Random non sequitur posts catch-all thread

My wife says hi. She no longer works and does nothing but play free games on her android.

Strangeblades wrote:

My wife says hi. She no longer works and does nothing but play free games on her android.

Man, it would suck to wake up from a coma like for the last 8 years, and then everyone's talking about "Android, my android, etc" and you're thinking "Holy crap, robots are really here!" and it's just a cellphone

Redwing wrote:

Sure, but I don't think any of those games are dog food bad, or even Transformers bad. Walking Dead is getting a lot of attention and awards and that's an ambitious game made by a relatively small company, so it's not all gloom and doom as he says.

Well, no, he doesn't "say" - again, this is the problem. But since you mentioned it and this is the non sequitur thread, I'm wondering when we'll see the codified contrarian indie doofus backlash against TWD. Whether "zombies are played out" or "there's no gameplay to speak of" or "it's too linear" or even "real small companies don't make liscened games!", it's been too successful for too long. Where's the echo of lazy criticism?

(Yes, I'm sort-of serious. Watch that person you know who says he "doesn't understand" why Angry Birds is so popular and the like.)

Jonman wrote:
Ghostship wrote:

A recent experience with my sister in-law brought to light that people of my generation still haven't accepted gaming and a mainstream media.
The words that were spoken to me were, "you a thirty something year old man, and you still play video games".

Said the thirty-something year old woman who still watches made-up laughably simply stories with trite morals on the television, no doubt.

Out of context like this, it sounds like a downright scathing derision.

In context, it was entirely conversational and friendly, and the only thing that was out of place, and was only noticeable by me, was the implication that someone should grow out of playing video games.

If that were the case, there wouldn't be games where you can virtually shoot someone to pieces. Virtually, literally, whatever. Actually to pieces, in a simulated environment.

Anyhow. I just got the != when my brain put the words together. Hope that's the right symbol.

Is there a catch all thread for "games are actually entertainment made in categories for different age groups - including adults - tell everyone you know" thread?

It's funny, I would tell people that I watch cartoons which are made for pre-teen kids, like Avengers, Spiderman, Airbender (whatever the real title is) and nobody would really blink. It might not win me any social status, but I certainly wouldn't get the same degree of, "you're a thirty-something year old man".

At least I have the kids for an excuse, I guess. Wonder what will happen when my kids "outgrow" these things to keep up appearances at school.

Ghostship wrote:

At least I have the kids for an excuse, I guess. Wonder what will happen when my kids "outgrow" these things to keep up appearances at school.

I wonder how big a deal this is in reality. On one hand, yes, there's that teenaged desire to be cool. On the other hand, you're raising the kids, and you're a grown man who likes games and cartoons and presumably other niche/misunderstood/geeky things. Neither of my parents were into games or genre entertainment or anything of the sort when I was growing up*, so I don't have any concept of how that works from the inside; I didn't have something to reject, but I didn't have something to take away, either.

I guess the question that comes to mind is as follows: How often do kids wind up digging the same kinds of things as their folks when it comes to contemporary instances of the above mentioned stuff? And furthermore, is there much influence from the bigger lesson - that it's not only okay to love the superficial crap you love, but that life's just more fun that way?

*This has changed in my adult life. Mom loves Doctor Who, Dad's gotten into superheroes. It's kinda neat.

ianunderhill wrote:
Redwing wrote:

Sure, but I don't think any of those games are dog food bad, or even Transformers bad. Walking Dead is getting a lot of attention and awards and that's an ambitious game made by a relatively small company, so it's not all gloom and doom as he says.

Well, no, he doesn't "say" - again, this is the problem. But since you mentioned it and this is the non sequitur thread, I'm wondering when we'll see the codified contrarian indie doofus backlash against TWD. Whether "zombies are played out" or "there's no gameplay to speak of" or "it's too linear" or even "real small companies don't make liscened games!", it's been too successful for too long. Where's the echo of lazy criticism?

(Yes, I'm sort-of serious. Watch that person you know who says he "doesn't understand" why Angry Birds is so popular and the like.)

