Time of death 6pm this evening. Oliver called it. Yeah the charger port is shot so he's backing up the drive for me and that's that. It's still under warranty I think so I may be able to get a replacement. Still, I am a little sad this one only lasted two years. My last laptop lasted 5 and a half years...AND I WAS ENCODING ON IT.
So yeah. Sad about that.
UPDATE: Might have been caused by a faulty fan. Stopped spinning, power supply overheated, laptop toast. All the files are off the hard drive so no worries there. May be able to get it fixed because TECHNICALLY the two year warranty still applies.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
New Hardware
So. A child peed on the floor at work today. That was fun.
I now have better hardware for playing games, recording and editing. I am very excited about this. I tried a couple of encodes and I have discovered I can produce videos 5 times faster than I used to (on average). I tested some recordings at 60fps. Super smooth and the video looks pretty nice. Actually Skyrim (game I was testing) ran perfectly at highest graphics settings and recorded with no lag at 60fps. Was a good test to give me an idea of what the computer is capable of. I will be able to stream no problem now...IF I get decent internet. And I'm in Canada which means that's ungodly expensive for someone currently working part time (I have been informed by General Delta that it's much worse in South Africa so I shouldn't complain XD). Apparently there's built-in Twitch on these graphics cards as well which is worth looking into.
I know very few people watch the videos regularly (and even fewer read these updates), but I wanted to apologize for the Alien Isolation mix-up. I posted part 10 after part 11 and 12. Granted, we don't get very far in part 10, but still there will be a confusing jump in events. They are all posted properly and in the right order on the playlist now. More of those videos will be going up soon (Shauna should be happy cause that's when the really silly stuff happens).
Skyrim, Alien Isolation and Unreal Tournament 3 are the priority now...but I will post other amusing things as I go. Check out the public drive for other random footage that I won't be posting to YouTube (at least not any time soon).
November was supposed to be the month I crack down and finish up some writing, but looks like my laptop charger port is shot (I'm still hoping it just needs a new charger). So it's out of power and there's no way I can access the files on there unless I get power to it or remove the hard drive. So that's all on hold right now. I have a back up of the one file I really want which at least lets me work a little bit. Just need to set it up...
I now have better hardware for playing games, recording and editing. I am very excited about this. I tried a couple of encodes and I have discovered I can produce videos 5 times faster than I used to (on average). I tested some recordings at 60fps. Super smooth and the video looks pretty nice. Actually Skyrim (game I was testing) ran perfectly at highest graphics settings and recorded with no lag at 60fps. Was a good test to give me an idea of what the computer is capable of. I will be able to stream no problem now...IF I get decent internet. And I'm in Canada which means that's ungodly expensive for someone currently working part time (I have been informed by General Delta that it's much worse in South Africa so I shouldn't complain XD). Apparently there's built-in Twitch on these graphics cards as well which is worth looking into.
I know very few people watch the videos regularly (and even fewer read these updates), but I wanted to apologize for the Alien Isolation mix-up. I posted part 10 after part 11 and 12. Granted, we don't get very far in part 10, but still there will be a confusing jump in events. They are all posted properly and in the right order on the playlist now. More of those videos will be going up soon (Shauna should be happy cause that's when the really silly stuff happens).
Skyrim, Alien Isolation and Unreal Tournament 3 are the priority now...but I will post other amusing things as I go. Check out the public drive for other random footage that I won't be posting to YouTube (at least not any time soon).
November was supposed to be the month I crack down and finish up some writing, but looks like my laptop charger port is shot (I'm still hoping it just needs a new charger). So it's out of power and there's no way I can access the files on there unless I get power to it or remove the hard drive. So that's all on hold right now. I have a back up of the one file I really want which at least lets me work a little bit. Just need to set it up...
Saturday, November 15, 2014
American Grocery Stores Are Magical Places
You have like...40 flavours of pop and 20 different kinds of oreos. Pumpkin spice oreos. That is a thing. Oh and those Cheez-It things. Thanks for getting me hooked on those Voyeur.
So I've been back for awhile now, but video work has been slow as I've had...well an interesting last couple of days. Had a bit of a medical scare and it skyrocketed my anxiety, which isn't good for productivity, at least in terms of personal projects. Also, my boss at work has a family emergency which means I'll be working full time for the next couple of weeks. I will be tired and video recording and production will slow down immensely.
That said, I have a super entertaining line-up for the rest of November and December. First off, the next Gamecube game I plan on uploading is Lord of the Rings: The Third Age. I finished this LP well over a month ago...maybe two, but it is full of silly from what I can remember. It is cheesy, buggy and all around a good time. Except for the Rohan area. That was stupid. Also how it ended was really just...wtf.
