Twenty Sided

By Shamus Posted Wednesday Nov 12, 2008

Filed under: Personal 37 comments

Ow. I’m not sure what the deal is, but my arms are going all carpal on me. This came about very abruptly. Monday I was fine. Tuesday I was flicking my wrists and massaging my forearms. I haven’t changed my workspace, and I haven’t increased my typing output, so I don’t know what’s causing this.

I’m going to forego the posts I’d had slated for today and engage in some premeditated slacking. Just so I don’t send you away empty handed, here is some stuff to read:

Alex reviews Bully.

Kaedrin talks about Anathem, the new Neal Stephenson book. Also good is this post on Blu-Ray, which suggests that Blu-Ray isn’t as important as Sony thinks it is.

Jay Barnson takes another look at the eternally slippery term “RPG”.

Ow again. Kind of sucks when your job, your second job, and your hobby all require lots of typing.

EDIT: I have no idea if this is true carpal tunnel or not. It’s an ache in the backs of my wrists and the front of my forearms which makes typing painful. Addendum: Ouch.

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.

 Wind StormPrevious Post

Next PostA Pet Project, Euthanized 

37 comments

Command & Conquer Misprin

By Shamus Posted Tuesday Nov 11, 2008

Filed under: Video Games 41 comments

 MMO Games:
The Pwnage PrinciplePrevious Post

Next PostStardock Admits Mistakes 

By now many of you will have seen the latest DRM debacle from EA. Command & Conquer shipped with a misprint in some manuals, so that only 19 of the required 20 digits were printed in the manual. The solution offered by EA? Simply guess at the last digit. After all, there are “only” 36 possible characters.

That gem of advice was given here, although at some point since the story broke they actually changed the answer and told you to call support for a new CD key. Which is faster: Trying to guess the correct code or waiting on hold to talk to a human being at EA?

People keep suggesting that the ongoing DRM blunders are simply part of an overarching scheme on the part of EA to push gamers over to consoles where they can be more effectively bilked. Others think that this is all a simple pattern of idiocy and incompetence. I do not see any alternate explanations. They are either pernicious saboteurs or keepers of a stupidity so virulent they pose a danger to themselves and the industry they depend on.

But let’s not be narrow minded. They could be both!

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.

 MMO Games:
The Pwnage PrinciplePrevious Post

Next PostStardock Admits Mistakes 

41 comments

Stolen Pixels #37:
Part One of Infinity

By Shamus Posted Tuesday Nov 11, 2008

Filed under: Column 0 comments

 Stolen Pixels #36:
You Only Hurt the Ones Who Love You Previous Post

Next PostStolen Pixels #39:
Not a People Person 

In the book of short-sighted, cynical ineptitude, a new chapter has been authored. Apparently the people of Activision believe that the need for sequels transcends the need for quality, originality, aesthetics, wit, and fun. The industry is rife with counter-examples, but you’d have to know something about videogames to understand that and spot the changes that are going on. And for whatever reason, none of the big publishers will let gamers into the boardroom.

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.

 Stolen Pixels #36:
You Only Hurt the Ones Who Love You Previous Post

Next PostStolen Pixels #39:
Not a People Person 

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MMO Games:
The Pwnage Principle

By Shamus Posted Monday Nov 10, 2008

Filed under: Video Games 78 comments

 EA: The Noose Loosens Previous Post

Next PostCommand & Conquer Misprin 

xMEGA MANx offers us his Sun Tzu-esque advice on battle strategy.

MMO games inevitably follow their own variant of the Peter Principle: Players will choose increasingly tougher foes until their defeat is assured.

This has always been my #1 gripe with online games, that a majority of players are idiots at risk assessment and are impervious to teaching. No matter how many times they end up face-down, they refuse to consider an alternate strategy.

In City of Heroes (and most other MMOs) foes in the game are color-coded. The coloring varies slightly from game to game, but in general it works something like this: Foes with White names are about the same level you are. Yellow foes are a little above you and so slightly tougher. Orange means it will be a challenge, Red means it will be very dangerous, and Purple is nearly insurmountable.

There is a bonus to XP when you fight something above your level. Some players assume more bonus=more better, and thus the thing turns into a sort of monkey trap for clueless players. Sadly, you have to team with these people, and the monkeys outnumber the smart people.

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “MMO Games:
The Pwnage Principle”

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.

 EA: The Noose Loosens Previous Post

Next PostCommand & Conquer Misprin 

78 comments

A Capella Tribute to John Williams

By Shamus Posted Saturday Nov 8, 2008

Filed under: Movies 46 comments

 Lily Allen - Smile (in Simlish) Previous Post

Next PostWeezer Keep Fishin on Ukulele 

Link (YouTube)

That’s talent!

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.

 Lily Allen - Smile (in Simlish) Previous Post

Next PostWeezer Keep Fishin on Ukulele 

46 comments

Stolen Pixels #36:
You Only Hurt the Ones Who Love You

By Shamus Posted Friday Nov 7, 2008

Filed under: Column 48 comments

 Stolen Pixels #35:
Total Rewind 2Previous Post

Next PostStolen Pixels #37:
Part One of Infinity 

I have launched my latest rhetorical / satirical volley at the juggernaut that is EA. I’m sure they will crumble under the power of my arguments any second now. While we’re waiting for that, you can read today’s comic. You can read on here for an earlier version of the joke: Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Stolen Pixels #36:
You Only Hurt the Ones Who Love You”

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.

 Stolen Pixels #35:
Total Rewind 2Previous Post

Next PostStolen Pixels #37:
Part One of Infinity 

48 comments

Silent Hill Origins Part 6: Cult of Travis

By Shamus Posted Thursday Nov 6, 2008

Filed under: Shamus Plays 41 comments

 Silent Hill Origins Part 5: At The MoviesPrevious Post

Next PostA Star is Born:
Let's Play Champions Online Pt. 1 

In earlier posts I was careful to mark spoilers, but since this is the end of the game nearly everything will be spoilers. You can go here to skip to the conclusion without reading the rest of the story if you treasure your ignorance.

How to make a really scary monster: Take an existing scary monster and make it <strong>bigger</strong>! Of course, if the original monster wasn't all that scary to begin with...

How to make a really scary monster: Take an existing scary monster and make it bigger! Of course, if the original monster wasn't all that scary to begin with...

Throughout the game, there have been two plot threads: One is personal to Travis, where he lets a few of his skeletons out of his closet and gets to know them. The second is the plot where Travis is gathering up these mysterious magical gnib-nabs for the spooky little girl. The former is just tacked on – Travis is sort of working out his issues by running into his past by accident. The latter is a largish retcon where the writers are trying to add a new character and new events to the origin of Silent Hill.

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Silent Hill Origins Part 6: Cult of Travis”

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.

 Silent Hill Origins Part 5: At The MoviesPrevious Post

Next PostA Star is Born:
Let's Play Champions Online Pt. 1 

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