33||0|4322|0|
0|0|0|||1||Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Gryphon||18:41:56|07/11/2014|... %5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Awww.runestorm.com%2Fviscera%7CViscera Cleanup Detail%5D%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s a janitor simulation.  Really.  You%27re a janitor in a video game universe%2C and your job is to clean up the map after more exciting games have gone through - pick up the body parts and shell casings%2C mop up the fluids%2C and get everything squared away again.%0D%0A%0D%0AFair warning%3A It%27s an Early Access game on Steam%2C which means it%27s not finished%2C and occasionally things go wrong.  %28In my experience%2C these are often very amusing malfunctions%2C occasionally the best parts of the play session%2C but I can see where they would be very frustrating if they came along at the wrong time... but then%2C since you%27re essentially paying a little to beta-test the game%2C well%2C what were you expecting%3F%29  OTOH%2C it%27s mighty cheap %28I paid 8 bucks for it a couple weeks ago%3B the price is supposedly set to go up as the game gets closer to done%29 and %5Bi%5Dbizarrely%5B%2Fi%5D engrossing %28as it were%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AI sort of backed into it%2C because I bought the remake of %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D %28which is great - it still has all the wang jokes%2C but they aren%27t as%2C I dunno%2C mean-spirited as the ones in the old game%29%2C and it came with a crossover VCD pack in which you clean up the site of the first level after Lo Wang has gone through and sliced up a couple dozen yakuza mooks in it.  I think it%27s an excellent concept and I hope RuneStorm wangles crossover deals with other shooter franchises in the future.  I look forward to tidying up Black Mesa in Gordon Freeman%27s wake one day.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C the game.  Like I said above%2C it%27s weirdly captivating.  Very more-ish%2C and kind of... meditative.  There are no other characters %28except the corpses%29%2C no one is shooting at you or trying to stop you from accomplishing your goal%2C so you can work at your own pace and just... get on with it.  Apart from the machines which dispense buckets of water to clean your mop in and bins to pile small bits of debris in for easier conveyance to the incinerator %28both of which will occasionally malfunction and deliver you a selection of fresh body parts instead%29%2C your only enemy is yourself.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd you sometimes %5Bi%5Dare%5B%2Fi%5D your own worst enemy in VCD.  When you%27re dealing with that much blood%2C and that many sources of blood %28carelessly handled body parts can spread it %5Bi%5Deverywhere%5B%2Fi%5D%29%2C just mopping it up without tracking it all over the rest of the map can be a challenge%2C and the physics engine is set up to permit%2C and punish%2C sloppy work.  I occasionally get into these Three Stooges-like runs of clumsiness and bad luck where I%27ll tip over a waste bin full of organs taking a corner too fast%2C step in my mop bucket backing away from the scene of the disaster %28splashing bloody water all over the place and getting it on my shoes so I track it clear back to the bucket dispenser%29%2C then the bucket dispenser malfunctions and dispenses some more organs instead...%0D%0A%0D%0AApart from the %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D crossover %28which is%2C let me just say this again%2C a brilliant idea%29%2C there are two VCD games%3A the main game%2C in which you play a janitor who has to clean up a space station after something not entirely unlike %5Bi%5DSystem Shock 2%5B%2Fi%5D happened there%2C and a mini-game called %5Bi%5DSanta%27s Rampage%5B%2Fi%5D.  In the latter%2C you%27re cleaning up Santa%27s workshop after he evidently snapped%2C got roaring drunk%2C and massacred his elves and reindeer.  %28Compare the %22Weird Al%22 Yankovic song%2C %22The Night Santa Went Crazy%22.%29  Words are inadequate to convey how utterly wrong and yet hilarious this concept is.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Also%2C in %5Bi%5DSanta%27s Rampage%5B%2Fi%5D you can actually kill yourself by accident.  While cleaning up the reindeer stables%2C I accidentally dropped and set off a Molotov cocktail%2C which splashed flaming gasoline into a bin where I had previously stored%2C among other things%2C a bundle of TNT%2C igniting the fuse.  I... did not clear the area quickly enough.  Rather brilliantly%2C if you do this%2C you return to the start area and get a message that the previous janitor%27s carelessness has forced the company to hire you to finish his work%2C and your first order of business is to go and mop up your previous incarnation%27s remains.