jdodson | Cheerful Ghost

Far Lands or Bust: A Very Ambitious Minecraft Project

The Far Lands is the area of the map formed at the edge of Minecraft prior to 1.8. Basically, the Minecraft planet creation algorithm breaks down going that far out and some very odd things happen to the terrain. If you traveled on foot to the Far Lands from your spawn point it would be about the same distance as about a third of the circumference of the earth at the equator. Many have made it to the Far Lands with hacks and cheats, but one YouTuber, @kurtjmac is doing it on foot one day at a time.

Not only is he making this journey, but he is recording it every step of the way on his YouTube channel and is now up to episode #318(linked above). Recently his "Far Lands or Bust" project was featured in an article for the New Yorker and I seriously recommend you read it.

"On March 28, 2011, a man who calls himself Kurt J. Mac loaded a new game of Minecraft. As the landscape filled in around his character, Mac surveyed the blocky, pixellated trees, the cloud-draped, mountains, and the waddling sheep. Then he started walking. His goal for the day was simple: to reach the end of the universe.

Nearly three years later, Mac, who is now thirty-one, is still walking. He has trekked more than seven hundred virtual kilometres in a hundred and eighty hours. At his current pace, Mac will not reach the edge of the world, which is now nearly twelve thousand kilometres away, for another twenty-two years."

http://farlandsorbust.com/

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2014/01/a-journey-to-the-end-of-the-world-of-minecraft.html

Starcraft 2.1: Free Arcade Mode, Extension Mods and More.

Starcraft 2 will soon launch the 2.1 patch globally and like I mentioned in the Cheerful Ghost Roundtable s2 e1, much of the game is now going free to play. What else is included in this patch? Free arcade, Clans and Groups with scheduled meet ups, Extension Mods(similar to UT mods), League Boundaries, Increased the level cap with new rewards & a remastered score. That's right, they remastered the original Starcraft and Starcraft 2 scores and made them all available while you play the game.

2.1 Information:

http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/12346797/starcraft-ii-patch-21-round-up-1-21-2014

How to configure the new Starcraft music:

http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/11941668/

Full set of patch notes:

http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/12346798/

Now they just need to release more details about Legacy of the Void!

Cheerful Ghost Roundtable Season 2 E1: Newest Season Ever!

The Cheerful Ghost Roundtable Season 2 Episode 1 is upon us and as always we bring the video game talk.

Show notes & time-codes so you can skip to what you want to hear.

What we have been playing

1.49m : Grand Theft Auto 5 / Online

4.50m : Assassin's Creed IV / Liberation

5.30m : Elder Scrolls Oblivion

5.50m : GTA Online Cheerful Ghost Online Crew

9.15m : Bioshock Infinite

9.55m : NW Expo Game Event / Gameboy Games / Pokemon

11.50m : Shovel Knight Releases March 31st

13.05m : Starcraft 2 releases more as Free to Play

Valve Showcases New Steam Machines at CES

16:25m : Gabes CES Steam Machine Unveiling

22.25m : Are Steam Machines Going to Flop?

28.46m : Are Walled Gardens Better Than Open Systems?

35.00m : How Long Will PC Gaming Be on Microsoft Systems?

48.15m : Wrap up & where you can find us online.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/23/2014 at 05:17pm

First impression: GTAV Online?! Wow! I played it a little, but not very much. I don't think there were enough people around to do most of the online missions. I do like the character I created, I think he kind of looks like me and Squall. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to say about that and Oblivion! I played GTA V and Oblivion at about the same time. Well, I played GTA V at night so as to carefully not expose my son to it. Hehe. I should shut up and watch this video. =)

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/23/2014 at 05:20pm

Tim! It's good to know you're WhiteboySlim! *fist bump* For what you said about GTA V and playing while kids are sleeping. Also for the Pokemon mention. Gaming Dads unite!! LOL

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/23/2014 at 05:30pm

Hehehe, I didn't have much trouble creating my GTA Online character and am actually pleased with what I have. My PSN name is GregoPeck, feel free to send me an invite.

Travis, the only issue I had with Oblivion is that one spot there in the south where the terrain narrows and it says, "you cannot go that way." I didn't like having to repair my gear, but once I mastered that skill, it wasn't that much of a pain. I think I agree with a friend who said that Oblivion was harder than Skyrim. I remember how often I died in Oblivion, but then again, once I got to a certain point, things were ok.

Oh, Jon! Thanks for mentioning me! I just heard that while you guys were talking about Pokemon.

