non-aerobic Wii games, I've started running, joined a basketball camp, and will learn to play guitar.
This is not criticism of video games. I still like 'em. But there's a darker side of them too. They suck you into a meaningless world of addiction and false happiness. These words do indeed sound very harsh. But they're true.
Sometimes, you've gotta put down the controller or get your fingers off of the keyboard, and then you will realize that there's more happiness in a real world than a virtual one.
This TA thing doesn't scare me. It drives me nuts only because people "overdo" it.
I like Brawl because, well, that's the way I am.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not TotalA's biggest fan. But I used to play it for hours on end.
That's when the problems came. I rushed through schoolwork to play it. I skipped time outside just to launch a pixelated weapon at a non-existent rival.
I totally threw the rest of life away.
The same happened with Brawl. And it didn't hit me until I had logged almost three hours per DAY on it. And before this all started, before I even knew ThinAir, I was addicted to Battlefront II, logging five hours on it one time.
But now that I'm off TA and non-aerobic Wii games, I've started running, joined a basketball camp, and will learn to play guitar.
This is not criticism of video games. I still like 'em. But there's a darker side of them too. They suck you into a meaningless world of addiction and false happiness. These words do indeed sound very harsh. But they're true.
Sometimes, you've gotta put down the controller or get your fingers off of the keyboard, and then you will realize that there's more happiness in a real world than a virtual one.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Work Never Ends...
... when you're a blogger! I'm am currently wrapping up a vacation in good 'ole Florida. Despite this, I'm still up and posting! While I was sitting in the back seat, en route to summer fun, I wrote up a brief account of our journey.
NOTE: All things mentioned during this account actually happened, and all within the 20 some minutes it took me to write this.
Soooo, here it is:
Miles fly past me. I would like to say something really poetic, like “each is distinct”. But they aren’t. So I won’t. Quite honestly, its all a blur of road signs mixed with the rattle of our old Toyota. A veteran traveler could glance at this evidence, and immediately know just what is currently taking place in the short life of yours truly. That’s right: a road trip. I glance out the window, just in time to see yet another McDonalds flash by. Funny thing about those McDonalds. I’ve been on enough road trips not to trust them. You see, they show up every block, consistently- until someone’s got to use the bathroom. Then there’s nary a golden arch in sight. That Ronald guy always was creepy. But I’m rambling (as usual).
As I stare at the keys, wondering what to type next, a wave of carsickness hits me. I look up to relieve the nausea, and notice that a signature Florida rain has begun to blur our windshield. Yup, that’s our destination: the old Sunshine State- known for its rain, ironically. Now, most people would fly to Florida, from Illinois. But this van isn’t full of most people. This is the Krapohl clan on the move. Though I’m sure you’ve heard of us, I’ll remind you anyway that we are world famous (at least in our family) for our traveling skills. Heck, we’d drive to Spain if it weren’t for the Atlantic.
We’re off to see my cousins: the Langstons. Unfortunately, the traveling gene didn’t seem to carry into that side of the family. In short, the Langstons fly, or walk. They don’t drive. But on the bright side, that gives us just one more reason to vacation in Florida- a chore we take very seriously. Hence, the road trip.
I gasp as the laptop nearly careens off my legs. Snagging it just in time, I feel the car fishtail again. A quick look at the driver’s seat and the source of the trouble is clear. Some rousing jazz drifts from the radio, and both my mom’s hands are off the wheel, gyrating in her signature “boogie”. I just smile. That’s mom for you: ever up for some dancing. Behind me, my sister glowers in the back seat, rapped tightly in a blanket, reminding me that I should’ve taken a shower before we left. She does so about once each mile. As she pinches her nose, indignantly and nasally crying out, I return to my writing with a grin.
Up to my elbows in pillows, coolers, and out-dated road maps (no wonder we always get lost), I wrap up my writing. Not that I’m near finished. But the laptop is down to 2% power. And you thought flying was fun. Adios mates.
Also, to my most avid commenters, PelicanDude and DaFizzyMan, how where your vacations to the Mediterranian and Tenesee?
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Round Three...
Okay, I won't lallygag around this time and just cut to the cheese- er, chase.
