Book shopping. Video games.
Aug. 20th, 2004 03:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valis2I love bookstores. I worked at a Waldenhell for several years, and it was wonderful to be introduced to the world of bookselling. Later I ended up working at an independent bookstore, where I still go in from time to time for a shift or two.
Bought some lovely, lovely books last night.
"Bound for Glory: America in Color, 1939-43" by Paul Hendrickson. Oh, it is lovely beyond belief. The early years of World War II, the end of the Depression, IN COLOR. You have to see it to believe it. Those years are so indelibly imprinted in my head in black and white that they seem like they happened in black and white. When you see Depression-era migrant workers and diners in color, it is astonishing. It is an unbelievable shift in perception. I love this book.
Bought "Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English" by Patricia T O'Conner. Yes, I have read "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves", but for some reason that wasn't meaty enough. It was a bit too flippant and dry. I really want more. It didn't go into enough history, or enough humor. It kind of straddled the line and was unsatisfying. I looked through a little of Woe and it looks much more up my alley. After I finish it I'll know for certain.
"Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2004" Can't live without Ebert. Enough said.
And for my "popcorn" tastes..."High Score! the illustrated history of video games, 2nd Edition". by Rusel Demaria & Johnny L Wilson. I used to work in a video game rental store, and I was the proud recipient of a TI 99 4A when I was a little girl, so my love of video games runs deep. This book is exhaustive, and covers all the major players, Broderbund, EA, LucasArts, etc. I love it to death. I own so many of the old (and new) systems...though fanfic has kind of eclipsed my crazy video game obsession.
Interesting topic, though, video games.
Favorite "old school" games, and system they were released on: Phantasy Star, on the Sega Master System. Oh, did I love that game. And I ended up with my Worst Ever RPG Mistake on that system. I needed money to buy the hovercraft. If you've ever played the game you know how incredibly challenging it is, and how many hours it takes to raise money. Well, I played for eight hours straight one day, got enough for the hovercraft, and was returning to town to save. Unfortunately, I was running low on supplies. Fortunately, I only had two more steps to take to get out of the dungeon and into town. The chances were low for an encounter. Of course, I have miserable luck, so I got into an encounter on the second step, and had no healing stuff. For the first time ever in the game, I attempted to run, which didn't work. And because I did, I missed a chance to do damage, and ended up dying from this stupid, low level encounter. Eight hours wasted. I was in shock.
Other faves? Phantasy Star II and IV on the Sega Genesis. II was the first RPG I'd ever played. Love at first sight. IV kicked butt. Also loved Arcana for the SNES, and the Final Fantasy series (of course!) for NES and SNES. Secret of Mana for the SNES. Legend of Zelda for NES. Mystic Defender for the Sega Genesis.
"Next Generation" Games: Final Fantasy VII for PS. Ocarina of Time (Zelda)...was that for N64? Can't remember. Oh, Xenosaga is one of the most awesome games of all time. Loved that game.
And Skies of Arcadia...for Dreamcast/PS2...oh, magnificent, fabulous, more fun than anything. So inventive, so wonderful!! The replay factor is surprisingly high. It is just a blast. Truly. I love it to death. I can't wait for the sequel.
What next? I want to play Fable, which means I'll have to complete the triumvirate and purchase an Xbox. I'm not really into the online thing, so hopefully FF XII will be a traditional one-person RPG.
Check out the new icon. A pic I took earlier this year. The only thing I had on the computer to use at this moment. I'll try to find better ones.
Bought some lovely, lovely books last night.
"Bound for Glory: America in Color, 1939-43" by Paul Hendrickson. Oh, it is lovely beyond belief. The early years of World War II, the end of the Depression, IN COLOR. You have to see it to believe it. Those years are so indelibly imprinted in my head in black and white that they seem like they happened in black and white. When you see Depression-era migrant workers and diners in color, it is astonishing. It is an unbelievable shift in perception. I love this book.
Bought "Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English" by Patricia T O'Conner. Yes, I have read "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves", but for some reason that wasn't meaty enough. It was a bit too flippant and dry. I really want more. It didn't go into enough history, or enough humor. It kind of straddled the line and was unsatisfying. I looked through a little of Woe and it looks much more up my alley. After I finish it I'll know for certain.
"Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2004" Can't live without Ebert. Enough said.
And for my "popcorn" tastes..."High Score! the illustrated history of video games, 2nd Edition". by Rusel Demaria & Johnny L Wilson. I used to work in a video game rental store, and I was the proud recipient of a TI 99 4A when I was a little girl, so my love of video games runs deep. This book is exhaustive, and covers all the major players, Broderbund, EA, LucasArts, etc. I love it to death. I own so many of the old (and new) systems...though fanfic has kind of eclipsed my crazy video game obsession.
