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"Qatar You Doing FIFA?!" and other books by Drs. Seuss & Jota

by drjota

Now that I'm left with only one Cup to have a reasonable chance to go see(looking at you 2014),I've suddenly got some time to worry about other things this week,such as: UNEMPLOYMENT!!! While in the middle of what could be the biggest economic crisis the US has faced since the '30s,it's been somewhat refreshing to see some businesses not blow up and fail to contain a cataclysmic disaster to my...

Now that I'm left with only one Cup to have a reasonable chance to go see(looking at you 2014),I've suddenly got some time to worry about other things this week,such as:
 
 

UNEMPLOYMENT!!!

 While in the middle of what could be the biggest economic crisis the US has faced since the '30s,it's been somewhat refreshing to see some businesses not blow up and fail to contain a cataclysmic disaster to my budget.And with various online avenues such as Steam,Amazon,and now Games for Windows starting to play up quality(i.e. expensive) games on the cheap,it raises one question in my mind:How soon will it be before the online game market overwhelms the brick and mortar market(Gamestop,EB,etc.)much like Netflix,Redbox,and Gamefly did to the rental industry?Even with several movie companies signing exclusivity deals(think DLC released to one console,then the competitor months later) as well as the begrudging support of Hollywood,Movie Gallery went under and Blockbuster,once a major money earner(and former employer,not that I'm bitter or anything ;-) ),was forced to file for bankruptcy as well as close a large number of stores.If steps are taken in a certain direction,much of the same could very well happen to the gaming industry's future;where physical copies of games,much like music,would be limited to select boutiques and Walmart.Unless CDs are the way out of the next Great Depression(GDII).
 

MOD-MODS!!!

 Unlike all of you kids who drive flying cars and play World of Warcraft:Cattackalysm on your newfangled computers,as of late I've been looking back to my old library to keep me company,namely, Civilization IV ,the original Neverwinter Nights,and Battlefield 1942.All of which share a few common traits(Note:I'd throw the first two Fallouts in,but damn it if Windows won't let old people in its club...)
 
  1. Getting a bit long in the tooth
  2. Set the bar for its respective genre and style
  3. Have incredible communities who contribute significally even now
 
Much like the improved and simplified system set up in Civilization V,its predecessor has had its lifespan increased significantly by game changing expansion packs as well as an active community that continues to provide new mods,scenarios,and even game changing gameplay elements.If you're looking for a bit of a switch up to your raping and pillaging as Genghis Khan,try these mods out for starters:
 
  • Star Trek - This is a mod based off of Civ V Lead Designer Jon Shafer's own mod Final Frontier,which was included in the Beyond the Sword expansion.While that in itself was a very unique way to play,there's just something to boldly going places in spaces with the Federation that just feels right.
  • Fall From Heaven 2 - In similar fashion to the Fall From Heaven mod that shipped with BtS,this is Civ with magic in a fantasy realm.What sets this miles apart from Civ however is the complexity of its magic and RPG-like upgrade and equipment system,uniquely styled civilizations and leaders who necessitate separate strategies and play styles,a good and evil system that affects the world as the scales tip to one side,and several in-game scenarios that deviate entirely from the standard style of play.In any other dimension,this would be called a great game in its own right.In this one,it's one of the most popular mods for Civ IV,with talks of a follow up for the new game already picking up speed.
  • Blue Marble - A graphical mod developed from NASA(!)'s project of the same name that improves the appearance of both the in-game world as well as the interface.After using it for a handful of months it's tough to imagine playing the game without.
 
There's been a few years since Neverwinter Nights 2 has been released,but as of now there is still an active presence in its older counterpart.Originally released in 2002,the game that set several precedents for the currently booming MMORPG genre has been given a second wind by the Community Expansion Pack,a fount of the various tweaks,additions,graphical and gameplay fixes,and mods developed by the community over the years.Furthermore there are a large number of modules that can kill hours of your time if you've finished the original campaigns or want a break from standard online play.
 
Battlefield 1942 was the FPS that practically defined the idea of a team-based multiplayer shooter.And while there have been several Battlefield games since,several years worth of patches and mods help it keep pace with improving gaming hardware and innovations.A substantial number of mods can be found online;ones that stand out include Eve of Destruction and Battlefield 1918,which overhaul the graphics and physics engine for the game as well as add an immense amount of new tech,weapons,and vehicles,many based off of actual WWI and WWII prototypes.
 
All goes to show you that looking back doesn't just have to be left to Christmas's past.
 

Hashtags!!!

I became the last person to make the jump to Twitter last week.
Eh.
But in a shameless act of self-promotion,feel free to add me @chesnutroasting.At this point my dignity's all I got left.Might as well lay that off too. ;-)
 
And that's been my diatribe for the week.Now if Wikileaks would only post something about FIFA....