Re: Chat Thread

[BretBaber]

Of course I am. It's the only phone with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on it.

I'm not big on gaming on phones, but if I ever see it cheap maybe I'll buy it and try it out sometime.  I find games to be fun on phones, but I'd rather play games on my vita if I'm doing portable gaming. Have you ever tried Star Wars: Tiny Death Star? The only game I ever keep coming back to is Tiny Towers by the same developers, so I'm thinking it would be fun.

[volvocrusher]

I'd love nothing more than to have that game ported to Vita. Seriously, I'd say it's better than 3DS without question if the game got put there, and coming from me that's a big deal. But I make do with what I have and I'm more than happy to have my favorite game in my pocket no matter where I go.

[BretBaber]

I was pumped when FF7 was finally playable on the PSP, so I definitely know your joy. Although I like Star Wars, I don't think it's a game I'd like but at the right price I'd be willing to try it.

[volvocrusher]

If there's one Bioware game I could see you liking it's Kotor. I know you didn't like Dragon Age's combat, but Kotor's console interface is so much better. You can even set it up so it pauses every turn like a turn based RPG. And it has so much love for the original trilogy, from the small jokes and references to having some crazy secrets from the Sith, Wookies, and Sand People, it's so great.

[BretBaber]

I'm going to try Dragon Age again at some point, but getting 8 GB free storage is never easy for me on my PS3. I loved the story and setting, but just couldn't get into the combat or figure it out for that matter.

I do love those wookies and sand people, and the closer it gets to turn based the better for my personal preferences. I just looked and it is $9.99. If I ever see it drop to $5 I might buy it. Normally my iTunes cash is for songs by my favorite bands only available on iTunes, but I could make an exception.

[volvocrusher]

I completely understand not liking Dragon Age's combat on consoles, it's interface is ass. I have a much harder time playing games on PC, but with DA it was the opposite, the PC interface is so much better. 3 looks better in that regard though, seems like a blend of hack and slash with WRPG strategy planning, hope it can give the best of both worlds. At the very least it looks to work well on a controller

[BretBaber]

When I bought it I thought from all of the videos it was something like a hack and slash similar to Champions of Norrath (why they haven't made a sequel to that game is beyond me) and was super pumped for it. Instead it was what it turned out to be and it saddened me a lot. If I would have played it not thinking it would have been Champions of Norrath I might have felt differently about it.

[Krubixcube]

Whoawhoawhoa ajapam...back up. There's a story to be told there.

[pspiddy]

Here's a question for T-wolf or anyone else familiar with Japanese culture; Why are the interviews with Japanese game creators and devs so damned cryptic and boring? Are they lost in translation? Is ass-kissing really that common? It seems like most of the answers never really match up to the questions.

And I'm honestly curious instead of my usual talking shit self.

[ajapam]

Whoawhoawhoa ajapam...back up. There's a story to be told there.

Haha, not really. She was a friend of friend. Everyone was pretty drunk but me. I was actually kind of offended, to be honest. I think she assumed I was dying for sex just because I'm quiet

@spiddy That's what Hideki Kamiya's twitter is for

[pspiddy]

@aj: I'll look him up if I can remember my twitter thing.

Was reading some comments about the net neutrality ruling on various different websites. If I can go Pachter with my predictions, to cut through the rhetoric, short-sighted thinking is for short-sighted people.

The world is just too small these days to think a dying culture can secure the future profits. The judge who ruled against the FCC, and the FCC itself, are older than color telvesion. So anyone freaking out about what will happen in the future is a little misguided.

My favorite part of all of this is the British dude trying to block porn. Good luck with that. I wish I knew more about it. That's gotta be some shady shit because nobody blocks porn unless they're trying to do something else.

[Krubixcube]

I feel like the Japanese don't want to express their own opinions on the game so they kind of "take the company line" as it were. They just express exactly what they did (as in "I worked on x, y and z" EXACTLY) as opposed to what they were trying to achieve, if that makes sense. But I too find Japanese game interviews extremely mundane, even with a knowledge of the culture.

There is most definitely an almost ungodly need NOT to express one's own creative opinion which, I think as artistic people (perhaps you moreso than me) might strike a rather odd chord. The interview's about FFIX are almost infuriating in that regard.

[Krubixcube]

Posted this on facebook but since most of you aren't on the ol' book of faces I felt it was worth relating here as well:

I get about two hours of sleep last night and go into school after a very serious debate about calling in sick. I get in and am trying to wake myself up when the vice principal approaches my desk. "Have you heard about 2nd period?" he asks. "no, I reply." "Well," he goes on, "your normal English teacher is absent so you have to teach class three one today on your own."

"Well, that's fi-" I start to reply.

"Also," he interjects, "the handicapped girl who comes to that class is in today. And it's her last day, so there'll be some mothers watching and her carers. You need to give her 2 minutes at the end of the class to make a speech."

"I guess I-"

"Oh, and Akiyama-sensei will be there. But she wont be helping you. She will be hands-off. No touch."

Indeed, unsure of why (outside of the legal constraints) they'd even send a teacher to be there at all I just sat there puzzled. In fact, she walked into the room when class finally did start and said in response to the kids asking her if she was there to sub in for the missing teacher "nope, kids, I'm not helping I'm going to read my book". Not entirely sure what to make of that, but mostly I'm still puzzling over what a "no touch" lesson is.

[pspiddy]

Your story reminds me of something similar (because narcisists are awesome like that):

Many moons ago, when I was a student aid, I was setting up a symposium for an artist coming to speak on campus. I wasn't particularly interested in his work and didn't really give a shit about being there. (outside of getting paid and getting grades)

Turns out, as we were loading his canvases into his beamer afterwards, he didn't give a shit either. We had a smoke and shared a laugh at his car and life went on.

