Marty: hey man
our feature is going up today
me: nice
Friday, April 27, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Crisis, News, Ennui
10:04 AM Marty: Did you get my panicked text?
10:05 AM me: I just looked at it. Busy morning and a drunk night
What's going to happen?
10:06 AM Marty: Think they're just doing news internally now
10:07 AM me: youch
so are you done done?
or are they giving you a week or something?
10:08 AM Marty: A week. And then they said they'll throw me features
me: wow
sorry, buddy
that super stinks
10:09 AM Marty: Ugh...its just shitty timing
It's like we have a Bundy curse re: jobs in this household
10:10 AM me: do you have an idea what kind of frequency you'll get features?
10:12 AM Marty:
Mmm a few a month at max I think. Enough to keep in the game, but not
enough to cover the loss. I have to readjust...replan...re-whore-
10:13 AM me: remember craig's list
and remember the wang shot
Marty: heh
So
our feature is still on. And we're going to kill it so GR will be all
"lets fire everyone but _____ and ______ and make John and Matt our main
content providers"
10:14 AM me: ha
10:15 AM do you want to solo the feature? do you want me to ghost write my half so you can get the whole payout?
i don't mind if you need the cash
Marty: Absolutely not
You're doing me a huge solid, so you get half the cash
thanks for the offer though
10:16 AM me: sure
Thursday, April 19, 2012
A Fez Review
Fez
I downloaded that over the weekend
It's a bit of a mind fuck
2:07 PM Like, it's so full of secrets and hidden stuff, it makes for an interesting diversion
As in, one room had a QR code you had to scan with a smartphone in order to get a special code that unlocks an item
me: what?? that's awesome?
wait, that's awesome!
Marty: Are you asking?
haha
2:08 PM Yeah...in another room you have to decipher ruins to find the exact button presses to open a door.
me: fuck yeah i love that stuff
Marty: The core concept is you are a 16-bit guy going around a 16-bit world that can be rotated on 4-different axis
me: that i did know
2:09 PM Marty: But the way they use it is genius
Its one of those games that makes you feel really smart
me: but i've kept away from reviews because i want to sit down with it
Marty: Right
me: ha nice
Marty: I need you to play this because I need help
It has its own language, and I have no clue how to decipher it
2:10 PM me: i'll climb that horse tonight or tomorrow
Marty: Yessir!
Plus (sorry, I love this game and was going to talk about it anyways)
me: give it to me
2:11 PM Marty:
Its one of those games where you start on one "screen" and just find
random doors...then half an hour later, you've gone through 10 different
doors, discovered some weird ass secret levels and are lost
But you love it because there's just endless doors to discover
Oh...and it simulates glitches to make you think the game has crashed
me: haha
Marty: Which...funny enough...the game is actually crashing for a lot of people. A patch is coming soon
2:12 PM me: wouldn't be current if it didn't either crash, have a kickstarter, or deliver a bile-spewing ending
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Mookery, SkullGirls, Being LeBronned, Ennui
Marty: Hey stranger. How goes?
me: it goes
10:21 AM i just explained this to a friend of mine, so don't be offended when i cut and paste
So here's what happened:
When I first interviewed in September or October, it turns out that the Assistant VP above my boss (a man I do not get along with) wanted Mr. X to get the job. Mr. X, though, did not meet the minimum qualifications and didn't get to the interview phase. _____ (this VP) was very unhappy with this, and felt the need to take this out on me for the last five months, but things were moving along as they always did. This is also taking into account that I asked ___ to be a reference for me the first time around, thus inciting a "sure I'll be your reference, if you're gonna fall in line" soul-sale that turns out wasn't necessary because he didn't want to hire me to begin with.
Fast forward to two weeks ago. My boss has been trying to keep me at arm's length from ___ and his cronies, especially for this new search that I had to go through. Turns out that the ___ wasn't having any of that shit, and forced his right hand man to be the chair of the search committee and insisting on meeting all of the interviewing candidates personally. Yes, you're right in wondering why he would do this if this isn't even a person he would be working with often since its a person reporting to a person under him. The evidence is starting to look heavy.
Last Wednesday rolls around, and I wander over to another building for my very informal interview. Wouldn't you know it, who do you think I run into on my way in there? Well, Mr. X, of course. The interview was clearly a courtesy extended to me for all of the hard work that didn't matter that I have done. At noon on Friday, I was given my exit day for this position. Now they have to figure out what to do with me while I look for another job.