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%21  It%27s a pretty disgusting game%2C but then%2C it%27s called %5Bi%5DViscera Cleanup Detail%5B%2Fi%5D%2C so you probably could have guessed that.  However%2C if you%27re not squeamish about digitally simulated dismemberment and evisceration aftermaths%2C it%27s also a pretty damn amusing game%2C and I%27m finding it great for passing bits of time and reorganizing my thoughts.  It seems like a really simple premise%2C but as you get into it you start realizing that if you don%27t have some kind of a strategy you%27re going to get nowhere.  %28There is actually an achievement in %5Bi%5DSanta%27s Rampage%5B%2Fi%5D for making a bigger mess than you found.  I haven%27t clocked that one yet.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s also got a co-op network mode%2C so you can play as part of a %5Bi%5Dteam%5B%2Fi%5D of janitors%2C but the current readmes indicate that this mode doesn%27t work very well yet%2C and I%27m not much for the multiplayer experience anyway%2C so I haven%27t tried it.  Besides%2C to me the beauty of VCD is that you%27re the only one there%2C unsupervised%2C and you can get exactly as much or as little done as you care to. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
1|1|0|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Pasha||09:16:12|07/12/2014|%3E... %5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Awww.runestorm.com%2Fviscera%7CViscera Cleanup Detail%5D%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%0D%0AI blame you for the fact that it%27s 0615%2C and I%27m still awake.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%28Also%2C in %5Bi%5DSanta%27s Rampage%5B%2Fi%5D you can actually kill yourself by %0D%0A%3Eaccident.  While cleaning up the reindeer stables%2C I accidentally %0D%0A%3Edropped and set off a Molotov cocktail%2C which splashed flaming %0D%0A%3Egasoline into a bin where I had previously stored%2C among other things%2C %0D%0A%3Ea bundle of TNT%2C igniting the fuse.  I... did not clear the area %0D%0A%3Equickly enough.  Rather brilliantly%2C if you do this%2C you return to the %0D%0A%3Estart area and get a message that the previous janitor%27s carelessness %0D%0A%3Ehas forced the company to hire you to finish his work%2C and your first %0D%0A%3Eorder of business is to go and mop up your previous incarnation%27s %0D%0A%3Eremains.%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AThere%27s even an achievement%21  Also%2C how are you SUPPOSED to dispose of the TNT%2C if not throwing it into the fire%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0A-Pasha%0D%0A%22Don%27t change the subject%22%0D%0A%22Too slow%2C already did.%22
5|2|1|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Gryphon||15:51:08|07/12/2014|%3EThere%27s even an achievement%21  Also%2C how are you SUPPOSED to dispose of %0D%0A%3Ethe TNT%2C if not throwing it into the fire%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C you%27re supposed to put it in the fire.  You%27re just not supposed to stay in the room while the fuse burns down.  If you run and stand in Santa%27s office until it blows%2C you won%27t be killed%2C and then you can go out and mop up the soot. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AI blew myself up by lighting some TNT by %5Bi%5Daccident%5B%2Fi%5D down in the reindeer stables and then not making it to the stairs fast enough when I realized what that hissing sound was.  It was a perfect Warner Brothers cartoon accident%2C and it %5Bi%5Dreally was%5B%2Fi%5D an accident%2C which was when I realized just %5Bi%5Dhow%5B%2Fi%5D perfect the game really is. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
10|3|5|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Pasha||23:28:12|07/12/2014|%3E%3EThere%27s even an achievement%21  Also%2C how are you SUPPOSED to dispose of %0D%0A%3E%3Ethe TNT%2C if not throwing it into the fire%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EOh%2C you%27re supposed to put it in the fire.  You%27re just not supposed %0D%0A%3Eto stay in the room while the fuse burns down.  If you run and stand %0D%0A%3Ein Santa%27s office until it blows%2C you won%27t be killed%2C and then you %0D%0A%3Ecan go out and mop up the soot. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0Afigured it out%21 If you stick the dynamite in a bucket of water%2C and then throw that in%2C it puts out the fuse.  And apparently it%27s the fuse that blows up dynamite%2C not%2C you know%2C the stick on fire.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0A-Pasha%0D%0A%22Don%27t change the subject%22%0D%0A%22Too slow%2C already did.%22
2|1|0|||||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Proginoskes||12:38:46|07/12/2014|I don%27t have a Steam account or whatever%2C but this is perhaps the most persuasive argument yet for it. The idea of viscera-based Sokoban is strangely compelling.
