kytedevlin - Tumblr blog

[kytedevlin]

Lately I haave been awakening to visions of flying mosquitoes amidst blindness, my vision a milky gray, that seems to prevent any clear images other than the immediate hallucination, my first response is to prevent the knee jerk reaction to swat at or kill the insect, the next is to blink, and try to wipe away the cloudy substance that skews my vew, it does not work, i remain mostly blinded for 4-5 minutes after I awaken. These hallucinations are not new of course, ive talked briefly about this being an often occurrence as I wake or before i sleep. I believe last summer it was spiders, not spiders really, but something that resembles the skeleton of a spider, but moving across the surfaces in my immediate view, dancing as though lit up by golden light. The kind of shine you would see in a darkened room during the holiday season. A strange sensation that rolls over the body, something frightening with not a silver lining amongst the clouds, but the golden glow of warmth.

[kytedevlin]

Virtual Currency and The Value of a Dollar

It has become my concern after participating in playing video games over the years that the offer of virtual currency has reached an all time low. I used to save my dollars to pick up a few nexon cards from the local corner stores or pharmacies, to grab some quick in game cash for a few amenities in my accounts. This continued later on with riot cards and league of legends and many other games. As a got older and began to read user agreements and privacy policies, that virtual currency has no value, it cannot be resold for more or less then its price, and it cannot be refunded. It is in my opinion that this is an unethical practice, the trade of real money for virtual items is probably unfeasible for most, as purchasing food, housing, and the means to even play with those virtual items comes first. But how is the trade of something with no tangibility, legal. How can you not be refunded for the full amount of something that does not exist? Does the money you spend go to nothing, towards development or the livelihood of others, nor increase in value over time? Are all of these games virtual currency stores simply a scam, and the money you spend on them is not depended on nor invested in, as the development process is underway. To allow such a system of currency which places no value on the money you spend on them is unethical and therefore unreasonable. For something that exists within its own ecosystem, virtual items versus the players that use them, then the removal of your account should result in the complete refund of the amount of currency purchased items. If no value is placed on the currency, then there is no value to the items themselves. To even debate the ability to earn all items within a game is leaning into the ability for this practice to continue, as then value is placed upon your time. Should players be allowed to earn virtual currency based on playtime or runtime? Regardless all of the cost is footed by the person who is playing said virtual environment. For those who spend money regularly on virtual environments would they say that they have a say in the course of development of said virtual environment. To spend money, to have no say in what can be done with what was purchased, and have no ability to refund such an item, is unethical. It does not accrue the value of an account, as the virtual items also hold no value, and it does not respect the value of the currency spent on it. It is my opinion that in the spirit of ethical consumption of virtual media, that through its use players are rewarded for their time spent playing the game, in this respect, currency can be earned and therefore holds value, this would allow players to trade that currency of their own volition, as this was as it was meant to be, but it also reinforces a virtual environments ability to sell. Without the ability to earn there can be no value placed on the environment and therefore it cannot be considered an ethical use of currency, and if you cannot be refunded for the use of your account or the sale of your account from that virtual environment, than it can be considered that there is no gain to be had from any virtual currency store, and all agreements are rendered moot, or should be, in accordance to the law. These seem like harsh terms, but the removal of your ability to choose is a more egregious overstep, and as games move further into the digital realm with DRM and other "disabled ownership" tactics, that remove your ability to own something after purchasing it these tactics should be noted in any form they take, whether it be in the digital realm, or the real one. Stay safe out there.

