Sunday, January 3, 2010
Hello! The first week of 2010 has past, and we're left with 51 more weeks of it, or if you think like me, many many many hours left. The year is still young! With all those weeks left to come and go, no one can be certain about what to expect from the year.But still, there's always those fixed things that are sure to happen, and we can always look forward to them. Here are, in no particular order, 10 things that I'm looking forward to this year.
1) Turning 18
If you've been reading my previous posts, you probably already know how excited I am about turning 18. I mean, being 18 years old is sort of a big deal. Remember when we were all in primary school, and when we met someone who was 18 years old, we'd all be in awe.
Now it doesn't feel all that amazing to be the age, but the privileges you get are still pretty cool. There are no many age restrictions left for you. M18 movies and games, drinks, cigarettes are now legal if you purchase them.
You get to learn how to drive. And despite the fact that sex has been legal since you were 16, girls tend to get a bit more relaxed about the whole thing when they turn 18.
Of course, turning 18 also means that you're getting older, so that means more responsibilities, and you're expected to behave better since you are no longer a minor, meaning you can be arrested.
We're also a year closer to NS, getting married, having kids, and dying. But still, I am really looking forward to turning 18. My parents have been treating me like an adult since I was 15, but now I really am closer than ever to being one, so soon they won't even be controlling me any longer.
So basically, the reason why I'm looking forwards to 18, is not just for all the added perks in life, but also due to the fact that soon, I'm going to be free. Really free, not that false sense of freedom your parents give you throughout your early teenage years. It's going to be worth the wait.
2) Year 2 in TP
I love Temasek Polytechnic. I ain't saying that because I'm being forced to. I really love the place, from the bottom of my heart. To me, TP is a place of energy, happiness and fun. It's a place where I can be myself, a place where I can actually enjoy learning.
I'm almost done with a whole year in CMM. Back then, when I was applying for my course, I was selecting a course, I was really unsure. Now, I have no regrets. Getting into CMM was one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Besides being able to do what I am passionate about, I got the opportunity to meet a whole lot of awesome people, do things that I have never done before, a really develop into a better individual. If I had applied for a different course, or even for JC, I don't think I would really be this happy with life right now.
Year 1 is not yet even over, and I am already looking forward to year 2. It was just the basics which we were learning this year, and next year, we get to do all the cool stuff. The fact that we get full access to the MediaBiz Studios, possibly the coolest place in all of TP, is more than enough to psych me up.
3) Learning to Drive
Hello, this isn't just anything, it's driving! Everyone should look forward to this. My parents are fully supportive of me learning how to drive, and they want me to enroll as soon as possible. And seeing how the new driving law has yet to be passed, I can still learn it as soon as I turn 18!
I am seriously hoping that I can pass on my first attempt. I've been sitting at the passenger seat in my dad's car since I was in kindergarten, so I've spent a whole lot of time watching how he drives. Singapore streets aren't that big an issue either because I can remember how to get to many of the locations I've been to before.
Once I passed, my dad claims that he'll loan me his car on several occasions. I'm guessing that I'll become his chauffeur. But it doesn't matter, because I would be able to drive. Until I save up enough cash for a second hand ride. Just a few more thousands :D
4) All the New Games + Natal
It has been happening every year since the start of this generation, and it is no different for 2010. No matter how crazily awesome one year's line up of games may seem to be, the next year will be better.
2009 was undeniably a great year for gamers, with huge titles like Modern Warfare 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 being released, but 2010 is already shaping up to be more epic.
As some of you might have heard, a whole lot of games due holiday 2009 were delayed thanks to Modern Warfare 2. The game had an insane amount of hype surrounding it, so many developers decided that it was pointless competing with it.
These delays may have sucked last year, but seeing how many of them are due this year, I am not complaining.
2010 already started off well with Bayonetta, which many critics claim to be the best action game yet, and the rest of the year is looking fine with tens of awesome games due for release, like Halo Reach, Dead Rising 2, Final Fantasy XIII and Bioshock 2.