My other single player LPs will include more Skyrim and eventually Bioshock 2, Half Life Episode 2, and Brigmore Witches. I want to finish these before 2015 and get them off my plate. Bioshock 2 is going to take a lot of willpower to finish. It's not very good. I will continue my Skyrim adventures with the Dawnguard DLC.
As for co-op/tag team LPs, I think we'll FINALLY finish Resident Evil 5 within the week. Voyeur and I are very close to completing it, and then we will be moving on to another game. I'm not sure what yet. Perhaps the Magicka DLC. Mesk and I continue to record Hunted. I expect these videos to start going up shortly before December. Depends on what I have to upload at the time. His videos of Hunted should be much more chaotic than mine as my netcode causes strange things on his end.
I've stopped work on Bioshock Infinite, mostly because Alien Isolation has a lot less issues and has been exceptionally entertaining over the last few sessions. There are things that happen in that game that really...I can't describe. Shauna and I are about halfway done the game. It's taking a lot longer because we're playing on hard...and it really is difficult. I still think that the low number of save points is a stupid idea though. We have some LPs planned out for when we finish Alien. I wouldn't expect to see these until like...February of next year though, so I won't bother announcing them.
So rest of November looks like:
Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
Unreal Tournament 3
Skyrim
Alien Isolation
December will likely look like:
Hunted: Demon's Forge
Skyrim
Bioshock Infinite
And one of the following: Half Life Episode 2 or Brigmore Witches
Expect other random videos and clips. Keep an eye on my Public Google drive as well for access to unreleased video.
So I've been back for awhile now, but video work has been slow as I've had...well an interesting last couple of days. Had a bit of a medical scare and it skyrocketed my anxiety, which isn't good for productivity, at least in terms of personal projects. Also, my boss at work has a family emergency which means I'll be working full time for the next couple of weeks. I will be tired and video recording and production will slow down immensely.
That said, I have a super entertaining line-up for the rest of November and December. First off, the next Gamecube game I plan on uploading is Lord of the Rings: The Third Age. I finished this LP well over a month ago...maybe two, but it is full of silly from what I can remember. It is cheesy, buggy and all around a good time. Except for the Rohan area. That was stupid. Also how it ended was really just...wtf.
My other single player LPs will include more Skyrim and eventually Bioshock 2, Half Life Episode 2, and Brigmore Witches. I want to finish these before 2015 and get them off my plate. Bioshock 2 is going to take a lot of willpower to finish. It's not very good. I will continue my Skyrim adventures with the Dawnguard DLC.
As for co-op/tag team LPs, I think we'll FINALLY finish Resident Evil 5 within the week. Voyeur and I are very close to completing it, and then we will be moving on to another game. I'm not sure what yet. Perhaps the Magicka DLC. Mesk and I continue to record Hunted. I expect these videos to start going up shortly before December. Depends on what I have to upload at the time. His videos of Hunted should be much more chaotic than mine as my netcode causes strange things on his end.
I've stopped work on Bioshock Infinite, mostly because Alien Isolation has a lot less issues and has been exceptionally entertaining over the last few sessions. There are things that happen in that game that really...I can't describe. Shauna and I are about halfway done the game. It's taking a lot longer because we're playing on hard...and it really is difficult. I still think that the low number of save points is a stupid idea though. We have some LPs planned out for when we finish Alien. I wouldn't expect to see these until like...February of next year though, so I won't bother announcing them.
So rest of November looks like:
Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
Unreal Tournament 3
Skyrim
Alien Isolation
December will likely look like:
Hunted: Demon's Forge
Skyrim
Bioshock Infinite
And one of the following: Half Life Episode 2 or Brigmore Witches
Expect other random videos and clips. Keep an eye on my Public Google drive as well for access to unreleased video.
Monday, November 10, 2014
The Worst Kind of Escort Mission
I just realized what bothers me the most about Bioshock 2. It's not that it seems like someone's bad fanfic (though it really does), it's not all the laziness in texturing and level design (which there really is a lot of) and it's not the awkward interface (wtf did they do with the subtitles and weapons/plasmid system?)...it's that half the game so far is like the final mission in Bioshock 1, only more annoying. I don't think I'll play this game again, but I'll tough it out for the people who requested it...and put up with all the knowing laughs from the other people I've told.
So videos were released a little weird this weekend as I was out of town. I will be returning late tomorrow evening. Bioshock 1 is finished. I will finish uploading Unreal Tournament 3 and continue uploading Skyrim videos. I finished the Dragonborn DLC before I left.
