My reading habits are funny on the Kindle. Maybe it's just that I'm cheap. The only time I every pay full price for books is when I'm traveling and I treat myself to gems from my magical bookshelf at the Powell's in PDX. Since there's no half.com for buying used Kindle books I end up talking myself into bargain books from Amazon's Kindle Daily Deals or the under $3.99 section. I just still struggle with the concept of paying the full trade paperback price for an ebook.
As a result I think it's fair to say that I'm partaking of a different demographic of literature. Yes, there are many classics that are free/nearly free for the Kindle, but that's not what I'm reading. I'm delving deeply into sci-fi and (kind of) fantasy, two genres that are flush with affordable titles. Haven't delved into romance yet. Not sure I'm that desperate to save a buck.
Nestled firmly in this wheelhouse is The Scourge, a Kindle Serial that combines the courtly middle ages with a zombie apocalypse. A band of three nights seeks to cut their way through the hordes in the hopes of finding/saving his wife. They pick their way through (somewhat) historically accurate cities/settings and encounter much of the class/religious conflict of the time in addition to flesh-lusting undead.
I'll be honest, I'm liking the Serial concept. I was a little concerned that they might be underwhelming in length at $2 a subscription (somewhere around 6-8 episodes for that price) but it's plenty of mass with plenty of sugar and fat. Kind of like ebook junk food. The episodic aspect is nice too. I'm motivated to quickly read through each delivery and then eagerly await the next release. I understand there are some online communities for many of the serials so I might check that out.
From a price/value mix the serial concept is working for me. If other titles are as well-written as The Scourge this will probably be my Kindle media of choice. If reading paper books ever becomes completely unappealing to me, or if I want to load and travel light up for a long trip maybe I'll break down and drop some big money for what I consider real literature. Or I could just buy a ton of this stuff!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Santacula: A review
Santacula is the second release from Winchester Malone. Full disclosure, he's a friend of mine, so that will definitely affect my review. While I sincerely enjoyed his first book, Dawn of the Yeti, this was a very different story.
Much like the original Dracula, it's written as a collection of available reports/media surrounding a specific incident. In this 21st Century update the media has changed. You now get texts, emails, social media posts and web-based news reports that surround a surprising tale. A group of young vampires, tired of perpetually being on Santa's naughty list create an elaborate plot to confront the man in red. What results is a shocking accident that changes the course of Christmas, and the world, forever.
I read this book partly out of my friendship with the author and partly because I enjoyed Dawn of the Yeti. The subject mater is a little out of my usual wheelhouse (though I've found myself reading a lot more sci-fi on my Kindle), but it was still a pretty enjoyable read. If you're waning to sample a Winchester Malone book, I'd suggest Dawn of the Yeti. If you're into vampires or want a dark and amusing Christmas read than Santacula is definitely worth checking out.
Much like the original Dracula, it's written as a collection of available reports/media surrounding a specific incident. In this 21st Century update the media has changed. You now get texts, emails, social media posts and web-based news reports that surround a surprising tale. A group of young vampires, tired of perpetually being on Santa's naughty list create an elaborate plot to confront the man in red. What results is a shocking accident that changes the course of Christmas, and the world, forever.
I read this book partly out of my friendship with the author and partly because I enjoyed Dawn of the Yeti. The subject mater is a little out of my usual wheelhouse (though I've found myself reading a lot more sci-fi on my Kindle), but it was still a pretty enjoyable read. If you're waning to sample a Winchester Malone book, I'd suggest Dawn of the Yeti. If you're into vampires or want a dark and amusing Christmas read than Santacula is definitely worth checking out.
New Year
I'm doing my best to not let this blog languish. I originally started it when I was moving cross-country so my family and friends could know I wasn't chopped up in someone's freezer. But now that geography has changed it's still handy to have one place where people can go for the latest and greatest.
Happy New Year!
This picture is actually from Christmas Day, but I suspect today will be similar. Just less rainy. Frankly it's a glorious day. I told my mom I would put a roast in the oven for her at noon. As soon as that's done I'm off to carpe the diem. I don't know how to explain it, and maybe it's just a placebo effect, but this morning just seemed... optimistic. Maybe it's the gloriously golden sun on a frosty/snowy morning. Whatever it is I like it.
