#at least for now i'm interested in finding ways to mimic it/make it more pleasant while still including it in some capacity

[snapdragoned]

alternative university ideas 🤔💭

so i've been trying to think through how i want to handle university in my game. i like the idea of my sims having at least a round to "go to college" (whatever that looks like) before they transition into full adulthood. but i honestly hate university the way it works in the game and never look forward to university rounds. i hate grinding to fill up a performance meter with no real-world use for my sims. the skill points are nice, but i dread the homework/term paper side of it.

so i'm thinking i could create a single lot that has classrooms and practical skilling areas, both for standard skills and talent badges. kind of a cross between a community college and a community center. i could have my newly adult sims stay there for a round in a mocked up dorm and pursue whatever they want for 5-6 days and move out significantly more talented than they came. i was planning to use the sim blender/visitor controller to teleport relevant sims in and make them selectable to use skilling objects to make the lot seem less empty. i think there are 3 practical ways to do this:

an apartment - make an apartment building with only a few small units. the common areas would be the classrooms. the pros of this are that my sim could actually live there and pay reasonable rent (i could depreciate/tweak the rent with pescado's magic wand, or cheat them enough money for rent). the cons are that non-students could move in, and that i'd have to either knock down walls or use cheats to make the apartments bigger if i'm sending multiple people to college at once. and just the general bugginess of apartments could be an issue.

an owned business - make a random sim own the college campus, take them to the lot, and transport/make selectable the students i want to play. this is closest to how other simmers handle playable schools (to my knowledge). the pros are that i'd have more freedom with it not being an apartment and it would have more activity as a business. the cons are that i feel like i'd need additional mods to make this work and some tweaking to adjust the business aspect to not interfere. would i be able to have the business owner/visitors sleep there overnight for multiple days to mimic a dorm? i don't know! i've never tried it. i feel like there's potential for issues there.

a college dorm - make a dorm in the university subhood and cheat the college progress bars full/manually stop students from going to class, then let them do whatever in their downtime. the cons are that i honestly don't even want to fuck with the university subhood anymore and i'd either have find new mods or micromanage my sims to make sure they didn't go to class. the pros are that it would auto-populate with dormies and there wouldn't be any issues with trying to finagle a dorm.

i don't know! just thinking out loud a little here... any feedback/ideas for mods are totally welcome! if you play university differently than how the EP was meant to be played, i'd love to hear your thoughts in the reblogs/replies.

[atangledfate]

Sonic grimaced as she ripped that grate off the sewer, and was reminded that she was juts physically stronger then he was. She was kind of scary if he was honest but, he didn't let his brain linger to long on the fact she could rip him in half if she wanted to. He was way more concerned with the icky water! Not that the ick bothered him as much as the PTSD he had of being trapped under water in one of eggman's freaking sewers! At least there wouldn't be any Piranha bots! please no piranha bots!

" Nope doesn't ring a--- Hold on... i remember Amy telling me about some greasy rat man... don't think we've had the pleasure of talking in person..."

He opted not to mention the whole avalanche or Starlines involvement. better not to open old wounds he figured but grimaced at the pipe.

" hey, I've been trapped under water in enough sewers to know its never just a little water! Besides i don't exactly float ya know... i sink like a rock. Everyone teases me about not being able to swim! less not being able to swim and more a lack of floatyness! "

He jumped up into the pipe behind her barely even noting the shuttle as his brain was elsewhere. He grunted at the traps, at least she could disable them but man this was a pain! and way to slow! He could vibrate himself through them probably but, that was pretty exhausting and he had no idea if Mimic had planned for something like that. It wasn't a common ability--- but still this was a pain and he hated going slow!

" Finally something we can agree on--- well we could try something... might be risky and a bit exhausting. But would get us there faster... You ever tried vibrating yourself at a high frequency? "

Sonic held his hand out to the wall and vibrated his cells at a high speed allowing him to pass right through it like he wasn't even there. Another trick that Starline was probably just not aware of--- but if he could do it he was certain she could.

