Just a week ago, Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 3 premiered and with it came many (mostly welcome) changes. It's the most the game has changed in almost a calendar year, so many players, myself included, are still getting used to all the changes. I'm going to go over most of the changes and whether they are good or bad.
This time, we'll start with the good:
- Increased mobility
This is something that has plagued Chapter 2 since its release. In season 1 of this chapter, there were literally no mobility items, the only being a trap-slot item in launch pads. The only vehicle at the time was boats, and they didn't do well on land (especially going up hills). In season 2, this was improved upon with the introduction of helicopters and crash pads. But still, mobility was fairly limited. Now with season 3, we have new zip lines, sharks that can be ridden, and whirlpools. Two of the mythic bosses even have mythic mobility items (grappler and impulse grenade launcher). Not to mention the game still has both boats and helicopters as well as crash pads. Lachlan, an Australian Fortnite player on YouTube, even joked that there is too much mobility.
- Significant map changes
I'm not going to comment specifically on the map changes themselves (that will be below), but I'm glad there were significant map changes period. The map was starting to get stale and old. When I first started playing in season 3, I was amazed at the amount of changes to the map. It almost doesn't look like the same map.
- Sticking with Mythic bosses
One of the best parts of season 2 was the mythic bosses. Epic Games realized this and at least kept us with three mythic bosses (as opposed to 5/6 last season). They nerfed the weapons so that none of them are too overpowered. In season 2, in certain games if someone else got the mythic weapons, it felt vastly unfair. Now it doesn't feel that unfair.
- Sharks
I have thalassophobia (fear of the deep sea and its creatures), so sharks at first were not a welcome addition for me. Having gotten used to them now, I like them. They can be used to get loot from, ride on (as mentioned earlier), and even use to attack enemies and their builds. I hope this leads to Epic Games including other living things we can interact with. Maybe giant birds we can ride on? Maybe horses?
- The right amount of new weapons/items and unvaulting
Epic Games unvaulted the hunting rifle, bolt action sniper, P90 SMG and Chug Splashes, as well as introducing the new charge shotgun and fireflies. They also have two mythic items for bosses that were either unvaulted (Chug Jug) or new (Impulse Launcher). This is exactly what they should do every season. Come up with new weapons and items while unvaulting a few popular ones as well. They obviously listened to us because many of us (myself included) wanted the hunting rifle and chug splashes brought back.
- More healing items
One problem the early part of this chapter had was not enough healing items. Even with the introduction of fishing, healing was a bit tough to do at times. In season 3, we now have fruits and vegetables that 1) can be placed into the inventory instead of having to be consumed and 2) are a wider variety. There are apples, corn, cabbages, shield and slurp mushrooms, and chili peppers (although those are for speed). So someone in desperate need of health or shield can grab some of these.
All right, now onto the bad things. This season is definitely an improvement, but it is not without its faults.
- Too much water
As I mentioned earlier, I'm glad the map changed a lot, but I wish they hadn't added this much water. A lot of old landmarks and locations are completely submerged now. If they had added a feature which allowed us to dive underwater, I would be ok with this amount, but too much is simply "unexplorable" right now.
- Not enough material options
With all of the water on the map, there are far less ways to get a significant amount of materials. Weeping Woods is submerged, so forget that. It is clearly much harder to build up materials quickly. The new things that popped up on the map (The Fortilla and Rickety Rig) do not have enough material options.
- Too many things vaulted, especially ones needed for challenges
The pump shotgun, heavy sniper, C4 remote explosives, and proximity mines all got vaulted. RPG's are now only available by killing and taking them from Marauders on the map, so they are no longer available at all in Team Rumble play. There have been these "quick challenges" which include getting explosive damage or eliminations. The only way to do that now in Team Rumble is by using grenades. Either Epic realized this and didn't care, or they failed to realize all the explosive weapons they vaulted while keeping explosive challenges.
- Quick challenges are more work for not much more XP
Daily challenges have been replaced by quick challenges. There would be a new daily challenge every new day you played. These challenges only needed one thing accomplished and gave 55,000 XP. Now, there are five that generate each day. They start out at 1,400 XP and after a day become 14,000 XP. Even if you complete all 5 of those challenges, that is 70,000 XP. Basically, it's four more challenges to complete for just a bit more XP. They do keep regenerating after completing, but are only 1,400 XP for each challenge unless you wait a day. It's a clever technique by Epic Games to get us to play a bit longer, but I am not a big fan of this change.
All in all, this season is definitely an upgrade from the previous season. I do have one major recommendation if Epic Games wants. As I said above, all of this water on the map would have been made better if there was a new mechanic to dive down underwater. Our characters could hold their breath for 20 seconds before losing health (10 health per second after that). There could be oxygen tanks which would allow our players to go for about a minute underwater before running out. One problem I do see with this, however, is players trapping others underwater, but hey, if you can't shoot your way out, oh well. That's the risk you take for going underwater. This would be cool to see if they wanted to implement it next season.
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Good and Bad Things About Our New Apartment
Amanda and I are on to our third home (already!), but we really only had to move because of the renovations undergoing at our old complex. We also wanted to get out of Kirkland because of the high cost of living there. We found a new place in Bothell, basically in Mill Creek. It's certainly different from our old place. I think there are more good things about it than bad, but I thought I'd share both good and bad things about it. First, to get it out of the way I'll go over the bad things.