[kytedevlin]

Fortnite and Success

So I’ve been playing fortnite for a while, it really took off from launch. After having played Save The World, the original draw i had to the game i can say that i enjoy it but i feel like with its popularity it lost a lot that makes it unique. Truly with all of the changes and new additions its added to its signature battle royale game mode, its original design seems to have been left far in the dust. With pop culture icons from music to comics and back to video games Fortnite has become a platform that everything and everyone can get involved in. But where was that love for “Save The World”. Despite its many events and unique gameplay, the use of some of that ingenuity and pop culture dis not extend to it, whether it be new heroes to play with or survivors to use as attributes or even defenders to help you protect your base it just didn’t come full circle. Vehicles did not make it to Save The World and Save The Worlds signature abilities did not make it to battle royale. This may not always be the case but 9 seasons with no hint of these of any prospect of new characters or vehicles entering into Save The World, or Zombie integration with Battle Royale, leads one to a single conclusion towards the future. I think despite its success Fortnite will remain a reminder of what marketing and popularity can do to a franchise. And those who enjoy video games or other forms of media will have to one day ask themselves has it gotten past the appoint of originality, is originality worth it? How many original designs kept their integrity and failed, or is everything simply a new ship for the hot new content on the market or whatever the local pop culture icons decide for us. If something doesn't try it cannot truly fail, perhaps that was just the ticket for Fortnite. If it had followed its original design, what was its design roadmap, what would we have seen? Adventure mode, with a story line similar to the quests it offers. A true survival mode, where you have to simply survive and building a base for yourself is the true goal? Would we have seen, newer more incredible zombies, or behemoths? And even still with all its popularity, why have we not already seen, new defenders, survivors, and heroes based on all of the pop culture icons, video games, comics, and other storybook characters to join the fight in Save The World. I think the harrowing fact remains that we will never know. And that despite its huge success, it really is a vessel of so many mediums it might as well just be paper. The small portion of its original design that it reserves for itself, is a far cry from the ingenuity that they dedicate to the rest of the game. It's not the only game that I believe has suffered this fate recently, but I do think by being one of the largest to date, for those who follow games from beginning to end, this will be a significant portion of a decade's worth of media, and though all of its positives will surely be mentioned, only those who had watched its original trailers will know anything close to what I have stated. It's not a bad thing to reach success, but on the road that it is on, could that be what its considered? Is that success Fortnite's? Or is it unreal engines and epic games' ?, and are there those who believe they are one and the same? From a person like me, I think Fortnite is doing great, It still has time to do a lot more, and the changes I want to see probably won't make it into Save The World or the larger Battle Royale, but in reality, you can't argue with success wherever it is made. That said, to go years without a hint of anything revolving around its original design, is a bit defeating to anyone who viewed its original trailers. Though I am sure those people are satisfied as well.

[kytedevlin]

Recently my place of dwelling was attacked by bees.🐝 Big ass ones, never seen anything like them before. Ive been stung a handful of times but never by anything this large. I found one that had sadly died. Not really a fan of taxidermy but I thought id grab a picture since the next time i get close up i might get stung. 😂

Sidenote: autofocus just would not let me get a clear picture up close. Ill see if i can get some clearer pictures later, but I’m not going to hold onto it for long, it needs to get to the garden.

[kytedevlin]

Sims Time based Autonomy

I think it would be something to look forward to either by updates, or by the time they release the next sims, for sims to have schedules. Or time based autonomy, with this i mean, regardless of when your sims are placed in the world, they follow a default schedule, for their autonomous actions, not just needs. By the time attempt to go to sleep by midnight regardless of needs, to wake in 7-8 hours, you can train your sims to need less sleep, or wake them up earlier, Wake up by 6 - 8 o clock, to have breakfast by 8, by 12pm they check to eat again, make food, and eat it if they are hungry or save it for later if they are not If anyone in the home has low needs they call them to lunch. by 5pm they do the same for dinner, by 7pm they change outfits into loungewear or check to shower then change into loungewear unless they work at night. An hour before work they are required to be at work, they change into work clothes. Small changes to autonomy in this manner, might make the game feel more alive, when just allowing sims to care for themselves. so rather than being completely need driven, they are also routine driven, allowing personal schedules will allow for autonomous actions to be taken while away, in a manner similar to the way clubs are setup, there is the possibility of complete integration with the current sims 4. When there is down time for what a sim doesn't need to do, autonomy can be directed towards, skill building, or fun having, and social actions. Or other productive activities. For non player characters, schedules can be autonomated around the 24 hour schedule, based on what activities those sims take part in, work, school, after school activities. So needs encompass what you have to do as well, not just what your body needs. So your schedule will push forward by whatever you set it to based on your job, or school. If you participate in home schooling, or at home work then your routine doesn't change. These routine changes are automated and can be opted into via a prompt upon being hired or accepted. College goers do not get this prompt when getting classes, whether they are moving, or taking extra classes. They will simply follow their own routines and go into classes to pick up what time it is when they get out of classes. When a sim is out of routine, their mood will change, and may experience different moods. Sims that like to break routines and schedules, and sims that don't like to break routines and schedules. Will have different kinds of outcomes. Following schedules for to long, or not following a schedule for to long, will cause different effects as well. That probably doesn't sound different than what the game does now, but if you watch your sims, needs deplete at the same rate when starting at the same place, so routines and schedules i feel will make up for what bodily needs don't account for, and allow sims to manage their autonomy better, by taking care of tasks, with regards to how much time they have to do it. If you read through that block, congrats, and thank you. I believe that this is probably a good idea going forward for sims, and hopefully its something that could be a free update, as a small expansion may add more extra content, but I feel like this should just be the natural progression of the sims in continuance.

