confidentialmisanthropy

So anyway.

First week back in port. Instant classic.

I was TAD during "hell week at the end" of PIA, which is Maincomm's all time low (so I'm told) and I can't really say if this week was anywhere near that but at times I'm sure it dipped dangerously close to equalling it.

But who gives a shit. Zero Mission is all that matters.

Happy Valentines shot out to Samus.

What's with all the Crystal Chronicles drama? The spread @ Gamerankings is kinda misleading. And for the love of God, don't bother with IGN's abysmal review. Everyone's missed the point of the game by a mile. I chalked up an import review for the game months ago when it came out accross the drink and it hasn't lost its luster yet.

Listen to me, all you long-suffering Nintendo loyalists. All you jerks that passed up on BG&E. All you people yearning for something fresh and original... Pick up Crystal Chronicles. Tycho hit the nail on the head:

You know what I hate about multiplayer roleplaying games? This applies to Massive ones, as well. You miss a couple nights, maybe a week, and once you get back in your friends are all riding dragons or wyverns or something, they're all level awesome and you're level bullshit. That never happens in Crystal Chronicles. Why is that? Well, because of all the things the reviewer complains about, basically.

Yes, it's true enough that you do not keep spells from level to level - at least, not at first. If any character grabs a water orb, they're a water mage now in addition to whatever else they want to do. If any character grabs a Heal orb, they can heal other players. You can even drop them out and trade them, as often happened in our group. You'd have a couple battle mages, a melee guy, and somebody who walked the line. What if you want one of those battle mages to be in command of the Phoenix Down, to raise teammates from the dead? No "white mage" required. Even your melee guy could do it - with no explicit classes or even levels of those classes, people can do what they want to and even change their minds halfway through. Want a more powerful spell? Have your party cast two or more spells on a foe. Want to elementally enhance a melee attack? Cast it as someone charges into battle. And in higher levels, when you enter an extremely tough spot and have to get by with no magic until you earn it back? Exhilarating. Maybe it's just one player that gets to the Phoenix Down and brings the whole party back. I'm trying to figure out exactly what we're bitching about here.

I really can't say it any better than that. The main reason why people are knocking it is 'cause of the hardware requirements. NTSC uk even went as far as to call it a "logistical nightmare"... I don't agree with it at all, then again I can't relate either. All my friends have GBA's and I have some to spare, so I can go the BYOGBA route if need be. If your friends don't have GBA's you need new friends.

I've got INSURV coming out of my ears. Our chain of command would have us believe failing INSURV is the end of the world yet the JFK and Kitty Hawk both have done so recently without any effect on the delicate fabric of space and time.

Last night we had a departmental quarters on the foc'sle where Castle (AKA Billy "Cleanpants") was given his Good Conduct Medal and Frosty got a Flag LOC for training eight, yet-to-be-identified, personnel. Both of 'em showed up late and Castle even got a counselling chit (read: slap on the wrist) the same day. We joked how similar it was to Craig getting fired on his day off. We pull back into B-Town tomorrow. Again, not really cause for celebration considering the chain's using INSURV to keep us locked here in purgatory for some insane working hours.

I'd sooner opt to stay underway.

I work mids (1915 - 0900-ish) but I still woke up t'day (thanks to Wraydar) and watched those dirty Pats win another Super Bowl. Carolina made one hell of a game out of it and I didn't expect that so good on 'em. The game was so good seeing Janet's breasts wasn't the highlight of the day.

Go Figure.