To top it all off, 2010 is the year that Microsoft will be releasing Natal, its much anticipated motion sensing camera. Natal isn't just another accessory for the Xbox 360; it's almost like a new console on its own.
Sure, it needs to be plugged into the 360, and it works in conjunction with 360 games, but Natal really opens up new doors for developers and gamers alike. Yes, I am kind of disappointed that Natal is considered the next Xbox, and that there isn't going to be an Xbox 720 any time soon, but the idea of Natal is quite interesting, don't you think?
5) Games Convention Asia 2010
I went to GCA for the first time in my life last year. I almost got an orgasm. It has always been a dream of mine to be able to attend E3 on day, ever since I first read about in back in 2004. Well, I can't say that my dream was fulfilled, but it was definitely a satisfying experience being able to attend a game convention.
Believe it or not, I didn't know GCA 2009 was even taking place when I was at Suntec. I was watching a movie later that day, and I had gone to Marina Square earlier to get tickets. After a while I got a stomach ache, and I remembered the nice, clean, spacious toilets in the Suntec convention hall.
So I headed down to Suntec and this huge yellow sign board caught my eye. It was for GCA 2009, and when I saw the dates, I realised that it had just begun that day. So I went up, signed in, and I forgot all about my stomach ache. I attended GCA 2009 for three of its four days.
Aside from getting to play games which were yet to be released, I also got to enjoy the discounted prices for games and memberships, and of course, let us not forget about the awesome cosplayers.
This year, I'm looking forward to attend all four days of GCA. And with games like Halo Reach, Metal Gear Rising and the much anticipated Project Natal expected to make appearances, I am more excited about it than ever. I also haven't forgotten about my plan to go dressed as a Big Daddy!
GCA 2010 will take place from 8th-12th September 2010 at the Suntec Convention Hall. Which is great for me, because it conveniently takes place during the polytechnic holidays. But damn it, it takes place during everyone else's holidays too so I guess I'm going to have to fight for a chance to play games with dumb secondary school kids.
Anyways, if you are a gamer of any sort, you owe it to yourself to be there! It may not be all that epic, but it's still the closest we'll ever get to E3, and it isn't going to be held in Singapore every year, so enjoy it while we still can.
6) Buying a PS3
Oh what is this? Shiva, the Xbox 360 fanboy, is thinking of getting a PS3? Alright let me get one thing straight. I ain't a fanboy. I stopped being one ever since my brain got developed enough to think properly.
I respect the Playstation 3. Sure, this generation hasn't exactly been a good one for it, but it still managed to persevere on. If it was anyone other than Sony, they'd have killed off the console by now. But they didn't, and now, the PS3 is finally starting to pick up.
Make no mistake, the Xbox 360 is still going to be my main gaming platform, because I grew up with Microsoft consoles and I am really familiar with them. I want a PS3 because I feel that there are finally games exclusively on the PS3 that are worth trying. These include inFamous, Metal Gear Solid, and of course, Uncharted 2.
Also, the PS3 has Wi-Fi, an Internet browser, and it is also a Blu-Ray player. While its motion wand thing isn't a big a deal as Xbox 360's Natal, I am still pretty intrigued by it. If nothing else, you have to admit that it looks pretty damn sexy.
With the PS3 Slim now out, I'm just waiting for the God of War 3 bundle to hit stores, then I'll try to convince my brother to help me buy it.
I am still never ever buying a Wii though, because it is shit.
7) Perth Trip
Yes, I'm going to Perth this year! But I'm not going there as a holiday with my family or anything. I signed up for an exchange programme between my course and the University of Western Australia.
The trip will be taking place in late March, and it spans three weeks. Now, the trip isn't cheap at all, costing $3000, which only covers air fare and lodging, but I'm really glad that my parents allowed me to go.
It's all about learning new things and making new friends. Also, we won't be supervised at all after the first few days, and we are CMM people, so let's just say that its going to be crazy shit. Really looking forward to it.
8) Epic Journeys
The blacknight thoroughly looks forward to this. Ever since the term of the second, our marry party hast been heading out on journeys of the epicest sort. To the suspending bridge in the sky we travelled. To the kingdom of great foods along the East Coast we went. The discovery of the great lower reservoir of the Peirce. And let us not forget the magnificent barrage of the Marina.
