This little article shows how to best build your house in Minecraft. This will probably come in short spurts, as I build my perfect home.
In any case, how to build the best house ever:
1: Concealment
Concealment is essential mostly if you plan on doing an SMP server, and you don't want your house ransacked. However, it is always a good idea to at least have a way of stopping monsters, and it really just makes sense. My favorites are digging into mountains, or bending caves to your will. I found a small overhang with a pond in it, and I sealed it with dirt to create an interesting enterance. But don't stop there. When it comes to blocking the enterance to your Real house, use sticky pistons and hide them. It makes it look like a dead end and protects you from prying eyes. Finally, make a door into the outside, but block it from plain view too. I find iron doors with hidden devices to open it are brilliant.
UPDATE: Another excellent way to have hidden entrances is plants. Plant some vines and have an even better hiding spot. Also, there is now a big reason to have iron doors. In the Anvil update, zombies can break through wooden doors on hard, but iron doors appear to be indestructible.
2: Protection
The last thing you want is a stray creeper to blast all your hard work away, and if your house hollowed out of dirt, that's just what will happen. So don't let it. There are a few excellent ways to protect your house from TNT, creepers, or any explosive threat that may come your way.
1: Deep Shield: Encase your house in a cheap material, like dirt, to absorb an explosion. If you decided to build a real house, this may be one of the most horrible crimes you can do to it, but fear not, there are more ways.
2: Strong Shield: Encase your house in a stronger material, like stone, stone brick, etc. If you have gotten to the End, then End Stone is also a good choice. This isn't much better than before, but it's a bit better.
3: OBSIDIAN: Line your house with the most powerful explosion resistor available to you (Besides bedrock). 'Nuff said.
4: Water Shield: Water, surprisingly, has an insane explosion resistance, so it is a more economical choice instead of obsidian. But MAKE SURE all important spots are covered by water.
3: Crafting
Your crafting room is probably your first, so protect it as necessary. The best thing to do is have one crafting table, a pair of furnaces, and some chests full of common crafting materials. If you are on an SMP server, you might consider putting some semi-rare items like iron ingots and tools to perhaps avoid a thorough search of your house. If you can make a diamond block as bait, all the better.
4: Smelting
Your Furnace room does not necessarily have to come immediately. After all, you should have to furnaces in your crafting room anyway. But that's irrelevant. A furnace room should be near your crafting room, for obvious reasons. The best thing to do is have furnaces lining two walls, then have two chests, one full of fuel (I recommend lava, but coal or blaze rods are also good), the other of materials to smelt. Finally, though this is not necessarily a must, make an incinerator for all the waste products you don't want.
5: Storage
This is for all the materials you get while mining: dirt, cobblestone, netherrack, end stone, and other common materials that accumulate. But that's not the end. You know what I said about "lure" materials that can be quickly found? That's to deter investigation for your WELL-HIDDEN and, if you're the trap type, well-defended rare material storage. Put all the materials that you don't want stolen in here for best effect. Guaranteed.
6: Bedroom
This is a must simply because it's helpful to change your spawn point and skip night altogether. It's also fun to make the room look happy, so go crazy with decoration. Fireplaces, tables, bookshelves, and so on all add to the homeyness. Also, put a chest in it with some food and weapons, just in case you get woken up by a zombie at your door (Which should be highly unlikely, considering all those important defenses you have).
7: Armory: This should be as well hidden as your rare items storage, as you are keeping your best weapons, armor, and tools here, because you don't want to die with them on you. Keep some raw materials here too, in case of emergency.
8: Bunker, a.k.a "Cry Room"
This is not the most important part of your home, but it's most likely to save your life. Make this out of durable material, and stock it with food, armor, and tools. Most importantly, make it hard to find and even harder to enter into without knowing how. That way, you can rest assured that if you end up cornered by a group of raiders in SMP, or by a group of mobs (However they got in) otherwise.
9: Portal Room
This is a dedicated room to got to the Nether. Equip it with everything you might need- weapons, armor, buckets, and so on. Also, have some chests to deposit goods you have found in the Nether.
10: Defenses!
Sure, it's great to be well-hidden, but you can only do that for so long. Eventually, you'll want to strengthen your foothold. Build high walls, watch towers, beacons, and whatever else you can think of. Then protect it. Snow golems are best for this. Put them in spaces just small enough to contain them, and leave it open so they can shoot out, but can't get out. With enough of these guardians, getting into your home may be an unnecessary bother.
Update: Even better, now with the Anvil update, get ourself some iron golems and let them wander around your base. Sure they're expensive, but they have massive hit points and a nasty damage attack.
I hope you enjoyed Part I of "Building the Perfect Home", and keep mining!
