Archive for October, 2008

Fallout 3

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

As many of my friends know, I’m a hardcore gamer. I’ve been playing game since i first laid my hands on a NES when I was in my early childhood. I’ve played games across a wide range of genres and have played literally thousands of games. Among the many many games I’ve played, only a few managed to secure a spot in my Top 10 best games of all time list, one of which was Fallout 2.

I came back from work today tired, sleepy and just felt like dropping dead on my bed… that is till I realised a package on my bed. I ripped it open (Waaagh!) and there it was… Fallout 3 !!! As I type this, Fallout 3 is being installed on my computer. I’ve recently spent a big sum on my PC in anticipation of this title. To be honest I’m a little bit afraid that Bethesda might have massacred this game. Fallout 2 was played out in an isometric view and with a brand new fully 3D perspective being introduce it Fallout 3… I’m a little anxious.

In a few minutes time, I guess I will find out. Lately I’ve been playing Dead Space on the PS3. It is simply one of the best survival horror games I’ve played to date. The space setting is a breath of fresh air. The zero gravity and no oxygen sections with monsters chasing you are particularly tense moments in this game. Monsters aren’t the only things that scares you in this game. Also, being a survival horror game, lack of ammo and health packs is a staple of the genre. In Dead Space, you have to dismember monsters to slay them in the most efficient way. This is integral to conserve ammo and in turn save your life later. This adds a new dimension of horror and panic especially when you’re being swarmed by monsters >.<

I’m currently at chapter 8 of 12 now and fallout 3 just have to land in front of me. Gah! Anyway, back to Fallout 3. Fallout 2 being in my top 10 list which automatically qualifies Fallout 3 for a Collector’s Edition. The Fallout 3 Collector’s Edition includes the Fallout 3 game (Duh!), 5″ Vault Boy Bobblehead, Customised metal Vault-Tec Lunch Box, Making of Fallout 3 DVD and a Fallout 3 Artbook.

 

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Commitment

Monday, October 27th, 2008

On the way back from work today, there was an interesting program on the air. The program is about understanding a guy’s mind. Girls would call up and ask why does her partner does certain things and the two males on the air would explain.

At one point of the program, a girl touched on something about commitment and the two males answered:

“The word commitment usually drives guys off because guys usually equate ‘commitment’ to ‘boredom’. Commitment is not very far away from Ikea. The only difference is that commitment has much much much less instructions.”

I laughed. Although I don’t agree with the boredom part (love you dear ^.^), the reference to less instructions on the other hand …… =p

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Driving

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

I’ve been driving to work for about 2 weeks now in my aunt’s car and I must say that I’ve forgotten how much I love driving. In Malaysia, I relish driving every chance I could, especially the way to and fro from my dearest’s place. It is usually a very nice drive and plenty of sections that I could just speed through.

I’m coming very close to letting my emotions overrule my common sense. Common sense dictates that I wait till January to get a car. Generally car prices will drop at the end of the month and end of the quarter and dealers usually have monthly and quarterly sales targets set by the manufacturer. If they manage to reach their targets, they will usually get a bonus from the factory.

Also, car prices will drop at the end of the year and end of the financial year. Boosting sales targets at the end of the financial year is a given. As far as I know, one of the major factor in determining the value of a trade in is the build year. If I remember correctly, a car built in January 2008 is the same as a car built in December 2008. They’re both built in year 2008 and would drop in price in 2009.

The current market conditions is unstable. Many people are losing jobs, investments and their savings. This reduces the amount of people willing to spend on non-urgent indulgences such as getting a new car. With the reduction in purchasing power and demand, the prices of the cars will naturally drop. Even though the dollar dropped almost 30% in value, I don’t think it will be enough to offset the other factors.

Emotion however dictates me to get a car. The convenience of a car far outweighs the cost. A full tank of fuel costs me about $55. A full tank of fuel can last me about 3 weeks of driving to and fro from work. I take only about 15-20 minute to get to work and back. A monthly full fare ticket costs me about $105. Taking a tram takes me anywhere from 50 minutes to 1.5 hours (if I’m unlucky). It simply makes more economic sense to get a car in the long run even with rising fuel prices.

I’ve also always wanted to get a car of my own without the need to share. Ego is another factor. I’m in a dilemma. Do I succumb to my desires or splurge the cash on a new Lancer? Gah!

On a separate note, when I was parking my car at work, I parked behind this car.

