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Mr Granstaff

Mr Granstaff's Blog (69 followers)

Feb16
Early ExitPermalink
What's that? A bird, a plane? No, it's... an alliteration!

Probably just another one-hit wonder because I can only come up with so many alliterations consecutively that would still have a sliver of meaning behind it.

At any rate, was eliminated from the team side surprisingly early. I suppose that's what happens when your heart isn't into it while recovering from neck surgery and medicated half the time. Ha.

It is a bit unfortunate because I enjoyed the team effort we possessed when earning the first bonus. Think we would've had an enjoyable time getting others as well, but expectations were set low, so no fretting here. The experience was good, albeit a short one.

I'm aware this is cliche, but there's always the solo side! Seems much easier to survive when you just have to worry about yourself. Case in point: it only took one achievement for me to meet the requirements for this week's bonus and likely earned enough to survive this period.

Plus, I now have even more downtime than before. For instance, I enjoyed watching The Walking Dead more so without having to worry how much I needed to score or wonder if my other teammates were going to score enough. Yep. It's confirmed. Definitely not fretting over this team elimination. smile

Hm. Perhaps since my gaming habits has changed from last year, I actually might make another decent run of things again. Have a list of potential preloads I would have an easier time of obtaining since I don't do the whole "streak" thing anymore, but who knows if I carry through with the preloading. It still doesn't appeal to me. It's like what they say in this JG Wentworth commercial - "It's My Money & I Need It Now!" That's how I view my achievements: I don't want them to unlock later, I want them now.

(Of course, if Xbox One cloud servers get overloaded... you're going to HAVE to wait for your achievements)

Other than that, definitely enjoying the competitiveness this year. I do believe the right amount of balance was implemented and the new additions are a nice touch, such as the Safety Net and how the badges are actually being worth something. Actually, I really have nothing to complain about this year. Everything is being ran well, even the recaps.


  • Touch of Randomness


At work, the web version of our routing system wasn't loading properly. Seems like clearing the browsing history in Chrome was the way to resolve the issue. Chrome and even Firefox uses interesting verbiage, such as this:

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"Obliterate." "The beginning of time."

Made me laugh.


  • Quick & Serious Recap


Not too much to report. Completed a handful of games since the last time I posted, but the only thing worth mentioning was when this achievement unlocked:

Serious Sam HD: The Second EncounterCoin-op Co-opThe Coin-op Co-op achievement in Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter worth 78 pointsComplete the entire Coin-op coooperative game on normal or higher difficulty.


Without the aid of https://www.trueachievements.com/HaxAras.htm, I'm sure it would've taken me a few more tries at it with my buddies. There was definitely a few close calls where we didn't have any lives remaining, especially when Hax's controller died in the heat of battle.

(come on, man)

I believe Hax even had his health all the way down to 7 at one point, with no lives remaining! Kleers be damned.

Plus, this just so happened to be the first achievement I got in the game. Not too shabby. Most difficult achievement in the series unlocked first? Sa-weet!

Here's a temporary video if you're interested (or really bored):


Definitely some funny moments in there. In the comments section, I'll add time stamps later. For instance, I remember this platforming section and I don't know how I survived it either. Of course, I come to a much easier section a minute later and seemingly forgot how to jump and died soon after. Landing in a spiked pit will do that to you.


  • V-Day Gift


Dawn gets me. She really does. I can't envision in any other relationship would someone gift me this:

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Now, hopefully there won't be any controversy over using this because believe it or not, it isn't considered cheating - not according to the Investigations Manager, anyway. Plus, I'm not going into online lobbies, using Rapid Fire, No Scopes or any of that crap. Basically, I won't be using it to gain an unfair advantage over someone else. Gaining an advantage to make an achievement easier, you betcha!

More or less, I'm curious on what it can do. After all, I'm a geek that works in the IT field, so of course this device is going to naturally intrigue me. Plus, I've preached this for years: I prefer to be efficient with my time, time is money and all that mumbo jumbo.

Also, I would love to be able to use a keyboard and mouse on a FPS for a console game. Can you imagine the precision and dexterity? That's maximum effort right there.

It would also be interesting to perform a fatality with the single press of a button or watch Bejeweled 2 automate itself by reaching the end of Endless mode within a week by using a script.

Oh, the device is called CronusMax. Look it up. It's really innovative.




