Video Games – Regular Guy

A New Challenge

brian — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 01:05:54 +0000

I don’t really know why I decided to start “creating content” around the games I play on Football Manager. I think it had to do with a lot of the things I get involved with – I saw someone else doing it and figured I could do it too.

I have no illusions about this endeavor. I just want to have fun. Sure, other people have made this into a career, but that has never entered my mind. I really just want people to enjoy my videos and watch for more than a few seconds when I stream.

But if that is what I want, doesn’t that mean I have hopes of getting enough of those people to make some money off of this? In other words, maybe I am lying to myself in the previous paragraph.

I will 100 percent cop to this. Sure, I would love if I got more attention on this, but I know others have a greater head start, more free time to dedicate to this and – to be brutally honest – aren’t 53 years old playing a video game online for the enjoyment of others.

So I will keep going. Because one of the reasons I decided to make videos and ultimately start streaming was to become better at the game., if I put myself out there, I figured I would pay more attention to the nuances so that I could succeed more.

That has happened somewhat. My goal of winning a championship for D.C. United in five years of gameplay came true in just three years. I also had a successful season with the low-level English team I am playing on my Twitch stream.

But mostly I have discovered a whole community of people who love this game and, for the most part, just like to support one another. And those kind of connections are enough for me.

Just don’t forget to like, share and subscribe.

FM2022 Episode 1: Picking My Team

brian — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 19:20:15 +0000

Come watch me start my Football Manager 2022 journey.

Goodbye, Free Time

brian — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:34:45 +0000

A little more than a month ago, I wrote about my disenchantment with the latest version of EA Sports’ college football video game series. I managed to plug away and finish a season with SMU (we went 8-5 or something like that and reached a bowl), then chose to take a job with Syracuse.

I left it at that point without starting a new season because I hit the store the other day and bought FIFA10, the new version of EA’s popular soccer series. I played this game years ago on the computer, but hadn’t jumped back in since I bought the PS2 a couple of years ago.

The disappointment with NCAA10 and this past Tuesday’s release date of FIFA made me change that. I had the perfect way to fill my video game void. After two days of playing, I can say that I made a great decision.

First of all, a game in FIFA (playing 4 minute halves) takes less than 15 minutes. I loaded my season and played a game all while riding the exercise bike last night. A football game took an hour commitment, which just didn’t work sometimes so I wouldn’t even turn on the game at all.

Secondly, the game has so many damn leagues and options, I can’t possibly get bored with it. I am currently playing with Hearts in the Scottish Premier League, but could have easily picked an MLS team or one of many English teams or even a team in freaking Russia. The options are endless.

The last positive is that the game play is just so much nicer than NCAA. The animations aren’t as stilted and predictable. You really feel like they capture the spirit of the sport better than the college football game, which got kind of close four years ago, then stopped trying to improve it.

I can’t wait to start to explore things such as Manager Mode or to create a league or tournament. That sound you heard was my motivation for productivity disappearing. Blame EA Sports.

I Never Learn

brian — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:21:31 +0000

Each summer, I get excited for the newest version of EA Sports’ college football video game series. I look forward to taking control of a new school and trying to win it a national championship.

I succeeded in NCAA09 with Kent State, just a few months before NCAA10 came out. So I sat patiently and waited for the new game to arrive in stores. While I waited, I checked out message boards and other web sites to see if the game had anything new to offer.

I read reports of more realistic game play and additional features to enhance the experience. I felt more excited than ever. Even though the NCAA engine pales in comparison to what EA offers for the Madden series, I have a greater affinity to playing the college game. I don’t know why, I just do. I had considered dropping the NCAA game and switching my allegiance to Madden, but figured these improvements would make me change my mind.

Boy, was I wrong.

I still like NCAA10 – I am playing with SMU and have moved them from a ranking in the 100s to the top 50 in less than a season – but it hasn’t changed a damn bit.