So videos were released a little weird this weekend as I was out of town. I will be returning late tomorrow evening. Bioshock 1 is finished. I will finish uploading Unreal Tournament 3 and continue uploading Skyrim videos. I finished the Dragonborn DLC before I left.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Tuesday Nights
I really need the sleep, but coffee has a way of making me not sleep. Ever. This is not the case with tea...or really any other form of caffinated drink. I don't count energy drinks because they are disgusting and make my heart feel like it's going to explode (seriously I tried half a can once and it made my heart VERY uncomfortable).
But it helped me bowl a 352 (5-pin) a couple weeks ago so I can't complain.
Oh yeah LP stuff. So Bioshock 2 is making me quite upset about...everything. As I say in the videos, it's like someone's bad Bioshock 1 fanfic. It has some interesting and fun aspects to it but...well...you'll see when I play what my gripes are. I do play it on hard, which doesn't help the situation.
Co-op LP work continues with Mesk (Hunted), Voyeur (Resident Evil 5) and Shauna (Alien: Isolation). I am intending to do some recordings with General Delta and another person soon, but I don't know when.
I have some Half Life 2 Episode 2 sitting on my hard drive waiting to be edited and encoded (but it's not finished) and some Guild Wars 2 (that I need to edit up and post). OH and I keep forgetting to finish editing the Extra Life 2014 recap video. It's done I just need to do a last pass and edit a little bit. There will be a long version and a short version. Short version is 9mins and ready to be posted. Long version is like...an hour and not quite ready yet.
But, my priorities right now are not in the realm of LPing. I have two tasks I must complete before the year is over. 1) Complete my writing project (this is not an option I have decided) and 2) get a full-time job (it is long past due and I will really need the money soon).
I feel like I'm forgetting something.
I'm still so awake and it's 4am. Remind me (people in different time zones and Mesk) that LPing Tuesday nights/early morning Wednesday would be a good idea.
But it helped me bowl a 352 (5-pin) a couple weeks ago so I can't complain.
Oh yeah LP stuff. So Bioshock 2 is making me quite upset about...everything. As I say in the videos, it's like someone's bad Bioshock 1 fanfic. It has some interesting and fun aspects to it but...well...you'll see when I play what my gripes are. I do play it on hard, which doesn't help the situation.
Co-op LP work continues with Mesk (Hunted), Voyeur (Resident Evil 5) and Shauna (Alien: Isolation). I am intending to do some recordings with General Delta and another person soon, but I don't know when.
I have some Half Life 2 Episode 2 sitting on my hard drive waiting to be edited and encoded (but it's not finished) and some Guild Wars 2 (that I need to edit up and post). OH and I keep forgetting to finish editing the Extra Life 2014 recap video. It's done I just need to do a last pass and edit a little bit. There will be a long version and a short version. Short version is 9mins and ready to be posted. Long version is like...an hour and not quite ready yet.
But, my priorities right now are not in the realm of LPing. I have two tasks I must complete before the year is over. 1) Complete my writing project (this is not an option I have decided) and 2) get a full-time job (it is long past due and I will really need the money soon).
I feel like I'm forgetting something.
I'm still so awake and it's 4am. Remind me (people in different time zones and Mesk) that LPing Tuesday nights/early morning Wednesday would be a good idea.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Sleepiness
Kathleen and I made it though the night. I think I fared a bit better, at least mid-morning before we finished as my sleep schedule is messed up anyway. I suffered Sunday and Monday though with exhaustion and super soreness. Dodgeball really...took a toll on my body. Last time I was that sore was "learning" how to snowboard (which essentially meant me falling on my ass over and over and over). Anyway, Kathleen's grand total for money raised was over $1200 (a few more donations may still come in). I am currently working on a recap video, which will go up once I figure out how to get the Twitch videos into my clutches.
Games played included:
Luigi's Mansion (nostalgic)
Fear Online (awful)
No Room in Hell (confusing)
Borderlands the Pre-Sequel (not bad, but super sensitive and clunky after playing Destiny so much)
Sonic Mega Collection (of which I remember little because I was so tired)
And we attempted Killing Floor but I actually broke it beyond repair. I have no idea how I managed this.
Also, I have Destiny now for PS4. Going it solo mostly + playing with randoms, but if you have it, you may add me on PSN: DrSchwa
Games played included:
Luigi's Mansion (nostalgic)
Fear Online (awful)
No Room in Hell (confusing)
Borderlands the Pre-Sequel (not bad, but super sensitive and clunky after playing Destiny so much)
Sonic Mega Collection (of which I remember little because I was so tired)
And we attempted Killing Floor but I actually broke it beyond repair. I have no idea how I managed this.