Bad:
- We can hear the upstairs neighbors too easily.
We live on the 2nd floor of a 3 floor complex. We have neighbors above and below us. We're used to having to not make too much noise on the floor (we've always lived on the 2nd floor), but at our last place, we didn't have any upstairs neighbors, which was nice. We hear them walking a lot, and Amanda can even hear them talking and snoring or their TV.
- Longer commute
With moving to Bothell comes longer commutes. Because of COVID-19, I am not working at the moment, but when I do go back to work, the commute to work will be longer than before. Fortunately I do not have to deal with that yet.
- Less bedroom space
Our bedroom is a bit noticeably smaller. Our living/dining room is about the same, maybe a tad smaller as well. It's not a big deal, especially since we are using our space better. At our last place, our couch was basically in the middle of the living room, because if it was against the wall, it would have been too far away from the TV.
Good:
- Best amenities I have ever seen
Literally the best amenities I have ever seen at an apartment complex. Swimming pool, billiards, huge gym, coffee and tea bar, TV, brand new Apple computers, etc. Just so many great things for residents to do. Unfortunately the amenities are closed right now, but we'll get to experience them some day.
- Big balcony and outdoor storage
Our outdoor balcony area is the biggest we have had so far at our three places. It's got plenty of space for a patio table, chairs, and even a grill. And our outdoor storage is bigger than what we had at our last place.
- Deep pantries
We definitely have more space to put our non-perishable foods. Before, we used to have space just for cups, plates, bowls, etc., but now we have a place for those things AND groceries. And the pantries we have go pretty deep, so they can accommodate a lot of stuff. We just have to be careful some food items don't get lost back there and go bad/expire.
- Valet garbage service
Because our complex is so large with only a few dumpsters, we have the option of a garbage valet service. Five nights a week we have the option of leaving our trash and recycle out for a paid attendant to pick up. All we have to do is put it outside our door. It's awesome, and whenever we move out of here, I know I will miss this service immensely.
- Surrounding area/shops
I think the surrounding area is even better for us here. We're still within walking distance of a Safeway, but we have more restaurants, a dollar store, and a Fred Meyer. I also really like the surrounding nature, which we can see right from our living room window.
- Even better nature views
Being at "North Creek", there is a flowing creek and a bunch of trees in our area that almost make it seem like you're far removed from the city, which we're not, fortunately. On our walk to the leasing office/mailbox, there is a bridge which goes over a flowing creek. We also get a lot of bunnies around our complex.
Well, that's all I have for now, if I think of anything else, I'll be sure to add it here!
Bad:
- We can hear the upstairs neighbors too easily.
We live on the 2nd floor of a 3 floor complex. We have neighbors above and below us. We're used to having to not make too much noise on the floor (we've always lived on the 2nd floor), but at our last place, we didn't have any upstairs neighbors, which was nice. We hear them walking a lot, and Amanda can even hear them talking and snoring or their TV.
- Longer commute
With moving to Bothell comes longer commutes. Because of COVID-19, I am not working at the moment, but when I do go back to work, the commute to work will be longer than before. Fortunately I do not have to deal with that yet.
- Less bedroom space
Our bedroom is a bit noticeably smaller. Our living/dining room is about the same, maybe a tad smaller as well. It's not a big deal, especially since we are using our space better. At our last place, our couch was basically in the middle of the living room, because if it was against the wall, it would have been too far away from the TV.
Good:
- Best amenities I have ever seen
Literally the best amenities I have ever seen at an apartment complex. Swimming pool, billiards, huge gym, coffee and tea bar, TV, brand new Apple computers, etc. Just so many great things for residents to do. Unfortunately the amenities are closed right now, but we'll get to experience them some day.
- Big balcony and outdoor storage
Our outdoor balcony area is the biggest we have had so far at our three places. It's got plenty of space for a patio table, chairs, and even a grill. And our outdoor storage is bigger than what we had at our last place.
- Deep pantries
We definitely have more space to put our non-perishable foods. Before, we used to have space just for cups, plates, bowls, etc., but now we have a place for those things AND groceries. And the pantries we have go pretty deep, so they can accommodate a lot of stuff. We just have to be careful some food items don't get lost back there and go bad/expire.
- Valet garbage service
Because our complex is so large with only a few dumpsters, we have the option of a garbage valet service. Five nights a week we have the option of leaving our trash and recycle out for a paid attendant to pick up. All we have to do is put it outside our door. It's awesome, and whenever we move out of here, I know I will miss this service immensely.
- Surrounding area/shops
I think the surrounding area is even better for us here. We're still within walking distance of a Safeway, but we have more restaurants, a dollar store, and a Fred Meyer. I also really like the surrounding nature, which we can see right from our living room window.
- Even better nature views
Being at "North Creek", there is a flowing creek and a bunch of trees in our area that almost make it seem like you're far removed from the city, which we're not, fortunately. On our walk to the leasing office/mailbox, there is a bridge which goes over a flowing creek. We also get a lot of bunnies around our complex.
Well, that's all I have for now, if I think of anything else, I'll be sure to add it here!
