PC gaming is not what it once was

Posted on [06.15.09] by David

Recently during my aforementioned spring cleaning I went through all my spindles of disks and my boxes/cases of all my games in my collection. While chatting during a state of mutual bordum, my colleagues and I were discussing what we could actually play out of our collections. Part to fill the gap of time, part nostalgia trip.

So went went through the list of mutual games:

  • Counter Strike 1.6
  • Day of Defeat
  • C&C Generals: Zero Hour
  • Worms Armageddon
  • Diablo II: LoD

Well after about 3 hours of messing around in non-steam games trying to get network functionality to work correctly over hamachi and other unforeseen gaming errors or mishaps we gave up. Eventually settling on re-installing poker stars for some trips back down memory lane before everyone and their mother played / watched all the games of texas hold’em and the equivalent tournaments.

Myself I would have settled for game of practically anything, sure poker stars is fun but after you go through 3,000 chips in the course of 35 minutes you start to wonder if there is anything else you can play. More recently I’ve been playing more Team Fortress 2 after the new spy/sniper update came out within which to get a whole bunch of new unlockables. I still have yet to determine why valve went with a time-played reward system for the new weapons and gear, but I figured the achievement based system was actually pretty sound sure for the first two weeks after a class update servers were packed with un-savory characters trying to get there new weapons but I could deal with that for the short time.

But playing FPS’ can only get you so far I’ve gotten sick of Call of Duty: World at War. The second map pack was just like the first, complete garbage. Within the first 12 hours people had already discovered glitches and exploits, the only thing I have for my 800 points that I actually like is the new nazi zombies map, this one actually holds a challenge. The hell hounds are freakin’ crazy stupid hard and its not like the previous one that was released.

Switching gears to console gaming.

I followed the E3 coverage pretty well, and there was a few things that actually looked good. The biggest shocker that came just yesterday when I read some Gameinformer was Max Payne 3, rockstar is actually going to a sequel which to me is real good news, after reading the article there was some good and bad. For the record I think project natal is a pipe dream and concept is not reality. I did like the following that were previewed:

  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction
  • Metal Gear Solid: Rising
  • Singularity
  • Star Wars: The Old Republic
  • Alan Wake
  • Assassins Creed 2

I’m still looking forward to the new Modern Combat 2 from IW. I still think that any new first person shooters belong in the here and now and should leave the past ( i.e. all the war related materials) alone. I also took some time to play the new Red Faction single player demo which I thought was amazing, and I plan on picking that up fairly soon. The only thing I have that I would add to it would be the ground geo-mod, that was probably the best part of the first one was tunneling and smashing huge amounts of earth into a tomb for many many npcs. Maybe they focused on the building structure demolition which is still amazing, but losing sight of were they came from.

Which brings me to my next point, developers are losing focus of were they came from. More and more I see the new sequels from classic games they lose sight of the roots at least in my eyes, halo, rainbow six, splinter cell (to an extent), mercenaries, ghost recon (the advanced war fighter series). There was good and bad to each one, and I understand that once you play a game and you like it you want to play more like it. I also know that you have to be original and have originality to a game or they become clones, but sometimes I wonder were the actually get the notion that some of their ideas are good. Maybe I’m preaching to the choir but I’m just getting it down on virtual paper.

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Kickin` It Summer 09′ Style

Posted on [06.14.09] by David

First off let me just say that Cisco Networking courses at baker were one of the more difficult classes I’ve ever come up against in my experience in college thus far. I’ve never looked forward to summer vacation more than I ever have. Blasted my way through my hardware & vista written and practicals with only little to worry about my cisco skills based.

My 22nd birthday was a blast at Pints & Quarts even though it was the day before practically all my exams. I’m almost positive I had more beverages than on my 21st birthday. Which by the way I have to thank everyone that showed up Aaron, Justin, Wes, Joe, Jake, Scott, and Joey (the previous day birthday boy). I also had the chance to check all my favorite USA shows for there summer season starters i.e. Burn Notice & In Plain Sight and both are still going strong story wise.

With my birthday came a pimpin’ new monitor / hdtv from my parents which is shown below on the right.

new monitor2

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May Flowers

Posted on [05.19.09] by David

Been too busy with life. BRB Red spy in base.