Kaires, who hasn't made all the stuff he has detailed.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Oh, the irony
I feel highly amused right now. I said in my last post that Away from the Sun took my time up for writing, and I'm writing right now on Pandemic Chronicles.
Fail.
Anyway, I feel the urge to elaborate on Away from the Sun, a project on which I shoved upon you and didn't have ther courtesy of even explaining WHAT IT IS.
In short, humanity is banished to he far reaches of he universe. The Allied Terran Navy is the only semblance of order in the refugees that have fled the long-gone earth hundreds of years ago. Until now, they were unchallenged. But that has changed.
That's all I'm going to say. You can't expect me to satisfy your curiosity right now and lose a potential buyer for the book later!
Kaires, who doesn't have anything funny to say here.
Fail.
Anyway, I feel the urge to elaborate on Away from the Sun, a project on which I shoved upon you and didn't have ther courtesy of even explaining WHAT IT IS.
In short, humanity is banished to he far reaches of he universe. The Allied Terran Navy is the only semblance of order in the refugees that have fled the long-gone earth hundreds of years ago. Until now, they were unchallenged. But that has changed.
That's all I'm going to say. You can't expect me to satisfy your curiosity right now and lose a potential buyer for the book later!
Kaires, who doesn't have anything funny to say here.
Monday, February 20, 2012
I must have caught fire or something
I honestly don't know why I let this poor blog die again.
It really wasn't that mean to me.
Anyhow, I was looking at this thing and though how sad it looks. Latest post in, like, 2011.
2011!
2011!!!!
So I though I'd post something, anything.
So here you go.
*BOOM*
Actually, that pretty much sums up my life. That creeper, I mean. Minecraft has shown me the coolest game ever.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Writing Update:
I haven't written much, but my project "Away from the Sun" has replaced my Pandemic Chronicles in the short term.
Gaming Update:
MINECRAFT.
Also, Darkspore, the RPG equivalent of the hit Spore.
Also, Halo Reach, which I recently started playing on the XBox, which I got for Christmas.
In short, welcome back to the un-un-undead blog.
Kaires, who hopes the lapse did not cause too much mental trauma.
It really wasn't that mean to me.
Anyhow, I was looking at this thing and though how sad it looks. Latest post in, like, 2011.
2011!
2011!!!!
So I though I'd post something, anything.
So here you go.
Actually, that pretty much sums up my life. That creeper, I mean. Minecraft has shown me the coolest game ever.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Writing Update:
I haven't written much, but my project "Away from the Sun" has replaced my Pandemic Chronicles in the short term.
Gaming Update:
MINECRAFT.
Also, Darkspore, the RPG equivalent of the hit Spore.
Also, Halo Reach, which I recently started playing on the XBox, which I got for Christmas.
In short, welcome back to the un-un-undead blog.
Kaires, who hopes the lapse did not cause too much mental trauma.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Clarifications...
I have had a question pertaining to the Armada of Awesome, and I would like to make clear that anything you feel like adding to the Armada is great. It does not have to be a military device, nor does it have to be in any specific medium. I just chose the Lego mini warships because I thought they were awesome, and thus deserved to have recognition in the Armada.
Also, if you're wondering, I used Lego Digital Designer to create the ships.
-Kaires, who hopes he clarified sufficiently.
Also, if you're wondering, I used Lego Digital Designer to create the ships.
-Kaires, who hopes he clarified sufficiently.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
The Armada of Awesome
Yes, the Armada of Awesome. Self-absorbed-sounding, you say? Maybe. I still won't change it. At this point, you are probably itching to know what the heck I'm talking about. Don't worry, I want to too. Or maybe you aren't. ANYWAY, here's how this works:
THE ARMADA OF AWESOME:
Take any original project, be it through writing, art, Legos, or whatever, and upload it. You can add as many as you like. Once you have completed this, post at least five previous additions to the armada, and link to the person who nominated you. Then nominate at least one other blogger.
MY ADDITIONS:
Merciless-Class Juggernaut:
The Merciless-Class juggernaut is the pinnacle of offensive weaponry. With six main beam emplacements and four dual bombardment lasers, not to mention a plethora of broadside and anti-fighter batteries, only the Liberty-Class superdestroyers have enough firepower to take on this monster. And with the Merciless' incredibly thick armor and shielding system, even the mighty Liberty sometimes fails in combat. For all of its might, it is an incredibly rare sight for pilots. Only a handful of the dreaded ships have been completed since their inception nearly a century ago.
Liberty-Class Superdestroyer
The awe-inspiring Liberty class superdestroyer is the largest warship ever constructed, measuring an amazing 12,906 meters long. It also sports the most powerful shield system ever constructed, capable ofeven lowering the damage of beam weapons. While it's main armament is not as powerful as the dreaded Merciless, it can hardly be said that the Liberty doesn't deserve the title as the most powerful warship ever constructed.
