Well, probably not.
Just general misery, but it had been winding down the last two-three days. In general, I've switched from general dumpiness to muscle pain.
I also started a reviews blog. So far all I have reviewed is Mega Man 4. I'd appreciate feedback. Here is the link. http://lokreview.blogspot.com/
The biggest news this week in gaming would be the release of the PC version of From Dust, a game I've been looking forward to for a long time. And what do I see when I go to share my enjoyment of the game? Wall to wall complaints of UbiSoft's DRM. This has nothing to do with gameplay! That'd be like berating food because the supermarket was being gimp. Oh, UbiSoft lied~~~ BAH! If people got a refund every time they were lied to then governments would fall.
Ok, there are a few legitimate complaints like the poor use of PC controls (IE: Mouse). The game works just fine with a gamepad, and what self-respecting gamer doesn't have like 20 gamepads lying around by now. Hell, I still have 1 button joysticks for PC! I remember upgrading to 2 buttons to play Duke Nukem and One Must Fall 2097. The other concern is a lack of anti-aliasing. (L2 D3Doverrider) and the lower framerate. I didn't even notice the framerate was lower, because it was 'stable', something much more important to me. Dropped frames are very jarring to me and I never noticed any frame drops.
The tribal dudes are very endearing with their little dances and shouts. Surviving my first tsunami was thrilling, seeing the power of their faith save them from destruction. Each of the stages adds something new and wastes nothing. I prefer this style of level design. Also featured is some of the best water effects I have ever seen, the tides actually flow realistically and pools correctly form and drain. Simple game logic I have taken for granted over the years was tested: In the second level of the game you have to divert a river for your tribals to cross. The first thing I did was simply cut the river off with dirt, only to see the sourced water correctly flow over the top. I build higher and higher until the water is eventually dammed - and am rewarded with the river flowing over the next highest barricade... the one leading into my village. More care is needed!
SPOILERS!
What got me was the ending. I may be reading too much into this (But I like doing that)... But it's a pretty good metaphor for the creation cycle. In the last level your tribals finally acquire the power of the ancients... the power of creation. They craft a new land in their own image and all is good. But they get restless, they need new challenges... they need more. So using all of their might they perform the ultimate act of creation, summon a gateway to a new land. Immediately the land begins to crumble and die. Only a brave few make it to the gateway and the power of the ancients is taken from them. Then... the first level starts again.
Did they perish due to greed or hubris - was the power of creation not enough for them? Or did they honestly seek destruction so that they may once again face the challenges of simple survival? Or did I miss something because it was three in the morning?
Well, enough about that.
Current Projects
Tossed out all my level design. Was getting too complicated. I'm going to avoid the complicated large room style of play and work more on smaller easily connected rooms... IE: Less like Super Meat Boy and more like Super Mario Bros. I still mostly need additional sprite work, which I'm finding to be very difficult. It's not like you can go to school for this.
Other Projects
None
Gaming
Mostly From Dust, which I really like, and Borderlands.
Other
I know I complained about mysteriously losing weight, but now I'm mysteriously gaining weight. I'm still at a pretty big net loss, but it would have been nice to keep it all off.
I'm finally sleeping well and at the right times. I'll probably be able to get work done this week.
I can move mountains, Lok.
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