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Spring Cleaning Update

Posted on [04.2.09] by David

Spring break has been a long time coming, and a whole two weeks worth is more than enough. But its just not the same when you have no real income, or live in Muskegon. With pretty much everything costing money these days from sitting around in places, to even thinking about going somewhere costs dinero. Having been mostly unemployed since the beginning of the year its hard to justify spending anything on personal enjoyment. Browsing job postings on craigslist or michworks is depressing there is maybe like 1 or if I’m lucky 2 postings that are in my field of related work (networking) in my immediate area. I accepted that I would have to move out of Michigan for my career a long time ago.

After completing the winter quarter and getting most of my general education requirements out of the way, I’m on the fast track to graduating hopefully by the end of next year’s spring quarter. Is coming up quarter I signed up for Hardware Concepts (CIS 107A), Windows Vista Config (MNP 171), Network Fundamentals (CSC 121A) I can finally say im glad to have a full load of classes that are related to what im seeking, not just general education stuff.

I’ve also taken a permanant leave from WoW, I just don’t like the way the game is heading and gaming in general for that matter. I remember when it took skill to play a game and it was progressively harder to win, the more ranks or points you gained. I always use Halo as a compairison, the first one was the by far the best LAN console FPS and the second one sucked for a while until the fixed, but the LAN play was horrible. Halo the third one I don’t even play unless there are a few friends on to form a party. It was an awesome game that got progressive worse with every new release the multiplayer just got dummed down for todays youth to the point to were you can stand still and still get get kills.

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The freight train hits the bus and nothing happened.

Posted on [02.11.09] by David

<begin rambling during my extreme sense of nothing to do, while procrastinating my work due to actually having describe how I would make a table SQL rather just than making the table assignments>

As I am sitting in my CIS 331 class (Database Design with MySQL) I sit and ponder why was I actually sitting here. Sure its nice to actually get around to fine tuning some SQL skills that could be helpful down the road but most likely won’t. Then it hit me, I also took the review approach to my advanced algebra class. As many of you know me I dispise all forms of math especially algebra. When will I ever use the equastions to find cube roots in networking? Will I ever use the complex functions on the job? probably not. Then why do they require you to know such things.

While I was sitting here mulling over my current classes, it hit me like the garlic pepperoni pizza  I had for lunch hit my stomach and gave me that feeling I get when I have to run for the restroom.  The only class I actually like this quarter that actually seems appealing to me is networking (NET121B). Personally I believe it to be teacher that actually makes that class, he is a on the job actual I.T. guy working his Saturday mornings to teach us networking (granted I pretty much know everything its basically review from my previous class at MCC). But I did learn how to actually wire CAT5 unshielded twisted pair cable and crimp it and then finally test it. He just makes the class fun, I mean he fits the classic profile of geek, technology enthusiast guy, teaches other how to make things work, and drinks obscene amounts of redbull.

At the end of the day I do go home and sleep in my bed and converse with my parents, which I can honesty say I do not envy those living in dorms away from home. Because I believe if I was ever allowed to be on campus miles away from home I don’t think anyone would keep me in check to do my homework or go to class for that matter.

<end rambling during my extreme sense of nothing to do, while procrastinating my work due to actually having describe how I would make a table SQL rather just than making the table assignments>

Also while your reading this, check out this sick desktop screenshot of a custom ui from lifehacker by chaebi69 on flickr.


[lifehacker via flickr]

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Forums are up!

Posted on [01.24.09] by David

I now have a forum up, feel free to join and converse.

http://digitaljdr.com/boards

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Winter Quarter Roundup

Posted on [01.24.09] by David

Winter quarter this new year at Baker started out pretty nice. I have a somewhat more casual role at college only taking 3 classes instead of the 4 I took in the previous quarter. The only draw back like every other quarter is I’m taking another math class which is not my strong suit.

But I’m enjoying both CIS331 (MySQL), & NET121B (Networking). I’m getting more experience and hands on in creating some SQL databases. Expanding my knowledge of just editing created databases through scrips like wordpress or SMF.