Faction: ARM
Unit Type: Kbot
Tech Level: 1
Summary: Here, my friends, is the second basic combat Kbot, for the ARM. You will (hopefully) recall that the PeeWee is good for early-game melee. The Rocko, by contrast, serves the opposite role. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, you should know the cost of this unit: 117 metal and 964 energy. Once again, not too heavy a price. And the Rocko is definitely worth it. It has a reasonable speed, though nothing great, and the signature Kbot maneuverability. Its weapon, an unguided heavy missile, packs quite a punch- probably some of the heaviest damage a tech 1 can deal. Sound too good to be true? Well, here’s the catch. This rocket is UNGUIDED, and has a very slow speed. This translates into a consistent miss for the Rocko against moving targets. But not all targets move. This combination of traits makes this Kbot the ultimate (practical) base-busting unit. Essentially, it’s a purely offensive weapon. Good luck defending your base or holding territory with a unit that can’t the broad side of a strolling Sumo. But the Rocko does excel at its job. Mid to late game, a band of Rockos can cut through all but the biggest of MT forests (more on these later), or most other defenses, for that matter. Just be careful, some well controlled Flashes, Instigators, or PeeWees can get in close to your Rockos and eat them up. It’s usually wise to escort your Rockos with a couple of melee units.
Final Summary:
Speed: 1 2 3 4 5
Agility: 1 2 3 4 5
Firepower for Cost: 1 2 3 4 5
Armor for Cost: 1 2 3 4 5
Overall: 1 2 3 4 5
Prouz and Kons: Both Sides of the Issue
By "Prouz and Kons", hopefully you knew that I meant "pros and cons". It's just that misspelling words is hip. Here are pros and cons for both Total Annihilation and Super Smash Bros. Brawl:
TA
Pros:
TA
Pros:
- Allows in-depth thinking
- Let's you blow stuff up (who doesn't like that?)
- Has a wide variety of units and structures
- Has multiplayer engines that (surprisingly) still work
Cons:
- Has blocky graphics
- Has a unit limit
- AI isn't challenging enough
- Multiplayer engines are faulty
- Too old to work on many modern computers
Brawl
Pros:
- Has a variety of characters and modes to play
- Allows you to play trials of classic video games
- Has many different control types
- You can punch, kick, and whack the heck out of people
- Features cutting-edge graphics
- Has a wide selection of music and stages
- You can build your own stages
- The console that the game is played on is popular
Cons:
- Has clone characters (example: Toon Link and Link)
- Online play isn't all that great
- Last part of adventure mode is way too hard
- Not enough talking goes on
- Characters unlocked easily
- Works for one, and only one, console
That wasn't one-sided, was it? This is not meant to "prove" either game wrong or boring or cruddy, just to show certain people (hint, hint, Saulamin!) that both games have their strengths and weaknesses. No offense was meant for anyone.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Hehehe... SUMMARIZING!
I am going to summarize for you one of my favorite Brawl characters. I'm not trying to steal ThinAir's thunder or anything, though. ;)
Marth
Game(s) of origin: Fire Emblem: Monsho no Nazo (duh, Japan only), Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragons and the Blade of Light.
Weapon of choice: Falchion, an elaborately-decorated sword.
Description of looks: Has matted blue hair, blue eyes, and wears a dark blue cape and blue clothes.
Summary of Character: Marth is a prince in the Fire Emblem games that wields the immortal blade Falchion. In Brawl, his fighting skill far surpasses other smashers and his fellow 'Fire Emblem' character Ike. In sudden death matches, Marth is a great person to be, since he has a balance of speed and good moves. He is considered a middleweight but this attacks do a tremendous aount of damage when timed correctly. Like most characters, his down-B move does damage to an opponent if they strike when the move is performed. Marth's is especially deadly, considering it allows Marth to jump next to the enemy and slash with Falchion at an amazing speed. He also as the deadliest final smash in all of Brawl! When the smash is activated, he lifts his sword and then lunges at a character within range. A life bar appears for the person hit by the final smash and it loses all of its life counters. If there is open space, the enemy will instantly be KO'd. Cool, huh?
Moves:
B move: Shield Breaker
Side-B move: Dancing Blade
Up-B move: Dolphin Slash
Down-B move: Counter
Regular "A" attack rating (1 to 5): 4
"B" attack rating: 5
Final smash rating: 5
Overall rank: 5
Well, you need to see both sides of the issue, not just TA. If you're going to pick one, then... GO BRAWL!
Marth
Game(s) of origin: Fire Emblem: Monsho no Nazo (duh, Japan only), Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragons and the Blade of Light.
Weapon of choice: Falchion, an elaborately-decorated sword.
Description of looks: Has matted blue hair, blue eyes, and wears a dark blue cape and blue clothes.