MY NOMINEE:
David, my friend and fellow lego-lover. He most certainly has something to add to the march of the Armada.
-Kaires, who appoints himself the admiral of the Armada (JK).
THE ARMADA OF AWESOME:
Take any original project, be it through writing, art, Legos, or whatever, and upload it. You can add as many as you like. Once you have completed this, post at least five previous additions to the armada, and link to the person who nominated you. Then nominate at least one other blogger.
MY ADDITIONS:
Merciless-Class Juggernaut:
Liberty-Class Superdestroyer
MY NOMINEE:
David, my friend and fellow lego-lover. He most certainly has something to add to the march of the Armada.
-Kaires, who appoints himself the admiral of the Armada (JK).
Friday, July 29, 2011
More Awards!
The Order of the Golden Minifig:
Given to me by David, my friend. It's pretty bare-bones so far, just an acknowledgement of the nominator and choosing nominees. To add to it, I have found a picture of a golden minifig (See above).
I have decided to nominate GiGi, who has nominated me twice now, and is one of the few people I know outside of the internet. Again, her blog is here.
I have also been awarded the Chocolate Covered Moon award, by who else than GiGi. From what I understand, I have to add a paragraph to an ongoing storyline and then nominate five other people.
Because I'm lazy, I'm not posting anything beyond the above about this award, but it'll come soon... if I don't forget about it...
-Kaires, who stresses that he probably won't forget.
I have decided to nominate GiGi, who has nominated me twice now, and is one of the few people I know outside of the internet. Again, her blog is here.
I have also been awarded the Chocolate Covered Moon award, by who else than GiGi. From what I understand, I have to add a paragraph to an ongoing storyline and then nominate five other people.
Because I'm lazy, I'm not posting anything beyond the above about this award, but it'll come soon... if I don't forget about it...
-Kaires, who stresses that he probably won't forget.
Either my Computer is an Idiot, or I am... PLUS Travelling Smoothie Award!
Firstly, I would like to thank GiGi for commenting on my posts. A round of applause for her. *General cheers from the surrounding audience* Now to the point. My computer's a jerk. It hates me. It's used my money to sponsor the "Terminator Project" (Well, no it hasn't, but I know it wants to!), and it locks me out of websites for no reason. Most importantly however, I can't comment on other blogs. I can't even comment on this blog. So GiGi, if you are wondering why I'm not responding, that's why.
Also, I have recently been awarded the "Travelling Smoothie Award" (I think that's what it's called...). I'm not entirely sure what this entails, but I expect it's good. Anyway, so this is the list of stuff I have to do:
1.) Link the person who nominated you:
That's GiGi. Thank you, GiGi. Now follow her blog or I'll send the cursed vampire lemons after you! Ahahahaha!
2.) Post a picture of it without being colored in:
That was easy.
3.) Color it in:
4.) Link and nominate 5 other bloggers:
Um. This is a bit of a problem. I don't actually know that many people who have blogs, and those who I do have already been nominated. So, until further notice, this step is void. Sorry.
5.) Contact your nominees:
I'm not sure how this will work without nominees, so...
Yeah. There. I got an award, and did basically nothing with it. Sad, I know.
-Kaires, who feels bad for ending the march of an award.
Also, I have recently been awarded the "Travelling Smoothie Award" (I think that's what it's called...). I'm not entirely sure what this entails, but I expect it's good. Anyway, so this is the list of stuff I have to do:
1.) Link the person who nominated you:
That's GiGi. Thank you, GiGi. Now follow her blog or I'll send the cursed vampire lemons after you! Ahahahaha!
2.) Post a picture of it without being colored in:
3.) Color it in:
(My favorite smoothie from my favorite Smoothie Place)
4.) Link and nominate 5 other bloggers:
Um. This is a bit of a problem. I don't actually know that many people who have blogs, and those who I do have already been nominated. So, until further notice, this step is void. Sorry.
5.) Contact your nominees:
I'm not sure how this will work without nominees, so...
Yeah. There. I got an award, and did basically nothing with it. Sad, I know.
-Kaires, who feels bad for ending the march of an award.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings: Battle of the Ages!
DISCLAIMER: Beyond this point, writing will be totally based on my opinions relating to the aforementioned novels. I claim no responibility for any psychological damage done to Harry Potter and/or LotR lovers due to reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of the respective characters. Thus, I won't be open to suggestion, criticism, or long-winded rants. Thank you for your understanding.
Round I:
Frodo Baggins vs. Harry Potter!