2013 figures to be a pretty big year. I've not worked at this job for longer than any other I've had since college. I've been a homeowner for over a year and a puppy-daddy for 7 months (has it really only been that long???). It's highly likely that I'll get a different car this year... and of course there's the elephant in the corner, turning 30. I'm not too stressed about it, just another milestone.
Hopefully the rest of 2013 is as optimistic and filled with potential as this morning. And hopefully I get off the couch and do something about it.
Happy New Year!
This picture is actually from Christmas Day, but I suspect today will be similar. Just less rainy. Frankly it's a glorious day. I told my mom I would put a roast in the oven for her at noon. As soon as that's done I'm off to carpe the diem. I don't know how to explain it, and maybe it's just a placebo effect, but this morning just seemed... optimistic. Maybe it's the gloriously golden sun on a frosty/snowy morning. Whatever it is I like it.
2013 figures to be a pretty big year. I've not worked at this job for longer than any other I've had since college. I've been a homeowner for over a year and a puppy-daddy for 7 months (has it really only been that long???). It's highly likely that I'll get a different car this year... and of course there's the elephant in the corner, turning 30. I'm not too stressed about it, just another milestone.
Hopefully the rest of 2013 is as optimistic and filled with potential as this morning. And hopefully I get off the couch and do something about it.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Heartbreak
"At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer."
-Ellen White, The Desire of Ages (669)
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
-Ellen White, The Desire of Ages (669)
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Call of Duty, Black Ops 2
I'm nearly 30 years old, and about to write a video game review.
I wasn't planning to buy Black Ops 2. But when you're making your daily pilgrimage to Starbucks in Target and they have a big convenient display right by the register it's just too easy (props to you Target for store layout and product placement). I enjoy me some running around and shooting video games, especially since I discovered Xbox Live and the potential of always having millions of othergeeks peers to populate multiplayer games. I've never been overwhelmingly talented so there's been plenty of room for improvement in the older generation Call of Duty games.
My first experience with this franchise was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. For those not familiar that three titles previous to Black Ops 2, released in in 2009. The Call of Duty series releases a new title each year, but they have two different development teams. So the even-year releases are from one developer (Infinity Ward) and the odd-year releases are from the other (Treyarch). Don't quote me on this, I really don't know for sure how it all works.
At any rate, because my first experience was with and Infinity Ward game I tend to enjoy those titles better (Modern Warfare 2 and 3). It just seems like everything is faster. You move faster, the guns shoot faster... even turning your head to look around the map seems faster. My reactions always felt slow and sluggish in the original Black Ops game. My carrer average has always been one kill per 2-3 deaths. Like I said, plenty of room for improvement.
After about a month of Black Ops 2 I'm pleasantly surprised. Don't get me wrong, it still feels like I'm trying to run, jump and shoot in a giant bowl of oatmeal, but I'm having fun. Let me itemize the fun:
Maps
I never really noticed it before, but Treyarch really gets maps right. When you're plying a shooter game nothing is more annoying that having only one route to run when your enemies are positioned perfect to pick you off each time you try to escape. Treyarch always provides multiple routes, with an abundance of bypass routes, tunnels, trails and cubbies that allow you to disappear and reappear in places your opponent would never expect. I'll return to maps a little more in a minute.
The Pick-10 System
This addition to the standard Call of Duty format is pure genius. In the past you've been able to select from different categories of weapons, equipment and perks to create a specialized soldier for your style of play. For example, you could pick an assault rifle with some kind of attachement (a scope, grenade launcher or extended magazine) with a pistol as backup, a couple flash grenades, a lethal grenade and some bonuses (picking up ammo from dead enemies, being invisible to radar, running/reloading faster, etc.)
These options have always been confined to specific categories and you could only pick one item from each. You picked a primary weapon, a secondary weapon one perk from each of three categories and a couple pieces of equipment. In Black Ops 2 this process is turned on its ear. Instead of having categories you have 10 "points" to spend in any way you see fit... with some caveats. It still steers you toward a traditional setup. But if there are two perks from the same tier that you really love (For example: Lightweight, which makes you run faster, and Flack Jacket, which protects you against explosions) you can take both! You just have to use one of your points to unlock a "Wildcard" that makes this possible (so it costs you three points for two perks). There used to be a perk that allowed you to have two attachments on your gun. Now that's available by default. Each attachment just costs one of your points. Don't like any of the perks form a certain tier? Don't take any! Just apply that point to something else. This blows the game wide open for really tinkering and creating some amazing custom classes.