No idea if that anecdote applies, T-wolf, was just saying sometimes being yourself in an awkward situation might net you a smoke buddy. Or, at worst, affirmation you ain't such a terrible fuck as you thought.

[Krubixcube]

Or affirm that I AM as terrible as I think I am...

[Rainjar]

The most recent ones Japanese game dev interviews I've been reading lately (In the back of the Dark Souls and Persona 3/4 artbooks) have been really great, although these are probably an exception to the rule as I don't read Japanese game dev interviews as I should.

Seriously, the interview in the back of the Persona 3 artbook along made the purchase worth while.

[Krubixcube]

The ones surrounding Final Fantasy IX...considering there were so many interesting artistic choices and gameplay choices etc, will drive you up a wall. They are awful and uninformative.

"WE MADE A GAME THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN FINAL FANTASY VIII BECAUSE VIII WAS THE GAME BEFORE IX AND SO IT WAS NECESSARY TO DIFFERENTIATE IT FROM THAT." - Final Fantasy IX devbot.

[pspiddy]

My neighbor just caught me singing to my dogs. I was singing the Mario theme but doing it "poop, poop-poop-poop! Poop, poop poop, poop-poop poop poop, poop-poop poop-poop poop poop poop poop-poop"

Sad thing is I was more proud than embarassed. I should probably buy 3D World...

[Krubixcube]

I somehow get the image your neighbor is like the jock in a high school movie. Or Nelson from the Simpsons. "HA HA...NERD!"

[BretBaber]

It really busts my chops that Atlanta is in a state of emergency for 2 inches of snow and in Michigan it never stops snowing. Ever.

[Krubixcube]

Phillip Seymour-Hoffman died. That is about the last piece of news I was expecting this morning...

[Rainjar]

It really busts my chops that Atlanta is in a state of emergency for 2 inches of snow and in Michigan it never stops snowing.  Ever.

You'd hate the UK. If there's even the slightest, SLIGHTEST bit of snow everyone loses their shit and everything gets shut down. It's pathetic.

[BretBaber]

Ha, your last sentence reminds me of what I said upon discovering the Atlanta situation.  My response was "Pathetic losers."  Apparently on Tuesday we're getting 10-14 inches of snow.  I'll have to take a picture of all the snow that we've already accumulated.

RIP Dusty from Twister

[pspiddy]

We got a couple of inches here. It would be ok if there wasn't major construction on literally every road within 10 miles of me. I'm just hoping the get the salt and plows going before it turns to ice. Well, I'm hoping for no more ice period. Doubt that'll happen.

[BretBaber]

I have a really shitty driveway. It's about 20 to 25 yards up a hill, and when it is blowing it really drifts. To be honest, I don't know how my back is still working from all of the shoveling I've had to do this winter.

[Krubixcube]

Had my last day of school today...IT WAS EMOTIONAL! Well, not really but it was nice. Had lots of students milling about after school to say goodbye to me which was very sweet of them. The contract is stupid and ends early (they don't finish school til March) so I think they didn't quite believe I was actually just up and leaving so it was nice explaining it wasn't because I hated them all.

But i got class pictures and little message books from my graduating students and I'll probably be able to go to the graduation as well so all is well. I was SO tempted to be like "PLEASE TAKE PRIVATE LESSONS WITH ME AWESOME CHILDREN!" but I think that's somewhat frowned upon. It's a shame though because I really would want to continue teaching some of those kids.

Now...to do shitty work for the rest of my contract time. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

[pspiddy]

@T-wolf: That's a very sweet sentiment from your students. Makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

How does community college work these days? Specifically, can I just go enroll in the audio engineering program and then have free reign on the recording gear? I know when I took all of my basics at a community college I kind of just, you know, used the whole campus as a playground. A lot of you kids are in college now so please enlighten me as to how shit goes down in this newfangled present day.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

i spent 5 dollars and a couple of hours editing this so you all should watch it

[pspiddy]

In my 34 years on this planet, I can safely say DO NOT EVER go to a fucking wally world on a fucking morning trek for anything. They're all there. All of them. From the fat bitch with kids to the fuck deciding 15 or fewer is just an option. Fuck beans, someone is probably fucking beans in here.

Bret, I have so much respect for you. When I move back to Houston you should seriously come with and I'll get you an it/csr job no problem. You shouldn't have to deal with this shit. What is wrong with people?

[BretBaber]

ha ha, I typically work during the worst times too.  On an average day I go in from 10-7 and those are always the busy times, plus I work on the weekends.  Old people are the worst because they know nothing, but I'm also very annoyed by the amount of people that come in with their kids on snow days because they can't tolerate being home with their children.

The thing that always bothers me the most is how the majority of customers think I should have to do everything for them (the main example is putting minutes on their prepaid phones or activating prepaid phones).  Then we will always get calls on the phone about how they can't hook up their sound bars or VCR players like I'm sitting there looking at their set up. And they're are just stupid. A co-worker saw a customer trying to put a quarter into the SD slot of a photo machine. These are things I couldn't even dream to make up.  

Here's a true story that happened a long time ago, I was putting away returns at night and there was a stray cart.  A customer was near and I asked if it was his and he said no.  I then looked into the cart and saw tampons and said "Well I guess you  wouldn't need these so that was dumb of me to ask."  Apparently he went and complained about me because it was his cart and they were for his wife and I was lucky he didn't knock me the fuck out.  Seems pretty absurd since I did ask him if it was his cart before making the comment even though he did say it wasn't his.  People are the worst.

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