Here we find that some gamers never stop gaming, even in real life and we find more proof that if you have "normal" breasts (and I don't mean man-boobs) you can get what you want more easily, even in games.
Read on... (these come from the sight bbspot.com)
Wednesday, September 3 12:01 EST
Geek Overcomes Social Anxiety By Turning Life into RPG
By Ross P. Davis
Gainesville, FL - Area geek Ross Davis has learned to overcome his long-standing social anxiety by turning his life into a Role-Playing Game (RPG).
RPG systems such as D&D and GURPS have been part of the geek culture for decades, but they have traditionally served to further cement their participants into Loserdom. With the advent of computerized RPGs such as Neverwinter Nights and the Final Fantasy series, geeks have been able to further socially isolate themselves. Davis claims that his revolutionary application of RPGs can increase a geek's social skill by several levels and result in the accomplishment of new social feats.
"I've been playing RPGs for a long time," said Davis. "From Bard's Tale to Chrono Cross, I've been leveling up while everyone else is out living it up. I decided it was time to get out of my apartment and join the party... wait, hold on a sec." Davis then lapsed into silence as his full attention became focused on Lost Kingdoms II.
"Hooooo buddy - I think this bad boy is gonna cough up a Runestone!" Davis blurted out several minutes later.
After being bribed with an old P233 Gateway system, the 26-year-old Systems Programmer was convinced to leave his apartment in order to demonstrate his RPG-As-Real-Life system.
"Okay," Davis explained, "the goal here is to gain experience so you can level up - just like an RPG. For example, I haven't had a date since about the time that Skies of Arcadia: Legends came out. So my objective is to talk to girls without being paralyzed by overwhelming social anxiety."
He continued, "Every time I talk to a girl, I reward myself with some experience points. The longer the conversation, the more experience I get. Instead of playing as a character in a game, I am the character and my social life is the game. In the end, I am able to transform an unknown, frightening reality into a comfortable, exciting fantasy. Remember - reality: bad, fantasy: good."
"Right now my focus is on one of my stats that I call CER - my Chick Exposure Rate. See, as my CER increases, my probability of performing a critical hit (getting a date) dramatically increases. It's just a matter of simple statisti-" Davis then broke off, his eyes following an attractive University of Florida co-ed on rollerblades.
"Yow! Now that's a perfect level ten," Davis said appreciatively.
Davis explained that talking to the "level ten" girl was out of the question due to his lack of experience. "When you first start an RPG, you don't immediately strap on your leather armor and charge headlong at a Lich King. You've got to work your way up to it. And so it is with women."
Davis then made his way to a nearby bus stop where an aged homeless woman wearing Hefty bags on her feet was slouched against a fire hydrant.
"Now THIS is more like it!" Davis exclaimed enthusiastically.
He proceeded to have an animated discussion with the transient. After several minutes of conversation, Davis presented her with $1.58 in loose change and reported on his progress.
"I'd say I only get 5 EXP for that encounter," Davis said with some disappointment. "She was a very low-level creature. Still, every little bit contributes to that next level." He then logged the five experience points into his PDA.
Psychologist Greta Amberbock gave cautious approval when told of Davis's RPG approach to socializing. "It is often very helpful to have a reward system when dealing with social anxiety and other disorders," Amberbock said. "Of course, one must be sure that the reward itself is healthy. For a person who spends much of his time immersed in a video game world, it is perhaps not so healthy to have a video game related reward. Still, it appears that he has made progress and will continue to do so."
Added Amberbock, "At least until [Final Fantasy] Crystal Chronicles comes out."
Tuesday, August 12 12:01 AM EDT
Gamer Finds "Normal" Setting Impossible
By Brian Briggs
Akron, OH - Much like life, Rich Stiles of Ft. Wayne MI learned that "Normal" is too difficult for him on his favorite game Satana 2.
