Leveling Up in the Apocalypse: Video Games and Real-World Survival Tactics

Greetings, fellow gamers and future survivors! Ever wondered how the skills honed in the digital realm might translate to real-world survival in the apocalypse? Let’s embark on a confident yet casual exploration of the connection between video games and the impending end-of-the-world scenario. From Respawns to Inventory Management, we’ll delve into the ways gaming might prepare us for the challenges of the apocalypse.

1. Respawns – A Fantasy in the Apocalypse? In the gaming world, a respawn means a second chance at success. But in the apocalypse, the concept takes a more speculative turn. Picture yourself casually pondering the possibility of respawns, perhaps as a metaphor for resilience. It’s the idea that, like in video games, failure doesn’t equate to total defeat – you respawn, ready to face the challenges once more.

2. Inventory Management – Tetris Skills for Real Life: Engage in Inventory Management – a skill often perfected in video games like Resident Evil or Skyrim. Picture yourself casually arranging your backpack, optimizing space, and prioritizing essential items for survival. It’s the management that turns you into a resourceful survivor, ensuring you can carry everything you need without the burden of excess baggage.

3. Resource Scavenging – A Skill Polished in Fallout: Embrace the art of Resource Scavenging – a familiar activity for Fallout enthusiasts. Picture yourself casually exploring the post-apocalyptic landscape, scanning for valuable items to repurpose.

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It’s the scavenging that turns you into a practical survivor, adept at turning seemingly useless objects into valuable resources.

4. Tactical Strategy – A Lesson from Real-Time Strategy Games: Apply Tactical Strategy – a skill often cultivated in real-time strategy games. Picture yourself casually planning strategic moves to outwit opponents or avoid zombie hordes. It’s the strategy that turns you into a thoughtful survivor, making well-informed decisions in the heat of the apocalypse.

5. Crafting Skills – Minecraft in the Apocalypse: Hone Crafting Skills – a talent mastered by Minecraft enthusiasts. Picture yourself casually crafting makeshift tools or barricades, turning everyday items into essential survival gear. It’s the crafting that turns you into a DIY survivor, capable of adapting to the ever-changing demands of post-apocalyptic life.

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6. Teamwork Dynamics – A Cooperative Playthrough: Embrace Teamwork Dynamics – a lesson learned in cooperative multiplayer games. Picture yourself casually collaborating with fellow survivors, recognizing the strength in unity. It’s the teamwork that turns you into a cooperative player, fostering alliances for mutual survival in the apocalypse.

7. Problem-Solving Prowess – Solving Puzzles in Real Life: Cultivate Problem-Solving Prowess – a skill refined by navigating complex puzzles in games like Portal. Picture yourself casually applying logical thinking to overcome obstacles, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

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It’s the problem-solving that turns you into a savvy survivor, adept at finding solutions in the face of adversity.

8. Stealth and Infiltration – Metal Gear Solid in Reality: Master Stealth and Infiltration – skills perfected in stealth-action games like Metal Gear Solid. Picture yourself casually moving through the shadows, avoiding detection from potential threats. It’s the stealth that turns you into a ninja-like survivor, silently navigating the dangers of the post-apocalyptic world.

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9. Adaptability – An Open-World Mentality: Embody Adaptability – a mindset cultivated in open-world games. Picture yourself casually embracing the uncertainty of the post-apocalyptic landscape, adapting to the ever-changing conditions. It’s the adaptability that turns you into a flexible survivor, capable of thriving in the unpredictable challenges of the apocalypse.

10. Perseverance – A Trait Nurtured in the Dark Souls Universe: Nurture Perseverance – a trait often tested in the unforgiving world of Dark Souls. Picture yourself casually facing insurmountable odds, persisting despite the overwhelming challenges. It’s the perseverance that turns you into a resilient survivor, ready to endure the hardships of the apocalypse with unwavering determination.

Whether you’re respawning in real life or applying tactical strategies honed in games, these connections offer a fascinating perspective on how the gaming world might prepare us for the challenges of the impending apocalypse. So, future survivors, may your journey be filled with respawns, well-managed inventories, and a skill set worthy of a seasoned gamer. Happy leveling up!

