Upcoming Changes

Over the next few days, I'm going to be playing around with the look of the blog. Text. Stuff. I may get inventive in gimp (since I’m poor and don’t own Photoshop) I’m thinking of going back to black text, or maybe a deep blue. Get a blue vibe going on. You tell me. Leave a comment if you’ve got any suggestions. Otherwise, it’s my decision—and we all know where that could end up.

--Santa

Sorry Gents, Not Quite Dead Yet

I know I haven't been very punctual with blogging recently—but good news! My finals are over! Starting now, its summer time. All of summer. Just us. So, where to start? I got Civilization V from my good friend, and I’ve been hooked since. I’ve been getting back into League of Legends, and I love the graphics and FPS updates, but I’m not crazy about Darius, since he can literally destroy everything without trying. I got a new unusual: a Texas Ten Gallon in black with Stormy-Storm. It’s beautiful. I also sold a G. Merc’s Pride Scarf for a white Bills hat, a clean Fast Learner and a dirty Front Runner. Overall, I’m doing pretty well, and I’m looking forward to that eventual Ten Gallon with beams, its staring me in the face.

Let’s get back to Civilization V. My friend bought it for me as a late birthday gift (a very, very late gift. 5 years late) and told me I would love it. He didn’t lie to me. I started a game as Kamehameha (not because it sounded like a particular reference to anything) and got the immediate bonus of being able to cross oceans—which is significant in 4,000 BC. In Civ V (for all of you not quite familiar with the game) it’s like risk, but with more parts to it. You can win through peace, culture, or war. You can use economics to help you get to this, and research stuff to help you meet these goals. Being an economic warlord from TF2 I quickly narrowed in my focuses on this idea.

Currently, we’ve hit the 1700’s (AD now) and are dominating little tiny city-states who are standing in my way. We’ve started a new campaign with another friend in it too, and I have my own going on as well. I have to say, I didn’t expect any game to come between me and TF2, but Civ V and LoL are quickly worming their way up and into my time, and I’m not going to stop them. So, I think it’s time to move out of all my time-variable assets, so it’s time to shift into keys and metal on stuff I don’t really want/need. I’m liquidating, and nobody can stop me.

--Santa

League of Legends: Best. Patch. Ever.

So, I haven’t played LoL in what seems like a month now, and that’s probably how long its been. But, feeling like I had betrayed my lovely old game, I started the update, and then quickly went to TF2OP to see if anyone had made me an offer on my unusual. But, the update was over after 30 minutes or so, and I got on what seemed like a completely different world to me.

And by different world, I of course mean I watched the suggested game. I have to admit, I’m liking the new spectate mode; reminds me of Replay Mode in TF2, but somewhat better and worse at the same time. Since you can’t record, I suppose it makes Spectate mode a little less… enjoyable. However, I find it to have a better range of tools. I can only hope that Valve takes a cue from Riot, and vice versa. But, this isn’t the only thing I can to talk to you kids about.

So, in this big old patch preview for Darius I couldn’t help but notice that they didn’t do one thing that I didn’t like. I couldn’t believe it. A big increase of frame rates (something that I really could use) pretty much a lot better graphics even on super low settings, minion kills in the upper right corner, making Ashe look not completely stupid. I couldn’t believe it. I think riot read my blog. I’m so proud of Riot. Thank you so much for listening to the community. Still waiting for the Heimerdinger update though.

In the near(ish) future I do plan on getting back into the League. But for now TF2 has its lovingly strong wrap of hats on me tight, and I don’t think its planning on letting me go soon. When I get the Sunbeams hat, maybe I can finally take a break. My goal is getting close, why give up now?

That reminds me. 

This is the last needed post of the blogging run from my AP Lang and Composition class. Its over kids. But, this doesn't mean that it ends here. This blog is now my own project, and I'm not feeling like ending it. So, I want to hear from you guys some suggestions as to what you want me to do. Leave me a comment. Vote in the poll. This is our blog now. I may not post for a couple of days coming up here, but please feel free to leave some. I will read it, and will consider it.

Thanks, and have fun.

--Santa

 

Steam Trade Gets Tradier

So, much to my own amazement, it does seem like Valve is being nearly normal with their updates to Team Fortress 2. The TF2 team has been adding a new item, and doing a few patches, once a week for about… 5 weeks now. I’m so proud, Valve. Keep up the good work. In other news, here’s what’s happened with this week’s updates:

·         The Addition of the “Sneak Spats of sneaking” seen in the picture to the left

·         The Addition of new promo items from Ghost Recon, seen above are two of them

·         The removal of crates 41 and 42, and the addition of 44 and 45. Both of which have the stock rocket launcher and stock Sticky Launcher, completely undermining the rare strange market. Time to sell, everyone! But, at least Valve put some cool strange parts in these.

·         Fix on the Frying Pan, so you no long hold it like a stick on the Scout, and other classes

·         Fixed the Last Breath, so it no longer clips with every item ever invented

And that’s about it. However, something happened with Steam Trade which may be important for the Mannconomy.

Super Monday Night Combat (which will from here on out be referred to as SMNC) now has Steam Trade, so all of you out there playing this game, who would like some SMNC items you may be in luck. Since the introduction of Steam Trade (which has allowed me to get some very nice games for the low, low price of free) I’ve been wondering what else would be put in. Steam trade is used 99% of the time for TF2. I think I may go on Spiral Knights and see if anybody wants my old stuff in favor of their metal, or hats. Not all people are poor, and if they pre-ordered Left 4 Dead 2, and just so happened to not want that Bills Hat anymore, well, I suppose I could take it off their hands.

To touch base with what’s pretty much happened with the new crates: let me put it into perspective:
A lot of people like the stock version of weapons—like the Shotgun, Grenade Launcher, etc…  this raised the prices all the way up to ridiculous prices, like 4-5 keys on the stock rocket. Since Valve has decided that nobody is their favorite, they’ve nerfed us all by destroying some of the value of the market, sending everything into frenzy. Yes, it’s over. Your old stranges are old no more. Get used to it.

Sorry for making everything out into black and white, but if you’re a trade like I am, and are invested in older stranges, its time to sell sell sell!

--Santa