" It's handy for escaping being crushed, but maintaining it long term is like running a marathon... but i can do it, so can shadow and i'm betting you can to. Just takes a little practice... and focus... "

He just hoped she wouldn't get annoyed that he was teaching her things that maybe never occurred to her. Things starline couldn't imagine she could do---there was alot he could show her given time and her willingness to learn.

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She had to smile a little impressed with Kit's resourcefulness. Freezing the tech like that seemed to short out it's circuits, and disable it quickly. This would allow them to progress much faster, and because of he echo location she could easily find all his little tricks! This was perfect, by working together the two of them could easily circumvent his hurdle and rescue Tangle! That was so important to her right now---despite how annoying she could be. Tangle was like the heart of the team... and more then that she was such a good friend! she didn't want to let her down!

" Right... then i'll be your eyes, and together we'll reach Mimic in half the time he's expecting..."

She flicked her bell every few seconds to keep the sound bouncing down the hall. By using her echo location she could see what no one else could. All the laser beams, all the little bombs, and every tunnel and byway. She wasn't going to fail Tangle, just like she saved her from that trap! Lanolin was going to save her and when she got her hands on Mimic--- she'd rip that beak off his face and keep it as a trophy!

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The Lemur continued to impress him. Most people in her situation would have already fallen victim to the toxin. But she was a fighter, it did make things more interesting as she sure did like to run her mouth. But the more she struggled, the more she tried to move the deeper the toxin would run in her veins. It might not be lethal in the dose he used, but that didn't make it all all pleasant. She was a problem he intended to remove from the equation entirely!

" You think this is about her? "

He scowled at the Lemur shifting his knife and hammed it directly against her rib intending to break it! a reminder that the toxin didn't dull any pain or injuries.

" ... this was always about you... because of you i got locked up in a max security cell. I have wanted nothing more then to make you suffer... so i came up with this plan. One to kill you, whisper and everyone else who was dumb enough to follow me..."

He sneered and whispered into Tangle's ear with a soft tone, so calm and filled with delight as everything was just how he wanted it.

" Tell me... why would i trap myself in a box? "

Whisper gitted her teeth as her ears twitched! She just needed a clean shot, but he was purposely using Tangle' to shield himself. She was so worried she'd hit her. Her care for Tangle prevented her from risking the shot. If it was anyone else she might go for it, but not here, not her and he knew that because he knew her so well. Yet her eyes shifted to the duffle that disappeared and realized someone else was down here trying to save Tangle. It's when she devise a plan if she could just get them to understand her intention.

Whisper reached into her jacket and flicked a strap dropping her crystals onto the floor behind her within her shadow. She knew so much about wisps she knew what was going on easily enough. All they had to do was plop a crystal behind Mimic just outside his field of vision---she could finally end this! She knew Cyan was one of the few wisps who was just fine with removing Mimic.

The young Feline winced at Rowan as he slunk down against the wall. his eyes closing as he didn't have the energy to stay awake. Yet mumbled about the trap a few more times. He hoped, and prayed that someone killed that bastard, for all the pain he caused him nothing would make him happier. he'd done all he could yet, he knew it might be to late. His eyes closed and he didn't know if he was embracing death or not--- but he knew that they didn't have any more time left...

As for the bag all that was inside were some flash grenades, some ammunition, and a strange looking glove with gold finger tips. Seemed Mimic didn't notice yet but at least his arsenal was out of the way.

" Time's up... "

A buzzer went off from his computer and mimic only smiled as the flood gates began to roll to the side. and the large doors marking the exit to the sewers rolled closed. Sealing everyone inside, and Mimic's plan coming together as a wave of water came crashing down from behind Sonic and Surge and Lanolin and kitsunami. before rushing into the room from two sides.

This was always his plan---drown them all, he could kill all his enemies at once!

" You know the best part Lemur? watching that panic set in your eyes as you slowly drown..."

"The guy behind this is named Clutch, who you've had a run it from what he's told me. As for where he is, well, I said I fucked up royally. He's in the Grand Prix airship which is armed to the teeth with weapons. If Miles is flying here then you may want to warn him they'll try to shoot him down." Not like anyone was on the ship who could cause enough of a distraction to delay them from shooting anything that flies too close. It didn't help it was right over the base making her think Clutch planned this.

