Like a bad flu at the end of a holiday, the GCSE exams arrive. Two years of my education, tested on in a period of about 4 weeks. Sucks really, one mistake here, and I'm finished, done, and I'll have to go live in a gutter and live on benefits. But in all honesty, I know I wont cock up that much, being the smart arse I am. I'll get my 6 A*-C's needed to get into Sixth form, and probibly pass with flourish. But it's the thought, the idea that I could fail which is getting me wound up.
I'd say "There has to be an alternative to this horrible examination system that encourages memorization instead of learning, and promotes a phobia of intellect as the copycat can perform just as well", but there isn't one I can think of. The education system puts pressure on teens, we work, we get grade, we move onto the far more interesting idea of A-levels. Only way I can think of the tests working practically. I mean, I hate it's inflexibility, but it just has to happen. A necessary evil.
Anyway, in other news, the heatwave in England has finally ended, and with it comes the cold. It's horrible, all chilly and grey, like badly made mashed potato that's been left to stand for a few hours. And it's not doing great things for my mood, which is already stressed (As above). Ah well, I shall persevere.
There, that's a rant on my life. I promise (If there is in fact anyone listening) that I will do something a bit more, how to say, topical, next post.
Monday 12 May 2008
Saturday 10 May 2008
A rather haphazard Age of Empires III review
Age of Empires. It wasn't the first real-time strategy, but it is up there with the best. Since the release of the original in 1997, I've been hooked on the series. In my opinion, Age of Empires II is still my bar to put every RTS I play against. Now, back when Age of Empires III was announced, I was filled with long-lost childhood memories of playing AOE I+II to the point where I'm sure my health suffered. Now, if my memory serves me well, by the time Age of Empires three was out, other RTS's had taken the stage, such as the graphical "Dawn of war", and I had started dabbling in RPG-esque "Warcraft III" and "Starcraft". But my mind was set that anything in the Age of Empires saga had to be good. I look back now, and realize what I was.
A fanboy.
Any who, I bought the game, and I found it a a good game. That's it. A good game, just about worth the money I paid for it. Entertaining, flashy, and stuffed with European pride. But...it lacked something. "I don't know, maybe my memory was kind on AOE II" I think quickly, buying an excuse for the game. I go to play AOE II, it remained to be a fun and enjoyable experience; and perhaps even better designed. So I then play the multilayer of AOE III. Most sins are quickly forgiven. In AOE III there is a home town system that means you can call in re-enforcements from your home country to help in America. In single player, this isn't massive. It's useful, but not game-changing. On multi-player though, it was a genius idea. I means your style of playing can be genuinely different to the guys next to you, even if you share the same nation. Also, it has a very good matchmaking system, that seemed almost familiar, perhaps from the Battlenet of Blizzard it almost stole everything from, but with half the creative spirit.
However, just because a game has a flashy lobby doesn't excuse it from general gaming fallacies. A piece of crap in a photo frame is still going to leave you retching in the morning. A catch, which permeates the whole game, can be found everywhere you look. AOE III wants you to rush. Defense is not an option, you attack, and attack early, or you die. It's to the point where you can no-longer build barracks in the first age! It's like the game is little terrier with sugar, held back by the owner until he gets a look from the governors' wife, after which the dog just yaps and barks away at anything close, before, like the owner, feeling the heat, and slowing down. Now this could effect my judgment. See, I'm not arrogant, but I was a bloody good fortress builder. If anyone knew how to hold a keep, it was me. Well, can't do that anymore, as in AOE III, they just reel in the cannons, and boom, your wall is gone.
There's probably a lot more I should beat the game for, but I should also be getting to the conclusion to. It just doesn't feel right to be slapping the franchise I've bought into since I was 5 years old. Then again, I do it with legend of Zelda all the time, so perhaps I fail to see what's wrong here. But my overall opinion of age of empires three is...
Meh...