Summary of Character: Marth is a prince in the Fire Emblem games that wields the immortal blade Falchion. In Brawl, his fighting skill far surpasses other smashers and his fellow 'Fire Emblem' character Ike. In sudden death matches, Marth is a great person to be, since he has a balance of speed and good moves. He is considered a middleweight but this attacks do a tremendous aount of damage when timed correctly. Like most characters, his down-B move does damage to an opponent if they strike when the move is performed. Marth's is especially deadly, considering it allows Marth to jump next to the enemy and slash with Falchion at an amazing speed. He also as the deadliest final smash in all of Brawl! When the smash is activated, he lifts his sword and then lunges at a character within range. A life bar appears for the person hit by the final smash and it loses all of its life counters. If there is open space, the enemy will instantly be KO'd. Cool, huh?
Moves:
B move: Shield Breaker
Side-B move: Dancing Blade
Up-B move: Dolphin Slash
Down-B move: Counter
Regular "A" attack rating (1 to 5): 4
"B" attack rating: 5
Final smash rating: 5
Overall rank: 5
Well, you need to see both sides of the issue, not just TA. If you're going to pick one, then... GO BRAWL!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Second Try Is Obviously Not The Charm
Why, you ask?
Well, because the poor unit I'm about to summarize is woefully inadequate.
*Sigh*
Well, here goes nothing (literally)...
Faction: CORE
Unit Type: Kbot
Tech Level: 1
Summary: Here, my friends, is the supposed CORE equivalent to the PeeWee. Known mysteriously and simply as the A.K., this unit falls far short of the usefulness of the PeeWee. Though its speed and maneuverability are slightly superior, that is, essentially, its only advantage. The A.K. also comes at a fairly cheap price: 56 metal and 696 energy. Sadly, even this small amount of resources is wasted on such a unit. Whereas the PeeWee makes up for armor with firepower, the A.K. compensates with... well, nothing. Its weak laser deals very little damage. Honestly, I have very little to say about this unit. As a warning, do NOT attempt to pull off an early infantry expansion with A.K.s. Veterans have tried, and can't make it work. Do not make. Yuck.
Final Summary:
Speed: 1 2 3 4 5
Agility: 1 2 3 4 5
Firepower for Price: 1 2 3 4 5
Armor for Price: 1 2 3 4 5
Overall: 1 2 3 4 5
Both basic infantry done...
The First To Fall...
Actually, the first to be summarized!
That is, the first unit from TA- and also my personal mascot! ; )
So here goes!
Faction: ARM
Unit Type: Kbot
Tech Level: 1
Summary: In many TA unit guides, this is the first combat unit to be described. And this guide is no exception. This unit is the PeeWee. Not a very threatening name, right? But it makes up for reputation with efficiency. First, its cost is a quite a deal: a mere 53 metal and 697 energy. Now, this price is all good and fine, but is the unit still worth it? In short: an emphatic YES. Like most Kbots, its maneuverability is good. And its speed is above average. Its armor (or lack there of) is its greatest weakness. A mere three missile shots will bring this Kbot down- not good, considering that missile towers are the cheapest defenses out there. But its weapon makes up for that. Armed with ARM's signature weapon, the EMG (energy machine gun), this unit is great for dishing out some cheap damage. Its combination of maneuverability and firepower allow it to consistently mow down two of CORE's equivalent infantry. So what is this unit good for? Is it even worth your time? Well, this unit, in summary, should be viewed as an inexpensive early game raider- capable of being produced with little damage in the precarious infant economy. In fact, this unit alone may sway some ARM players to start with a Kbot Lab, rather than the more versatile Vehicle Plant. These players start pumping out these raiders to set back there opponent, while expanding more and more land with their commander. If carried out right, this investment rapidly pays off. Now, like all units, you need to recognize that the PeeWee has a time and place. That time and place is early game offensive. Don't rely on these any later than that.
Finally Summary:
Speed: 1 2 3 4 5
Agility: 1 2 3 4 5
Firepower for Price: 1 2 3 4 5
Armor for Price: 1 2 3 4 5
Overall: 1 2 3 4 5
There you have it!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Ryan's Rants: Subspace Emissary Plot, Part 2
Here goes something!
So, after seeing Subspace engulf the hovering stadium, Pit turns from his "viewing screen" and sees Paletuna.She gives him a magical bow that shoots arrows of blue light. He nods in gratitude (no one talks) and descends to a place called Skyworld, which is infested by the evil Subspace creatures. If you defeat them, you will meet up with-a Mario! Pit and Mario will continue to fight together for the rest of the Subspace Emissary.
Stay tuned for more o' them summaries!
