I like video games. Shocking I’m sure. My favorite games typically fall into two categories. Cartoony-style action games, like EDF, the Dynasty Warriors series, and Portal Knights. And then just really by-the-numbers rpg/strategy rpgs where half the battle took place before the fight ever even started. That’s games like SMT: Nocturne, Final Fantasy Tactics, the Front Mission series. And yes, to a lesser extent Pokemon. But really more on the Etrian Odyssey side of things. Like, if Etrian Odyssey 3 didn’t pad its game so terribly with mandatory grinding, that would have been one of my favorite games (and, I mean, the grinding didn’t even make sense it was already a really long game). Pokemon’s largest issue with me is the one-on-one combat. Like, if the series focused on doubles matches I’d own all of them.
Then on very rare occasions you have your customized, environmental puzzle-via-navigation games (which is, like, a sub-genre I just made up). This is where your Deus Ex and Shadowrun series fall- and what makes them so great. Your skillset creates the path forward and not only is there no right answer, you can double back and take a different path too.
Music, of course. I can just jam out and, you know, even if recording it would prove that it sounds awful, I can fill in the gaps in my head and it’ll sound good to me at the time at least. And I might not like practicing a song over and over again. But if I get it done and people like it, then it feels worth it. And I get that’s kinda shallow, you should be doing it for yourself, but isn’t other people liking it the whole point?
Same thing with writing in a more professional format. I don’t like sitting there and checking the first word of each sentence and making sure I’m using varying sentence lengths. But if I post it and people like it then it feels worth it. And then I can go back and reread sections or relisten to sections and go “Yeah! You know what? I did do a good job! I’m proud of that work!“ Instead of wondering, “Was it just posted at a bad time? Did I offend someone? Does it really sound that bad?“
So, as shallow as that might be, I guess that’s my favorite thing. To be appreciated for my work. For the time I spent on something to result in a feeling of accomplishment. And that’s probably why I play video games. To get that feeling when I can’t get it anywhere else, even if it’s just from a group of pixels saying “You Won“ or watching a meter go up.
And it worked! I even got the page hit counter back!
So, yeah! And if anyone else has a similar issue, try using The Wayback Machine and F12 to poke around the html on the page.
I changed my avatar for the day and it ruined all the html on my sidebar and I am very upset.
I literally can’t replace that page hit counter. It’s just gone.
Oct 30
[video]
Oct 27
Alternate dimensions are weird.
Oct 14
Bon-Bon: Oh, I forgot to ask you yesterday. What kind of pie did Pinkie Pie give you?
Lyra: Apple.
Bon-Bon: Really?
Lyra: Yes. Why?
Bon-Bon: Well, I got an apple pie too. Lyra: Hey! We got the same… Wait a minute. You got an apple pie? Not, oh say, chocolate fudge?
Bon-Bon: What a strange question. Are you accusing me of lying?
Lyra: No no. It’s just that Pinkie Pie made everypony their favorite pie. I thought yours was- Bon-Bon: Chocolate fudge- I’m flattered you noticed. Upon reflection I believe you are right and it was a chocolate fudge pie. So then, your favorite pie is apple?
Lyra: Yes.
Bon-Bon: I see. I wonder how she makes apple pies for you. I’ll go ask Pinkie Pie how she makes hers. Lyra: Go ahead. Bon-Bon: Yes. I believe I’ll say “Pinkie Pie, how do you make Lyra’s favorite pie?“
Lyra: Wh- That’s a strange way to word that, isn’t it? You wouldn’t just ask how she makes apple pies?
Bon-Bon: What if she does something special for your apple pies? I’d like to know for your benefit, after all. [Pause] Or is there some even more specific way I should ask? [Pause] Maybe you have something you’d like to share?
Bon-Bon: Uh… Hi. I went to use the bathroom and I saw your light on- Lyra: Then why were you in the kitchen?
Bon-Bon: Alright… My fat flank rolled out of bed deliberately to get a snack. Happy?
[Pause]
Bon-Bon: So uh… Whatcha eatin’?
Lyra: Expired novelty gummies.
Bon-Bon: Ah… [Crinkle] September… of last year. Closer to hard candy than gummies these days.
Lyra: Mmm.
Bon-Bon: I got these for you, what, four Hearth’s Warmings back? I assumed by now you were just going to keep them.
Lyra: Mmm.
Bon-Bon: Having one of those introspective nights then. I guess I’ll leave- Lyra: You don’t have to.
[Pause]
Lyra: You can stay, if you want.
Bon-Bon: Okay.
Lyra: Want a gummy?
Bon-Bon: Sure. Why not?
[Pause]
Bon-Bon: Huh. They start off hard, but then they slowly turn back to normal.
[Pause]
Lyra: Yeah…
Sep 23
Spike: And I promise you won’t hurt my feelings. I just need to know which one is better!
Lyra: [Gulp] Seriously, Spike? You tried to beat sweet potatoes with cauliflower?
Spike: Well, that was part of the contest…
Lyra: I mean, yeah, [Chew Smack] Twilight’s sweet potato muffins are a little doughy, but it’s sweet potato! [Gulp] You can’t beat sweet potato with- Bon-Bon: The cauliflower bites are the superior dish.
Spike: [Gasp] Thanks Bon-Bon! Yeahoo!
[Pause]
Lyra: You just lied to a child.
Bon-Bon: Which of us has the chef’s
palette? Besides, if somepony didn’t tell him he won I think he was going to get sick eating all those muffins.
Lyra: You just admitted your decision wasn’t impartial.