A new year hath dawned upon us, and the blacknight hast foreseen in his dark rift portal the future. And the future consists of numerous new journeys. The memories of our future are still bleak for majority of us, and it is up to us to bring the hammer upon the anvil of our minds, and forge eternal memories.
We shalt hath epic journeys in this tenth year of the 2000s, and we shalt start the new decade with good times to remember. Impromptu or planned, the blacknight is up for them all. All thou hast to do is send the Blacknight a sign, and he shalt come riding on his worthy steed, Ruin.
9) A4 Album
Yes, this is one of my New Year resolutions, but it was only when I told my band mates about it that I got more enthusiastic about it. This will be an epic album, featuring both original songs as well as covers.
We are an awesome band, and bands like ours aren't common. After all, how do you combine two classical guitars, a violin and a ukulele together and make music that people would actually want to listen to? But I prefer it this way, because when we come up with songs, we really have to be creative.
We have already decided that we have to make songs based on our moods at various periods of time, and several songs may even be created overseas, during the Perth trip. If we can all finish the album by Christmas 2010, it'll be the best Christmas present I have ever received.
10) Love
Yes, that is pretty self explanatory. It's been more than a year since I last had it, and I am really missing the feeling. While I am alright on my own most of the time, there are some times when I really need someone. We all do. After one whole crappy year, I'm hoping 2010 will be a better one for me.
So there you have it, 10 reasons why I'm thinking 2010 will be an awesome year. Now I got to get back to my assignments, things are really starting to get busy! Check back soon, and thanks for reading :D
posted @ 11:18 PM
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Saturday, January 2, 2010
Oh hoho, hello there. It's the second day of the new year, the second day which I unfortunately spent at home. Still, it wasn't too bad, because my cousins came over and we had a whole lot of fun.My sister had this prayer/ceremony thing this morning, so my relatives had to come. Me waking up at 8am on a Saturday morning is a very rare happening, but it happened today. My relatives started coming in as early as 9.45am.
As always, I was the photographer for the day. My dad was really excited about the whole thing, so he made me take a whole lot of photos. If I'm not wrong, I ended up with 300-400 photos of the ceremony alone.
Once the thing was finally over, I got my chance to do some crazy shit with my cousins. I would describe everything we did, but we all know a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll leave it all up to you imagination :D
The day ended well, with me completing Mass Effect after months and months of procrastination. See, I am working hard at fulfilling new year resolution number 5! Anyways, I finally completed, and now I can see why critics all over the world agree that it is the best game this generation.
The game has been over the top from the beginning, but the final level really blew my mind. It's one of those incredibly rare moments in video games when they go from being "awesome" to "WHAT.THE.FUCK.EPIC."
So I've been chasing this traitor called Saren throughout the galaxy, and when I finally manage to access his lab, I find out he's just a pawn in a much greater plan. It turns out that this extinct race of machines, known as the Reapers, were not as dead as everyone was hoping for them to be.
I encounter one in Saren's lab, and it reveals everything to me. A confrontation with Saren follows, and the bastard admits that he knew about everything, but he willingly let the Reaper modify and use his body. A shoot out breaks out, and he runs away after I destroy his shields.
I quickly head back to the Citadel, which is a central hub for the Alliance, which is a joint operation force consisting of hundreds of races from all over the galaxy. I report to the Councillors, which the three heads of the Citadel, but they deny the existence of the Reapers, and they lock down my ship, preventing me from leaving the Citadel.
But you know what, fuck it, I'm a badass human who doesn't take no for an answer, so with the help of my former captain, I get the ship back online and I travel with my crew to this planet called Ilos, which is where this artifact called the Conduit is supposed to be at, and I don't know what this thing is yet, but I can't let Saren get his alien paws on it or the galaxy is screwed.
So I get to the planet and I order my pilot to drop our all terrain vehicle, the Mako, right on top of Saren and his troops. They manage to avoid us, and they lock us out. After a minor detour, I bypass the security, and I venture into an underground ruin.