6|2|2|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Gryphon||15:53:33|07/12/2014|%3EI don%27t have a Steam account or whatever%2C but this is perhaps the most %0D%0A%3Epersuasive argument yet for it. The idea of viscera-based Sokoban is %0D%0A%3Estrangely compelling. %0D%0A%0D%0AFWIW%2C I don%27t think it%27s %5Bi%5Donly%5B%2Fi%5D on Steam %28though it looks like the %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5DSanta%27s Rampage%5B%2Fi%5D modules may be%29%2C that%27s just where I happened to get it.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs an aside%2C I was a little sad to learn that %5Bi%5DVCD%3A Santa%27s Rampage%5B%2Fi%5D isn%27t a tie-in to another game%2C like %5Bi%5DVCD%3A Shadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D is.  I was looking forward to tracking down the source game and slaughtering some elves.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
3|1|0|||||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Zemyla||15:47:00|07/12/2014|%3EIt%27s also got a co-op network mode%2C so you can play as part of a %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5Dteam%5B%2Fi%5D of janitors%2C but the current readmes indicate that this %0D%0A%3Emode doesn%27t work very well yet%2C and I%27m not much for the multiplayer %0D%0A%3Eexperience anyway%2C so I haven%27t tried it.  Besides%2C to me the beauty %0D%0A%3Eof VCD is that you%27re the only one there%2C unsupervised%2C and you can %0D%0A%3Eget exactly as much or as little done as you care to. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AI want to play this just for the co-op mode%2C so we can utterly fail to get the job done as we inadvertently screw up each other%27s work%2C and then sling body parts and blame around. That sounds like my idea of a good time.
4|2|3|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Gryphon||15:49:20|07/12/2014|%3EI want to play this just for the co-op mode%2C so we can utterly fail to %0D%0A%3Eget the job done as we inadvertently screw up each other%27s work%2C and %0D%0A%3Ethen sling body parts and blame around. That sounds like my idea of a %0D%0A%3Egood time. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s probably the best strategy for getting the %22Bloody Incompetent%22 achievement in %5Bi%5DVCD%3A Santa%27s Rampage%5B%2Fi%5D. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
7|1|0|||1||Oh%2C I forgot to mention%2C|Gryphon||15:57:01|07/12/2014|The best thing about the %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D VCD module%2C IMO%2C is that unlike the main game and %5Bi%5DSanta%27s Rampage%5B%2Fi%5D%2C your character talks.  %28In fact%2C he sounds a lot like Lo Wang.%29  He has many amusing things to say%2C which really adds another dimension to the game%3B I hope that in future revs%2C the main game may acquire something similar.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28My favorite%3A when you%27re cleaning up a heap of organs%2C he occasionally says%2C %22Ugh.  What the hell is %5Bi%5Dthat%3F%5B%2Fi%5D%22 when picking up one of the pieces.  Usually the one that looks like it might be a length of colon.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%221%22%5D%22At least they didn%27t have a %5Bi%5Dchaingun%5B%2Fi%5D this time.%22 - picking up shell casings%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
9|2|7|||1||RE%3A Oh%2C I forgot to mention%2C|Pasha||22:12:29|07/12/2014|%3EThe best thing about the %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D VCD module%2C IMO%2C is %0D%0A%3Ethat unlike the main game and %5Bi%5DSanta%27s Rampage%5B%2Fi%5D%2C your character %0D%0A%3Etalks.  %28In fact%2C he sounds a lot like Lo Wang.%29  He has many amusing %0D%0A%3Ethings to say%2C which really adds another dimension to the game%3B I hope %0D%0A%3Ethat in future revs%2C the main game may acquire something similar. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%28My favorite%3A when you%27re cleaning up a heap of organs%2C he %0D%0A%3Eoccasionally says%2C %22Ugh.  What the hell is %5Bi%5Dthat%3F%5B%2Fi%5D%22 when picking %0D%0A%3Eup one of the pieces.  Usually the one that looks like it might be a %0D%0A%3Elength of colon.%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E--G. %0D%0A%3E%5Bfont size%3D%221%22%5D%22At least they didn%27t have a %5Bi%5Dchaingun%5B%2Fi%5D this %0D%0A%3Etime.%22 - picking up shell casings%5B%2Ffont%5D %0D%0A%0D%0A%22Ahh%2C reminds me of the old days%22 - Picking up one of the SMGs.  Apparently he used to be a ninja assassin badass.%0D%0A%0D%0A-Pasha%0D%0A%22Don%27t change the subject%22%0D%0A%22Too slow%2C already did.%22
