report of my first college dance

I just got back from the Dance & Casino Night at Pauley Ballroom. This was my first college dance and certainly a new experience. As its name suggests, the event featured casino games like blackjack and roulette. This was a nice touch even though they're not my cup of tea.

Of note is that the DJ didn't play any slow songs at all. I had never been to a dance with no slow songs. That was a little weird and didn't make much sense.

The dance ended 45 minutes early when everyone started leaving and the DJ stopped the music. It wasn't her fault that people decided to leave, but she should have kept the music going until the end. Just my two cents. Shortcomings aside, the Dance & Casino Night was pretty enjoyable. Feel free to read my review for more details.

In other news...

There was also a game night at the residential computing center. I got to play Doom 3 for the first time. It was kind of scary but also pretty fun!

Currently playing: Doom 3

level 99 Firemaking in RuneScape Classic

I finally reached level 99 Firemaking in RuneScape Classic after a long grind. Here is a screenshot of me leveling up. I know this achievement is kind of pointless, but having two 99's certainly gives me bragging rights. :-)

It's a shame RuneScape Classic is no longer being updated. Sometimes newer isn't better.

Currently playing: RuneScape Classic

on being a RuneScape player moderator

I just accepted an invitation from Jagex to become a RuneScape player moderator. This means I can now send priority reports and mute players for serious rule violations. In addition to having a silver crown next to my name when sending messages, I can also post on the official forums as a free user. Besides these things, player moderators don't get any special perks.

For those concerned about us abusing our power, there are guidelines on when we can mute people. I can't disclose much else as the player moderator manual is confidential, but you needn't worry about being muted as long as you follow the rules. :-)

Currently playing: RuneScape

my thoughts on RuneScape 2

Jagex just released one of the biggest RuneScape updates ever. Despite its name, RuneScape 2 is more of a new game engine than a sequel. The game now has true 3D graphics, an updated combat system and many other new features.

The new version actually looks pretty nice. However, after trying it for a while, I decided it wasn't for me and transferred my items back to the old game. I'll probably regret this later on as Jagex has said that RuneScape Classic won't get any more updates. Oh well.

Currently playing: RuneScape

so I'm legal now...

I just turned 18 years old. In other words, I'm now legally an adult. Of course, that doesn't mean I'll stop listening to my parents - after all, they can kick me out of the house anytime. :P

As for celebrations, my family went to Pizz'a Chicago for dinner last weekend. Though we hadn't been there in several years, the pizzas were really good as always. It's hard to believe how fast time goes.

In other news...

I reached 1,200 skill total in RuneScape two days ago. You can see the screenshot here.

Currently playing: RuneScape

accidentally let my RuneScape membership renew itself...

Now that school has started for me, I decided to cancel my RuneScape membership in order to focus more on my classes. But when I logged in yesterday afternoon, the membership had already been renewed. Though I immediately requested a refund, Jagex told me this wasn't possible.

This was pretty cheap of them in my opinion. Because the RuneScape website never made it clear when the automatic payments would occur, I had always assumed it was the last day of the billing period. At least the same thing didn't happen last year. Shame on you, Jagex.

While $5 isn't a big deal, companies should be clear in this matter. On the bright side, I can't exactly complain about another month of membership. :P

Currently reading: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

1,100 skill total in RuneScape

So my parents recently let me become a RuneScape member again. This was the perfect time to catch up on the new skills. Speaking of which, I just hit 1,100 skill total. W00t!

The addition of the agility skill certainly allowed me to reach this milestone a lot faster. You can view the screenshot here. I love how the gnome trainer congratulates me on completing a lap just as I level up. That was purely coincidental, but the timing couldn't have been better. :D

Currently playing: RuneScape

RuneScape account hacked :-(

The thrill of getting level 99 Cooking in RuneScape was short-lived as my account got hacked.

The first sign of trouble was that my character was in an unfamiliar area. I checked my bank to find most of my valuables gone, including 33 Halloween masks and 52 Santa hats. The hacker also took my armor and weapons, all of my gold and lots of other items. I know it's only a game, but this really sucks ass.

