Gaming/fandom babble and holiday re-cap
Pretty much disgusted at Maple Story at the moment. My Priest's 110 now and even the 4th job thread at Sleepywood.net isn't enough to motivate me to deal with hackers. It's just sad for me because I have loved the game and the people I've met through it, but it's painful to play now. If Nexon doesn't get their ass in gear I may end up quitting. Nostale is my temporary escape, and we'll see if it wins in the end. That'll really depend on Nexon.
But Nostale is really nice, too. It's an open beta so the community's much like R.O.S.E. Online was back in its beta, and what I imagine Maple Story beta was like given the nostalgia that always comes up from beta-ers. I've got my first sorcerer, but not sure if I'll have her be a support magician--she shares my Priest's name. And I have another named Akra I could make into an offensive mage...
Gaming aside, it was a good Christmas. We (me + siblings) did all the food this year to keep my mom from having to do it. (She had her gallbladder removed under emergency circumstances a couple weeks ago and has only now started to feel like herself again.) Mom was so appreciative for this, and it was nice to see her get to relax for once. And the theme of relaxation stretched to me--I didn't have an extensive list so many people thought of things on their own. I got a lovely jasmine/ylang bath set and had a 2 hour bath yesterday using the salts. ^__^ It was wonderful. I got these pillow things with stuffing that can be chilled or heated: one for my eyes (exclusively lavender-smelling), a random rectangle and a crescent moon-shaped one for my neck (both smelling of 10 scents according to the label, but I think the dominent ones are the spearmint and chamomille). Haven't used any of these yet, but plan on it soon. I also got a gift certificate to a spa-like place so I may get a massage again there, or do something different--not sure yet. And what is a strong candidate for my favorite present is a brand new, ultra-fuzzy and warm blankie. ^___^ Now I can leave my other one on the rocking chair my kitty loves to sleep on. (I don't use the heat in my apartment unless it gets into the 20s or maybe 30s. I grew up here in Seattle so I'm fairly used to anywhere from the 40-60 degree range.)
I got/will be getting the few things I actually managed to come up with in a list for amazon.com. Meteos is a fun DS puzzle game--I'd describe it as part Bejewled part Tetris, maybe? It requires the stylus though. Tamagochi Corner Shop 2 is fun too, if slightly repetative both in dialogue and activities. I like some of the shops better than others, but overall it's a fun little casual game to play on my way home from work. (I've really enjoyed the floral shop--except for wreath diagrams that lie, and the boutique despite my having no ability whatsoever to sew in real life.)
Been listening to L'Arc En Ciel's album Awake that Tofu Records put out, and like it. I only buy CDs anymore if it's something iTunes doesn't have, so what Tofu Recrods ones I could get away with putting on the amazon wishlist I did. (I really wanted to put Hyde's album Faith on my list, also put out by Tofu Records, but there was no way I was trying it. My mother works in a Catholic church rectory and both she and my dad are devoutly Catholic. Either I was going to have to not say anything and let them assume that I've "come back" and become an actual Catholic as opposed to a recovering one, or explain to them that often the use of blatently Christian symbolism in Japanese things--I mean, the album's cover is Jesus' crucified head--hence isn't indicative of my spirituality in the slightest. Neither option was worth getting the CD for Christmas.
But I'm going to be getting 3 other presents sometime in January, because Amazon didn't have them in. A book I've wanted called "E" (the entire book is a series of e-mails--me, internet addict? Never. ^_~), Yoko Ishida's album All of Me (also Tofu Records), and a DS game called Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney - Justice for All. Now this last one is what I'm jumping up and down in anticipation for. I finished the first Phoenix Wright game...I want to say 1 month to 1.5 months ago? Maybe 2 months, I don't really remember. But I loved Trauma Center and I loved this for the style of gameplay alone, BUT... ^_~
I was extremely pleased to know my yaoi senses tingling was not a fluke or malfunction, as I looked up Phoenix Wright under LJ interests and found that a yaoi fandom DOES in fact exist, albeit a small one. Which I actually don't mind all that much, given my main fandom--104--is CLAMP and hence huge. If I had to keep up with a second huge fandom it'd be a not happy thing. Not that I plan on actually being active in the fandom like I am with 104--it's going to be something for me to just enjoy on my own. I really don't think I could properly write or RP Phoenix or Edgeworth--though I do feel pangs of regret that the Edgeworth was inactive and hence cut from Moksa U. I might have been TEMPTED to take up Phoenix, even if I'd suck as him. Not similar enough to me, unless we're talking about the state of our apartments... >_>;;;; Watanuki and Hisoka are much more my speed.)
So yes, much looking forward to getting the new PW. I loves me some subtext, and it doesn't get more subtext when a character chooses something major like his career based on the actions of his friend that moves away. God, can you get anymore shoujo genre than that? That's TRUE LOVE, yo!
*cough* Okay. Must stop with the fangirling as still at work and would like to finish up more of it. ^^;;;;
EDIT: I forgot to say, I laughed my ass off when I found out Phoenix's family name in the Japanese game is "Naruhodo". I was practically giddy, and I think it's only partially the pun itself. It was really...nice, "getting" a Japanese pun without having to be told what the pun is. Maybe someday I really will study Japanese seriously, when I've stopped having other things I need to do. In the meantime, if the second game is as good as the first (and I have high hopes it will be) I may pay the import charges to get the 3rd game if it's got English subtitles as I read the 2nd one does. If I can play Super Robot Wars in original Japanese I can do PW menus easy.