8|1|0|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|laudre||21:47:57|07/12/2014|After reading the original post%2C and thinking about it a bit%2C I went ahead and got it off Steam.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m loving it already.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bhr %2F%5D%5Bsmall%5D%22Mathematics brought rigor to economics. Unfortunately%2C it also brought mortis.%22%0D%0A - Kenneth Boulding%5B%2Fsmall%5D%5Bhr %2F%5D
11|2|8|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|laudre||19:51:52|07/13/2014|%3EAfter reading the original post%2C and thinking about it a bit%2C I went %0D%0A%3Eahead and got it off Steam. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI%27m loving it already. %0D%0A%0D%0ASome of my favorite things%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A- The sound effects. Especially when you%27re carting a bin full of body parts over to the incinerator. %2Asquish squish%2A%0D%0A- The physics glitches that result in things like the bin spinning in place%2C body parts bouncing off the freshly-cleaned walls and each other with great force.%0D%0A- In the Shadow Warrior level%2C the janitor whistling to himself as he works.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bhr %2F%5D%5Bsmall%5D%22Mathematics brought rigor to economics. Unfortunately%2C it also brought mortis.%22%0D%0A - Kenneth Boulding%5B%2Fsmall%5D%5Bhr %2F%5D
12|3|11|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Gryphon||19:53:52|07/13/2014|%3E- The physics glitches that result in things like the bin spinning in %0D%0A%3Eplace%2C body parts bouncing off the freshly-cleaned walls and each %0D%0A%3Eother with great force. %0D%0A%0D%0AYes%2C the occasional bizarre%2C huge-mess-inducing physics glitch can be entertaining.  I picked up a shell casing once in the %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D module and found myself %5Bi%5Dhurled the entire length of the map%5B%2Fi%5D as though struck by a train.  No idea why in the world that happened%2C but super-ninja janitor was unharmed%2C so%2C hey%2C no foul. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
13|4|12|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|laudre||07:30:57|07/14/2014|%3EYes%2C the occasional bizarre%2C huge-mess-inducing physics glitch can be %0D%0A%3Eentertaining.  I picked up a shell casing once in the %5Bi%5DShadow %0D%0A%3EWarrior%5B%2Fi%5D module and found myself %5Bi%5Dhurled the entire length of the %0D%0A%3Emap%5B%2Fi%5D as though struck by a train.  No idea why in the world that %0D%0A%3Ehappened%2C but super-ninja janitor was unharmed%2C so%2C hey%2C no foul. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AIndeed%21%0D%0A%0D%0AOne of the things I%27ve determined is that one can often clear up capacity in a bin by picking it up and shaking it%2C to get the chunks and debris to settle a bit more nicely%2C just as one might do in real life. Most of the time%2C this works just fine.%0D%0A%0D%0ASometimes%2C however%2C things do not go as planned. In the %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D module%2C the katana%2C in particular%2C are prone to levering themselves violently out of the bins when I do this%2C making me quite glad that they can%27t actually injure you by flying around.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bhr %2F%5D%5Bsmall%5D%22Mathematics brought rigor to economics. Unfortunately%2C it also brought mortis.%22%0D%0A - Kenneth Boulding%5B%2Fsmall%5D%5Bhr %2F%5D
14|1|0|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|ebony14||09:21:37|07/14/2014|Amusing. I may have to look into it %28and possibly also the Shadow Warrior redux%2C because I need something where you can senselessly murder pixels right now%29. It reminds me of various thought experiments%2C both verbal and in print%2C about who feeds the monsters%2C resets the traps%2C and otherwise maintains dungeons in the various FRPG worlds. %28Several tabletop RPGs have actually put thought into this%2C the most recent of which is 13th Age%2C where dungeons are actual semi-sentient%2C living magical organisms that grow and spawn monsters.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AEbony the Black Dragon%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Life is like an anole. Sometimes it%27s green. Sometimes it%27s brown. But it%27s always a small Caribbean lizard.%22