Skill-based Matchmaking(?)
Again, not 100% sure on this, but I believe Black Ops 2 is designed to place you in multiplayer games that are populated with players at a similar skill level. Whether or not this is true, I do know one thing. I am BEASTING compared to my previous experiences. I would say my average kill to death ratio is at or above 1:1, and I've had multiple games with ratios approaching 4. In one month I've probably had more of those monster games than the previous three years of playing combined. I haven't paid really close attention, but it seems like the player scores in my games have (generally) all been pretty close. I still haven't quite figured out how that can work when I have really good games, but it seems to somehow...
The Easiest Call of Duty Ever?
It's not just that I'm scoring better than in the past. It's how I'm getting those scores. In the past my class setups and play styles have been extremely predictable. I will spend my entire time using 3-4 guns (out of 20 or so) and try to stick to low-traffic areas where I might surprise someone up close. I've never been able to use the sniper rifles or shotguns, or pretty much any gun that's not fully automatic. My aim is questionable so I need to spray and pray to have any success.
Then comes Black Ops 2... I started out building my usual and comfortable classes, but then the Pick-10 system started calling to me. I decided to try a shotgun class just for fun. Surprise! I started dominating in close quarters. Turns out you just have to pair certain guns with certain portions of the map. And Treyarch's commitment to a labyrinth of passageways is perfect for a shotgun. Ok, how about a sniper rifle. Boom! Dancing from corner to corner, picking enemies off from the other side of the map. I think my first sniper game I went like 7 kills and 6 deaths (which is a really low score) and it's gone up from there. How about a class with lots of perks and no gun at all? WOW! This was really eye opening. When you start with no gun you have to move really tactically around the map. It also forces you to diversify your gameplay to best fit the discarded gun you're able to find for yourself. Last night I started a game with nothing but a pistol and ended up finishing at 18 kills and 8 deaths. Instead of trying to outgun my opponents by being obvious and direct I'm relying on geography and physics to try and outsmart the other side... and it's working.
Turns out the reduced speed that I found so annoying is actually a benefit, since it's applied across the board. It makes me a more diverse and effective player in the game. It seems like every time a Call of Duty game comes out it's hailed as the greatest of all time. I'm definitely not willing to go that far. Each game is innovative in it's own way. I still like the combination of maps and gameplay from Modern Warfare 2 the best (other than the ridiculously overpowered grenade launchers). I'm actually among the few who really loved Modern Warfare 3 as well. My only knock there was that all the maps seemed very uninspired. Black Ops 2 is clearly worth the price of admission, but I'm actually hoping it ends up challenging me a bit more. Maybe that challenge will simply come from me experimenting with different configurations and playing the game in new and exciting ways.
I wasn't planning to buy Black Ops 2. But when you're making your daily pilgrimage to Starbucks in Target and they have a big convenient display right by the register it's just too easy (props to you Target for store layout and product placement). I enjoy me some running around and shooting video games, especially since I discovered Xbox Live and the potential of always having millions of other
My first experience with this franchise was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. For those not familiar that three titles previous to Black Ops 2, released in in 2009. The Call of Duty series releases a new title each year, but they have two different development teams. So the even-year releases are from one developer (Infinity Ward) and the odd-year releases are from the other (Treyarch). Don't quote me on this, I really don't know for sure how it all works.
At any rate, because my first experience was with and Infinity Ward game I tend to enjoy those titles better (Modern Warfare 2 and 3). It just seems like everything is faster. You move faster, the guns shoot faster... even turning your head to look around the map seems faster. My reactions always felt slow and sluggish in the original Black Ops game. My carrer average has always been one kill per 2-3 deaths. Like I said, plenty of room for improvement.
After about a month of Black Ops 2 I'm pleasantly surprised. Don't get me wrong, it still feels like I'm trying to run, jump and shoot in a giant bowl of oatmeal, but I'm having fun. Let me itemize the fun:
Maps
I never really noticed it before, but Treyarch really gets maps right. When you're plying a shooter game nothing is more annoying that having only one route to run when your enemies are positioned perfect to pick you off each time you try to escape. Treyarch always provides multiple routes, with an abundance of bypass routes, tunnels, trails and cubbies that allow you to disappear and reappear in places your opponent would never expect. I'll return to maps a little more in a minute.
