March 13, 2006

Serial Experiments: Blog

First off, the blog turned 3 yesterday, about which I can only say that Whir overcoming my skepticism and getting me to start this thing was probably one of his better ideas.

On another note, I watched pretty much all of Serial Experiments: Lain over the weekend, because it's about that short and about that good, and I THINK I pretty much know what was going on with it now. It makes a lot more sense the second time around, much like Fight Club, if Fight Club were more like LSD than not.

On the other hand, Lain's trying to say some fairly profound stuff, I think, or maybe it's not, because I still haven't quite figured it out yet. I kinda get it, yet not. Nor do I get the point behind Lain's sister. Not at all.

I haven't so much finished with Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver as put it down for a time when I'm not watching so much anime (Neon Genesis Evangelion next), but let me just note that he's a lot like Guy Gavriel Kay in that if his characters went around talking about the tapeworm kingdoms of yore, it would be awesome. Not to mention that he's probably more prone to actually DO this, and may do so yet. Quicksilver's that kind of book.

Also snagged Gaiman's Anansi Boys last night, because I am a glutton for bizzareness. I've got Gates of Fire from Laurent, too, in case I need normality.

Among others on a long, long list.

Posted by Dwip at March 13, 2006 6:17 AM
Comments

Hi...

Well, break is coming up, and I just found a way to download Civilization III Conquests for free legally: they offer a 180 minute free trial - so by the end of it, I just save my game and then install it on another university computer. So I essentially get it for free!

http://forums.civfanatics.com/archive/index.php/t-56150.html

Problem though, is outlined above. The thing that REALLY frustrated me in CivIII was AI in water maps - which constitute the vast majority of maps. The thing is, that the AI just doesn't coordinate its naval invasions and consequently, there is no challenge in water maps. Is this problem addressed in any updates to the AIs? Are there any alterntive AIs?

Posted by: simfish at March 14, 2006 12:30 AM

Well, they made a whole new game with a whole new AI, and naval ability was one of the priority areas for improvement.

Posted by: Griselda at March 14, 2006 5:56 AM

Yeah, really I can't recommend getting Civ 4 strongly enough - The AI (among other things) is just SO vastly improved, it makes your head spin.

(pre-work commenters of the world, or Oregon, unite!)

Posted by: Dwip at March 14, 2006 6:08 AM

Then what of settlers who want to pass through enemy territory?

Posted by: Simfish at March 14, 2006 5:13 PM

Well, in IV, you can't pass through other civs' territory at all unless you have open borders or are at war. It's not like Civ 3 where the AI just wander around your territory haphazardly all the time, and declare war on you if you tell them to stop.

And yes, being up that early to go to work does suck. ;)

Posted by: Griselda at March 14, 2006 6:28 PM