Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Team XsT End of Year Fragfest
Hey all!
Decided that we "arm-chair" warriors need to get some exercise and some real life fragging.
Still in the planning stages, but need a vote (see poll on right) for the following event to be held weekends of last 2 weeks in November. Date TBC.
Paintball or LaserQuest?
Paintball:
Approx $50 per pax. Maybe 4-5 times entering the arena.
About 1 hour
Limited number of shots (dont waste bullet la..no spamming)
Open field with obstacles, pain like hell.
LaserQuest:
This is NOT lasermania..this one much better. Have different level terrain. At bukit gombak HomeTeamNS clubhouse.
Approx $30 per pax for 5 - 6 sessions. Total maybe 1.5hrs.
Unlimited number of shots (spam fest)
Dark rooms, loud music.
So what you guys think? vote on the right please. Both events require at least 10 people for me to make a booking...and that needs to be done by early next week latest...holiday season sure crowded. Comment on text box or msn me.
One we have voted, I will get the event and date sorted out...and will call for registration.
cheers,
sick aka brendan
Decided that we "arm-chair" warriors need to get some exercise and some real life fragging.
Still in the planning stages, but need a vote (see poll on right) for the following event to be held weekends of last 2 weeks in November. Date TBC.
Paintball or LaserQuest?
Paintball:
Approx $50 per pax. Maybe 4-5 times entering the arena.
About 1 hour
Limited number of shots (dont waste bullet la..no spamming)
Open field with obstacles, pain like hell.
LaserQuest:
This is NOT lasermania..this one much better. Have different level terrain. At bukit gombak HomeTeamNS clubhouse.
Approx $30 per pax for 5 - 6 sessions. Total maybe 1.5hrs.
Unlimited number of shots (spam fest)
Dark rooms, loud music.
So what you guys think? vote on the right please. Both events require at least 10 people for me to make a booking...and that needs to be done by early next week latest...holiday season sure crowded. Comment on text box or msn me.
One we have voted, I will get the event and date sorted out...and will call for registration.
cheers,
sick aka brendan
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Would you love me if...?
Just sharing a cute little animation ^_^
From Bill Plympton's "I Married a Strange Person".
Enjoy!
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Haha Merlion
Yeah, so I tried to make "local creatures", following up from Gad. Well, the only national creature we have I suppose, is the Merlion. Spore has taught us that our national creature actually wriggles (without feet). Like a worm. But I really wanted to make it hop, y'know, not make our national creature look dumb.
Haha but I phailed... it really looks like a very... sad Merlion. :'(
Haha but I phailed... it really looks like a very... sad Merlion. :'(
Some Local SPORE Flavour
Recently started a new species of rabbits, modelled after Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Wererabbit. More importantly, I wanted to re-design a new themed set of buildings from familiar structures and icons. So I did a Shophouse, referenced from the old 3-Storey shophouses in the Chinatown and Haji Lane area. Also, a Rickshaw for land-vehicle. I'm still tweaking the designs as I find new uses for some of the stocked parts, if anyone's made a better attempt, or got anything else interesting, please post!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
In retrospect...
XsT are nubs.
The proliferation of the term nub is certainly widespread. There's no doubt that I myself have been addressed a "nub medic" on more than one occasion. However, the damnation of an entire team as 'nub' is not only unnecessary, but also extremely immature.
Such is the nature of online gaming, faceless names with faceless avatars compete in the battlefield that is Team Fortress. Immaturity to an extent is most certainly a trait of any online gamer. Having said this, it's ironic that the naming of individuals and parties as 'nub' also suggests superiority in age.
'Nub' stems from the more widespread term 'noob'. Prior to having the term spelt in leetspeak, it was more commonly pronounced as 'newb', itself stemming from the longer variant 'newbie'. Newbie implicitly expresses one's 'new-ness' or 'freshness' to a certain subject matter - a sort of new-born if you like.
Although age does not account for very much in the realm of online gaming, chronologically, a band which has held together for almost a decade, does show a bond of cohesion, far greater than many others. As observed, this aforementioned band is none other than our own, XsT.
Stackers.
I do not recall when this term, 'stacking' first incurred. Neither do i know of whom incurred it. I asked Q over a chat before whether CS players frequented the use of this term in public servers, he too is unaware of this terminology and its origins.
I do not recall having ever being called 'stackers' in any other game. It amuses me every time I think of how many use this term to express their discontent with defeat. I recall in TFC, for example, in its day (much like the frenzy TF2 enjoys today), many would deliberately not want to be on the 'clanned' team just so they could enjoy greater satisfaction fighting them.
