Time-Management Games

Oh, the joy of online games c:

I really felt the urge to play some sort of computer game, but my Playstation 2 and Nintendo 64 is packed away in the garage and can't be arsed to go and get it, though Zelda OOT and MM, and The Sims Bustin' Out, has been on my mind a lot lately (e_e)

Then I thought about online games, Restaurant Empire, The Movies Game, and The Sims 2 plus expansions being some of my favourites. The discs are on top of my wardrobe but I couldn't be arsed to reinstall them on my fussy laptop. Habbo Hotel, nah, Miniclip, nah, Doll Divine, nah.

THEN, I remembered that I LOVE playing Time Management games, and my laptop has this pre-installed HP Game Centre where you can play free demos of games. Yesterday was a pretty awful day, but I spent the whole evening playing Cake Mania Main Street, and LET ME TELL YOU! It is SO much fun.

Cake Mania Main Street has the classic format of having items in a store, you serve customers who will tell you via thought-bubble exactly what they want, they have hearts that decrease if you take too long, bonuses for three/four or more action combos, and best of all, you can upgrade your stuff with the more money you get from each level.

When I first started playing, I was heavily embarrassed at the exaggerated acting but then I remembered that this game is for kids (lol not really aimed at 21 year olds!) so it's going to be more exaggerated than subtle. Before and after each level, you get a bit of dialogue from whoever's shop you're running, and I really loved that, it was always entertaining (Jack seems extremely clumsy. Like, extremely). There were some references in there that I don't really think a child will get, though. The ex-Sumo wrestler (Tiny, I think his name is?) talks about Cherry Blossom Festival and Shuriken and the Yazuka and the deadly puffer fish and Puroresu (I think), and ironically I knew what all of these were from my (slight c: ) obsession with Japanese culture, but ten years ago when I was 11, I wouldn't know ANY of these things. Even now, I was suprized that I recosgnised the Japanese word used in every level. (I never knew that I knew so many words, though don't ask me to string together a sentence!) This must go straight over a normal child's head, lol.

Also I didn't agree with them trying to take down a big shopping centre just because it shatters the memory of their past. I can see the cons of having it there, but what if the people of the town actually LIKE Baker's Corner? The motive of the game is meant to be noble but it actually comes across quite selfish.

SO.

I looooved the different types of customers you get! It's so funny!The first character really shocked me - it's this anime cat-girl! I was like 'WOW, Anime's reach is truly far and wide!' =D Then there's this buxom black woman who does the stereotypical neck-jerking, but then you get there really awesome customers.

There's a pirate who loves nature channel (lol); an alien whose hearts are always restored when you turn on Sci Fi TV; a vampire who may bite the other customers (this turns them into a vamp themselves and they change their order); a superhero called Super Matt (I HATE THIS GUY) who will freeze whoever's standing next to him (so you can't serve them); a gangster-crook who'll steal any money left on the counter; this old lady with a cat who takes FOREVER to order; a ninja who'll use a smoke attack on the customer next to them so they can't order; this... French guy (shrug) who gives you a Rush Bonus every time he walks in (- !! LOVE this guy!!); a grumpy hot-dog man who loses hearts real fast; a chef who turns into the hot dog man if he waits too long; etc etc. Plus, there's this hilarious hippy-like guy who will take anything - ANYTHING! - so he's always really quick.

There's these two songs that play at the Sushi restaurant stage that I love, they've been stuck in my head all day. Wanna go back and play again, but....

Well, you get two free plays of a the game on HP Games, then you have to buy it. Normally I finish the game within the two free gos, but yesterday it froze twice, so that's it for me. I got up the the Sushi one, I'd fully upgraded the Cake shop, unlocked more than half of the town landmarks, got to at least stage eight in every shop. I wish I could have finished it, but I think i might actually just buy it. Easy solution ^_^



Classics and Favourites

Diner Dash (1) was the first time Management Game I ever remember playing, and it's really the one that got me into it. Now I think they've got up to Diner Dash FIVE (O_O) (that's right, 5,) and there's various spin-offs as well.

I really dunno what makes this game so good. Flo is a likeable characters, I like how the combos can be both actions and what colour-coded customer you put in which chair. I can't remember if it's this particular game, but I think certain customer have different traits as well... ? No, I think that's Belle's Boutique. ANYWAY XD it's bags of fun and I'm always happy to while away the hours with Flo.

Belle's Beauty Boutique was one I found shortly after wondering if there was anything like Diner Dash about. This was lots of fun. You get different types of customers with different patience levels, and if you seat certain people next to each other, they will gossip or flirt and that raises their hearts. Lotsa fun.

