Interior Design

Other than playing simulated lives and writing vignettes around my characters, another reason to love Sims 3 is the ability to create house layouts and style furniture. I was into one of my sims, whose gender-bending, artistic leanings require an eccentric home that fits his personality (and of his butch-looking daughter), that I ended up customizing every corner of his property. I was only able to enjoy the family briefly because the sims had no special part to play in the neighborhood. Looking back, now that I no longer play the game because of hardware issues, I wish I had spent more time styling and designing houses.

For in real life, only a chosen few breaks into the cutthroat industry. I can't even find a decent carpenter who would fix a punctured roof, whose collected rainwater from the ceiling soaked some of the high school keepsakes in my dresser a week ago.  

Helpless

So this is how it feels when your creation seems to slip away right before your eyes.

It began this morning - with a raid on my home planet. Cache of resources has been taken away without my knowledge. It was followed by another heist, which I was able to intercept just minutes before the assault took place. Lacking firepower to prevent the intruder, he took away what remains of my provisions. The hostile player didn't stop there. His third attempt turned out to be an invasion. There was time to prepare, and even craft an edict, which I sent to my team members.

Royal Decree XVII-A-IIXV

An Act of War Against Lord Vather and the Empire

We, the Royal House of Travessia, under the munificent graces of His Excellency, King Jai'ren Romanus Travessia III, the cause of joy and prosperity across the realms, having studied the latest incursion of this barbarian leader, Lord Vather against the peaceful people of Galente declares war against the Empire.

Whereas: The King feels the suffering of his people and is one with them in bringing justice to those who led the attack on the defenseless planet of Galente.

Whereas: The King recognizes the might of the Empire, but to lift the spirits of his broken people decides to send the Cerulean Fleet to make Lord Vather account for his errors. He must learn that the Realm of Mugen will not permit these merciless incursions into its worlds.

Whereas: The King, in his infinite wisdom knows that Galente cannot stand alone, thus recognizes the importance of allies in Centaurus. He may not be there to personally thank these governments, but he throws his support in building a coalition that will protect, not only the realm, but those worlds belonging to the community.

Whereas: The King approves the construction of a shipyard and defense installations on Galente, making the planet able to construct its own ships for protective measures.

This Royal Decree takes effect once the Cerulean Fleet arrives in Centaurus. Notice of War will never be sent to Lord Vather or his allies. The Royal House of Travessia entrusts the execution and promulgation of this decree to Viceroy Rafael Allende Smith.

Giventh this year of the Goddess, August 20, 3023. Gods Save The Realm.

I was having fun, really. The challenge stimulates whatever brain function I picked from playing strategy games in the past. Believing that ground defenses can hold block the assault, construction of flak batteries took place at the start of my shift. Four hours of tireless construction, while waiting for reinforcements to arrive; to finally thwart the invaders back to their world. I was confident of victory until the zero hour came and the painful truth opened my eyes to the hopelessness of my situation.

And so the countdown begins before someone steals my planet. Much as I would like to believe there is a possibility of retrieving a saved game, or even the dimmest of hope for my creation - to endure and one day get back at whoever caused this disruption - I have no choice but to admit defeat. With allies nowhere to be found and hails remaining unanswered, it is my best guess that Galente is a lost cause.

Perhaps in another game play. When I am able slip past the invader's attention and my new worlds prosper without his knowledge, I will get back what is mine and bring to his desktop the helplessness I have felt.  

Game Geek

Since Garpppy and friends have been talking on Twitter their favorite video games, allow me to join the fun and share a thought or two, about the video game that keeps me busy lately.

The game is called Imperion. Developed by Travian Games, Imperion is a browser-based, resource management game that is set in the future. In a gist, you are given a planet from where to start expanding. You can annex planets to mine resources, colonize worlds to stretch your dominion, and research technologies to aid your imperial ambitions. 

Imperion is a massively multiplayer online game. It means that all your rivals - the ships attacking your poorly-defended colonies belong to another human player. You can join alliances for protection, or pick fights with rivals knowing there are players watching your back. However you choose to play - whether to send ships to raid worlds, or develop colonies until they become part of your war chest, the goal is to increase your score and outrank other players. 

