Legacy of a Thousand Suns: The Best Story on Facebook

There is such a huge variety of games on Facebook. I've found a few new games that I enjoy since my last post, some of these quite varied from what you typically find. I'm just going to cover my new favorite, Legacy of a Thousand Suns today.

This game has a relatively small audience, but I consider it a great find and one of the standout games so far in my Facebook trawl. If you approach it purely from a gameplay standpoint, you will be disappointed. Frankly, that goes for a lot of Facebook games, especially if you're a traditional PC/Console gamer. But, if you approach it as an interactive story, I think you'll be pleased.

My First Days in the Apocalypse

I recently started playing Fallen Earth, a post-apocalyptic MMO that is somewhere around its first year of life. It had a rough start at first, but it is still around and from what I can tell is polished enough to enjoy.

Overall I like the game. The UI works, the players seem to be largely helpful, and I really enjoy the theme. It's not more swords and elves, which I must admit I'm tired of. The game has a sense of loneliness that I really appreciate. It's something I love about EVE. You can explore for a long time without seeing anyone, though I imagine this is more due to the size of their world and small player base than a deliberate design choice.

Some thoughts on specific features after the jump.

The Status of Breeding in Rural Texas

My parents informed me that this past Sunday my dad's nephew and wife announced during church that she was pregnant with twins. This would typically be a time of celebration for most families, but we do not converse with these kinfolk. They are wretched, ignorant scoundrels and thieves with whom we do not care to associate. By thievery, I mean they stole everything my grandmother possessed, making her final years warm and cushiony.

Our 3 AM Adventure

Our 11 month old Corgi Peaches decided to destroy our rug last week. I'm not sure how long it's been on her list of things to do. Perhaps the final catalyst was when the rug called her short, and pointed out that she lacked a tail (both true).

The rug is placed underneath our bed, but extends about 2 feet beyond the frame to provide a warm and stylish contrast to the wood floors upon which it rests. Peaches began her onslaught with the corner and only dug a few inches into it the first day. After all, Rome was not built in a day.

A Poem Recited from Memory

Hot and Dangerous
If you're one of us, then roll with us
'Cause we make the hipsters fall in love
When we got our hot pants on and up
Yes, of course we does
We runnin' this town just like a club
And no you don't wanna mess with us
Got Jesus on our neck-alus-us

The above is what happens when Grant and Beth get bored in the car.

PS: I also know verse 2. And the chorus.
PPS: I just want to say I'm offended by Ke$ha's false rhymes and sloppy rhymes

A List for Negative Nancys

A few things I encounter on a daily basis and dislike:

• The Chinese Language. It is an aural assault. It is just unpleasant and isn't helped by the fact it seems to be always shouted.
• My landlady's French Bulldog. He shits on my back porch. Daily. 
• Bus driver's who cannot drive at a reasonably steady pace. BRAKING. Accelerate. BRAKING.
• Biting cold in my house. I pray daily for the onset of central heating in our new home.
• Chihuahuas: These filthy creatures cannot decide if they want to savage my dog, or savage my dog. Disgusting animals.
• Republican commentary: Whether I hear it from clips on NPR, see headlines as I pass news stands, or watch the most ridiculous clips on Colbert, I just despise it. To be fair, I think Democrats are often just as stupid, but they aren't as evil. 
• Game developers who whine.
• Facebook game ads: They are misleading, erroneous, and just stupid.

I think that's enough for now. I feel better.

Puffed Up Jackassery

The game industry is a relatively young industry that has always, and probably will always, try to crawl out from under the shadow of the century old film industry. At least, that is the perception, though I don't think it's one we need to hold.

Valve has written the book on tight, interactive fiction with Half Life and Portal. Bioware and Bethesda give you fantastic worlds and choices to make in them. The Sims and Minecraft don't give you story at all, but a plethora of tools to make your own, which millions do quite happily.

But, it's not just the film industry with whom we contend. You'll always have your Roger Ebert's who take their reactionary stance that games cannot be art. You'll have your politicians like California's Leeland Yee (terrible name bud) who attack games with legislation because of the irrevocable damage games deal to our youth. Games are a truly evil sign of the times, much like the rap musics and the internets of the 90s, comic books in the 40s, movies in the oughts (the last round), and a long time ago, the wheel and stick game.