Malik
(8/3/10)
I have returned from a
glorious vacation. Well, glorious if it had lasted longer. Two days
off from work, and spending most of that time driving is not the
best example of time away from reality.
I was originally
counting on spending a nice dose of this time playing Dragon Quest
IX. I mean the DS is easy enough to bring with me, and I'd have some
down time at night. That fell apart for two simple reasons.
The first being that any
down time went to a more needed cause; sleep. After going off of no
time off from work and reality since December, I just needed my
sleep more than anything else. Once the sun went down, so did I.
Also, being out in the
woods, far from any sense of communication technology (the nearest
place to get a cell signal, even, was about 7 miles away), I didn't
feel like playing DQ9. I mean the game has the online store option
that I do enjoy taking advantage of. When you have no internet, this
is not really an option. Yes, DQ9 can be played without the online
features, but with the end of the game coming quite soon, I really
want to take advantage of the possibilities.
Anyway, I have little to
post on today. I spent the last four days driving, or out in the
least technology filled of areas. The sad thing is I wish I was
still out away from technology...sometimes a break from everything
considered normal is one hell of a great thing.
Malik |
Malik
(8/5/10)
I have been pretty bad
about posting, since I've been pretty bad about using anything
technology based or geekish for any purpose beyond bitching and
moaning, to no avail, to/about my state government. I feel like I'm
sinking into the world of Dayle Gribble from King of the Hill...but
without as much fear of being part of "the beast" (existing as
myself in trackable ways).
When you spend
most of your time trying to get your neighbor to stop breaking the
law, it's annoying. When it's the Washington State government,
you're just in a useless battle of seeing who can last the longest;
the pissed off citizen or the apathetic government employee.
Luckily, when I get pissed off, I tend to become persistent to the
point of stupidity. In other words, I'm not going anywhere.
I have tried to
get some limited time with Dragon Quest IX. I'm not at the end of
the normal game (I understand a bit of post-game stuff exists). I
want to finish the game, but I also don't want to. I mean once DQ9
is put to bed, I'm back to having no games to play...or at least no
new games. I think after my marathon of Lunar games earlier this
year, I'm in no particular hurry to resume my nostalgia.
One complaint I
have to say about DQ9 is that the online store is just annoying me
more and more. Beyond the glitch (if you don't turn off your system
each day, the store will not refresh, despite consuming your
once-a-day access to download new items), the store can be a little
lame. For some reason, Square Enix or Level 5 decided to make theme
weeks of DLC content. For example, last week was all about alchemy
ingredients. This was fine since farming alchemy stuff is a bit
boring. However, now it's "Summer" week, which leaves the shop
filled with useless summer costume items. These are items that have
almost no in game value, but take up valuable real estate in the
store. So, I may turn on the download today and find one or two
awesome alchemy items, but I also know that pirate themed shirts
await me...as well as white t-shirts, and maybe pearl earrings, and
maybe a sun skirt. In other words, a bunch of crap that only is fun
if you really would rather play dress up than try to make the most
of the challenges that DQ9 offers.
Oh well...it's all
a free online feature that's 100% optional. So, who am I to
complain. It's about the only good part of online with DQ9. It beats
the fact that some optional events can only be unlocked if you play
with friends...online...who have to be in the same room as you since
it's only ad-hock/LAN style online. The store is also a better use
of online than how there's no character development of your party
since every character is designed to be disposable due to the chance
of you playing with friends (thus kicking out party members at a
moments notice).
Malik |