Harry Potter attacks with Wingardium Leviosa! Blocked by Mithril Armor! Frodo counters with a melee basic attack from Sting! 9 damage!
It's main character against main character to start us off! So who wins this? Frodo Baggins. Why? Frodo journeyed just about everywhere, faced foes beyond his level of power, battled enemies on the inside, and worked to do good with an overwhelming evil right under his nose. Literally. What did Harry do? Sat in a school learning how to make things fly. He didn't even learn how to use "illegal spells". He's a hack. The only enemy he fought was Voldemort, and rarely did old Voldy have the upper hand. Book 1. Voldemort was on the back of someone's head. Book 7. Harry was in control of the Elder Wand. What the heck? Let's see how Harry fares against his enemies with an artifact that works against him.
Round II:
Dumbledore vs. Gandalf:
Dumbledore attacks with Elder Wand! 54 Damage! Gandalf wheels back, recovers, and deals a crushing blow with Glamdring! 78 damage and Dumbledore is stunned!
Next up, two great wizards face off in a truly epic duel. Who wins this round? Gandalf. Here's why: Who faced a Balrog single-handedly and won? Who saved Helmsdeep? Who is awesome? Gandalf (Well, Dumbledore is sorta awesome too). Dumbledore just spouted that love can defeat Voldemort and died before he even bothered to help save his precious Academy. The only thing he ever killed was a Horcrux Ring, and he busted up his hand for that. I'd like to see Gandalf do a spell on Dumbledore. It's one I like to call Wingardium Wedgieosa.
Ron Weasley vs. Samwise Gamgee
Ron calls in allies with Weasley Reinforcements! Samwise, bored, starts cooking some food.
Next, we're pairing up "sidekicks". The victor? Neither. Sam, for his part, can cook well, is a good friend to Frodo, and is a generally great sidekick, but he never really can work alone, whereas Ron can, and does, do without Harry on multiple occasions. Frankly, I like both characters equally anyway. Sam's combination of seriousness and occasional comedy is always fun, and Ron feels real, and is a great contrast to the either ridiculously rich or fairly average wizards.
Boromir vs. Snape
Boromir lets out a deafening War Horn Call! Snape counters with a random potion!
Next up to bat, we have the good-guys-seemingly-gone-bad-but-were-really-good-guys-the-whole-time characters. The victor is Snape. His longevity is amazing. Boromir died in the VERY FIRST BOOK. Well, not quite true. He died in the very beginning, and I mean the first eight pages (If memory serves), of the VERY SECOND BOOK. He did, however, die in the VERY FIRST MOVIE. In either case, Snape was killed much later. Also, his ability to so convincingly become the enemy is quite commendable. I mean, who didn't believe that Snape went bad when he killed Dumbledore. I know I was fooled. Boromir was clearly corrupted by the ring the first time he set eyes on it. Come on, Boromir, be a little subtle.
Sauron vs. Voldemort
Voldemort uses Elder Wand's Avada Kedavra! Sauron, unfazed, uses One Ring! Voldemort is stunned (save ends) and takes 407 damage!
Yes, it's the moment you've all been waiting for... The battle of the ubervillains, the head honchos of evil, the Dark Lords, those who are arguably the most well-known and feared villains in literature. And... Sauron comes out on top! Firstly, where's Voldemort's superweapon? Where's his giant army of orcs? Where's his nose? Answer 1: he has seven. But one's alive (Not agood idea), the other is his enemy, and the rest don't do much except collect dust. Sauron's soul-carrier/weapon is epic, because it tries to get back to him (Too bad Voldemort couldn't protect his precious), it doesn't like it's enemies (Sorry Isildur, it's true), and it's just awesome to have something forged in a volcano. Plus, Voldemort only has mean people in masks. Sauron has wraiths. He obviously wins.
Did you like this post? Tune in next time for HARRY POTTER VS. LORD OF THE RINGS.
-Kaires, who runs and hides behind a three-foot-thick reinforced titanium wall that was conveniently four paces away.
Round I:
Frodo Baggins vs. Harry Potter!
Harry Potter attacks with Wingardium Leviosa! Blocked by Mithril Armor! Frodo counters with a melee basic attack from Sting! 9 damage!
It's main character against main character to start us off! So who wins this? Frodo Baggins. Why? Frodo journeyed just about everywhere, faced foes beyond his level of power, battled enemies on the inside, and worked to do good with an overwhelming evil right under his nose. Literally. What did Harry do? Sat in a school learning how to make things fly. He didn't even learn how to use "illegal spells". He's a hack. The only enemy he fought was Voldemort, and rarely did old Voldy have the upper hand. Book 1. Voldemort was on the back of someone's head. Book 7. Harry was in control of the Elder Wand. What the heck? Let's see how Harry fares against his enemies with an artifact that works against him.