Being Black in Video Games

Being Black in real life isn’t super easy. Sure you always have company whenever you go shopping, even if you started alone. You’re more likely to have a living will or healthcare proxy (at least you should). Because Black folks are dropping dead like it’s Jim Crow again.

South Park’s new game recently introduced a slider that was labeled “Difficulty” and changed the character’s race. The darker you are the “harder” the difficulty. It’s funny because it’s true.

At least Fractured But Whole lets you be a person of color if you really want to. Or if you just really want to see a person of color as a hero in a video game. Continue reading “Being Black in Video Games”

Can't Live Without [July '17]

Crayon Shin-chan

Starting the day with the news is horribly depressing. Instead, I watch cartoons. Specifically, this summer, I’ve been all about watching Shin-chan on Hulu.

When I get up and start my putzing about, I put on the Chromecast and stream Shin-chan.

Completely vulgar, inappropriate, and satirical, this show has it all. Ass dance? Got it. Joking about things that are no laughing matter? Yup. Parents regretting all their choices and just trying not to get sued? All day? Teachers, who only teach because it’s the job they happen to have? Check.

Crayon Shin-chan is a wonderfully cynical and sunny way to kick off the day. Continue reading “Can't Live Without [July '17]”

A slightly unhinged letter to Bethesda, regarding Fallout 4

Here are some random thoughts, theories, desires and wishes relating to Fallout 4, in no particular order.

  • OK, we get a dog right? The video shows a dog. If I don’t actually get a dog in game I will be sad.
  • Do we actually get to visit that house in the announcement video? It looks like it had some loot in it. I like loot.
  • OK, so, like, that flying ship. Do we get to fly it? Or is it cut scene set dressing or something? I want to fly it, or at least loot it.
  • Related to the dog, can the dog die? I won’t take it with me if the dog can die. In F03 I never took anyone but Fawkes because they were so fragile. I liked NV a lot more because if you are a wuss like me and play it on lower difficulties the followers don’t die they just pass out.
  • How robust is the looting? How much random wasteland crap can I fit into my backpack? Can I make the dog carry it all?
  • I really really want there to be a ton of easter eggs and references. Can you do that, Bethesda? Can you?
  • will you please stop putting shitty loot in high level locked rooms and safes. In like, all your games, forever.
  • If you haven’t already got the hint my main priorities are taking everything that’s not nailed down and having a dog friend.
  • It’s in Boston, yeah? I don’t know anything about Boston. Does Boston get snow? I think it does. WILL WE HAVE SNOW IS WHAT I AM ASKING I KINDA WANT RADIOACTIVE SNOW except I don’t because it sounds terrible for looting
  • please don’t fuck this up i love these games
  • FALLOUT 4 FALLOUT 4 FALLOUT 4 OMG
  • I am glad no-one was there to see me watching the video because I squealed and actually threw my arms up and cheered when we got to dun duuuh DUUUUH
  • LOOK, ok, I know it’s never gonna happen but I kind of want a fallout set in England and I have some good ideas to float if you want to hit me up
  • WHAT IS THE PLOT
  • can you please release a stripped-down version of the character generator on your website so that I can play with it a bit I don’t think you understand how important it is that I spend 2 hours creating the perfect character face for someone I will only see in VATS and killcams
  • RELEASE DATE PLEASE

  • dog

    DOOOOGGGG

Signed: a fan

Math Apocalypse is every student's worst nightmare

If the only way to save the world is for me to do basic math, we’re all going to die.

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Math Apocalypse is an Android app game that tasks you with the tremendous pressure of solving math problems to defeat aliens invading earth.

Seems pretty straight forward and totally plausible to me.

Aliens walk in with a math problem over their head. You tap in the (correct) answer and your character zaps them to death with a bolt of electricity. Seems easy enough. That is, until you realize math is hard.

