GTFO Bush!
Well, today is the day. A million and one blogs lit up with congratulations for Obama, expressing their hopes, dreams and how Obama will be the greatest president ever. Only time will tell if he can keep his promises and make America a decent country again. I just wonder if everyone in America is excited as everyone else in the world?
Web Comic Love
Who here doesn’t read webcomics. If you don’t you suck and need to lose your life and spend more time on the Intertubes. There is something out there for everyone and here are my top 10 webcomics. Wait no no no no no, I’m not going to do a top 10, bad Slow. I’ll just shove some up that I like in no particular order. Ready?
Retraction – Achievement Culture
So a long time ago I wrote a post about how I felt that games and gamers were entering into an achievement culture and proceeded to swiftly insult them on their stupidity and how I just don’t see the bloody point in them.
Well, anyone with a PS3 will know that trophies (achievements if you will) have been introduced and soon any game released for the PS3 must have a list of trophies to collect. All I can say is that I have never had so much fun trying to get trophies, while I was always under the impression that they were stupid and unnecessary, I now see them in a new light. Instead of just artificially extending the length of a game, they introduce new challenges, trying to do something that the main game may not reward you for doing, but something interesting or hilarious. While I’m not saying the new trophy system for the PS3 is perfect, there are some flaws.
Sabattical Over
Well, Sabattical over, time to get back to blogging. As we know there has been some good game releases, so expect a few reviews to start appearing. In other news, Warwick Atheists, the best society ever (except maybe free hugs) is still going strongly. Much more happening this year then last. Usually only a few events a term would pass, but now we have weekly events on top of the weekly socials. Darwin Week is approaching, so that should be good.
Subject Omega is now another one for the graveyard, oh well. Just that sometimes you andsomeone else come up with the same idea and that just ruins it for you. Bugger is all I can say to that.
Oh and Guitar Hero World Tour is damn good.
Writing a Book
Well, I’ve been meaning to get this project started for quite a while now and recently (about 10 weeks ago recently) I decided to start writing it. It is a book that is aimed towards those that are, or wish to become mappers with the Source engine. If you haven’t already realised, Source is my game engine of choice. The book will be able to take a beginner and teach them all they need to know in order to produce good maps. The book will also cover theoretical aspects of mapping, such as what makes a good layout and it will also cover mod management. How to operate and manage a Source engine mod, something that has not been covered at all from my searchings.
But why bother to write a book in the first place,” I hear you ask, “surly there is already a decent level of literature out there on the web in Wiki’s and tutorial websites that cover all aspects of the Source engine already?” Well, yes that’s true, everything is already out there, but it isn’t without it’s problems. Firstly, everything is written by different people with different viewpoints, so some things don’t flow correctly and can cause confusion. Sometimes it can be difficult to find exactly what you need, especially when it comes to theory (either because it is too boring, or no one has bothered to write about it before).
Other reasons I’m writing a book is to improve my English grammar and spelling, I’m sure a lot of you have already realised that my grammar could be considered poor and I see writing this book as a way to improve that. I also see it as a way to consolidate all my knowledge and learn some extra aspects of the Source engine I have yet to look at.
So, when can you all expect it? Well, don’t really, chances are this book will never be printed, however I will probably make into a .PDF file and distribute it accordingly. I will give publication a try, but I don’t have any hopes for it. I think it would be better anyway for the book to be distributed digitally, so that it is easier for everyone to get a hold of and is completely free, the individual can decide whether to actually print the book or not.
Back From Sabbatical
Well, it’s been a while since I’ve really posted anything, so here’s a quick recap of what’s been going on:
Subject Omega
Developing slowly, managed to recruit some help in it’s production allowing me to start being able to pick up the pace a little on it’s development. It’s also going under a rewrite, the idea of another GLaDOS did seem like a poor one and instead something else is in the works.
Atheism
Finally got around to reading ‘The God Delusion’ on a long train journey, and as much as this will seem like I’m playing the part of the choir. It really did change what I though about the whole religion thing, I’ve moved from a live and let live attitude towards a slight hostility towards religion. I used to feel that if people want to believe in God and be part of a religion, let them. But it became apparent that religion simply isn’t needed in this world and it would be better off without it.
New Games
Some new game reviews coming up shortly. Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and GT5:Prologue as well as Dynasty Warriors 6, all for the PS3, seeing as my PC is beginning to pack it in (luckily just in time for the summer holidays when the long overdue upgrade is coming). Put simple, GT5:P is going to ruin my revision timetable and a fellow flatmates (doubt I’ll even get to play on my own PS3 again).
So really, it’s not been much of an eventful few weeks (probably why nothings been posted) and this will continue for the next few weeks while I fade into obscurity again thanks to the endless exams I need to deal with (7 of them!).
We Interrupt Your Scheduled Programming…
Warwick Atheists Won Best New Society Award 07/08
That is all
How much do you rely on the Internet?
If you are anything like me, the Internet makes up a part of your day-to-day life and to have no access to it over, say the last couple of days can really throw you off-course. I feel that this is very similar to many others who use the internet regularly, you need your daily dose to get through the day. You need to be able to get on-line. I had to suffer without it for the past couple of days (well, suffering is a strong word, but it is incredibly frustrating not being able to get to it).
I rely on the Internet, not only as a source of information, but as a form of communication (MSN etc.) , keep in contact with current ones (MySpace, Facebook), get work assignments from the university (which heavily relies on students being able to get online) and to just procrastinate on. Only until all of this is taken away suddenly, did I miss and appreciate all of these websites, it is indeed difficult to imagine a world without the web.
Expect regular service to continue tomorrow.
Current Slow Goings
So, really, for those who have noticed, (all two of you) this blog is not being updated that often and I will chalk most of it up to my lack of time and general life goings on that have distracted me. I can’t really review any games since uni work and hitting the bar is my current prime concern, though there may be a review coming this weekend. I also can’t get anything done concerning ‘Subject Omega’ as I stupidly forgot to bring the map files with me and so as a result can’t really get any work done apart from sketches, which from a lack of a scanner I can’t really upload. Basically, expect more random articles to come as opposed to anything to truly do with gaming or modding.
May I also suggest a look at Widdipedia, a small community Wiki.
Welcome to COASM
Welcome to my confessions of being a serial mapper. Here you can find my views on games and mods, my own mods and other general ramblings. If this kind of stuff interests you, then you are in the right place, however you may realise that gaming blog’s are 10 a penny and you would be right, will this one survive and become popular, in even the most liberal sense of the word? Only time will tell.
This brings me on to my current mod in development, a little something I like to call ‘Subject Omega’ designed for the incredible game Portal (from the Orange Box, if you have not played this yet, do so), not only will I post regular updates on this, but also my methods; more on this will appear at a later date.
So sit back relax and enjoy. (boy, am I cheesy)