The Pick-10 System
This addition to the standard Call of Duty format is pure genius. In the past you've been able to select from different categories of weapons, equipment and perks to create a specialized soldier for your style of play. For example, you could pick an assault rifle with some kind of attachement (a scope, grenade launcher or extended magazine) with a pistol as backup, a couple flash grenades, a lethal grenade and some bonuses (picking up ammo from dead enemies, being invisible to radar, running/reloading faster, etc.)
These options have always been confined to specific categories and you could only pick one item from each. You picked a primary weapon, a secondary weapon one perk from each of three categories and a couple pieces of equipment. In Black Ops 2 this process is turned on its ear. Instead of having categories you have 10 "points" to spend in any way you see fit... with some caveats. It still steers you toward a traditional setup. But if there are two perks from the same tier that you really love (For example: Lightweight, which makes you run faster, and Flack Jacket, which protects you against explosions) you can take both! You just have to use one of your points to unlock a "Wildcard" that makes this possible (so it costs you three points for two perks). There used to be a perk that allowed you to have two attachments on your gun. Now that's available by default. Each attachment just costs one of your points. Don't like any of the perks form a certain tier? Don't take any! Just apply that point to something else. This blows the game wide open for really tinkering and creating some amazing custom classes.
Skill-based Matchmaking(?)
Again, not 100% sure on this, but I believe Black Ops 2 is designed to place you in multiplayer games that are populated with players at a similar skill level. Whether or not this is true, I do know one thing. I am BEASTING compared to my previous experiences. I would say my average kill to death ratio is at or above 1:1, and I've had multiple games with ratios approaching 4. In one month I've probably had more of those monster games than the previous three years of playing combined. I haven't paid really close attention, but it seems like the player scores in my games have (generally) all been pretty close. I still haven't quite figured out how that can work when I have really good games, but it seems to somehow...
The Easiest Call of Duty Ever?
It's not just that I'm scoring better than in the past. It's how I'm getting those scores. In the past my class setups and play styles have been extremely predictable. I will spend my entire time using 3-4 guns (out of 20 or so) and try to stick to low-traffic areas where I might surprise someone up close. I've never been able to use the sniper rifles or shotguns, or pretty much any gun that's not fully automatic. My aim is questionable so I need to spray and pray to have any success.
Then comes Black Ops 2... I started out building my usual and comfortable classes, but then the Pick-10 system started calling to me. I decided to try a shotgun class just for fun. Surprise! I started dominating in close quarters. Turns out you just have to pair certain guns with certain portions of the map. And Treyarch's commitment to a labyrinth of passageways is perfect for a shotgun. Ok, how about a sniper rifle. Boom! Dancing from corner to corner, picking enemies off from the other side of the map. I think my first sniper game I went like 7 kills and 6 deaths (which is a really low score) and it's gone up from there. How about a class with lots of perks and no gun at all? WOW! This was really eye opening. When you start with no gun you have to move really tactically around the map. It also forces you to diversify your gameplay to best fit the discarded gun you're able to find for yourself. Last night I started a game with nothing but a pistol and ended up finishing at 18 kills and 8 deaths. Instead of trying to outgun my opponents by being obvious and direct I'm relying on geography and physics to try and outsmart the other side... and it's working.
Turns out the reduced speed that I found so annoying is actually a benefit, since it's applied across the board. It makes me a more diverse and effective player in the game. It seems like every time a Call of Duty game comes out it's hailed as the greatest of all time. I'm definitely not willing to go that far. Each game is innovative in it's own way. I still like the combination of maps and gameplay from Modern Warfare 2 the best (other than the ridiculously overpowered grenade launchers). I'm actually among the few who really loved Modern Warfare 3 as well. My only knock there was that all the maps seemed very uninspired. Black Ops 2 is clearly worth the price of admission, but I'm actually hoping it ends up challenging me a bit more. Maybe that challenge will simply come from me experimenting with different configurations and playing the game in new and exciting ways.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Visuals 2: Electric Boogaloo
Not much needed in the way of an introduction. Here are some other TV goodies I've been devouring:
Hell on Wheels
There's certain shows you just know you're going to be a fan of. Hell on Wheels was one of those shows for me. Post Civil War drama. Transcontinental Railroad Drama. Racism and class warfare on the praire? Sign me up! It has a storyline that leaves you scratching your head at times. In my opinion, they seem to find ways for everyone to get along a little too easily at times. The show is clearly about unlikely friendships and alliances, but it seems like nearly every connection in the show breaks the conventions of the day. Seems like they were conventions for a reason. Plus, folks are just abundantly tolerant of people they plain don't like. But I'm sure things will boil to a head eventually.