Thinking about this made me remember the more commonly used accusation in TFC:
Spammer.
It's odd that the unacceptable 'spam' of yesteryear has become the staple of today's gameplay, simply through the use of a new game feature - crits. The spam which is accepted of today's Team Fortress is best phrased by the legendary Heavy Weapons [ICP]Malicious:
"...do not consider it spam. I prefer to look at it as, 'Area Denial'..."
Area denial. By the nature of the maps that we play today, so much is centered around territorial control. Denying area is part and parcel of basic gameplay. It has certainly become accepted.
Delving further into this line of thought, it is a wonder how the so-called 'clans' were never accused of 'stacking' in TFC. It then occurred to me that players had a much more pressing issue to deal with...
'Nades.
And by grenades, I mean the secondary ones. As Truman noted before, "having a conc, a mirv, a emp... priming a nade, was like having to control an extra arm." It is by this very 'extra arm' that allowed for the one-man armies, independent of any affiliation, to excel. An individual armed with a full restock of grenades could clear his/her way into the enemy base, snatch the flag and clear everyone out as they make their exit. Never did the opposing teams articulate imbalance. This was what many referred to as 'pro'.
Sadly, gone are those days. It always puzzled me to why people never address anyone as 'pro' these days. Then I realised, there isn't such a thing anymore, you simply can't be a one man army.
With grenades, one could tightly clutch the pin of their grenade in dire moments, releasing it as a final deathwish upon their assailant. Likewise, 'noob spammers' would make full use of their grenades at every opportunity. Many of the more long-standing members here will tell you that they've been on the name bashing end of the stick more than enough to give a damn.
What's liberating is a thoughtful quote from another oldbie, Binary, old Quaker buddy and visionary Half-Life Deathmatch player:
"... well the map has fragshells right? Why did you pick this map if you're unhappy with using them?"
These words echo through TFC classes like the Demoman, Engineer, HW guy and the odd Soldier. These classes were deemed to be the most explosive and 'spammy'. Yet at the same time, it liberates independence from the shortcomings of an individual's team.
The nature of TF2 strips you of your independence. The words of Binary most certainly apply in today's context of 'stacking'. You are forced to play as a team (for obvious reasons the game title implies). Teams with greater 'team-work' are surely to be incredibly superior as opposed to 'independents'. You no longer can rely on your 'nades to save you. You no longer have armor points to survive the enemy onslaught. In place of these, you have your Ubercharge and your Kritzkrieg - expectedly both of which, require 2 or more people to execute to its full effect.
It is clear, why many would choose 'stacking'. It is by these features I've detailed above that the disparity between a team working together and a team which does not communicate is extremely pronounced.
So is it that the acceptable 'stackers' who 'spammed' unacceptably in the past is to be damned for not allowing their enemies to secure victory? Given, there is a thin line we all tread between pwnage and griefing. However, there is a glaring difference between complaining and accusing. It's so easy to shift your own team's difficulties to the bearings of the enemies. Unfortunately, the attitude which initially intended to demonise the enemies to inspire fervour, shot itself in the foot and now it just leads to immediate surrender. It's so easy isn't it? To give up and just eat the bashing? Personally, I feel it makes for bad sportsmanship.
True, I do realise legit accusations could be made saying bad sportsmanship is not 'giving up', but instead 'ganging up'. However, consider the argument put forward above, consider the definition of terms, consider the new game dynamics, consider the first word in the name of the game perhaps. In this perspective, bad sportsmanship is not working together as a team.
There will be individuals who will violently disagree with what I have said and there will undoubtedly be numerous other viewpoints. However, I do wish you to take this away with you; if you think its bad now, you better pray they don't reintroduce 'nades.
The proliferation of the term nub is certainly widespread. There's no doubt that I myself have been addressed a "nub medic" on more than one occasion. However, the damnation of an entire team as 'nub' is not only unnecessary, but also extremely immature.
Such is the nature of online gaming, faceless names with faceless avatars compete in the battlefield that is Team Fortress. Immaturity to an extent is most certainly a trait of any online gamer. Having said this, it's ironic that the naming of individuals and parties as 'nub' also suggests superiority in age.
'Nub' stems from the more widespread term 'noob'. Prior to having the term spelt in leetspeak, it was more commonly pronounced as 'newb', itself stemming from the longer variant 'newbie'. Newbie implicitly expresses one's 'new-ness' or 'freshness' to a certain subject matter - a sort of new-born if you like.