Not brilliant, but not bad either. If you want a time-sink, or if you like RTS' with lots of rushing in it, then this game is for you. But...In all honesty (And I don't say this often), I would have preferred a spruced up version of AOE II, a game which still holds its place as the Benchmark for all the RTS' I play to this day.
Anyway, next post, I'll be back to talking about me, and my life. I know this review isn't perfect, isn't meant to be, but I needed to put something worth reading up here... Also, although it's no excuse, I am very tired right now. I've spent the whole day out on the heat. I mean, after easter this year, the nerve of mother nature giving us a heatwave! Make up your mind woman!
A fanboy.
Any who, I bought the game, and I found it a a good game. That's it. A good game, just about worth the money I paid for it. Entertaining, flashy, and stuffed with European pride. But...it lacked something. "I don't know, maybe my memory was kind on AOE II" I think quickly, buying an excuse for the game. I go to play AOE II, it remained to be a fun and enjoyable experience; and perhaps even better designed. So I then play the multilayer of AOE III. Most sins are quickly forgiven. In AOE III there is a home town system that means you can call in re-enforcements from your home country to help in America. In single player, this isn't massive. It's useful, but not game-changing. On multi-player though, it was a genius idea. I means your style of playing can be genuinely different to the guys next to you, even if you share the same nation. Also, it has a very good matchmaking system, that seemed almost familiar, perhaps from the Battlenet of Blizzard it almost stole everything from, but with half the creative spirit.
However, just because a game has a flashy lobby doesn't excuse it from general gaming fallacies. A piece of crap in a photo frame is still going to leave you retching in the morning. A catch, which permeates the whole game, can be found everywhere you look. AOE III wants you to rush. Defense is not an option, you attack, and attack early, or you die. It's to the point where you can no-longer build barracks in the first age! It's like the game is little terrier with sugar, held back by the owner until he gets a look from the governors' wife, after which the dog just yaps and barks away at anything close, before, like the owner, feeling the heat, and slowing down. Now this could effect my judgment. See, I'm not arrogant, but I was a bloody good fortress builder. If anyone knew how to hold a keep, it was me. Well, can't do that anymore, as in AOE III, they just reel in the cannons, and boom, your wall is gone.
There's probably a lot more I should beat the game for, but I should also be getting to the conclusion to. It just doesn't feel right to be slapping the franchise I've bought into since I was 5 years old. Then again, I do it with legend of Zelda all the time, so perhaps I fail to see what's wrong here. But my overall opinion of age of empires three is...
Meh...
Not brilliant, but not bad either. If you want a time-sink, or if you like RTS' with lots of rushing in it, then this game is for you. But...In all honesty (And I don't say this often), I would have preferred a spruced up version of AOE II, a game which still holds its place as the Benchmark for all the RTS' I play to this day.
Anyway, next post, I'll be back to talking about me, and my life. I know this review isn't perfect, isn't meant to be, but I needed to put something worth reading up here... Also, although it's no excuse, I am very tired right now. I've spent the whole day out on the heat. I mean, after easter this year, the nerve of mother nature giving us a heatwave! Make up your mind woman!
Thursday 8 May 2008
"Horatio, I am dead". A slice of my mind
Now, I was going to do a game critique, because I wanted to see if my abilities as a critic were any good, but then I thought "what game?" So I wandered the strands of the Internet for inspiration, until I reached a forum post that tickled me sufficiently to deserve mentioning, and also chose my game for me. The post was "Shakespeare Vs Ghandi". Now, I'm no Harry Hills, but I'm pretty sure that in a straight fight Shakespeare would win, what with Ghandi being a pacifist, so I go closer, looking at the topic proper.
