tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27004744176603092852024-02-07T19:00:12.010+08:00Discussions of a gaming DreadnoughtThehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-27047660610167603532009-04-04T19:22:00.004+08:002009-04-04T20:13:14.151+08:00No more Toradora? OH SHI...Hold on, before I go any further...<br /><br />(*insert rant on why school is causing blog not to be updated frequently + several lame excuses*)<br /><br />...Now then, on to the real content.<br /><br />Toradora has given my previously mundane Thursdays a new meaning, ever since I started on it around 4 months ago. It was the show that kept me refreshing YouTube on my browser every 30 seconds up to 4am in the morning. It was the show that gave me new insight as to how people really work, how they aren't transparent all the time. It was THE show. I never regretted watching anime by starting off with this epic series.<br /><br />Sad to say, all good things always come to an end, and Toradora concluded with it's final Episode 25 a week ago. Now I would have loved to blog about it the split-second I finished it, but (*insert rant on why school is causing blog not to be updated frequently + several lame excuses*) so, yeah.<br /><br />I'm no anime veteran, nor will I pretend to be one, so I won't be giving a full-fledged review on Toradora. Instead, let me personify my opinion about this series as a whole with just one word: 'Magical'. It wasn't the animation, nor the sound track, no, not even the storyline. What was magical was a mixture of the three, blended in with many, many well-connected symbolisms to create an experience I won't be forgetting anytime soon.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><insert rant="" on="" why="" school="" is="" causing="" blog="" not="" to="" be="" updated="" frequently="" several="" lame="" excuses=""><insert rant="" on="" why="" school="" is="" causing="" blog="" not="" to="" be="" updated="" frequently="" several="" lame="" excuses=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF3CpYqZdG_YCmkNseuIhCSmBTDwm183sYFwjgoYjYUMCBJWq36VSy1raTkPeH_0jcGayV4lj8jfdH-Maaik-ggEcJ6IqWhbNA6dyILW65X4Nk4PEqecHYOBpOrko_qOEkoI-qryGUwTK/s1600-h/toradora_25_08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF3CpYqZdG_YCmkNseuIhCSmBTDwm183sYFwjgoYjYUMCBJWq36VSy1raTkPeH_0jcGayV4lj8jfdH-Maaik-ggEcJ6IqWhbNA6dyILW65X4Nk4PEqecHYOBpOrko_qOEkoI-qryGUwTK/s400/toradora_25_08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320800850456268290" border="0" /></a></insert></insert><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kiss scene of the year</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Thank you, JCstaff, you've made a happy camper's Thursdays a tad more tolerable, even if it was only for 4 months.<br /><br />That said, I earnestly hope for a season 2, or at the very least, an OVA. The thought of a season 2 was initially out of the question since any continuation would be original, and lets just say JCstaff aren't the best when it comes to original productions. But there's an emptiness inside me which came after finishing EP25, and it can only be remedied by more Toradora, as much as it won't happen. Or, I could just mop about for another month or so until this emptiness goes away, but the former would be SO much more welcome.<br /><br />So now the empty time slot for anime on my Thursdays has been given to "K-ON!", a spanking new series by Kyoani, the good people who also produced "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya". This anime is about four girls who come together to revive their school's light music (<i>keiongaku)</i> club, which is in the process of being disbanded. So far the first episode seems pretty much in order. The animation was great, sounds were nice, character designs are adorable and I think I'm addicted to the OP. My biggest worry would be the character development, or lack thereof. I was hoping for more depth in the characters, not glass panel people. This could be the after effects of watching Toradora, but I'm uncomfortable with shallow characters and K-ON! is showing signs. Oh well, it's the first episode, I'll see where it goes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8o0jJu9eutK2aCaoC-AvQkE0wZ_SKRBoHujGBneJO2Iw0a4TEdNQNPs21-_T3k8vcaZdsn5DMB3IdCak3hjl1kod8Crob6WvrQlht8RfQpPNhOO6Ps2OhFIt7PpPl_pf55kQt26a5oyVj/s1600-h/wp_01-600x337.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8o0jJu9eutK2aCaoC-AvQkE0wZ_SKRBoHujGBneJO2Iw0a4TEdNQNPs21-_T3k8vcaZdsn5DMB3IdCak3hjl1kod8Crob6WvrQlht8RfQpPNhOO6Ps2OhFIt7PpPl_pf55kQt26a5oyVj/s400/wp_01-600x337.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320807753610195458" border="0" /></a><br />Till next time.<br /></div></div>Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-81274640182453961702009-03-08T01:04:00.003+08:002009-03-08T05:15:41.454+08:00Duty calls, and college too.What's this?<br /><br />I haven't updated in like, half a month? Impossible!<br /><br />But with junior college breathing down my back, I find it hard to even have time for schoolwork.<br /><br />Ain't that a bitch?<br /><br /><br />Well, on to some REAL content.<br /><br />The number 1 game I'm looking forward to right now is Empire: Total War, which has already appeared on torrents. Yes, TORRENTS. They are not on the shelves yet, but they are already on the TORRENTS. I fight a small battle of restraint every time I go online.<br /><br />This IS the game to get for the month, if not for the rest of the year. It's something I've been waiting for since MTW. Going by that logic, it's be safe to assume that I would have jumped at the opportunity to get my hands on it.<br /><br />2 things put me off:<br /><br />1) Disk space required: 11Gb for downloading, another 10 or so for installing. I currently have 25Gb.<br /><br />2) Game system requirements. My rig barely meets the recommended specs.<br /><br />Drat, looks like I'll have to go for the retail, and get a new comp...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee222/Sierra_117/PCG188_feat_empire_new3--screenshot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 800px; height: 487px;" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee222/Sierra_117/PCG188_feat_empire_new3--screenshot.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Now if you'll excuse this pathetic attempt at a blog post, I have an Economics assignment to do...Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-77632637514439994972009-02-14T23:37:00.005+08:002009-02-15T00:14:09.357+08:00A new headset, and a new dilemmaWoohoo! I just bought a logitech headset from Challenger, at 29 greenbacks. Now I can scream at my useless L4D teammates instead of suffering my keyboard typing my curses.<br /><br />Great stuff.<br /><br />At the same time, I encountered a problem while battling the restless undead.<br /><br />Here's an example. At the end of "No Mercy" part1, right before you head into the metro, four of you are strolling your way to the end, when Louis decides in would be fun to shoot the flashing car before you guys scram. While this would usually be slightly annoying but harmless, a boomer lands a lucky shot and blinds all of you. Blurred and confused, you're easy prey for the rest of the infected. 10 seconds pass before two of your friends are on the ground and another is engaged with walking corpses.<br /><br />Here are two options:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) "Leave no man behind"</span><br />This is the heroic approach, where you try to save your teammates' asses. If you succeed, you get a lot more points if all of you make it through. Risk is that some hunter or smoker just spawned and decided you would make a tasty meal. In this case, you stand to lose big, or win big.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) "I'm a fucking coward"</span><br />Apologize to your teamies (or not) and make a run for the saferoom. Succeeding would give a confirmed win for your team, at the expense of quite some points. It still carries a risk, since you you might get bagged along the way even if it's a short distance. You stand to lose small, win small.<br /><br />I've tried both approaches, but insticnt always tells me to save my own ass. For several occasions, I found it very hard to go back and fetch my teammates. Either way, you could potentially get verbally fucked by them. If you save yourself, they will be screaming at you. If you try to save them and get raped yourself, well... they will still be screaming at you.