Although age does not account for very much in the realm of online gaming, chronologically, a band which has held together for almost a decade, does show a bond of cohesion, far greater than many others. As observed, this aforementioned band is none other than our own, XsT.
Stackers.
I do not recall when this term, 'stacking' first incurred. Neither do i know of whom incurred it. I asked Q over a chat before whether CS players frequented the use of this term in public servers, he too is unaware of this terminology and its origins.
I do not recall having ever being called 'stackers' in any other game. It amuses me every time I think of how many use this term to express their discontent with defeat. I recall in TFC, for example, in its day (much like the frenzy TF2 enjoys today), many would deliberately not want to be on the 'clanned' team just so they could enjoy greater satisfaction fighting them.
Thinking about this made me remember the more commonly used accusation in TFC:
Spammer.
It's odd that the unacceptable 'spam' of yesteryear has become the staple of today's gameplay, simply through the use of a new game feature - crits. The spam which is accepted of today's Team Fortress is best phrased by the legendary Heavy Weapons [ICP]Malicious:
"...do not consider it spam. I prefer to look at it as, 'Area Denial'..."
Area denial. By the nature of the maps that we play today, so much is centered around territorial control. Denying area is part and parcel of basic gameplay. It has certainly become accepted.
Delving further into this line of thought, it is a wonder how the so-called 'clans' were never accused of 'stacking' in TFC. It then occurred to me that players had a much more pressing issue to deal with...
'Nades.
And by grenades, I mean the secondary ones. As Truman noted before, "having a conc, a mirv, a emp... priming a nade, was like having to control an extra arm." It is by this very 'extra arm' that allowed for the one-man armies, independent of any affiliation, to excel. An individual armed with a full restock of grenades could clear his/her way into the enemy base, snatch the flag and clear everyone out as they make their exit. Never did the opposing teams articulate imbalance. This was what many referred to as 'pro'.
Sadly, gone are those days. It always puzzled me to why people never address anyone as 'pro' these days. Then I realised, there isn't such a thing anymore, you simply can't be a one man army.
With grenades, one could tightly clutch the pin of their grenade in dire moments, releasing it as a final deathwish upon their assailant. Likewise, 'noob spammers' would make full use of their grenades at every opportunity. Many of the more long-standing members here will tell you that they've been on the name bashing end of the stick more than enough to give a damn.
What's liberating is a thoughtful quote from another oldbie, Binary, old Quaker buddy and visionary Half-Life Deathmatch player:
"... well the map has fragshells right? Why did you pick this map if you're unhappy with using them?"
These words echo through TFC classes like the Demoman, Engineer, HW guy and the odd Soldier. These classes were deemed to be the most explosive and 'spammy'. Yet at the same time, it liberates independence from the shortcomings of an individual's team.
The nature of TF2 strips you of your independence. The words of Binary most certainly apply in today's context of 'stacking'. You are forced to play as a team (for obvious reasons the game title implies). Teams with greater 'team-work' are surely to be incredibly superior as opposed to 'independents'. You no longer can rely on your 'nades to save you. You no longer have armor points to survive the enemy onslaught. In place of these, you have your Ubercharge and your Kritzkrieg - expectedly both of which, require 2 or more people to execute to its full effect.
It is clear, why many would choose 'stacking'. It is by these features I've detailed above that the disparity between a team working together and a team which does not communicate is extremely pronounced.
So is it that the acceptable 'stackers' who 'spammed' unacceptably in the past is to be damned for not allowing their enemies to secure victory? Given, there is a thin line we all tread between pwnage and griefing. However, there is a glaring difference between complaining and accusing. It's so easy to shift your own team's difficulties to the bearings of the enemies. Unfortunately, the attitude which initially intended to demonise the enemies to inspire fervour, shot itself in the foot and now it just leads to immediate surrender. It's so easy isn't it? To give up and just eat the bashing? Personally, I feel it makes for bad sportsmanship.
True, I do realise legit accusations could be made saying bad sportsmanship is not 'giving up', but instead 'ganging up'. However, consider the argument put forward above, consider the definition of terms, consider the new game dynamics, consider the first word in the name of the game perhaps. In this perspective, bad sportsmanship is not working together as a team.
There will be individuals who will violently disagree with what I have said and there will undoubtedly be numerous other viewpoints. However, I do wish you to take this away with you; if you think its bad now, you better pray they don't reintroduce 'nades.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Simpsons Zero-Life
Arrived at my feeds this morning. Thought I'd share it with you guys. That's Dr. Frink from the Simpsons, the dude who has ridiculous ideas for scientific advancements. Very subtle play on character in an easter egg for a Simpsons game.
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