My networking class is mostly review from my other networking class I took while MCC, where they practically drilled the OSI model into my face with a hammer. But the teacher makes this class he is a wired guy that starts off his morning with a couple cans of Redbull.

Again the obligatory math class comments and how I loathe them.

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Starting up the 2009 engine

Posted on [01.9.09] by David

Kicking off the new year has been pretty slow. I must admit I took yesterday as a time of reflection of what I have accomplished over 2008, and what I hoped to gain out of 2009. So the following list is what I could think of the good and bad things of 2008.

  1. Started this blog as a work and personal journal of the events of me.
  2. Bought a new camera for myself (Powershot A580).
  3. Turned 21 and had a blast with the summer of parties.
  4. Switched Colleges from MCC to Baker.
  5. Met some new friends at Baker that I would not have otherwise if I stayed at MCC.
  6. Cleared my credit card debt.
  7. Went to the dark side once again and renewed my WoW Account.
  8. Got a new laptop for college.
  9. Had my 360 red ring for the second time on me.
  10. For the most part retired from design for profit.

That’s about it, well the major top 10 things I would say to sum the year up.  I hope to have a even better 2009. I would however like to comment on how Stargate Atlantis is ending, Like its predisestor show SG-1 It is mainly ending kind of lame, with a huge problem that gets solved in a timely fashion like all shows before it. Most likely they are going to do a couple of movies to boost their wallets down the road. I for one will miss the Stargate series.

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Happy Two Thousand and Nine

Posted on [01.1.09] by David

Mad scientist J to the D to the R second here, wishing everyone a happy new year and hoping that 2009 only more brings better things than 2008 did.

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Holiday Greetings

Posted on [12.5.08] by David

Well let me start out by saying I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I myself had a good one, with all the fixings. I have to admit I haven’t been keeping this blog updated like I would have liked to. College has been pretty busy, but that’s not the complete problem. Back in late August, several of my friends suggested (read: pestered me every chance the got) to come back to World of Warcraft (WoW).

<WoW garbage starts here>

I will admit I did come back for a bit and had fun tooling around on my warrior again doing this and that, and the new expansion was due out in a couple of months. Well I got the idea to make a new character, and with the same friends doing the exact thing, so we all started out leveling new characters and having a grand ol’ time. But something happened, I was actually enjoying the class I was playing. Aside from when I was leveling my warrior which by the way was balls slow I was having fun frostbolting and cone of cold pwn’ing my enemys. Two of the friends had a promotional offer that was going on, that if you recruited a friend you got triple experience gained on quests for period of time. 

Well that made the rest of us jealous, because before long they were 5, 10, 15 levels higher than the rest of us leveling. Then they took a break for a bit which gave me the time I needed to catch up, and then eventually pass them on my road to 70. Seeing how I didn’t start college until late September I was mid 60s before class, and finished while I wasn’t busy on the week days and weekends. Eventually I got to 70 and before long I was raiding again, and before I knew it the new expansion: Wrath of the Lich King was out and I was on my way to 80.  Well in little more than a weeks time leveling to 80 came and went, definitely helped that I had a weeks vacation for Thanksgiving from college. Beating another friend we managed to shanghai back as well to 80, well with the new expansion came hero classes and everyone dropped their main character and picked up a death knight. Already 80 and frustrated at the lack of progress my other friends were having I started to seek out raiding guilds for myself. 

Then last week I managed to have my tryout for the guild Midnight Sanctuary. I had already grouped and PvP’ed with some of the members, and one of them I was actually in a guild with before hand. Well a very long story short, I got accepted into the guild and we started our journey into clearing the 25 man content that the expansion currently offers. 

<WoW garbage ends here>

Well with that update out of the way I did manage to pick up my 360 controller and download the “New Xbox Experience” which by the way aside from  the avatars I think has been the best updated ever. I’m glad after wanting it so much on the original xbox only to be disappointed not to have it on the 360, but now with the updated to have private group chats with friends. I did pick up Gears of War 2, and played the campaign for a while until wow sucked me back in with the new expansion and now the GoW2 case sits and collects dust on the shelf. 

I am looking forward to my last week of the fall quarter, and then a nice long vacation from class until January. But until then I will have to keep hitting the books, So if I don’t update by then Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe New Year.

stay frosty.

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