True to my intentions, I've done almost no writing the past few days and instead have been relaxing in preparation for the hard labors to come when I return to school on Wednesday. I've been doing a fair amount of reading, but have been playing a lot of a video game called Red Dead Redemption for my XBox 360. My son bought me the game for Father's Day but I've scarcely played it up until now because I’ve been too busy writing. I must say I’m enjoying it tremendously and am rather glad I didn’t get into it until now. I would have lost some writing time, I imagine.
Red Dead Redemption is a western themed game. It is supposedly set in 1910 but looks like the 1880s for the most part. I think they set it later so they could introduce technology that wasn’t seen in the 1880s. It features a character named John Marston, who is being coerced into going after some old gang mates of his.
One of the good things about the game is that it has a big “exploration” element, which I like. You get to discover a lot of new areas and secrets, and that’s one of my favorite elements of video games. It’s why I liked Doom and Super Metroid and Zelda so much. There’s also a lot of action and shoot-em ups, which I also enjoy.
It’s easier to be bad in the game, to steal and murder, but it pays better and gives you better adventures if you are good. I’ve tried it both ways. I’m kind of liking being a good guy right now, though the bad guy game is saved when I want to go back to that.
One problem I’m having is that the game is clearly set up for a wide screen TV and I can’t read half the prompts and hints that appear on the screen. That has made certain discoveries a long time in coming. However, Lana found out there is a Red Dead Wiki available that can answer a lot of your questions and give you some good hints. I’ve been enjoying the game more since checking out the Wiki.
So there you have it. How I spent the last few days of summer vacation. And now I’m going to go play some more!
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30 comments:
Maybe I'll put that on my birthday wish list.
Jeez, I'm having enough trouble making myself work WITHOUT supercool western video games.
Saw this game on another blog recently and it looks addictive.
Good idea to just relax before the hard slog begins again.
I can't remember where, but i sawe a review what says this game is "Grand Theft stagecoach". Don't know if is true, but the example made me smile.
I'm more a retro gamer, to tell the truth. Right now i'm doubting between Wishbringer and Sorcerer (Infocom, text adventures).
I have an Xbox (not 360) collecting dust. I was playing two games when I got distracted by too many other things.
One was 'Call of Cthulhu', which was pretty darn good, actually. I was at the part that was following "Shadow Over Innsmouth", and it was quite faithful to the original story.
The other was a western, called 'Gun'. It wasn't bad, but I played the opening bits.
Glad you've had some play time for yourself.
I rarely play video games, but when I do, I'm hooked for several wasted weeks. I still haul out Sims and play them on occasion. Mostly in order to torture the poor things.
I really have never played a computer or video game since the 1980s. I bet they've improved.
I rarley if ever play video games anymore, but I did see a huge collection of all the movie moments from RDR on late night TV and was captured to find out what happened.
Maaannnn, you're making me jealous. I love GTA, and this game is made by the same people and sounds like a Spaghetti Western version of GTA. I'd love to get my hands on it.
Alas, sold the Playstation a while back. Needed the money, plus it was too much of a distraction to my writing.
ah, you little gamer, you... :-p
Sidney, I saw someone playing the precursor once and it looked really cool. Red dead revolver.
Evan Lewis, It’s not an easy world to work in.
Alex J. Cavanaugh, Pretty much, I’m finding.
Candy, I think so.
Deka Black, you can steal horses. I haven’t tried stealing a stagecoach yet. I only played one text adventure back in the day. Can’t remember the name.
Paul R. McNamee, I’ll probably get tired of it eventually. Gun might be some relative of this.
writtenwyrdd, I know. I can get very involved and I have to cut back right soon.
pattinase (abbott), lol. A little bit!
David J. West, I’m spinning off some storylines from it in my head.
Ty Johnston, I just bought the Xbox this summer but I’ve been pretty good so far in allowing myself only to play when I deliberately take a break from writing.
Steve Malley, Say that kindly there amigo.
Woo Hoo. I couldn't be a gamer if I tried. And second ...well there is not second but have fun. Probably it is good for your writing to have a few days off as it is for your health.
all play and no work makes charles a happy camper! ;)
Hi, Charles: Although I retired, I'm still working at the school part time. Went to work today and saw everybody. Beginning to feel like fall. Never played a video game. Games at school staff play are enough for me! D
Hey Charles, the loony unit where I work has the Wii; now the prisoners are fighting over who gets to use it next.
Carole, I had to take a break from my computer desk too. Had to move to a different location for a bit.
laughingwolf, indeed so. :)
Donnetta Lee, I like the video games a lot better than the political games.
JR, I could imagine that would be a big distraction for them.
Do they have it for ATARI 2600?
I love that the father bought the son a video game - that makes you a cool dad!
The only games that I like are games of order like Tetris, Bejeweled, Solitaire. I think it's because my life is so disorganized :)
Have a great day back to work tomorrow!
That gamebox looks like a movie poster for a Rodriguez film !
If you like Super Metroid, you have more patience than me !
Mark, I'm sure they do since the Atari dates from about the time the game is set! :)
jennifer, in this case it's the son who bought the father a game. But I've bought him plenty in the past.
Heff, it can play a bit like it at times as well. I loved Super Metroid, man. probably my favorite of all time, although Doom was pretty cool.
I've watched my grandson play one of those interactive western video games. He often opts to be the bad guy and now he wants a bandanna to pull up to his eyes. :)
You boys and your games! :D
Personally, I prefer bad guys!
Charles-Glad you found a way to escape-you will be back to work soon enough. Aren't we lucky to have our sons to keep us up to date?
Glad to hear you enjoyed the game so much! That is one game that for some reason I just haven't gotten around to playing, but I've heard great things. Great review!
PLAY ON SUMMER's BOY
Warm Aloha from Waikiki :)
Comfort Spiral
BernardL, so far I haven't asked Lana for a bandana, though I bought one in the game!
Akasha Savage, I know some folks who do!
jodi, Yes, I get him to program all kinds of stuff for me.
BStearns, my current favorite for sure.
Cloudia, today was my last day :(
I like the games that you explore more than the mindless shoot-em-ups. Sounds interesting. If I ever upgrade from my eight-bit Nintendo, I'll buy it...right after I buy Madden.
Ah, Xbox and its predecessor, Atari.
We had this cute parody of a song by Pink Floyd when I ran for office to protest the "malling" of my hometown:
We don't need a new Atari
We don't need no Gretsky doll.
No Incredibles for our stocking.
Wal*Mart
Leave our kids alone.
Hey, Wall-Mart leave our kids alone!
...All in all you're just another shop in the mall.
Ah well. I became something of a local TV celebrity, but no cigar, no mayoralty. :)
X. Dell, you'd think I'd have the football games but not so far.
ivan, I think there were a couple of generations between the atari and the xbox! ;)
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