I was invited to sign up and play the game. What began as mere curiosity became an addiction, which now forces me to go online several times a day. Getting hooked up, however, didn't happen overnight. I was not raided like my incognito accounts, or encouraged to play more as my score steadily rises. It required a little creativity and imagination to elevate my gaming experience.

Galaxy Screen

Great Leader Daemon,

We, the citizens of Colony P23452601 have established ourselves recently in the Centaurus Galaxy. Our people are a ragtag band of refugees escaping the Nolian Civil War on Fornax. Our planet is utterly defenseless against hostile and powerful invaders, a pirate base operates just outside our doorsteps.

Recognizing your military might, the colonial government of Mugen has voted to request for military protection. In return, we shall become vassals of your mighty state and contribute our wealth for your civil works.

We wish only to live in peace. Let us reach our aspirations by becoming part of your league.

Yours Truly,

Minister Jolee Ferieah

Travessia Landing Site, 

Colony P23452601

Star System Screen

The Cruxis High Council recommends to Fleet Admiral Messier Eins to send all fleets to Kratos in preparation for war with Emperor KronosGG of Tartarus system. All colonies are now sending all their resources to the Military base Kratos.

----

On 27.02.13 03:49:51, Mugen wrote:

Travessia, Galente - The Daemon imperial fleet has left Galente Space. This information was confirmed by Admiral Harvey Juice this morning during a press briefing with the prime minister. No word has been said as to the reason behind such pull out. Even PM Guerrero-Blue declined to explain the fleet's mysterious disappearance.

Opposition representatives believe that such pull out will exact a heavy price on the government. "There's a possibility of under-the-table resource exchange happening here" Councilor Vinnie Holliedaze suggested. "Their expedition force is far bigger than our own navy, they won't leave that world just like that!"

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports that a massive evacuation of civilian population is happening on Kratos. Sources close to the Cruxis imperial court refuse to comment on what is happening in the empire.

-  Breaking News: Daemon Navy Leaves Galente Space

Planet Works Screen

Frontierra Listening Post, Mantavara - Unconfirmed reports claim of massive damages and thousands of lives lost as the nearby planet of Stormo was sacked by another nation, our sources know only as "Agemo." 

Embassy officials from Kenpachi are still verifying the news as the Fallen Government cannot be reached at the moment.

Meanwhile, right-wing colony representatives in Galente are demanding military intervention on behalf of the Fallen. 

"How long shall we remain idle as small nations next to our borders are being raided by bandit kingdoms?" Uma Oppenheim, planetary representative of Aquario asked. "We should send our fleets to teach these bandits a lesson!"

Representatives from both Lumina and Lantis also share the same sentiment. "The Dreamwalkers asked for our help in the past and what did Greykane do?" Menthe Tarragon of Lantis says. "We literally kowtowed to Invictus and publicly apologized to the Dictator." 

"How wimp can we get?"

- Bandits On The Loose: The Fallen Homeworld Capitulates

   

As it has always been, I tend to romanticize my space-based strategy game and turn it into space opera. In the past, I did it with Master of Orion. The back stories I wrote on Word Document when I was in high school still remain on my disk drive today.  

These side shows not only sharpen my writing skills. It also puts a layer of character to an otherwise stale game play. Imperion's overused plot, conceived by its creators hardly sell. The game's repetitive nature (unless one belongs to an alliance) will bore a player before he could send his colonists to find new worlds to settle. 

What I didn't foresee is that there are players out there who are wired up the way a storyteller weaves narrative into images. One belongs to my alliance. Once he felt at ease putting his writing to use, our way of seeing things added a rich element, which, though may not be relevant to others, keep us playing for the time being. 

Icarnian Sketch- Today the Incarnian Imperial officials took the podium today and assured the public that the current blackouts due to the aggressive new Naval Expansion Act would soon be coming to an end. When questioned, Councilman Kilnirn was quoted, "Both Miran and the homeworld Orcin are beginning radical improvements to their power grids." 

When reporters finally got their feet in the door it was discovered that our home planet of Miran has already begun a huge expansion into hydro electricity, building three new dams in frontier settlements which will pipeline power via large transparamic cables. Environmental protesters attempted to blockade these improvements but their bodies were easily gathered and transported after the extreme cold caused hypothermia on a massive level. Senior Engineer Staffmaster Beordue was quoted, "The Paramic Ice Tundra couldn't stop us. I can't imagine why they thought they could. 

