T w e n t y S i d e d
Remember: That which does not kill you was simply not permitted to do so for the purposes of the plot.
– Shamus, Friday Sep 15, 2006
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “DM of the Rings Remaster: First Encounter”
DM of the Rings Remaster: First Encounter
30 Teeth and Less on the Way!
Well, there comes a time in nearly every young adult’s life when the dentist looks at them and says ‘time to get those wisdom teeth out’. Most of the time this is said once, and then they do it, and you have fewer teeth, yay(?) I get that there are all sorts of reasons humans have evolved this stupid extra medical cost, but I get mad all over again every time I remember. It’s like your appendix, I know it logically has or used to have a purpose, but as far as doctors can tell that thing just sometimes self-destructs and kills you for no goddamn reason.
That aside, dentists have been basically pleading with me to get out these bonus teeth for years. The first time a dentist told me I needed them out, I was 18. This guy handed me a piece of paper face-down halfway through our consultation. The expression he held in that moment told me the paper was either informing me I had months to live, or how much the procedure would cost. Unfortunately, it was the latter. $6000, out-of-pocket, barring complications and extra expenses.
I looked at the number, and at him, and said ‘Oh yeah, I’ll talk to my in-laws about arrangements and make an appointment’. I’m pretty sure he knew I was lying since he was a dentist and it was straight through my teeth. Sort of his field.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “30 Teeth and Less on the Way!”
DM of the Rings Remaster: Uphill Battle
I’ve mentioned before how I’ve had trouble with coaxing players to rest. You have to watch these guys: They will do everything they can to escape the finely crafted rails you’ve put them on.
– Shamus, Wednesday Sep 13, 2006
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “DM of the Rings Remaster: Uphill Battle”
Sims 4 Overthinking: Legal Issues
Last week, Jimbo, the youngest son of the Smith family, redid the entire house. He outfitted the place with cutting-edge designs like animal print carpets and wood panel walls. His reasoning was that it would ultimately up the property value, and give his mom an excellent place to spend her advancing years. Obviously, from his work, he ended up blinded by what turned out to be a vanity project along the way. His sister ended up taking up the housework he was supposed to do, and his mother ended up resenting his help more than appreciating it. It’s tricky, disliking something that someone is doing to help you. On the one hand, they’re putting in time and resources, on the other, she didn’t ask for it.
Jumping forward another 20 years, we’re in 1990. Mrs. Smith is gone. She was moved into hospice care in her nineties and expected not to last a month. Jimbo was left housesitting while Mom was in the home, and all the kids visited frequently knowing they didn’t have long with her. Much to their, and the nurses’ surprise, she lived another five years. She got to meet her first great-grandbaby, spite a doctor she really hated, and see New Coke fail before she died. She went happy, and a little glad she didn’t have to go in her newfangled decorated house.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Sims 4 Overthinking: Legal Issues”
DM of the Rings Remaster: Small Town Blues
I think I’ll post these M-W-F until I get tired of them.
– Shamus, Monday Sep 11, 2006
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “DM of the Rings Remaster: Small Town Blues”
Sims 4 Overthinking: The 70s
This week we skip another 20 years forward. In 1970, the year we’ve lept to, Mr. Smith has passed away and Mrs. Smith is in her 80’s. The house is too big for her, but she is vehemently against being put in a home, so her son has moved in to help manage the place. Let’s decide that the Smiths had three children. Their oldest, a son, has gone into the family business, he’s too busy to help out. Their middle child, a daughter, has children and a family of her own. The youngest Smith boy will be helping Mrs. Smith in her old age. He works under the oldest son at the family company and is very keen to prove he can do something his siblings can’t. He is easily in his 50s, but he’s got no family of his own and never strayed far from home. He isn’t a bad guy, he just lacks direction. We’ll call him Jimbo to avoid any more ‘Mr. Smith” nonsense.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Sims 4 Overthinking: The 70s”
Ding 25!
Dad’s made a birthday post consistently for over ten years, so, on one hand, it feels natural to make one of my own. But, on the other hand, it feels like elbowing into a spot I don’t belong, like my cat trying to “share” my recliner with me. Like, sure, okay, you fit, kind of, but at what cost? Nothing feels natural or right, and you literally have a bed right over there. Derailed cat analogy aside, maybe I’m overthinking it.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Ding 25!”
From The Archives:
The No Politics Rule
Here are 6 reasons why I forbid political discussions on this site. #4 will amaze you. Or not.
The Terrible New Thing
Fidget spinners are ruining education! We need to... oh, never mind the fad is over. This is not the first time we've had a dumb moral panic.
Zenimax vs. Facebook
This series explores the troubled history of VR and the strange lawsuit between Zenimax publishing and Facebook.
Object-Disoriented Programming
C++ is a wonderful language for making horrible code.
The Disappointment Engine
No Man's Sky is a game seemingly engineered to create a cycle of anticipation and disappointment.
A Telltale Autopsy
What lessons can we learn from the abrupt demise of this once-impressive games studio?
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round
I'm not surprised a fighting game has an absurd story. I just can't figure out why they bothered with the story at all.
Object-Oriented Debate
There are two major schools of thought about how you should write software. Here's what they are and why people argue about it.
Push the Button!
Scenes from Half-Life 2:Episode 2, showing Gordon Freeman being a jerk.
Do It Again, Stupid
One of the highest-rated games of all time has some of the least interesting gameplay.