Surge then ripped off the entrance to the sewer, tossing it far into the distance. "Never wanted to share that with me, though he was only starting to build up on rings so wouldn't be too surprised if half of it was to raise money." The tenrec would deal with him later, though took noticed to a shuttle suddenly flying right up too it.

"What the fuck? Did he have ANOTHER spy? You know what, I don't care right now. We'll deal with that later." Surge began walking into the sewer. "It's a fucking sewer Sonic. The water ain't that deep, well, not until you get to where it all drains. Besides, some dirty shoes is a small price to pay to get the jump on Mimic." The tenrec then stopped, holding out her hand to stop Sonic as well. "There's tech on the walls, I can sense the electricity in it." The speedster flicked some lightning out, watching it bounce to anything tech and fry it. Small lines of smoke filling the tunnel. "Not sure if there's more. Guess we'll have to take it slow, ugh."

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"No need for that. Let's say Mimic might regret choosing the sewer to hide in." Kitsunami did make mist, though would have it freeze around all the various traps and tripwires thus breaking them. "I don't have an eye sharp enough to spot them so just tell me when we're coming up on some traps." The fennec had been training hard to better use he's powers, and his knowledge help to find the easiest path to break all the traps.

"Though I'm worried Mimic might have a remote detonator. I'm sure if he hears up getting closer he'll just cave everything in and try take us with him." Kitsunami wasn't as good as Mimic on stealth so doubt he could sneak up on him again. Even then he still failed to get Tangle and avoid all of this.

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Tangle grunts feeling the back of the knife jam into her side. "My Uncle is going to kick your butt when he get's his hands on you." The lemur was glad she could at least talk, though wasn't sure how much longer that would last as she continued to felt her body stiffen up. Though her attention when to seeing Whisper, though she frowns seeing the state she's in.

"Really? That's why you're doing this? She didn't even do anything to you, you did everything to her! I'm going to tail punch you in the face so hard when this is over!" Tangle wished she could move her body right now, mainly because she was sure Whisper wasn't here just to rough Mimic up and take him to jail.

Rowan was turning just to try and come up with a plan when the cat pulled his arms and told him Mimic's plan to flood everything. "Okay, first, try to buy you some more time." The lemur pulled out a shot. "Won't wake you up, though will give your body a boost to last a few more hours before I can get you help." He gave the stranger the shot before turning back.

Rowan saw Mimic walking back towards something that was casting a small shadow. Good thing it didn't matter the size as the shadow Wisp could still open a portal even with the smallest of shadows. He walked over as the Wisp appeared, still looking like a laser Wisp. "You gonna drop the disguise anytime soon?" The lemur got his answer by the Wisp nervously shaking it's head no before opening a small portal.

Rowan stuck his hand through and grabbed the bag, pulling it in as the shadow closed once more. "What was he going after?" The lemur opened and began digging around hoping to find a remote trigger to whatever trap Mimic had. It'll give him a chance to rewire it and use it to stop the trap.

[kaorei-endgame]

Have you gotten around to prey? If so, how does it compare to System Shock 2? Never played it, but I'm loving the hell out of Prey, more so than Dishonored or the Bioshock series.

It’s super good! And it hit me at the right time, which means I played it during a mega depresso binge over like three or four days.

It felt to me like this could’ve been a follow-up to System Shock 2 in some alternate universe where Bioshock never happened. Bioshock pared things down way too much for my tastes. This was like a midpoint between System Shock 2 and Dishonored in terms of systems, inventory management, stuff like that. You better believe I got SUPER hype when I killed the first enemy in the demo and found a research item I’d need a skill upgrade to harvest. That’s my bread and butter!