Monday, April 13, 2020
Fortnite Stereotypes
I'm a huge fan of Dude Perfect's "Stereotypes" series, so I thought it would be cool to describe some Fortnite gamer stereotypes. These are obviously exaggerated, just like the ones Dude Perfect does. Some of these, I will admit to being at one time or another. And I will say after each one if I ever am that stereotype when playing Fortnite. And hey, maybe Dude Perfect (or someone else) could make this into a video one day. Here are the Fortnite stereotypes:
The Hardcore sweat: A player that is button-mashing like crazy, spamming 90's and just has to kill as many people as possible. Shows him killing everyone he can, even people that are emoting or trying to get away. And of course, sweat is pouring down his face the whole time.
Is this ever me? No. One, I'm not skilled enough, and two, even if I was skilled enough, I think it's just kinda sad IMO.
The Architect: All they do during games is build things. They show a player having built the Taj Mahal or something similar. Or a player that's constantly in Creative mode making new maps.
Is this ever me? Rarely. I'm not hugely creative. When I first got into Fortnite I built a few things in the now-defunct Playground mode.
The Mobile Player: Someone who gets made fun of for playing on mobile. They explain how they don't own a good enough PC or current console. They constantly struggle with building and aiming.
Is this ever me? I have played Fortnite on mobile, but only to accomplish challenges that require two players (i.e. revive a friend in a match). But I relate to the gamers that don't own a PC or new enough console, as that used to be me.
The dancer: All they do during a match is dance and emote. They get into a squads game and their teammates get frustrated with them. This person also encourages others to emote with them.
Is this ever me? Only if I'm bored in a match and waiting for something to happen.
Moneybags: Someone who buys all the skins and everything else in the item shop. They get asked when they're ever going to use a certain skin, and they just reply "I dunno, I just like having it."
Is this ever me? I've probably bought more skins than I need, but I really do limit myself. I only have 50-some skins, mostly from the Battle Passes I've purchased.
The Rage Monster: If you watch Dude Perfect's stereotypes, you knew this was coming. This is someone that rages at the end of every match. They throw their controller (perhaps into the TV). Or if they're on a PC, they smash their keyboard against the wall, throw their monitor, and chuck their PC out a window.
Is this ever me? Yes, and more often than I'd care to admit. Although I don't damage my possessions... much.
The AFK but somehow ends up winning: The player that is away from their game for most of the match, but at the end they finally pay attention and they win.
Is this ever me? Sometimes I'll start a game, hide, and get something done like chores. I have won one or two of those types of games, so yes, this can be me.
The person who always dies early: They go for a chest at the same time as someone else but can never get the gun. Perhaps someone asks them why they don't land somewhere less crowded. They just respond saying, "Nah, man, you gotta land in those hot zones. That's where it's at."
Is this ever me? I try to avoid those kinds of places, so not really. But on occasion I will die early, regardless.
The Challenge Completer: Players who just play to accomplish challenges. It shows someone going to ridiculous lengths to complete a challenge, perhaps ignoring their squad.
Is this ever me? Yes, quite often. As I usually play solo and don't really care if I win or not, I often go for the challenge even if it hurts my chances of winning.
The Camper: Shows a player who camps in a bush the entire match. They get asked, "How is that even fun?" And they just respond, "Well, I always get top 10, do you?"
Is this ever me? Yes, but really only when I go off to do chores or other tasks.
The Sneak: They sneak around like some kind of stealthy secret agent. When they see another player they instantly hide until they can no longer see them.
Is this ever me? Yes, fairly often. Part of the fun to Fortnite (IMO) is being sneaky. I get a bit of a thrill when I'm able to sneak past or hide and some other player doesn't notice me.
The Hardcore sweat: A player that is button-mashing like crazy, spamming 90's and just has to kill as many people as possible. Shows him killing everyone he can, even people that are emoting or trying to get away. And of course, sweat is pouring down his face the whole time.
Is this ever me? No. One, I'm not skilled enough, and two, even if I was skilled enough, I think it's just kinda sad IMO.
The Architect: All they do during games is build things. They show a player having built the Taj Mahal or something similar. Or a player that's constantly in Creative mode making new maps.
Is this ever me? Rarely. I'm not hugely creative. When I first got into Fortnite I built a few things in the now-defunct Playground mode.
The Mobile Player: Someone who gets made fun of for playing on mobile. They explain how they don't own a good enough PC or current console. They constantly struggle with building and aiming.
Is this ever me? I have played Fortnite on mobile, but only to accomplish challenges that require two players (i.e. revive a friend in a match). But I relate to the gamers that don't own a PC or new enough console, as that used to be me.
The dancer: All they do during a match is dance and emote. They get into a squads game and their teammates get frustrated with them. This person also encourages others to emote with them.
Is this ever me? Only if I'm bored in a match and waiting for something to happen.
Moneybags: Someone who buys all the skins and everything else in the item shop. They get asked when they're ever going to use a certain skin, and they just reply "I dunno, I just like having it."
Is this ever me? I've probably bought more skins than I need, but I really do limit myself. I only have 50-some skins, mostly from the Battle Passes I've purchased.
The Rage Monster: If you watch Dude Perfect's stereotypes, you knew this was coming. This is someone that rages at the end of every match. They throw their controller (perhaps into the TV). Or if they're on a PC, they smash their keyboard against the wall, throw their monitor, and chuck their PC out a window.
Is this ever me? Yes, and more often than I'd care to admit. Although I don't damage my possessions... much.
The AFK but somehow ends up winning: The player that is away from their game for most of the match, but at the end they finally pay attention and they win.