Halfway through, force fields appear, trapping me and my squad. An elevator activates to my right, so I get in. It takes me down to the lower levels of the ruins, and I encounter an ancient AI known as the Watcher. The Watcher explains to me that the Conduit is actually a back door to the Citadel, and Saren is planning to use it to allow the hidden Reaper fleet to ambush the Alliance.
That cannot do! So I get back into the Mako, with a counter code for the Alliance from the Watcher, in case Saren gets inputs his code first. I drove the Mako back to ground level, and then off a cliff in a desperate attempt to save time.
Crash landing into a man-made trench, I sped the Mako towards the Conduit, which starts to glow an intense blue in the distance. There is heavy resistance, but any one foolish enough to stand in my way gets to meet the front bumper of my vehicle. Finally, I reach the Conduit and I drive the Mako straight into it, transporting my squad to the Citadel.
Unfortunately, Saren gets there first.
At this point of time, I was greeted by this epic cutscene. Saren's ships appear through ripples in space, and soon an entire armada is heading for the Citadel. The Council is evacuated, but they come under heavy fire. Saren quickly seals of the Citadel, and his ship, Sovereign, which was the Reaper whom I encountered earlier, attaches itself to the central control room of the Citadel, ready to open transport channels for the Reaper fleet.
All hope seems lost, but then suddenly, my Mako gets through to the Citadel, splattering several enemies as it crashes through its portal. I hurry out with my squad, and we take a lift up to the central control room, but Saren shuts it down. There is no time to waste, so we put on our space gear, and smash out of the lift.
With zero gravity in the environment, the whole game goes vertical as we walk down the inner walls of the maintenance duct. Saren throws his most formidable guards at us as we make our way towards the central control room, but they quickly go down under the combined firepower of my squad.
Finally, we get into the control room, just in time as well. Saren leaps onto his glider and starts firing missiles at us. Using a combination of evasive maneuvers and special abilities, we bring him down, and I order the Alliance to strike the Reaper. The Council ship was in the way, but I ordered the Alliance fleet to ignore their distress signal. They were bastards anyway.
The Reaper retaliates, and he modifies Saren's corpse, turning it into a mechanical, spider-like creature. We kill him again, the Alliance destroys Sovereign and the Reaper, and all ends well. The Council is dead, and a new Council needs to be elected. Being a hero of the galaxy, I nominate my Captain to be the new head.
Now all I've got to do is wait two weeks for Mass Effect 2! I cannot wait! JANUARY 26.
posted @ 10:58 PM
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Friday, January 1, 2010
Oh wow, it's the first day of 2010! Think about it. A freakin decade has past. This is the first year that's ending with a two digit value, unlike the past ten years. If you ask me, this day is significantly more significant than yesterday.And check this out people. 2010 marks the year I turn 18! Like, I'm almost free! Just 3 more years to the big 21. And like 7 more years until I get married! 18 is an awesome age to be. I can do everything I have been doing for the past four years, but legally! How awesome is that. Also, 18 year old birthday parties are crazy shit, so I'm looking forward to that.
So, as we all usher in the new year, everyone will be busy writing down their new year resolutions. First, let me say that I do not see the point of setting resolutions, since you're going to break them next week anyway, but I do admit that they're fun to do.
Let's see how I did for last year. Here were my resolutions, which I set around this time one year ago:
1) Fulfill all my other new year resolutions. Obvious fail.
2) Learn to understand people more and treat everyone better. A partial victory? I understand some people more, but I know I did somethings that hurt some people as well.
3) Complete the script for my first game and get a copyright for the series. Ok so I was really ambitious. A bit too ambitious I guess. Still working on it.
4) Avoid spending cash so impulsively. Hoho, fail.
5) Get bigger arm muscles and more visible stomach and back muscles. Hmm, my arm muscles got smaller, but I did fulfill the other two.
6) Get my Gamerscore past 20 000. Success! 23,065G.
7) Do well in my studies and submit everything on time. Another win.
8) Abstain from sex D: Hmm. Oh well. This was a stupid resolution anyways.