Round II:
Dumbledore vs. Gandalf:
Dumbledore attacks with Elder Wand! 54 Damage! Gandalf wheels back, recovers, and deals a crushing blow with Glamdring! 78 damage and Dumbledore is stunned!
Next up, two great wizards face off in a truly epic duel. Who wins this round? Gandalf. Here's why: Who faced a Balrog single-handedly and won? Who saved Helmsdeep? Who is awesome? Gandalf (Well, Dumbledore is sorta awesome too). Dumbledore just spouted that love can defeat Voldemort and died before he even bothered to help save his precious Academy. The only thing he ever killed was a Horcrux Ring, and he busted up his hand for that. I'd like to see Gandalf do a spell on Dumbledore. It's one I like to call Wingardium Wedgieosa.
Ron Weasley vs. Samwise Gamgee
Ron calls in allies with Weasley Reinforcements! Samwise, bored, starts cooking some food.
Next, we're pairing up "sidekicks". The victor? Neither. Sam, for his part, can cook well, is a good friend to Frodo, and is a generally great sidekick, but he never really can work alone, whereas Ron can, and does, do without Harry on multiple occasions. Frankly, I like both characters equally anyway. Sam's combination of seriousness and occasional comedy is always fun, and Ron feels real, and is a great contrast to the either ridiculously rich or fairly average wizards.
Boromir vs. Snape
Boromir lets out a deafening War Horn Call! Snape counters with a random potion!
Next up to bat, we have the good-guys-seemingly-gone-bad-but-were-really-good-guys-the-whole-time characters. The victor is Snape. His longevity is amazing. Boromir died in the VERY FIRST BOOK. Well, not quite true. He died in the very beginning, and I mean the first eight pages (If memory serves), of the VERY SECOND BOOK. He did, however, die in the VERY FIRST MOVIE. In either case, Snape was killed much later. Also, his ability to so convincingly become the enemy is quite commendable. I mean, who didn't believe that Snape went bad when he killed Dumbledore. I know I was fooled. Boromir was clearly corrupted by the ring the first time he set eyes on it. Come on, Boromir, be a little subtle.
Sauron vs. Voldemort
Voldemort uses Elder Wand's Avada Kedavra! Sauron, unfazed, uses One Ring! Voldemort is stunned (save ends) and takes 407 damage!
Yes, it's the moment you've all been waiting for... The battle of the ubervillains, the head honchos of evil, the Dark Lords, those who are arguably the most well-known and feared villains in literature. And... Sauron comes out on top! Firstly, where's Voldemort's superweapon? Where's his giant army of orcs? Where's his nose? Answer 1: he has seven. But one's alive (Not agood idea), the other is his enemy, and the rest don't do much except collect dust. Sauron's soul-carrier/weapon is epic, because it tries to get back to him (Too bad Voldemort couldn't protect his precious), it doesn't like it's enemies (Sorry Isildur, it's true), and it's just awesome to have something forged in a volcano. Plus, Voldemort only has mean people in masks. Sauron has wraiths. He obviously wins.
Did you like this post? Tune in next time for HARRY POTTER VS. LORD OF THE RINGS.
-Kaires, who runs and hides behind a three-foot-thick reinforced titanium wall that was conveniently four paces away.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Seafood Watch
I would like to apologize for not doing anything on my blog for the 4th and would like to stress that this won't happen again. Therefore, I'll make sure to wish you happy [insert holiday here]s early. Happy Thanksgiving, by the way.
Now to the point. I would like to make a comment to all of you sushi lovers out there. During my visit to the Monterey Aquarium I found out about. Seafood Watch. Seafood Watch is campaigning to stop overfishing and fishing or farming that is unhealthy to the environment. Myself being a sushi lover, this is quite an impact to what I can eat. For example, I like octopus, but the handouts told me that I should avoid consuming it. I don't plan to consume it anytime soon. To finish, I would encourage getting to know Seafood Watch and start to change your seafood diet, and then pass it on to your friends, who should pass it on to their friends, and the friends of their friends, and so on! Yay for Eco-friendliness!
-Kaires, who would like to stress that he hasn't had octopus in a while.
Avoid These Fish:
Now to the point. I would like to make a comment to all of you sushi lovers out there. During my visit to the Monterey Aquarium I found out about. Seafood Watch. Seafood Watch is campaigning to stop overfishing and fishing or farming that is unhealthy to the environment. Myself being a sushi lover, this is quite an impact to what I can eat. For example, I like octopus, but the handouts told me that I should avoid consuming it. I don't plan to consume it anytime soon. To finish, I would encourage getting to know Seafood Watch and start to change your seafood diet, and then pass it on to your friends, who should pass it on to their friends, and the friends of their friends, and so on! Yay for Eco-friendliness!
