Grandia III November 30, 2007
Posted by caldi-chan in : Gaming, NaNo, parents , add a commentI had the chance to play Grandia III today. At first the graphics jarred me, because it looked a little rough in comparison to some of the other 3D cgi games I’ve played in the past.
However, after a while I got the hang of it.
I started really playing it at around 7pm give or take. It was just something to do, to take a break away from NaNo. I needed a breather and what better way then to play a video game.
Low and behold, when I finally put the controller down it was three am.
It’s not often a game will keep me drawn into the fundementals of the story for that many hours straight of game play. However when one does, I’m left feeling that the game is well worth the cash I plunked down.
Also given my picky tastes in the gaming realm, games usually have to sell themselves real good in order for me to like them. It’s not that I’m an elietist or anything, it’s just I know what I like.
You could reccomend to me, a game like Tabula Rasa and I’ll tell you flat out I’m not interested. Hell I’m not even a very big fan of the infamous RE - that’s Resident Evil- series or even the Silent Hill games.
When picking a game, I have to think of story element, game dynamics, and the fact that Tia nine times out of ten will in fact be up and watching me play. As a concerned parent who takes gaming seriously, I’m not about to play a game like King of Fighters infront of my young impresionable child.
Grandia III however, has the same elements of other Grandia games that I’ve grown to love, so that was an expectation that went with the deal. They story seeems to be good so far, and Tia seems to really be empathetic towards Miranda, Yuki’s mother. Who looks young enough to be his sister, but that’s besides the point.
There seems to be a lot of story elements, which when you think of it, actually makes the game shorter then expected, however there seems to be a lot of stuff to keep me occupied for the next few days, given time and commitments.
Overall, I’m liking the game, after getting used to the style of graphics.
As for NaNoWriMonth, after breaking 20 K, I seem to have slowed down quite a bit in the writing front. I will put in that last burst of writing to race the clock till midnight tonight, however I know I will not meet the required 50K.
If I do it will be a miracle as a whole.
This doesn’t stop me from being imensly proud of myself however.
I went well past my actual expected goal for writing this year.
I was expecting maybe at least 15 K, but I broke 20K. So I’m happy.
With the ending in sight, I’m more then willing to finish it.
There are also plans to make a continuation of the story, world and elements.
It’s a longer story then I thought.
On Gaming. November 20, 2007
Posted by caldi-chan in : Gaming , add a comment 
I used to bring my ps2 to my folks place on laundry weekends. (I REFUSE TO WASTE TWENTY BUCKS IN QUARTERS JUST TO DRY A LOAD OF LAUNDRY) The TV in the basement is shot. The TV in my mothers room is utalized by my now 5 yr old daughter. So I usually game on the big TV in the livingroom.
I’ll have played for an hour max, and then my mom gets uppity because dads on the computer, because he can’t watch tv.
Vicious cycle.
So I cut out the ps2 from trips to my folks house, and try to spend as much time watching tv with my daughter before I’m bored to tears.
I need a lap top so I can play wow there instead.
What brought this small thing up?
Why a post over on SPWUG: Written by Mookie of Dominic Deegan Fame It made for interesting light reading this morning before my daily trek to my daughters school first thing in the morning.
It made me remember the times I played Pac Man on the Atari. Then it made me realize that, hey I’m still very much a gamer. Just not as often as I used to be. I play WoW, but only at other peoples houses with better computers then mine. I’m not addicted by far, I only get to play every odd weekend or so, which is a good reason why I don’t join guilds. Even if I get offers almost every time I log in with my Main Tarrlin on Kirin Tor. (She’s a BElf, and a Hunter.)
I also play a lot of games on my PS2, which is about ready to die a horrible death on me. It no longer reads ps1 games or DVDS. It just reads ps2 games. May it Rest in Peace when it passes from this world.
We also have a DS here. Which isn’t ours, but belongs to someone we know. My daughter broke it. By dropping it on the floor. The hinge is busted. Lovely. I’ll have to get a new one to replace it.
Sad really.
I’ve come to the realization that I have virtually no life, unless I’m out shopping for food, paying bills, and if the buget allows, buying Manga for reviews, or video games.
Today in games. October 20, 2007
Posted by caldi-chan in : Gaming , add a commentFound myself replaying FFX-2. I guess you can attribute it to the Way of the Geek Pod cast “Week in Geek.” They mentioned that very game, and I ended up having quite the urge to play it. Luckily for me, I had a file saved of the loading screen with save plus data. So it’s been a breeze.
Right now I’m trying to beat Shinra in the Sphere Break tournament. It’s somewhat fustrating, considering he utalizes a core sphere that spits out ones. Damn it all. I’ve restarted my save at least three times now.
I’ve only ever beat him once, and that was during my third play through. Though as luck would have it the save plus data with that sphere which was the prize for the tournament was lost. The one I have now, was a fresh restart game, where I didn’t even try. Just goes to show that on some days I’m determined, and others I just don’t care. Amusing that.
Played WOW friday as well, when I went to Shawn’s place for dinner. Of course since it’s halloween, theres a few halloween themed quests, and the one I did do… left me feeling disapointed. Also, if I ever have to hear the headless horseman rhyme about his defeat one more time I’m going to bang my head against a wall.
I’m also looking at Playing Makai kingdom, which is a side story to the games Disgaia and Disgaia 2. So far I am highly amused with the voice acting. “Micky” is now by far the more amusing of the characters.
Yet the other characters also have their own charms. Though I must admit, an overlord that is so confident that he has to say “I’m a freakin overlord.” every time, does get a bit tiresome. That’s about the only downfall.
I’ve also come to realize that after beating Valkrye Profile II: Silmeria, I’ve not really found a game to beat it out. So VP2 is sitting at the top of my list, it has replayabillity, however, considering I’m not too keen on replaying it so soon after finally beating it. I’m left with not very many options.
I find myself getting easily distracted and my attention on games isn’t as focused. Oh well, that’s the breaks. I’ll find something eventually.