Is this ever me? Sometimes I'll start a game, hide, and get something done like chores. I have won one or two of those types of games, so yes, this can be me.
The person who always dies early: They go for a chest at the same time as someone else but can never get the gun. Perhaps someone asks them why they don't land somewhere less crowded. They just respond saying, "Nah, man, you gotta land in those hot zones. That's where it's at."
Is this ever me? I try to avoid those kinds of places, so not really. But on occasion I will die early, regardless.
The Challenge Completer: Players who just play to accomplish challenges. It shows someone going to ridiculous lengths to complete a challenge, perhaps ignoring their squad.
Is this ever me? Yes, quite often. As I usually play solo and don't really care if I win or not, I often go for the challenge even if it hurts my chances of winning.
The Camper: Shows a player who camps in a bush the entire match. They get asked, "How is that even fun?" And they just respond, "Well, I always get top 10, do you?"
Is this ever me? Yes, but really only when I go off to do chores or other tasks.
The Sneak: They sneak around like some kind of stealthy secret agent. When they see another player they instantly hide until they can no longer see them.
Is this ever me? Yes, fairly often. Part of the fun to Fortnite (IMO) is being sneaky. I get a bit of a thrill when I'm able to sneak past or hide and some other player doesn't notice me.
Thursday, March 12, 2020
We're Moving!
After two and a half years at Scout (formerly Hunter's Run), Amanda and I are moving! The main reason for the move is the massive renovations the complex is undergoing. They rebranded (from Hunter's Run to Scout) and they've already replaced the roofs and windows of apartments. Our lease we signed late last summer only went until the beginning of April, because Scout has to have construction guys remodel the inside of our apartment. I've seen what they've done to other apartments; they completely gut them and replace everything. It would not be possible to stay in the apartment during that.
They have not reached out to us yet (but I expect they will soon), but Scout will probably offer us a comparable apartment that's already been renovated. Unfortunately with the remodel, they are raising rent in the remodeled units, a rent we cannot afford. We've checked online and while the apartments are nice, we just can't afford it.
So we began our apartment search. We found a place in Bothell called "Griffis North Creek" just off the Bothell-Everett Highway. It's got the nicest amenities I have ever seen in an apartment complex. To start, it's got:
- A pool table
- Swimming pool, large enough to do laps in
- Jacuzzi
- Full size gym
- Yoga studio (with hot yoga capabilities)
- Shuffleboard
- Full-size coffee and tea bar
- Brand new Apple computers for use
- Two gas grills anyone can use
And more.
But our apartment, where we'll be spending most of our time, is very nice as well. It's got a kitchen with all new stainless steel appliances, a small pantry, a coat closet, walk-in closet, washer/dryer, and my favorite part: Garbage valet service. Because it's such a huge complex, it's quite a walk to the nearest garbage dumpster, so they offer a garbage valet service. Five nights a week, a trash person collects garbage people leave out in front of their door. It's awesome. Oh, also each apartment is fitted with sprinklers, so in case of a massive fire, our belongings will not get burnt and lost forever.
But for the first time, I will not call Kirkland home. I have lived in Kirkland my entire life, but unfortunately it's just become too expensive to live in. My sister moved out of Kirkland a few years ago. My parents moved out just last year. Now in just a few weeks, I will move out of Kirkland myself. I love the city, and it will always have a special place in my heart, but it was time to move on and move out. At least I will stay on the east side and within driving distance.
Our apartment is on the small-ish size at 659 square feet, but that's okay to me. It will encourage Amanda and I to get rid of stuff we no longer need. My plan in these next few weeks is to put all-non essentials in our storage unit we rent, and then as time goes on, make trips to the storage unit and decide whether to keep things and put them in our new apartment, or get rid of them.
My least favorite part will be our commute. I did some research and when traffic is bad, it could take an hour to get to work, which I am not looking forward to. Depending on how it goes (or if I can find an alternative route to 405), I might get a Good-To-Go pass so I can drive in the toll lanes. We also might carpool on occasion, even though we work an hour apart (she starts and gets off an hour after me). Unfortunately, the carpool requirements during peak hours is 3 occupants, so we wouldn't be able to use the toll lanes as an HOV lane for free.
I'm excited for this move. We're going to get our keys and set up everything Saturday the 28th, and move our furniture the following day. We then will use the following week up until our lease expires to move the remaining things and clean the old apartment. I'm hoping that our current residence does not make us deep clean all the appliances and counters they're just going to replace anyway.
I will probably post an update after move, sometime in April, about how the transition to Griffis North Creek has gone. I am looking forward to taking advantage of the amenities when possible. Wish me luck with the move, it's definitely a change for me!
They have not reached out to us yet (but I expect they will soon), but Scout will probably offer us a comparable apartment that's already been renovated. Unfortunately with the remodel, they are raising rent in the remodeled units, a rent we cannot afford. We've checked online and while the apartments are nice, we just can't afford it.
So we began our apartment search. We found a place in Bothell called "Griffis North Creek" just off the Bothell-Everett Highway. It's got the nicest amenities I have ever seen in an apartment complex. To start, it's got:
- A pool table
- Swimming pool, large enough to do laps in
- Jacuzzi
- Full size gym
- Yoga studio (with hot yoga capabilities)
- Shuffleboard
- Full-size coffee and tea bar
- Brand new Apple computers for use
- Two gas grills anyone can use
And more.