Juliette's Fashion Empire is an AMAZING game. I remember being hooked on it, playing the whole game in about a day and then feeling really sad when it was over. I seem to remember a makeover star that would get your model completely ready in a cloud of dust and sparkles and it was always such a bonus to have it. Hopefully there is a Juliette's Fashion Empire 2 :)

Posh Boutique was also one I ADORED. I truly love that game. As you go along, you open up different shops and get different clientele for each one. There's a Posh Boutique 2 as well, I think I finished both of 'em. :3

It wasn't Family Hero I played, just the normal one (below) 

Jane's Hotel was okay, it was one of the hidden games I found (It's surprisingly hard to find a good Time Management game). I never got very far in it, but I can't remember if I used up my two free gos, or if I didn't actually like it much. But I remember I didn't hate it... *laughing*

Jet Set Go is greeeeeat!! It's really great, and it's a nice change from A. food (diners, bakeries) or B. fashion (boutique, salon) Time Management games. Very challenging. It's a travel agency. First you help people decide where they wanna go, then you actually GO with them and make sure they have a good time! It's great! And there's one level where there's like a dance thing on the cruise boat, and you press the buttons to match the steps like dance mat games. Actually, while I remember, I'll see if there's a Jet Set Go 2. I'm telling you, this is one of my favourites.



I just downloaded Cake Mania 3 and I'm gonna play that now. I hope I won't have to use my brain this evening. I'm exhausted all over and everywhere, even my brain is exhausted. And my shoulders hurt. (e_e) Oh well.




Um, I just took my hand off my leg and there's blood on it =/

*sings* ...freeaaaaaakeeed ooooouuuut......


Star xx

Hyper Japan 2013 - Friday

Konnichiwa!

It took me such a long time to post again. I really didn't want to post anything depressing so I just didn't post anything at all. But now I have something HAPPYYY to share :3

I have been looking forward to Hyper Japan for months, especially as MCM (talked about that in another blog post) was a bit of a disappointment for me. H.J. was at Earls Court, only like a 30-minute journey for me, which is greeeat. We got there an hour early, and a good thing too because we were one of the first in at five-past two. My sister isn't really 'into' Japanese culture the way I am but she agreed to come with me, so I had someone to talk to while we queued for an hour. I planned to go anyway, but luckily I saw an offer on Groupon which was two tickets for the price of one. Neat. I had Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea in my bag but its a depressing book and I was excited so I ended up not reading it.

Queuing was a pretty simple affair. Like I said, we got there an hour early but went in almost straight away, unlike MCM Comic Con London, where me and my brothers waited a further hour and a half. Didn't see very many cosplayers, but the Lolita and Gothic Lolita outfits I saw were so, so very adorable and lovely to see. Japan TV were walking up and down the queue doing interviews.

In brief, there was a wide variety of things to explore in Japanese culture; sweets, kawaii sweets and kawaii culture, jewellery, costumes and traditional Japanese outfits, music (J-pop, yay), food such as rice dishes and noodles, swords (katanas, I believe... Azure said they looked like Kill Bill swords, and I just rolled my eyes. We're at a Japanese festival, and she's relating cutural icons to American movies), toys, t-shirts, anime-themed items, manga and comics, magazines and books, game demos, uniquely-styled artwork (sometimes with the artist present), and so much other memorabilia.

The live stage had musicians playing and I wish I had got the names of some but we were eating tempura noodles at the time and it didn't occur to me. Maybe it's in the brochure.

One thing that really struck me was that there was so... much... s p a c e .

At MCM, you could barely move. Sometimes we actually had to huddle in lines and waddle along because it was so jam-packed, and it was the most frustrating thing after queuing for so long and being excited enough to want to see everything at once.

But at Hyper Japan 2013, it was like there wasn't enough stalls. Towards the back, you could stand in one space and spin around with your arms out and not hit anybody. Granted, there was lots to do, lots. But still, I wish the space was filled with more stalls so that I could indulge even more in japanese culture =] I was reading Anna Scholz's blog which briefly mentioned last years' Hyper Japan, and it reminded me that Saturday and Sunday will be a LOT busier than the Friday, so I have no doubt all the space will be filled tomorrow with more stalls and people!

I picked up quite a few leaflets and freebies, especially ones on visiting Tokyo, entered a few prize draws and stuff, and it was really fun.

