Ok, so walking up the stairs to my office, there is a large hall covered in adverts, advertising the British College. I round the corner each morning and come face to face with a group of 4 larger than life models who are all grouped together in one of those ‘we’re so happy to be friends and to be here‘ poses. Now then, I’ve done this every morning for the past 6 months and I have seen the same sights…until now. Imagine my horror when I am casually walking up the stairs on a sleepy Monday morning to turn that corner and see one of the models eyes glowing. Yup, that woke me up pretty quickly. Turns out somebody poked holes in the picture and it captures the morning sunlight perfectly.
So, woe is me, I am ill this week and so, it will be a shorter post than normal (don’t you say that every week? – Ed): generally concentrating on catching up with what has happened in the past week. Plus it’s been one of those weeks where lots of small things happened which can’t really be expanded too much but that are still worth mentioning. However, I have decided to use today to unveil some information on one of my projects, something that nobody other than me has seen…so don’t say I’m not good to you (you’re not…if you were, you’d have had a regular post - Ed). However, that’s at the end, so read on! Never thought this blog would turn into a platform for me revealing everything that I’ve kept close to my chest.
My TV Debut
Ok, so onto my first piece of news: I am going to be featured in a television advert that goes across Nepal. Actually it isn’t my first time on TV but it’s my first time acting on TV. I even got makeup put on and everything…for the ad…not just for fun *cough*. You see, the college is having a major advertising drive and part of this, we will be advertising on the major TV networks in Nepal and as I am a western face, I was recruited. After getting my make-up on and having my hair made pretty, I was then escorted into a dark room with a well-lit corner where my first ‘acting’ opportunity waited…
I was to lose at chess. My first acting opportunity (other than dancing around half-naked in a towel during a school rendition of Grease) I was to lose, in one move, at chess. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t expect it to be an amazing role, but I always hoped it would be a zombie or a murder victim or at least win (perhaps not appropriate for a college advert – Ed). That said, it was fun sitting there and being told how to look defeated and that I should shake my head like this and not like that (although the guy who smiled at me when he beat me had a smile that said ‘I’ve won, now I will eat you’) and amazing to watch how they arranged all the different sets with lighting and such. Altogether, an amazing way to spend a Thursday afternoon…plus I’m sure it’s going to be a great chat-up line in the future:
Me: ‘Hey, did you know I lost at chess in a Nepalese advert…so do you want to take my king?’
Me: ‘Hey, did you know I lost at chess in a Nepalese advert…so do you want to take my king?’
Her: ‘So you’re a loser on TV as well as real life?’
Me: Sobs ‘Yes’
I think even as bad as chat-up lines are, that is just awful and I don’t even think it makes sense…but who cares right?
Semi-naked Canadian
Next thing is after at least 2 years, I finally spoke to my Canadian friend/nemesis Matt face to face. Well, on Skype at least but pretty sure that still counts. Arranged by his girlfriend, who had me wake him up, I then also saw Matt topless for the first time in around in two years as well. Despite the half nudity, it was amazing to catch up with him after so long: chatting about travel, anime and our lives. Probably the best way I’ve spent a Sunday evening in a long time…plus I even got to see Canadian donuts bought specially by Brandi during the phone call (I really have a craving for a good donut). I really need to make sure I don’t leave it so long again and I will need to travel out to see him soon…despite a 30h+ travel time.
Taekwondo and my unfortunate incident
For those who missed it on facebook, I started to learn an awesome new kick…but that’s not what you want to hear, is it? Fine, stop pressuring me! I’ll tell you! I got kicked square in the testicles…are you happy? One minute fine, the next smacked in the groin! I was being taught a fast defensive kick when he misjudged slightly and PAIN (HA! - Ed).
Ok, stop snickering…I also participated in the lesser known cool-down ritual known as Thriller…I’ve added a real-life reconstruction of my instructor and I going through the cool-down ritual.
Ok, so know that I have driveled on about my week, it is time to reveal some information about the project I’ve been working on. Now, I realize I’m hardly important and it’s not like I’m unveiling a new series of Firefly but it’s important to me so please keep sniggering quiet; arms in the vehicle at all times; and feedback constructive or at least funny!
Where the Wolves Wander
Ok, so I’m not going to reveal too much to begin with but what I will do is slowly drip-feed more information as time goes on, hopefully one day even being able to reveal some artwork/footage in the future. This is one of the first things I wrote and I’m continuing to add to it.
Brief outline: A part of the world has been destroyed and corrupted by the greed of its inhabitants. This one continent has long since been cut off from the world; a seemingly impassable mountain range rose up by the continents destroyers in one last act to try and redeem their mistake, splits the lands and along the coast is cut off due to storms and whirlpools.
Due to this, the desert continent has remained ignorant of the outside world but has survived in villages along the one main river that disappears underneath the mountains. The story centres round a 21 year old man whose village is killed by a corporation who seemingly looks after the rest of the world. Him and his future lover vow to get revenge but end up taking a path that will shape the future. Along the way, ancient powers are eventually unleashed from those who did the damage making amends.