9) Get my family members and close friends birthday presents regardless of whether they get me anything or not. I'm way too nice. I did it for some, but not for all.
10) Complete every one of my games. Definitely have more complete games now, but still a long way from achieving this.
11) Clean, paint and re-decorate my room, and I must maintain it. Yes I did this :D
12) Improve my [non-game related] memory and at least remember every one's birthday. Believe it or not, I do remember birthdays now!
13) Avoid being an Xbox fanboy. I must be neutral. Yep, and I'm even thinking of getting a PS3 now. The Wii is still shit though.
14) Grow taller if possible :D I'll be happy once I reach 1.95m. I'm not that height, but I've definitely grown.
15) Eat less meat or else I'm going to die soon. Fish and chicken are alright, but less of everything else. I've begun eating less altogether, so I guess we can count this one as a success.
16) Get a new amp and start playing my guitar more seriously. Check.
17) Complete my Animorphs book collection. Only 5 more books from the main series and 8 more side story books. Damn it, only 3 more freakin books!
18) Find that elusive game The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and buy it. The epic island-wide search ended in sweet success.
19) Get at least a silver for napfa test. Oh what the f I don't even have a napfa test. I probably wrote this because I wanted to go to JC that time.
20) Buy everything I want with my own cash, not my parents cash. Yes, as much as it sucks, I did it for the most part.
From that, we can conclude that 1) I fail at keeping to things and 2) new year resolutions are meant to be broken. Out of the 20 resolutions I set for myself at the start of last year, only 9 were really fulfilled. Well, 9 is better than nothing I guess.
Here are my new 20 resolutions for 2010, and this time I'll actually attempt to stick to them:
1) Stay on the Directors Honour List
Like I mentioned yesterday, I have a spot on the list, thanks to my results from last semester. It's not going to be easy, but I have to work hard and stay on the list if I want a chance at going to University. Competition is strong, but I'm going to try my best.
2) Exercise
This time, it's not for anyone else but myself. I'm talking about both cardio and weights. Now I'm thinner than I ever was before, and I'm at the ideal size to build up. I'll need to do up a detailed exercise plan. Aside from visiting the gym at least thrice a week, I'm going to be jogging everyday, and I've decided to start swimming again.
3) Be An Optimist
Yes, I have been trying to see the bright side in everything that I do, but I don't think I have been trying hard enough. I was hit pretty badly by several things which happened last year, and let's just say I wasn't able to handle my emotions that well for those periods of time. So this year, I have to be optimistic.
4) Plan My Finances
I'm lucky when it comes to money, because I've never ever had a problem with it. My parents give me enough cash, and when I'm running low I can always ask for more. Still, I spent my allowance way too fast throughout last year. This year, I have to plan. Money for school, money for games, money for clothes, money for going out, and hopefully I'll have a little left over to save.
5) Stop Procrastinating
We're all guilty of procrastinating, even though we know too well how unhealthy it can be. I have always been a supporter of last minute work, mainly because I work better under pressure, but it will be nice if there could be a day when I know that my project is due in a week, but I've already completed it.
6) Be A Nice Guy
Alright, according to many of you out there, I'm generally a nice guy. I plan to keep it that way. It's true that nice guys are always trailing behind the assholes when it comes to certain things, but it's the nice guys that get the things that really matter. After all, everyone deserves respect, regardless of who they are.
7) Help My Parents
I think I've been pretty well behaved over the past year. Two arguments with my dad, and a few with my mom, but other than those, I haven't done anything to make them raise their voice at me. They've already done enough with raising me, so I feel that it's time I help them. This includes housework, doing well in my studies, helping with my siblings.
8) Develop A Sense Of Urgency
People who know me, especially those who have been in the same project group as me, will know that I lack a sense of urgency. This may be good, because I hardly get stressed, but it can also get me killed one day. So for the sake of myself and for everyone around me, I will develop one.
9) Become More Independent
By being more independent, I'm not talking about going out more or being responsible for my actions. I'm talking about going places myself, without my dad having to give me a lift. I also want to do my own chores, like ironing my own clothes and keeping my own room clean, and it would also be great if I could earn my own money rather than take it from my parents.