<br /><br />I found 2 to be the best in pub games, since no one really cares about the points. Even if your team wins but only get a few measly points, the opposition will RAGE.<br /><br />Well then, there's your problem. If you see "Wangmaster" on Garena L4D, make sure he doesn't abandon you at the last minute...<br /><br /><a href="http://s357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/?action=view&current=l4d_vs_farm01_hilltop0001.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 665px; height: 498px;" src="http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/l4d_vs_farm01_hilltop0001.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">UR GONNA GET RAEPED</span><br /></div>Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-18574693928712073032009-02-08T02:14:00.003+08:002009-02-08T10:20:47.529+08:00I FUCKING hate cliquesDon't you?<br /><br />Going to a new school means new beginnings right? So how come I'm seeing the same old clumps of social activity instead of a nice mixture?!? Yes, that's right, it's because of the FUCKING CLIQUES.<br /><br />Before I go on ranting, here's the situation: I'm currently in my new junior college, Meridian JC. Apparently I was mistaken into thinking that in JC, your whole class becomes familiar (reasonably) with each other. Using the analogy of a cake mixture, instead of getting a nice, soft texture, I'm seeing uneven clumps. Basically, my class has fallen victim to the dreaded cliques.<br /><br />I hate it. I FUCKING hate it.<br /><br />I apologize for the profanity, but it's ridiculous that my class can be so divided. The "cool guys" come into one clique, the girls are in one separate clique, and the "not so hot" guys are in another clique.<br /><br />The class beside ours was like a seasoned orchestra, prepared within less than 5 days of meeting each other for the first time. They do stuff as a whole class. They joke around as a class, work as a class, and cheer as a class.<br /><br />Teamwork, camaraderie and openness; you'll find none of that bullshit in mine. Yes folks, instead you'll discover that we lovely caste system in place over here. Not so talkative or sociable? Sorry, no exclusive membership for you to the "cool guy" clique. I've made a futile effort to go "clique hopping", socializing from social group to social group. Every group has their own business, nothing to do with other cliques, no need to interact with them either. Let the situation grow for 4 days, and voila, you now have a class reduced to 3 factions. I hope for a well-bonded class, but that's beyond impossible for mine.<br /><br />I remember mentioning this to one of my friends. His reply didn't surprise me: "Welcome to the club." It's practically the same everywhere you look. Cliques are everywhere, in every (save for previously mentioned example) class.<br /><br />There's a social discrimination going on, and I'm not liking it.Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-50128675717876235492009-01-30T23:08:00.009+08:002009-01-31T01:44:02.336+08:00Toradora! EP17. The beginning of the end.I haven't been posting much about Toradora (if at all) during the past month. Don't get me wrong, its not because I dislike the show, quite the opposite. I just simply don't have the energy to post comments for every single episode, since most of the time people don't care, or have their own opinions. Rather, a <a href="http://forums.animesuki.com/forumdisplay.php?f=84">forum</a> would be the perfect place to talk about this.<br /><br />The latest episode, EP17 is the beginning of an arc which will eventually end the series. Taiga starts to like Ryuji, Minori is getting confused who she really wants happiness to go to and becomes all yandere in the process, and Ami has gone back to becoming the insulting witch she was. Makes you wonder how a situation so FUBAR can be fixed. While the previous episodes have incorporated a good deal of humor and laughs, from EP17 onwards, the series will shift to a more serious note, as can be observed from their new OP and ED...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx5A8FTyceKtujcfO0F797aA16DCNF8OqGnS1GcPFhppl90muhTYqiT90HJSpPlH9nAx7GTGdTZVPFNNe82nw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzikhUx1unfgYY39saqLjSvR1-cpodG-JuwlLmiG2ETcr26EsOVuAcgGzvYSJD_-IkFQJ0nvi5KP9Bfkw_wtQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Great group photo I could get from the new OP (Thank goodness for photoshop)... Feel free to use this image, but please give kudos to Thehappycamper when you do...<br /><br /><img src="http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/newproject1-1.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />A lot of viewers have complained that the new opening and ending is inferior to the previous ones, but that could not be further from the truth. People just don't like drama in their comedy. When you add a bit of spice and take away some laughs, people start ranting on how serious the series has become. Face it people, its not everyday that comedy dominates the scene.<br /><br />I myself think all four OPs and EDs have been equally magnificent, but since a change of mood requires a change of scene, a more emotionally-charged opening and ending is required. I must admit, i will miss the upbeat tunes of the old opening, but I'm sure the new one will grow on me just as well.<br /><br />There is a nagging problem I have with the series, and that is, there will likely be no second season for Toradora. Lord knows how I will survive after march, which is when the final 25th episode will air. But that may be a good thing, since a good finale to wrap up everything may be better than a continuation to make things so much more confusing and draggy. As far as the anime is concerned, a sound conclusion will be in its best interests. Oh well, I guess there's still the forums to dwell in after all is over...<br /><br />On a completely unrelated note, the Camper's Hideout has reach a milestone of more than 50 readers in a single day! Hooray! Thank you for viewing this relatively insignificant blog, and rest assured, more interesting articles will be coming your way very soon!<br /><br />Again, thanks for your viewership!Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-13670995332381908352009-01-27T16:48:00.004+08:002009-01-27T18:19:01.873+08:00The real "I am Legend"If you watched the movie "I am Legend" (If you didn't, don't bother with the DVD, the movie is shit), you might be interested to know it was an adaptation of a 1954 modern horror novel of the same name.<br /><br />The book is about a man in Los Angeles who is the only immune person in a world where everyone has been turned by a strain of bacteria into "zombies", or more accurately, mutated humans who exhibit vampire-like characteristics, such as vulnerability to light. While he fights for his own survival and the hope that he can one day find a cure for the disease, he is oblivious to the fact that the so-called "zombies" are still inherently human. As the story progresses, he realizes that he is the final being of an old and obsolete species of human civilization in a world where everyone has changed, and finally ends himself to allow the new society of new "humans" to go ahead. Being like the olden day vampires who were feared and outcasted, he has become one of them, a legend.<br /><br />I really recommend this book to any avid reader out there. Apart from the fantastic meaning of the book, the setting and tone of writing really gives the reader a sense of dread as he/she reads on. It's been a real joy to finish the novel, from the first attention-absorbing page all the way to the last.<br /><br />Not sure if the bookstores still stock this classic, but if not the internet contains everything, repeat, EVERYTHING.