Thursday, April 6, 2006

Return to Earth. Since I have been in Queensland, I have not spent a great deal of time playing video games. Even in Melbourne, my time playing games had dropped significantly over recent years. I think this is simply because I've been playing games since I was a young child and with various exceptions, I'm generally playing better looking versions of something that I've experienced before. In other words, I've been getting progressively more and more bored with games. At first I thought that I was simply "out-growing" video games, but I don't think that's really true. Certain games really got me addicted; Half-Life 2, Resident Evil 4 and Metal Gear Solid 3 are examples of games that I played religiously when I bought them. It hasn't really been since Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time that I have experienced that kind of immediate connection with a game. Obviously, moving to Queensland has meant that I've had far less money to play around with (although this is partly due to the amount of travel I've done lately). So clearly, games took a backseat to everything else. But I've been playing a few games lately that have surprised me. One game I bought recently was Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. I have to admit, when I first began playing it, it really did feel like "more of the same". That is to say, it felt just like its predecessor, but with more features. So I was really wondering whether or not it was a wise purchase. But now that I'm near the end of the game, I have to say, I've been enjoying it quite a lot. Yes, there are a billion moves - almost too many. But on the other hand, the game has managed to continuously keep things fresh and surprising, despite the fact that it still feels very similar to its predecessor. So that game's taking up quite a bit of time. Also, this house has an Xbox (though it isn't mine), so I thought I'd take the opportunity to play more of Halo. My earlier thoughts have only really been confirmed, I must say. Halo is incredibly overrated. It is one of the most bland, derivative games I've ever played. I didn't even find the story to be remotely interesting - it is, more or less, standard sci-fi fare. However, I decided to rent Halo 2 and see if I enjoyed it any more. While the initial portion of the game is, again, quite derivative and boring, it really does pick up quite a lot once you reach Earth (which is thankfully fairly early on). Of course, I still feel that Halo 2 is ultimately resting on the achievements of other games - I would have to wonder how good Halo 2 would have been if it hadn't been able to borrow from Half-Life or Half-Life 2. And yet, despite the fact that there is nothing highly remarkable about Halo 2, it's still a solid game - certainly more enjoyable and varied than its predecessor. There are quite a few games that I'm still wanting to try, but it's so hard to find the time these days. Hopefully the Xbox 360 is going to offer me something interesting later this month. Rar: It's interesting because my version is quite different, but you are certainly going to see a few little influences from the original. Mostly though, I'm hoping that some older members join...it would be great to relive that atmosphere, with familiar members. ^_^ Liam: Haha, it's so funny how much things have changed. When I compare your posts today to what had been written then...it's quite a big change. lol But then again, I remember the way that everyone used to write RPGs in a kind of script form. I began avoiding that format in all of my posts and it seems that it caught on, after a few people began doing it. I think that probably worked to the benefit of RPGs in general! I hope that you (and any previous members of that RPG) will enjoy my own take on the general idea. It's quite different. SugarCone: I definitely think you should consider working in that field, as there is generally a huge demand for translators. Even in the video game industry, translators are highly sought-after (particularly as every PAL game release is translated into about five European languages). So there's massive demand - I hope you find something you enjoy! Harlequin: The last time I saw Rico was probably a couple of years ago now. So I don't think he's around, but it would be amazing to have his help on the new RPG. I suppose that mostly, this RPG is a bit of a tribute to OB "oldies"...and it's a bit of an attempt to relive my first RPG experience, hehe. Aaryanna: Mario Kart on DS is incredibly good. I would personally say that it's easily the best Mario Kart game ever made - even better than Super Mario Kart. And that's quite a statement, considering that no other Mario Kart game seemed to be more enjoyable than the original. indifference: It'll be my last move before I head back to Melbourne. So, it will be my last move for anywhere between one and two years. But of course, it's so important to find something I am happy with, so the search is long and tough! I think you would be great with RPGs, as your writing is generally of fantastic quality. I'd love to see you in Adventure Square. ^_^ Generally I think politicians are just a weird bunch, with some exceptions. Meeting them in person can be a mixed experience, no matter what side of the political spectrum they represent. I can understand how it'd be tough where you live though, because I've always heard that Utah was one of the more conservative states in the US. But hopefully you still enjoy yourself there, despite that. ^_^ Chabichou: Oh, well, when I first came up here I was living with a friend of mine and nobody else. And then I moved in with my current partner, who is staying with his mother/step-father and nephew. It's a slightly odd situation, because everyone has very suddenly changed jobs and had to move up here temporarily - it's more than a little crowded for my partner and I, so we are in quite a hurry to move out on our own. John: You're a nosey one, aren't you! But I think I've satisifed your curiosity with my response to Chabichou, lol.

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