In other news, the Miran private sector gained a powerful ally when Incarnian Mining Tycoon Yeshua Black announced the current construction of twenty more mining ships. "With enemies on all sides of us we can't rely on bloated alliances and fat beurocrats to keep us safe. Simply digging our resources from the ground will take too long. These new teams will bring about 130,000 more resources a day, ensuring the Incarian Navy and your every day needs are met with immediate reprieve." He said Saturday during a surprise speech made at the breakfast table with one shocked Imperial official. These new teams along with his new "Single Comet" technique promises to bring in over 300,000 resources alone. Yeshua was heard saying, "Yes, you can spread miners out and find all sorts of comets and asteroids to mine from but if you spread out you become fodder for others. With my new protocols we can target huge meaty comets and with several crews working on the same one we not only get our resources faster, we also ensure that our mining crews are even better protected. Safety comes first. Especially on the frontier."

Please see page D-3 for the story continuation for "Frontier? I'd rather have my intestines colonized by Xen" and "Kittens: Secret assassin or cuddly pet?"

---

In reply to one Greykane Allison III,

It has come to the attention of the Order of Diskay, that a break be proposed. In light of the information currently attained this would seem a neigh suicidal request. The Dictatorial alliance is both well armed and highly aggressive. They care little for anything outside their current self interests and will not fear to bring about a highly labored assault for the mere insult of turning coats. The suggested actions you levy would bring about a certain war upon all the allied worlds. 

With that in mind it should be brought to your attention that you have the full backing of the Gods' Hammer fleet as admiraled by the Diskayian Order royal guard and his Imperial Majesty Remedes Lirin VI.

-Order of Diskay Knight Master, Sir Yeshua Black
Long live the Republic. Long live the Empire.

Times have made imagination a rare commodity. Lucky are those who can still put rich scenery, to an otherwise bleak field that cheapen one's gaming experience.

Whatever Could Take You Away

Whatever could take you away from
Anno 2070?

1. Bath
2. Dinner
3. A post-midnight road trip to Mercato, Global City
4. Cheeseburger from Johnny Steams
5. Stopover at Baabaa's house
6. This blog-entry
7. Episode four of Game of Thrones.
8. Rumors of a night-long blackout blanketing the neighborhood

Only to turn out to be a hearsay, and you bought it wholesale
like a trader hoarding for excuses to leave the house.

42-In-1

Long before Bejeweled and Fruit Ninja became an app; prior to players uploading their highest scores from Temple Run; preceding the holiday season, when everyone thought Angry Birds accessories were great gift suggestions, home arcade games were already a staple of Nintendo. Like the kids of today, an entire generation got hooked with their 42-in-1s. These cartridges are where these games were bundled.

The gameplay is simple. Computer graphics are made of software sprites. Animation is rudimentary. Though the objectives are repetitive, the difficulty increases with each game bosses defeated. We don't pay attention to high scores yet, but we try our best to reach the farthest levels.

The five video games I pick, though vintage by today's standards had shaped my gaming preference. They may not be the best, not even the most popular. But they did get me hooked, turned me into a video game addict, and opened my eyes to more interesting video games I would play much later in life. 

Raid on Bungeling Bay

Brøderbund, 1985

Raid on Bungeling Bay lets you control a helicopter that launches from an aircraft carrier. The helicopter shoots pea-sized bullets and carries nine bombs, which you have to drop on factories scattered across the island-world. To complete a level, a player needs to destroy all the factories. He should also avoid getting shot by the enemy. A word of caution: the longer it takes to bomb these factories, the more defenses the enemy constructs. Soon you may find your aircraft carrier being bombarded by jet planes, which you have to chase and shoot with your feeble projectiles.

Trivia: Raid on Bungeling Bay was the first game developed by Will Wright. He is the creator of the Sims, which is my current, time-consuming and expensive video game addiction.


TwinBee
Konami, 1985

For a long time this question bothered me: Am I controlling a spacecraft or a bee - that has been turned into a robot? But the confusion didn't matter. The clean, cartoon-like graphics had already got me hooked.

TwinBee is a vertical-scrolling shooting game. You fire at the clouds and a bell tumbles out. Shooting these bells result in a change in color. A different color corresponds to a power-up. This is how you upgrade your weapons.