Turns out it's a competition on which one had the most impact on the world, which is a little more fair. Who do you go for? The man who made the world laugh and cry, or the man who liberated a country/subcontinent. To be honest, it depends on your perspective. Ghandi has definitely had more of an influence on the world, I mean, India is now coming up to be a rival to it's previous masters (AKA, us in England). But culturally, Shakespeare is a no-brainer. He practically made the English language what it is today, and inspired many more works of theater and film than people care to mention. He's also one of my heroes, and I aspire to forge words and ideas in the same way he did, and perhaps save the English language while I'm there. But text speech is a different rant. I will get onto it though, don't worry.
Now, my mind being what it is, I made a side-step and took a quote from "Hamlet". That's the posts title, if you didn't know already. This quote is used in Age of Empires III when your explorer (or his dog, I forget) dies. So, here we have it! My next post will be a review on Age of empires III, as this one is now probably a little too long to do a full review. Besides, being the professional I am, I want to play it again before I post, to make sure I get the right experience.
Oh, and by the way, I'm collaborating with a comrade to make a new blog called "Speeches for the Mute". Yes, we played with the same words, but that's because it's going to be similar to this one. But instead of hearing me babble on about mindless drivel and my life, it will be a place for political and cultural thought. We thought it was a good idea at the time. Time will tell.
Turns out it's a competition on which one had the most impact on the world, which is a little more fair. Who do you go for? The man who made the world laugh and cry, or the man who liberated a country/subcontinent. To be honest, it depends on your perspective. Ghandi has definitely had more of an influence on the world, I mean, India is now coming up to be a rival to it's previous masters (AKA, us in England). But culturally, Shakespeare is a no-brainer. He practically made the English language what it is today, and inspired many more works of theater and film than people care to mention. He's also one of my heroes, and I aspire to forge words and ideas in the same way he did, and perhaps save the English language while I'm there. But text speech is a different rant. I will get onto it though, don't worry.
Now, my mind being what it is, I made a side-step and took a quote from "Hamlet". That's the posts title, if you didn't know already. This quote is used in Age of Empires III when your explorer (or his dog, I forget) dies. So, here we have it! My next post will be a review on Age of empires III, as this one is now probably a little too long to do a full review. Besides, being the professional I am, I want to play it again before I post, to make sure I get the right experience.
Oh, and by the way, I'm collaborating with a comrade to make a new blog called "Speeches for the Mute". Yes, we played with the same words, but that's because it's going to be similar to this one. But instead of hearing me babble on about mindless drivel and my life, it will be a place for political and cultural thought. We thought it was a good idea at the time. Time will tell.
Well, I guess the second post is quite important too...
Well, If you're still reading by this point, you're either interested or just plain bored, and looking for a way to blow the night away. I personally hope the former, I really do. I'm not here to make people's lives boring. I'm not writing this to try and create an intelligent form of lullaby. This is designed for the sole purpose of entertaining others and myself. That, and I was bored when I made this, and you know you're bored when you're sitting at your computer crying out at the world to listen to your opinions. It's not like anyone wants to listen. Anyway, I just felt like this was necessary. Now, let's talk turkey.
"The Shiv" for those who don't know, is the second in command to Matias Shaw, who is in turn the leader of Stormwind Intelligence number seven (Or SI:7 to those who like their abbreviations). I chose this name because I wasn't thinking straight during account activation. I have nothing in common with a Goblin apart from the tendency to shout "Buy something or leave" at people. And that, because I'm generous, is a show of one of my hobbies. I play World of Warcraft. I can "hear" you now; "OMG HE PLAYS WOW! LOLOL GT A LIFE" (Someone obviously likes literary cruise control). And you know what? I can still call you a bastard at the end. Because this is the Internet! And no matter how valid your argument is (In this case, not very), I can still give you the middle finger. I wont, more often than not, because I want you to comment and be civilized, but I hold the power to ignore your failed attempts to make yourself feel better.
Anyway, please comment, even if a little stub. It's nice to know when someone comes by and reads this stuff. Tomorrow, I'll get to work on some real content.
