Not Sure What to Call This One

On this, the 19th day of NaBloPoMo, I may have finally run out of things to talk about. A bit of exhausted exposition later, and the streak is still alive.

Today was not a banner day. Work went well, as I tried to implement some of the resolutions discussed in this post. The drive home did not go so well. The office where I'm working this week is about 85 miles from my folks' house, so it's a bit of a drive anyway, but this evening brought snow that made the roads downright treacherous. I fishtailed twice on the ride home, which took almost double the usual time. After crossing the center line (twice) and ending up in a school bus turnout on the side of a rural road, I began to think that someone must be watching over me. If anyone had been approaching from the opposite direction or following me when it occurred, my NaBloPoMo streak would have been over That's something I don't want to think about.

As awful as the ride home was, everything suddenly became much more bearable upon arriving at my destination, because my son was at the door waiting for me. Both he and his sister were still up, hoping to see Daddy before going to bed. It never ceases to warm my heart and bring a smile to my face to have them light up and run over to greet me when coming home from work. Just this simple act of unconditional love and excitement can bring clarity and truly underline exactly what matters in this life. It certainly isn't electronics, or work, or money, or any of a million other trivial, material things. The fact that my family loves me, and have such a wonderful way of expressing it, keeps me going. For anyone without children, there's no way to accurately convey that feeling of love, happiness, joy and peace when your children are happy and safe, but I surely wish I could.

Today's entry was not earth-shattering or particularly exciting, but I hope someone can relate to it. Leave me a comment if this strikes a chord with you. Until tomorrow, be safe out there!

The One Where I Talk Too Much About Myself

NaBloPoMo, Day 14. Fighting off exhaustion and lack of a good topic, a cluttered mess falls out of my head into the blog. I truly apologize to anyone reading this, as the recent posts have veered off from the original mission, to discuss all things video games. Bear with me as I try to get back on track.

For the past few weeks, a lot of my head space (that not wholly consumed with the acquisition and enjoyment of the iPhone) has been preoccupied with rather heavy topics. Even though the product may not bear up to it, I've really enjoyed putting time into writing and posting to the blog, so much so that there's a tickle in the back of my mind which would have me explore the possibilities of using writing to somehow earn some extra money on the side. That would be great: doing something I like to do and get paid for it! Sadly, the big problem lies in the fact that many, many people aspire to the same thing, and most of those people have the education (let's just say that possessing an engineering degree and trying to break into a writing or journalism field isn't the best angle of attack), experience and talent which I lack. Understanding all of that, my little daydream of using an outlet like this to generate an income will have to wait.

A bit of my head space has also been directed to ways to improve my current craft, as an instrumentation and controls engineer for an environmental engineering firm. I've been mulling around a lot of ways to improve the design process and delivery standards, and there are a lot of half-formed ideas bouncing around. To create a list of these would benefit only me, and would drive the rest of you to click away from this page in boredom. Rest assured that it's a great list and, if implemented properly, would revolutionize the I&C design team. There might be some hyperbole in that last statement, but probably only a dab.

The problem I have, and one that's plagued me for as long as I can remember, is that I can't seem to keep my brain focused on one task long enough to complete it, before it careens off in another direction. You would figure that this would be frustrating and annoying, to go through life like this, and you would be right. This blog, for instance, probably does a great job at illustrating my point. If you were to go back and look at all of the things I've set out to do, and how many of them I actually do, you'd be appalled at the completion percentage. In a single, concise statement, I can sum up most of my adult life: I Lack Followthrough. Hopefully this isn't going to come out sounding too pretentious, but if I could train my brain to focus on one task or project at a time, see it through to completion with attention to detail and proper review each one deserves, I would be a far more successful person than I am today.

