The MVP Reunion

Last night was a large gathering at Steamworks for anyone who had worked on any of the MVP Baseball games years back.  It was surprising to see that so many people had showed up.  I hadn’t kept in contact with many of the folks who had left the studio, but I was able to chit chat with a number of them fairly easily (I’m horrible at social events).  It was just a good time to see everyone together again.

MVP was always a great team.  Although I didn’t think I always quite fit in, it still felt like a family.  It was a small enough team to be able to splurge on monthly birthday celebrations with beer and cake.  Also small enough to sometimes get the company American express to pay for a dinner or two.  :P  Every monthly meeting had raffle prizes.  The wrap-up parties were always a blast.  People partied like friends rather than co-workers.  There were limbo contests, poker games, curling and karaoke.  It was good times.  I don’t think that sort of thing will ever exist again on another game team at the studio.  But I think we all try to pass it along wherever we work now.

One of the girls there was pointing out how the majority of them who started in the industry when they did are in such good positions now.  They are the senior people in Vancouver’s gaming industry now.  I feel quite lucky to be sort of a part of that group.

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Video Games, Worky Worky 1 Comment » March 2008

Being the Only Driver

It sucks when a 6km 15 minute drive home often turns into 12km and 20-25 minutes.  Unless I’m speeding like a maniac.  Just because someone lives out my way doesn’t necessarily mean they’re on my route.  Anyone willing to pay for my $2200 car insurance bill?  Didn’t think so.  But really, I’d rather not become the assumed driver again.

Independence should not be gained by circumstances such as moving out of the country.  One needs to be willing to actually change and learn these things on their own despite being provided the luxuries of living at home.

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Random Life Tales No Comments » March 2008

Rocking Out on the Interwebs

I finally figured out how to play Rockband online through the PS3, hahaha…  I would have liked to have seen an option to “Join Existing Group” rather than it randomly (or at least seemingly randomly) choose whether you get to be Leader or not.  Sometimes I want to pick the songs, but sometimes I want someone else to pick the songs.  Also, for the Score Duel mode, it’d be nice if you picked the difficulty level you wanted first, then it would search for other players also looking for that level.  Rather than pairing you up with someone, then the Leader choosing the level.  I got paired up with this one guy who decided to play all Expert drums.  I was lucky if I got half his score!  Haha.

I had tried out the Tug of War mode first, and didn’t stick around too long.  I was playing drums on Hard, but the person I was playing with was on Medium.  Now either I just suck at getting anything perfect (which I usually do), but it almost doesn’t seem fair that a Medium goes up against a Hard and wins the tug of war.  But I guess I should be equally as good at Hard as someone would be on Medium.  Oh well.

Score Duel I found probably the most because I could compare myself to others, especially those who are better than me.  Like snowboarding, I think I try harder when I’m surrounded by people who are retardedly good.  I’m forced to kick it up a notch.  But still, playing on Expert difficulty was insane for me.

I also tried playing just regular Quick Play with someone.  The first person that joined didn’t stick around very long as I was trying to wait another minute to see if anyone else would join for the remainder of the instruments.  So when that person left and another joined, I just started up the game.  Was an alright mode, but I guess it’d be more fun with people I actually knew, and maybe if there was a singer hahaha.

Anyway, I wish I had a 360, or that more people I knew had PS3s, so that I could play online with actual friends. 

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Video Games 3 Comments » March 2008

Hmm..

Sometimes I wonder if all the effort I put into trying to include everyone else into group activities (which includes inviting and ensuring they get to the place and get home..) for the past seven years has been a waste of my time and energy. I seem to be left out of invite lists, without remorse, when it comes to other people’s activities more often than not.  It makes me want to reconsider my consideration for other people.

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Random Life Tales 2 Comments » March 2008

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