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4n_WDMf6X6gtrrZuTSyKiQYiZCQ6ziA83DY0NMvPZCkOpP7utzc07kxdt9e0Imzh1YmCBDA4GOvVZcGh4SP-MBSKKi2WWcxVCaWGUf551lgxv09FORzHGPQqw82toIxHCDzM48F9pGXi/s1600-h/i-am-legend-cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4n_WDMf6X6gtrrZuTSyKiQYiZCQ6ziA83DY0NMvPZCkOpP7utzc07kxdt9e0Imzh1YmCBDA4GOvVZcGh4SP-MBSKKi2WWcxVCaWGUf551lgxv09FORzHGPQqw82toIxHCDzM48F9pGXi/s400/i-am-legend-cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295915400194197522" border="0" /></a>Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-10562706645069554142009-01-24T16:08:00.003+08:002009-01-24T16:31:39.073+08:00Sorry for the lack of updatesBeen busy with a few things lately, namely:<br /><br />1) Starting on preliminary planning for a second story. This time, it's a "light novel", a novel for teenagers and young adults. I was heavily inspired by the light novel and anime adaptation of "Toradora!", and it's ability to portray the mixed emotions of teenagers in a sincere and refreshing way. Originality is a problem, and I need to change my story so it will not be complete copypasta from the source material. Rest assured, work on my original post-apocalyptic story would not be on hiatus. Effort will be divided equally between the two.<br /><br />2) Trying out Audiosurf. This little baby has probably taken up a quarter of the time I spend on the computer. Find it and buy it, you're spending only $15 or so for a hell load of fun.<br /><br />3) Sorting out my life. It's been four years since I stepped into TKSS (the school I recently graduated from), and now, I step out from it, with a brain juiced up with knowlege, but without direction. I don't want to be sitting in front of a desk with paperwork piled up in front of me 20 years down the road and asking myself, "Is this really what I wanted to do?" Sure, it's nice to have an iron rice bowl, but I also want to enjoy what I do, not just working for the sake of working. So, I spend quite some time actually sitting down and brainstorming at what i'm good at and what I like to do. Trust me, the two don't always intersect.<br /><br />Will try to get some REAL content out soon. Wish me luck.Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-54271257230185091832009-01-16T13:11:00.006+08:002009-01-16T14:22:03.791+08:00GTA + Scifi Mutants = Prototype<a href="http://s357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/?action=view&current=Prototype_Logo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/Prototype_Logo.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Prototype</span> is a new action title from Radical Entertainment, a studio with a history for making sandbox-styled games. <span style="font-style: italic;">Prototype</span> focuses on Alex Mercer, a man with no recollection of his past, waking up in a morgue in the NYC. He discovers that he has certain powers, which enable him to take the form of anyone, consume others to gain their knowledge, and augment his body to withstand the most brutal of attacks, run at fast speeds or to receive incredible strength. Using these powers, he sets out to discover his history, only to find the city slowly being infected by a virus, and the military trying to contain the situation.<br /><br /><a href="http://s357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/?action=view&current=Prototype-Xbox-360-998.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 597px; height: 475px;" src="http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/Prototype-Xbox-360-998.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The gameplay allows for free-roaming the city, all the while completing objectives necessary to advance the plot. As you down foes, you can consume them, giving you their memories and knowledge, allowing you to unlock more deadly skills and techniques for chaos. For example, you can absorb an army tank crew, giving you the ability to wreck havoc with tanks.<br /><br /><a href="http://s357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/?action=view&current=Prototype_025_thumb.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 565px; height: 318px;" src="http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/Prototype_025_thumb.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Prototype</span> can only be described by one word: Brutal. Watch as Alex calls forth spikes from the ground, impaling those around him. Gasp in awe as he leaps onto an attack helicopter in mid-air and proceeds to finish off both pilots and take control. Stare in shock when he throws a car into a tank, obliterating it. I won't be surprised if Prototype gets the Mature rating from ESRB.<br /><br /><a href="http://s357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/?action=view&current=PROTOTYPE.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 537px; height: 302px;" src="http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/PROTOTYPE.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Seems like a very promising title, good thing it comes out for the PC too. Seems like a great sandbox game, where you basically play god and annihilate anything between you and your goal. The graphics are nothing to shout about, though. They look seriously outdated, like a title created two years ago. Hopefully its because the pictures are from the 360 or PS3. The PC owns both of them flat in the graphics department.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Prototype</span> comes out somewhere around june 2009 or so. Just in time for my birthday.Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-9992352129714468612009-01-13T03:01:00.006+08:002009-01-14T17:14:14.473+08:00Excerpt from the ApocalypseOkay... I'm a bit depressed with what I received as my O'level results. I won't go into details, but lets just say I didn't perform up to my own expectations. Hopefully, just very, very hopefully, I will be able to get into the college of my choice. If not, I might as well go play the violin, if you get my point.<br /><br />Troubles aside, I've managed to get some good progress on my first novel, so enjoy a small excerpt from it...<br /><br /><br />******************************<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"> Even in her little corner of the world, Fiona could tell the vehicle was stopping. The deceleration became more noticeable, until a quick jerk made her shoot forward. Before she could orientate herself to the situation, she heard the cries of a woman loud enough to permeate through the car walls to her.<br /><br /> Her vision steadied a bit after she had bruised herself in her collision with the front seat. She could just barely see the silhouette a man frantically waving and limping towards them. He was heavily bearded, but that did not mask the desperation chiseled into his face, as well as those feral eyes he possessed. He was clearly in a position to do something very drastic.<br /><br /> A haggard woman lay a few meters in front of the now stationary minivan, pleading for rescue.<br /><br /> Clement’s face now expressed extreme nervousness. Fiona was terrified of what might happen, but at the same time, felt slightly worried for him, especially since the hysterical maniac was almost right outside his car window. It was at that moment that she noticed a metallic glint beside his leg. It slowly moved, as Clement pulled it out and placed it discretely beside his lap. That glint came from the barrel of a shotgun.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> He didn’t have time for this. What is it this time, another life to save? Hell, one was enough. Rehearsing through this procedure in his head, he gave a heavy breath before the crazed man came collapsing onto his window pane. He reeled it down, hoping the following conversation will be a short one.<br /><br /> “Please, give us a lift,” he pointed with shaky hands at the slumped woman in front.<br /><br /> Clement gulped, and firmly gave his rehearsed answer, “Sorry, it’s every man for himself.”<br /><br /> This exchange of pleads and refusals went on for four rounds before Clement finally snapped, and was about to reel the window back up and speed off when a meek voice sounded from behind, “Clement, he has a gun.”<br /><br /> He spun around to give a quick look at Fiona, whose pupils had already dilated, and quickly turned back to see the man, stunned by her words. He just managed to see a revolver tucked into his belt, and his hand shooting forward to grab it.<br /><br /> Acting almost instinctively, Clement gripped tightly onto his Remington and brought it to bear on the man’s face. He reeled back, and at the same time his gun was flung a safe distance away. Although the man was now on the ground and no longer a threat, Clement’s brain now fired into a state of caution and anxiety, and he took aim. He could see the fear and dread of a condemned man in his eyes.<br /><br /> The first round tore clean through his left shoulder, shredding the flesh off like so much paper confetti. This was followed immediately by agonized and blood-curdling screams.