What do I do about this? There's the rub...I just don't know. If anyone reading this has any ideas, I'm all ears. Clearly, this behavior demonstrates a shocking lack of discipline on my part, and maybe that's where I need to start. It will require further research to understand my options, which isn't going to happen tonight. My eyes are starting to blur, and I'm going to be driving back to my hometown tomorrow night, starting around 9pm. We should reach our destination around 3am or so, which tells me I need to get some sleep. This post, though, will serve as my reminder to actually take the time to figure out what I can do about the issues that haunt me.

To those of you who've made it this far, through all of this navel-gazing and introspection, thanks for continuing to read. My hope is to get back to other topics, starting tomorrow. Until then, stay safe and be well!

What a Goal!

This is one of the coolest things I've seen on hockey ice. It makes me proud that the kid who pulled it off is from Maine. Apparently this was being filmed for a Bruins special segment. It's definitely worth a watch.

Five Things I'm Pretty Sure I Think

(Title is a modified version of the fantastic segment in every week's Monday Morning Quarterback column from SI's Peter King, who is one of the best, and most prolific, sportswriters I've ever seen).

Here are a few of the things I think about during the course of an average week. The subjects may vary, based on whatever is going on, but the common thread is this: if my brain were to devote as much time to useful pursuits as it does to useless knowledge, questions, fantasies, etc., maybe I would have contributed something useful to society by now. But, since I don't, you're stuck with this...

1. Listening to the Out of the Game podcast today, Jeff Green mentioned that World of Warcraft's gaudy subscriber number of 11 million. Is this number the number of paying customers of the service? Does this number include lapsed subscribers, such as myself? Does this number include the ridiculous number of trial accounts set up by people who never subscribed, or those accounts set up by gold farmers for the sole purpose of spamming ads for their services? Maybe that information exists somewhere, but I'm fairly certain it's not available for public consumption.

2. Is there such a thing as 'too many games coming out'? As a father of two, and soon to be three, there just aren't enough hours in the day to sleep, eat, work, spend time with the family, do chores, and experience all of the games that interest me. As an example, Braid is only $5 on Steam this weekend and I should buy it. It was one of the best games of 2008, and I still haven't tried it yet, which makes me sad. I like to think of myself as up on all things video games, but because of time constraints, I don't often get to experience what I listen to or read about firsthand.

3. I don't like first person shooters. There, I've said it. Now all I have to do is keep repeating it, so I don't convince myself that the Next Big Thing(TM) will be the one that I like. There are so many games I've bought and played, only because everyone in the gaming world was raving about them. Halo 3? Check. Played a little bit of multiplayer with coworkers, and sucked. Didn't get past the first mission in single-player. And yet I still feel guilty for some reason that I don't like it more. CoD4? Fortunately haven't spent the money on it yet. Left 4 Dead? Got it from Goozex a few weeks ago, thinking that I would play it with friends, and so far it hasn't found its way into my 360. It's time for me to realize that it's ok to not like the genre, and that it doesn't make me a bad person.

4. I may have screwed myself out of about 7 hours of progress in Final Fantasy. After releasing the earth crystal from the Lich, I immediately went to the Earthgift shrine, and currently have a save game (my only savegame for this adventure, sadly) on the deepest level of this dungeon. The problem with this scenario is that all of the exits appear to be guarded by boss creatures scaled for at least 10 levels higher than my current level (24). Does anyone know if I can leave this place, or am I stuck here and have to start over? If I have to start over, it probably will spell the end of my quest to complete this particular game, since I don't have the time or patience to go through all of this again.

5. As I'm sitting here writing this, I probably should be getting back to Arkham Asylum. Still haven't touched it since midweek last week. Also, I finally got Lost Odyssey in the mail from Goozex. When I played it the first time, it was on a whim from Gamefly, I enjoyed it enough to put it on my Goozex request list and send back the Gamefly copy. Now I can continue on with that story, which was entertaining enough for me to want to know what happens.

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully I'll get the chance to watch some football (it is the opening weekend, after all) or some Red Sox baseball (second game of a doubleheader vs. the Rays), but the wife is playing a mean round of 'Flip TV', so that may not happen. See you next time!