But our apartment, where we'll be spending most of our time, is very nice as well. It's got a kitchen with all new stainless steel appliances, a small pantry, a coat closet, walk-in closet, washer/dryer, and my favorite part: Garbage valet service. Because it's such a huge complex, it's quite a walk to the nearest garbage dumpster, so they offer a garbage valet service. Five nights a week, a trash person collects garbage people leave out in front of their door. It's awesome. Oh, also each apartment is fitted with sprinklers, so in case of a massive fire, our belongings will not get burnt and lost forever.
But for the first time, I will not call Kirkland home. I have lived in Kirkland my entire life, but unfortunately it's just become too expensive to live in. My sister moved out of Kirkland a few years ago. My parents moved out just last year. Now in just a few weeks, I will move out of Kirkland myself. I love the city, and it will always have a special place in my heart, but it was time to move on and move out. At least I will stay on the east side and within driving distance.
Our apartment is on the small-ish size at 659 square feet, but that's okay to me. It will encourage Amanda and I to get rid of stuff we no longer need. My plan in these next few weeks is to put all-non essentials in our storage unit we rent, and then as time goes on, make trips to the storage unit and decide whether to keep things and put them in our new apartment, or get rid of them.
My least favorite part will be our commute. I did some research and when traffic is bad, it could take an hour to get to work, which I am not looking forward to. Depending on how it goes (or if I can find an alternative route to 405), I might get a Good-To-Go pass so I can drive in the toll lanes. We also might carpool on occasion, even though we work an hour apart (she starts and gets off an hour after me). Unfortunately, the carpool requirements during peak hours is 3 occupants, so we wouldn't be able to use the toll lanes as an HOV lane for free.
I'm excited for this move. We're going to get our keys and set up everything Saturday the 28th, and move our furniture the following day. We then will use the following week up until our lease expires to move the remaining things and clean the old apartment. I'm hoping that our current residence does not make us deep clean all the appliances and counters they're just going to replace anyway.
I will probably post an update after move, sometime in April, about how the transition to Griffis North Creek has gone. I am looking forward to taking advantage of the amenities when possible. Wish me luck with the move, it's definitely a change for me!
Thursday, March 5, 2020
COVID-19 AKA The Coronavirus
There is a disease going around that is bordering on being a pandemic. Ok, it is a pandemic. The Coronavirus is prevalant news around the globe, and it's disrupting everyday life everywhere. Businesses are getting people to work from home, if possible. Events are being cancelled or postponed. Some businesses that rely on regular customers are hurting because those customers are staying home.
I'm not scared. The symptoms are something we've all dealt with in life: coughing, a fever, and most of us have experienced a shortness in breath. But what makes myself feel safe is that the only people to have lost their lives after contracting COVID-19 are people middle-aged or older. People my age have gotten it, but they're making it through. Instead, I worry about my loved ones that are more susceptible to the disease, such as my grandparents, my parents, my aunts and uncles.
The crazy thing about this is that what it being deemed the "epicenter" of the virus is about a mile from where I live. The Life Care Center in Kirkland is basically in the same neighborhood as my home. It's not where the virus originated, but it's where it's caused the most damage and where most of the people who have lost their lives got it. Crazy, out of all the places in the world, it's a place a mile away from me.
I am doing all the precautionary measures: washing my hands often, using hand sanitizer gel and wipes, and wiping down commonly touched surfaces. We're being sent home to work from home later today and for all day tomorrow. The main reason for that is probably because one of my coworkers was recently in close proximity to someone that potentially had the virus. Fortunately, she has not displayed any symptoms as of yet, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Everyone, especially the elderly, should be taking every precaution they can. It's not like we should all try and find a doomsday bunker or completely seclude ourselves from the world, but we should be extra careful at this time. If you touch something commonly touched by others, do not touch anywhere on your face until you can wash/sanitize your hands. I am someone whose face itches constantly, whether it be my nose, eyes, or cheek. I am taking care of those itches by using my arm or by making sure my hands are absolutely clean first. Obviously, you aren't going to magically give yourself the virus, but you can contract it from others.
I hope this dies down soon so our lives can get back to normal. I hate having to worry about my family when they are the ones who are susceptible to the virus being fatal for them. The worst thing would be if everyone knew someone, friend or family, that got the virus, and worse, knowing someone who died from it. That would just be catastrophic. If the infected people are quarantined and stay away from others, we should be fine. This disease has not been proven fatal to people who are young and/or fit, and let's hope it stays that way.
I'm not scared. The symptoms are something we've all dealt with in life: coughing, a fever, and most of us have experienced a shortness in breath. But what makes myself feel safe is that the only people to have lost their lives after contracting COVID-19 are people middle-aged or older. People my age have gotten it, but they're making it through. Instead, I worry about my loved ones that are more susceptible to the disease, such as my grandparents, my parents, my aunts and uncles.
The crazy thing about this is that what it being deemed the "epicenter" of the virus is about a mile from where I live. The Life Care Center in Kirkland is basically in the same neighborhood as my home. It's not where the virus originated, but it's where it's caused the most damage and where most of the people who have lost their lives got it. Crazy, out of all the places in the world, it's a place a mile away from me.