I honestly don't understand why Angry Birds is so popular, but not in a snobby way. I don't get why that game of all games was the one that clicked with everyone. Temple Run on the other hand...

As for TWD, I've seen the first 2 criticisms you listed a decent amount. TWD is definitely not universally loved. Licensed games aren't really taboo anymore (Batman AA kind of destroyed that stereotype) and being too linear is evidently only a problem if you're a sequel in a long running series of linear games.

Angry Birds is so popular because is was simple enough to capture a new market.
You don't have to know video game, control schemes, active prop objects... all of those things that we understand from experience are out of reach for my mom, by sister-in law etc.

Plus it's a mobile game. I'm convinced that a lot of the success on the mobile platforms is that it comes with a built-in excuse for people who don't want to be known as gamers. "Aw, that, it's just a time waster for the bus/train". Or, "Ah, my kids downloaded it. It was kinda fun, if you're into that kinda thing". The phone is seen as a largely social or business device. It's image isn't game console. So you can get some of the games without the social stigma.

ianunderhill wrote:

I guess the question that comes to mind is as follows: How often do kids wind up digging the same kinds of things as their folks when it comes to contemporary instances of the above mentioned stuff?

Not sure it's easy to look at from generation to generation.

My father gave us an Oddesy, a MAC-10, a C64, boats, water skis, snowmobiles... I love all of those things, or their modern versions. My Dad just did what he liked and fed us into it. I was pretty much programmed.

We may also have a bit of a different set of circumstances. I take part in more leisure activity than my father did. He commuted 1-2 hours to work each way.
I work from home. While I do work a lot of weekends and evenings, I think I'm spending more time with my kids than I got to spend with my father.

Also not sure I understood the discussion point. Time to eat.

SixteenBlue wrote:

I honestly don't understand why Angry Birds is so popular, but not in a snobby way. I don't get why that game of all games was the one that clicked with everyone. Temple Run on the other hand...

I'd like to go back and say that the big question is about quality. What I mean is that Angry Birds is a well-made game. It's definitely not my favorite, and I can see the "well why did this particular well-made game succeed, have tie-in merchandise, and so on" angle, but I don't find the appeal particularly mysterious.

As for TWD, I've seen the first 2 criticisms you listed a decent amount. TWD is definitely not universally loved. Licensed games aren't really taboo anymore (Batman AA kind of destroyed that stereotype) and being too linear is evidently only a problem if you're a sequel in a long running series of linear games.

The liscence stigma is different here - it isn't that being based on existing IP would make a game bad, but rather make it less "small". We're talking about a game spun off from a comic book made into a TV show, after all. Anyway, overall, my point is about lazy criticism, which usually boils down to "this is what it is/isn't->it sucks" contrarian crap. There's stuff wrong with TWD that has plenty to do with the implementation of the game that it actually is (see: confusing layouts/camera placement, fickle timing in the more action-y sequences, game-breaking bugginess), but the presented content is solid and promotes a surprisingly engaging experience for something so mechanically shallow. I'm fine with accounting for subjectivity and taste, but I think it'd be hard to actually argue that it is, in and of itself, a bad game. Which is why I bring up lazy criticism, why you've seen the named examples in the wild, etc.

SixteenBlue wrote:

I honestly don't understand why Angry Birds is so popular, but not in a snobby way. I don't get why that game of all games was the one that clicked with everyone. Temple Run on the other hand...

In addition to what others have written, the characters are incredibly appealing. I read somewhere that the Rovio guys basically built the game concept around the drawings of the birds and pigs. I think that there's something very fun, familiar, and comfortable about them that everyone latched on to. It's also why they've managed to sell a zillion stuffed birds and other non-game things built around those characters.

Started working at 10p to upgrade our production server database. It is now midnight and I'm still here, and our database upgrade hasn't actually started yet. I'd be livid if I weren't getting paid overtime.

I'm working my way through the single season of The Dresden Files TV Show, as I'm a big fan of the books. Things I've noticed:

1. About 4 episodes in, I started to get annoyed that the titular character was not using the two spells from the books he tends to rely on the most. I was mentally asking "Where's fuego? Where's forzare?". Also got annoyed that the character was carrying what appears to be a ice hockey stick and not the actual staff that the character in the book / CCG carries. Then I realized I had become the worst sort of mouth-breathing fanboi.