JRPGs and Monkey Island

Made some progress in Lost Odyssey over the past few days, to the first 'boss', Gilgram on the mountaintop. Disappointed that it seems I'll have to grind a few levels to be able to survive the encounter. Otherwise the game is really working for me. I'm probably in the minority, but I'm digging the story cutscenes that pop up here and there, and I can't get enough of the dreams. Well-written, and really flesh out the main character in a way that games often can't. Hopefully I'll be able to get past the current bottleneck and enjoy some more.

Still plugging away at Final Fantasy PSP. Currently in the dwarf tunnel, and looking for Nerrick, who needs the Nitro Powder for some purpose. This is a great distraction for me at lunchtime, a way to turn off the work part of my brain and enjoy some geeky pastime at work. Playing two games at the same time that involve random battles (considering that Lost Odyssey was made by Mistwalker Studios, a team whose pedigree include several of the early Final Fantasies and Blue Dragon) gets a bit monotonous in today's age of seeing your enemies and often having the option of avoiding conflict, but the story of LO and the nostalgia of FF should keep me coming back.

Which brings me to Monkey Island. I'm sad to say that I think this game plays far more off the nostalgia of people who really enjoyed them back in the day than still being a great game nowadays. Don't get me wrong, the writing is fantastic, and it's clear that the developers had a sense of humor that translated well to games. It's just that some of the puzzles, while far less obtuse and downright ridiculous than those in the Sierra games of nearly the same vintage, just seem a bit silly. At this point, because I didn't play the game when it was first release and have none of the warm and fuzzy nostalgia that many have for it, I'm going through the motions and using the hint system a lot to keep moving forward. Blasphemy, I know, but to each their own.

Really looking forward to Shadow Complex tomorrow. This game scratches an itch that I definitely have, which is the entire 'Metroidvania' experience, harkening back to Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night in spirit and function. There will be more discussion about that game in this space, you can be sure.

One final random aside. While serving as designated driver for my brother-in-law's bachelor party this past Saturday, I found out that prostitution is legal in the state of Rhode Island while indoors. Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, let me explain...Every 'lady' at the establishment we visited would, at some point during their talking to me, would slip in the fact that there was more available than the usual lap dances, and they would be happy to show me. For an exorbitant fee, of course. After about an hour of trying to hide from as many girls as I could, getting one dance, and several $4 diet sodas, I retired to the minivan while the rest of the guys enjoyed themselves. Note to self: I need to make sure that I'm far more intoxicated before setting foot in a place like that again. Live and learn, I guess.

Random Question (Game Culture Related)

Why is it that gamers feel like every game that's made should be made especially for them, and deride games that they're not interested in, calling them 'baby games' or worse? For example, I have no real interest in the 'Imagine' series of games from Ubisoft, but they're not being marketed toward me, now are they? That doesn't make them bad games necessarily, just a type of game that I don't feel the need to play. Clearly they're doing something right, as they've sold millions, and created countless spinoffs, copycats, etc. I'm not going to insult them or even worry about them, and that's ok. I can go and enjoy RPGs, adventure games, and the occasional shooter as well, without stooping to the level of belittling a genre for which I have no interest.

Is it because, as a medium, gaming is young? People in general tend to accept the fact that there are types of books that they have no desire to read, or movies that they don't want to see, but it's acceptable that they're made. I'm not a particular fan of horror movies, but that doesn't mean I wish that they were never made. The same goes for romance novels; I find them pretty much useless and would rather read the instructions on how to put together a 493-piece article of furniture from IKEA (useful, yes, but particularly interesting or thought-provoking, no) than spend time with the latest bodice-ripper, but I respect the fact that 50% or more of the fiction sold in the US are romance novels. It's just not my bag, baby.