I am doing all the precautionary measures: washing my hands often, using hand sanitizer gel and wipes, and wiping down commonly touched surfaces. We're being sent home to work from home later today and for all day tomorrow. The main reason for that is probably because one of my coworkers was recently in close proximity to someone that potentially had the virus. Fortunately, she has not displayed any symptoms as of yet, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Everyone, especially the elderly, should be taking every precaution they can. It's not like we should all try and find a doomsday bunker or completely seclude ourselves from the world, but we should be extra careful at this time. If you touch something commonly touched by others, do not touch anywhere on your face until you can wash/sanitize your hands. I am someone whose face itches constantly, whether it be my nose, eyes, or cheek. I am taking care of those itches by using my arm or by making sure my hands are absolutely clean first. Obviously, you aren't going to magically give yourself the virus, but you can contract it from others.
I hope this dies down soon so our lives can get back to normal. I hate having to worry about my family when they are the ones who are susceptible to the virus being fatal for them. The worst thing would be if everyone knew someone, friend or family, that got the virus, and worse, knowing someone who died from it. That would just be catastrophic. If the infected people are quarantined and stay away from others, we should be fine. This disease has not been proven fatal to people who are young and/or fit, and let's hope it stays that way.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Survivor Appreciation Post
Without a doubt, my favorite reality TV show of all time is Survivor. It's currently on it's 40th season right now, going 20 years strong. I have watched every single episode since season 2. I didn't watch the first season live, as I was a bit too young and I didn't know if it was going to be worth watching. I am currently in the middle of re-watching every season on Hulu. Thank God Hulu put all of the seasons on Survivor (up until season 34 or so). Oddly enough, in the earlier seasons, some of the episodes are not on Hulu, due to the contestants singing a song that is copyrighted or trademarked. Eventually, CBS learned not to show contestants singing those kinds of songs.
Survivor is not only my favorite reality TV show ever, it is one of my favorite TV shows ever, period. There is not one other show I've watched consistently for the past 20 years. It's been a part of my adolescent and now adult life. Every September and February, a new season has aired since 2000. I may not watch every episode live (due to conflicts with other shows, being busy with work or social plans, etc.), but I at least watch them eventually.
I think there are three reasons why Survivor has stood the test of time. One, it's always been about people and all the social games and politics. And those people have generally been interesting characters, ones we either grow attached to or despise. Two, it's not stayed the same game all the time, and has slowly evolved over the seasons to keep things interesting, new, and fresh. And three, the show's amazing host, Jeff Probst. Jeff's enthusiasm for the show and his ability to get the perfect responses out of people at Tribal Council make this show worth watching. If CBS had picked the wrong host way back in 2000, there's no way it would still be on.
The one problem Survivor is starting to face is making the show too confusing and complex. It's easy for the average person to keep track of Immunity Idols, but to ask the majority of people to keep track of other advantages (Steal a vote, block a vote, Idol nullifiers) as well is just asking too much. To top if off, they have introduced a currency of "Fire Tokens" in their 40th season. What they almost need is a segment where they show everyone's advantages and running fire tokens total. Thanks to a fan suggestion on Twitter, a few seasons ago they started putting what advantages each player has underneath their name. But that's only a modest amount of help.
I have thought about applying for Survivor, and technically I have. About a decade ago, Survivor allowed people to submit three minute videos of just themselves. That's all they had to do to apply. I made a video and submitted it, but never got a response. It's still on YouTube, and you can watch it here and cringe along with me. I think I'm better suited for the game now, having studied all the players and watching the show twice now. Once I get in better shape, I think I will seriously apply for the show and hope for the best.
So when will Survivor end? My guess is around the 50th season or so. If Probst decides to retire or stop doing the show, can Survivor even go on? I don't think I'd watch it with a new host. It certainly wouldn't be the same show without him. Let's hope Jeff continues to want to do the show until it can't go on anymore. But the one thing I'm afraid of is that the show becomes so convoluted with advantages and idols that it is no longer recognizable as the game it was twenty years ago. It's starting to get that way, but what the show needs to do is go back to its roots. Perhaps for one season they could do no advantages, except for perhaps one hidden immunity idol, and focus more on the survival aspect, just to see how well that season does with the fans. I bet it would be received even better.
Survivor is not only my favorite reality TV show ever, it is one of my favorite TV shows ever, period. There is not one other show I've watched consistently for the past 20 years. It's been a part of my adolescent and now adult life. Every September and February, a new season has aired since 2000. I may not watch every episode live (due to conflicts with other shows, being busy with work or social plans, etc.), but I at least watch them eventually.
I think there are three reasons why Survivor has stood the test of time. One, it's always been about people and all the social games and politics. And those people have generally been interesting characters, ones we either grow attached to or despise. Two, it's not stayed the same game all the time, and has slowly evolved over the seasons to keep things interesting, new, and fresh. And three, the show's amazing host, Jeff Probst. Jeff's enthusiasm for the show and his ability to get the perfect responses out of people at Tribal Council make this show worth watching. If CBS had picked the wrong host way back in 2000, there's no way it would still be on.
The one problem Survivor is starting to face is making the show too confusing and complex. It's easy for the average person to keep track of Immunity Idols, but to ask the majority of people to keep track of other advantages (Steal a vote, block a vote, Idol nullifiers) as well is just asking too much. To top if off, they have introduced a currency of "Fire Tokens" in their 40th season. What they almost need is a segment where they show everyone's advantages and running fire tokens total. Thanks to a fan suggestion on Twitter, a few seasons ago they started putting what advantages each player has underneath their name. But that's only a modest amount of help.