Don’t know exactly how to say this without spoiling it, but the trick they pull in the very beginning hit me like seeing an action movie constructed entirely out of practical effects would in this modern era where everything is CG blood. The tomfoolery with the helicopter ride. Them pulling the rug out from under you, then proceeding to show you how they manufactured the twist entirely in-universe, without, like, map-changing trickery was beyond rad. They could’ve just spoofed the helicopter ride with map changes, but instead you can walk around in the lab where the twist is deployed and see how all the pieces fit together It made me think “oh, they really cared about how tactile feel of this universe.” Essentially, they created a practical magic trick in a medium where it’s 10000% easier just to make literal magic. It spoke volumes about the ethos they were going for, that they worked hard to make all the pieces line up on something that a lot of people wouldn’t really even bother to think about too hard, or even care about if they did.

That’s present everywhere. When you start fighting mind-controlled crew members later in the game, they’re all named NPCs. There’s no like “mind-controlled crew,” it’s “Roger.” If, as I’m now told, we’re calling these games “immersive sims,” then this is about as immersed in one of these games as I’ve been in a long time. The touches are omnipresent, and touches are what make games stick in my mind after I get some time away and the gameplay hooks start to dull. Really early in the game, the first time you run into a stronger enemy than the standard mimics, it’s a spooky ghost monster but the spooky ghost monster is named “Yuki Sato” and later you can go to Yuki Sato’s room and paw through her stuff. The level design is Space Station Bland at points, but I can almost forgive it because they clearly put the effort into creating one big, confined space. Unlike Bioshock, where everything is segregated playpens with no sense of place in the greater world, when you eventually get to go out into space and see how all the pieces fit together, it’s a cool moment of realization that all the pieces really do fit together. That’s a commitment you don’t often see, especially these days. Before like six people told me they’re called Immersive Sims, I would think of games like this as “Dioramas.” They hit the exact right level of craft and verisimilitude to keep me interested. Not too tiny and scripted like a Gears corridor shooter, not too big and procedurally generated gunk like a Far Cry open world. The goldilocks of exploration.

I’m also totally sick of audio logs and want a moratorium on them almost across the board. I’m basically 180 on them and think the whole idea’s stupid because their purpose is to give you something to engage your brain while you’re rooting around trashcans, but practically speaking you have to sit still when you’re listening to them because the human brain actually doesn’t multitask well and it’s stupid to play the odds that you won’t run into a monster or get distracted by a hard to reach bauble and have to listen to the whole thing over again.

…..but the ones here were pretty solid. For one, it felt like they hit more character building notes and far less Expository Worldbuilding Gunk that I tune out on immediately because I know I’m gonna forget it as soon as the game’s over anyway and I’d rather save that brain space for, like, a book. For two… well, I try not to make super declarative statements on this stuff because I don’t feel like it’s 100% my place, but when people were talking up and being excited about the presence of queer relationships in this game, I assumed it was the usual case of having to do a lot of Rounding Up like to, y’know, pretty much always have to do in video games. 

So I was surprised that they gave you a couple fairly fleshed out queer characters whose plot was more than “yea I’m gay, super gay, all-the-time gay wanna fight about it,” was interesting. While I can’t shake the feeling that they gave your character a girlfriend because you could be a guy or a girl and people (especially gamers) are gonna be less gross about–well not less gross about but less angry gross about–lesbians than they are gay dudes, still, having that relationship play a fairly central part in the game beyond “Who You Choose To Bang 2/3rds Of The Way Through A Bioware RPG,” can’t be all bad, even if seeing the practical strings guiding that decision does get you kind of down about the state of things (slash-the-world-at-large).

I was disappointed in that part where you go into the lab and there’s post-it notes that say “not a mimic” on every single flask and coffee mug in the room and they didn’t pull the obvious trick of making one of the “not a mimic” post-its itself a mimic. To me, that seems like an extremely rude missed opportunity.

Really, the primary disappointment was the tech trees. I didn’t find almost any of the powers exciting, and I’m still craving that Shock 2 model of only having 4 super upgrade slots and for the 20-odd powers you could fit in them. Most of those powers were bad or useless, like “get more health from food,” or some crap, but that wasn’t the point! Some of them were cool things like “equip another cybernetic implant,” which were a huge boost. As always, I want far fewer upgrades that have far greater impact on how I act in the world. To an extent, getting mimic abilities did a little of that, but it was mostly for traversal. It’s that Path of Least Resistance thing I sometimes talk about–I didn’t really see much point in spending a bunch of time in the power wheel toggling around between my ability to launch enemies up in the air or mind control them or zap them when the shotgun and recycling grenades could handle almost everything without a fuss.