"It was so much harder that I kept dying on the 'Choose your character' screen. I'd type in my name, Rich, and my character would die. The only way I could get past that screen was to play a female character with a metal bra," explained Stiles.
As in real life, Rich learned that breasts could get you out of tough situations.
"I think the same people who designed this game also designed girls," continued Stiles. "I mean the easy ones are too easy, while the normal ones are near impossible to conquer."
Other gamers agree with Stiles. Sarah White from Columbus, Ohio said, "The Orcs go from sword fodder to Uruk-hai on steroids. I don't know how they expect anyone to finish it on that level. I mean I spent a whole 25 minutes on it then I just downloaded some cheat codes and advanced to the end game. I don't even know why they have a "difficult" setting. No one could ever play at that level."
Programmers admit that the Normal level can only be mastered if a person plays the game 24/7 until the next version comes out, or if the player has some freakish video game skills like those guys in the Dance Dance Revolution videos.
"Most people don't have that kind of time, so we don't even put in a "difficult" level, just the menu selection. If someone does choose it by accident we just go to a default blue screen," laughed head programmer of MiniSky Games Trish Erskin.
Rich's mother, Clara Stiles, agreed, "Rich really has some problems with normal."
Monday, August 29, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Gaming (and movie) News!
I can't say that I have felt this excited (or level of dread )about a possible movie since The Lord of the Rings was announced but news has come down the wire about the finalization of a HALO movie based on the kick ass game from XBOX.
Find out more here.... News: Halo 3 to Release Alongside Halo Movie in 2007
http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/news/47888.shtml
Thing is, why should I get so excited about this? Well, first off, HALO kicks ass as a game. It also kicks ass as at great social tool to spend more time with friends, but also with your kids. I think that kids, boy or girl, like nothing more than to do kick their parents butt at a video game. My son, and daughter do it quite regularly when we have time to play it. Pretty much everyone has if not played the game, at least heard of it, and like The Lord of the Rings, it has a very active and rabid following of fans. If they manage to do the film correctly and spend the money needed to get the good special effects, this will be a big winner at the box office, at least when the gamers climb out of their dark holes, change their clothes, and put sun screen on their pasty skin to actually go out of the house (!) to see it. However, if the producers fail to listen to fans, or follow the story of the game, it will without a doubt, fail to make even a dent in box office sales.
I for one will geek out probably just as much as I would for any other fandom type of film.
The other problem with this movie is that it means, instead of June of 2006 as the release date for HALO 3, I will now have to wait until 2007 to play, what I hope, is the conclusion of the game. (why not release the game in 2006?) My son will be 13 when this happens and I hope that we will be able to afford the new XBOX to play it on! Ack!
Later!
Find out more here.... News: Halo 3 to Release Alongside Halo Movie in 2007
http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/news/47888.shtml
Thing is, why should I get so excited about this? Well, first off, HALO kicks ass as a game. It also kicks ass as at great social tool to spend more time with friends, but also with your kids. I think that kids, boy or girl, like nothing more than to do kick their parents butt at a video game. My son, and daughter do it quite regularly when we have time to play it. Pretty much everyone has if not played the game, at least heard of it, and like The Lord of the Rings, it has a very active and rabid following of fans. If they manage to do the film correctly and spend the money needed to get the good special effects, this will be a big winner at the box office, at least when the gamers climb out of their dark holes, change their clothes, and put sun screen on their pasty skin to actually go out of the house (!) to see it. However, if the producers fail to listen to fans, or follow the story of the game, it will without a doubt, fail to make even a dent in box office sales.
I for one will geek out probably just as much as I would for any other fandom type of film.
The other problem with this movie is that it means, instead of June of 2006 as the release date for HALO 3, I will now have to wait until 2007 to play, what I hope, is the conclusion of the game. (why not release the game in 2006?) My son will be 13 when this happens and I hope that we will be able to afford the new XBOX to play it on! Ack!
Later!
Thursday, August 11, 2005
What is it to be a man?