Yep. Also, K had surgery on Monday to remove tumors from her right breast. They're benign, but we're waiting on other tests.
When I first interviewed in September or October, it turns out that the Assistant VP above my boss (a man I do not get along with) wanted Mr. X to get the job. Mr. X, though, did not meet the minimum qualifications and didn't get to the interview phase. _____ (this VP) was very unhappy with this, and felt the need to take this out on me for the last five months, but things were moving along as they always did. This is also taking into account that I asked ___ to be a reference for me the first time around, thus inciting a "sure I'll be your reference, if you're gonna fall in line" soul-sale that turns out wasn't necessary because he didn't want to hire me to begin with.
Fast forward to two weeks ago. My boss has been trying to keep me at arm's length from ___ and his cronies, especially for this new search that I had to go through. Turns out that the ___ wasn't having any of that shit, and forced his right hand man to be the chair of the search committee and insisting on meeting all of the interviewing candidates personally. Yes, you're right in wondering why he would do this if this isn't even a person he would be working with often since its a person reporting to a person under him. The evidence is starting to look heavy.
Last Wednesday rolls around, and I wander over to another building for my very informal interview. Wouldn't you know it, who do you think I run into on my way in there? Well, Mr. X, of course. The interview was clearly a courtesy extended to me for all of the hard work that didn't matter that I have done. At noon on Friday, I was given my exit day for this position. Now they have to figure out what to do with me while I look for another job.
Yep. Also, K had surgery on Monday to remove tumors from her right breast. They're benign, but we're waiting on other tests.
10:22 AM Marty: Oh shiiiiit
Buddy, that's rough
me: it is what it is
Marty: They guaranteed you a job no matter what though, right?
me: right
10:23 AM Marty: Or is that out the door now too?
me: i'll have something here, but they have to kind of construct something for me since they've already divvied up my old tasks
which is fine
10:24 AM Marty: But they are obligated
(i'm not skipping the breast cancer part...that's more important, just wanted to ask about job first)
me: no it's fine
Marty: But to clarify - there's no way you are going to be without a job
me: yes, they're obligated to keep me
no, i'm not being fired
just neutered
Marty: You are just choosing to look for a new job due to them being dicks
me: ight
right
Marty: Still...I would too
10:25 AM a-holes
me: i can't stay here. it's obvious that there's no place to go
and yes, my boss's boss is an asshat
i left early on friday and took monday and tuesday off for K
10:26 AM Marty: Understandable
That's maddening, man
But Kay is alright...they are benign?
me: yeah she's fine. surgery pain, but she's ok
10:27 AM she's
had some taken out about 6 years ago or so, so they're running a bunch
of tests to find out why and to make sure they don't come back again
very frustrating
Marty: Very happy to hear that
me: thanks
Marty: That's all that matters, right? Job schmob
me: you said it
10:28 AM i would gladly go back to waiting tables to get the f- out of here now
Marty: I know that feeling. But you're also sensible enough to stick it out for a good opportunity
Anything from ___by the way?
10:29 AM me: just the SkullGirls review from last week
which came exactly when i needed it
Marty: Right
Wait...you couldn't do that one, though.
Or did you?
10:31 AM me: i did. they sent me
the review code the day after the game came out. i played it all night
on Wednesday and turned in the review on Thursday afternoon
they ran it Fri
Marty: That's awesome...that's also a fairly high-profile game, too
me: yeah it's getting some attention, especially from the fighting game kids
10:32 AM Marty: That should be a good foot-in-the-door
10:33 AM Maybe this was all meant to be? Maybe now you'll find that games job you've been dreaming of
or something
me: i hope so
well, if this re-opens the door to more freelancing it came a pretty fucking good time
10:34 AM Marty: No kidding. It's good though that you still have a job. I think they even have to pay you the same, no?
me: no i'll go back down to working-man pay
10:35 AM though i did get a raise for it, i'll still be a worker bee
Marty: So why is this guy such a douchebag again?