It took me about 15 seconds to recognise it and hit home to me what car it was. Of all places, I really didn’t expect a Proton here in Melbourne! I mean, with cars being so affordable here, why would anyone in their right mind get a friggin Proton?!

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Thank the Lord for GPS

Monday, October 20th, 2008

I’ve been driving to work for almost a week now with my aunt’s car. I must say, the time saved is alot. I save about 40-60 mins trip just driving. Even with the traffic, it only takes me about 15 mins to get to work! I would definitely be getting my own car soon though I’m still contemplating the timing of it whats with the market condition and all.

Also, thank the Lord for GPS or I would’ve never made it to work and back at all! My sense of direction is hopeless. It took me more than ten trips to my gf’s place to remember how to get there! (sorry love =p) During my test drive I did took a few wrong turns but the GPS steered me back on course and to work on time. There was one time I accidentally drove into the Yarra River Scenic drive route. Seeing all the greenery made me panicked a little. Thankfully the hot GPS told me in a sexy voice that all will be right =)

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Its Pay Day

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

v$_$v

 

I’ve been paid a FULL MONTH’s wages today! Only after 15 days of full-time work! One of the very few things that I look forward to since I commenced full-time work hehe. I’ve also been paid today by my part-time job. As if that wasn’t enough, the ATO also refunded me a wad a tax!

Yesterday, I was depressed as my checking account has onli double digit figures, and today…

Cha-ching!

 

<($.$<) <($.$)> (>$.$)>

 

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Working and Finance

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

It has been a week now since I’ve started working full time, for life. So far I really like working there, the working environment is relaxed, flexi hours, lunch break anytime and you can take mini coffee breaks anytime too! My colleagues are insane. I spend more time laughing at their one liners than doing my work sometimes.

The only complains I have would be lack of sleep and long travel times. I spend about 20 to 30 minutes waiting for the next tram. I have to take three trams to work. One going north for about 10 minutes, one going east for about 25 minutes, and another south for 10 minutes. Thats a lot of time spent travelling. At this rate I would most probably get a car to cut down travel time at the cost of increased fuel expenses. I’m using my aunt’s car to do a time trial tomorrow and see how it goes.

And of all time, the dollar has to drop when I start working. Bloody hell. Thankfully all my ongoing international expenses has been paid for in advanced. Warhammer Online has been paid for 6 months (best decision ever in light on the plunging dollar) and many of my international game pre-orders (can you believe that even after factoring shipping and forex cost it is still way cheaper than the retail price here in Australia?!) has already been paid.

Thankfully, I won’t feel the effect of the weak dollar in the short-term. With me finally employed, there are other headaches to consider. At the moment I’m looking for ways to fund a purchase of a house and a car. It is not easy in this time where there is a global credit crunch. I spent my free time either calculating my financial options or in Warhammer.

Jason has no life. Sob. Then again, I’m not complaining. Its a miracle I’m able to get a cozy job (as far as i’m concern) in this troubling time.

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Highschool Stories: Swearing at the Invigilators

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

Before I moved over to Australia, I was studying in one of the top public schools in the country. While this school boasts a number of intelligent minds (albeit they are all located in the first class of every year), this very same school also harbours an even greater number of hooligans, gangsters and troublemakers as well.

I was born under the star of Aquarius. Among the many traits most Aquarians share, being erratic is one of them. My results in that school is very erratic. What is the significance of this you may ask.
Well, my school practices a system whereby your yearly exam results determine which class you’ll be in. Top results will put you in the first class and vice versa. Because of the erraticness of my results, I may be in the first class this year and the last class the next.
Because of this, i’ve mixed with a wide cross section of student background, personalities and academic excellence. With that, i’ve also collected alot of interesting stories to tell.

One of these stories is regarding how my crazy friend (whom i’ve always seem to get into trouble with) swears at the exam invigilators without them realizing it. Before the exam starts, whenever one of them passes by him, he’ll say “Ar Seh Ho Lay” to them. Of course they were baffled as to what he was saying and threatened to kick him out as he was causing trouble as they suspected he was swearing in another language.

What they didn’t realized was that it was actually english. He was actually pronouncing the word in four syllables.

“Ar”
“Se”
“Ho”
“Le”

“Arse Hole” was what he said. Sheer brilliance. Other dubious sentence include “Give me the white water” (think dirty) referring to white-outs. He was also the bastard who wrote “Jason loves *insert girl’s name here*” with a paint brush on my classroom’s wall!

Those were the days.

 

 

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