My pals and I used to play a game all the time where you had to list your top 5 video games of all time. But there’s a few rules.
One) Theres no order. Two) Series count as one. For instance, Final Fantasy would be allowable. Three) you can change your mind any time.
For me, currently, I’d say mine are.
Xcom. The remakes and the xcom 2 remake were great, and didn’t ruin what I loved about the original Microprose game from the 90s when I was a kid. Trying to go back from these remakes TO that one would be tough as the graphics are obviously from a bygone era, but the tension was amazing.
Rimworld. I can’t say enough about this game. It’s an ant farm simulator for those who haven’t heard of it. I haven’t dabbled in the new expansions, but there’s no shortage of mods on steam. My buddy and I each have a thousand hours into that game and our mod list has very little overlap. It’s wild we’ve each been playing the same game, but with the mods have had possibly completely different experiences.
Final Fantasy. One of my first “holy shit I love video games” moments in my life was getting into FFVII. I’ve played some of the others, but none of them fit into my brains dopamine receptors in quite the same way as FFVII. I’m working through the remake now on PS5. I was really nervous thinking they could have ruined it, if they changed it too much or I’m paying $90 for a third of the exact same game I already own. They changed it just enough to make it feel new, but it remains very familiar and was clearly made with love.
Factorio. I haven’t played this game in a while, but this game is so much fun. You basically start as a little dude with a pick axe who lands on an alien planet. You begin mining metal and creating an every expanding and automating factory that you can use to build the next machines and materials you need. In the mean time, your pollution from clearing land and burning oil pisses off the aliens and they start to evolve and attack you. You “win” by launching a rocket off the planet. It’s nice when you have these really sandboxy games that have a win condition so you don’t get bored.
Stardew Valley. This game is so comfortable. If you ever loved Harvest Moon and somehow haven’t heard of this game. What are you doing go get it now. You work for a lousy company and hate your job, and then inherit a dilapidated farm from your grandfather. You have to improve the farm, grow and sell crops to make money, befriend the townsfolk and possibly help repair the community centre. If you played this game years ago and got bored at year 3 when it felt like there wasn’t anything left to do, there’s been a few big updates with much more to do. I haven’t “finished” it yet, so not sure if there’s a win condition.
My four year old loves to play this too. Even though he just ends up walking around placing furniture all over the farm.
Lemme know what you think of my list, and feel free to add your own!
My play style in this games has shifted several times over my tenure, but where I fell in love with the game and felt the hooks sink in was when I became a professional thief. But a Robin Hood of sorts!
Other than the odd mug abroad because I stupidly forgot to bring my plushie/flower allowance, I rarely attacked active players (i viewed a player offline for a week or more as fair game). This spared lots of strife, as I don’t want to cause the frustration felt when someone is buymugged, nor get retaliated to oblivion for mugging someone who’s been offline for an hour or so.
I’d sift thru various lists of inactive players and see who I could find that logged off years ago for the final time with money on hand, or who bought dividend paying stocks before logging off for the last time. Sometimes I’d find empty wallets, meaningless sums, or the odd time, $1m or more! The hunt was exciting, and just like worms breaking down the rotting material in the forests to make fertile soil for new life to grow in, I’d spend that stagnant money in traders’ bazaars, buying Xanax and FHC to catch up on years of missed training when I had no idea how to play the game.
I’m not exactly sure what the culprit is, but I have to presume the stock changes made the impact, but in the near month since the changes, where dividends no longer pay into pockets, but rather sit dormant, waiting to be cashed in by players who won’t be returning, my old style of play has withered.
In good months, where I was stocking up FHC and Xanax ahead of using a training book, I could pull off a billion dollars of dramaless inactive mugs, if I really put my back into it. Since the changes, I don’t think I’ve managed $50m.
If one of the intended impacts of the stock market payout changes was to essentially create this scenario, then fair enough, I’ll adapt my play style and adjust to the new parameters. If it wasn’t, might I suggest having the waiting cash dividends pay out into a players pocket after a reasonable time period- perhaps 24 hours after the next payout occurs, if the first one is still waiting?- so the dividends will continue being made available to be mugged and injected into the economy by players such as myself, The economic recyclers of the game.
Otherwise, the scores of inactive profiles lose a great deal of value outside of just training dummies for chains, whereas previously they were a source of revenue, and injections into the active economy.
Again, if this was an intentional impact, no harm no foul, time for me and others with a similar play style to adjust. If it was collateral damage, I think an adjustment to how unclaimed dividends are handled may keep things copacetic.
Hey everyone. Are you looking for a new way to scratch the gambling itch that won’t blow a hole in your new Jordan’s or leave you with crushing depression after missing the “Private Island” spot on that jerk Leslie’s wheel by one tick, and trying to feel happy with your 5 points?
Look no Further!
Here you will have a chance to win a Bonus Block of a stock by buying one of 100 tickets.
As tickets are sold, I’ll add the player names to the list, so you can see what number ticket you hold.
Once all 100 tickets are sold, I’ll announce that all tickets are out, and the last two numbers of that stock price at 24:00 TCT will be the winner! You can check this price under “latest” on the stock market, and will eliminate any concern that I drew the number to make sure my faction mate/Mom/Pimp won.
You can buy multiple tickets, and I’ll fill the numbers in as purchases come in.
No Casino tokens needed, no Certificates of Horseshit, no potential hospitalizations. Best of all- No more dirty looks from Leslie.
I'm no chef. But I'm no slouch in the kitchen either. I am a busy dad of 2 kids, and when the world isn't in the grips of a pandemic, usually dinner time is hectic, but I feel I do a good job of putting good tasting, and most often quite healthy meals on the table. But i would for sure get a weak pass or partial fail for the amount of vegetables I serve and eat. Thankfully my boys will just sit there and eat sliced peppers or carrots, and other simple things all day long. I sneak butternut squash into casseroles and spinach and carrots and onions into pasta sauces etc.
I just don't know how to get a good amount of good, good tasting, vegetables into our diet. It should be way simpler than it is, but for some reason my wife and I complicate it. She doesn't cook, or even like to, so I made her a deal that if she can become the salad queen the rest is up to me. She usually brings home those awful, overly expensive clear plastic tub-o-greens, and even she ends up turning her nose at her own salad.
Are there any of you out there that have a go-to vegetable dish/method/cookbook/youtube channel that doesn't require one to take ages, have a litany of obscure ingredients (though i am a fan of obscure ingredients), or some unnecessary unitasker (brassica ricer i'm looking at you) to accomplish?
I'd love to say i'd really enjoy just taking good quality fresh veg and sauteeing it in a wok with some garlic and fat and calling it a day, but man, it just doesnt last in our kitchen routine.
Thanks in advance, can't wait to hear ideas or commiseration :D
I’m already stacking dairy into my GI tract so I can spend half my weekend hiding in the bathroom so my family doesn’t interrupt during pushes. And pushes.
Yeah, I for one demand we bring back the days where we only did warehouse arsons for 30k a pop, and nothing else. That was far more enjoyable, financially rewarding and interesting than all those mini games and $200k+ crime rewards we have now.
The hated missions target is the best option by far. Unless I am the poster you choose to give it all to, in which case that one quickly becomes the best option 😂