So, after seeing Subspace engulf the hovering stadium, Pit turns from his "viewing screen" and sees Paletuna.She gives him a magical bow that shoots arrows of blue light. He nods in gratitude (no one talks) and descends to a place called Skyworld, which is infested by the evil Subspace creatures. If you defeat them, you will meet up with-a Mario! Pit and Mario will continue to fight together for the rest of the Subspace Emissary.
Stay tuned for more o' them summaries!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ryan's Rants: Nostalgia Continued
If you saw ThinAir's last post, he mentioned that I must wait for two long years before a wearing period of nostalgia finally ends.
I can't say much about it. It's both too painful, personal, and private.
A friend of mine is leaving to serve the Lord in Africa. This is a wonderful calling, and I'm glad that said person is serving Him, but it's sad for this mysterious Christian to go.
I write this post in an ordinary room, filled with ordinary toys and ordinary books. I type on an ordinary Windows Vista and write in ordinary text. But, since I sit in my school room now, I remember this friend, a classmate of mine.
A wonderful, ordinary student. But with an extrodinary calling
Nostalgia's tough. It's a funny-sounding word, but it's deadly serious. Everyone has nostalgia moments. In fewer words, everyone has wants. Wants to experience the good times again. Wants to fix things in the past and strengthen a bond.
But we don't have time travel yet. Personally, I don't think that we'll ever have time travel. God gives us one earthly life for a reason.
Three words: Live it well.
I can't say much about it. It's both too painful, personal, and private.
A friend of mine is leaving to serve the Lord in Africa. This is a wonderful calling, and I'm glad that said person is serving Him, but it's sad for this mysterious Christian to go.
I write this post in an ordinary room, filled with ordinary toys and ordinary books. I type on an ordinary Windows Vista and write in ordinary text. But, since I sit in my school room now, I remember this friend, a classmate of mine.
A wonderful, ordinary student. But with an extrodinary calling
Nostalgia's tough. It's a funny-sounding word, but it's deadly serious. Everyone has nostalgia moments. In fewer words, everyone has wants. Wants to experience the good times again. Wants to fix things in the past and strengthen a bond.
But we don't have time travel yet. Personally, I don't think that we'll ever have time travel. God gives us one earthly life for a reason.
Three words: Live it well.
ThinAir's Thoughts: Nostalgia
Now, once again, if you know me, you know I'm a sap of a chap.
Sentimental is one of my many middle names.
That being said, Nostalgia is not a thing unfamiliar to me. This term, however, was lost on my mate, DaFizzyMan, until recently. Now I'm regretting telling him about it. Why? Cause he's wrestling with it, at the moment. But more to the point: as a whole lot of things in my life wrap up, and a whole new host of things begin, I thought I'd dedicate a post to Nostalgia.
Now, according to the dictionary, Nostalgia is:
A bittersweet longing for people, places, and situations of the past.
Bittersweet. Hmmm.
Shall we define this, too? Again, from the dictionary:
Both pleasant and painful.
Now that's more like it.
You laugh at the memories, then cry because that's all they are: memories.
You rejoice in the times past, then can't believe they're gone.
This, my readers, is nostalgia. But often, there is another element.
Regret.
Thats right: Nostalgia sometimes not only wants to relive the past, but redo the past.
Now, this is different from plain remorse or guilt. Those who feel this kind of Nostalgia don't want to erase the past, out of any hate or guilt or sadness. Rather, they want to add to the past. They want to be able to notice and revel in those little things that they can only appreciate now, looking back. They wish they had said more, done more, lived more of that beautiful life, while it was still there. And this kind of Nostalgia is often the most painful.
That's the thing about time. You only come to grips with it when its gone.
Thank God, though. Because things come in cycles. That thing you miss, usually comes around again.
Some may have to wait a mere month.
I'll have to wait one long summer.
DaFizzyMan will have to wait two painful years.
And others, until God finally calls them home.
But no matter the hold time, no matter the distance, no matter the time you have to wait-
Those times will return. They may not be exactly the same, they never are. But they will return.
And in all this, Nostalgia helps:
When that time comes around again, you'll be ready to live it.
Sentimental is one of my many middle names.
That being said, Nostalgia is not a thing unfamiliar to me. This term, however, was lost on my mate, DaFizzyMan, until recently. Now I'm regretting telling him about it. Why? Cause he's wrestling with it, at the moment. But more to the point: as a whole lot of things in my life wrap up, and a whole new host of things begin, I thought I'd dedicate a post to Nostalgia.