<br /><br /> That was not enough; he was still alive, still a threat to his survival. This thought flashed maliciously through his mind, and he pumped out the spent shell, ready for another shot. This time the pellets impacted him square in the face, ending his misery in a crescendo of red mist.<br /><br /> Giving no further warning, Clement slammed down on the pedal. He made no intention to steer away from the appalled woman. Her eyes widened almost to the size of golf balls as she saw the minivan come straight for her after whomever inside cold-bloodedly slew her companion.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> The resulting thud was amplified ten-fold in Fiona’s perspective; a small earthquake was now rocking her thoughts. She witnessed everything: the murders, the violence, the viciousness. Curling back up in the seat, the tears were now no longer damned up.<br /><br /> She stole a peek at Clement, whose shirt was soaked in perspiration, and whose eyes betrayed how vicious his survivor instinct must be. He was hardly recognizable from five minutes ago. How little she knew of her savior was now shattered by her new insight into his twisted mind. And yet, this was the person who had saved her from almost certain death. What compelled him to show such acts of compassion to her, but not to the random straggler?<br /><br /> The murder weapon, the shotgun, was now placed in the side seat, its barrel still smoking slightly. Its owner looked just as incensed. She had a lot to be thankful for, put perhaps being in this car at this moment was not one of them.</span><br /><br />****************************<br /><br />There, I hope you liked this piece. Notice the transitioning of perspective between Fiona and Clement from the former, then to the latter and the former again. I was hoping to concentrate on the POV of one of the characters only, but it would leave inadequate character development. So my solution was to alternate the perspectives so readers can understand how both of them think and feel throughout their adventures.<br /><br />If you found it enjoyable, please leave a comment and cookies! If not, I would appreciate it if you could give some constructive criticism as to how it isn't good, and how it can be improved. I'm having a case of writer's block recently, and can't think of any decent ways to continue and finally conclude this story. Any ideas would be especially welcome! <br /><br />I'll be busy with my admission exercise, so it will be a while before I blog again. For now, adios, amigos!Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-33564362247651452762009-01-11T00:32:00.015+08:002009-01-11T04:29:38.059+08:00Purity or Advancement?That was the question which me and a couple of friends discussed on our way back from polytechnic hunting two days back. It would seem there would be nothing better to do on an hour-long night bus ride. I was half-asleep, while my three other companions were chattering away about something or another. Then suddenly one of them talked about how humans were so-called "messing with life" by doing stuff like cloning and bio-engineering.<br /><br />That was when I woke up, sober as ever (not really, I felt like I just chugged three bottles of vodka), and when the real discussion started.<br /><br />One of my christian friends immediately answered by claiming that such practices should be frowned upon, or even out-right banned. He believed humans should stay human, as God had intended; anything which changes us genetically as a species should not be allowed at all. That modifying what we are, even when it's necessary, would be blasphemy.<br /><br />That had me thinking, what defines us as humans? Is it what we call ourselves to separate us from other beings? Does it mean we have the same and unique pure strand of genetic material always? Or does calling ourselves "human" imply that we have the ability to adapt better than any other species, and can change and save ourselves from anything?<br /><br />I gave a reply, stating that there is nothing wrong with changing ourselves, for it is the way to adapt to hostile environments. Giving the analogy that future humans who will colonize other planets in the wide reaches of space ultimately will undergo change to get comfy with their new surroundings, I asked, will that make us any less human? If, in the distant future all "humans" grow a third arm, are we still humans? Are we not just humans as a name, but humans as a species that has gone through millennia of changes?<br /><br />With that, the other three fell silent. Deep thoughts abound.<br /><br />It really sets you thinking, will there be a day when we are indistinguishable from the present day man, but are still called humans? It seems improbable, but as the saying goes, it's not the fastest or strongest species that is most successful, but rather the one which is most adaptable to change. We may be the ones in the future which will evolve, and ultimately, survive.<br /><br />After that bit of brainstorming, here's a little something which doesn't require a brain to appreciate...<br /><br /><a href="http://s357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/?action=view¤t=Schoolshootinglag.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/mrcrowz/Schoolshootinglag.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-38893205045755024622009-01-07T01:45:00.008+08:002009-01-07T15:39:43.915+08:00Empire: Total War. A step in the Modern direction.Damn, it's 2 in the morning, and my nerves are shot, fried and burnt-out. All this from the earlier game of L4D with a couple friends; it's almost become a regular indulgence among us. Mix intense survivor vs. infected fighting with a smattering of playable special infected. Sprinkle a bit of freezing air-conditioning, and put to bake in a room full of panicked players. What do you get? Voila, an experience that gives you a better high than cocaine, without the side effects (but with the addiction). I can remember suddenly snapping at one of my friends after he asked me to give him the LAN money. That's WAY out of my character.<br /><br /><br /><br />Back on topic, <span style="font-style: italic;">Creative Assembly</span>, the developers behind the venerable <span style="font-style: italic;">Total War</span> series of games are working on their addition to the franchise. First came <span style="font-style: italic;">Shogun: Total War</span>, then <span style="font-style: italic;">Medieval</span>, and following that, <span style="font-style: italic;">Rome</span>. Now, it all changes to something closer to our time: <span style="font-style: italic;">Empire</span>. This RTS pits your skill at managing an empire in the 17th to 18th century, the post-modern to modern era, when colonization and exploration are all the rage. For those who have been playing one or more games within the series, you should have no trouble at all adapting to it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWmbIT09vf9mWxQiqT0SLZLB-ArvOUe04JIL479s_QgLNbAVEOI-vNpiqzOJqxhMMm6PXm0FzwpVyMUgtF_bXfxFBhDivk8n-NFb4bOHW-3R_KHnvGNdHSnciXnGULGoZ-LEFRzwkGS3R/s1600-h/imglpc002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWmbIT09vf9mWxQiqT0SLZLB-ArvOUe04JIL479s_QgLNbAVEOI-vNpiqzOJqxhMMm6PXm0FzwpVyMUgtF_bXfxFBhDivk8n-NFb4bOHW-3R_KHnvGNdHSnciXnGULGoZ-LEFRzwkGS3R/s320/imglpc002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288451693599144738" border="0" /></a>Several key differences from the previous titles are present:<br /><br />-More emphasis will be placed on naval combat. Instead of following the past games where ship-to-ship combat was never fought in real time or never existed at all, Empire Total War will allow naval battles to be player-controlled. You can board, capture, and sink ships, as well as target certain parts of an opponent's ship for a desired effect.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipA6VWFHY1MTPQSyV6xi6JZ0poWJDyn8NlvGNShjamlFWRcOH3wtaBoNAqS9_MQ2N9RkhvX3eaUtfdqbINMaG7eu1QPrNE4lnTB7NMdT-mdQq2bsaPyJlquqlV2zNbsg6dDIGfU6-SZFF/s1600-h/285623_full.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipA6VWFHY1MTPQSyV6xi6JZ0poWJDyn8NlvGNShjamlFWRcOH3wtaBoNAqS9_MQ2N9RkhvX3eaUtfdqbINMaG7eu1QPrNE4lnTB7NMdT-mdQq2bsaPyJlquqlV2zNbsg6dDIGfU6-SZFF/s320/285623_full.