[kytedevlin]

So ive finished what i was working on and in a rush started another only to run into a massive block. The words are simply not forming. And as my interest wants to take me to some of those other projects that remain only as a basis for something more, my attention is spread between this that and the other, i find it hard to locate the empty mental space needed and the muscular attentivity that is required to think and do like it requires. Perhaps I’ve thought to highly of myself since finishing that first project. To put it into more physical terms right now it feels as though my thoughts are localized around the tip of my nose, as for when I’m able to write my thoughts are localized just above my eyes and under or within my eyebrows. Maybe its just allergies 🤧

[kytedevlin]

If rewrote my life i wonder where i would start.

[kytedevlin]

Some of the flowers in the yard today.

[kytedevlin]

I feel like in the next iteration of sims if its not possible to update. They should give players the option to use a color picker and material selector in lieu of their current swatches, it would make it much easier to match styles across the multiple objects and appliances in the home.

[kytedevlin]

So i made this 4 bedroom house, full of bunk beds and made an Angelina Jolie Sim to adopt a full house, Sims doesn't have any houses that are made to support a full house of the bat, so i decided make one. its called Matriarchs Mezzanine in the gallery, it goes in NewCrest. So anyone can get it, since sims 4 is free. For anyone who has all the dlc, I only used a few extra items from other packs, everything should be base. Anyways this is to show off my Angelina Jolie sim though, She is not photorealistic but i think she is close to the real deal as far as sims go. Anyways im going to see how I can manage all the sims in one spot, since i normally only play with one.

[kytedevlin]

Sims Go to Jail Expansion This is another idea i had since crime and being evil in sims is kind of boring to be honest, in sims 3 i remember going to jail if you fail certain options of the criminal career track. Having a go to jail that is similar to monopoly where your sim has to stay in jail for a certain amount of days for certain actions, revamping the criminal career, and criminal actions, and Revamping Evil actions, and making it more of a supervillain, someone like scarecrow, or a necromancer, or resident evil. Things that cause actual damage to the world space. With its own world to operate in at full potential, the jail is a prime centerpiece and sims go there do their time and interact with each other, they can break out as well. Each day gather items and information, bribing guards etc etc. This idea came to mind because I feel like sims should play more like a game of Monopoly. And also I really enjoyed that Netflix show "La Casa Del Papel". I use alot of @simrealist, mods, and thought it would be great to rob the bank, and by extension a way to hack bank accounts like the game "Watch Dogs", but in sims there is really no consequences and nothing really happens, even as a klepto all you take are dirty dishes. Everyday just dirty dishes, sometimes you get a book instead. It truly is really lame. So This is just a thought. Id like to see more out of sims, but sometimes i think i should just turn it off and play something else. If i wasn't so neurotic, i might just do it. Lucky for me.