-Kaires, who would like to stress that he hasn't had octopus in a while.
Avoid These Fish:
- Kani/Crab, King (Imported)
- Unagi/Eel, Freshwater
- Hirame/Flounder (U.S. Atlantic Wild-caught)
- Hirame/Halibut, Atlantic
- Ankoh/Monkfish
- Ankimo/Monkfish Liver
- New Zealand Tai Snapper (Danish Seine, Trawl)
- Tako/Octopus, Common
- Sake/Salmon (Farmed)
- Sardines, Atlantic (Mediterranean)
- Uni/Sea Urchin Roe (Maine)
- Shrimp (Mexico Farmed in Open Systems)
- Ebi/Shrimp (Imported Wild-caught)
- Ebi/Shrimp (Imported Farmed in Open Systems)
- Tai/Snapper, Red
- Hirame/Sole (U.S. Atlantic)
- Izumidai/Tilapia (China, Taiwan Farmed)
- Shiro Maguro/Tuna, Albacore (Worldwide, Except Hawaii Longline)
- Shiro Maguro/Tuna, Albacore (North Atlantic)
- Maguro/Toro/Tuna, Bigeye (Worldwide, Except U.S. Atlantic Longline)
- Hon Maguro/Toro/Tuna, Bluefin
- Hon Maguro/Toro/Tuna, Bluefin (Ranched)
- Aku/Tuna, Skipjack (Imported Longline)
- Maguro/Toro/Tuna, Yellowfin (Worldwide Purse Seine)
- Maguro/Toro/Tuna, Yellowfin (Worldwide, Except U.S. Atlantic and Hawaii Longline)
- Hamachi/Yellowtail (Australia Farmed)
- Hamachi/Yellowtail (Japan Farmed)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
They Aren't Games... They're ART: The Lounge's Top 5 Video Games
People tend to think of video games as trash that'll rot your brains... A thoroughly unfair statement. How different is it to play on the computer instead of on a game board? If you consider the time and effort put in to make a really good game, it seems cruel and biased just to say that it will make you a zombie that will never accomplish anything in life. Consider the art design, the programming required to not just make a game a game, but to make it ART. Thus, I have compiled a list of REALLY GOOD games that I have played.
1.) Professor Layton Series:
Professor Hershel Layton, archaeologist and avid puzzle solver, along with Luke, his loyal apprentice, win by a landslide. Unlike any puzzle game before, the game's plot is deep and complex, one of those games you have to play twice through to read all the messages that hint at the totally unexpected climax. It keeps you guessing as you unravel every new clue. Like any great detective novel, it's hard to know the answer to the mysteries that the intrepid Professor faces until the very end. The puzzles you need to solve range from easy to mind-blowing, but every one is fun and exciting. This is one game you won't want to put down.
2.) Freespace 1 and 2:
A rather interesting game to be in the Top 5, considering it's a shoot-em-up space sim that was made in 1998 (Freespace 1) and 1999 (Freespace 2). However, the sheer excellence of its design, the complex storyline, the the wonderfully-made ships you fly along side with (The distinctive style of each species is amazing), mix-and-match ship choice and loadout, the detailed mission briefings, near-perfect AI, intriguing and mysterious dead races (Complete with still-functional relics and the race that killed them), and realistic military-style feel of the game (Complete with classification levels, ranks, Interspecies Alliances, and even SPECIAL OPS FORCES!) make it more than deserving of second place.
SPOILER:
Freespace starts out with a terrifying cutscene, in which a pilot in a damaged Apollo craft desperately cries for assistance from a nearby Ross 128 Installation. Soon, an unknown destroyer, later identified as the Lucifer warps in and obliterates both the pilot and the entire installation. The game itself begins in the final throes of the Terran (Human)-Vasudan War. Both races fought on more or less even terms. In the midst of a Terran-Vasudan battle, a new race, later dubbed the Shivans, attacks. With technology vastly superior to both races, the terrans and vasudans have no choice but to make an alliance. They hastily retrofit their old ships with shivan technology in an attempt to stop the nigh-indestructible race. Soon, however, tragedy strikes. After capturing the Shivan cruiser Taranis, the Lucifer strikes, obliterating both the cruiser and the installation harboring it. The Lucifer, pushes into Allied systems, meeting no resistance because of its unmatched weaponry and invincible shield system. The Lucifer successfully destroyed any possibility of sustaining life on the Vasudan's homeworld, Vasuda Prime. The Lucifer then made a B-line for Earth. Earlier, the vasudans discovered a manuscript dating back to 8,000 years ago, explaining that shields did not function in subspace. Using this knowledge, a group of bombers destroyed the Lucifer, causing a massive subspace cataclysm that severed all connection to the Terrans' homeworld.