Now, according to the dictionary, Nostalgia is:
A bittersweet longing for people, places, and situations of the past.
Bittersweet. Hmmm.
Shall we define this, too? Again, from the dictionary:
Both pleasant and painful.
Now that's more like it.
You laugh at the memories, then cry because that's all they are: memories.
You rejoice in the times past, then can't believe they're gone.
This, my readers, is nostalgia. But often, there is another element.
Regret.
Thats right: Nostalgia sometimes not only wants to relive the past, but redo the past.
Now, this is different from plain remorse or guilt. Those who feel this kind of Nostalgia don't want to erase the past, out of any hate or guilt or sadness. Rather, they want to add to the past. They want to be able to notice and revel in those little things that they can only appreciate now, looking back. They wish they had said more, done more, lived more of that beautiful life, while it was still there. And this kind of Nostalgia is often the most painful.
That's the thing about time. You only come to grips with it when its gone.
Thank God, though. Because things come in cycles. That thing you miss, usually comes around again.
Some may have to wait a mere month.
I'll have to wait one long summer.
DaFizzyMan will have to wait two painful years.
And others, until God finally calls them home.
But no matter the hold time, no matter the distance, no matter the time you have to wait-
Those times will return. They may not be exactly the same, they never are. But they will return.
And in all this, Nostalgia helps:
When that time comes around again, you'll be ready to live it.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Would you guys kill me...
... If I got poetic?
Ok, then, how bout another question- does that make this suicide? ; )
Well, here goes
Ironic
Why is it
That we find ourselves when we think of others
That we find life when we no longer fear death?
Why is it
That nothing we keep will be ours
That in giving, we receive the most?
Why is it
That we so fear tomorrow we forget today
That in fearing time, we lose much of it?
Why is it
That a King would die for his subjects
That the same nails that held Him there now break our chains?
There its out of my system, now don't shoot!! O_o
= )
Whaddya think?
Was it good?
Or should I avoid poetry if I value my life? xD
Ok, then, how bout another question- does that make this suicide? ; )
Well, here goes
Ironic
Why is it
That we find ourselves when we think of others
That we find life when we no longer fear death?
Why is it
That nothing we keep will be ours
That in giving, we receive the most?
Why is it
That we so fear tomorrow we forget today
That in fearing time, we lose much of it?
Why is it
That a King would die for his subjects
That the same nails that held Him there now break our chains?
There its out of my system, now don't shoot!! O_o
= )
Whaddya think?
Was it good?
Or should I avoid poetry if I value my life? xD
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Quote of... these days
At 13, things seem to get pretty insane.
Theres not a day I dont thank God for his unchanging grace.
But enough about me. Heres a quote I cooked up in the hard days:
"This is one of the times that I'll write witty quotes about one day, but for now, its insanity."
Well, Me
Theres not a day I dont thank God for his unchanging grace.
But enough about me. Heres a quote I cooked up in the hard days:
"This is one of the times that I'll write witty quotes about one day, but for now, its insanity."
Well, Me
Ryan's Rants: The Subspace Emissary Plot, Part 1
ThinAir can describe most of the plot in a short amount of time. But no, not anywhere close to that in 'Brawl'. Here it goes:
A cutscene begins the adventure mode. It shows Mario and Kirby (two of my favorite video game legends) in the middle of a hovering stadium. On a viewing platform stand Zelda and Peach. To start the actual game, you pick if you want to be Kirby or a-Mario! After you win, you see a video of the angel commander Pit from the Kid Icarus games watching the battle from above (wouldn't it be kind of weird if he was betting on who would win? I thought so). It then goes back to the stadium where a cannonball hits Mario and sends him flying. Petey Piranha, a villain from the Mario series that looks like a Venus flytrap, captures Zelda and Peach in two cages. Your only option is to free the princesses with Kirby. You win, Petey's defeated, and all is normal, right? No. You're so very wrong. This guy called the Ancient Minister (look up his picture, he's to hard to describe) on a floating circular platform orders these cute yet doomed robots to put a large time bomb in the middle of the field. Uh oh. There's nothing Kirby can do about it, so he calls his Warp Star and allows Zelda and Peach to hitch a ride.
So, that's part one of my 13-part "Subspace Series". RB out!
