Game Review – Alliance of Valiant Arms
While I know I haven’t posted in a while, I thought I’d start out with a bit on what I’ve been doing lately.
Alliance of Valiant Arms is an online MMO FPS from Ijji.
While it may not be the best game out there, I find it much more friendly admin-wise in comparison to games like Combat Arms. The Ijji admins are quick to respond to issues and are often seen in game, making sure that no one is misusing the game. I sent in a ticket about how I was having a bit of trouble joining a game, expecting an answer in a few days or so. What I got was an email notification saying the my ticket had been answered, the time stamp was two hours after I logged the ticket. My opinion of Ijji immediately rose, having been through the issues of Nexon taking weeks to answer a ticket.
But enough of that, onto the actual game. Compared to any retail games, such as Modern Warfare 2, AVA is a joke. Compared to other free MMO FPS games on the market at the moment, AVA is great. I personally prefer the game style of Combat Arms, but the state the game is in makes AVA a sort of paradise for me.
You can have 3 load outs. A Pointman, who uses SMGs and Shotguns, a Rifleman, who uses Assault rifles and is good with grenades, and a Sniper, who [obviously] uses Sniper rifles and pistols. Each of these classes can be modified and changed to mid game in between lives. All weapons are permanent, but require repairs when the durability drops. You can customize the grips, barrels, sights, stocks, triggers, or even give it a custom paint job. All of these attachments will affect the weapons performance.
Currently there are a few game modes;
- Annihilation (Team Deathmatch)
- Escort (Get the tank from A to B to C in the given time/Stop the tank)
- Demolition (Search & Destroy)
- Convoy (A VIP sort of game play, with an object as the “VIP”)
- AI Missions (A team of players vs AI opponents, like a campaign)
- Domination (Single point, hold it till you win).
All maps have can only play one of the above modes, which leads to a bit of staleness.
Controls are pretty standard, WASD to move, space to jump, mouse to aim. One thing that bugs me is the fact that you have to double tap “W” to sprint, I prefer a separate button, but oh well.
Over all it’s a pretty good game.
- Graphics: 8/10
- Sound: 6/10
- Gameplay: 8/10
- Community: 8/10
- Hack Protection: 9/10
Overall score from me: 7.8/10
Give it a try, and if you see Renzar in game, that’s me.
Time to get used to writing 2010
Well, this is the last post of 2009. In just a little while, it will be 2010. Amazing, isn’t it? The year went by so quickly, and so much happened…
Here is my year, summed up in a few sentences; Starting with snow in January, then heading into my 8th grade cruise. Getting my first pair of glasses and the new school year beginning. Homecoming and asking Tiffany out, Morp and my Dad losing his job. My birthday and Christmas.
The school year is already about halfway over, which means semester finals come soon. I’ll have to get used to getting up at 6 am again on Monday.
Other than that summary of my year, there’s not much that I really have to say. Other than the fact that I went over to Tiffany’s for the first time, and kissed her for the first time. Coincidentally, it was also the first time I wore a skirt (Hurray for losing a challenge).
Well, Happy New Years to all of you. I hope you all have a great 2010!
Highlights of Morp ‘09
Morp was last night. And I’m having trouble choosing one thing to think about, for my thoughts keep returning to the dance.
Morp was my second dance. The first dance being Homecoming, which was the dance that got me the girlfriend and date for Morp. Highlights of the night are as follows; Tiffany got her dad to give me a ride. I ended up not wearing the tie I brought, nor did I keep my shirt tucked in and buttoned up (It was a casual dance). Tiffany and I were continuously left behind while we were hugging/dancing. When we weren’t dancing or hugging, we were sitting away from the mass of people. And yes, we were flirting with each other. There was a point where we joined some friends and she ended up sitting on my lap, then we went and danced again.
A few others are that they played “Journey” near the end of the night, which was ironic because we were singing it just a few minutes before. But the time flew and we were waiting for her dad to pick us up again. A person named Kayla asked if we were going out (The answer was obvious), then asked if we had kissed (The answer was no), then she asked how long we’d been going out (A month). Kayla went on the say that she’d kissed her boyfriend only two weeks into them dating and said that we should kiss. I was just thinking, “Just because you like to go fast, doesn’t mean everyone has to.” Though, truth be told, I was thinking about it before Kayla talked to us, when we were hugging, but then ended up not doing it.
But all in all, The night was wonderful in my opinion. And I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything.
I love you, Tiffany!