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288452620775127218" border="0" /></a>-The battlefield will pretty much be dominated by gunpowder units, instead of the backseat role gunpowder has had in the previous titles. Cannons and musketmen rule the field. Sweet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAb69_ttXoixqXue4yQtC51m6whEFUX4UCkqbZOEK_DXewPhNxORF4r-PCAKw87ygL8B_sMVOZcW74lJt7amyYDUkSDXHAdJ8tA1nZbpVwHNjTJnNy5EtjmBAVr0UkxFL2KJ3VPW0AGIeH/s1600-h/PCG188_feat_empire_new1--screenshot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAb69_ttXoixqXue4yQtC51m6whEFUX4UCkqbZOEK_DXewPhNxORF4r-PCAKw87ygL8B_sMVOZcW74lJt7amyYDUkSDXHAdJ8tA1nZbpVwHNjTJnNy5EtjmBAVr0UkxFL2KJ3VPW0AGIeH/s320/PCG188_feat_empire_new1--screenshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288451902132099666" border="0" /></a><br />The title is coming out somewhere around March 2009. Can't wait.Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-17995000626144517442009-01-03T01:26:00.004+08:002009-01-03T01:41:53.449+08:00Blog makeover, finished!Well well, touched up my blog header a bit. Okay, that's a HUGE understatement; I spent close to 6 hours trying to complete this damned thing. Took an hour to find the perfect image editor (photoshop trial version, anyone?), another to search for decent pictures, and three to go through the hellish process of trial-and-error, changing the design again and again. Then, my blog insults me by placing my picture all the way to the right when I posted it. It took me 20 minutes to find a fix.<br /><br />The effort apparently has paid off, and I now have an original header to call my very own. It looks more amateurish and less newbie-like, if I say so myself.Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-9879971291104141152009-01-02T02:42:00.008+08:002009-01-02T03:54:34.500+08:00I want my two months back.Ah, the new year has arrived. It's starting to feel a little weird, considering this is the first time in 4 years I don't have to go to school on the 1st and 2nd of January. Hell, I'm starting to become twitchy and restless already.<br /><br />I probably won't stay like this. In slightly more than a week I will be heading back to school to receive my GCE O'level results. I'm starting to have recurring nightmares of my Physics teacher pouncing on me with my result sheet in hand and screaming, "BANZAI!!!!". Those who know me should get the gist of what I'm saying, but for those who don't, you get the basic idea. I swear, when I look into my previous yearbooks, all I see are pictures of the gleaming, radiant faces of students with their result sheets filled with A's to the brim. Fuck that propaganda, I'll bet the photographers didn't catch the few poor bastards crying their eyes blind in some lonely corner of the school. That's the unfortunate reality folks, deal with it.<br /><br />I can't be sure I did exceptionally well, but I can be certain that I'll at least do a nary decent job. Very sorry to my non-Singaporean readers, but you should understand this equation:<br /><br />Decent in Singaporean context =/= Decent in World context<br /><br />A "decent" job on your GCE over here means that you roughly get an aggregate of below 10 points, while an exceptional job would be something within the range of <6. That means you must get at least 3 A1's on your results out of 6 subjects. Sounds easy right? Wait till you offer Humanities as a subject, then you'll realize you require much more than just 3...<br /><br />Our education system is a bit screwed up. the system expects you to be a jack-of-all-trades, and if you can't keep up, you fall flat on your face. Why do we have to do exceptionally at general education, when we can be doing much better at what we're good at? The teary-eyed parents are not any better. Their wish is for their children to get into one of these "future career" categories: Law, Medicine and Finance. What if you want to be a Physicist? Sorry, no market for that over here. A video game developer? What a senseless job. A chef? You're killing me.<br /><br />It ticks me off, period.<br /><br />Away from that, I thought I'd share this piece of advice:<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">If you make a shot in basketball, it happens in a second. If you fire an arrow at a target, it takes a second. Living your life takes years. You can screw up in a second, but there are so many seconds in a year, and so many years in a life.</span>"<br /><br />So, while you may fail at things, you've got your whole life to make it right, so go on and try again. Hope you will remember this and follow it throughout 2009!Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-20821281830191188062008-12-31T19:24:00.004+08:002008-12-31T19:51:11.061+08:00A good show for the emotionally-deficientSeems like I'm 2 years behind time, but I thought this would be a good watch for those who have not been conscious of its existence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse-8VjozAGxabCwIL7wwwp348DEKUl2OpUqKxzZF_hrrNhIr9r208l_e5hdt5H6ouHL0owL8FY5cTHDpCuqIY7WdICgXNcVkmv4SMEZwwbx7ps8r9S39V_EJ8bFTbkZrymbmfaa7pjAiS/s1600-h/Honey___Clover_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse-8VjozAGxabCwIL7wwwp348DEKUl2OpUqKxzZF_hrrNhIr9r208l_e5hdt5H6ouHL0owL8FY5cTHDpCuqIY7WdICgXNcVkmv4SMEZwwbx7ps8r9S39V_EJ8bFTbkZrymbmfaa7pjAiS/s320/Honey___Clover_07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285920001306094850" border="0" /></a><br />Honey & Clover is an anime series which debuted in 2006. It follows the lives and relationships of and between five students in an art college as they realize and try to resolve their own agendas with themselves and each other. Now, while this is meant to be in the slice-of-life category, you will find abundant amounts humor and those little "awww..." moments which will dissolve the slab of stone you call a heart. To my pleasant surprise, this anime is produced by the same studio which brought you Toradora!, and it was apparently very well-received in its time.<br /><br />For a moment, I almost couldn't tell the difference between this and the Toradora! series, but one of the key differences is that Honey & Clover serves up equal amounts of comedy and emotions in an episode. The transitions between the two phases can be so sudden, but that only serves to make it more unpredictable and enjoyable. Toradora!, one the other hand, gives you small doses of emotion along with a platter of laughter, but gradually unleashes copious amounts of it at key points in the story. Both fit well in my book, but it might be up to you which one you enjoy the most.<br /><br />The series is not on TV anymore (2 years, what would you expect?), but you can find the full 24 episodes on youtube for the first season, and go on to the second after you're done. If you're feeling bored and devoid of love, have a serving of Honey & Clover, it will make your day!<br /><br />Oh, and have a Happy New Year!Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-81796647426384976632008-12-26T17:49:00.005+08:002008-12-26T18:33:59.338+08:00Call of Duty 6: The franchise continues...So, Infinity Ward, the crew behind the fantastic Call of Duty 1, 2 and Modern Warfare games have announced on 8th December 2008 that they have started work on their newest title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. And I sit in front of my computer giving a WTF face thinking how generic that name can be. The game will be released sometime around September 2009<br /><br />So, will we be expecting a return to Azerbaijan or the middle east? Or will a religious zealot or political despot threaten world peace again, causing another group of bad-ass brits to send their butts back to oblivion?<br /><br />Now, as much as I'm glad to have Infinity Ward back to blow gamers away, (Call of Duty 3 was leaving a bad aftertaste) I was hoping for something more modern, something like: Call of Duty: FUTURISTIC warfare. Now THAT would be total win. Imagine, fighting with lasers and such, pew! pew! pew! It could be the perfect game if Infinity Ward manages to pull it off. I have never experienced a game where you actually fight alongside AI buddies in a futuristic setting and you're not the "True Hero" of the whole damn thing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWsBU-5GDfZrreMoIDnKX6Q3nru3zSd3X1MazuBal9rr73gBTQXRpNEa-A7e7Hkjfnyy_38ezxfe2qiE4vpeNd6yyrl8MMBru6VhLuvJYde7Vph1XregY1JEa6n4g1lfeAc71b71lHYz8/s1600-h/call_of_duty_4_modern_warfare_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWsBU-5GDfZrreMoIDnKX6Q3nru3zSd3X1MazuBal9rr73gBTQXRpNEa-A7e7Hkjfnyy_38ezxfe2qiE4vpeNd6yyrl8MMBru6VhLuvJYde7Vph1XregY1JEa6n4g1lfeAc71b71lHYz8/s320/call_of_duty_4_modern_warfare_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284044643618301874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Too bad it's still the modern world...