[kytedevlin]

Sims 4 Dance Battle Pack Idea

So I have this idea in my head that is reminiscent of the sims urbz days, but to be more in line with modern gaming, add some variance. It would be a simple pack, where a world of sims will have an dance battle influence chart, they will have a particular style that they like and that must be adhered to in those areas, but by winning over crowds in public dance events you can increase your styles influence over the area. The world will have styles that it prefers, but individuals can have their own preference as well. By participating in weekly competition you can win various prizes. By practicing and dancing with different people you can learn different styles, and within a sims menu mix those styles together creating new forms of dance. Doing this makes your sim more varied and likeable, after that you can participate in higher level competitions winning even more rewards and fame. The dance will be completed with inputs much like The Sims Urbz days, Your dance will have different kinds of combinations you can put together to perform better and appease the crowd. You can be challenged on the spot to dance, or face public humiliation. With each battle your dance skill increases, and you learn new moves and styles that you can select and mix together to create a full set. Your dance will have 5 - 8 moves, as you level up, allowing you to select and mix styles as you grow your arsenal. That completes this quick idea that I had , it seems small, but it can probably also seem a bit daunting, It was sort of inspired by the game "Absolver", It's a bit old at this point but I always wanted it to have a sequel. Anyone who enjoys an open environment for and martial arts should try it out.

[kytedevlin]

Do dogs and cats speak the same language?

[kytedevlin]

Im thinking pets should have there own events, things like dognappers and catnappers, where as many animals are in the neighborhood get called to action. Not sure what the benefit or reward would be for them helping out, but I think it would be an interesting level of autonomy for pets to be able to communicate with each other.

[kytedevlin]

I caved. And modded the sims again. Im really stuck in between games right now. Sims is keeping me awake for the time being.

[kytedevlin]

How much can the dust bunnies do in sims?

[kytedevlin]

Sims is missing out...

It just occurred to me that sims has been missing some pretty decent opportunities to boost its gameplay. I mean with real meaningful, fun, and interesting content. EA has access to a decent amount of titles, yet they don't boost themselves up from the inside. I mean real crossover DLC and Game Packs. They have aliens in sims as they always do, but no Mass Effect Crossover? We can't meet commander shepard, get a suit of armor, pick a class type, and go on missions? They have "need for speed" and we can't get a Street Racing DLC, Get a car, Customize, go to work/streetrace, get promoted, and earn gear for the car to supe it up for performance and style in "CAS". They have the whole "star wars" pack, but they don't add the ability to become a jedi or sith, go to work and do jedi or sith content, meet and mingle with star wars characters, use the force as you see fit. They just came out with Space Jam recently and we can't get a lebron james/looney toons world crossover at all? Learn to play basketball, compete in the space jam, and unleash and catch looney toons running around and learn mischievous and funny actions from each one? Apex Legends their prime free to play game, could add clothing options to pick from, new pets, interactions, a free world based off of the apex legends world, a job as an apex legend even, get collectibles, collect useful items, add some monster hazards in the world with an apex monster hunting skill to fight them. There is Dragon Age, Dead Space, Anthem, It Takes Two, Crysis, Mirrors Edge, and Plants vs. Zombies, all with something to pull from, and create a myriad of clothing items, jobs, mini games, skills, hazards and occult like transformations. I'm not trying to harp on it, but really, I could think of a few things that could improve the game. And "Bust The Dust" is probably not my idea of fun, if even for just a quick moment of amusement. Whatever the issue is, i just feel like to a certain degree it can't be an acceptable practice to have all that content at your disposal and squander it in a consistently time-consuming way, don't get me wrong, sims is its own game, but they already mixed Star Wars into it. why not take it the full mile? Its not like I don't mod my game, and perhaps that makes me part of the problem, I don't converse with any official sims developers but i sure as hell know modders put more time into it than they do. I don't see why if they even put the smallest amount of their time in, why not make it something worthwhile? When they have all the means to make official crossovers, and bridge their game worlds in ways that have yet to be seen. The Sims is basically EA's "Kingdom Hearts" Gateway. And once they realize that, the game will be all the better for it. That is just my two cents. And Id honestly write to them about it, if i felt that I would get a serious reply. But only time will tell what comes next for The Sims.