A small group of outlaws go against a massive corporation after they instigated a massacre in their village. This group, having all met up, returns to Azriels mansion where they begin training in their respective areas, as well as some general areas. This then leads to them all becoming assassins but also a mercenary group that hires to people in need. They do this to gain allies and support in taking down the company. They slowly expand this school taking more people in...
Detailed Map: The world will be made up of six continents, the largest island split, four large islands and one group of islands. Each will have a different theme and there will be a section of the story for each continent (This may be extended depending on the number of series). These continents are as follows (in order):
1. The Desert - Sable
2. The Greenland – Terra firma
3. The Jungle/swamp – Republic of Hanzole
4. The tropical islands – Islands of rayliossa
5. The Ice continent - Forbordia
6. The Urban - Limbo
Main Organisations
Freedom for hire
The group of mercanaries that are made up of Vincent, Marie and the others. They start of small, hiring out to help those in need but with the main goal of over throwing the company. Eventually, they amass recruits and supporter
The Company
The main ‘bad guy’ organisation who are slowly taking over the world and are perpetrators of violent take overs. To have a proper name added
The Hands of Justice
The main organisation of assassins who remove those in rule or in business that are a threat to the order of society. They do not choose who replaces these people as they work only to keep the country people safe and do not want to alter democracy.
The Arms of Hell
The Fragmented group from the assassins who believe that they should run the countries and control the world to keep it safe. Whilst they are not necessary ‘evil’, they have a looser method and moral ethics than the Hands of Justice and end up clashing with them, the company and freedom for hire.
Pick of the week
Harvest moon:Back to Nature - Farming? *Spit-take* Farming?!? Hmm I don’t get enough opportunities for spit-takes in my life...probably a good thing but oh well. Where was I? Oh, yes! FARMING?!?!? Yes farming! I’ll be honest, when I first heard of it or even think about it today, I’m the same. A game about farming, essentially about doing chores, should not be this much fun…and yet, it’s more fun than you could ever have guessed. Back to Nature is the first Harvest Moon game I have played and I have now played many…but I keep coming back to it because it is just that good.
You take control of your little sprite and right at the start, you are given a farm in some weird way…though most often inherited off a relative and your new life begins. There is a sense of panic as you stare across your fields which have boulders, weeds and logs haphazardly strewn everywhere. No matter, you roll your sleeves up and start clearing a small space so you can plant your first crops and care for them until they can be sold and you can buy more crops and the process repeats, with the crops switching for each season. However, it’s not as simple as that…you need to plan: do you go for the crops that take ages to grow but have a huge payout? How about the crops that only need to be planted once and can be re-harvested? Sadly, they don’t sell for much though…
As you play, the complex layers begin to appear as crops are not even close to being the only aspect of this game. You have different animals to take care of: from a horse to cows to chickens to your ever faithful dog. Do you keep them inside and spend money on feed? Do you leave them outside and risk bad weather or marauding dogs? Perhaps you should spend more time gathering the local flora to sell or mining some ore to upgrade yours tools? Hell, how about a nice evening fishing?
Even the weather has to be brought into the equations with rain giving you a nice day off from watering all your crops but with a hurricane meaning lost buildings or destroyed crops. Winter, of course, means no farming and more time spent with the many other activities. Unless you have a greenhouse, of course. Which brings me to another aspect of this layered game: the buildings. You can, as you may have guessed, upgrade your farm whether by adding a barn (or increasing the size), building a bigger house or adding a kitchen to your home so you can cook. Yes, you can freaking cook! You need to eat of course, otherwise you may pass out and wake up late.
Finally, onto the second half of the game: the village and its inhabitants whom you will interact with on a daily basis and slowly shape the lives of. A main part of the game is meeting and befriending the inhabitants of the village and these are perhaps the most charming collection of characters that you will ever meet: from the friendly mayor to the sharp Karen to the Fat Gourmet. It is one of those rare games where it is genuinely a pleasure to meet most, if not all, the characters involved. By befriending the villagers, you unlock events and new items and even more villagers, which continues to increase the depth of this game. Finally, you can eventually marry the girl of your dreams and start a family which becomes a village event and then a yearly celebration.
The only real complaint I can think of (for some people) is the repetition as you are doing the same thing most days but even this can be a pleasure. You actually see the progress of the time and effort you put in via your crops or a clear field or a friendship: something that can be lacking from many of todays games. Even more impressive? It came out in 1999 and is over a decade old…and you know what? It’s a hell of a lot more replayable than most modern games. Keep an open mind and try it out…you might be surprised!
Music of the week
Hmm not sure who to pick this week...so I will go with Hypocrisy - Eraser. A brilliant band and pretty damn good live as well!
Well then, that's it for me...I am going to curl up on the couch with a sandwich and watch the final episode of Smallville...woo! Then tomorrow I can finally start Game of Thrones so I can finally
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