I don't have the answer for this question, and if I did, you can be sure I'd be getting paid to answer it, instead of writing a (probably) grammatically poor blog post during my lunch hour. It would just be nice if gamers could realize that all games aren't made for them personally, and that it's ok for games to cater to a wide variety of ages and interests. If anyone is reading this, and has an opinion, please leave a comment.

Ok, back to your regularly scheduled lives. I'm going to spend the rest of my lunch hour playing Final Fantasy, thank you.

Back in (My) Blogging History

A friend and I started a blog back in late 2006 that is still puttering along today, and one that I occasionally still post to. While looking back at my archive there, I found the post (included below in its entirety), from January 2007, listing the podcasts I listened to at that time. It's just a bit of my history that I thought I'd share here.

(As an FYI, I still listen to Buzz Out Load, Extralife Radio, Orange Lounge Radio, and Video Game Outsiders regularly, while the others have fallen by the wayside, either from lack of interest or time.)

My Favorite Podcasts (Maine Tech Geeks)

One of the reasons that Craig (yes, he really does exist, even if he doesn't ever post here) and I decided to start this project is the fact that we both really enjoyed listening to podcasts. I first started listening to them at work, through iTunes and a cheap set of earbuds out of my notebook. Because I spend large amounts of time at my desk, working at the computer on whatever Office application requires my attention, it was a great way for me to distract the ADD side of my brain. One of the interests that's spanned my entire life, surviving the ADD affliction as well as professional responsibilities, is the love of video games cultivated at an early age. Naturally, when I started listening to podcasts, I gravitated toward those casts that dealt with all aspects of video games, from news and rumors, game-specific programs, and podcasts loosely based on gaming. Now that I've spent a solid 8 months listening to podcasts for several hours nearly every day, I've diversified the library of podcasts I listen to, and I'd like to share some of my favorites. So, without further ado (and in no particular order), here are some of my favorites, podcasts that I look forward to every week...

CNET.com's Buzz Out Loud - This is a podcast that I truly enjoy. The three hosts have great chemistry, and all seem to come from different angles as they discuss the latest news on the technology and gadget front. It's a great snippet (usually less than 30 minutes) to start the day, because they have an energy which I find useful to kickstart my day. If you're at all interested in technology and the latest gadgets, I recommend this as an entry-level podcast. Probably my most-listened to (and most looked-forward-to) podcast.

Extralife Radio - The podcast for the My Extra Life web comic. It's an amalgamation of four very different personalities, talking about sci-fi, video games, comics, web comics, movies...a really fun time. I've been listening for a while now, and I love the interaction between the hosts. The show wouldn't work if the guys didn't trash on each other (Obsidian is merciless toward Scott), crack bad jokes (that's Andrew's specialty), doing unique voice impersonations (Brian's great for this), and general chaos. I can't truly describe this podcast, so if you like sci-fi and video games, I'm sure you'll find something you like about this one. Again, a podcast I look forward to every week...

Orange Lounge Radio - A weekly podcast about video games, filled with news, reviews, and interesting guests. I enjoy this podcast a lot because it keeps alive the spirit of independent radio, and they live by their own rules. All of the hosts are true to themselves, and it is their personalities and interaction, both with each other and with their frequent guests, which keep me coming back for more. When I listen to this podcast, it's easy to imagine that I'm in the room with them, and it's just a group of friends having a conversation about video games. It's well worth the time invested.

Infendo Radio - A podcast (including the stylings of Scott Johnson of Extralife Radio) about everything Nintendo. News, reviews and the stories from the hosts make this a fun experience. One of the main reasons I enjoy this podcast is Scott Johnson, who (in my opinion) just makes me laugh, and sounds like a person I would hang out with in person. If you like Nintendo, you should enjoy this podcast.

The Instance - Another podcast (and the last, by the way) that includes Scott Johnson, this one about all things World of Warcraft (WoW). This podcast also features Andrew from Extralife Radio, and I listen to it religiously, even though I don't play WoW. Once again, I think this is a testament to the unique personality and ability of the hosts to keep me listening and entertained. There's lots of latest news and tidbits about the game, and features regular contributions from outside sources. Very specialized in its content, but fun to listen to nonetheless.