Oh! That reminds me. Frank got me Super Robot Wars: Original Generation for the GBA for Christmas. Lovin' it, but I cannot begin to describe how sureal it is to actually play a SRW game in English. I keep having to stop myself from skipping through the dialogue since I can actually UNDERSTAND IT!!! *le gasp*
But Nostale is really nice, too. It's an open beta so the community's much like R.O.S.E. Online was back in its beta, and what I imagine Maple Story beta was like given the nostalgia that always comes up from beta-ers. I've got my first sorcerer, but not sure if I'll have her be a support magician--she shares my Priest's name. And I have another named Akra I could make into an offensive mage...
Gaming aside, it was a good Christmas. We (me + siblings) did all the food this year to keep my mom from having to do it. (She had her gallbladder removed under emergency circumstances a couple weeks ago and has only now started to feel like herself again.) Mom was so appreciative for this, and it was nice to see her get to relax for once. And the theme of relaxation stretched to me--I didn't have an extensive list so many people thought of things on their own. I got a lovely jasmine/ylang bath set and had a 2 hour bath yesterday using the salts. ^__^ It was wonderful. I got these pillow things with stuffing that can be chilled or heated: one for my eyes (exclusively lavender-smelling), a random rectangle and a crescent moon-shaped one for my neck (both smelling of 10 scents according to the label, but I think the dominent ones are the spearmint and chamomille). Haven't used any of these yet, but plan on it soon. I also got a gift certificate to a spa-like place so I may get a massage again there, or do something different--not sure yet. And what is a strong candidate for my favorite present is a brand new, ultra-fuzzy and warm blankie. ^___^ Now I can leave my other one on the rocking chair my kitty loves to sleep on. (I don't use the heat in my apartment unless it gets into the 20s or maybe 30s. I grew up here in Seattle so I'm fairly used to anywhere from the 40-60 degree range.)
I got/will be getting the few things I actually managed to come up with in a list for amazon.com. Meteos is a fun DS puzzle game--I'd describe it as part Bejewled part Tetris, maybe? It requires the stylus though. Tamagochi Corner Shop 2 is fun too, if slightly repetative both in dialogue and activities. I like some of the shops better than others, but overall it's a fun little casual game to play on my way home from work. (I've really enjoyed the floral shop--except for wreath diagrams that lie, and the boutique despite my having no ability whatsoever to sew in real life.)
Been listening to L'Arc En Ciel's album Awake that Tofu Records put out, and like it. I only buy CDs anymore if it's something iTunes doesn't have, so what Tofu Recrods ones I could get away with putting on the amazon wishlist I did. (I really wanted to put Hyde's album Faith on my list, also put out by Tofu Records, but there was no way I was trying it. My mother works in a Catholic church rectory and both she and my dad are devoutly Catholic. Either I was going to have to not say anything and let them assume that I've "come back" and become an actual Catholic as opposed to a recovering one, or explain to them that often the use of blatently Christian symbolism in Japanese things--I mean, the album's cover is Jesus' crucified head--hence isn't indicative of my spirituality in the slightest. Neither option was worth getting the CD for Christmas.
But I'm going to be getting 3 other presents sometime in January, because Amazon didn't have them in. A book I've wanted called "E" (the entire book is a series of e-mails--me, internet addict? Never. ^_~), Yoko Ishida's album All of Me (also Tofu Records), and a DS game called Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney - Justice for All. Now this last one is what I'm jumping up and down in anticipation for. I finished the first Phoenix Wright game...I want to say 1 month to 1.5 months ago? Maybe 2 months, I don't really remember. But I loved Trauma Center and I loved this for the style of gameplay alone, BUT... ^_~
I was extremely pleased to know my yaoi senses tingling was not a fluke or malfunction, as I looked up Phoenix Wright under LJ interests and found that a yaoi fandom DOES in fact exist, albeit a small one. Which I actually don't mind all that much, given my main fandom--104--is CLAMP and hence huge. If I had to keep up with a second huge fandom it'd be a not happy thing. Not that I plan on actually being active in the fandom like I am with 104--it's going to be something for me to just enjoy on my own. I really don't think I could properly write or RP Phoenix or Edgeworth--though I do feel pangs of regret that the Edgeworth was inactive and hence cut from Moksa U. I might have been TEMPTED to take up Phoenix, even if I'd suck as him. Not similar enough to me, unless we're talking about the state of our apartments... >_>;;;; Watanuki and Hisoka are much more my speed.)
So yes, much looking forward to getting the new PW. I loves me some subtext, and it doesn't get more subtext when a character chooses something major like his career based on the actions of his friend that moves away. God, can you get anymore shoujo genre than that? That's TRUE LOVE, yo!
*cough* Okay. Must stop with the fangirling as still at work and would like to finish up more of it. ^^;;;;
EDIT: I forgot to say, I laughed my ass off when I found out Phoenix's family name in the Japanese game is "Naruhodo". I was practically giddy, and I think it's only partially the pun itself. It was really...nice, "getting" a Japanese pun without having to be told what the pun is. Maybe someday I really will study Japanese seriously, when I've stopped having other things I need to do. In the meantime, if the second game is as good as the first (and I have high hopes it will be) I may pay the import charges to get the 3rd game if it's got English subtitles as I read the 2nd one does. If I can play Super Robot Wars in original Japanese I can do PW menus easy.
Oh! That reminds me. Frank got me Super Robot Wars: Original Generation for the GBA for Christmas. Lovin' it, but I cannot begin to describe how sureal it is to actually play a SRW game in English. I keep having to stop myself from skipping through the dialogue since I can actually UNDERSTAND IT!!! *le gasp*