I have thought about applying for Survivor, and technically I have. About a decade ago, Survivor allowed people to submit three minute videos of just themselves. That's all they had to do to apply. I made a video and submitted it, but never got a response. It's still on YouTube, and you can watch it here and cringe along with me. I think I'm better suited for the game now, having studied all the players and watching the show twice now. Once I get in better shape, I think I will seriously apply for the show and hope for the best.
So when will Survivor end? My guess is around the 50th season or so. If Probst decides to retire or stop doing the show, can Survivor even go on? I don't think I'd watch it with a new host. It certainly wouldn't be the same show without him. Let's hope Jeff continues to want to do the show until it can't go on anymore. But the one thing I'm afraid of is that the show becomes so convoluted with advantages and idols that it is no longer recognizable as the game it was twenty years ago. It's starting to get that way, but what the show needs to do is go back to its roots. Perhaps for one season they could do no advantages, except for perhaps one hidden immunity idol, and focus more on the survival aspect, just to see how well that season does with the fans. I bet it would be received even better.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Things Epic Games should add to Fortnite
Yes, another Fortnite post. I've been thinking of a lot of things that could be added to the great game that is Fortnite: Battle Royale. From vehicles to weapons to items, the possibilities are almost endless. What hasn't been added to the game yet that could be? Any Epic Games employees that on the off chance may read this: Please consider these! Thanks!
Vehicles
Hovercrafts - With the addition of Slurpy Swamp, Hovercrafts would be perfect for that area. They'd be perfect over any water area, but would work well on land too. They could be in addition to or replace boats. They could hopefully seat an entire squad if need be.
Jet Ski's - Again, with water vehicles, you might think of Jet Ski's. These could seat two players. The driver would be allowed to shoot but only when not on the gas (Similar to with swimming, you can only shoot when stationary). What would be cool is to have a player with a grappler be able to water ski behind the jet ski. They could also implement this with boats.
Snow Mobiles - Next Christmas season when the map undoubtedly gets blanketed with an entire layer of snow, that would be a great time to introduce Snow Mobiles. They would work just like Jet Ski's, but on land. And they would go faster over snow terrains than anything else.
Motorcycles - Another two-person vehicle idea is a motorcycle. These would work like snow mobiles but be a bit faster and get more air off jumps. I would love to see another vehicle in the game capable of getting serious airtime, and players could try to set high scores with stunts. As for the appearance of the Fortnite motorcycle, I was thinking something like the motorcycle from the game "The Operative: No One Lives Forever", as seen here.
Items/Weapons
Bear Traps - This would be a seriously devilish item. You would place them down and, knowing some smart players, they could probably disguise them pretty well. Then, if an enemy player steps over it, they get caught. This item drains their health (not shield) 50 HP over 5 seconds (10 HP a second), and traps them in that time as well. But after that five seconds, they get to free themselves. But if they step in another, which there very well could be right in front of you, the same thing happens (which would then kill them unless they healed in between). This could really hurt a player's chances, especially if they step in one in the storm. One cool thing they could possibly implement is if you're able to spot it before stepping in it, you can pick it up and set it yourself.
Shuriken/Throwing Stars - Just Google an image of Shuriken if you don't know what they look like. You could carry maybe a stack of ten. Imagine throwing five of these in a manner of 3 seconds and taking perhaps close to 100 HP off of your opponent. If they ever have a ninja themed season, this is a must. It would also be cool to be able to reclaim any Shuriken/Throwing Stars if they miss an enemy.
Bear Bombs: This could be changed a bit, but my idea is a stuffed teddy bear that you can set up. It looks a lot like the other stuffed teddy bears in the game, with some subtle differences. If an enemy gets too close, it explodes and does a ton of damage. This could be something else in disguise, but imagine setting one of these up in a crowded POI. In order for this to not be too overpowered, it could start beeping like a bomb a few seconds before it goes off.
Targeting Beacon - I don't have the best name for it, but this item would be a one time use (or 2-3) and would tell you for a few seconds where all of the enemies are. They would display as red outlines and/or be displayed as red dots on the map. This may be an item only included in Team Rumble or 50 vs 50 (if that ever comes back).
Edit: They introduced a flare gun, which pretty much is how I described my "targeting beacon". There's one thing they included!
Portable Slurp Showers: This isn't my idea, as I saw it on Reddit a while back. Basically, it's the Slurp version of campfires. They would get stored in the spot where traps go, and you could set one up anywhere and it would slowly heal your health/shield, just like standing in Slurpy Swamp does. They would last for 100HP probably, and steam would rise from it, just like smoke rises from campfires. Alternatively, this could be called "Shield Showers" and work the same way, but only for shield.
Shield Kegs were added in Chapter 3, and it's fairly close to what I described. They don't go in the trap slot and don't have to be placed on a build, but they do incrementally heal your shield just like a campfire does for health.
Portable Zip Lines: This may not be possible to implement, but imagine pointing at a spot on a mountain and the end of a zip line gets shot there, and from where you are standing, you're able to use the zip line to go up the mountain without having to use any materials. You might say this sounds like a grappler, but this would have a much further range, could only be used once, and could be used by enemy players unless you destroyed it. Basically, it would be you, the player, setting up a zipline, and possibly allowing other players to use it. If either end of this portable zip line was on a build that got destroyed, the devs could decide if either the zip line gets destroyed, or it just falls down.