Timogorgon Member wrote on 01/23/2014 at 07:34pm

Couple notes on the episode:
1. We forgot to discuss pricing on Steam machines! One complaint about the Steam Machines is that some of them are priced in the thousands. But there are different machines for different budgets (One as low as $499 if memory serves me correct). So I don't think that'll be a huge problem.
2. Alienware is saying that you actually CAN mod their steam machine, it just wont' be easy. Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-23-alienware-wont-prevent-users-from-modding-steam-machine

@GregoPeck I'll probably be on GTA online tonight after the kids to to bed (around 8pm pst). I'll send you a friend request when I get home and invite you to the Cheerful Ghost crew.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 01/23/2014 at 07:46pm

As long as I can get to the RAM and the harddisk, I don't think this is a huge problem. Like they mention, if I want a fully upgradable system I can buy a bigger one, which makes sense.

I kind of want a system I can upgrade the RAM and disk on if I want, when it comes time to start swapping out components, i'll just get a new one. That said, I hope it comes with some beefy insides because id rather not upgrade every 2 years.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/23/2014 at 08:36pm

Awesome, Tim! My son's bed time is also 8pm, but he hasn't had school all week due to the weather. I did, however, play the game a little bit while he was around, but I've denied his request to play it. He's 9.

I'm back to continuing to watch the video (I had to run out for an appointment and some grocery shopping).

RedChocobo wrote on 01/23/2014 at 10:55pm

You guys mentioned so many mainstream games this time!
You gotta try Kerbal Space Program and Project Zomboid.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 01/23/2014 at 11:56pm

I am going to get Kerbal SP at some point for sure, i've heard great things about it and I love the idea.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/24/2014 at 12:10am

Hey, RedChocobo! Awesome name, although I prefer the blue ones. Hehehe. I've heard of Project Zomboid, but only because in one of the random comments Minecraft says when starting up I've seen, "Try Project Zomboid." I've also seen it say, "Try Terraria."

Tim, I noticed that you're on the West coast (lucky!), and I'm on the East. In fact, I believe Jon is, too. Travis and I are here on the East Coast. So, I'll have to take your time into consideration (4 hour difference).

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 01/24/2014 at 12:38am

Yep, I live in Portland.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/24/2014 at 01:10am

I'm envious of you two Westerners! But that's cool, Cheerful Ghost, from coast to coast!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 01/24/2014 at 02:19am

Totally. We have users from all over.

RedChocobo wrote on 01/24/2014 at 04:21pm

There's a pretty hardcore learning curve for Kerbal Space Program if you don't have a pretty good grip on orbital dynamics. But you can mod it up and it makes things a lot easier if you need it to be.

But that first time you land a ship on the moon it is such a rush.

Timogorgon Member wrote on 01/24/2014 at 06:09pm

@RedChocobo: I've looked into Kerbal space program and it looks really cool, but maybe a little more complicated than I want in a video game. If it's ever part of a bundle or massively discount I might pick it up though. Project Zomboid, however, looks awesome. I will get that one once it's a little further in development, possibly after they add multiplayer. And yeah, we did end up mentioning a lot of main stream games this time. That's because my new years resolution was to sell out. :P j/k

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Shovel Knight Drops March 31st!

Yacht Club Games just passed along the good news, Shovel Knight will release March 31st! Really looking forward to some shovel swinging action in this chunky looking retro 2d platformer.

"Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic created by Yacht Club Games. You play as the eponymous Shovel Knight, a small knight with a huge quest. Shovel Knight has come to this valley with two goals: to defeat the evil Enchantress and save his lost beloved. He wields a ShovelBlade; a multipurpose weapon whose techniques have now been lost to the ages. Always honest and helpful, Shovel Knight is a shining example of the code of Shovelry: Slash Mercilessly and Dig Tirelessly!"

Shovel Knight is also being featured in the first issue of Nintendo Force, a faux magazine that claims to showcase much of the new game. Hopefully they will make this available for people that order the game or for free as I totally want to read it. Shovel Knight will drop March 31st on PC, Mac and Linux.

http://yachtclubgames.com/2014/01/nintendo-force-cover/

Don't Starve Will Get a "Giant" DLC Update

Don't Starve is a great Indie survival game with a very neat hand drawn cartoon feel. The tone of the game is very dark and I really enjoy how it weaves in with the game mechanics. Klei Entertainment, the developers of Don't Starve have released a new teaser trailer for "Reign of Giants" DLC. After watching this trailer I can't help but think of the Age of Mythology Titans expansion, which added the massive Titans to Age of Mythology.

So far all updates to Don't Starve have been free, so it's interesting seeing this new content come to the game.

Hearthstone Enters Open Beta And You Need To Check it Out!

"The wait is over: The Hearthstone Open Beta Test is now live in North America! If you haven’t joined in on all of the crazy card-slinging action yet, now is your chance! Pull up a chair and prepare to start casting powerful spells, summoning mighty minions, and dueling your friends in a fast-paced strategy card game for everyone."