15|2|14|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|laudre||10:35:03|07/14/2014|%3EIt reminds me of various thought %0D%0A%3Eexperiments%2C both verbal and in print%2C about who feeds the monsters%2C %0D%0A%3Eresets the traps%2C and otherwise maintains dungeons in the various FRPG %0D%0A%3Eworlds.%0D%0A%0D%0AI remember multiple conversations with friends about survival horror in general%2C and the %5Bi%5DResident Evil%5B%2Fi%5D%2F%5Bi%5DBiohazard%5B%2Fi%5D franchises in particular%2C about what day-to-day life in those universes must be like when there isn%27t a zombie uprising%2Fapocalypse happening. Like%2C the estate in the first %5Bi%5DResident Evil%5B%2Fi%5D you can sort of shrug off as being the home of a %5Bi%5Dgoddamned lunatic%5B%2Fi%5D %28same thing with %5Bi%5DCode%3A Veronica%5B%2Fi%5D%29%2C but the Raccoon City PD building has %5Bi%5Dexactly%5B%2Fi%5D the same sort of bizarre architecture. Going to the restroom would%27ve required three keys %28that exploded into dust or something upon use%29 and someone%27s help moving a statue%2C at the least.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bhr %2F%5D%5Bsmall%5D%22Mathematics brought rigor to economics. Unfortunately%2C it also brought mortis.%22%0D%0A - Kenneth Boulding%5B%2Fsmall%5D%5Bhr %2F%5D
16|3|15|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|twipper||13:14:15|07/14/2014|%3EGoing to the restroom would%27ve required three keys %28that exploded into dust or %0D%0A%3Esomething upon use%29 and someone%27s help moving a statue%2C at the least. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0ANaw%2C that was just a design feature to cut down on the PD%27s coffee budget.%0D%0A%0D%0ABrian%0D%0A
17|3|15|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Gryphon||13:40:11|07/14/2014|%3EGoing to the %0D%0A%3Erestroom would%27ve required three keys%0D%0A%0D%0AThat shouldn%27t be a problem for the Master of Unlocking.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
22|3|15|||||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|CdrMike||19:14:58|07/14/2014|%3EI remember multiple conversations with friends about survival horror %0D%0A%3Ein general%2C and the %5Bi%5DResident Evil%5B%2Fi%5D%2F%5Bi%5DBiohazard%5B%2Fi%5D franchises %0D%0A%3Ein particular%2C about what day-to-day life in those universes must be %0D%0A%3Elike when there isn%27t a zombie uprising%2Fapocalypse happening. Like%2C %0D%0A%3Ethe estate in the first %5Bi%5DResident Evil%5B%2Fi%5D you can sort of shrug off %0D%0A%3Eas being the home of a %5Bi%5Dgoddamned lunatic%5B%2Fi%5D %28same thing with %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DCode%3A Veronica%5B%2Fi%5D%29%2C but the Raccoon City PD building has %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5Dexactly%5B%2Fi%5D the same sort of bizarre architecture. Going to the %0D%0A%3Erestroom would%27ve required three keys %28that exploded into dust or %0D%0A%3Esomething upon use%29 and someone%27s help moving a statue%2C at the least. %0D%0A%0D%0A%22Where the key to the bathroom%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Well%2C you need to go over to the locker room on the third floor to get the key to lock-up%2C where you%27ll find the key to the records room%2C and that%27s where you%27ll find the key for the bathroom.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Can%27t I just go to the records room and get the key%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Nope%2C door to records is locked.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Why don%27t I just go to lock-up for the key to records%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Because it%27s also locked up and the key is in the locker room.  Oh%2C and I forgot to mention that getting into the locker room requires solving puzzle.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22You know what%2C I%27m just gonna pee into this bottle at my desk.%22
33|4|22|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Verbena||15:45:44|11/17/2014|%5C%3E%22Where the key to the bathroom%3F%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22Well%2C you need to go over to the locker room on the third floor to %0D%0A%3Eget the key to lock-up%2C where you%27ll find the key to the records room%2C %0D%0A%3Eand that%27s where you%27ll find the key for the bathroom.%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22Can%27t I just go to the records room and get the key%3F%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22Nope%2C door to records is locked.%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22Why don%27t I just go to lock-up for the key to records%3F%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22Because it%27s also locked up and the key is in the locker room.  Oh%2C %0D%0A%3Eand I forgot to mention that getting into the locker room requires %0D%0A%3Esolving puzzle.%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22You know what%2C I%27m just gonna pee into this bottle at my desk.%22 %0D%0A%0D%0AI seem to recall an old Penny Arcade comic about this%2C something about Umbrella Corporation%27s anonymous suggestion box. I can%27t link it here since I%27m at work and this is...well%2C Penny Arcade. But still%2C hilarious.%0D%0A%0D%0A--------%0D%0A%0D%0Athis world created by the %0D%0Ahands of the gods%0D%0Aeverything is false%0D%0Aeverything is a LIE%0D%0Athe final days have come%0D%0Anow%0D%0Alet everything be destroyed%0D%0A%0D%0A--mu