32 years later, Freespace 2 begins. You start with battling an insurgency known as the Neo-Terran Front. The details are irrelevant, as they soon become a secondary threat. Shivans come into the scene as you discover a cargo depot surrounding an artifact that seems to distort subspace. A terran battle group investigates where it goes to, and find themselves in a vast nebula. They find it Shivan-controlled. After destroying what seems to be the shivan's capital ship, they realize their mistake as the most powerful ship ever encountered attacks. Dubbed the SJ Sathanas, it pushes into allied systems, but the terran-vasudan equivalent, the Colossus, destroys it. The victory was not to last. SPOILERALERT!!!!! Approximately 80 Sathanes assemble around a star, triggering a supernova and destroying all the ships within the system. The game then ends.
After about fifteen minutes of play, you'll feel the suspense and terror any space pilot must feel while blasting away at hordes of enemys. Your hands will start to shake when get skewered with beam weaponry and your hull goes down to 25%. You'll almost scream out loud in terror when the enemy juggernaut warps in and tears your friends to ribbons. In short, you become deeply invested in the game, or more specifically, your pilot. If your a fan of flying or shooting, this is the game for you.
3.) SPORE:
The unique game of evolution and survival, SPORE will take you for a ride that you won't forget. Starting as a humble cell, your creature gathers DNA points to evolve and become more effective at survival. Throughout it's evolutionary process, your creature will be threatened from all sides by rival cells, hungry creatures, malicious tribes, enemy civilizations, and intergalactic foes, each one more dangerous than the last. As you take your creature from its humble beginnings in a primordial soup all the way to a galactic conquerer, you'l come to love it. You'll cringe everytime he dies. No game will ever be the same with the creature and vehicle creator and editor, allowing for full customization of your creature. The game deserves every bit of praise it receives. Don't ever forget to play it if you have the chance. You won't regret it.
4.) Super Scribblenauts
This game takes its place in the Top 5 because of it's unique and engaging design. It puts virtually unlimited power into the hands of the player by allowing him or her to make anything he or she wants. This power is used to solve levels that range from simple to complex, and help the main character (Maxwell) get his Starites. The game has very little story at all, but the sheer originality of being able to make anything is beyond fun. The game has every right to be in 4th Place.
5.) Descent 3
This game is also along the lines of Freespace, as it was published in 1999 and is another shooter. While lacking the depth of Freespace, the game is nevertheless exciting and fun to play. You play as an unnamed mercenary known as Material Defender 1032 who was hired by Samuel Dravis, an important figure in the PTMC (Post-Terran Mining Corporation). MD recently escaped from an alien planetoid (Descent 2) when Descent 3's storyline picks up. The game starts with an intriguing cutscene, showing MD's ship being thrown into the sun. The unconscious mercenary is saved by a mining station, but his ship is hopelessly lost. It is soon apparent that Dravis backstabbed the poor MD in the hopes to get him out of his way. Material Defender then throws his lot in with a group of insurgents, hoping to halt Dravis' plans. The game is gripping and fun as you battle through waves of robots with surprisingly good AI. As you collect more and more powerful weapons, you feel excitement and an urge to try them out on an unsuspecting bot. As more bots appear, you'll feel annoyance because they just WON'T DIE. The game is a pulse-pounding thriller that shouldn't be passed up by any self-respecting action gamer.
1.) Professor Layton Series:
Professor Hershel Layton, archaeologist and avid puzzle solver, along with Luke, his loyal apprentice, win by a landslide. Unlike any puzzle game before, the game's plot is deep and complex, one of those games you have to play twice through to read all the messages that hint at the totally unexpected climax. It keeps you guessing as you unravel every new clue. Like any great detective novel, it's hard to know the answer to the mysteries that the intrepid Professor faces until the very end. The puzzles you need to solve range from easy to mind-blowing, but every one is fun and exciting. This is one game you won't want to put down.
2.) Freespace 1 and 2:
A rather interesting game to be in the Top 5, considering it's a shoot-em-up space sim that was made in 1998 (Freespace 1) and 1999 (Freespace 2). However, the sheer excellence of its design, the complex storyline, the the wonderfully-made ships you fly along side with (The distinctive style of each species is amazing), mix-and-match ship choice and loadout, the detailed mission briefings, near-perfect AI, intriguing and mysterious dead races (Complete with still-functional relics and the race that killed them), and realistic military-style feel of the game (Complete with classification levels, ranks, Interspecies Alliances, and even SPECIAL OPS FORCES!) make it more than deserving of second place.
