Wednesday, April 22, 2009

2nd Entry: Big Change or Stay The Same?

Long story short, I'm deciding whether to stay with my routine gaming life, or change it up completely.
For the past TWO YEARS I've been patiently waiting for my parents to say, "I think we're finally going to get you a good gaming computer." They finally made a decision about a month ago that we would make a purchase this summer. At the moment, I was psyched out of my mind.. I immediately started telling all my former teammates and league friends that I could come back stronger than ever and help gain some huge achievements in CEVO and whatever other leagues we might join up in. Then, something else crossed my mind. I just turned 17 a couple weeks ago.. I just applied for my first job(almost guaranteed to get it).. and I have no car? I think I've made my decision, but there are many pros and cons to whichever choice I choose. So let's begin

Gaming Computer
I've been playing and LOVING CS for about 4 years now. I've never had a quality, quiet gaming computer or equipment, however. Not to sound cocky, but I know I have a very high skill level and major potential to do well in higher leagues. Dealing with people telling me things like "Wow you've never been out of cal-o LOL, you're definitely cheating" or "you know, if you had some proof to back it up with, I might respect you for being legit.. sadly you've never been out of open, worthless cheater"... never gets easier. Not for the fact they call me a cheater, but because I can't find any respect for my skill other than from several long time internet friends of mine.

Pros For Choosing To Get A Gaming Computer - I can finally be happy after about 3 years of no success in competitive CS. I can actually compete in leagues with friends without losing matches because of my computer freezing up or crashing on me. I can gain respect back from a countless number of people I've met over the years in pub communities and random competitive teams who think I cheat. I can possibly make some money or small prizes from online competitions. Overall, I could be happy that after such a long wait.. I can finally play CS how I want to.

Cons For Choosing To Get A Gaming Computer - I won't be able to get a car until near the end of my senior year. It WILL interupt majorly with a summer workout routine that I've had planned for months. I have to rely on using my mom's car to get places.. and if she needs it, I'm screwed. I might gain weight because I'd probably get addicted. No chance at all for social gain(not that I'm lacking, but senior year is NOT a good year to be gaming all day every day).

Alrighty.. now onto my thoughts about getting a car..


Getting The Vehicle
I've never really thought much about getting a car because I've only been driving for a little over 6 months.. but now after a friend of mine got one, I'm jealous and understand how a car could make my life much better.

Pros For Choosing To Save Up For A Car
First, I will not need to ask my parents anymore if I can take the car out. This will also lead to more independence for me, since all I need to say is "Dad I'm going...(where ever)", and go! I can also eliminate having to ask friends for rides to parties, events, and anything else out of walking distance. I guess I should say better appearance, too. Not only would finding a more manly car than a tanish Mitsubishi Galant be good, but just people knowing that you have your own car is also a plus. Lastly, it'll help with the ladies.

Cons For Choosing To Save Up For A Car
Obviously, I will be stuck with my p.o.s. computer for any gaming or tasks that I need to do during my senior year and summer. I guess that's it.



Finally:
I still have not come to a for-sure decision yet, but I think I will probably go with the car. I'm trying to stay committed to being physically fit for basketball next year, I LOVE a feeling of independence, it will make things much more convenient for my life, and I just want my own car man!


Thanks for reading!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Gamers' Worst Enemies

After many hours of doing nothing in multiple classes during school, as a dedicated gamer, I've come up with my personal 10 biggest enemies. A few are slightly related.. but still different overall. These are in order from the thing that least bothers me to the thing that makes me want to throw my computer out the window.

10. -System Updates- My problem with system updates is that whenever I get the pop-up where it asks "Update Now or Later?".. I ALWAYS choose later. Eventually it gets to the point where it just begins updating by itself and I can't stop it and obviously the lag that this causes will make any game unplayable. If I have a nasty urge for some CS... I get very pissed.

9. -Instant Messenger- Usually I remember to sign out of MSN(or any other IM I might be using).. but sometimes I forget. It just happens that RIGHT when I am in a clutch situation my computer lags for a second while the message pops up right in the middle of my screen, or sometimes it automatically minimizes my game completely.. then I get yelled at by my team for failing. sad face.

8. -Equipment/System Failure- This is not a common issue, but everybody experiences it at one time or another. The day comes where your mouse starts randomly disconnecting and reconnecting.. or maybe your headset loses some power in one of the ears but not the other. Or worst of all.. THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH. Nothing worse than being in the middle of an intense scrim or match and having this big load of blue staring right back at you.

7. -Pets- Pets can be hurtful to gamers in a few ways. One being that sometimes they are so damn cute. Ever had a new puppy or cat come rub up against your leg while you're at the computer? It can be hard not to take your attention away for a few seconds to stop and pet them. Another thing that I have to deal with is the presense 2 loud talkative felines. Either they will be screaming at me like banshees expecting me to jump up and get them some food, or they will jump up on ME and then onto the DESK and end up right in front of my monitor.. ugh.

6. -Doorbell- The doorbell is not always a bad thing, unless you live in an area like me where the doorbell is usually some random person that you don't know or somebody delivering a package that your family ordered. Jump up, run down the stairs, get to the door, sign a paper, take the package and set it on the table, run back upstairs, you're dead in your game. Fail.

5. -Food/Beverages- If you're a true gamer, then you've probably forgotten a pizza in the oven, some hotdish on the stove, or something along those lines. Or maybe you had to grab a glass of juice or milk while you're gaming. Things get intense in the game, one things leads to another and your body makes a swift motion... you knock it over all over your keyboard and/or desk. I've done it several times, never gets easier to deal with.

4. -Internet Lag- 2 types of lag in my mind. The type where it spikes every 15 seconds and the type where it is non-stop 300+ ping, completely unplayable. Either way, it's gonna piss you off that your game is completely delayed and you can't do a damn thing.

3. -Mother Nature- The official Bitch of the gaming world. People who live where it rains and snows a lot know what I am talking about. Ever had a match night, and you see on the weather radar a nasty bunch of red almost right over you? Might think "Hey, at least I'm gonna be inside since I got my match tonight!", to yourself. During your match, you hear a huge blast of thunder followed by a bright flash of lighting.. then suddenly all your lights shut off, along with your computer. How do I react to this? I look up at my ceiling and say.. "really?"

2. -Family- I love my family to death, but there is a line on how much attention I need from them. Some times if I am playing CS when my parents get home, they come in the room and tell me the main points of what happened with them during work and other things they know I obviously don't care about. Other times they simply ask me questions about what's going on in my life, if I have a girlfriend, what my plans are for the weekend, if I got my homework done.. things along those lines. Lastly, I hate when my parents decide to watch movies or videos on Hulu, Youtube, or any site that can make me lag if they go to it. Also a download-happy brother when he's home from college.. UGH!

1. -PHONES- Last but not least, my biggest enemy while I'm gaming. Whether it's my cell phone or the house phone.. I can't go a simple hour without getting a pointless text or minimum 2-minute phone call. There's really nothing more to say about this one.


I put these enemies in this order due to all my experiences of them over the past 5 years. Feel free to post your own order also!