Likewise, the weapon upgrades were unspeakably dull. I was fine with them going with kind of a low-tech feel for the weapons, kind of like Half-Life, where the best you get is a shotgun and then a couple weird experimental science guns. It fit the theme. But I wish each weapon just had a couple of distinct, substantive upgrades (like I dunno, flaming shotgun shells or shotgun shells that shot alien bees) rather than the usual tepid “+1 to damage” and “+10% reload speed” that you just stack on without thinking about it. I just wish more games took the New Vegas approach of having individual accessories for each gun type, especially since those also applied aesthetic changes.

And the pacing’s weirdly back-loaded. I don’t know if that’s exactly something to complain about, but I played for like 20 hours essentially being alone with no one to talk to, like you do in these games sometimes, and then all of a sudden the next 10-15 hours are stuffed with NPCs and timed sidequests and stuff like that. I would’ve liked that to be spread out a little more just because my personal idiosyncrasies have me playing games like these at 120%++ in the initial hours (picking up every banana peel, reading every log twice, scouring the top of every bookshelf, unlocking every safe) that by the time they gave me more options to interact with the world, I’d burned myself out on most of it. I assume i’m far from the only person that does this, like I assume it’s pretty much the norm for the genre, so I wonder what the thought process was there–if it was anything beyond “we really want to keep the player isolated for as long as possible, because that’s what happens in these games.”

The twist itself, ehhh, you know. Once they hit you with that Trust No One vibe, you know the Trust No One x2 is coming at some point, so my initial guess on the ending right out of the gate was pretty much 80% correct when the credits rolled, but I didn’t feel bad for it. Because, like a magic trick, it’s about “how do all these actions line up??” rather than knowing the end result. Though I do think it was a bad call to give you a Bad End that’s accessible super early in the game and all but spells the final reveal out for you. The core conceit of the narrative (and the choices you make therein) not being based around “morality” but “empathy” hit a major chord with me. Even if I don’t think this is an end-all, be-all story, with video games, you kind of expect Nihilist and at best get Fatalistic. So to have Prey–a game about a Super Science Research Station Where Ethics Are Strictly Optional–poke and prod at compassion, and how it works, left me with a pleasant feeling. 

There’s this part where you go into a guy’s room and he’s got this gigantic, hand-crafted holographic diorama that, if you turn it off, there’s a chest behind it. I think I knew what I had to do to open it (it’s part of a similar secret earlier), but I couldn’t figure out how I had to do it, so I had to sit there and be like “do I wanna break this guy’s art to get his 60 credits or whatever?” And I don’t mean to be all Think Piece-y about it–because obviously I know people in video games are not real people–but I appreciate any time a game activates that fleeting instinct to be kind or preserve in me because I know there’s no permanence to anything I could do. Because like… I know people in books are not real people either, but I also get sad about them sometimes. To that end, recovering the composer’s symphonies was my favorite sidequest.

Prey got me at the right time. It’s got an aight sci-fi story, it’s got some fine trashcans to root around in, but what really invested me in it was the aesthetic choices and the cohesiveness of the world. I’d super ++++++ recommend it for anyone into Dishonored, Deus Ex, any of those games. Dishonored 2 had much better level and encounter design–Prey is a little too much on the Shock-style “random pipe zombie spawns to keep you on your toes at all times”–but the story/acting in it was kinda shit, so maybe it’s a wash. Anyway, if it’s within your budget of time/money, both are Capital G “Great++” games that you should get around to.

Tho I still super miss having to go around to the different science labs to correct the right minerals to research an enemy organ. Make a game where I have to pick up my Pb and Au to get that bonus damage to hybrids in 2017 (or beyond) and I’d be in heaven.