"The Shiv" for those who don't know, is the second in command to Matias Shaw, who is in turn the leader of Stormwind Intelligence number seven (Or SI:7 to those who like their abbreviations). I chose this name because I wasn't thinking straight during account activation. I have nothing in common with a Goblin apart from the tendency to shout "Buy something or leave" at people. And that, because I'm generous, is a show of one of my hobbies. I play World of Warcraft. I can "hear" you now; "OMG HE PLAYS WOW! LOLOL GT A LIFE" (Someone obviously likes literary cruise control). And you know what? I can still call you a bastard at the end. Because this is the Internet! And no matter how valid your argument is (In this case, not very), I can still give you the middle finger. I wont, more often than not, because I want you to comment and be civilized, but I hold the power to ignore your failed attempts to make yourself feel better.
Anyway, please comment, even if a little stub. It's nice to know when someone comes by and reads this stuff. Tomorrow, I'll get to work on some real content.
That all important first post
It's all there really. The nervousness of it all. The horrible feeling one gets as he puts pen to a clean sheet of paper. Will I ruin it? Will this be a waste of time? I clear my thoughts, and begin to write.
Good Day all. Or not, in fact. It's Evening in Ole' Blighty; and before anyone asks, yes I do have the blasted accent! I'm sorry, but no matter how nice it is that other countries like the English accent (I'm looking at you Americans here), it's always the first question they ask. "OMG do you have the accent!" They say, ignoring my simple desire for a hello, how are you. I may be English, but I'm still a human on some level! Besides, on the Internet, it's not like my voice matters. Who needs vocal chords when the loudest you can be is a rather stern E-mail. Remember kids, caps lock for cruise control.
Which brings me rather neatly onto this blog. Call me a cultural kleptomaniac all you want, but the title was actually inspired by a "Queens of the Stone age" Song called "Songs for the Deaf". The above statement then crossed my mind, and thus the name was born. "Rants for the deaf". I think it has a ring to it, and serves the purpose of why this blog is in fact here. The Internet needs more intelligent rants and critique, and I hope to provide controversial (Or probably not) stimuli for the culturally stiff-born and posh-fags out there. People like you, Mr and Mrs Smith! With your 2.4 children and your two cars, one of which is a people carrier just to show off, while you actually just use your dutch bike to get to work as if to say "Look as us! We're so rich we can buy a car, but not use it!" People like me!
Welcome to the strange conformist world of the English middle class. I hope you die of fright.
Disclaimer: I have nothing against gays, middle-class people or Queens of the Stone age. There! You got it from me! Can't sue me now! Hah!
Good Day all. Or not, in fact. It's Evening in Ole' Blighty; and before anyone asks, yes I do have the blasted accent! I'm sorry, but no matter how nice it is that other countries like the English accent (I'm looking at you Americans here), it's always the first question they ask. "OMG do you have the accent!" They say, ignoring my simple desire for a hello, how are you. I may be English, but I'm still a human on some level! Besides, on the Internet, it's not like my voice matters. Who needs vocal chords when the loudest you can be is a rather stern E-mail. Remember kids, caps lock for cruise control.
Which brings me rather neatly onto this blog. Call me a cultural kleptomaniac all you want, but the title was actually inspired by a "Queens of the Stone age" Song called "Songs for the Deaf". The above statement then crossed my mind, and thus the name was born. "Rants for the deaf". I think it has a ring to it, and serves the purpose of why this blog is in fact here. The Internet needs more intelligent rants and critique, and I hope to provide controversial (Or probably not) stimuli for the culturally stiff-born and posh-fags out there. People like you, Mr and Mrs Smith! With your 2.4 children and your two cars, one of which is a people carrier just to show off, while you actually just use your dutch bike to get to work as if to say "Look as us! We're so rich we can buy a car, but not use it!" People like me!
Welcome to the strange conformist world of the English middle class. I hope you die of fright.
Disclaimer: I have nothing against gays, middle-class people or Queens of the Stone age. There! You got it from me! Can't sue me now! Hah!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