There are the same lame post-play reactions from players. You know, the one where the quarterback magically appears 60 yards downfield to comfort a receiver who dropped the ball. The computer-controlled quarterback still has a freakish ability to avoid tackles in the pocket. The cheerleaders and mascots still have the same animations.

I think I have learned my lesson. I might wait til next year to buy Madden or I might finish a season or three with SMU, then make the switch. I really like the recruiting aspect of NCAA10 – and maybe they have improved that so much that I will be blown away, but I doubt it – so getting used to the pro game will take a little getting used to.

But at least I’ll enjoy the actual games more. I know that much from playing previous versions of Madden. The one wild card in all this is the fact that I haven’t bought a FIFA video game in ages. That might just be the tonic I need to escape this funk.

Saving the Children

brian — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:15:26 +0000

I feel like I have saved the youth of Hanover single-handedly. All it took was a trip to the library.

Everything started when I read an item in the newspaper. The library wanted to expand their collection and put out a call for used video games.

A small stack of those just happen to sit in my basement at the time. I had tried to sell them on eBay, but came up empty. That bummed me out because I had raised a little extra spending cash that way in the past.

I wouldn’t get a ton of money when I sold things like video games online, but I would always enjoy making five or 10 bucks off of something I didn’t need anymore.

I don’t buy a ton of video games, but I do have a few favorites. That means I like to get the new version every year. I have also bought a few on sale and received a few as presents.

Now that I really didn’t need a bunch, I really enjoyed the opportunity to donate them so maybe some kid could get some enjoyment out of them.

Before I gave them to my wife to drop off – you didn’t really expect me to take them to the library myself, did you? – I stood there with the games in my hand. One feeling came over me.

Jealousy.

How dare those kids get to sit in their basement and help lead a team to the Super Bowl in the Madden game that someone gave me for Christmas? Or maybe it was my birthday. I don’t really remember.

Even though I am more partial to the college football series on the Playstation, I all of a sudden wondered if I could really give away my Madden.

Then I looked at the stack. I wasn’t just giving that away. I could no longer play golf against Tiger Woods, box for a world championship or try to lead a basketball team to a championship. I don’t remember if it was college or pros because I bought the game for just a few bucks and never really got the hang of it.

But none of that mattered. Who cared if I couldn’t remember the last time I played golf on my Playstation? These were my games. Mine, mine, mine.

Luckily, I got over that pretty quickly when I looked at how often I get a chance to play the one game I have that I really enjoy. I play maybe once a week.

I have had great success in my game – I have managed to get Kent State accepted into the Big 10 in the place of Iowa and am currently riding a 50-game win streak – but I can’t sit in front of a TV for hours and play games anymore. I want to, but I just can’t.

So the games went off to the library and some kid can have as much fun with them as he wants instead of going out and causing all sorts of mayhem around town. I’m a real local hero that way.

I Hate It When That Happens

brian — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:49:50 +0000

I sat down to play some NCAA 09 last night after a few beers and a slightly disappointing U.S. Soccer loss to Trinidad and Tobago. Quick aside, I NEED to visit T&T now. How can you be in a bad mood in that place? Anyway, I am in the middle of my second season in charge of Kent State and had a date with Youngstown State.

I only managed to play a half because I was drinking and it had been a long day. It was a wild half, and I led 45-21 at the break. Crazy stuff was happening all game. I loved it despite the fact that my pass defense was for crap, especially when I played zone. I kept the game paused at half and figured I would finish it this morning.

Before I picked up the action today, I decided to play a little guitar. Hey, looking for a job is stressful work – I need my releases. As I went to plug in the mini-amp I bought the other day, something terrible happened. My knuckle pressed against the on/off switch on the power strip. I didn’t realize until I sat down to play my game 10 minutes later the magnitude of what happened.

I lost the game. The horror. The horror. Somehow I have managed to carry on and lead 20-0 at the half now. Things are much less insane although I got totally screwed on a challenge then didn’t have the challenge when they made another bad call.

I promise I won’t touch any buttons before I finish the game later today.

No Guitar Hero Here

brian — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:52:35 +0000

I got excited when I saw the notice in the newspaper recently. The library had planned a Guitar Hero tournament.