The game is different from other "jet themed" shooting games as you get to deal with silly-looking enemies. There are the collision-loving flying turnips and eggplants with propellers. There are also pine cones on the ground that shoot projectiles. There is a big boss too, which you have to defeat to complete a level. So challenging the game was (enemy projectiles were everywhere, I swear) that I was only able to reach level 3.

TwinBee can be played by two-players simultaneously.


Front Line
Taito, 1984

Well, the turtleshell-wearing protagonist walks stupid. He wields a funny gun with a crooked barrel. He shoots bullets that look more like a dash. There is no background music, which makes you go ho-hum, and the sprites are terrible. So trashy Front Line is that spending just five seconds alone is enough to send you picking another game such as Battle City.

But as far as I know, Front Line is one of the few NES games that lets you mount a tank, which you can use to run over enemy soldiers. In those days, controlling a machine with your player inside was unheard of -  You can also hurl grenades and occupy rival bases to reach the next level.

Looking back, I don't understand how I get to like this game. Maybe it was so unbelievably ugly, that after telling myself over and over, that this game is not as bad as everyone thinks, (this game is addictive... I say this game is addictive!) I eventually found it good.


Excitebike
Nintendo, 1984

You are given a lousy motorbike that it is prone to overheating. There is a race track with ramps of different heights and angles. And there is a time-limit when you race alone or with CPU-controlled bikes. The objective is to beat your record.

That is how the game is supposed to work.

But what makes Excitebike truly game-worthy is the design mode. Not only did the feature allow you to create your own race track, the design mode had put creativity and imagination into the game. (try adding the largest ramps next to one another, let your bike climb over it and see what happens) I had so much fun making my own racetrack that I have completely forgotten the race:

"I say let's postpone the championship, let me put up the most wicked racetrack first!"


City Connection
Jaleco, 1985

City Connection is one of those racing games I played a few times. But it left an impression so deep, I would remember the video game long after it was shelved by its creators.

The gameplay is quite simple. A player drives a Honda City across floating bars representing roads. Each road segment turns white as you pass over them. However, police cars are everywhere and a collision with them sends your car into sure oblivion. Together with cats and spikes, they form the obstacles of each level.

Police cars can be bumped off the screen. To do this, you must hit the police car with an oil can. These cans can be collected while you cover the bar sections. Cats and spikes are immune to these weapons.

The race car doesn't have a break. The only way you can go back and drive over missed segments is to make it do a 180-degree turn. It can also jump from road bar to another.

Only With Sims

Only with simulation does my madness come to life. Lucky for this fashionably-challenged little boy, nobody gives a damn if he chooses to be a princess in a world populated by coded sentience.

His name is Elvis and he will be loved.

Allegiance

The goal is simple. Build a civilization that will stand the test of time. Your tribe is your heart and your cities, your children. You nurture them like a mother does to her child, and defend them with your soldiers should invaders decide to posses your precious lands.

It was fifteen years ago when I first learned of a computer game that hones one's logic skills. The name is Civilization and to journey back into the fringes of stone age only to twist the plot of humanity's common story is the selling point of the game.

So there I was in front of the computer screen, with my first city and my first soldier exploring the terrain. I could have gone and raise an army that would invade an AI's defenseless city but I chose not to. Instead, I decided to build a settler that would improve the land around my capital.

Such choice would be my guiding principle as I played the game over and over, and with each new reincarnation, the doctrine never fails. While others prefer invading lands belonging to another people, I build roads and irrigation tiles for my tribe to grow. Instead of legions and chariots, I construct libraries and temples for my cities to bloom. I go to war in the name of peace, and when strife happens, expect the cause being an AI doing a sneak attack on one of my unsuspecting cities.

You may find my pacifist tendencies a little too Utopian for a reality driven simulation. But let us not forget, Civilizations grow because of technology and to acquire a new science - especially from a rival - is worth a thousand spears. I may not be the conqueror type, but expect my technologies to be the envy of my enemies. While foes employ catapults to knock down walls, I use cannons to blast fortifications back to dust. And while propeller planes are used to bombard my cities, expect a nuclear missile or two to be used to destroy an enemy capital.

In the end, world domination was never my calling. I could leave the other tribes killing one another. While in the cradle of my civilization, components to be used for the first starship to leave the planet for its first journey to Alpha Centauri are being assembled in orbit.