What I bought:
- Strawberry Pocky... couldn't resist [for the sister who came with me (call her Azure)]
- Little cat notebook [me]
- milk oyster card holder [me]
- Hello Kitty choco-toffee treat [for my other sister (call her Aime)]
- Winter Is Coming (yep, Game Of Thrones) geek soap... smells awesomee [sister again]
- Chocolate Dorayaki [little brother]
- Plum Wine (that ish tastes AMAZING... we tried sake too, but MAN that's strong.)
- Tempura noodles (great, but didn't taste as nice as they looked! It was my own fault - would have appreciated it better with an appetite but I let my excitement carry me away. I wasn't actually hungry at all. )
- Plum Tea (bought to wash down the noodles, not realising that's its not actually TEA, rather, a sweet drink. Was DELICIOUS though. Mmm. Right, from now on it's me and plums forever. Goodbye, cranberry.)

I spent hardly anything at MCM, but must have spent between £40 and £50 at H.J. (I was paying for my older sister too, her share was about £20 so I actually spent only £30-ish.) Felt so good going home with all those bags. Money well spent ^_^

I am starting to regret not going back to get this beautiful art print I saw, but I was still if-ing and but-ing so I decided to leave it.

I am so gutted that Destiny Blue wasn't there today. I was hoping soo much to buy a print from her of 'Freedom: Not A Number' and 'Lose Yourself In Me' in particular. I'm working tomorrow and Sunday so it's not even like I can drop by over the weekend. Now I have to wait until next year to see her. Makes me so sad :(

Well, it's decided. I am definitely coming back next year.

What now?

I signed up to Japanesepod101.com, and I'm supposed to be taking a free Japanese trial lesson at Alpha Japanese school in Holborn, so that should prepare me for the Japanese course I'm going to take when I get back to uni.

Did I mention I have a fan with my name on it in Katakana characters?

=]

Got it from the Alpha Japanese School stand. Well, the festival is on for another two more days. So, y'know. If you can get to Earl Court - go.

Star.

Power Songs

Perfect for when I feel as f****** melancholy as I feel now. Most are from games - songs without lyrics are like a soundtrack to my life. Not just songs I like, the Power Songs. They are the most important, more than any others at the moment. There will definitely be one I've missed, but whoTF cares.

POWER SONGS

Coldplay - X&Y
Jessie Ware - Wildest Moments (EVERY TIME)
Newton Faulkner - Teardrop (can't believe I'm saying this, but I've grown to like this more than Massive Attack's original version.)
Paramore - Stuck On You
Oasis - Keep The Dream Alive
Thomas Newman - Brooks Was Here & Any Other Name, but although there is power when I listen, the songs are so sorrowful that it also provokes depression.

Jade Empire
Jack Wall - Main theme
Jack Wall - Metropolis I and II

Ergo Proxy
Monoral - Kiri

The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Fi's Theme
Fi's Gratitude
Fi's Farewell
Lanayru Sand Sea (the two notes at the beginning give me shivers. Listen in headphones.)
Sailing The Sand Sea (when playing the actual game, the song isn't done justice. The full thing on youtube is epic.)

Gunslinger Girl (Anime)
The Delgados - The Light Before We Land
Aoi Tada / Lia - Doll
Ootani Kou - Kanashimi

Nabari No Ou
Michiro Oshima - Main Theme: Seijaku
Michiro Oshima - Tobari no Ketsui
Michiro Oshima - Departure
Anamu & Maki - Aru Ga Mama
VELTPUNCH - CRAWL (EVERY TIME.)



Blogvomit
Oh God. Has anyone ever felt this exhaustion so strong that it really makes them wish they were dead? How can they take another step, breathe another breath, think another thought? I feel as if the moment I stop typing, I will shut down. I want to eat and sleep and cry. The weather is so nice today. That makes me feel even more blue. (Don't ask me to explain that.) Lately, the moment I start to get tired, my mood plummets like an anchor thrown into in the sea. I never used to feel like this at just tiredness. It's fuckin horrible.

Damn... I'm more disturbed than I thought. I need help.


Star.
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My Experience Of MCM Comic Con London 2013 - Saturday

Of the two festivals I had lined up for this weekend, Mind Body and Spirit festival on Friday and MCM Comic Con expo on Saturday and (possibly) Sunday, I fully expected to be blown away by the latter. I WAS NOT prepared to come home disappointed from MCM and wishing that I'd gone to the MBS festival twice!

MBS festival was AMAZING. MCM was, at best, 'Meh'.

Okay no, it had some pretty sick moments in there. But let me start from the top.