Also, I have Destiny now for PS4. Going it solo mostly + playing with randoms, but if you have it, you may add me on PSN: DrSchwa
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
A Bug Hunt
I am super impressed with how well my title fits this time.
FIRST - Alien Isolation continues. We are not done recording...I assume we are around the halfway mark, especially with the sudden difficulty spike. My thoughts so far? Not a bad game. It has...issues though. I don't particularly find the game scary. Now, listening to the videos, you will be inclined to debate this based on our reactions. But it's not scary like Outlast or Amnesia. It is tense. I am way more tense playing this game, and I was way more frightened playing the other games. Half of that tension just comes from whether the bloody Alien will show up and kill us before we can save and we have to do the same shit over and over again. Part of that tension just comes from the unpredictability. Also the game crashes. A lot. I don't even think I'm going to edit the crashes out to be honest. It's just business as usual between them because it's so common. So far in 8 hours of gameplay I believe we had 8 crashes. One crash per hour. gg. Also, the game is a little buggy. It uses Havok, so the physics objects are already hilarious, but the Alien itself is just...so broken. You should see a short clip on YouTube that I posted (two days ago?) that sums this whole experience up in about 45 seconds.
SECOND - Started Hunted: Demon's Forge with Mesk. We marathoned about...5 hours of it before we both got too tired to continue. So we are near the end of the second chapter and have already broken the game in new and exciting ways. We also recreated many of the old bugs he encountered with HKS back when he ran through it then. This will be...a different LP experience. I would recommend this one if you like seeing a lot of silly things (and don't mind that we take the time to see if we can push things to their limits). The game is actually decent though despite its major issues. It's super buggy, but gameplay is fun and interesting, there are tons of areas to explore, and the story itself isn't boring. I have been looking forward to this one. I've never played it before, but it is far from a blind LP as I've watched Mesk and HKS' videos (which can be found here). This LP should start going up on YouTube early November after Bioshock is complete.
THIRD - Extra Life reminder this Saturday. Kathleen reached her goal, but she's trying to stay in first for the Alberta Children's Hospital as she will have the chance to earn extra money for them (30k I think). So feel free to check out our streams on Twitch. I will post the links again on the date. I will be joining in the evening, so Kathleen will have a head start, so make sure to tune in to her stream while I'm off getting my fingers broken and my face crushed by large rubber balls. I'm uh...playing in a dodgeball tournament until about 4/5pm. I believe Shauna, General Delta, Mesk and Oliver may also join in.
FIRST - Alien Isolation continues. We are not done recording...I assume we are around the halfway mark, especially with the sudden difficulty spike. My thoughts so far? Not a bad game. It has...issues though. I don't particularly find the game scary. Now, listening to the videos, you will be inclined to debate this based on our reactions. But it's not scary like Outlast or Amnesia. It is tense. I am way more tense playing this game, and I was way more frightened playing the other games. Half of that tension just comes from whether the bloody Alien will show up and kill us before we can save and we have to do the same shit over and over again. Part of that tension just comes from the unpredictability. Also the game crashes. A lot. I don't even think I'm going to edit the crashes out to be honest. It's just business as usual between them because it's so common. So far in 8 hours of gameplay I believe we had 8 crashes. One crash per hour. gg. Also, the game is a little buggy. It uses Havok, so the physics objects are already hilarious, but the Alien itself is just...so broken. You should see a short clip on YouTube that I posted (two days ago?) that sums this whole experience up in about 45 seconds.
SECOND - Started Hunted: Demon's Forge with Mesk. We marathoned about...5 hours of it before we both got too tired to continue. So we are near the end of the second chapter and have already broken the game in new and exciting ways. We also recreated many of the old bugs he encountered with HKS back when he ran through it then. This will be...a different LP experience. I would recommend this one if you like seeing a lot of silly things (and don't mind that we take the time to see if we can push things to their limits). The game is actually decent though despite its major issues. It's super buggy, but gameplay is fun and interesting, there are tons of areas to explore, and the story itself isn't boring. I have been looking forward to this one. I've never played it before, but it is far from a blind LP as I've watched Mesk and HKS' videos (which can be found here). This LP should start going up on YouTube early November after Bioshock is complete.
THIRD - Extra Life reminder this Saturday. Kathleen reached her goal, but she's trying to stay in first for the Alberta Children's Hospital as she will have the chance to earn extra money for them (30k I think). So feel free to check out our streams on Twitch. I will post the links again on the date. I will be joining in the evening, so Kathleen will have a head start, so make sure to tune in to her stream while I'm off getting my fingers broken and my face crushed by large rubber balls. I'm uh...playing in a dodgeball tournament until about 4/5pm. I believe Shauna, General Delta, Mesk and Oliver may also join in.
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