Well It's That Time Again

Time to start trying to write a novel. Now one of the things I immediately have to do is start mapping things out, then pretty much try to write it from start to finish without looking back at what I wrote. I always find it a problem that I have to go back and rewrite stuff at the back of my mind, but I really do need to just ignore it and keep going. I doubt I'll get all the way through, but if I can make it further than my last attempt, at least then I might be able to start seeing some self improvements.

I think with classwork and other stuff, I won't be able to go through all of it. But it's still a huge step, and I have to do it, even if that just means force feeding my self caffeine in order to stay awake. I guess more tips on the matter would help. I've heard you basically just need to force yourself through it, because the second you look back, you'll want to rewrite it like I have (this'll be the 5th time I try doing this).

Just wish me luck I 'spose.

Ratings

So the other day, some online friends and I got into a conversation talking about video games nowadays, and on a particular note, I remember talking about the rating system with games. It's not any news that nowadays, the system is awful. In particular, how the review scale is now pandered to journalists for the sake of money. Paid reviews tends to be a term thrown around for this, and it's truly sad how this is becoming more of a reality.

 

In particular, one of my favorite video games is one that I'd rate a 7 on the secondary scale. That still means the game is decent, but that there's also a share of problems with it as well. Even back when I was a kid, if I saw reviews, and I saw something got an 8 or 9, I could immediately tell that there was a decent amount of quality put into it. But the point of talking about this is that it isn't just in video games; it's spread throughout the media as well.

Many don't remember back when Youtube had a 5 star rating system (I do since I've had my account on there since early 2006, and one in late 2005 I forgot the name of). Nowadays, there's a like and dislike system. There's a reason for this: people mostly rated 5 stars or 1 star. 3 probably fell shortly behind them, with 4 brining up the rear, and then poor old 2 probably killed itself because no one cared about it. But when you throw out a bunch of 5 stars and 1 star, there's a clear classification with the mentality of people; "If I like this, I'll give it a perfect score," or, "I didn't enjoy this very much. Which means it's the worst thing I've ever watched in my entire life. Here's a 1."

It also feels the same for movies. "That movie got 3 stars out of 5, it must be garbage!" "A 7 out of 10? Must be average at best." Etc., etc. It's a strange mentality we've all developed. We always want to get the best of the best, and to weed away any garbage that comes our way, so that we don't have to waste our time being disappointed. There's something people didn't plan on with this though. Going back to games, with the constant 10s, 9s, and 8s, there is actually plenty of garbage that is out there.

Let me talk about sequels for a minute or two. Take Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Plus ghost, plus black ops, all of that. The setting changes very little, with small additions here and there to the series, and there is constant high ratings. It's not bad for a game to be like its predecessor, but the games themselves feel like they change the formula very little. 

Take Spyro and Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage. Both have similar gameplay, but there are many changes from the first game to the second. For example, in the first game, there is the inability to swim, where in the second game, you can immediately see water does not hurt you (don't touch water kids, you will lose a health point). There is also another mechanic in the second, where while gliding, pressing the triangle makes you do a small "hover" for extra vertical height, something where going back to the first one, is actually a lot more helpful than it sounds. Then with NPCs, temporary power up gates, a bonus for getting 100% that carries onto new game plus, proper bosses and more, the game feels very fleshes out.

Another example would be Super Mario Bros to Super Mario Bros 3. I don't even have to go into detail with how much of an improvement it is, to the point people still recite it as one of the best games ever made. More stages, being able to store power ups, mechanics to help you past hard stages, plenty of challenge, and more.

When I look at Modern Warfare 2 compared to the first, I see what feels like an expansion pack. There's some different layouts and stuff, more guns, etc., but that's exactly what an expansion pack feels like. Yet, reviewers rate it a straight 10 because they know it will get them views. The only change is that some rate it lower for the sake angry fanboys flooding their pages with views (have some more money from ad revenue and views, take that!)

I know I've been ranting for awhile, so let me wrap this up. The review system just simply not dependent. I'm not a fan of it. If I ever review something on this blog, know that if I give a game a 6, I still think it's good. I would like to throw out some reviews some time, there's no harm in that. But I do wish people would put more effort into reviews and rating games. Hell, Steam gave a game to reviewers, and showed off steam achievements, showing off how much progress they made it through. Only a small portion (less than 50%) played an hour's worth of a game. Even if some games are only really 4-5 hours in length nowadays on average, even playing under an hour shows just how much of a joke this really is. If I find the image, I will post it. Still, if anyone does read this, just realize what those reviews really mean; that 10 you see on a new game might've come from a guy who watched gameplay videos on youtube and/or simply looked at another person's review. Just a thought.

Goose's Crappy Introduction

Hey peoples, here is my Blagspat. People have probably made that joke at least 10 times by now, but I'm going to be the 11th member of the people that have said it. In fact, I looked on google for blagspat after type that, and got a couple results which a couple of sites going to some site that says it, so I don't know if that's an actual site or not. Don't actually try going to that site in case it's something bad, I don't want to be sued.

I'd like to introduce myself as Goose, or Geese, whichever works fine with me. Currently an English Major with Creative Writing focuses, hoping to one day write books, but first becoming an editor. I enjoy books and reading, but mostly focus on writing. I'd like to post some samples of my works here, even if I haven't had the most solid ground to stand on. There's plenty of ideas, but I either feel myself falling short of writing, or getting up to a certain point and stopping all together. My whole goal is to force myself to go even further beyond, like Goku and Super Saiyan 3. Or to be like Buzz and go to infinity AND beyond. I got to allow myself variety.

But this blog is for other stuff too. I'll be talking about the stuff that really matters. Real topical stuff. Like old video games you might've seen on the shelf at least once in Blockbuster when it still existed. Or Warcraft 3 maps you can't play anymore because Battle.net might as well be renamed Dotaland. Or Super Smash Bros with the best character Jigglypuff. Or stupid stuff on the top of my head, which is really what the former things were. Really, anything goes, except maybe politics. One of my friends told me to make this blog, so I'm off to a rough start here with little to say, but I'll figure something out.  You know who you are, and you're going to comment on these and like it.

So sit back, enjoy spending your time reading words on the internet while you ignore the work you have to be doing, and comment on my blog telling how bad it is. In all seriousness, I'll try to throw down stuff, and maybe you can tell me if it seems okay or not, give me some feedback. I do like feedback, even if it is negative. I can't please everybody, but I can improve myself slowly but surely.