Of note is that an online virus scan picked up a Trojan on my computer. I guess that explains everything. Though I'm pretty careful about downloads, I've heard some malicious websites can install viruses through browser vulnerabilities. On the other hand, this was probably partly my fault because I had a weak password.

It's also possible that I was specifically targeted. Being the 36th player to get 99 Cooking likely made me somewhat famous. But considering that Jagex doesn't return items, none of this really matters. Oh well, better start earning my stuff again...

Update: A bit of good news: my friend Sandman2002 gave me a green mask to help me get started again. There are no words to express my gratitude. Thanks, dude!

Currently listening to: "Sandstorm" by Darude

level 99 Cooking in RuneScape

I finally reached 99 Cooking in RuneScape after an eight-month grind. Here is a screenshot of me leveling up. I still can't believe this actually happened. Hell yeah!

Of course, this monumental task would have been much harder without the help of friends. I'd like to thank Vera02 and Jeboy for swapping their raw lobsters for my cooked, and Cbkmy for letting me cook his swordfish. The same goes for everyone else who sold me supplies. There are too many people to name, but you know who you are.

In my opinion, the biggest problem with RuneScape is that training is too repetitive. Doing the same thing over and over again quickly gets old. For the Cooking skill, I'd probably be in the top 10 on the leaderboard had I really tried. That said, being the 36th person to reach 99 Cooking certainly gives me bragging rights. :-)

In other news...

On a related note, good luck to fellow RuneScape player Thehate as he is also getting 99 Cooking soon!

Currently playing: RuneScape

1,000 skill total in RuneScape

I reached 1,000 skill total in RuneScape today after playing for 18 months. Being a member helped me get there a little faster. Here is a screenshot if anyone is curious.

Some might argue this isn't special anymore these days. It's also become easier because of all the new skills. However, this achievement is still a big deal for me. Just wanted to share. :-)

Currently playing: RuneScape

just got RuneScape membership

I finally convinced my parents to let me subscribe to RuneScape after begging for a long time. It's only for a month because we have a lot going on this summer. However, that's good enough for me. I especially appreciate it because they don't like using credit cards online.

In any case, there's so much content in the premium version even though it only came out earlier this year. I've already completed a few quests and tried the new skills, but they have barely scratched the surface. One can see why RuneScape is so addictive. It's going to take a lot of self-control...

Currently playing: RuneScape

a close call in RuneScape

For those who haven't seen today's RuneScape update, there has been a crackdown on rule breakers. Everyone who used RuneBot in the last 24 hours was wiped and had to start over. Jagex also posted their names on the front page. RuneBot is a modified game client that lets you automate simple tasks.

According to the rules, you can't use any software that interacts with the game. To be fair, this has always been risky because they can contain malware. However, people do it anyway due to the competitive atmosphere. It doesn't help that the game can get repetitive.

So one thing I noticed is that RuneBot has been making the rounds in recent months. I must admit I tried it myself out of curiosity a few days ago. It certainly has some nice features, such as the ability to zoom in or out and change window size. Vee also modified the code to remove the chat filter. I was tempted to keep using RuneBot but decided against it after seeing people complain about lag on the forums. As you could imagine, the news was a huge surprise.

I almost had a heart attack right there. Even though I wasn't on the list — probably because I didn't use RuneBot again — that doesn't mean it's over. Jagex has said they "expect to catch more people at it over the next few days." I wanted to make sure nothing happened to me, but it's impossible to tell just by looking at the website. So the only option was to log into the game.

Because I shouldn't play RuneScape in class, there was little else I could do. I was stressed the whole time as I waited to go home. Four hours is a long time when you're anxious. I rushed home and checked my accounts, and found everything in order. You have no idea how relieved this makes me.

But there are many others who aren't as fortunate. Some were merely curious and wanted to see what the program does. One of the top players — who just hit 1,300 skill total on Monday — was caught after using RuneBot to access the servers. He was actually doing his own investigation to help Jagex and accidentally logged into the wrong account once. Despite his reputation as a respected community leader, the company has said they are making no exceptions. It really sucks to lose all that progress.