Very recently I have seen some very good and bad examples of what it is to be a man. A man at least in my humble opinion of what makes a man, a "man". And I don't mean just having testosterone and a penis, although that usually is a big help.
The two examples I recently saw were people I know, fairly well. One from an association over the last few years as a friend, a father, and fellow Scout leader. The other one is from an association over the last few years as a friend, a father, and fellow Scout Leader. Sounds like the same type of guy, right? Couldn't be further from the truth.
PERSON #1:
The first person is someone that I have known for many years now and he embodies everything that I believes makes a good man. He is a man of strong faith and conviction. He is someone that will, if possible, help his neighbors, friends, and even strangers at the drop of a hat. During a particularly difficult time for my family and I, this person was with us to support and help us on an almost constant basis, even after he had been gone from his family for a long period of time. He is very willing to give his time and money if others need it. I know him to be a person of great mirth, of which he loves to express, but also of deep emotion, which he tries to let not show through. He is a very committed, loving family man. He pretty much spoils his family. He is a firm family leader, but also a pushover when it comes to somethings involving his children. He works hard to earn a living, even if he does not like his job at times. He is also a very active member of his community. He is more than willing to sacrifice for his family, his friends, and his community. He does not think twice about taking responsibility for his actions. His actions are made so that the best possible outcome is the only result.
(I would say he is a product of his environment. I know as to what type of men he was exposed to as a child. Most of the men he knew were primarily old Germans, primarily German Lutherans to be specific, who had a very decidedly rock solid idea of what it was to be an man. My father is one, so I think I know pretty well what I am talking about.)
PERSON # 2:
Now, however, I have seen the other side of the coin. I recently had the misfortune to be involved with a person, who, I will say, was a friend of mine, and although tarnished, probably still is. For reasons of anonimoty, I will only speak in generalities, this person committed a crime where property belonging to others was taken for himself and for his benefit only. Prior to finding this out, I thought that this person was a pretty trusted, honest and honorable person. It was not the actual crime of taking property that makes this person less of a man to me, but the extent he went to, to divert attention from himself and his actions, and the lack of responsibility he would take for his actions. I supposed that it is natural to try and hid one's guilt when accused of a crime, but rather than try and prove his innocence, he told stories, claimed outrageous possibilites, but worst of all, he was willing to sacrifice his honor, his work, and finally his family in order to make himself out to be the victim.
I have had to be closely involved in the persecution of this person, and in the end, hopefully the salvation of this person and his family. In the beginning, this man was willing to point the finger of blame to his son. A son who has more honor and integrity in his little finger than this person had in his whole body. He was more willing to try and hide his guilt than come clean, to the extent that he was willing to sacrifice his job and therefore the monetary support of his family. He was even willing to try and use someone elses good name to cover his own! Throughout this entire time, he never really accepted his role in the crime, even though there was no one else involved. As restitutution, he was to accomplish a number of things to make things right. He had a perfect chance to resolve the problem and rebuild his integrity and the damage done to his family. But he did not make the effort needed to succeed at this and instead came dangerously close to losing everything. His poor wife had resigned herself to seeing the destruction of her family all due to his lack of concern for his actions and a real lack of responsibility. Again he was willing to destroy everything that should have been important to a real man. He was not willing to stand up and sacrifice for his family. There was no one left to defend and save his family.
I cannot say more about what happened other than, hopefully, with actions undertaken by myself and others(including Person #1), Person #2 will be forced to take responsibility for his actions and thereby saving saving his family. Maybe he will learn from this what it is to be more of a man. I certainly hope so. I know I have learned from his actions as to what it is to be a "man" as much as I have learned from Person #1.
Later...
The two examples I recently saw were people I know, fairly well. One from an association over the last few years as a friend, a father, and fellow Scout leader. The other one is from an association over the last few years as a friend, a father, and fellow Scout Leader. Sounds like the same type of guy, right? Couldn't be further from the truth.