</span><br /><br /></div><br />A bit too much to ask for, I guess.<br /><br /><br />If they really wanna create a sequel to COD4, I'm hoping Cpt. Price makes his appearance again. He's seemingly impervious to the effects of time, seeing as he has survived from WWII all the way to the modern times, without even gaining a scratch or a wrinkle.<br /><br />Spoiler for COD4 ending (Insider joke)...<br /><br />Cpt. Price: Ugghh... I won't make it... Goodbye, cruel world...<br /><br />Russian Soldier: (<span style="font-style: italic;">attempting to revive Price</span>) <span class="translate">Не действительно, Вы появляетесь в COD6...<br />Translation: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Not really, you're appearing in COD6...</span>)<br /></span><br />Cpt. Price: What? YEESSSS..... I live, AGAIN!!!<br /><br />We've come to expect nothing short of brilliance and a hella time from Infinity Ward's titles; lets hope they don't disappoint us with their latest. Remember, folks, these are the industry's finest!Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-43303877400521266872008-12-25T04:45:00.005+08:002008-12-25T04:52:08.882+08:00The conclusion of a story arc......will give rise to another. So is true for the Toradora! series of anime, which I have been faithfully following since it's creation. Episode 13 just came out like, 2 hours ago, and I have scrutinized it completely, even without subs. This episode is the conclusion to the current season, and JCstaff (the good people behind Toradora!) will be taking a well-deserved one week break before they continue on 14.<br /><br />So, what a season it was. From what i've gathered, JCstaff apparently isn't your popular o'l anime studio; rather, it's projects have been racked with unsatisfactory series, so when the Toradora! anime came out, you can tell not many were expecting a hell of a time from it. So, when the series debuted, it blew away quite a few people who were expecting some half-assed show which featured a predictable and cliche-filled plot with characters that make you wanna puke evertime they mutter another nutty one-liner.<br /><br />Fortunately, the staff there have given me (and the mojority of anime watchers) a reason to actually adore their newest creation. You will hear no complaints from me: the whole 13 episodes have been a joy-ride so far.<br /><br />With the more than satisfactory closing episode for this season, I can safely say JCstaff have made a sucessful story arc (at least for now).<br /><br />I think I won't survive two weeks without my shot of Toradora!, but for now, chrsitmas is upon us! Even fan art is taking a turn for a christmassy style:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQh2YXDow8Mjl0gnczcHZqr2uJpIAoiKRGiSigx3QqMZP3_cBaSEWPzdkcOWjBPzbVdd5HNhjNs62mxBQ7Dv1wAm5rYYI8OEwgLkkpkHEXVe0fYRRs-45lOxFLmbImF3v0H0QFc4c4Flo/s1600-h/013565483.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQh2YXDow8Mjl0gnczcHZqr2uJpIAoiKRGiSigx3QqMZP3_cBaSEWPzdkcOWjBPzbVdd5HNhjNs62mxBQ7Dv1wAm5rYYI8OEwgLkkpkHEXVe0fYRRs-45lOxFLmbImF3v0H0QFc4c4Flo/s320/013565483.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283461522916762370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Does it snow in Japan anyway?</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Its christmas, and to everyone out there, have a good one!<br /></div>Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-31418484185935890032008-12-23T00:14:00.003+08:002008-12-23T00:35:51.134+08:00The perfect L4D experienceI realized today that the local LAN shop has its rigs stocked with the new zombie survival shooter: Left 4 dead. Two hours in there with three other friends later, I step out, completely dazed by the awesomeness of the experience.<br /><br />Two months ago I remembered wishing for Left 4 dead to be set up in that LAN shop. I predicted it would rival CS in terms of popularity over there. Presto, two months later, my wish came true. While I was there, everyone was playing it. A few other deviants were stubbornly sticking to their DOTA games, but the day was won by Left 4 Dead.<br /><br />So then, I sit down and start the game. My friends on my flank are chattering like its -10 out. I can already here zombie blood being spilled by others around me. And then, the game (and the fun) starts. The next two hours were filled with pure win as we screamed at each other every 15secs and start breathing again every time we kill another tank or witch.<br /><br />This kind of experience, you can never find online or with bots. Its frantic action out there, with your friends swearing at you after a friendly-fire incident or when YOU swear at them after they shoot you while you get jumped by a hunter. Communication is WAY easier, and you don't get maddeningly high ping.<br /><br />Okay, we all got killed half a dozen times and there were a few TK incidents, but the whole thing was just SWEET. I can't explain it all in words, but do yourself a favor: Get three friends and go someplace where you can play Left 4 Dead over LAN. And let the fun begin...Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-63702610757660487232008-12-20T01:15:00.006+08:002008-12-20T01:36:49.765+08:00Two words: Hella CoolFeast your eyes on this baby:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GgmHJhELSZhYgqg-upzuh8b2Xc_NZueDnXATg77rYQsEFWjptA1tnFBQjQiyke152vXb3tuq6lA4-wdVKSNtVnCnBh8aR_UkxHNsPBgxpA_sJvaXPLoIRyEOW1H0Ksq6MSQYgbwqkz0M/s1600-h/mp5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GgmHJhELSZhYgqg-upzuh8b2Xc_NZueDnXATg77rYQsEFWjptA1tnFBQjQiyke152vXb3tuq6lA4-wdVKSNtVnCnBh8aR_UkxHNsPBgxpA_sJvaXPLoIRyEOW1H0Ksq6MSQYgbwqkz0M/s320/mp5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281552192242907538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />THAT is a true masterpiece. Read more on <a href="http://www.brickgun.com/">http://www.brickgun.com/</a><br /><br />A world-renown sub machine gun now in a high quality Lego model. What more could you possibly want for Christmas? It looks and handles just like the original HKmp5, from the trigger which can be toggled by the safety switch to the retractable stock.<br /><br />Note the magazine. Each of those bullets are REAL Lego parts too. The word "awesome" doesn't even start to describe how good this Lego model is.<br /><br />Of course, at a price of US$450, you will be hoping you get the bang for your buck with this. The package includes a limited edition gift box and instructions for building your own. Not that I'd give anyone this gun as a gift once my hands get a grip on it.<br /><br />Its frighteningly expensive, but if there's one thing I would kill for this Christmas, it would be this slick and incredibly ass-kicking gun.Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-52207733741740487852008-12-19T01:59:00.003+08:002008-12-19T02:26:41.892+08:00A misunderstood weaponI present to you, the most wide-spread firearm in modern first-person shooters:<br /><br />The M4A1 carbine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2_oVzCchz9zeylGQMsOrYcEx9o3TzUyXWZLnPLVKP08nxm5WYpWrFrrpOkPNzESUaKVWMGRrFtbRUPdg35umthSMwFAbV-FyH2oYhWdn94laRXs3sAv8dsOr8zbmrcqS-o95r32EnLuV/s1600-h/m4large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2_oVzCchz9zeylGQMsOrYcEx9o3TzUyXWZLnPLVKP08nxm5WYpWrFrrpOkPNzESUaKVWMGRrFtbRUPdg35umthSMwFAbV-FyH2oYhWdn94laRXs3sAv8dsOr8zbmrcqS-o95r32EnLuV/s320/m4large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281197750846105698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, folks, this is the gun any counter strike nut would instantly recognize, yet it's a shame some people do NOT know the real characteristics of this highly prolific weapon. I have friends who have played counter strike for ages, and when I tell them, "Hey, I think the M4 is better for you", they ask, "Huh, whats that?". That's just sad, thinking the gun is really called "carbine" If you are all hardcore over a game, why don't you learn something about it instead of just playing it?<br /><br />Alrighty, here are some hard facts for the hard skulled...