Good thing I didn't use RuneBot again despite the temptation. Someone was definitely looking out for me.

Currently playing: RuneScape

fun and games at homecoming

LAHS celebrated homecoming with a pep rally. Because the theme was "Games" this year, there were many skits about video games. Some people actually dressed up as Mario characters. I've been a Nintendo fan all my life and really liked the performances. One guy even arranged his own version of the Super Mario Bros. theme!

To a geek like me, this was a memorable assembly. It's too bad I couldn't get it on video. I didn't have my camcorder and don't know of any sites that host videos for free. Hopefully someone will post some online. Otherwise, you'll have to use your imagination. :-(

Currently listening to: Super Mario Bros. theme by Koji Kondo

started playing RuneScape today

RuneScape is a new online RPG that came out about a month ago. It's made by a company called Jagex and runs in the browser. All you need is to have Java installed on your computer. I decided to sign up after having played their other games. Some features aren't yet available as the game is in beta stage, but there is already so much to do.

You may know I don't often play online. However, this game is really fun so far. I plan to check out some more areas in the next few days. Feel free to hit me up — my character's name is "ixfd64" if anyone wants to say hello. :-)

Currently playing: RuneScape

finally beat Ultimate Doom without cheating

The Lin family invited me and my parents to their house for dinner, and I got to hang out with Moonway this evening. I'm very happy to say that I've finally beaten Ultimate Doom without cheat codes!

I had actually finished the original three episodes back in September, but I decided to take a break because the fourth one ("Thy Flesh Consumed") was supposed to be very hard. It was indeed quite challenging, but I still managed to complete it - although not without saving and reloading countless times.

You'll probably laugh at me for this, but I usually like to cheat my way through a game a few times before playing it normally. My rationale for doing so is that it lets me become familiar with the levels without having to worry about dying. This does kind of take away the fun, but it nonetheless provides good practice. To each their own, I guess.

I should mention that Moonway also recently completed Ultimate Doom legitimately. He says he's better than me because he finished the last boss with more health left. I guess I can't argue with that. :P

Currently playing: Ultimate Doom

first day of 8th grade

So today was my first day as an 8th grader at Egan. In other words, I now get to toss "sevies" into trash cans. Muhahahaha! Of course, I'm not actually that mean, but it does feel great to be one of the big kids on campus. :D

Speaking of which, being an 8th grader has its perks: for one thing, we're now allowed to hang out on the "8th grade deck" during breaks. The deck is a memorial to a past student who died in a ski accident, and is traditionally off-limits to 7th graders. Each of us also has a chance of being chosen as the "8th grader of the day" during the morning announcements. There are probably lots of other benefits, although I can't remember them off the top of my head right now.

Another nice thing about being back in school is that I'm taking Mrs. Andersen's foods class this semester. It's pretty much a cooking class with a heavy emphasis on nutrition. Although we haven't made anything yet, I can tell the class is going to be lots of fun, especially when we have a really awesome teacher. I certainly look forward to all the good stuff we'll be making and, well, eating.

All that having been said, it's a little hard to realize that summer break has ended. I still kind of miss the recent Alaska cruise, but I'm also very excited to see my buddies at Egan again!

In other news...

I recently got to check out Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition with Moonway. He was also nice enough to let me borrow the CD for two weeks. Damn, that game's addictive.

Currently playing: Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition

First-person shooters are awesome.

The title says it all: first-person shooters are just about the best thing ever. I'm totally addicted to them!

I went to my friend Moonway's house this morning, and he showed me a game compilation CD that he had won in a drawing at his Chinese school. The disc contained about 40 games of various genres, such as puzzle and adventure. They were all shareware, meaning they included only a portion of the content available in the paid versions. Funnily enough, some of the games didn't even work at all.