SPOILER:
Freespace starts out with a terrifying cutscene, in which a pilot in a damaged Apollo craft desperately cries for assistance from a nearby Ross 128 Installation. Soon, an unknown destroyer, later identified as the Lucifer warps in and obliterates both the pilot and the entire installation. The game itself begins in the final throes of the Terran (Human)-Vasudan War. Both races fought on more or less even terms. In the midst of a Terran-Vasudan battle, a new race, later dubbed the Shivans, attacks. With technology vastly superior to both races, the terrans and vasudans have no choice but to make an alliance. They hastily retrofit their old ships with shivan technology in an attempt to stop the nigh-indestructible race. Soon, however, tragedy strikes. After capturing the Shivan cruiser Taranis, the Lucifer strikes, obliterating both the cruiser and the installation harboring it. The Lucifer, pushes into Allied systems, meeting no resistance because of its unmatched weaponry and invincible shield system. The Lucifer successfully destroyed any possibility of sustaining life on the Vasudan's homeworld, Vasuda Prime. The Lucifer then made a B-line for Earth. Earlier, the vasudans discovered a manuscript dating back to 8,000 years ago, explaining that shields did not function in subspace. Using this knowledge, a group of bombers destroyed the Lucifer, causing a massive subspace cataclysm that severed all connection to the Terrans' homeworld.
32 years later, Freespace 2 begins. You start with battling an insurgency known as the Neo-Terran Front. The details are irrelevant, as they soon become a secondary threat. Shivans come into the scene as you discover a cargo depot surrounding an artifact that seems to distort subspace. A terran battle group investigates where it goes to, and find themselves in a vast nebula. They find it Shivan-controlled. After destroying what seems to be the shivan's capital ship, they realize their mistake as the most powerful ship ever encountered attacks. Dubbed the SJ Sathanas, it pushes into allied systems, but the terran-vasudan equivalent, the Colossus, destroys it. The victory was not to last. SPOILERALERT!!!!! Approximately 80 Sathanes assemble around a star, triggering a supernova and destroying all the ships within the system. The game then ends.
After about fifteen minutes of play, you'll feel the suspense and terror any space pilot must feel while blasting away at hordes of enemys. Your hands will start to shake when get skewered with beam weaponry and your hull goes down to 25%. You'll almost scream out loud in terror when the enemy juggernaut warps in and tears your friends to ribbons. In short, you become deeply invested in the game, or more specifically, your pilot. If your a fan of flying or shooting, this is the game for you.
3.) SPORE:
The unique game of evolution and survival, SPORE will take you for a ride that you won't forget. Starting as a humble cell, your creature gathers DNA points to evolve and become more effective at survival. Throughout it's evolutionary process, your creature will be threatened from all sides by rival cells, hungry creatures, malicious tribes, enemy civilizations, and intergalactic foes, each one more dangerous than the last. As you take your creature from its humble beginnings in a primordial soup all the way to a galactic conquerer, you'l come to love it. You'll cringe everytime he dies. No game will ever be the same with the creature and vehicle creator and editor, allowing for full customization of your creature. The game deserves every bit of praise it receives. Don't ever forget to play it if you have the chance. You won't regret it.
4.) Super Scribblenauts
This game takes its place in the Top 5 because of it's unique and engaging design. It puts virtually unlimited power into the hands of the player by allowing him or her to make anything he or she wants. This power is used to solve levels that range from simple to complex, and help the main character (Maxwell) get his Starites. The game has very little story at all, but the sheer originality of being able to make anything is beyond fun. The game has every right to be in 4th Place.
5.) Descent 3
This game is also along the lines of Freespace, as it was published in 1999 and is another shooter. While lacking the depth of Freespace, the game is nevertheless exciting and fun to play. You play as an unnamed mercenary known as Material Defender 1032 who was hired by Samuel Dravis, an important figure in the PTMC (Post-Terran Mining Corporation). MD recently escaped from an alien planetoid (Descent 2) when Descent 3's storyline picks up. The game starts with an intriguing cutscene, showing MD's ship being thrown into the sun. The unconscious mercenary is saved by a mining station, but his ship is hopelessly lost. It is soon apparent that Dravis backstabbed the poor MD in the hopes to get him out of his way. Material Defender then throws his lot in with a group of insurgents, hoping to halt Dravis' plans. The game is gripping and fun as you battle through waves of robots with surprisingly good AI. As you collect more and more powerful weapons, you feel excitement and an urge to try them out on an unsuspecting bot. As more bots appear, you'll feel annoyance because they just WON'T DIE. The game is a pulse-pounding thriller that shouldn't be passed up by any self-respecting action gamer.
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