me:
honestly, i think this is for the best. i didn't exactly love what i
was doing and would gladly find something else, i just wish it wasn't
handled like this
10:36 AM Marty: That's the rub...just not classy
me: just one of those cats that makes a judgment on you early and sticks with it no matter what else happens
right
i've been lebronned
Matthew: hahahaha
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
SkullGirls, Interviews, Stress, Almonds
in the middle of interviewing for the job i already have
i'm very stressed right now
eat more almonds, your body will thank you
that is all
Marty: Wha?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
A Xenoblade Review, McHale, Moving, The F-ing Cleveland Indians
Marty: ...
me: xenoblade is good stuff
Marty: hahah ok
I expect more post-poop
me: sit on that for a second while i go sit on something else
| 14 minutes |
1:06 PM me: ok, so i picked at it here and there over the weekend
1:07 PM after roughly 8 hours, i'm just barely past the opening rea
area
it's totally an offline MMO
Marty: In what sense?
1:11 PM me: it's huge, and there are something like 450+ quests in the game
1:12 PM i want to go home and play it right now
stupid work
Marty: sweet jeebus
But is it fun to play? Or is it JRPG-rific?
1:15 PM me: no it's a blast
1:16 PM i'm not that far into the plot so i can't go into that much detail about possible smelly JRPG bullshit, but so far it isn't bad
it rewards you to explore the areas
something i found i've been missing for a long time
i like uncovering maps and finding hidden stuff
1:17 PM Marty: Are they tangible rewards, like interesting things to see, or are they shards of McGuffins that add +1 stats
me: whenever you uncover a respectable portion of the map you get xp bonuses
1:18 PM there are even achievements in the game that also award xp bonuses
so maybe not tangible, but definitely useful and welcome
1:19 PM i like running around and doing lots of little quests, too
Marty:
Over 450 you say? That does sound pretty crazy. I've been reading
previews and it looks like something I should sit down and play when my
slate clears
1:20 PM me: i'll send it out to you if you want
but it looks like you'll need to clear out a lot of time
i think i'll probably hold off on buying witcher 2 no
now
Marty: Sure - that'd be awesome. Do you have any of the Wii Zelda games though? I'd rather give those a go first
1:21 PM me: i have skyward sword
you need a motion plus to play it
i have an extra i can loan you if you want
god knows i won't be using it
1:22 PM Marty: That would be awesome...I promise to return it in peak condition
1:23 PM me: see the joel mchale 3ds commercial?
1:24 PM Marty: No! I love Joel mcHale too
1:28 PM Marty: Ahahaha I love it. Love it
1:29 PM It bypassed all my cynicism barriers
1:30 PM me: mchale, man
i feel guilty that i only watch community occasionally
1:31 PM Marty: As you should
The last episode was pure genius
1:32 PM me: I freaking missed it!
i wound up getting dinner with friends of friends
but it wasn't their fault entirely, it's was the f-ing cleveland indians
thursday was their home opener and the fucking game went 16 innings
1:33 PM which means everyplace around me was packed and we couldn't get food anywhere
Marty: Sweet lord...isn't there some kind of "maximum innings" thing?
me: nope, and the dipshits LOST
1:37 PM Marty: How long was the game? Didn't you feel compelled to just leave?
1:38 PM me: well we walked into one place because it was taco night, but because the game lasted so long we couldn't get a seat
we eventually wound up someplace else, but this was after a lot of standing around and waiting
all of this at the expense of 30 rock and community
1:39 PM Marty: That's a high toll to pay. Especially when you see last weeks episode. Like a masterclass in comedy
me: i'll get to it
whenever i tear myself away from xenoblade i'll watch it
| 8 minutes |
1:48 PM Marty: Sorry dude...doing 10 things at once
Be right back
| 9 minutes |
1:57 PM Marty: So I finished the hardest part of ME2 on insanity
feeling pretty good
Shitty part is trophies aren't unlocking
me: yeah?
the ME games have that problem
i don't know why
1:58 PM Marty: So it will be my word against every else's if I actually do it
It's annoying. It downloaded this one...for me its grounds for refund
If I were cheap
Which I am
But I'm also lazy
1:59 PM me: but honest
you're next run through ME3 will be that much better for it
2:00 PM Marty: That's the plan
me: you do the shadow broker mission
?