<br /><br />-The m4a1 carbine has fully automatic and semi-auto firing modes, unlike the full-auto capabilities you often see.<br /><br />-As you might already know, this weapon can be modified to incorporate a scope, grenade launcher or another attachment. This is a contrast to the plain jane m4s you commonly see.<br /><br />-The gun is not called the "carbine". A carbine is a shortened and "nerfed" version of a main weapon. This gives it better maneuverability in the tight urban combat environments at the cost of power. The m4a1 carbine is a firearm designed from the late m16a2 assault rifle, which wasn't so hot as a weapon.<br /><br />Hope this will bring awake our disillusioned trigger-happy friends.Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-39582737201488069482008-12-13T02:01:00.007+08:002008-12-13T02:23:41.578+08:00A teaser for my story.Progress on my post apocalyptic tale is going strongly, and I have decided to release a small teaser within my story. This is partly to raise a little awareness among friends, and to gather a bit of feedback. ^^ So, ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes on this...<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">1145 hrs, July 5th 2018<br />San Diego, California<br />Interstate Highway 8<br /></span><br /> Throughout the journey from the Pacific beach till now, not a single word was uttered between the two. Fiona was shaken badly, and curled up in a featal position on the worn leather backseat. Having her legs retracted, she was in her own quiet, albeit moving, corner of the world. She tried to think. Had she not been so good at it? Why was her mind suddenly phased out? It was as though there was a party outside her head, and every single one of her brain cells were invited.<br /><br /> She had burrowed her head into the space between her knees and chest in quiet contemplation. Every once in a while curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked out the window. It was the same scene which scared her to no end: one of people desperately trying to get away, of untold atrocities done in the name of survival, of a world gone completely mad. Each time, she had hastily stuck her head back into the narrow space in denial. And every time she did that, hot tears came gushing from her eyes.<br /><br /> “I’m Clement,” came a hoarse voice which interrupted the noisy croaking of the engine, “you… are you okay?”<br /><br /> Fiona looked at the man with watery eyes. Although his eyes were on the road, every once in a while he would look back at her uneasily.<br /><br /> “No, I’m not okay. My mother is in New York, and I have no idea how to find her. For all I know, she could be, she… she could…” those was all the words Fiona could muster before her head collapsed into her knees and the dams in her eyes were opened again.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Clement stole a look at the pitiful creature. He was in a rough state, but still managed, although just barely, to keep his mind straight. He was always a survivor, not easily brought down by anything except the worst twists of fate. But this time, fate had thrown him a wild card.<br /><br /> He remembered the morning earlier. He recalled the wails that resounded across the neighborhood waking him up from his slumber. The panicked crowds he could see from his window. His radio suddenly cutting off the throaty voices of a singer, replacing it with an emergency message.<br /><br /> And yet, he managed to remain calm. Calm enough to notice old Mrs. Bailey drive through the streets on her red pickup towards the city just minutes before the commotion started. His mind was clear enough during the chaos to remember her granddaughter living with her. While fearing for his survival, an inner angel had so pleadingly asked him to save her. This time, his devil had nothing to say.<br /><br /> And now, here he was, with a brain-case in the back seat of his minivan. He wasn’t sure if she would compromise his chances of survival.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Well, here's a snippet of my writing! If you have an opinion on the quality of this teaser, please do post a comment!<br /><br /><br />Although this story is hardly near-completion, I am planning on a second story, maybe turning it into a series in a long story, or just a novel. I'm turning away from apocalyptic fiction, and trying the romantic comedy genre. Sounds weird, yea I'm aware of that. I'm getting a bit ahead of my abilities... heh heh.<br /><br /><br />But, stay tuned for more news on my stories!<br /><br />(P.S.: Any similarity to real life persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental. Thank You!)<br /><p class="MsoBodyText"></p>Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-47855025963974944962008-12-12T11:35:00.003+08:002008-12-12T12:39:35.343+08:00Disney might buy over Electronic Arts in futureOne word, "Tragic". Bloody tragic.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Asked if Disney's focus would be on developing in-house games over buying more developers, [CFO Tom] Staggs responded, "I don't want you to conclude that those are in the long term mutually exclusive." He went on to say that a "strategic and attractive" purchase would be "a possibility" for the family entertainment giant.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Did he say Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS)? No. However, a combination of EA's battered share price and Disney's desire to ramp up its gaming presence dovetail nicely in the rumor mill.</span><br /><br /><p style="font-style: italic;">The Motley Fool offers five reasons why a Disney takeover of EA makes sense:</p><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>Disney has acquired game companies before (Avalanche Studios, Club Penguin)</li><li>EA Sports and Disney's ESPN would have synergy</li><li>Disney's MMOs haven't worked out so far, but EA has Warhammer</li><li>Racing is a major theme is Disney's films and parks; EA has Need For Speed</li><li>Convergence of Disney's theme parks with EA's strong IP" - gamepolitics.com</li></ul>Nooooo!!!<br /><br />What titles can we expect in the future?<br />-<span style="font-style: italic;">Mickey and Friends Online</span><br />-<span style="font-style: italic;">Need for Disney</span><br />-<span style="font-style: italic;">Adventures in Disneyland</span> (Alright, they're all made up)<br /><br />Right now, EA is one of the leading developers in Video games. Although its games are declining in quality in the recent years, a world without EA is pretty hard to fathom. Furthermore, EA and Disney just do not mix. EA caters to the more down-to-earth gamers with titles such as the Battlefield and Command & Conquer series; adding "family entertainment" to it would be pure <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">facepalm</span>.<br /><br />As far as I can see, the equation is:<br />(EA assimilated into Disney) =/= (very family-oriented games and unhappy gamers)<br /><br />Nuff' said.Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-4386890093082312402008-12-11T16:35:00.002+08:002008-12-11T16:46:02.781+08:00Another stick of RAMAt least on this cold, gloomy day, i have something to be happy about. I finally fitted my rig with another GB of RAM, making the grand total 2GB. Nice.<br /><br />Its not much however; for many power horse rigs these days, 2GB RAM is a norm, for some its even insufficient. At least now when i discuss about computer hardware with friends, I don't have to scowl when someone asks, "Hey, how much RAM your computer has?"<br /><br />I'm off to enjoy the increased game performance I've so greatly deserved, but before i end off, I present to you, the future installment for my computer.....<br /><br />A STICK OF NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800GTX GPU!!!!!!<br /><br />Thehappycamper, out.Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-27986680915573772522008-12-10T22:20:00.002+08:002008-12-10T22:24:24.253+08:00Forget the Rocky music. CS pro wannabes, watch this...This is just about the coolest thing I've watched on the internet. When all you newbs out there play Counter Strike, turn this song on to full blast and watch your self become the ultimate pro!