Out of the those that did, the one that caught our attention early on was a first-person shooter called Doom. For those unaware, it was the game that had gained notoriety following the Columbine shootings this past April. I don't want to sound too morbid, but we probably wouldn't have paid too much attention to it if it wasn't for the shootings.

Learning the controls involved trial and error due to the lack of manuals. In the case of Doom, the two of us spent a good three minutes looking for the "jump" key before figuring that jumping was not possible in the game. We then spent a couple more minutes trying to figure out how to open doors (hint: it's not by shooting at them) and interact with other objects. In the end, I don't think we even got past the first stage - and that was on the easiest difficulty level. There were a few other shooters as well, such as Duke Nukem 3D and Wolfenstein 3D, but they were also pretty hard.

It wasn't just first-person shooters; Moonway and I also tried Brainstorm, a puzzle game involving multi-colored arrows, and God of Thunder, an adventure title starring the Norse god Thor. However, I couldn't help but come back to the shooting games. There's just something so addictive about them.

Up until now, I had never known 3D shooters could be so much fun. Oddly enough, I didn't care much for them when I played Quake and the Nintendo 64 version of Turok: Dinosaur Hunter a few years ago. I guess times have changed.

In other news...

I'll be taking a summer English class at Archbishop Mitty High School starting next week. It doesn't sound very exciting, but the cool thing is that Moonway will also be taking that class. So at least we'll get to hang out more.

Currently playing: Doom (shareware version)

report of my first school dance

"Dude, why are you dressed all formal?" -- another guy at the dance, after seeing me in a tuxedo

I just got back from the first LAYC dance of the school year at the Los Altos Youth Center. The event was open to all local middle school students, and was the first school dance I've ever been to. Strictly speaking, it was not a school event as it was organized by the city of Los Altos, but I'd nevertheless expect Egan's own dances to be similar to this one.

I wasn't too interested in going to the dance at first, mainly because I didn't know what to do there. However, my mother insisted that I attend at least this one so that I would have an idea of what teenagers' social events were like. She also taught me a few basic steps before we left so that I wouldn't look like a complete fool in front of everyone. I was still a little nervous, so my parents went as chaperones. As a side benefit, I got to go in about ten minutes early. :-)

The dance actually turned out to be quite fun. The place was crowded as lots of people showed up. I saw many of my Springer classmates there, and it was definitely nice to get back in touch with them. The DJ had this really cool laser projector. To top it off, the LAYC membership included two complimentary items from the snack store. It's a pretty good deal, if you ask me.

The DJ later put on some slow songs, and it was kind of weird to see so many guys and girls holding each other closely for several minutes. I was too shy to ask anyone to dance, so I mostly just paced around the dance floor. Surprisingly, no one asked me to dance either, so I guess I lucked out. Although I was pretty much - I hate to say this - a wallflower at the dance, I really enjoyed its atmosphere.

But the dance was not without its awkward moments. Mom did not have school dances when she was my age and so was equally clueless about them. She naturally assumed the dance was going to be a formal event like in the movies, so she put me in a tuxedo, complete with a red bow tie. Imagine my surprise (and embarrassment) when I realized I was the only person to show up in such a handsome silly outfit!

Only one or two people made a comment about it, but I did quite a few strange looks. I'm sure everyone else at the dance was secretly laughing at me. Thanks a lot, Mom.

While the tuxedo incident was a bit humiliating, it did not make the dance any less enjoyable. If anything, the whole thing made for a memorable experience. Funnily enough, I think I later saw another guy wearing a tuxedo, and it was somewhat comforting to know I was not the only one. Haha.

The dance was scheduled to end at 10:00 p.m. I didn't feel like staying that late, so I came home early to play video games. That said, I had a great time tonight, and I'm looking forward to the next LAYC dance for sure.

In other news...

Speaking of video games, I just beat the NES port of Rush'n Attack for the first time. The last stage was quite difficult, but I finally nailed it. Go me!

I'll have to return the game to my friend Moonway as it belongs to him, but he's letting me hold on to it for a few more days. Thanks, dude.

Currently playing: Rush'n Attack
Release date: April 10, 1987