Older, but still too young to drive.
So I just turned 15 yesterday. I would’ve posted about it then, but I got home from Ignite Seattle about midnight. So, I’ll talk about my birthday on the day after.
To start things off that day, I woke up to my alarm clock. Like usual. I got ready for school, went down stairs. Ate a quick breakfast and got a happy birthday from my mom. I left for school and heard happy birthday from my friend Sterling. Got on the bus and listened to music. Got off the bus and met up with Tiffany in front of the library. She gave me a poem and a package of Pocky. It was pretty funny, the way she was getting kinda flustered and embarrassed. But I thanked her as the bell rang and we hugged quickly and were off to our separate classes.
No one in science knew, with the exception of Jacob. He told me happy birthday, and the period went on. I went to PE and said hello to Tiffany as we passed each other. In the locker room, my friend Weston told me happy birthday and we changed and went to the gym. The volleyball unit was over, and we were starting Pickleball. Weston and I chose each other as partners and we got ready to play, but we didn’t get to. As my friend Forrest tried to jump one of the nets and fell, faceplanting on the gym floor. Blood was on the ground and he was taken away by the nurse with a broken nose and a split eyebrow. They had the janitor come in and clean the floor as we just watched and were astounded by the event.
Then it was on the third period. I said hello to Tiffany again as we walked by each other again, she on her way to lunch, and I to Japanese. The day before, I had told my teacher, Mr. Harvey, that I preferred my Birthday to be kept low-key. And so it was, even though Carlee shouted Happy birthday from across the room. After that, it was lunch time. I went to my usual spot with friends Blaise and Char. I got a few more happy birthdays, and Forrest (Not the injured one) came by and was talking loudly, so we were kicked out of the hallway where we sat. But luch was over anyway, so it mattered not.
Fourth period was next. I went into class and sat through a lecture on how “Mr. Stookey (AKA, Mr. Snookums) won’t lecture us, and how our United Nations project is a year long thing and we’re not going to have to do it on our own, and he’ll help us with it every step of the way.” This lasted about half an hour. Finally, we got to go start researching our country’s ambassador.
The school day was over soon, and I went home as usual. Both my mom and TJ were there already, and after getting homework done I got ready to go. We headed out to go to Fu Lin (I guess I chose that spot to eat, but I didn’t remember). But it was closed, as it is on all Tuesdays. So, we went to Henry’s Taiwan next door and had awesome traditional food. I also got to see that I got a new set of headphones (my old ones broke), and a new water bottle that I wanted.
After that, we went to Ignite, I had to go in through the back door as I was under 21. I met up with TJ and we chose a spot (Though it was rather short lived). Then, Everyone under 21 had to be quarantined in two rows at the front. There were four of us there at the start, and by the end of the first half there were 7. The talks were great, all being interesting by being funny or informative. But not everything can be great, and some I thought boring, or just trying too hard. During the second half is when my mom spoke. Her las slide said “Happy 15th Birthday, Tyler!” And that was pretty neat. Even better, though was the fact that the over seven hundred people there all said happy birthday to me. I don’t think many can say that that has happened to them.
As we drove home, the temperature dropped down the 28 degrees Fahrenheit. And it was about midnight when I crawled into bed.
Over all, I had a great birthday. And thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday!
Turkey Day Update
Well, as I post this, Food-Coma day is coming to a close. That is, Thanksgiving to people who don’t know what that is. We had a wonderful dinner, complete with a 22lb turkey. I had a case of turkey-poisoning afterwards (I wanted to nap, really badly).
Now, for a school update.
It’s already been almost half of the school year, I noticed. I just restarted my C++ practice, and hope to finish it by the end of my freshman year.
Science is getting a bit more fun, but the Chem unit is over now. PE is still a pain (Volleyball and sore forearms). I’m slowly getting more skilled at spelling and reading in hiragana for Japanese class (I got a 41/46 on my hiragana test). World Studies is still as boring as ever, and we’re done with Latin America finally. Engineering is still really fun, and our puzzle cube portfolio was just turned in. I’m loving Geometry (Enough said). English is meh. And last, but not least: Software Tech is still too easy.
On the front of gaming, I’m really into team Fortress 2, but wishing the Xbox 360 wasn’t dead. I want Modern Warfare 2, and Assassin’s Creed 2. But, oh well.