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eKB5Yqr2ae4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eKB5Yqr2ae4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-62782906215854973162008-12-10T16:01:00.004+08:002008-12-10T16:52:35.906+08:00Noah's Ark: Fact or Fiction?I just read this up on <a href="http://forums.facepunchstudios.com/showthread.php?t=650507">facepunch forums</a>, thought it would be an interesting read. If you're lazy, I've summarised its contents below.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Sorry if this means any offense to our religious friends, or if you're insulted by this post. But it makes absolute sense, so don't even think of flaming my post unless you have a valid argument.</span><br /><br />Ok, the Noah's Ark story is somewhat of a childrens' bedtime tale, but many Christians and Muslims take it literally. The story states that Noah and his wives brought along a pair of every single animal (one male, the other female) in the world to a huge ship, to save them from a flood caused by the ballistic God. Nothing else survived the flood, and the world was repopulated with the pairs of living beings.<br /><br />If you study biology, you would realize this is utter bollocks. Looking at it in a scientific manner, you will come to realize that: how can two living things copulate, and leave an entire family tree after them? This would mean sisters would have to mate with their brothers, and vice versa.<br /><br />In animals you call it inbreeding. In humans you call that <span style="font-style: italic;">incest</span>. But thats just the least of the problems, if you manage to get by the moral implications.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Nq23tDy3BZBqnh3LTdbDl0M6p2WCwgCreXw7YYLVJLyshvmZA6EvVCvMbhXQgBlnJl35N8tkPomSAadS6PQ8xAzG84Iw3-qUSYuo84BlLEnNLGQW8VAuVVqGhJg9qHtcuBcRgXpGkpGA/s1600-h/snakealleles.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Nq23tDy3BZBqnh3LTdbDl0M6p2WCwgCreXw7YYLVJLyshvmZA6EvVCvMbhXQgBlnJl35N8tkPomSAadS6PQ8xAzG84Iw3-qUSYuo84BlLEnNLGQW8VAuVVqGhJg9qHtcuBcRgXpGkpGA/s320/snakealleles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278081346513112306" border="0" /></a><br />Inbreeding causes problems to the future generations of animals. You see, each of our genes contains a <span style="font-weight: bold;">dominant (D)</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">recessive (R)</span> allele. Through normal breeding, the (D) allele will always be expressed. In inbreeding, there is more chance of<span style="font-weight: bold;"> homozygosity</span>, where your offspring might get alleles of the same type. Not only does this mean your future generations will lack genetic diversity, but the probability of receiving (RR) alleles is increased (Your offspring will have BAD genes).<br /><br />In the long run, the future generations will:<br />1) have increased genetic disorders (from recessive genes).<br />2) be prone to mortality at birth.<br />3) have weaker immune systems.<br />Plus other heath problems.<br /><br />If the story of Noah's Ark was true, we would all be weak, mentally handicapped, prone to genetic diseases and a failure as a species. That hasn't happened, right? <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">So the story of Noah's Ark is, in simple terms, total bull.</span><br /><br />The next time you see a mongrel on the streets, don't look down on it. It's off spring has a better chance of survival than your pampered pure-breed pets.<br /><br />Oh, and since we're at the topic of atheism, heres a pic for fellow atheists.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKjDO4wTDlTEcXWt0x1oOnnciGDoMuBh3F7YFj_BHJeUYSxy9AfZbwyBJGDtRFfEg3YjH9fnuLHv9Zlk9Qzz0smKIqbT_IzCALcmMe44AyTTEV4zxzu0zgTdg0GpLGXLqX6gtTcBNPJNp/s1600-h/atheists1ko7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 516px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKjDO4wTDlTEcXWt0x1oOnnciGDoMuBh3F7YFj_BHJeUYSxy9AfZbwyBJGDtRFfEg3YjH9fnuLHv9Zlk9Qzz0smKIqbT_IzCALcmMe44AyTTEV4zxzu0zgTdg0GpLGXLqX6gtTcBNPJNp/s320/atheists1ko7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278080752424309346" border="0" /></a>Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700474417660309285.post-37729270285046257652008-12-10T01:20:00.009+08:002008-12-10T03:55:58.836+08:00The excitement mounts...I'm really, really pumped right now. The 11th episode of Toradora! is airing in two days time (Ok, technically one more day...) on Okto! I'll admit it, I'm a complete dumbass when it comes to anime, but believe me when I say this. Toradora! is THE anime you should be watching this month. Screw that, its the anime you should be watching for the rest of next year too if they create a second season (which i pray fervently the good people at J.C. Staff do). Refer to my 3rd post if you have no idea what I'm talking about.<br /><br />Every night i wake up at 4am and ask, "Why am I so crazy over this show? I must be losing my damned mind", and go back to sleep.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">For this post, please end your reading right here if you cannot relate to emotions.</span><br /><br />Anime, especially the really good ones, have the ability to make you wish you were in their world. They are what some people may call, a "second life" for the truly obsessed.<br /><br />Toradora! is the first anime series I've watched in more than 5 years, and I can't believe how engrossing it is. I mean, I almost wish i was in the shoes of one of the characters.<br /><br />I discussed this anime-watching symptom with my Mom, and she was asking me, "Why would you want to do that? These characters probably have a life worse off than you." Makes sense, doesn't it?<br /><br />Taiga Aisaka is emotionally troubled and intolerant of others, VERY short in stature, and left alone to fend for herself by her parents, although she is the cutest thing you've ever seen. Would you like to live her life?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GNmQOi_Hz0vE0939us9Nn3AfPRQ3UKzX4X-sqoc5Lkslb-1pCAranTcdW7TW0DcerZG6BLvEqpa2TMbDmm0FIfFyOSr_twK_SpJz1i7OQ79ng1Mlgg2oQe6XcWn_eKjSfwjhsBx6tE-S/s1600-h/23.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GNmQOi_Hz0vE0939us9Nn3AfPRQ3UKzX4X-sqoc5Lkslb-1pCAranTcdW7TW0DcerZG6BLvEqpa2TMbDmm0FIfFyOSr_twK_SpJz1i7OQ79ng1Mlgg2oQe6XcWn_eKjSfwjhsBx6tE-S/s320/23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277858994772626274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGvfuCWUhQ9mnYet5utFwHZ_mGpLI82FvYx4k8ZlTXOQcCkOdER4PpMEIz0DGT2_-qEWIMN1Vkwdd3UY8pbDW1FXrG0bLWoPxh9MAACBLEeF4ka_QW7mPx0eIdvj3xgZmqY-Y3w7RUfOQ/s1600-h/20-21.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 389px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGvfuCWUhQ9mnYet5utFwHZ_mGpLI82FvYx4k8ZlTXOQcCkOdER4PpMEIz0DGT2_-qEWIMN1Vkwdd3UY8pbDW1FXrG0bLWoPxh9MAACBLEeF4ka_QW7mPx0eIdvj3xgZmqY-Y3w7RUfOQ/s320/20-21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277858790862591826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ryūji Takasu is a nice guy, but is not well off financially, scares people off with his eyes, is father-less, and has to contend with Tiaga tormenting him everyday. Unappealing, eh?<br /><br />But this kind of thinking can be described with one word: "dense". Just because these people don't lead the perfect life, it doesn't mean they do not have emotions, or feelings. The manga and the anime convey these feelings out in their own way; in a way that we can understand, appreciate and maybe wish WE could also convey them.<br /><br />Toradora! is beautiful in its own way, and i cannot describe it in words. The characters have some sort of substance in their personality which makes you want to BE one of them, or at least spectate their adventures within their magical world. You might be able to understand what I'm going on about here, but you most likely won't until you've actually watched "Toradora!".<br /><br />Do you recognize the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when witnessing something special, or meaningful to you? Even though i don't know much of them, I can safely say many animes will give you those special fuzzies, sub-consciously or otherwise.<br /><br />I mean this for every single anime out there. But Toradora! has simply given me a wish to relive its characters, and a wish to share with you this amazingly crazy rant I've posted. =)<br /><br />Maybe you think I'm just in love with this anime. You might be right.<br /><br />Godspeed!Thehappycamperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781709034501833297noreply@blogger.com0