It was mere a computer game for many: A crafty device for self distraction when nothing else could be done to kill time. But in a span of years and countless hours of playtime, lessons learned from nurturing a tribe shaped an entire personality. I may define space as domain more than anyone else, but when I close my eyes and lift a page in history to reveal an event in time, that is where the game proved most useful.

From Sumeria of the Fertile Crescent to last month's World Cup in South Africa, I know where to find the human connection.









But I wonder still, if Civilization is a multiplayer game and I found your city just beyond the next hill several tiles away from my capital, would I make peace? Would I trade my Alphabet for your Masonry and exchange diplomats the moment I discover Writing? Would I let you live in peace, or put my chariots outside your domain in preparation for a sneak attack?

I have a hidden desire for allegiances and I would rather keep your cities as a buffer should rival tribes appear past our realms. But knowing how much we have in common - in how we grew up and develop our civilizations - and maybe even in our very way of life, perhaps I would have done more to ensure the growth of your nation.

In our world, it is hard to find someone like you.

Belated maybe our first contact, but who knows, if we have met a long long time ago in a virtual world that shaped our lives, I might have placed my chariots at the edge of your border to guard against the hordes galloping from the north and make sentry, as you attend to the affairs of your tribe.

God Complex | Tropico 3

Imagine yourself a ruler of an island nation. Stuck somewhere in the tempestuous waters of the Caribbean, your stellar rise to power puts you to steer a country born out of necessity. The locals, whose fates and happiness lie entirely on your benevolence call you El Presidente. While the powers-to-be - the United States of A and the Union of Soviet Socialist R compete for influence in hopes that your country might one day become a bastion of their incorruptible ideology.








Set during the Cold War, Tropico 3 runs like a regular city simulation game that you can zoom in and out to learn of its hidden wonders. However, unlike in the Sim City Series where you build roads, zone vast tracks of land for development and run a city like a true mayor. (who cannot get voted out of office) In Tropico 3, your island, its people and its inexhaustible resources are yours to exploit.

Build plantations to feed your comrades. Export cash crops such as Coffee beans to the Starbuckses of the First World. Construct tenements and block apartments to house your citizens. Build churches, clinics, schools and entertainment venues to improve their well being. Attract tourists to your unspoiled beaches. Allow them to discover the long forgotten inland civilizations (and rebels who occupy its monuments) and suck up their dollars to put them to your coffers, and finally, grant favors to competing factions so they vote for you in the upcoming elections. But wait! I almost forgot. You are the El Presidente! The elections depend entirely upon the visions of your most favorite psychic!








While Tropico 3 boasts stunning graphics and Samba-like background music, my addiction to it lies not with its city-building and micro-managing features. It's not about running the economy and making your people happy (or suffer depending on your mood) It's about the great deal of character its programmers had invested on your chosen leader.

Not to mention the humor.

So I had Muguezio Galentinni as my El Presidente. He was a green-thumbed hippie installed by the CIA to run the island of Tropico. He used to be a Global Trotter who explored the world. However, his alcoholism and his penchant to say propaganda stuff during the State of the Island Addresses earn him not only the ire of his people but also the eternal gratitude of pay-per-view channels who profit from his speeches.

My El Presidente was still lucky. I could have chosen him to be a Kleptomaniac or a Paranoid (which had an adverse effect on the political stability on the island) if I'm not thinking of the tourists that I am planning to bring to my little outcrop of Paradise.








This entry may sound a little different from the ones I usually post because as some of you had read on Twitter, Tropico 3 has put me back into the wondrous world of simulation. This attempt to squeeze my time and write a review about something I'm most passionate about was born out of the need to complete my quota for the month. Don't ask why, for I am running out of words to explain.

So there. It's back to playing the game again.

Addiction

Because we are living in a simulation. Real life is on Sims 3

- Windows Live Messenger Shoutout



"Hello Von! Moogiebear says hi. Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yeah!"

"Great"

"So what's the first thing Von should do after getting out of bed?"

"Brush my teeth Moogiebear."

"Shhhhh.... Can you play outside the bedroom room. (Elric sleeping on the bed) I'm still sleeping for Sim's sake!


Von's Dad, Elric Finnell


Acapella at the sundeck

---

If my online presence significantly decreases in the coming days, blame it to Clyde Harper.