I could see it now. I finally would get my due as a Guitar Hero champion. The entire town would bow down before my might.

Then I really read the story. The competition was only for teenagers. I felt incredibly let down. My dream would have to wait for another day.

In reality, I would have no business taking part in the competition. I had a chance to play the game down the beach this summer and did not put together a memorable performance.

I’m pretty sure I managed to make it through without getting booed off the stage. I consider that a major accomplishment, but I don’t think that would win me many prizes if I snuck my way into the library battle.

I know why old people like me don’t get a chance to take part in these kinds of events. The library provides a really good opportunity for youngsters to get together and socialize while playing the popular game.

That doesn’t mean I have to like it. After all, most of the songs those kids will play came from my teenage years or even earlier. They owe us for this game.

I read a story recently about how the phenomenon has affected bands. Now you can buy whole albums for the game so new bands get exposure as older bands continue to expose their hits to a new generation of consumers.

While we played at the beach, I tried in vain to take advantage of some of my younger nieces and nephews by convincing them that the chorus to one of hiss’s hit songs was “I want to rock and roll all night and part of every day.”

I might have been able to pull it off if they hadn’t already played (and watched) the game so much that they knew the words to the song.

It’s that voyeuristic quality of the game which actually impresses me the most. Because everyone can get into the music whether they are playing or not, it’s easy to sit around, enjoy the tunes and marvel at the ability – or inability – of the player.

During my junior year of college, a friend got one of the early Nintendo systems for Christmas. He played the original Mario brothers game over and over again.

For some reason, a bunch of us would sit around and watch him play for long stretches. We wanted to find what game secrets he had found and argue over whether he could reach the next level.

After a while, we realized how sad we were sitting there watching someone play a video game. The game really offered nothing for the spectator.

Thank goodness games like Guitar Hero have changed that. Whether you are up there playing “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” or laughing at the person struggling to do so, everyone can have a good time playing the game.

Except me at the library. That’s OK. I didn’t want to embarrass anyone. Especially myself.

Making It Virtually Rain

brian — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:28:08 +0000

First, the Wii let you play golf in your living room. Then, they brought beer pong to your gaming system. So, what’s next for the greatest game system ever?

Pole dancing.

Yes, pole dancing. A company which makes portable stripper poles has announced that they are working on developing a pole dancing application for the Wii.

I love this country. Yet, I can’t stop thinking of how this will end badly. Sure, pole dancing is now gaining acceptance as a great way to exercise, but that won’t satisfy Americans.

Next thing you know, there will be a virtual strip club buffet, virtual Pacman Jones, and virtual alibi game for when you come home with stripper dust all over your clothes. Not that I know anything about these kinds of things.

America!

brian — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:20:44 +0000

College football started tonight
Ohio kid pulls awesome prank, gets suspended (make sure you check out the YouTube)
Wii adds Beirut to its bastion of goodness

To quote Yakof Smirnoff (or whatever his name was), “What a country!”

Boycott Suspended

brian — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:20:58 +0000

I have made a significant change in my life in recent weeks. I don’t know if it’s for the better, but there’s no turning back now.

I have ended my boycott of Best Buy.

A little less than a year ago, I vowed to never go back there again. I got pretty crappy service their while trying to buy a new television and just figured I could get away with avoiding them altogether.

Then they went and opened one a half-mile from my office. And they put a Chik-Fil-A in the same shopping center. And they are building a Qdoba there.

That’s no fair. I couldn’t in good conscience drive past Best Buy on the way to another place when I needed to buy NCAA08 a few weeks ago. Especially since I wanted Chik-Fil-A for lunch the same day. And I couldn’t avoid going there today when I needed to buy my daughter a CD for her birthday and, again, wanted Chik-Fil-A for lunch. Things will get even worse when they open the Qdoba.

I still won’t go there to buy a big item, but I figure I can bend my principles for video games, CDs and DVDs. That’s where I draw the line. Unless I need to change my mind.