Hearthstone is one of the best unsung new games of 2013. Blizzard took the collectable card format popularized by games like Magic: The Gathering and tossed in some love to make a very accessible, fun and rich game. Oh righ and did I mention that the game costs you nothing?

Hearthstone is one of those great pickup and play games where you can play a game in under 20 minutes. Now that the game has entered open beta you should really try it.

http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/12440010

Stardew Valley Update: Relationships, Arcades and More!

Stardew Valley is one of the games I am very excited about launching this year. ConcernedApe pushed the release from 2013 to 2014 and considering how big the game has become, it makes sense that happened. I appreciate that Stardew Valley isn't a game that focuses on a cosmic struggle of good and evil that spans the universe and instead is a more simple country life game focusing on growing crops and hanging out with your neighbors. I also appreciate the attention ConcernedApe is paying to the relationship "quest lines" and story. Many games tack on relationships but they are so ham-fisted and trite they aren't that compelling as great game elements.

"There are 10 “eligible” characters in the game, 5 females and 5 males (Yes, same-sex marriage/relationships are allowed!). Each one has at least 5 “events” which you’ll encounter as your relationship with the character progresses. Most of the events include conversations in which you can choose between different dialogue options. Sometimes the option you choose will affect how the rest of the event plays out. In addition to conversation options, you’ll sometimes be given a choice between multiple courses of action, which always has an effect on how the event plays out. Sometimes, choices you make in events will affect what characters end up doing in the future. Characters that you can’t marry also have these event cutscenes, but typically not as many.

I’ve been carefully going through every one of these events, adding or rewriting dialogue, new animations, props, cameo characters, settings, storylines, graphical cutscenes, sounds, music, and more! I also added a lot more cases where your choices affect how the rest of the event plays out. Additionally… while working on these events, if I encounter anything else in the game I am unhappy with I typically take a small detour and fix that as well."

Stardew Valley is a game that will primarily launch on Windows but there is some good news for Mac and Linux users as ConcernedApe has mentioned a possible Linux and Mac port of the game.

http://stardewvalley.net/dev-update-14

Why Data Caps Are Problematic for Our Digital Lifestyles

The video showcased above it titled "Why Comcast's 300GB Data Cap is Bad for Gaming" and the subtext is "An explanation of how Comcast's 300GB data cap is bad for me, you, and pretty much everyone else in the whole wide world."

A few things before I talk about data caps. First off, the video creator notes that Comcast(the ISP in question) mentions that the majority of it's user base doesn't go over 20G of monthly data. So the assertion that a data cap is bad for everyone seems a bit off. That said, the overall concept of the video is correct, data caps are not a good thing and I do want them to go away.

I haven't paid for cable TV ever and don't plan to so having a large truck-load of fast Internet is a great thing. I stream video, download games and music and play multiplayer games and all that is getting trickier with a 300GB Internet data cap. I imagine my bandwidth usage will only increase over time and I hope the caps increase with it.

Upcoming Starbound Patch Will Be Final Character Wipe

http://playstarbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Screenshot-2014-01-13-21.13.23.png

"Of course, there’s also the highly anticipated/possibly feared final character wipe– this patch contains a fix for save files so after this, you won’t need to worry about our patches destroying your characters or ships. This patch will wipe everything– characters, ships and worlds. It will definitely be the last time we’ll need to wipe characters or ships, and will hopefully be the last time we’ll need to wipe worlds."

Awesome bit of news. I really enjoy Starbound but don't like to have my character or ship wiped. That said this will be the last character wipe but there is also a possibility this will be the last planet wipe.

After the update are you going to dive in to the game or will you be waiting a bit longer?

http://playstarbound.com/info-about-the-upcoming-patch/

Rain World Kickstarts It's Way To Slugcat Survival

Back this on Kickstarter!

"Rain World is set in an abandoned industrial environment scourged by a shattered eco-system. Bone-crushing intense rain pounds the surface regularly, making life as we know it almost impossible. The creatures in this world hibernate most of the time, but in the few brief dry periods they go out searching for food.

You are a lonely nomadic slugcat, both predator and prey in this land. You must hunt enough food to survive another cycle of hibernation. Other - bigger - creatures have the same plan."

Rain World is a very interesting new Kickstarter project featuring Slugcat. I really appreciate the game score, visuals and overall tone of bleak world. Plus, you know, Slugcats are pretty awesome too.

The game just tipped over it's funding goal but if you want to see this game be made even more awesome, check it out on Kickstarter. Rain World is planning on shipoung on Windows, Mac and possibly Linux sometime this December.

jdodson1

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