2. Looking at the episode list on Wikipedia, it turns out that the introductory episode instead of appearing as episode 1 was pushed to episode 8 and some murder of the week (or mid-season episode) was used for the debut. Exactly like Firefly. Is this something TV channels reguarly do for shows they don't actually care about?

Operation Foreign Currency Purge complete.

Total number of foreign currencies: 16
Number of "dead" currencies: 2 (Franc and Drachma)
Lowest value of a single currency: 20 russian kopeks
Largest total of single denomination: 86 japanese yen in 1y coins.
Oddest anomaly: We had loads of US pennies, dimes, and quarters, but no nickels.

Maq wrote:

Operation Foreign Currency Purge complete.

Total number of foreign currencies: 16
Number of "dead" currencies: 2 (Franc and Drachma)
Lowest value of a single currency: 20 russian kopeks
Largest total of single denomination: 86 japanese yen in 1y coins.
Oddest anomaly: We had loads of US pennies, dimes, and quarters, but no nickels.

Nickels be hard, yo'

If the door is locked and the light is on, someone is in the f*cking bathroom. Don't manhandle the doorknob, don't push with all your weight trying to open the door, and for the love of all that is good and right don't stand outside the door awkwardly and silently for 40 seconds.

Go the f*ck away, I'll be out when I'm out.

Obviously you're being too quiet.

sr_malo wrote:

Obviously you're being too quiet.

Yup. You gotta own that space. Let 'er rip, long and loud.

avggeek wrote:

I'm working my way through the single season of The Dresden Files TV Show, as I'm a big fan of the books. Things I've noticed:

1. About 4 episodes in, I started to get annoyed that the titular character was not using the two spells from the books he tends to rely on the most. I was mentally asking "Where's fuego? Where's forzare?". Also got annoyed that the character was carrying what appears to be a ice hockey stick and not the actual staff that the character in the book / CCG carries. Then I realized I had become the worst sort of mouth-breathing fanboi.

2. Looking at the episode list on Wikipedia, it turns out that the introductory episode instead of appearing as episode 1 was pushed to episode 8 and some murder of the week (or mid-season episode) was used for the debut. Exactly like Firefly. Is this something TV channels reguarly do for shows they don't actually care about?

Jim Butcher has been quoted as saying he wished he'd thought of the hockey stick thing.

Quintin_Stone wrote:
avggeek wrote:

I'm working my way through the single season of The Dresden Files TV Show, as I'm a big fan of the books. Things I've noticed:

1. About 4 episodes in, I started to get annoyed that the titular character was not using the two spells from the books he tends to rely on the most. I was mentally asking "Where's fuego? Where's forzare?". Also got annoyed that the character was carrying what appears to be a ice hockey stick and not the actual staff that the character in the book / CCG carries. Then I realized I had become the worst sort of mouth-breathing fanboi.

2. Looking at the episode list on Wikipedia, it turns out that the introductory episode instead of appearing as episode 1 was pushed to episode 8 and some murder of the week (or mid-season episode) was used for the debut. Exactly like Firefly. Is this something TV channels reguarly do for shows they don't actually care about?

Jim Butcher has been quoted as saying he wished he'd thought of the hockey stick thing.

Looking around on the internets, I see there are discussions about this topic, and perhaps relatedly the lack of budget for FX on the show. Still wish they could have modified the stick to look a little closer to the books when in use atleast.

Of all the places I expect to see Teagan and Sara, prominently displayed on the music tab of XBL is NOT one of those places.

Prederick wrote:

Of all the places I expect to see Teagan and Sara, prominently displayed on the music tab of XBL is NOT one of those places.

Jesus, they're all over the place. I saw "I'm Not Your Hero" posted on a blog a frequent just the other day. (I'm not a fan of their stuff, but that song is damn catchy)

avggeek wrote:
Quintin_Stone wrote:
avggeek wrote:

I'm working my way through the single season of The Dresden Files TV Show, as I'm a big fan of the books. Things I've noticed:

1. About 4 episodes in, I started to get annoyed that the titular character was not using the two spells from the books he tends to rely on the most. I was mentally asking "Where's fuego? Where's forzare?". Also got annoyed that the character was carrying what appears to be a ice hockey stick and not the actual staff that the character in the book / CCG carries. Then I realized I had become the worst sort of mouth-breathing fanboi.

