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Author Archives: Philip
Round 1 Finish, Round 2 Fight!
I am undeniably a geek. So when I start thinking of phrases and comparisons to describe my life, it is geek culture that I draw from. As we finish the first real engineering sprint for Firewall (our year-long senior game … Continue reading
Posted in Games, UCSC, Video Games
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How to Play Wizard101 on a Mac
Wizard101 is a freemium MMORPG designed to be playable by all ages 10 and up. Unfortunately, the client is PC only, which leaves those of us who are on the Mac and want to play high and dry. Fortunately, there is an awesome program by CodeWeavers called CrossOver Games that will let you play Wizard101 on the Mac almost perfectly. Continue reading
Posted in Tech, Video Games
Tagged corssover games, crossover, mac, mmo, mmorpg, tech, video games, wizard, wizard101
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Living in Borrowed Time: A Reflection on LA Noire
If this sounds like I’m describing a scene out of LA Noire, that’s no accident. As I played through LA Noire, I couldn’t help but feel like I was living in the city my grandmother grew up in, and playing a character that added to the tapestry of that time. I realize the in-game maps of LA aren’t perfect, and that the landmarks so painstakingly re-created are not exact replicas, but I couldn’t shake the impression that, were my grandmother sitting next to me, we could go on a tour of LA as it was, with her as the tour guide nad me as the credulous tourist. I felt like I was playing in the time of her childhood, and that the gameworld had been borrowed by Rockstar and Bondi by the generation that actually lived in that time. Continue reading
Posted in Video Games
Tagged bondi, history, la, la noire, los angeles, reflections, review, rockstar, video games
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The Killer: My Impressions
There have been lots of games that have dealt with focused, specific messages, games that are trying to make a statement. Especially in the flash game arena, titles like Darfur is Dying and September 12th have been pointed to as hallmarks that games can be serious media. For me, though, there was a problem with both of these titles: they looked too stylized, too close to what those who study such things normally think of when they think of Flash games. And they didn’t really provide any character for the player the associate with. Jordan Magnusson’s The Killer changes that. Continue reading
Posted in Video Games
Tagged game impressions, games, the future of gaming, video games
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I’m starting up again…
Inspired by a lot of what I’ve been reading and seeing around, I’m going to start blogging again. I’m hoping to hit a couple of posts a week, wish me luck.
Posted in Blog Business
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Reflections on a Commute
Today we drove, my carpool driver and I, along the 280 at night. The last time I had done this, I was with you. We were coming back from Wondercon, listening to your favorite music, me with one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand in yours. Those were happier times, for me at least. I know they weren’t the best times for you. I can still remember how real it felt, your hand in mine, the feeling of serenity it brought to the night that was creeping in through the car windows, the red lights of the cars ahead like the eyes of animals in the bush, waiting to rip us apart. Ironic that the monsters who tore us apart were with us al the time. Continue reading
Posted in Thoughts, Writing
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A Poem: Pain Without Bleeding
An emo poem. Yay! Continue reading
A Poem: Victory at Sunset
A short poem of valor. I needed to get something written today to not break the chain. Poetry seemed easiest. Enjoy.
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Posted in Writing
Tagged apollo, battle, fantasy, fighting, poem, poetry, short poem, Writing
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Script Frenzy 2010
Script Frenzy 2010 is almost upon us. Continue reading
