Well, Mensa finally finished processing my paperwork, and I received an email from the president welcoming me into the organization today. For those who may not be familiar with Mensa, it is a high IQ society that only accepts members who have IQ scores in the top 2% of the world. I should receive my official welcome package in 10-12 business days. I'm really looking forward to it. The Broward Mensa chapter is pretty active. They have events every Saturday and Sunday, and usually several times during the week. It should be fun to hang out with the other outsiders.
I'm still playing Dead Rising. It really is a good game with a decent story. As I said before, one of the primary objectives is to rescue other survivors. I was a bit disappointed to discover that some of the survivors I rescued are now listed as lost. Apparently, from time to time, some of them decide that there isn't a helicopter coming, and they would be better off on their own. If you don't check in on them regularly to stop them, they run off.
I'm nearing the end of the game, or I should say nearing the end of 3 day survivor mode. There is also a 5 day and 7 day that you unlock, but I'm not sure how they vary from 3 day. The special forces have shown up to kill the zombies, and apparently make sure their are no witnesses. I have no idea where the people I rescued have disappeared to. They are still listed as safe, but they aren't in the security room anymore. I did finally manage to find the underground maintenance tunnels. Throughout the rest of the game, I had killed less than 2000 zombies. In about 10 minutes in a car in the maintenance tunnels, I ran over more than 3000 more. I'm looking forward to seeing how this game ends. I really hope it doesn't go Jericho on me.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Blah Day
I'm feeling pretty blah today. Usually I keep to myself for the most part, but today I feel like talking. Unfortunately, I don't really fit in with the humans. I could care less about what most of them seem interested in, and they don't understand half of what I'm interested in. I can't wait for a new season of TV so I at least have something I can chat with the humans about.
I've started playing Dead Rising again. The game is pretty cool, which shouldn't be surprising seeing as how this game was responsible for destroying so many first gen 360s. I was surprised that it is still apparently pretty popular. I looked up the guide book on amazon.com, and they are asking $75 for a used one and $99 for a new one. I just can't fathom that. It originally sold for about $15. I like to collect the guidebooks for games I like, but I'll probably have to do without on this one.
I finished Clive Barker's Jericho over the weekend. I wouldn't really say that I was horrified. The story was okay, and the setting was full of blood and mutilated bodies, but I can't say it was horrific. It definitely didn't immerse me like Bioshock. That game scared the crap out of me. That said, I did enjoy Jericho, but I believe it fell short of it's true potential. What I liked best about it was the ability to switch between characters with completely different abilities. From time to time, it would force you to play certain characters, and I actually learned to like a few that I hadn't used previously. My major gripe comes from the ending. It was almost non-existant. There was a boss fight that left me feeling disappointed and then they ran the credits. I like an ending to at least resolve the immediate situation. I would say that this game is good for a rental, but probably not worth a purchase.
I've started playing Dead Rising again. The game is pretty cool, which shouldn't be surprising seeing as how this game was responsible for destroying so many first gen 360s. I was surprised that it is still apparently pretty popular. I looked up the guide book on amazon.com, and they are asking $75 for a used one and $99 for a new one. I just can't fathom that. It originally sold for about $15. I like to collect the guidebooks for games I like, but I'll probably have to do without on this one.
I finished Clive Barker's Jericho over the weekend. I wouldn't really say that I was horrified. The story was okay, and the setting was full of blood and mutilated bodies, but I can't say it was horrific. It definitely didn't immerse me like Bioshock. That game scared the crap out of me. That said, I did enjoy Jericho, but I believe it fell short of it's true potential. What I liked best about it was the ability to switch between characters with completely different abilities. From time to time, it would force you to play certain characters, and I actually learned to like a few that I hadn't used previously. My major gripe comes from the ending. It was almost non-existant. There was a boss fight that left me feeling disappointed and then they ran the credits. I like an ending to at least resolve the immediate situation. I would say that this game is good for a rental, but probably not worth a purchase.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
What is Normal?
I know it's been awhile since I've posted. I'm busy planning a war, and I forget to share my thoughts. I did want to take a few minutes to get some of my thoughts on paper, so to speak.
Normal is just the most commonly accepted perception of reality. Of course, common perception doesn't necessarily make something true or right. There was a time when most people thoguht that the world was flat or that the Sun revolved around the Earth. Only a madman would think otherwise. However, thanks to the non-conformists, we now know the truth, or at least the truth as it is commonly perceived today. :)
However, even though it normally takes a non-conformist to make breakthroughs, society isn't very accepting of their non-conformists. Most normal people will ridicule and berate the non-conformists for looking or acting differently. I love a good hamburger. Most normal people in my neck of the woods do. However, in some cultures, eating a burger is like eating the family dog. That is also acceptable in some cultures.
Remember to be more accepting of your non-conformists in the future. One of them may someday solve world hunger or develop a method of alternative energy.
