Wednesday, I bought SimCity for the iPhone. Electronic Arts was having a sale, so I got it for $0.99. It has the graphics of SC4, but seems to be based on the original SimCity. I played with it off and on, and was having lots of fun.
Then yesterday, I got home, and immediately went to Facebook, and was about to "play" Castle Age.
Castle Age is (or was) the last clicky game I was playing. But it hit me that the game serves no purpose. Okay, even less purpose than other computer games. It doesn't make you think. It doesn't improve hand-eye coordination. You just click and are told a result. You can rarely fail unless your army is too small.
So yesterday, I made the decision to stop playing Castle Age. I went to the invite section of Facebook, and clicked once on "Block Application".
Then I went and read for an hour. I was getting sleepy, so I thought I would go make one last check for FB updates, and then go to bed. While sitting at the computer, I thought about loading SimCity 4 on the laptop, and playing for a bit. I got out the CDs from the big CD book and started the installation.
But then I saw that it required a code from the original CD case. I didn't have that in the office anymore, just the book of all the install CDs I have. So I went to the garage and got down the two file boxes of computer documentation. Digging through, I found that I had put the insert from the CD case in the booklet. So happily, I put the boxes back, and completed the installation.
Then suddenly it was 12:30 AM, and I'd been playing with my first city for an hour and a half.
Now, I'm thinking I'm going to have to do a personal computer game retrospective. Not necessarily on all of the games I used to play, but definitely all the systems. I don't know if I'll start later today or tomorrow. It'll have to depend on how the day goes.
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Friday, June 25, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Six Months Ago I Was in Vegas
But that's okay. The project at work is going well despite the continued findings of changes from the original template.
Jennifer and I are looking forward to the weekend with a Tiki-Martini party at friends on Saturday.
Beyond that, I can say that I am happy that I have finally given up on the clicky games on Facebook. I worked for the level I was wanting, and now I need to stop. I just am not willing to pay for favor points to make my character better when all that I do is click.
I'd much rather be playing other games that I have a little more input in.
Or painting miniatures.
Jennifer and I are looking forward to the weekend with a Tiki-Martini party at friends on Saturday.
Beyond that, I can say that I am happy that I have finally given up on the clicky games on Facebook. I worked for the level I was wanting, and now I need to stop. I just am not willing to pay for favor points to make my character better when all that I do is click.
I'd much rather be playing other games that I have a little more input in.
Or painting miniatures.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
My Name is Erik and I'm a Clickaholic
Facebook is not about networking. Facebook is about clicky games.
I've played many of them.
Dragon Wars. Pirates Rule the Caribbean. Hero City. Mafia Wars. Mobsters 2. Castle Age.
And those are not in any way a significant percentage of the games available out there. I have avoided Farmville as much as I could. I'm on it, but only to help friends. I don't play it.
These games make their money by people wanting to be the best at them with the best upgrades and so you can buy points or install spyware or apply for credit cards that will give you a certain amount of points.
I had recently cut back to two games, and finally about a week ago, I cut back to just one.
Then yesterday, I read this article on Cracked.
Now, there is a significant difference between the clicky games and regular video games. In video games there is animation, where as in the clicky games you just click and are told a result. There is a story, and pictures, but the pictures don't move and I don't even read the stories.
However, it's going to be hard to play the game now without thinking about reaching for a food pellet.
I've played many of them.
Dragon Wars. Pirates Rule the Caribbean. Hero City. Mafia Wars. Mobsters 2. Castle Age.
And those are not in any way a significant percentage of the games available out there. I have avoided Farmville as much as I could. I'm on it, but only to help friends. I don't play it.
These games make their money by people wanting to be the best at them with the best upgrades and so you can buy points or install spyware or apply for credit cards that will give you a certain amount of points.
I had recently cut back to two games, and finally about a week ago, I cut back to just one.
Then yesterday, I read this article on Cracked.
Now, there is a significant difference between the clicky games and regular video games. In video games there is animation, where as in the clicky games you just click and are told a result. There is a story, and pictures, but the pictures don't move and I don't even read the stories.
However, it's going to be hard to play the game now without thinking about reaching for a food pellet.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Do that meme, do that meme...
Once again Miss Em (whose blog is now secret) has sent me something cool on Facebook. She's surreal, and so I had to be as well. But do not ask me where question #12 is. It's a mystery.
Here are the rules - post this list on your profile using the Notes tab. Replace my answers with yours. Tag 10 people to do the same thing.
Author commentary: You’re not the boss of me now… You’re not the boss of me now… You’re not the boss of me now… And you’re not so big…
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Columbus but my parents can’t spell. And Leif’s father.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
When “Firefly” was canceled.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Why bother? No one teaches it anymore.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Peanut butter
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No, I don’t like goats.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Not until we develop cross time travel to parallel worlds.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Only against giant hedgehogs.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes, but we never talk.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Do you even know me?
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
None of the above.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Boots, boots, boots.
12. THERE IS NOOOOOOOO QUESTION 12.
It is twice "Rule 6" anyway.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
The one that I like.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Boobs or lack there of. Then I start checking things off the list.
15. RED OR PINK?
Green, copper based, remember?
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My second least favorite thing.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Everyone. My aim is very poor.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
Everyone? And read 6.5 billion responses? Are you crazy?