10) Get A Job
So in order to earn my own cash, I have to get a job. I've applied for several jobs in the past, but I've never gotten a real job. I'm not looking for food & beverage or service job, because the pay isn't all that attractive. Instead, I want to give tuition to primary school kids. Since my mom is probably going to start giving Maths and Science tuition soon, I might as well start giving English tuition to her students.
11) Stop Being Lazy
I have been lazy since the upper primary. This is a habit that's near impossible to kick nowadays, but I think I'm improving. Instead of lying around at home, I'd rather head out even if I have to purpose to do so. I also prefer walking around rather than taking public transport, if the distance to my destination isn't too ridiculous.
12) Understand People Better
I used to think that I understood people well, but 2009 showed me that I still have a long way to go. I tend to read between the lines sometimes, and I have also insulted people without realising it. I'll be working on this one.
13) Learn To Rollerblade
I've only done it once in my life, but it was fun! Sure, I fell, but that's the only proper way that you can learn. I've been looking for a pair in my size, and I found several, but their prices were a little too steep for me. I'll probably request a pair for my birthday. Once I own them, I'll be skating everyday until I'm good enough for the skate park at East Coast Park.
14) Become A Better Photographer
I've always had an interest in photography, but I didn't pay special attention to it because 1) I didn't own a proper camera back then, and 2) I have a greater interest in producing videos. But ever since I got my DSLR this year, my interest in photography has been steadily increasing. Now, I'm familiar with the basics and settings of the DSLR, but I'm still not that satisfied with my photos.
15) Maintain Friendships
The past 12 months taught me how to value my friends more. All it takes is for one small mistake, and friendships can be hurt. Everything is well now, except for one friendship which I'll have to work on mending, but I would like 2010 to pass without me have a single argument with any of my friends.
16) Eat Healthy
My parents have always been telling this to me, but it took me 17.5 years to finally understand. I've seen too many of my older relatives ending up in the hospital for a blocked artery or liver problems. It's all got to do with what you put into your mouth. And it's not just the meat stuffs that can harm you. Alcohol, sugar, cream, the list goes on and on. Got to watch what I eat because I want to live long.
17) Resurrect The SD
Last year was a tough on for the Sex Demon. Love has been harsh, and the SD's confidence has definitely been battered. But things took a turn for the better around the time of Christmas, and the I slowly feel that ol' caged beast reemerging. Time to become a player again.
18) Produce An A4 Album
Pssst, let me let you guys in on a secret. I'm one quarter of an acoustic band. Of course, my instrument of choice is the guitar. A4 is still young, and we may not have the instrument playing skills of many others, but yet we were able to produce a decent sounding song in less than two hours. Practice band mates, and we'll write more songs over the next year. Hopefully by next Christmas, we'll have a full album!
19) Be Safe
Yes so, abstinence is too strong a word. Still, I'm all prepared for it. But if something does happen, we always have to remember to be safe. I know there's more thrill without protection, but it's just stupid to not take precautions. This should be on every one's resolution list by the way.
20) Wait
Some of you may know what I mean, some of you may not. I tried to forget after that day, but I just can't. And as hard as I tried, I can't have that sort of feelings for anyone else now. I don't know how long it's going to take, or even if it's ever going to happen, but I can wait.
So there you have it, my new list of new year resolutions. Like I said, things on this list are meant to be broken, but I'll try harder to stick to them this year. We'll see how I did a year from now.
In the meantime, I've got to go and enjoy being 18 man! I'm only going to get to be 18 once in my life, so I need to go crazy for a bit. Really excited to see what's in store for me in 2010, and I have a feeling that I'm really going to enjoy myself this year.
So my dear readers, usher in the new year with me. For those of you who are 18 this year, congratulations, for those below or above the age, you really got to try harder.
Alright before I go, you might have noticed that I blogged yesterday, as well as today. You know what that means? Shiva is going to return to blogging everyday again. This blog has been dead long enough, time to type some life into it! Check back tomorrow people :D
posted @ 10:40 PM
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