18|2|14|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Gryphon||13:44:42|07/14/2014|%3EAmusing. I may have to look into it %28and possibly also the Shadow %0D%0A%3EWarrior redux%2C because I need something where you can senselessly %0D%0A%3Emurder pixels right now%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AFair warning%3A You will find a game on Steam that is actually %5Bu%5Dcalled%5B%2Fu%5D %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior Redux%5B%2Fi%5D%2C but it isn%27t the new game - it%27s the one from the %2790s modified so it%27ll run on modern computers.  The new game is just called %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd for what it%27s worth%2C I recommend it highly.  This may seem like a strange thing to say about a game whose protagonist is called Lo Wang and who trades heavily on that in his sense of humor%2C but it%27s a lot more sophisticated than the old one.  The wang jokes in the original game were coarse and aggressively-in-bad-taste %28not a surprise%2C given that the game was%2C IIRC%2C from the people who brought us %5Bi%5DDuke Nukem 3D%5B%2Fi%5D%29%2C and Lo Wang himself was portrayed in the most offensive possible %2770s-kung-fu-sploitation-dub style.%0D%0A%0D%0AHe%27s a lot more relatable in the new game%2C and while he still makes jokes about his name%2C they%27re much more tongue-in-cheek.  It%27s just more intelligent.  %28Also%2C the storyline makes a bit of sense%2C unlike the original%27s.%29  They had me from the opening of the first cutscene.  If you get the game%2C you%27ll know what I mean when it happens. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
19|3|18|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Nova Floresca||16:04:15|07/14/2014|Also%2C the chapter titles%2C which tend to be hilarious%2C and also bounce back to you in interesting ways during said chapter %28ref. %22Spiritual Laxative%22%2C %22A as in %27Asshole%27%2C C as in %27Champion%27%22%29. And the fortune cookies.%0D%0A%0D%0ATangentially%2C I have not actually played %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D%2C only watched a playthrough by hysterical Jesse Cox%2C and this brings me to a thought- is it just me%2C or is watching someone else play through a game is almost its own separate artform%3F I%27m not entirely sure how to articulate it%2C it%27s not the same as say MST3K%2C and it%27s not quite schadenfreude%2C but for some reason I enjoyed watching someone else go through the game more than I would have enjoyed actually playing the game myself%2C I think.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22This is probably a stupid question%2C but . . .%22
20|4|19|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Gryphon||16:14:31|07/14/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-14 AT 04:18 PM (EDT)]%3EAlso%2C the chapter titles%2C which tend to be hilarious%2C and also bounce %0D%0A%3Eback to you in interesting ways during said chapter %28ref. %22Spiritual %0D%0A%3ELaxative%22%2C %22A as in %27Asshole%27%2C C as in %27Champion%27%22%29. And the fortune %0D%0A%3Ecookies. %0D%0A%0D%0A%22Woo%2C boy%2C the party bus came through %5Bi%5Dhere%5B%2Fi%5D.  Am I right or am I right%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ETangentially%2C I have not actually played %5Bi%5DShadow Warrior%5B%2Fi%5D%2C only %0D%0A%3Ewatched a playthrough by hysterical Jesse Cox%2C and this brings me to a %0D%0A%3Ethought- is it just me%2C or is watching someone else play through a %0D%0A%3Egame is almost its own separate artform%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI don%27t know about %22artform%22%2C but it%27s certainly another route to experiencing the content.  I never played either of the %5Bi%5DLunar%5B%2Fi%5D games%2C I just watched Truss play them.  Did the same in high school with the SSI %5Bi%5DDungeons %26 Dragons%5B%2Fi%5D games %28%5Bi%5DPool of Radiance%5B%2Fi%5D%2C et al.%29%2C because I had a friend who had them for his Amiga.  %28There%27s always the one guy who has an Amiga.%29  And %5Bi%5DRogue%5B%2Fi%5D on another friend%27s CoCo 3.  In college mk 1%2C hours and hours of watching other gweeps play %5Bi%5DNetHack%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0ASpeaking of old-video-game references%2C %22What%27s that%3F  You want me to take this%3F  Well%2C I guess it%27s dangerous to go alone.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%221%22%5DKilled by kicking a chest %28wide keyhole%29%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