Marty: Not yet - going to hit that up tonight
2:01 PM me: it's worth it
2:02 PM the other stuff wasn't so much from what i remember
Marty: I'm really enjoying my ME2 playthrough...that was a decent game
2:04 PM me: Oh yeah, 2 and 3 are great
the first one hasn't aged so well
2:05 PM Marty: I'm not even going to bother
2:06 PM me: I did it over the summer last year and I was hating myself almost every minute
2:07 PM not a terrible game, but not very good compared to the sequels
| 7 minutes |
2:14 PM Marty: Its the driving around scanning rocks that got me
me: oh yeah
Marty: For its time, it was an awesome game, but you're right - doesn't hold up
me: the space truck super sucked
| 46 minutes |
3:01 PM me: working on anything good?
3:02 PM Marty: Well GR gave me two more assignments...to do the same rumor feature for Xbox 720 and Wii
U
They gave me it today, with a deadline of friday, so I'm scrambling right now
me: geeet crackin'
you know that _______ moved to @Gamer?
3:03 PM Marty: no...no I did not
crazy
me: LinkedIn knows the score
| 9 minutes |
3:12 PM Marty: I guess it was for that editor position they were hocking a little while back
me: well good for him
3:13 PM maybe that frees up a spot over there for the both of us
3:14 PM Marty: Mayhaps. Did you apply??
me: it'll happen today
have to rejigger my cover letter
3:15 PM Marty: Nice. When is the deadline for applying?
3:16 PM me: no clue, but i'll do it today and not take any chances
| 18 minutes |
3:34 PM Marty: That would be awesome if you got it
3:35 PM me: i'm not holding my breath
just want to throw my hat in the ring
i almost -ALMOST- had a review lined up for the weekend
3:36 PM Marty: Dang...what was it? What happened?
me: they needed me to have a debug 360 to play skulllgirls
and...i ain't got one
3:37 PM Marty: bah humbug
who has a debug machine anyways?
me: yeah
Marty: I guess hardcore reviewers
me: no kidding
3:38 PM i was going to look into getting one after that, but at this point i don't think it would be worth it
3:40 PM Marty: Not unless you were getting consistent work, no
| 17 minutes |
3:58 PM me: nah just too late in the cycle
with rumors floating around that new tech is going to drop next year, i don't want to make the investment
plus, who would i sell that to when i want to get rid of it
3:59 PM Marty: I bet there's a niche market for that
me: yeah maybe
4:00 PM have i ever sent you the cover letter i used for ____?
4:01 PM Marty: Hah no, why?
4:02 PM me: i wrote it not caring if they were going to hire me or not
i think you'll get a kick out of it
4:03 PM just emailed it to you
4:05 PM Marty: Let me pay attention to this in full later on
I'm frazzled currently
4:06 PM me: oooook
| 22 minutes |
4:28 PM me: aaaaaand
I'm an applicant
4:30 PM Marty: Huzzah! Start your packing
| 5 minutes |
4:35 PM me: ha
4:36 PM i need you around me constantly for ego inflation
Marty: Seriously though. I think you have a great chance. And you should take it. Would your wife be open to moving?
4:37 PM me: i think so. we talked about it a little a few weeks ago
granted, we had a couple of drinks, and moving always sounds like a good idea after beer #3
Marty: haha
would she be able to relocate her job?
me: but i interview on wednesday for the job it have
and this might be a pack up of sorts
4:38 PM no, the bank she works for is only located in pittsberg and cleveland
she'd have to look for something new
4:39 PM Marty: It'd be a risk...but it would be a dream gig
Friday, April 6, 2012
Odd Texts, Insanity, Tetris Effect, Xenoblade, Canada
i'm going to pax next year
11:59 AM hell or highwater
Marty: Niceeeeee!
I like your moxy
Bring me?
me: you're always welcome on my trips to nerd meccaas
meccas
Marty: That means a lot
Hey, funny story
I wanted to text you last night, but thought it would be weird
12:00 PM me: how so?
you text me all the time
Marty: It was hard to describe over text
Anyways
me: o...k...?
Marty:
I was playing Mass Effect 2 on insanity last night. If you know
anything about insanity, you know Horizon is pretty much the worst
gaming experience ever
(apart from later sequences)
12:01 PM So after a couple hours, and one exploit, I finally beat it just as my wife was coming home from her shift
I swear to god, I honestly had flashes of health bars for the rest of the night
me: mwahahaha
Marty: Not, like, "thinking about them", but I would turn my head and see a health car for, like, a microsecond
I was actually concerned
12:02 PM I've never had that happen
me: is this kinda like the Tetris Effect?