[UPDATED: February 16, 2016]

* updated boost list

Want to boost? Play some co-op? Trade games with me? If so, click the spoiler tag below:

*** Spoiler - click to reveal ***


External image
Posted by Mr Granstaff on 16 February 16 at 21:07

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Kinkimono "Basically, I won't be using it to gain an unfair advantage over someone else. Gaining an advantage to make an achievement easier, you betcha! "

Isn't that gaining an advantage over other people hunting achievements?
I'm not against it, just curious.

I guess you could argue everyone could use it for achievements but that could also be said for online games? In the end I'm most likely missing something as last time, it just caught my mind ^^

Cheers mate!
Posted by Kinkimono on 16 Feb 16 at 21:13
Mr Granstaff @ https://www.trueachievements.com/Kinkii+Mono.htm - I had a feeling someone would call on that, which is fine. I appreciate the opportunity to chat with you. :)

I mean, I suppose whatever your perception is on using devices like this one is determined whether you think it's an advantage or not. Personally, I don't care as long as you're not modifying your GS.

I don't see any difference in using this compared to boosting sessions, turbo controllers...start to get my drift?

Bottom line is this: gaming is my hobby and I game on how I see fit: mostly for fun and the thrill of it. It's usually relaxing too.

Plus, I read stuff all the time, stating, "You should game for fun. You should play these games and don't play those kiddie games. You shouldn't use those cheat codes. If you do, you don't deserve the achievement." It's all subjective and people need to realize that.

But, yeah - I'm sure some people might get huffy to know that I plan on using this device, but it is what it is. Maybe I should start apologizing now? wink
Posted by Mr Granstaff on 16 Feb 16 at 21:28
Riconoclast Assuming they don't get updated out of existence I might pick up one so I can use an Xbox One controller on a PS4.
Posted by Riconoclast on 16 Feb 16 at 21:37
Kinkimono For me the line is modifying game files (including borderlands weapons and shields even if you didn't modify them yourself) but I came to realise not many on TA is against that. Found that out early and that's when I accepted that in the end I can only really care about how I enjoy doing it.

So makes all the sense in the world to me that you do it the way you enjoy doing it, cause that's what it's all about. Hobbys aren't about logics or reason, it's just a feeling we enjoy.

I did buy the Hori EX 2 pad so haven't "played" everything myself. And I did go offline for the Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 calorie burnt achievements so we all find our ways of getting our fix following our own rules.
Posted by Kinkimono on 16 Feb 16 at 21:42
Mr Granstaff @ Riconoclast - Good point. It seems like these devices are capable of updating its firmware to combat any console updates.

Seems to be a well thought out device. I love how you can map your controls to however you see fit. Even has stealth technology and is 100% fully undetectable online, allegedly.
Posted by Mr Granstaff on 16 Feb 16 at 21:44
Mr Granstaff @ https://www.trueachievements.com/Kinkii+Mono.htm - I hear ya! :) Not everyone colors within the lines... Props to those that do.
Posted by Mr Granstaff on 16 Feb 16 at 21:46
Boots Orion I find that with GTASC anymore you basically have to play exclusively XBox Juan games (inflated ratios) or you're screwed. We were mostly playing 360 games in the first few weeks and got eliminated a week and a half ago.

I can't see making a deep run ever again as there are too many 360 games that I'm eager to play. I'm completely fine with that too.
Posted by Boots Orion on 16 Feb 16 at 21:56
Mr Granstaff @ Boots Orion - I agree. It does seem that way nowadays. Personally, I'm not willing to go the way of Indie. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for spending money on that trash, especially after I made a vow to myself that I would focus more on quality games.

Yeah, I'll try to go as far as I can, but making it to October on the solo side would be a stretch. It'll be fun to see how it goes though. I suppose that's the point of this event: fun. laugh
Posted by Mr Granstaff on 16 Feb 16 at 22:02
dlCHIEF58 Well I'm still kicking myself a little on this one as I should have had us covered. Feel a little like the anchor of a relay team that dropped the baton at the finish line. Had I gotten up earlier (i.e. my normal time) or forced a scan before the cutoff (and not mistiming it by an hour), we wouldn't be talking about this now. I was taken by surprise by the amount of competition on the team side this year and how fast it ramped up, as were we all.