21|5|20|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|laudre||17:34:49|07/14/2014|%3EI don%27t know about %22artform%22%2C but it%27s certainly another route to %0D%0A%3Eexperiencing the content.%0D%0A%0D%0AIndeed%2C my better half has enjoyed a number of games by watching me play them rather than trying to play them herself%2C since first-person games can make her queasy quite easily %28the ones that don%27t%2C like %5Bi%5DBorderlands%5B%2Fi%5D and its sequel%2C are the exception%2C rather than the rule%29%2C and she often doesn%27t have the patience or inclination to play third-person action games. %28There are exceptions to this%2C like the %5Bi%5DDragon Age%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5DMass Effect%5B%2Fi%5D franchises%2C although she%27s never played ME3%2C since she lost her old saves to a hard drive crash and could never bring herself to replay them.%29%0D%0A%0D%0ASimilarly%2C most of what I know about some of her favorites%2C like %5Bi%5DFinal Fantasy XII%5B%2Fi%5D%2C %5Bi%5DSMT%3A Persona 4%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and a fair few other games have come from watching her play. For a number of these %28%5Bi%5DDon%27t Starve%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5DDwarf Fortress%5B%2Fi%5D%2C for example%29%2C it%27s because the genre doesn%27t personally engage me%2C but I love hearing the stories that emerge from them.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bhr %2F%5D%5Bsmall%5D%22Mathematics brought rigor to economics. Unfortunately%2C it also brought mortis.%22%0D%0A - Kenneth Boulding%5B%2Fsmall%5D%5Bhr %2F%5D
23|6|21|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Pasha||01:26:44|07/16/2014|%3E%28%5Bi%5DDon%27t Starve%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5DDwarf Fortress%5B%2Fi%5D%2C for example%29%2C it%27s %0D%0A%3Ebecause the genre doesn%27t personally engage me%2C but I love hearing the %0D%0A%3Estories that emerge from them. %0D%0A%0D%0AMan%2C how can you not love DF%3F I literally got up and did a victory dance the first time I got my waterfall powered lava corkscrew %28to provide heat for the forges%2C you see%29 working.  And the lack of saves means that every time I delve too deep %28you know...every time I play%29 I have this %22well%2C fuck me%22 moment.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0A-Pasha %28I should try building a castle to the sky one of these games....%29%0D%0A%22Don%27t change the subject%22%0D%0A%22Too slow%2C already did.%22
24|7|23|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|laudre||09:30:21|07/16/2014|%3EMan%2C how can you not love DF%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ASadly%2C I could never get past the UI %28or%2C more precisely%2C if less accurately%2C the lack thereof%29. It also falls into the same category as Minecraft for me -- it%27s so open a sandbox that I can%27t get engaged enough to learn the game properly. It%27s something of a personal failing%2C because I%27d very much %5Bi%5Dlike%5B%2Fi%5D to enjoy those games%2C but it just doesn%27t click for me. I need more structure than they provide%2C personally. %28Fun with ADHD.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AMy better half did%2C however%2C purchase Gnomoria as a gift for my Steam account %28since she can%27t play it on her Mac%29%2C and has been playing it intermittently. I might give that a try at some point.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bhr %2F%5D%5Bsmall%5D%22Mathematics brought rigor to economics. Unfortunately%2C it also brought mortis.%22%0D%0A - Kenneth Boulding%5B%2Fsmall%5D%5Bhr %2F%5D
26|8|24|||||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|Zemyla||13:35:35|07/16/2014|It%27s the same here. I can%27t get into DF%27s UI. However%2C I do love all the weird stories that come from its physics and AI.%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBXwv4n0.jpg
30|9|26|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|SpottedKitty||17:09:08|07/17/2014|Stabbing a lion... with a lion%3F That%27s ever so slightly becrogglingly awesome.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0AUnable to save the day%3A File is read-only.