Marty: I think so
me: i used to sort of have that with street fighter combos when SF4 came out
Marty: hahaha
Weird, right?
12:03 PM me: i couldn't sleep because i was constantly thinking "LOW FORWARD TO FIREBALL"
yes
weird and annoying
Marty: I was really proud of my accomplishment though
me: yeah, now you're a man
12:04 PM Marty: I think BioWare didn't plan its game based on insanity, so there's parts that are next to impossible
Coupled with the fact Shepard just decides to stand up at random from cover, it's a real bitch
me: i think a lot of developers are like that
balancing different difficulty settings is still kind of a foreign concept
12:05 PM it's not as easy as "give the bad guys more HP and more damage capability"
Marty: Agreed...and it seems very artificial...like "just give them more shields and take away health"
hahaha
me: i remember discussions like this came up around the time that Torchlight came out
12:06 PM it was kind of an easy game so people were playing it on harder settings
the devs noticed this and brought up difficulty balancing in a few interviews
that i can't possibly cite for you right now
Marty: I want notations!
Sources!
12:07 PM me: trust my encyclopedic knowledge
or faith
or whatever
anyway, i have a different problem
Marty: Which is?
me:
xenoblade comes out today, but now that i'm a dude with a wife and a
8-5, i'm now thinking there are problems with games that come out on
fridays
12:08 PM Marty: Hold up, you're working today?
Don't you guys get Easter off?
me: i'm going to leave here and probably go to the gym. but even if i didn't, i'm picking up the game on my way home
yep. church and state, man
i work for a public institution
Marty: So you do....or don't
me: oh i'm working
12:09 PM Marty: Effing heathens
me: or i'd be playing the game right now
Marty: Everything is closed here
That is a dilemma
me: anyway
Marty: You'll have plenty of time to play when the rapture comes and you are left behind, though
me: i'm going to grab it just
wow
got me there, kirk cameron
Marty: hahahahaha
Please don't
12:10 PM Tell me how that game is
I'm itching to use my Wii
me: ANYWAY
the problem is that i can't even play it today
i'll get it, go home, and my wife will immediately expect that i get in the shower and we go get dinner
which is fine, i'm not complaining
12:11 PM but usually with dinner comes a few drinks. then we come home and watch tv or a movie
then i'm too tired to care and go to bed
Marty: Whoa whoa "get in the shower"
You live a troubled life
me: i'm coming from the gym
imagine that i have the stankies
Marty: So you have all weekend
me: easter
12:12 PM i have to go to her grandmother's place!
Marty: Ack
me: SHE'S 9-EFFING-7
Marty: That's crazy
me: yeah
Marty: She won't know if you are playing Wii
Just say its how you celebrate Easter
me: ha
so you're saying that ___ is shut down for the day, too?
Marty: No, they work too
12:13 PM I'm in disbelief with you US folks
I got up early to do ___ stuff, cause I'm headed out for an NHL 2012 tournament at my buddy's house
Everyone else in Canada has the day off, so we're making it a boys day
me: sorry that we don't live in your puritan canadian utopia
12:14 PM Marty: Free Health Care, open values, AND more holidays
me: open valuse?
*values?
Marty: err...less "beating of gays and minorities"
me: is it still the swingin' 60s up there?
Marty: Dude, we're home of the gay parade
And yes, many orgies
12:15 PM me: there are quite a few gay parades here, i'll have you know
stupid
trivia: the town that i live in was the answer to an original trivial
pursuit question about the largest gay population in the US outside of
san fran
Marty: True dat. Which is good (honestly). I'm confounded by people who just can't let people enjoy life on their own terms
hahahaha I think you told me that
Very interesting
12:16 PM me:
i find it ironic that you are living in a country that gives everyone
off on the highest of high christian holidays but is much more tolerable
to gay rights
is gay marriage a-ok up there, too?
Marty: Absolutely
12:17 PM me: wow
utopian indeed
Marty: I mean, look, there's still push back, but we're like a progressive sitcom up here
If you DON'T have a gay friend, you aren't cool
me: well, you're certainly easy to laugh at if that's what you're saying
Marty: ...
me: LAY UP
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