A cutscene begins the adventure mode. It shows Mario and Kirby (two of my favorite video game legends) in the middle of a hovering stadium. On a viewing platform stand Zelda and Peach. To start the actual game, you pick if you want to be Kirby or a-Mario! After you win, you see a video of the angel commander Pit from the Kid Icarus games watching the battle from above (wouldn't it be kind of weird if he was betting on who would win? I thought so). It then goes back to the stadium where a cannonball hits Mario and sends him flying. Petey Piranha, a villain from the Mario series that looks like a Venus flytrap, captures Zelda and Peach in two cages. Your only option is to free the princesses with Kirby. You win, Petey's defeated, and all is normal, right? No. You're so very wrong. This guy called the Ancient Minister (look up his picture, he's to hard to describe) on a floating circular platform orders these cute yet doomed robots to put a large time bomb in the middle of the field. Uh oh. There's nothing Kirby can do about it, so he calls his Warp Star and allows Zelda and Peach to hitch a ride.
So, that's part one of my 13-part "Subspace Series". RB out!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
'ThinAir'sThoughts' xD : TA Background
Alright, so you'll remember this old RTS game: Total Annihilation.
Now, TA is known for many things: its gameplay, units, and resource management...
But one of those things is not its plotline.
Despite this, its a good place to start.
So picture this:
Utopia- at last. The entire Milky Way has been colonized by the benevolent Core. Lush planets, advanced technology, and a worldwide government. And now, the secret of immortality itself has been discovered. A experimental technology known as Patterning has allowed the transfer of human consciousness into machines. Then- it all ended. In an overeager attempt to conquer death, the government declared Patterning mandatory. And (forgive my phrasing), all hell broke loose. Many citizens had been disturbed by the unearthly process, and when the process became mandatory, they resisted. As Core dealt with the first riots in hundreds of years, matters got even worse. As people were Patterned by the thousands, their collective consciousness was stored in a massive database, dubbed Central Consciousness. The problem? With so many thoughts stored inside it, it became sentient itself- and with the very galaxy dependant on it- declared itself ruler of the Core. The coldly effecient Central Consciousness battered down the rebels' ragtag defenses. Forced to flee, the rebels established their capital on the verdant planet of Empyrrean- and declared all out war on Central Consciousness.
Four Thousand Years later. The galaxy is in shambles. And still the war rages. The battered remnant of the opposing armies battles on, satisfied only with the total annihilation of the other. And you- yes you- have just been appointed commander of Arm (or Core) forces.
Now, TA is known for many things: its gameplay, units, and resource management...
But one of those things is not its plotline.
Despite this, its a good place to start.
So picture this:
Utopia- at last. The entire Milky Way has been colonized by the benevolent Core. Lush planets, advanced technology, and a worldwide government. And now, the secret of immortality itself has been discovered. A experimental technology known as Patterning has allowed the transfer of human consciousness into machines. Then- it all ended. In an overeager attempt to conquer death, the government declared Patterning mandatory. And (forgive my phrasing), all hell broke loose. Many citizens had been disturbed by the unearthly process, and when the process became mandatory, they resisted. As Core dealt with the first riots in hundreds of years, matters got even worse. As people were Patterned by the thousands, their collective consciousness was stored in a massive database, dubbed Central Consciousness. The problem? With so many thoughts stored inside it, it became sentient itself- and with the very galaxy dependant on it- declared itself ruler of the Core. The coldly effecient Central Consciousness battered down the rebels' ragtag defenses. Forced to flee, the rebels established their capital on the verdant planet of Empyrrean- and declared all out war on Central Consciousness.
Four Thousand Years later. The galaxy is in shambles. And still the war rages. The battered remnant of the opposing armies battles on, satisfied only with the total annihilation of the other. And you- yes you- have just been appointed commander of Arm (or Core) forces.
Ryan's Rants: A Complete Opposite of ThinAir's Game
Here goes my first post...
While my accomplice plays his TA (another abbreviation for "Total Annihilation"), I hook up my Wii, grab a remote and a nunchuck accessory, and pop in a game disc. Which game disk, you may ask? Super Smash Bros. Brawl, to be exact. Think of TA again. Now think of an opposite kind of video game. You have 'Brawl'. It's a fighting game true to its name that pits characters from almost every thinkable Nintendo video game against one another in combat. Characters include Mario and Luigi (Super Mario Bros. series), Link (Legend of Zelda), Kirby (you're kidding me...) and Fox (Star Fox series). There are 39 characters in all, which you meet in the adventure mode, "The Subspace Emissary". I can't tell you the plot now, but I will reveal it to you in later posts. The game has both single-player and multi-player modes, such as Events (scenarios with certain objectives) and Brawl (a fun 1-4 player way to release your anger).
Keep posted for more info on 'Super Smash Bros. Brawl'. RB out!