Normal is just the most commonly accepted perception of reality. Of course, common perception doesn't necessarily make something true or right. There was a time when most people thoguht that the world was flat or that the Sun revolved around the Earth. Only a madman would think otherwise. However, thanks to the non-conformists, we now know the truth, or at least the truth as it is commonly perceived today. :)
However, even though it normally takes a non-conformist to make breakthroughs, society isn't very accepting of their non-conformists. Most normal people will ridicule and berate the non-conformists for looking or acting differently. I love a good hamburger. Most normal people in my neck of the woods do. However, in some cultures, eating a burger is like eating the family dog. That is also acceptable in some cultures.
Remember to be more accepting of your non-conformists in the future. One of them may someday solve world hunger or develop a method of alternative energy.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Samurai 7
Over the weekend, I picked up the box set for Samurai 7. This anime is a steam punk themed remake of the original Seven Samurai film made by Akira Kurosawa. Many other movies including The Magnificent Seven, Battle Beyond the Stars and even Star Wars owe their origins to this great film. The original film is about a poor village that can only offer three meals a day to hire Samurai to protect them from bandits. Unfortunately, no Samurai will work for such a payment. That is until they encounter Kambei, an older Samurai who agrees to help the villagers. The other six Samurai join just for the honor of fighting beside Kambei.
Samurai 7 is a futuristic steam punk retelling of this classic story. So far I have watched the first four episodes, all of which were masterfully done. My wife watched them with me and enjoyed them as much as I did. Each of the classic characters are represented with personalities very much like those of their original character. The story is well told, and even the additional side plots do not detract from the main story. So far, there has been no profanity, nudity, or gore. Bearing in mind that this is a story about warriors, most of whom will die, it is family friendly. I would highly recommend this series to anime fans, Samurai fans, fantasy enthusiasts, and anyone who likes a good story with three-dimensional characters.
Samurai 7 is a futuristic steam punk retelling of this classic story. So far I have watched the first four episodes, all of which were masterfully done. My wife watched them with me and enjoyed them as much as I did. Each of the classic characters are represented with personalities very much like those of their original character. The story is well told, and even the additional side plots do not detract from the main story. So far, there has been no profanity, nudity, or gore. Bearing in mind that this is a story about warriors, most of whom will die, it is family friendly. I would highly recommend this series to anime fans, Samurai fans, fantasy enthusiasts, and anyone who likes a good story with three-dimensional characters.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
The World is a Sadder Place
I have just been informed that Burnie Mac died today of complications from pneumonia. Some may know him from Ocean's Eleven, Charlie's Angels, Mr3000, Guess Who(remake), or even Transformers. I loved to watch the Burnie Mac show.
I would laugh out loud usually 2 or 3 times while watching an episode, and my wife said it reminded her of when her dad watched Leslie Nielsen. Today the world has lost another great comedian.
I would laugh out loud usually 2 or 3 times while watching an episode, and my wife said it reminded her of when her dad watched Leslie Nielsen. Today the world has lost another great comedian.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Pitch Black
I received a wonderful surprise from my wife when I got home from work yesterday. Without my having asked, she had bought the Chronicles of Riddick Trilogy. Pitch Black is one of my favorite movies, and it's is great to have a wife that understands me and does all sorts of little things to make my life better. No offense to women, but I find most to be alien creatures that are incomprehensible. My wife is probably the only woman that I could live with without going crazy.
Pitch Black is one of those odd science fiction thrillers that has the distinction of being well made. Science fiction and fantasy is an area of film making that is so horribly misunderstood that you get either a Hollywood blockbuster that is all about explosions, or some piece of crap that even the Geeks don't want to watch. Of course we do, because there aren't many options for our favorite genres. I would like to thank Peter Jackson for showing people that a fantasy film could be a serious film and when it is well done, it is appreciated by almost everyone.
Back to Pitch Black, my favorite movies are those that spend time developing their characters. Many films try to cram in more action and more story by skimping on character development. What they don't understand is that if you don't care about the characters, you really don't care what happens to them. I especially love when a movie spends so much time developing a character that you know they will survive, and then they don't.
For those unfamiliar with the film, a group of anti-heroes survive a crash and face not only the threats of a hostile environment, but also the threat of human nature once it is removed from civilization. I thoroughly enjoy it, even the tenth time, and I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys science fiction or horror movies.
Pitch Black is one of those odd science fiction thrillers that has the distinction of being well made. Science fiction and fantasy is an area of film making that is so horribly misunderstood that you get either a Hollywood blockbuster that is all about explosions, or some piece of crap that even the Geeks don't want to watch. Of course we do, because there aren't many options for our favorite genres. I would like to thank Peter Jackson for showing people that a fantasy film could be a serious film and when it is well done, it is appreciated by almost everyone.