PERSON #1:
The first person is someone that I have known for many years now and he embodies everything that I believes makes a good man. He is a man of strong faith and conviction. He is someone that will, if possible, help his neighbors, friends, and even strangers at the drop of a hat. During a particularly difficult time for my family and I, this person was with us to support and help us on an almost constant basis, even after he had been gone from his family for a long period of time. He is very willing to give his time and money if others need it. I know him to be a person of great mirth, of which he loves to express, but also of deep emotion, which he tries to let not show through. He is a very committed, loving family man. He pretty much spoils his family. He is a firm family leader, but also a pushover when it comes to somethings involving his children. He works hard to earn a living, even if he does not like his job at times. He is also a very active member of his community. He is more than willing to sacrifice for his family, his friends, and his community. He does not think twice about taking responsibility for his actions. His actions are made so that the best possible outcome is the only result.
(I would say he is a product of his environment. I know as to what type of men he was exposed to as a child. Most of the men he knew were primarily old Germans, primarily German Lutherans to be specific, who had a very decidedly rock solid idea of what it was to be an man. My father is one, so I think I know pretty well what I am talking about.)
PERSON # 2:
Now, however, I have seen the other side of the coin. I recently had the misfortune to be involved with a person, who, I will say, was a friend of mine, and although tarnished, probably still is. For reasons of anonimoty, I will only speak in generalities, this person committed a crime where property belonging to others was taken for himself and for his benefit only. Prior to finding this out, I thought that this person was a pretty trusted, honest and honorable person. It was not the actual crime of taking property that makes this person less of a man to me, but the extent he went to, to divert attention from himself and his actions, and the lack of responsibility he would take for his actions. I supposed that it is natural to try and hid one's guilt when accused of a crime, but rather than try and prove his innocence, he told stories, claimed outrageous possibilites, but worst of all, he was willing to sacrifice his honor, his work, and finally his family in order to make himself out to be the victim.
I have had to be closely involved in the persecution of this person, and in the end, hopefully the salvation of this person and his family. In the beginning, this man was willing to point the finger of blame to his son. A son who has more honor and integrity in his little finger than this person had in his whole body. He was more willing to try and hide his guilt than come clean, to the extent that he was willing to sacrifice his job and therefore the monetary support of his family. He was even willing to try and use someone elses good name to cover his own! Throughout this entire time, he never really accepted his role in the crime, even though there was no one else involved. As restitutution, he was to accomplish a number of things to make things right. He had a perfect chance to resolve the problem and rebuild his integrity and the damage done to his family. But he did not make the effort needed to succeed at this and instead came dangerously close to losing everything. His poor wife had resigned herself to seeing the destruction of her family all due to his lack of concern for his actions and a real lack of responsibility. Again he was willing to destroy everything that should have been important to a real man. He was not willing to stand up and sacrifice for his family. There was no one left to defend and save his family.
I cannot say more about what happened other than, hopefully, with actions undertaken by myself and others(including Person #1), Person #2 will be forced to take responsibility for his actions and thereby saving saving his family. Maybe he will learn from this what it is to be more of a man. I certainly hope so. I know I have learned from his actions as to what it is to be a "man" as much as I have learned from Person #1.
Later...
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Thoughts on the 40th Birthday...
Well okay. The 40th birthday of this organism called me is coming up soon. I have the party hall reserved, but no real plans have been made as of yet. I do have the music under control as I will just use my own system and set it up. No plans for food or drink have been settled as of yet. Also, I have not made a real invite list yet. I have a very good idea of who to invite but have not yet sent any out. Also, what else, besides eating, drinking, hanging out, visiting, some dancing, and general partying should I have planned? I am up for any suggestions. I suppose that at some point I will be made the butt of many a joke or comment, and that is okay, but should something special be done? I am in quandry. Any suggestions from the multitudes that read this are welcome. I would appreciate it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