Interesting topic, though, video games.
Favorite "old school" games, and system they were released on: Phantasy Star, on the Sega Master System. Oh, did I love that game. And I ended up with my Worst Ever RPG Mistake on that system. I needed money to buy the hovercraft. If you've ever played the game you know how incredibly challenging it is, and how many hours it takes to raise money. Well, I played for eight hours straight one day, got enough for the hovercraft, and was returning to town to save. Unfortunately, I was running low on supplies. Fortunately, I only had two more steps to take to get out of the dungeon and into town. The chances were low for an encounter. Of course, I have miserable luck, so I got into an encounter on the second step, and had no healing stuff. For the first time ever in the game, I attempted to run, which didn't work. And because I did, I missed a chance to do damage, and ended up dying from this stupid, low level encounter. Eight hours wasted. I was in shock.
Other faves? Phantasy Star II and IV on the Sega Genesis. II was the first RPG I'd ever played. Love at first sight. IV kicked butt. Also loved Arcana for the SNES, and the Final Fantasy series (of course!) for NES and SNES. Secret of Mana for the SNES. Legend of Zelda for NES. Mystic Defender for the Sega Genesis.
"Next Generation" Games: Final Fantasy VII for PS. Ocarina of Time (Zelda)...was that for N64? Can't remember. Oh, Xenosaga is one of the most awesome games of all time. Loved that game.
And Skies of Arcadia...for Dreamcast/PS2...oh, magnificent, fabulous, more fun than anything. So inventive, so wonderful!! The replay factor is surprisingly high. It is just a blast. Truly. I love it to death. I can't wait for the sequel.
What next? I want to play Fable, which means I'll have to complete the triumvirate and purchase an Xbox. I'm not really into the online thing, so hopefully FF XII will be a traditional one-person RPG.
Check out the new icon. A pic I took earlier this year. The only thing I had on the computer to use at this moment. I'll try to find better ones.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-20 08:13 pm (UTC)You should play SWG with us!!! Plllleeeeease! :D If you do get it make sure you go on the Gorath server so we can all play together. :)
Love the icon! Lions are something I associate with you so it's perfect!
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-20 08:23 pm (UTC)Thanks for the icon compliment. I was wondering if it was cool or not. Though it will be confusing to all of the HP-friends, as I'm usually Slytherin-oriented.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-20 08:37 pm (UTC)You create a character, choose a profession, etc. It's so detailed and so interesting! Here are some screenshots:
http://swvault.ign.com/screenshots/?category_select_id=cat_1
We are in an AWESOME guild/player association: http://www.lostcityoflok.net/
If you decide to get it, shoot me an email or an LJ post if you have any questions. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-20 08:53 pm (UTC)But it does sound right up my alley. I haven't played any in a MMORPG yet. It sounds fascinating. I was thinking that it must be like any other community, with problems and delights galore. I'm sure that there is a do and don't list. The screenshots are interesting.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-20 08:57 pm (UTC)Movie buff I am though, and I love Ebert. Even if we disagree occasionally. But he doesn't mind if a movie if fluff or mostly special effects...he knows we all need those kind too. :)
That Depression book sounds amazing. I love the stark photography of all the sharecropper photos in B&W - but it'd be a revolution to see them in color. I guess I was thinking that they only sold B&W film in the 30's or something because yes, I don't remember any color photos from then. Fascinating.
I love bookstores. I still want to run a bookstore when I grow up. Maybe a coffeeshop/bookstore, if the trend has not gasped its last breath by then. Or a gamestore/bookstore with sofas and tables in some college town somewhere.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-20 09:12 pm (UTC)Oh WOW. I can relate to that... it's inside my head similarly, only more sepia than black-and-white. Guh, the pictures must be amazing.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-20 09:20 pm (UTC)"Bound for Glory" is absolutely beautiful. Next time you're in Borders or Barnes & Noble check it out.
Owning a bookstore can be a really crappy occupation, sorry to say. There are some good people, but there are some awful ones. And then there's the incredible competition problem. I'd go into it further, but your eyes would probably roll back in your head, and I'm sure you don't want to hear more depressing things about your lovely dream occupation. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-20 09:23 pm (UTC)Everything seems to look like some sort of reenactment because it's in color. Funny, that. Most of the people are dirty and very tanned or sunburned.
There's a whole series of Chicago pics that are fab. Railroad pics. Incredible.