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Math is especially hard when you’re being pressured because the problems are coming at you, threatening your life. Then the problems get bigger and harder and some aliens have multiple math problems.

This is truly a sick and twisted kind of apocalypse.

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… But I really enjoyed it.

Math Apocalypse was written by someone who, while strong in the math department, is  probably not a native English speaker. The introduction story has a number of grammatical issues, so if you’re thinking of handing it to a child for training you might want to keep that in mind. Other than that it’s a fun mix of academic challenge and apocalyptic fun.
It reminded me of playing Number Munchers when I was in grade school. It’s not bloody or violent but it gives purpose to brain training in a distracting way that’s enjoyable and makes you want to strive to do better.

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You can set the game to just addition and subtraction or include multiplication and division in the mix too.

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If you want to trick your kid into being smart or you’re looking to exercise your brain muscles instead of just your color-candy coordination, Math Apocalypse might be just the thing you’re looking for.

Best of all, just like the intuition that let me make it into adulthood without the ability to do basic math without my fingers, it’s free!

(It’s also available to play on the web Here.)

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Why Didn't I play Crackdown 2 years ago!?

crackdown 2 - gameplayCrackdown 2 came out in July 2010 from Ruffian Games and Microsoft Game Studios and I never bought it. I played Crackdown and enjoyed it but didn’t feel a second game would offer me much more. Recently, I started to feel there was nothing new I wanted to buy or replay. So, while visiting a friend I raided his collection of games and found Crackdown 2.

The original game was about being a Peacekeeper in a city overrun with factions of gangs and violence. Depending on which area you were in, you’d have to fight a different gang. Through a series of missions and collectible power-ups you grown in strength, speed, agility, and other skills. Eventually you can leap tall buildings in a single bound and throw cars like they’re dishware. It’s awesome and fun. Unfortunately, once you level up it’s kind of just about running through the city being a nuisance savior.


In Crackdown 2 you again play as a Peacekeeper (I love that Peacekeepers are never good guy in SciFi), but this time you’re tasked with defending the city from the terrorist group, Cell and the mutants that come out at night, Freaks. Sure the naming seems a bit half-assed but that’s really one of the draws of this kind of game. It’s not about being deeply clever or building a elaborate world with a life-changing story a la Mass Effect. This is a game like Burnout or SSX where the reality that inspires the game is just inspiration.

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After the city saw an extended time of peace post-Crackdown this new threat of terrorism and monsters is overwhelming the population and the police. Clones are created to combat the problem. You play as one of these clones, simply named Agent.

Your commander coaches you through a training simulation so you know how to use your sweet new body, agency issued weapons, and the world around you. It’s all a very awesome mix of machismo and goofy.

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In the beginning of the game, while the commander is coaching you through the tutorial, basics, missions and whatnot it’s a little annoying how much he talks and points out obvious things and tries to get you to chase orbs while in the middle of missions. Fortunately, you can ignore a lot of the instructions until you’re ready to do things like chase orbs in cars.

Pretty quickly I was a carjacking Cell and Peacekeepers alike and running down Freaks with gleeful abandon. Crackdown 2 really is so much fun in the same nonsensical way that Burnout and SSX are.

Oh, what’s the point of the story? Well you want to save the city, obviously. And… Um. So the Freaks are underground and you have to turn on these UV light machines that bomb the area in light, frying the Freaks where they stand. You turn on three power supply things and then enter a Freak lair to turn on the big light machine. Then you do it again. … And again.

crackdown-2

The action and beat-em-up aspect stayed fun after the missions got redundant and I lost interest. I loved running across rooftops and punching hordes of Freaks to death.

There’s a good a mount of customization (not for your character, who is a clone after all) when you span. You choose your gun and vehicle and more. There are also a few other modes to play like the one where you have all the power-ups and weapons and just rampage through the city. Yay.

If you’re looking for a fun, dystopian game, you can get pretty cheap; Crackdown 2 is your answer.