Analog Hole Gaming - This is what I would classify as a 'guilty pleasure.' This is a podcast concerning all things gaming, with a focus on WoW, which all three of the hosts play. They are rude, crude and generally not-PC, and that's their charm. Once again, the podcast feels as if you're sitting in a room, listening to a group of friends shoot the breeze about games and WoW. Not for everyone, but an enjoyable experience.

Massively Online Gamer - Another 'guilty pleasure' podcast. Two guys (Ryan and Gary) burping, swearing, and sometimes singing their way through random gaming news. Ryan does a semi-regular feature that involves a continuous story whose plot twists and turns are decided on by the listener. It's clear that Ryan is a very talented individual, and Gary provides the perfect foil for him. They are somewhat Eve Online-centric, but they discuss other games as well. Not a lot of structure, and the episodes often degenerate into one off-topic rant after another, but it works. I listen to and enjoy each episode, and recommend it to anyone not faint-of-heart or easily offended.

Virgin Worlds - The polar opposite of Massively Online Gamer, and ironically the host of Virgin Worlds (Brent) and the hosts of MOG (Ryan and Gary) sometimes release cooperative podcasts. I would liken this relationship to 'The Odd Couple.' Brent is a soft-spoken, very organized person who releases an information-packed episode each week, covering the latest news and rumors about massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. He has very structured segments with a high production value. It's very clear that Brent puts a large amount of effort into his productions, and the news and reviews are well-thought out and pertinent. If you're at all interested in the MMO genre, this is your one-stop location to get the best info.

Video Game Outsiders - An XBox 360-centric podcast, covering the latest games, with opinions and commentary given by relatively casual fans of video games. They recently won an award for their podcast, and seem to have a very dedicated following. The hosts are entertaining, and each one has their own distinct style, but all lean toward the multiplayer aspect of games. A podcast a bit on the long side (often pushing 2 hours), but an enjoyable listen.

Next Generation Podcast - An interesting podcast about the business and industry of video games. The podcast often features interviews with important members of the video game community (developers, executives of game companies, etc.) and contains a wealth of information for anyone interested in what it takes to bring the games we play to market.

Boston Geek - Definitely an interesting podcast, from two guys in the Boston area. They cover a tech, science and gaming story every week, and then talk about an upcoming event of interest in the Boston area. The two guys really do come off as traditional 'geeks', but do a great job with the podcast, one I listen to every week.

I listen to other podcasts, with some dropping out and others being added on a regular basis, but these tend to form the core of my listening week. As you can tell, I have a lot of time at my desk and driving to get through all of these regularly, but they get me through the day, and I never get bored of them. If anyone who reads this has recommendations for any podcasts you feel I'd enjoy, feel free to post them in the comments, as I'm always looking for something new to try.

Next time, I'll try to come up with a list of sites and blogs I visit often...

It's been over 18 months since I wrote that post, and while a lot has changed since then, a lot has stayed the same. I still listen to podcasts to create a 'cone of isolation' for myself, and the content of the podcasts I do listen to keep me entertained and occupied while I go through my daily grind. Who knows where I'd be if I didn't discover the podcasting world back then...

The Perfect Christmas Gift (for Me, Anyway)

If I ever were to get this under the tree, I would be the happiest nerd out there. For the past year or so, my parents have been giving me Lego sets for Christmas and birthdays, as a way to keep me feeling like a kid. Even though I'm 32 with kids of my own, for some reason they get a kick out of watching me dig into the freshly opened box and put together a Lego set from scratch. Let me tell you, the Lego Death Star would take more than one sitting. The amount of detail and cool touches they've crammed into the set is amazing, and it would be something that I would make permanent as a display in my home. What a great way to display your nerd cred!

3,800 Piece Death Star Diorama Is Coolest Star Wars Lego Ever (Gizmodo)