Back to Pitch Black, my favorite movies are those that spend time developing their characters. Many films try to cram in more action and more story by skimping on character development. What they don't understand is that if you don't care about the characters, you really don't care what happens to them. I especially love when a movie spends so much time developing a character that you know they will survive, and then they don't.
For those unfamiliar with the film, a group of anti-heroes survive a crash and face not only the threats of a hostile environment, but also the threat of human nature once it is removed from civilization. I thoroughly enjoy it, even the tenth time, and I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys science fiction or horror movies.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Heroes and Villians
This weekend was a busy one. On the first and third Saturday of every month, I run a Marvel Superhero RPG. We just started at the beginning of the summer, so I decided to start off with a few modules to get everyone used to playing again and working as a team. I'm actually pretty happy with the team that the guys put together this time.
Nova is the team blaster. His primary powers are Flight, Plasma Generation, and Force Field Generation. He also has Water Breathing and Water Freedom. His powers combine to make him the teams damage sponge and heavy hitter.
Dim Don Lee is their scrapper. He is a master of martial arts. His skills all him to focus his chi for powerful attacks and allow him to fight in almost any environment without penalties. While he does have enhanced physical abilities, he has no true powers.
Flashback is the team controller. He can create an army of illusionary duplicates. they operate independently of him, but he can see and hear anything that they see or hear. He also has the ability to create large scale illusions and solidify them. Physically, he is the weakest member of the team, but he makes up for that with the ability to make himself invisible to others.
Last night, the team finished up the first module in the Gang Wars Trilogy. An ancient tome had been stolen from a local museum and the heroes were investigating it's disappearance. It was said that the possessor of the tome could summon monsters to do their bidding, and shortly after it's disappearance, monsters started attacking the city. The attacks were focused on local gangs, and it appeared that the gangster Hammerhead was behind the attacks. During their investigation, they discovered that Hammerhead was being framed to cause a gang war
that would weaken all of the local gangs so that a new gang could move in and take over. The heroes had several run-ins with the monsters, where they discovered that the monsters were really only villains who resembled different storybook monsters. They finally managed to track down the lair of the mastermind villain, and captured all of the monster villains. However, they did not find the Big Boss of the missing tome.
__________________________________________________
In our Witchhunter game, we found that several Indian and colonist homesteads had been burned and the children were missing. We managed to find some hoof tracks and followed them to a glade with a waterfall. There we encountered a Satyr and some Red Caps. After defeating the fairies, we rescued one of the missing children, a young girl named Gayle Baker from a cave behind the waterfall. Her brother and a young Indian boy had been taken away the day before, and there was no sign of them.
Unfortunately, we seem to have missed a clue or two along the way and failed to defeat the Satyr for good. That night, a voice whispered to us from the dark that this wasn't over, and another home burned that night. We never found the child from that home, and the fires stopped after that, so the Satyr likely moved to another area.
Nova is the team blaster. His primary powers are Flight, Plasma Generation, and Force Field Generation. He also has Water Breathing and Water Freedom. His powers combine to make him the teams damage sponge and heavy hitter.
Dim Don Lee is their scrapper. He is a master of martial arts. His skills all him to focus his chi for powerful attacks and allow him to fight in almost any environment without penalties. While he does have enhanced physical abilities, he has no true powers.
Flashback is the team controller. He can create an army of illusionary duplicates. they operate independently of him, but he can see and hear anything that they see or hear. He also has the ability to create large scale illusions and solidify them. Physically, he is the weakest member of the team, but he makes up for that with the ability to make himself invisible to others.
Last night, the team finished up the first module in the Gang Wars Trilogy. An ancient tome had been stolen from a local museum and the heroes were investigating it's disappearance. It was said that the possessor of the tome could summon monsters to do their bidding, and shortly after it's disappearance, monsters started attacking the city. The attacks were focused on local gangs, and it appeared that the gangster Hammerhead was behind the attacks. During their investigation, they discovered that Hammerhead was being framed to cause a gang war
that would weaken all of the local gangs so that a new gang could move in and take over. The heroes had several run-ins with the monsters, where they discovered that the monsters were really only villains who resembled different storybook monsters. They finally managed to track down the lair of the mastermind villain, and captured all of the monster villains. However, they did not find the Big Boss of the missing tome.
__________________________________________________
In our Witchhunter game, we found that several Indian and colonist homesteads had been burned and the children were missing. We managed to find some hoof tracks and followed them to a glade with a waterfall. There we encountered a Satyr and some Red Caps. After defeating the fairies, we rescued one of the missing children, a young girl named Gayle Baker from a cave behind the waterfall. Her brother and a young Indian boy had been taken away the day before, and there was no sign of them.
Unfortunately, we seem to have missed a clue or two along the way and failed to defeat the Satyr for good. That night, a voice whispered to us from the dark that this wasn't over, and another home burned that night. We never found the child from that home, and the fires stopped after that, so the Satyr likely moved to another area.
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