Pink Sovereign / Sims 2 Freak

I have two things to declare upon this day.


One

My (technically fifth) blog, Pink Sovereign, has launched.

Jase Rose awaits.

- "Come into my lair..." -

Two

I am a Sims 2 Freak.

A huge part of Jade Rose's concept design stemmed from messing around on The Sims 2. Despite that the Sims 3 launched a long while ago, I still cling so eagerly to it's predecessor. Even now, I still love playing Sims: Bustin Out and Urbz: Sims In The City.

There is something so compelling and exciting about creating a neighbourhood wherein you can create rivalries, friendships, romances, etc, and be (most of the time) in control. Then you have their careers, their family, skills, fulfilling their wants and lifetime goals, - that doesn't even cover half of the joys of playing The Sims 2, and then each expansion pack makes it better and better and better.

However, it MUST BE SAID that the Kevin And Alice blog - the best Sims 3 blog out there (and the only Sims 3 blog I have read, ha) - has really made me tempted to get the Sims 3.

This is Jade Rose as she appears in The Sims 2.

- looking so cute and earnest. -

It is very satisfying to put two of my loves together. 

Star xxx

( "Oo, THREE kisses! A Rarity!"

Shut up, Jade Rose.)

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Getting The Movies Game Up And F**king Running

... on a Windows 7 64-bit system like my beautiful HP Intel Core i3 blah-blah majesty, that gives every game made before it the cold shoulder. Like The Sims 2. Did I tell you about my The Sims 2 pain? Well I won't. It hurts. I dread to think what fuss it will make about Restaurant Empire.

I have searched the web long and hard for answers, and by stringing together bits and pieces, I finally found the answer! The Movies runs! YAAAAAY

So here I'll post the full step-by-step guide hoping that I will A - help someone else in need and B - not miss anything out.


INSTALLING

1. Insert The Movies disc into computer. DO NOT AUTORUN or some (Library not registered) message or another error comes up.


2. Go to CD/DVD drive, right click, Open In New Window. Right click on The Movies(TM) (it’s says Windows Installer under ‘Type’) -> Properties -> Compatibility -> Tick ‘Run This Program In Compatibility Mode For’ and select ‘Previous Version Of Windows’.


3. OPTION A: There re two ways to do this bit. Either copy files onto hard drive: My Computer -> right click CD/DVD drive -> copy -> paste in Local C disc whatever. Then, go to the Setup.exe file (under ‘Type’ it says ‘Application’), right click and Run As Administrator.

OR
(the following method is easier)


3. OPTION B: Go to CD/DVD via My Computer. Right click on it (it should show the Movies game icon) and Open In New Window. From there, simply find the Setup.exe file (it might just be ‘Setup’, type is ‘Application) and Run As Administrator.

So, two different ways of saying essentially the same thing.


4. It will ask for your key code, install, ask if you want to register, install Windows Player 9, or DirectX 9. Finished installation and makes a shortcut on desktop.

THEN.
(this is the fuck-up.)


RUNNING

5. Double clicking the My Computer CD drive brings up a compatibility issue window – click ‘Run Program’. Then it will (probably) say: "Library not registered" or “Cannot locate The Movies(TM) CD. Please insert the CD and restart application.” So, naturally, I try the Desktop shortcut. This does more or less the same thing, even though I haven’t removed the CD after I installed the game.

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO.


6. Right click desktop shortcut. Properties -> Compatibility tab -> Select ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for:’. Now, most people advise Windows XP (Service Pack 3), failing that, Windows XP (Service Pack 2). However I got the same ‘cannot locate CD’ BS.

THEN I FOUND THE ANSWER !!!!!
Yahoo! Answers: Issues With The Movies On Windows 7


7. You must set compatibility mode to Window 98 / Windows Me, then right click shortcut and Run As Administrator.

AND THEN IT WILL RUN. At least, it did for me.

After so long, IT WORKS! I AM JOVIAL!!



Star x

Sources:

http://www.tmoaradio.com/vb/showthread.php?3803-The-Movies-on-Windows-7&highlight=windows

http://www.tmoaradio.com/vb/showthread.php?4268-Running-The-Movies-on-Windows-7&highlight=windows

http://www.tmoaradio.com/vb/showthread.php?5861-The-Movies-and-Windows-7-Troubleshooting-Guide

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The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Just finished the game. Almost cried; didn't want it to end! It is SO, SOOOO EPICCCCC

Can't WAIT to play it again in Hero Mode.


Star xx
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