PixlBit

A day late and a dollar short, that's me.

Recently, I posted a question in the 1up Facebook group asking if anyone had played Firewatch. I got back a lot of "it was too short" and "it was boring" answers. Then a friend who tends to like the same kinds of games that I do posted that she'd played it and it was one of her top games for 2016. So I took the leap and bought the game. And thoroughly enjoyed it. But it got me to thinking about what people look for in a game. Everyone has their own reasons for liking and disliking a game. I tend to go more for story-driven games and games that invite exploration, which is why I enjoyed Firewatch so much. The length didn't bother me, it actually meant that I had a pretty good chance of actually finishing it. And I didn't mind the fact that it was linear at all. Linear doesn't bother me. Games that do bore me are games that are pretty much just shoot the crap out of everything that moves (most FPS games) and fighting games. Yet I know people who love those types of games. And it's OK, just because I don't like them doesn't mean they're bad games, it just means I personally don't care for them.

I forgot today was the first until a few minutes ago. In my defense, I've slept most of today because of a migraine.

It's been a busy couple of weeks with the holidays, so much I meant to get accomplished, so little I actually managed to do. Things like send out Christmas cards, clean my house, visit my niece and her two little ones, write a Folk Friday Christmas music blog, etc. Or blog at all. Anyway, been busy, still busy, but not as hectic, so new blog entry.

I got a $250 year-end bonus from the market. Usually, I'm very responsible and use that money for bills or stash it away in my savings account. But not this year. With The Last Guardian finally released, I was bad, fiscally irresponsible, and totally selfish. I bought a PS4 and two games yesterday. Neither of them was The Last Guardian, but that will be a purchase I make in the near future. I bought a used system from The Game Box, a local indy game store. They're really good about making sure what they sell is in good working order and have a 90 day warranty on every used system they sell. I really wanted a new system, preferably a bundle, but I also wanted to buy local. I was reassured by the warranty and I've been a good customer there since I discovered them four years ago, so I gave up on the visions the scent of new electronics, squared my shoulders, and made my purchase.

Really just another Random Stuff blog, just got bored using that for a title.

I'm kind of happy I'm only working part time at the moment. Life is pretty busy right now. Beau takes up a lot of my time, but in a good way. He's still moving his crate all around the cottage while he's in it, so I've taken to calling him my mini seismic event. I make sure he gets at least one hour plus walk a day, but I think I may have to try for two. He has boundless energy. But he also likes to snuggle up on the couch and he lets me get plenty of gaming in, when I have time to game. Oh, and tonight at the market, I had a customer who was a dead ringer for Gordon Freeman. I wanted to ask him if he'd ever played Half-Life in the worst way.

I'm home sick today, not sure if it's round two of the vicious chest cold I had earlier or a brand new nasty virus. Either way, I'm so sick of hacking and sneezing. Anyway, Beau and I spent the morning watching The Dog Whisperer. Beau is so funny when there are dogs on TV - he cocks his head and tilts it from one side to the other, and then he gets up close to the TV screen and whines. I think he wants me to let the other dogs out of the box to play with him.

I've had stuff to write about, Beau is just keeping me very busy. Snee asked for a new dog blog, so there will be some of that to go along with everything else.

Well that month sure went fast! Between work and vacation, poof! Gone!