P.S. Sonic is the only non-Nintendo character in 'Brawl' (he's from SEGA)
While my accomplice plays his TA (another abbreviation for "Total Annihilation"), I hook up my Wii, grab a remote and a nunchuck accessory, and pop in a game disc. Which game disk, you may ask? Super Smash Bros. Brawl, to be exact. Think of TA again. Now think of an opposite kind of video game. You have 'Brawl'. It's a fighting game true to its name that pits characters from almost every thinkable Nintendo video game against one another in combat. Characters include Mario and Luigi (Super Mario Bros. series), Link (Legend of Zelda), Kirby (you're kidding me...) and Fox (Star Fox series). There are 39 characters in all, which you meet in the adventure mode, "The Subspace Emissary". I can't tell you the plot now, but I will reveal it to you in later posts. The game has both single-player and multi-player modes, such as Events (scenarios with certain objectives) and Brawl (a fun 1-4 player way to release your anger).
Keep posted for more info on 'Super Smash Bros. Brawl'. RB out!
P.S. Sonic is the only non-Nintendo character in 'Brawl' (he's from SEGA)
Friday, May 14, 2010
So, before we go any further...
Ok, now all these polls and links and short stories have been all good and fine.
But if you know me (which you probably don't), then you know I'm a strategic sort of chap
This being said, RTS games are right up my ally!
For those less experienced in the field of of strategy gaming, RTS stands for Real-Time Strategy- meaning that the game is not turn based- time actually matters.
But not just any RTS will do, one in particular stands out.
This game is Total Annihilation, affectionately known as TotalA.
Now, if you haven't heard of this, its okay. You're not uncultured or anything: its completely understandable. Mainly because the game was produced back in 1997, by a now extinct company (Cavedog).
The game features blocky characters, and graphics, though cutting edge at the time, now pretty hard on the eyes.
So, what, you ask, is so great about this game?
Well, consider this:
+TA won 57 awards, ranging from the time of its release to 2004
+One of these awards was Gamespy's 'Best RTS game of All Time', topping even StarCraft, a game produced years later
+Even now, 13 years after its release, TA retains a following of veteran players from across Europe and in the U.S. and Canada
THis is just a brief introduction- more will follow, including the plotline of the game, gameplay (hopefully, if I can figure out how to post a video), and strategy guides.
P.S. If anyone knows how to post videos and pics on a post, let me know!
But if you know me (which you probably don't), then you know I'm a strategic sort of chap
This being said, RTS games are right up my ally!
For those less experienced in the field of of strategy gaming, RTS stands for Real-Time Strategy- meaning that the game is not turn based- time actually matters.
But not just any RTS will do, one in particular stands out.
This game is Total Annihilation, affectionately known as TotalA.
Now, if you haven't heard of this, its okay. You're not uncultured or anything: its completely understandable. Mainly because the game was produced back in 1997, by a now extinct company (Cavedog).
The game features blocky characters, and graphics, though cutting edge at the time, now pretty hard on the eyes.
So, what, you ask, is so great about this game?
Well, consider this:
+TA won 57 awards, ranging from the time of its release to 2004
+One of these awards was Gamespy's 'Best RTS game of All Time', topping even StarCraft, a game produced years later
+Even now, 13 years after its release, TA retains a following of veteran players from across Europe and in the U.S. and Canada
THis is just a brief introduction- more will follow, including the plotline of the game, gameplay (hopefully, if I can figure out how to post a video), and strategy guides.
P.S. If anyone knows how to post videos and pics on a post, let me know!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
New Team member
Hey everyone! This is DaFizzyMan from Total RB. The author of this blog (a GREAT friend of mine) graciously allowed me to contribute. From now on, the posts that are authored by me shall be signed "Ryan's Rants". Enjoy them all!
-DaFizzyMan
-DaFizzyMan
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
It might take a bit more than an apple a day...
...to keep THIS doctor away...
~House Divided #3~
Enjoy mates
So, a breakthrough, eh? The pig’s gone and squealed: running to Emerson’s feet, like the simpleton he is. Doesn’t he realize he’s an accessory? Does he actually think this will save his hairy hide?
The man known as Doctor Keltz spat scornfully, lost in thought. Lounged in a quiet, dimly lit office, he pondered his situation. Despite his disdain of honest, industrious, and simple people, he conceded one thing to Rhalington: the man was an engineer like no other. This advancement was exactly what the project needed in order to move forward. These blueprints from Rhalington showed mentally controlled mechanisms- that were not actually dependent on the physical brain- only thoughts. This breakthrough, when applied to his own transfer and matrix technology, should allow testing on actual subjects. But this development was both a blessing and a curse.