Watch Hell on Wheels if you like:
Bad boys trying to make good
Tattooed prostitutes with hearts of gold
Blue-collar criminals outsmarting white-collar criminals
Working on the railroad, all the live-long day
Dexter
If Hell on Wheels is a no-brainer show for me to watch, Dexter is possibly the ultimate puzzler (besides reality tv). I don't like blood. I don't like bodily fluids in general. Yet I've been pretty captivated by this serial-killer drama for the last couple years. A Miami Metro crime lab geek with a horrific past and a primal urge to dish out frightening vigilanti justice, Dexter Morgan finds himself on a delicate tightrope between humanity and something else. A force he refers to as his Dark Passenger. In the context of the show he's surprisingly likable, for someone who puts a knife in a person's chest nearly every episode. The show is somewhat like Criminal Minds, and that rich psychological aspect is probably part of what engages me between the parts where I'm covering my eyes. There have been some bland and predictable moments, but if you haven't watched Dexter at all you'll be in for a couple moments that absolutely shock and unhinge you.
Watch Dexter if you like
Cat and mouse games
Dark humor
Seeing instant justice served to the dregs of society
Not sleeping at night
In unrelated news, I saw Skyfall this weekend. Most of the comments I had heard lead me to believe that Casino Royale was the best of the recent 007 reboots. I for one really enjoyed Skyfall. I found it to be a great step forward for the series. And by step forward I mean it's bringing things full-circle. It was very un-Bond in and of itself, but this storyline helped us return to the glory days of this franchise, without the added baggage of excessive cliches and laughable fight scenes. While it may not have delivered on everything that a 007 flick is known for, I think down the road we'll look back on Skyfall as an essential moment, a necessary step to get us to a better place.
Hell on Wheels
There's certain shows you just know you're going to be a fan of. Hell on Wheels was one of those shows for me. Post Civil War drama. Transcontinental Railroad Drama. Racism and class warfare on the praire? Sign me up! It has a storyline that leaves you scratching your head at times. In my opinion, they seem to find ways for everyone to get along a little too easily at times. The show is clearly about unlikely friendships and alliances, but it seems like nearly every connection in the show breaks the conventions of the day. Seems like they were conventions for a reason. Plus, folks are just abundantly tolerant of people they plain don't like. But I'm sure things will boil to a head eventually.
Watch Hell on Wheels if you like:
Bad boys trying to make good
Tattooed prostitutes with hearts of gold
Blue-collar criminals outsmarting white-collar criminals
Working on the railroad, all the live-long day
Dexter
If Hell on Wheels is a no-brainer show for me to watch, Dexter is possibly the ultimate puzzler (besides reality tv). I don't like blood. I don't like bodily fluids in general. Yet I've been pretty captivated by this serial-killer drama for the last couple years. A Miami Metro crime lab geek with a horrific past and a primal urge to dish out frightening vigilanti justice, Dexter Morgan finds himself on a delicate tightrope between humanity and something else. A force he refers to as his Dark Passenger. In the context of the show he's surprisingly likable, for someone who puts a knife in a person's chest nearly every episode. The show is somewhat like Criminal Minds, and that rich psychological aspect is probably part of what engages me between the parts where I'm covering my eyes. There have been some bland and predictable moments, but if you haven't watched Dexter at all you'll be in for a couple moments that absolutely shock and unhinge you.
Watch Dexter if you like
Cat and mouse games
Dark humor
Seeing instant justice served to the dregs of society
Not sleeping at night
In unrelated news, I saw Skyfall this weekend. Most of the comments I had heard lead me to believe that Casino Royale was the best of the recent 007 reboots. I for one really enjoyed Skyfall. I found it to be a great step forward for the series. And by step forward I mean it's bringing things full-circle. It was very un-Bond in and of itself, but this storyline helped us return to the glory days of this franchise, without the added baggage of excessive cliches and laughable fight scenes. While it may not have delivered on everything that a 007 flick is known for, I think down the road we'll look back on Skyfall as an essential moment, a necessary step to get us to a better place.
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