Wikipedia Games

Dude,

Sometimes I play a game I made up that I thought was original, I call it degrees of Wikipedia. Turns out my idea is so unoriginal it already has a wikipedia page. I thought I'd share my experiences on playing some of the variations of this game.

Both of these versions you can only use links in the main body. I assume that meant table of contents too, it wasn't specific. It does not include category links, and obviously not the main menu on the left.

5 Clicks to Jesus
random page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphanius_sirhani
click 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_classification
click 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution
click 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
click 4: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_of_Nazareth
1 under par, I believe they call that a birdie. I dunno, I didn't pass through the golf Wikipedia page.


Find Hitler!
random page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IL_Therapeutics
click 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Saskatchewan (there were only two options!)
click 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Historic_Site_of_Canada
click 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression_in_Canada
click 4: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II
click 5: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler

My version
In my version I choose two random pages and get from one to the other. The advantage is you can see the links on the target page. Sometimes it's a lot harder than others. The above two have the advantage that the target page is popular and has a lot of links to them. My rule is slightly different in that I allow for the use of any links (category included) except for the left hand menu. For particularly hard to find pages (like my target below) I'll use the "what links here" button.

random page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyday_Is_a_Winding_Road
click 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Singles_Chart
click 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
click 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico
click 4: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_New_Mexico
click 5: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_New_Mexico_Arboretum
click 6: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotoneaster
target page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotoneaster_scandinavicus
6 clicks + 4 for two uses of "links to page" = 10 points

I vary on some of their rules too. I'm okay with using countries, but I generally stay away from dates (you can't use dates and countries in the first two variations). I also don't think the use of ctrl+f to be a cheat.

Dude,

There aren't many video games that excite me these days. At least not without some nostalgic references to games I grew up on, but I have to share this one with you. I got Just Cause 2 as a freebie from something I bought and finally entered the code into Steam for the lols. There have been a number of games the only reason I'd ever play was because they were free, and almost every one only gets about 20 minutes of play time before I forget about it (looking at you STALKER with all the periods).

Just Cause 2 was entertaining enough to get me through the first few levels, skipping all the cut scenes because they are a little long and pointless. I was even able to overlook the cheesy main character's overly macho all black outfit. Once I got into the main game, I was impressed with it's open ended play style. I have no idea what the story is or what I am supposed to do, but just roaming around stealing cars and jets and just generally blowing things up and causing "chaos" has kept me up until 1am for the first time in a long time. I think it helped that I didn't take the game seriously when I started playing and had no expectations.

It's on Steam for $20, but there is a free demo. I recommend checking it out when you are in the mood for mindless entertainment of the explosive kind.

Thanks,
Dude

Second Quest Goes Better than Expected

After I made my level 4 video I realized I never found the treasure in the dungeon. So I went back, and eventually found the book. Then after hours and hours of looking for level 5, I gave in and looked it up on the Internet because I just don't have the same kind of time I had as a kid.

To my surprise, I needed the raft. But I didn't have the raft. I had gotten treasure from all of the previous levels, where do I find a raft now? Well, that kind of first quest thinking should have been left in the cave with the old guy telling me it was dangerous to go alone. Back in level 4 I found a raft (In some rooms I overlooked). A raft and a book in the same dungeon... after the level with no boss... Ganon's not making this round easy on me.

Subsequently, while I was searching for level 5 I got to know where everything else was. I even spent some time in level 6 and found the ladder. After a lot of time, a lot of effort, and thousands of save states, I completed level 5 and 6. On the other hand level 7 and 8 were cake. If you call rooms, so full of blue darknuts and ball shooting statues that the game slows down, cake. Little known fact: Nintendo came up with bullet time way before the Matrix. They just called it "to many enemies on the screen....time".

I also realize, without the aid of save states, this would take a ridiculous amount of time. Not to mention the Nintendo Power-esque tip I nabbed off the Internet about where to find level 5. It's no wonder so few people never finish the second quest [citation needed]. I know I have found parts of it to be annoying and drawn out for the sake of difficulty and I am at a great advantage over old school NES play.

Now I have the triforce (again), and am poised at Ganon's front door. I haven't jumped into level 9 yet because I want to have the time to give what it deserves. I do plan to record this one. I'm sure it will be a horrible watch. I am genuinely curious about it because I have no idea what is in store for me. Will it even be a skull? I'll find out soon enough.

The Legend of Zelda 2nd quest - level 4

I had some back luck at recording level 2, so when I got to level 3 I didn't bother. By the time I found level 4 (no small feat mind you) I was ready to give it a try again. Not only was I successful, I went ahead and added annotations in a lame attempt to entertain.

The second quest is underway.

I discovered I can make videos with VirtualNES. Since I missed recording the end of the first quest I thought I'd make a video of dungeon 1 in the second quest so everyone can see how much I suck. I might make a video of dungeon 2 if I can find the darn thing. It's not where I left it. I won't bore you to death with my wandering through the overworld trying to find things. The painstaking things we do for a little nostalgia.