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Flesh
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The hum of my hard drive. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?Inanimate.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
I probably have some, yes.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My phone is very small. I talk to people on my feet or while sitting in a chair.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Who? Old crotchety? No, I hate her guts and her imaginary fish. Duh.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Night time hallway cat laps.
27. HAIR COLOR?
Infrared.
28. EYE COLOR?
Ultraviolet
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
On my shelves.
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Protein and carbohydrates. With cellulose for variety.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Depends on the movie. Some have neither.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Zapruder.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
626.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Spring or autumn?
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
With the right snake you cold have both.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?Miss America38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Miss South Carolina
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Apocrypha
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
My mouse, and occasionally my hand.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
I didn’t, so there. Nyeah.
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
My heartbeat in my ears.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Moss or spell-check.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
In seven-dimensional time-space? Nowhere at all.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Shhhh, they might be watching.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Aren’t you old enough to have figured this one out already?
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Alex Trebek's
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
Well.
48 Questions
Here are the rules - post this list on your profile using the Notes tab. Replace my answers with yours. Tag 10 people to do the same thing.
Author commentary: You’re not the boss of me now… You’re not the boss of me now… You’re not the boss of me now… And you’re not so big…
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Columbus but my parents can’t spell. And Leif’s father.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
When “Firefly” was canceled.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Why bother? No one teaches it anymore.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Peanut butter
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No, I don’t like goats.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Not until we develop cross time travel to parallel worlds.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Only against giant hedgehogs.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes, but we never talk.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Do you even know me?
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
None of the above.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Boots, boots, boots.
12. THERE IS NOOOOOOOO QUESTION 12.
It is twice "Rule 6" anyway.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
The one that I like.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Boobs or lack there of. Then I start checking things off the list.
15. RED OR PINK?
Green, copper based, remember?
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My second least favorite thing.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Everyone. My aim is very poor.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
Everyone? And read 6.5 billion responses? Are you crazy?
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Flesh
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The hum of my hard drive. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?Inanimate.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
I probably have some, yes.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My phone is very small. I talk to people on my feet or while sitting in a chair.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Who? Old crotchety? No, I hate her guts and her imaginary fish. Duh.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Night time hallway cat laps.
27. HAIR COLOR?
Infrared.
28. EYE COLOR?
Ultraviolet
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
On my shelves.
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Protein and carbohydrates. With cellulose for variety.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Depends on the movie. Some have neither.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Zapruder.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
626.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Spring or autumn?
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
With the right snake you cold have both.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?Miss America38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Miss South Carolina
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Apocrypha
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
My mouse, and occasionally my hand.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
I didn’t, so there. Nyeah.
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
My heartbeat in my ears.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Moss or spell-check.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
In seven-dimensional time-space? Nowhere at all.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Shhhh, they might be watching.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Aren’t you old enough to have figured this one out already?
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Alex Trebek's
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
Well.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
"Blow Me Away" - MP3 Divination
So I'm bringing something cool over from Facebook (yes, there are some cool things in Facebook). It's reminiscent of bible divination where you ask a question and open the bible and point to a verse. This one involves putting your MP3 player on shuffle, and after you read each question, you press the skip button, and then write down the title to that song in answer to that question, no matter ho strange or inappropriate it is for that song.
Of course the Facebook thing is to get others to do it to you, but I'll put it up here just for the weirdness. And hope for others.
1. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? "High Hopes" - Pink Floyd {Possibly.}
2. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? "Devilman" - Rob Zombie {Not as such.}
3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? "Birdhouse in Your Soul" - They Might Be Giants {This could work.}
4. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? "Junkie Doll" - Mark Knopfler {Getting someone off stuff, maybe.}
5. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" - Sting {It worked the time that counted.}
6. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Theme song from "The Flash" - Danny Elfman {Well, aside from CSUS band flashbacks, I'll take this in a positive way.}
7. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? "That's All" - Genesis
8. WHAT IS 2+2? "Stop Trying" - Huey Lewis {... okay}
9. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? "Freeing One's Mind" - Dialogue from Mallrats
10. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? "Sun is Shining" - The Fireman {... you make me happy when skies are gray...}
11. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? "Why Don't You Come Over" - Garbage
12. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? "Justin" - Korn {Not really.}
13. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? "Angry Chair" - Alice in Chains {Not gonna touch this one.}
14. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? "Rock is Dead" - Marilyn Manson {Geology is defunct? Really?}
15. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Main Theme (Expanded Version) from "Futurama" - Danny Elfman {Nope}
16. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? "I Don't Love You" - My Chemical Romance {I here I was hoping for "I Grieve" by Peter.}
17. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? "Only the Good Die Young" - Billy Joel {Does that make me evil?}
18. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? "Sleep Together" - Garbage {Do they really?}
19. WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? "Thoughts of a Dying Atheist" - Muse {Whole new insights.}
20. HOW WILL YOU DIE? "What I've Done" - Linkin Park {All my fault.}
21. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU REGRET? "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes {Do you?}
22. WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? "Desire" - U2 {If it's done right.}
23. WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? "A Thousand Years" - Toto
24. WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED? "Blue Blue Sky - Eric Stewart/Alan Parsons {meh.}
25. DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?"Human Beings" - Seal {Animals only tolerate me.}
26. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? "First We Take Manhattan" - Leonard Cohen {::whiff:: Swing, and a miss.}
27. WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? "Second to None" - Styles of Beyond {Yup.}
28. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? "Blow Me Away" - Breaking Benjamin
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