Other
Gold Material - I thought with all of the gold teasers for Chapter 2, Season 2 that Fortnite might be introducing a fourth material, gold. Muselk even did a video on using only materials from gold items, thinking the same thing. I think it would be cool if Epic added a fourth material even stronger than metal, and gold would be a good option. Diamond would be another option if they wanted to go that route. But this fourth material would be even harder to find than metal, and its builds would be even stronger than metal. To see a player spamming gold builds would just make anyone's jaw drop.
That's all I have for now, but if I think of anything else I will be sure to add it here.
Vehicles
Hovercrafts - With the addition of Slurpy Swamp, Hovercrafts would be perfect for that area. They'd be perfect over any water area, but would work well on land too. They could be in addition to or replace boats. They could hopefully seat an entire squad if need be.
Jet Ski's - Again, with water vehicles, you might think of Jet Ski's. These could seat two players. The driver would be allowed to shoot but only when not on the gas (Similar to with swimming, you can only shoot when stationary). What would be cool is to have a player with a grappler be able to water ski behind the jet ski. They could also implement this with boats.
Snow Mobiles - Next Christmas season when the map undoubtedly gets blanketed with an entire layer of snow, that would be a great time to introduce Snow Mobiles. They would work just like Jet Ski's, but on land. And they would go faster over snow terrains than anything else.
Motorcycles - Another two-person vehicle idea is a motorcycle. These would work like snow mobiles but be a bit faster and get more air off jumps. I would love to see another vehicle in the game capable of getting serious airtime, and players could try to set high scores with stunts. As for the appearance of the Fortnite motorcycle, I was thinking something like the motorcycle from the game "The Operative: No One Lives Forever", as seen here.
Items/Weapons
Bear Traps - This would be a seriously devilish item. You would place them down and, knowing some smart players, they could probably disguise them pretty well. Then, if an enemy player steps over it, they get caught. This item drains their health (not shield) 50 HP over 5 seconds (10 HP a second), and traps them in that time as well. But after that five seconds, they get to free themselves. But if they step in another, which there very well could be right in front of you, the same thing happens (which would then kill them unless they healed in between). This could really hurt a player's chances, especially if they step in one in the storm. One cool thing they could possibly implement is if you're able to spot it before stepping in it, you can pick it up and set it yourself.
Shuriken/Throwing Stars - Just Google an image of Shuriken if you don't know what they look like. You could carry maybe a stack of ten. Imagine throwing five of these in a manner of 3 seconds and taking perhaps close to 100 HP off of your opponent. If they ever have a ninja themed season, this is a must. It would also be cool to be able to reclaim any Shuriken/Throwing Stars if they miss an enemy.
Bear Bombs: This could be changed a bit, but my idea is a stuffed teddy bear that you can set up. It looks a lot like the other stuffed teddy bears in the game, with some subtle differences. If an enemy gets too close, it explodes and does a ton of damage. This could be something else in disguise, but imagine setting one of these up in a crowded POI. In order for this to not be too overpowered, it could start beeping like a bomb a few seconds before it goes off.
Targeting Beacon - I don't have the best name for it, but this item would be a one time use (or 2-3) and would tell you for a few seconds where all of the enemies are. They would display as red outlines and/or be displayed as red dots on the map. This may be an item only included in Team Rumble or 50 vs 50 (if that ever comes back).
Edit: They introduced a flare gun, which pretty much is how I described my "targeting beacon". There's one thing they included!
Portable Slurp Showers: This isn't my idea, as I saw it on Reddit a while back. Basically, it's the Slurp version of campfires. They would get stored in the spot where traps go, and you could set one up anywhere and it would slowly heal your health/shield, just like standing in Slurpy Swamp does. They would last for 100HP probably, and steam would rise from it, just like smoke rises from campfires. Alternatively, this could be called "Shield Showers" and work the same way, but only for shield.
Shield Kegs were added in Chapter 3, and it's fairly close to what I described. They don't go in the trap slot and don't have to be placed on a build, but they do incrementally heal your shield just like a campfire does for health.
Portable Zip Lines: This may not be possible to implement, but imagine pointing at a spot on a mountain and the end of a zip line gets shot there, and from where you are standing, you're able to use the zip line to go up the mountain without having to use any materials. You might say this sounds like a grappler, but this would have a much further range, could only be used once, and could be used by enemy players unless you destroyed it. Basically, it would be you, the player, setting up a zipline, and possibly allowing other players to use it. If either end of this portable zip line was on a build that got destroyed, the devs could decide if either the zip line gets destroyed, or it just falls down.
Other
Gold Material - I thought with all of the gold teasers for Chapter 2, Season 2 that Fortnite might be introducing a fourth material, gold. Muselk even did a video on using only materials from gold items, thinking the same thing. I think it would be cool if Epic added a fourth material even stronger than metal, and gold would be a good option. Diamond would be another option if they wanted to go that route. But this fourth material would be even harder to find than metal, and its builds would be even stronger than metal. To see a player spamming gold builds would just make anyone's jaw drop.
That's all I have for now, but if I think of anything else I will be sure to add it here.
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