UPDATE: I did make a video of dungeon 2, but apparently it records using controller input instead of actually making a video and when I was re-recording with fraps there was one point that was slightly different than from when I played it. The result was Link dying in a spot he did not when I made the original. The second half of the video was the game over screen :(

ADDITIONAL UPDATE: I have also mastered the art of save/load states, so any future videos I will look amazingly lucky. Rest assured, dungeon 2 took many many many save/load states to accomplish.

It's on Ganon

Just picked up the last piece of the trifoce in the first quest. I'm coming Ganon, and then I'm going to come back in the second quest.

Also, how the heck did I end up with so many keys?

Something new to do

I've been a big fan of The Legend of Zelda since I played the first game back in 86. I was also one of the few fans of Zelda 2. Of course, like everyone else on the planet, I enjoyed Zelda 3 (that's the SNES one usually called A Link to the Past). There were some Zelda games after that, but really who cares (okay I did like Twilght Princes a little).

I realized the other day I have played through The Legend of Zelda at least a million times, but never have I played through the second quest. If you are unfamiliar with the second quest, it is a harder version of the same game you can play after you beat it the first time--or if you use Zelda as your name when starting a game.

I've started to prepare myself to play the second quest of The Legend of Zelda. First thing I did was find an emulator I like. After playing around with that for about 5 seconds I realized it just isn't the same without a controller. So I dropped a couple of bucks and picked up a NES controller USB adapter.

Before I undertake the second quest, I thought I'd run through the first one again as a refresher. I started the other day and, while it's no speed run, it's going much faster than I remembered. I've already collected five pieces of the triforce and purchased the blue ring. After all these years I still dread Dungeon 6. Man it's hard.

We admit, we're fans

Both Michael and I are big fans of Portal. It seems only appropriate that we make our best guesses at the next big Internet meme that will spawn from Portal 2.
Personally I don't think any of them will be as big as; the cake is a lie, our love affair with the weighted companion cube, or GlaDOS's broken hearted end game serenade. None the less, there is some real potential here.
We both agree, Spaaaaace! is going to be big, and all derivatives there of. Such as, I'm in space!








Cave Johnson's lemon rant is a definite contender as serious meme.




His safety quote about "inventing a safety door that won't hit you in the butt on the way out because you're fired," is up there too. I couldn't find a youtube quote of it by itself.

Portal and I hear it has a squeal now

Image courtesy of freakin' hilarious video
used without permission. Feel free to contact me
Valve. I'll happily comply to all your demands.

The argument that video games are not art is a hot seat for debate. One I like to read up on regularly. Here is an article that recently confirmed my conviction video games will not be considered art anytime soon.

Warning: contradictory opinion incoming

Portal, on the other hand, I feel gets damn close. Yes it was created for Valves bottom line, but it started as a project from a group of students at a gaming school. Again there is the "for profit" argument, but it has morphed into a compelling story with deep characters. Or, as my creative writing teacher would argue, people not characters. For some reason we care about these people. Even the deranged computer trying to kill us. I feel, I tiny grain of sadness every time I tear her to pieces and throw every piece into a fire (but it's so fun).

The irony, to me anyway, is this is considered a FPS (if you forgot, that stands for first person shooter). An FPS with a phenomenal metascore and not a single gun you get to shoot. That's quite an achievement.

Also, I can't recommend this video enough. Freakin' hilarious (65% more bullet per bullet makes me laugh for days).

I think it's about time for another round of 'Around the Internet'! I like to think of it as a short and quick version of all that has been worth reading on the Internet in the past month.

First up; Rock, Paper, Scissors on crack (eat it Big Bang Theory and your 5 way game). As neat as it is, there are some combos that don't make since. Like computer beats blood, and scissors beat computer. Worth a look anyway. I have to give them credit for coming up with 101 gestures with out using the one everyone knows so well.

A tear down of the iPad2 is worth a quick look. It's all screen, battery, and surprisingly double back tape. Clearly not something intended for most do-it-yourself repairers.

Though I'm partial to funny video's (that's what the Internet is for right?), this next one is an interesting non-funny videos. It is taken shortly after the Chernobyl meltdown. It's sad, but kind of amazing too. Despite the fact I have to read to understand what is going on (subtitles are the bane of modern man), it's worth a watch.



Now, in a probably inappropriate turn, I'm going back to funny.

Photo courtesy of wanna be time traveler with luggage.

We are fortunate enough to live in a time where video games have flourished and allowed people to create diagrams like this one I found at Geekologie. It's a good time to trace your controller roots and be alive.

Courtney of Japan. 

On the video game subject, here are some things you might not have known about pac-man (yeah I knew some of these, but I also have a full pac-man arcade machine in my living room). If you've read this lengthy website about the intricacies of pac-man the Yahoo article is not that great (yet ended up on every major geek news site out there). I highly recommend Chapter 4: Meet the Ghosts.

Sticking to the video game topic, here is a video of the original Super Mario Brothers from first person perspective. I don't completely agree with it's dangerously narrow interpretation, but it's still well done and a fun watch.





To end this round up on the completely weird I'd like to introduce you to Star Trek girl. Resistance is futile.