I’ve known Emerson for twenty years, now. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about him in that time is that he kills those who please him last. That devil's spawn, to him, a gift is a longer lifespan. Of course, Emerson couldn’t be expected to actually let either Rhalington or I live, if this plan goes through. I’ve just got to strike first. Now, the problem is, Rhalington’s currying favor. If this pleases Emerson as much as I think it will, I’ll be his next target.
The Doctor suddenly stood, knocking back his sleek office chair. With a call, he brought his secretary to his side. The man questioned, “You needed something, sir?”
Keltz nodded, his eyes shadowed by his deep brow, “Yes. Send an invite to Mr. Emerson. He will be our guest for dinner, this evening.”
The faithful servant nodded knowingly, “Very well sir.”
As the secretary left Keltz, the doctor smiled. This was going to be one heck of a night.
Hmm, sounds like this'll be an interesting evening...
Comments or feelings on Doc. Keltz? Lets hear em!
~House Divided #3~
Enjoy mates
So, a breakthrough, eh? The pig’s gone and squealed: running to Emerson’s feet, like the simpleton he is. Doesn’t he realize he’s an accessory? Does he actually think this will save his hairy hide?
The man known as Doctor Keltz spat scornfully, lost in thought. Lounged in a quiet, dimly lit office, he pondered his situation. Despite his disdain of honest, industrious, and simple people, he conceded one thing to Rhalington: the man was an engineer like no other. This advancement was exactly what the project needed in order to move forward. These blueprints from Rhalington showed mentally controlled mechanisms- that were not actually dependent on the physical brain- only thoughts. This breakthrough, when applied to his own transfer and matrix technology, should allow testing on actual subjects. But this development was both a blessing and a curse.
I’ve known Emerson for twenty years, now. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about him in that time is that he kills those who please him last. That devil's spawn, to him, a gift is a longer lifespan. Of course, Emerson couldn’t be expected to actually let either Rhalington or I live, if this plan goes through. I’ve just got to strike first. Now, the problem is, Rhalington’s currying favor. If this pleases Emerson as much as I think it will, I’ll be his next target.
The Doctor suddenly stood, knocking back his sleek office chair. With a call, he brought his secretary to his side. The man questioned, “You needed something, sir?”
Keltz nodded, his eyes shadowed by his deep brow, “Yes. Send an invite to Mr. Emerson. He will be our guest for dinner, this evening.”
The faithful servant nodded knowingly, “Very well sir.”
As the secretary left Keltz, the doctor smiled. This was going to be one heck of a night.
Hmm, sounds like this'll be an interesting evening...
Comments or feelings on Doc. Keltz? Lets hear em!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Joshua Won the Battle of Bunker Hill...
Right?
As I read this, I was honestly laughing and crying at the same time.
Just take a look and you'll see why...
(No wonder our country's goin' down the tubes...)
Consider the evidence. Many high school seniors believe that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife, while a majority of Americans cannot name one of the four Gospels. Jay Leno asked his Tonight Show audience one night to name one of Jesus’ twelve apostles; they came up empty. One in ten Americans believes that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife, and only one-third knows that Jesus (not Billy Graham) preached the Sermon on the Mount. One of the most frequently quoted passages from the Bible—“God helps those who help themselves”—actually appears nowhere in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament.
And then there was the hapless Howard Dean. When asked during the course of the 2004 presidential primaries to name his favorite book in the New Testament, the former governor of Vermont stammered and finally blurted out “Job,” a book located for centuries squarely in middle of the Hebrew scriptures.
Oh deary...
As I read this, I was honestly laughing and crying at the same time.
Just take a look and you'll see why...
(No wonder our country's goin' down the tubes...)
Consider the evidence. Many high school seniors believe that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife, while a majority of Americans cannot name one of the four Gospels. Jay Leno asked his Tonight Show audience one night to name one of Jesus’ twelve apostles; they came up empty. One in ten Americans believes that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife, and only one-third knows that Jesus (not Billy Graham) preached the Sermon on the Mount. One of the most frequently quoted passages from the Bible—“God helps those who help themselves”—actually appears nowhere in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament.
And then there was the hapless Howard Dean. When asked during the course of the 2004 presidential primaries to name his favorite book in the New Testament, the former governor of Vermont stammered and finally blurted out “Job,” a book located for centuries squarely in middle of the Hebrew scriptures.
Oh deary...
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