2. Looking at the episode list on Wikipedia, it turns out that the introductory episode instead of appearing as episode 1 was pushed to episode 8 and some murder of the week (or mid-season episode) was used for the debut. Exactly like Firefly. Is this something TV channels reguarly do for shows they don't actually care about?

Jim Butcher has been quoted as saying he wished he'd thought of the hockey stick thing.

Looking around on the internets, I see there are discussions about this topic, and perhaps relatedly the lack of budget for FX on the show. Still wish they could have modified the stick to look a little closer to the books when in use atleast.

I don't know...when I hear Modern Noir Urban Fantasy Down-on-his-luck Wiseass Wizard Private Investigator from Chicago, I can believe he would use a hockey stick as a wizard's staff. It's brilliant actually, and I like that Butcher likes it as well. Likewise, his blasting rod should be a drum-stick. Covered in runes of course.

I must have been a good weekend; I'm still a bit hung over on Tuesday morning!

Nicholaas wrote:
Prederick wrote:

Of all the places I expect to see Teagan and Sara, prominently displayed on the music tab of XBL is NOT one of those places.

Jesus, they're all over the place. I saw "I'm Not Your Hero" posted on a blog a frequent just the other day. (I'm not a fan of their stuff, but that song is damn catchy)

They were the free song download from Starbucks last week, too.

A recent experience with my sister in-law brought to light that people of my generation still haven't accepted gaming and a mainstream media.
The words that were spoken to me were, "you a thirty something year old man, and you still play video games".

My answer to this would be a completely enthusiastic "You bet your ass!"

1. I'm a grown man with a job and lots of stress. If I want to play with Duplo blocks, I have every right to do so.
2. I'm too old to care what anyone thinks about what I do for fun. I'm way past caring about how cool I am.

McIrishJihad wrote:
Nicholaas wrote:
Prederick wrote:

Of all the places I expect to see Teagan and Sara, prominently displayed on the music tab of XBL is NOT one of those places.

Jesus, they're all over the place. I saw "I'm Not Your Hero" posted on a blog a frequent just the other day. (I'm not a fan of their stuff, but that song is damn catchy)

They were the free song download from Starbucks last week, too.

See, that's where i'd expect to see them.

What if I kept all of my change in a small tub of white vinegar so that whenever I need coin, they'd be clean and just need to be dried off? Would the smell be a problem? Is there another common odourless coin-cleaning product that won't melt my fingers? These are critical questions!

Superbeard wrote:

What if I kept all of my change in a small tub of white vinegar so that whenever I need coin, they'd be clean and just need to be dried off? Would the smell be a problem? Is there another common odourless coin-cleaning product that won't melt my fingers? These are critical questions!

Your fingers would smell like vinegar whenever you fished out coins, but it's a good idea. If you don't like the smell, dilute it by one-third to one-half with water and add a little lemon juice. I use that to clean almost everything in our house.

clover wrote:
Superbeard wrote:

What if I kept all of my change in a small tub of white vinegar so that whenever I need coin, they'd be clean and just need to be dried off? Would the smell be a problem? Is there another common odourless coin-cleaning product that won't melt my fingers? These are critical questions!

Your fingers would smell like vinegar whenever you fished out coins, but it's a good idea. If you don't like the smell, dilute it by one-third to one-half with water and add a little lemon juice. I use that to clean almost everything in our house.

Get an adorable toy fishing net to get the coins and then dump them on a towel before picking them up.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/pgnp2rJl.jpg)

Superbeard wrote:

What if I kept all of my change in a small tub of white vinegar so that whenever I need coin, they'd be clean and just need to be dried off? Would the smell be a problem? Is there another common odourless coin-cleaning product that won't melt my fingers? These are critical questions!

Is this germophobia, or some coin collecting thing?