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Dying Light gameplay walkthrough

Dying Light is post-apocalyptic video game with zombies by Techland and Warner Bros.. It’s slated for release in 2014 on most major platforms and it’s looking pretty good if I do say so my self. However, it also looks a lot like Dead Island but not on a tropical island. There’s even a guy at the base sending you on errands and makeshift weapons.

Dying Light seem to have various game modes planed that you don’t often see in similar games like “Survive the Night.” In this mode the player spends the day scavenging and gathering supplies. Then, at night, the freaks come out and well, you have to survive. I’m not sure if it would be a Last Man Standing style of mode like you see in a lot of first person shooter games like Halo 4‘s Flood Mode.

Official blurb from the official website:

Dying Light is a first-person, action survival horror game set in a vast and dangerous open world. During the day, players traverse an expansive urban environment overrun by a vicious outbreak, scavenging the world for supplies and crafting weapons to defend against the growing infected population. At night, the hunter becomes the hunted, as the infected become aggressive and more dangerous. Most frightening are the predators which only appear after sundown. Players must use everything in their power to survive until the morning’s first light.

Check out the gameplay below and determine if it looks different enough for you to give it a try.

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Dead Rising 2 was free with XBox Gold

screenlg4Microsoft started giving out games to Gold subscribers twice monthly and one of the games in August was Dead Rising 2. Well that sounds like all my favorite things: zombies, action, video games, and FREE.

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I downloaded the game and booted up. I was immediately confused. Apparently all this shit went down with a zombie apocalypse and and then it was solved (mostly). People built strong walls and made a serum for people who get bitten so they don’t turn.

My character was this dude who people knew of and has a patchy history and a dead wife. He in this entertainment competition whee he rides a motorbike and does tricks and fights captive zombies. This is kind of the into and tutorial.

screenlg1SUDDENLY, all hell breaks loose and there are zombies everywhere. Ohnoes. Now I have to beat my way through the throngs of zombies and rescue my child who’s waiting patiently backstage. Gah, I hate having to escort children and stuff.

So you have weapons that you pick up wherever like a guitar or an axe or a broom. The more you use a weapon the more it wears until it actually breaks. You’re charged with grabbing your baby and making you way out of the arena to safety. Apparently I was also supposed to be saving some other people along the way… oops. I’m so bad at additional objectives.

I get outside and run around a bit until I find a safe place because there are just fallout shelter kind of places scattered around just in case something like this happens. I don’t know if it was a cut scene or what but they’re totally blamng me for the invasion in the arena. People totally think I’m a terrorist.

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Rude. I’m under the impression I had nothing to do with it.

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After a lot of back and forth the people running the shelter are like, “Ew your daughter is bitten. Leave her outside.” And I’m like, don;t worry about it. I’ve got
medicine even though I totally don’t.

Now I have to go find medicine.

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Guy runs through the the shelter until he finds a secret exit that leads to the mall. In a backroom of the mall the is a place to craft weapons (if you find a key) and  a place to  get into the real mall.

In the mall you have to fight your way to the pharmacy and  get the medicine in time to get back to  the daughter. Ugh, timed missions are the worst. Especially when  you’re allowed to detour and try on clothes in the  stores. Yes, you can play dress up and use random objects as weapons. I personally liked the skateboard.

screenlg6Dead Rising 2 felt a little chaotic to me.

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There were almost too many options. I could run around killing zombies or trying on clothes or doing the mission or exploring the places or playing the slot machines (Yeah, those were there too.)

Normally, I love having options and feeling like a game has an open world but this felt falsely open. If you did too much of one thing then the other things pop up and kept you forcefully on track. Also, I don’t know if it’s because Dead Rising 2 is older but I felt the controls were clunky and not as accurate or responsive as they should be. In a hordes of zombies situation I don’t want to deal with clunky controls!

It was hard to tell if it was a serious game (there’s a dying little girl I’m responsible for) or just a silly game (I can wear costumes and use toys as weapons….

I got frustrated and bored and because it was free I didn’t feel like I was wasting anything by letting it collect virtual dust. Dead Rising 2 was good enough for the price but not good enough for me to  play through. Le sigh.

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