25|5|20|||||NetHack as a Spectator Sport|Proginoskes||10:39:11|07/16/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-16-14 AT 06:59 PM (EDT)]If watching other people play NetHack still holds any appeal for you%2C %5Blink%3Aalt.org%2Fnethack%2F%7Cnethack.alt.org%5D might be of interest. You can play or watch games via telnet%2C and Rodney the Chatbot announces notable NAO game events %28like deaths%2C wishes%2C and ascensions%29 and responds to various NetHack-related triggers on the %23nethack channel on irc.freenode.org.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28%28Edited to fix link markup.%29%29
27|6|25|||1||RE%3A NetHack as a Spectator Sport|Gryphon||19:16:15|07/16/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-16-14 AT 07:16 PM (EDT)]It wasn%27t really %5Bi%5DNethack%5B%2Fi%5D that was the draw there%2C it was a way of hanging out with people who were playing %5Bi%5DNethack%5B%2Fi%5D without having to try and compete with %5Bi%5DNethack%5B%2Fi%5D%2C if you see what I%27m saying.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat said%2C the GweepNet version of the game was pretty boss.  %28Strangely enough%2C it never seems to have occurred to us to call it %5Bi%5DGweepNethack%5B%2Fi%5D.%29  One of our local shop mods is where %22Madman Omar%27s House of... %22 comes from.  The canonical version was Madman Omar%27s House of Mimics%2C a shop where everything on sale is a mimic.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
28|7|27|||||RE%3A NetHack as a Spectator Sport|Proginoskes||21:16:16|07/16/2014|Could you possibly get me the source code %28either complete or patches against whatever vanilla version it%27s based on%29 for GweepNetHack%3F I want to experience it for myself. And if it%27s not 3.4.3-based%2C I%27ll try to port it as a learning experience.
29|8|28|||1||RE%3A NetHack as a Spectator Sport|Gryphon||21:34:39|07/16/2014|%3ECould you possibly get me the source code %28either complete or patches %0D%0A%3Eagainst whatever vanilla version it%27s based on%29 for GweepNetHack%3F I %0D%0A%3Ewant to experience it for myself. And if it%27s not 3.4.3-based%2C I%27ll %0D%0A%3Etry to port it as a learning experience. %0D%0A%0D%0AYe gods%2C that was... 20 years ago.  I kind of doubt it%2C but I%27ll ask around.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
31|1|0|||1||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|laudre||21:51:01|07/20/2014|So%2C tonight%2C I was relaxing after a long day by poking around a bit at the Cryogenics map%2C where one first encounters the green-blooded alien corpses. After cleaning out the corridor between the bin dispenser and the incinerator%2C I was chagrined to realize that I had another immense alien corpse to burn%2C which would make yet another humongous mess in the process of dragging the too-big-to-fit-in-a-bin chunks up the corridor.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd then%2C I remembered a couple of things I%27d discovered quite by accident.%0D%0A%0D%0A- In struggling with some large%2Fawkward things%2C I found out that one does not need to get an object fully into the incinerator to get it to %22burn.%22 Getting it close enough to catch fire for a bit a few times will do the same thing%2C even if you can%27t quite get it through the hatch.%0D%0A- If you break a lamp%2C it will spew fire for a bit%2C leaving soot stains to clean up.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Hmm%2C%22 I said to myself%2C and went back to the extra-bits vending machine to grab a lamp. I carried it back to the alien corpse%2C and%2C after a few tosses %28lateral tosses seemed to work best%29%2C got it to break.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd%2C sure enough%2C the flame actually consumed one of the bigger pieces of the corpse%2C leaving behind a much smaller chunk of charred meat%2C one that didn%27t drip bloodstains everywhere. Repeated once more%2C and no more corpse to deal with. Just some charred bits instead%2C which fit quite nicely in one of the disposal bins.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bhr %2F%5D%5Bsmall%5D%22Mathematics brought rigor to economics. Unfortunately%2C it also brought mortis.%22%0D%0A - Kenneth Boulding%5B%2Fsmall%5D%5Bhr %2F%5D
32|1|0|||||RE%3A Meanwhile%2C I%27ve been playing...|JFerio||09:10:24|11/17/2014|%2Aresurrects thread%2A%0D%0A%0D%0AYeah%2C I bought it myself %28still %248%29. Definitely a major collision bug involving trying to drop the medkits into the receptacles%2C but a nice large selection of maps to choose from now. Definitely meditative.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd yes%2C definitely need to step in with a %22plan%22%2C even if it%27s as simple as%2C %22find the water station%2C then start mopping until you find the bin dispenser.%22 In general%2C it%27s probably best to focus on the mopping bits and viscera as much as you can%2C and save the %22won%27t dirty things up%22 items until you%27ve gotten it that knocking things over won%27t cause you to have to do any more mopping.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C the welding gun serves as an excellent method to reduce a corpse down to manageable sizes%2C preferably not capable of spreading blood bits.