My Birthday is coming up, next Tuesday in fact. I’ll be 15. Then it’s Christmas, no idea what I want – really, I don’t. Don’t call me crazy though, because technically I do know, but it’s all Xbox 360 stuff. So, yeah…
That about finishes my update, so I’m going to go succumb to turkey poisoning now. Goodnight world.
Not mad, just absurdly happy.
Please note that I am trying very hard not to make this a copy of the really sappy poem I wrote in English that no longer exist and has been completely purged. And I will try to not sound dorky.
If you’ve heard the expression “Mad with love,” you’ll know what I’m talking about. I recently got a girlfriend (Officially about a week ago). Yes, a girlfriend. About a week ago. Even though a week before that I said I wouldn’t get one. I used to say that I didn’t need a “hole in my wallet,” but this girl isn’t that at all. She’s happy to be her and happy with what she has (and chocolate). She’s been my friend for a year and a half-ish, and I’ve liked her for a while (by like, I mean watch from a distance and talk to occasionally. Nothing that creepy).
A friend of mine, make that multiple friends of mine, sometimes, make that constantly, sang the song “Can you feel the love tonight” when I would talk to her (Which is what they did when I talked to another friend of mine, Katrina, in 8th grade). But to be honest, what really made me ask her out was at Homecoming. A few people already assumed that we liked each other (Which we did) and made us dance together for a slow song. After Homecoming, she hugged me and I walked outside with her. That was the end of the night I thought, but we kept texting each other (which is where I admitted I liked her, and she admitted that she liked me).
Then a few days later, I asked her out officially. I mean that. If you count me saying every word as an individual sentence (besides “be my girlfriend) as “asking.” She said yes, we were both happy, we had a poke war. It was a good day. And now, here I am, a week late writing about this. But, hey, better late than never.
P.S. I less-than-three you Tiffany Tesmer! (Ahh, but dorky I end up sounding anyway.)
P.S.S Blaise, have some guts and ask, instead of hiding behind a facebook “Relationship status.” (not to be rude or anything)
Frustration and sadness.
What just happened has left me sad and frustrated, like so long ago when my parents got divorced. But, for a while I’ve been a little frustrated. I’m having some difficulties with school and even more difficulties with fixing it. Of all the frustrations in my life, this one takes first place.
I’d usually try to lighten bad news up with good news around it, but I couldn’t think of a way to make this lighter if I wanted to.
I haven’t seen my father since September. Last time I was scheduled to go to his house, he was sick and didn’t want to make me sick. I was alright with that, after all, I need to stay healthy for school. This weekend I was supposed to go to his house, but the reason I can’t go isn’t a small thing like being sick, and it’s not an excuse in my eyes.
My father has been trying to get plates for his car, but finally just told the dealership to pick it up.
On top of that, my dad is now without a job, having been laid off last week.
I could try and defend him with a rather weak argument, saying “at least there was more of a warning this time.” But I won’t, because in simple words, “This just plain sucks.” And I wish he had told me sooner that he’d been laid off, I wish he’d told me sooner that he didn’t have a car to pick me up on our weekend.
So, I guess I am staying with my mom for Halloween.
Dim-Sum and Beer
What do they have in common?
They were both the topics of the first two tweet-ups I went to. Both times I went with my mom and my step-dad. The first one was a small one, we had dim-sum and talked about current happenings. It was like any other time, meeting new people and learning a bit about them. The second one was a bit more interesting. It was a tweet-up at the Mac and Jack’s Brewery. Yes, brewery. The place they make beer (No I didn’t have any). We toured the place – it was small, I was surprised. Again, I met new people, learned about some interesting things.
Now that I’ve had a taste of this drink called a tweet-up, I want to see how large the cup is – how much I can learn from it.
Other than doing that, Homecoming is on Saturday, and so far as I know, I’m going alone. Hopefully that will change soon, but if not, oh well.
I got the second book in the Night Angel Trilogy as well. I got it on Saturday, I’m almost done with it today.
So, all in all, here’s to trying new things, and hoping you don’t get left without a group or person to go to a big dance with!
Welcome!
If you’re here, you’re probably a new reader, or got linked from my old blog. I moved from Blogger to WordPress because in my opinion, there’s more options to customize.
WordPress also has that wonderful category function so I can satisfy that pet peeve of needing things to be organized!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy my blog!
In the world of me
For the past few days, a friend of mine (he knows who he is), has been pestering me to update my blog. So here it is, I’ve updated. But for future reference: If I haven’t updated bi-weekly, then I have nothing to say. Or I’m busy.