I'm not beating myself up over it, just a little irked because I could have prevented the whole thing fairly easily - especially after telling you the night before I had it covered.
Posted by dlCHIEF58 on 16 Feb 16 at 22:18
Mr Granstaff @ dlCHIEF58 - Wait. It was YOUR fault?! Why I oughta... LOL

I hear ya on being a little irked by it, but now we have no boundaries with our gaming and still have the solo side to participate in. For once, I can enjoy the team drama from others and poke fun at them because of it. :P
Posted by Mr Granstaff on 16 Feb 16 at 23:04
SpeleoFool Heh. Had to swing by and see if you were getting any grief for Cronus. Pretty quiet, so I won't stir that pot.

I did want to add, though, that I'm getting a lot more enjoyment out of various "Indie" games lately than from AAA, high-budget titles (especially franchises).

Life is Strange was my favorite game from last year, although you could argue that Square Enix isn't very Indie. And I'm playing Child of Light right now and enjoying it (save for a glitched achievement that will probably require lots of replay), although Ubi isn't very Indie, either.

But Thomas Was Alone was decent. Kinda quirky, pretty simple, mostly just inoffensive, but nevertheless managed to deliver more emotional range with colored boxes than I got out of the first two games in the Gears of War franchise (as far as I made it before I swore off Epic Games).

And even Bridge Constructor, which is a physics simulator that barely counts as a game, gave me more value for my time and money than Destiny. Which is, to be honest, a very capable shooter with great co-op features completely ruined by [bad people] who are clearly trying to figure out how to market an addictive business model rather than deliver a quality interactive experience.
Posted by SpeleoFool on 17 Feb 16 at 00:31
Mr Granstaff @ SpeleoFool - Stop stirring! laugh

In regards to Indie games, I should really start making myself clearer about those. I don't dislike all Indie games as I have liked few of them. But, I've seen some that looked absolutely abysmal.

I agree with Thomas Was Alone. I really did enjoy that one, even that disembodied voice in the background. :)

I am looking forward to Bridge Constructor - a friend gifted that to me. Guns, Gore & Cannoli was another I liked that quite a bit.

#IDARB had its moments, but without having friends over that would be interested in it, it faded fast and was just another freebie with a quick 1000 GS.

Perhaps my favorite Indie title was Octodad. I can see myself revisiting that game. Knight Squad isn't bad either.
Posted by Mr Granstaff on 17 Feb 16 at 14:20
ThreeHaddock62 I know what you mean about not wanting to unlock your achievements later, wanting them now....coughcoughoprofessorportalbeenamonthcoughcough. :D
Posted by ThreeHaddock62 on 17 Feb 16 at 18:02
dlCHIEF58 I hear you about the team drama in the GTASC forums. I think it is hilarious the guy on there now trying to argue that 3.97 = 4.0 in order to get the bonus this round - even after Planting clarified that it had to be over 4.0 and his data went well past 2 decimal places before any rounding up was considered or applied.
Posted by dlCHIEF58 on 17 Feb 16 at 21:59
Mr Granstaff @ ThreeHaddock62 - Dammit, Jim! laugh

Yeah, just message him even though you may see him offline. He'll definitely get you sorted out. :)

And, has it really been a month? Wow. Time flies!

@ dlCHIEF58 - Oh, yeah... I haven't seen all of that forum - probably only those last couple of pages here recently.

That debate was a bit comical. At first, I thought I understood, then I got confused... That's the Internet for you. Trolling on every forum.

People are so full of crap though on other stuff. I'm sorry, but you seriously have to deprive yourself of sleep and have minimal obligations to constantly do well in these contests. Sure, preloading helps during crunch time, but you still have to put the time in and get a loan from the bank to afford all of those quick and dirty games.

And, for whatever reason, people get so defensive whenever I bring that up. Truth always hurts. :P
Posted by Mr Granstaff on 18 Feb 16 at 14:28
Mr Granstaff For the record, I have no problem if that's how they game, I just have a problem when they sugarcoat it and pretend it required minimal effort.

Heck, I can say I'm going to win at something year in and year out and eventually, I'll be right. I think Joe Namath was the first and actually backed up his guarantee nationally.

If someone constantly says they're going to win every year, but loses and comes up short, it sort of loses the flavor when they actually do win. Know who I'm talking about? wink
Posted by Mr Granstaff on 18 Feb 16 at 14:34
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