RACCOON DADDY – Games and Parenting Community
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A great laugh for everyone!
Louie and I were sitting and watching a few vids on Youtube and we saw this and I HAD to share it! Moms and dads totally get this and will have a great trip down memory lane watching our kids dancing at those tender toddler ages. Those memories are pretty irreplacable!
This evening me and Louie were hanging out and watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. Oddly enough, this was the episode that many fans cringed on, in its early years. The episode is called, “The Skin of Evil”, which also just happens to be the episode Tasha Yar dies in. For some reason, it had always been one of those creatures that scared me when I was 10 years old. I never understood then and every time it would air.
When the episode ended, I’d admitted to Louie that I’d bothered me before and I’d finally realized why. Back then, I remember seeing the horror movie “The Blob”, which was about…a blob. If it touched you, it would kill you instantly, which had clearly scared the shit out of me back then. Regardless, it made up for some funny pokes at me and reminded me of what I’d been missing. It was my love, Louie.
This was nice; it felt like the days before marriage and children. It was a comfort I haven’t felt in long time.
This morning, I’ve decided to do a tribute several ladies, who have graced my existence. Normally, I don’t do poetry, but I’ve found thus far, that I’m NOT BAD at it. It’s a creative process, so I’ll be spreading these out in separate posts. So here goes.
To Maxine,
My first sight of was through the reflection, in your eyes.
Cerulean skies that gave me the courage to wonder, question and express.
Guiding my hands, you kept me off the wayward, so I could find your sandy footprints.
Generously, you gave me the Universe through Trebles and Basses, journeys which were never short of fascination.
Curiously, I stepped towards the flames, so close to immolation, but you grabbed my hand…returned me.
Anger consumed my thoughts despite the words of console. I turned and walked out, yet you smiled.
Distant and resting upon the cradle of Neptune’s embrace, I showed no recourse or fear, as I knew you were still right here.
On the shores, that were no longer far, but familiar; I recalled that first of those skies.
Those reflections in your eyes.
I cannot find your footprints any longer. Yet I’ll never wander, I remember the way.
These are my days now and my footprints.
To Mom.
Many years ago, my brother had scrounged money up to buy a Playstation ONE from his paycheck at work. At that time, he bought three games for it. Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Battle Arena Toshinden and X-COM: UFO Defense.
At the time, the only game I was able to play was Battle Arena with him, because it was two player. But the others, he didn’t want me watching him play them. After all older brothers don’t want their younger brothers always hanging out with them. That didn’t stop me, and one day he let me sit down and watch him play X-COM and the other game.
The first I saw on the game was a polygonal globe of Earth, which was pretty unimpressive to me. Next he clicked on a blue dot and named this dot to his choosing. The blue dot turned out to be a base, of which was given the ability to expand, hire personnel, manufacture equipment, buy supplies, house and launch aircraft, detect UFO’s and equip soldiers. Clearly, there was more to this game than a boring-ass view of Earth.
Then came the UFO’s, which I watched him get into engagements that showed fluorescent green blips and a radar inspired by the movie Aliens. Once it was over, the UFO was down and I’d thought that was it. But as know, if you’ve played the remake, there about to be some serious extraterrestrial investigation coming up. And this where we’re going to flash forward to what we know today about X-COM.
Here is where this game really differs from the remake and original. Sure, you get the squad of rookies, the base equipment and such. Instead of being spawned in a magical exit square, you’re all packed into your ship. Once you take those first few moves and will decide either if you live or die. X-COM – Enemy Unknown (2012) does not do this! Everything is focused on a cover system, that is cool and works for the game itself; but removes the tension and fear of the X-COM of old.
The X-COM made 18 YEARS prior to its modernization is a FAR better experience than its successor! UFO Defense had the creepy X-Files like music accompanied to the tense, terrifying feeling that you get, when you are outnumbered and failure may come through just a few wrong moves.
The original was so fantastic due to the fact, that it was completely randomized, unscripted and left the fate of your team always dependent on HOW the mission went. If you’ve played the newer versions, they are GOOD. But if you want a true challenge, then you must go back and find a copy of X-COM. HERE IS LINK FOR IT ON STEAM!
Just remember, death is permanent and look on the bright side…..
