Author: Justin Emerson

A simple person trying to make it through this large world

Categories
Entertainment war

What I’ve Been Playing: Rome 2 Total War

I’ve been playing Total War series games since Rome Total War first came out back in 2004 and I fell in love, as did many others. It was a revolutionary game by being the first attempt to make such a strategy game on such a massive scale. Over the years the Total War series has expanded and entered many different eras from the Medieval era to the Napoleonic era. Every good franchise though needs to return to its roots so Creative Assembly came out with Rome 2 Total War; I was stoked and wanted to play this game till my fingers fell off, sadly the love affair is short lived.

 

What I like :

  • It’s Rome! I fell in love with the time period before and I still adore it to this day.
  • The interface has been given some practical changes since Shogun 2. I can now load up Rome 2 and instantly just launch right back into my campaign
  • The campaign map looks beautiful to say the least

 

What I dislike: 

  • It’s…unfinished (What a shock). The game is full of glitches, bugs, and crashes to the point that any internet forum is overcome with reports of them.
  • I hope you have a supercomputer to run this game or at least $800-$1,200 to spend on building one; the game may not be as demanding as say Battlefield 4 but it still requires a serious build. Here are the specs.
  • The AI is still way too passive and dumber than dirt. The AI is extremely passive to any military advancements you’ll make and when they do decide to respond it’s usually with just a ton of poorly equipped armies thrown at you with no organization at all. On the battlefield it’s just as bad, I hate having to chase down fleeing range units and it’s just too easy to defend against waves of soldiers being thrown at you with no tactical planning.
  • You can’t win. I have put 30 hours into the game so far and have two campaigns running (Rome and Macedon) and have reached the point where it’s just impossible to continue. The game is a balance between military conquest and keeping your populace fed and happy, sadly once you expand to a certain point the people will just become unhappy. This in turn will halt any expansion and force you to garrison huge armies into provinces to keep everyone happy and under control. Failure to keep the people happy will cause a revolt and unlike Total War’s of old where a revolt is a small pathetic army, a revolt in Rome 2 is a closer to a full scale invasion force.
  • The graphics don’t resemble those of a finished $60 game that requires the computing power of god to run. Honestly, Medieval Total War 2, a now seven year old game, would look better than this running on max settings

 

I really really wanted to love this game and finally get a finished product from Creative Assembly but they just failed to deliver. I’m stuck with a buggy and unfinished product again and am currently waiting for them or the modding community to fix this game. If you really want this game wait till Christmas time when it drops in price but, if you can’t wait I’d suggest going to the www.twcenter.net and finding a mod to overhaul this game.

Categories
college Express Yourself money

My Gripe With College

I can’t believe I’m actually writing something negative about college only three days into my second attempt at college but, I guess there’s odder things to believe. This is going to sound like just another lazy college student moaning and groaning to some but, to others I hope to understand what I’m getting at.

So I started this semester off this past Tuesday with a total of five classes: Writing Comp. 101, Algebra 035, Public Speaking, Intro to Visual Art and Art History, and Intro to Mass Media and Communications. I planned to be out in two years and transfer to a four-year university to continue my studies so I needed to take five classes per semester; I was going to be very busy…or so I thought. I quickly dropped my Math class because, and I do admit this is my fault, I cannot mentally sit through a two-hour math class without wanting to go berserk and I’ve already completed a Basic Algebra class last Fall at William Paterson. Today I decided to drop my Intro to Visual Art and Art History because it’s not a class I have any form of interest in and just would do horribly in. Now after reading that I know I defiantly sound like a total underachiever but bare with me here.

If you go to any University/College you’ll always be made to take these “core” classes along with other required classes just because they say so really. I’ve never understood why I need to take classes under “Natural Science”  or “Mathematics” when what I plan to major in, journalism,  has nothing to do with either. The same has to be said for my time at William Paterson, I mean they put me in “Gender Lives and Studies” and the only writing related class I could really take was a basic Writing Composition class. I will never understand why I’m made to take classes that will not benefit me or my major even on the smallest sense; on top of it all, I doubt that once I walk out the door of any class I deem as “useless”, I won’t remember a thing past the times I need to be there and when I leave. Shouldn’t any College help me pursue my future and major instead of charging me an arm, leg, and first not even born yet child to take classes I don’t need?

 

Sigh…I think I’ve ranted enough. Now if you don’t mind me I need to go hunt for a class or two to fill my schedule back up a little.

 

 

Categories
basketball NBA Sports

A Sad Month In The NBA

Part of me cried a little today. Today marks the retirement of Tracy McGrady, this month marked the retirement of Allen Iverson as well. Goodbye Tracy McGrady. Goodbye Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson aka “The Answer”, a former first round pick for the Philadelphia 76ers, lived up to his high draft pick. Allen is historically one of the 76ers greatest players to ever wear their uniform, add to that his ROTY (Rookie of the Year) award, a NBA MVP, multiple:scoring titles, All Star selections and NBA First Team selections, lastly a 2001 Finals appearance; A.I has quite a nice resume for any NBA player.

“The Answer” will probably be best remembered for his “practice” rant that signaled his end in a 76ers uniform. Past that rant though, he’ll be remembered for his killer cross over, his one handed put back dunk, and his amazing Game 1 Finals performance in 2001.

Allen’s legacy will be an interesting one. He revolutionized the Point Guard position, proved a little guy can hang with the best, and brought about a cultural revolution in the NBA (tattoos, corn rows, oversized jerseys); on the flip side though he will be remembered for being selfish, a cancer to teams, and a coach killer.

Tracy McGrady aka T Mac was a former 9th round draft pick for the Toronto Raptors. He may have played up to his superstar potential but never achieved the success others did. T Mac was a prolific scorer and earned multiple scoring titles, All Star selections and NBA First Team selections as well; sadly T Mac never took his own team to the Finals, let alone past the first round of the playoffs.

T Mac will be best remembered for the classic performance he put on against the Spurs where he scored 13 points in 35 seconds! McGrady will also be remembered for his amazing dunks and his offensive dominance.

Tracy McGrady’s legacy is also an interesting one. He had the superstar potential to be one of the best, in his prime years he easily was the best. Sadly due to injuries he never was able to win it all.

This month marks the end of two of the great players in the NBA. While these two men have no rings between the two, their names are still talked about today and I will tell my kids about Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady. I hope to see both in the NBA Hall Of Fame as soon as they’re eligible.

Categories
Express Yourself

A Letter To My Next Girlfriend

Dear Someone,
I use someone because I probably don’t know your name at this point in my life.

Take no offense; Don’t be angry and come at me with a knife!

So…yeah you and me huh? That’s pretty sweet right?

Dam I’m four lines in and I already came down with writers block

That’s nuts because I usually can always seem to talk

Since I always talk a big game

Say I have no shame
Don’t care if you use “I dare you” with my name

But when I talk to someone I like

I clam up air tight

That’s how you know I ain’t feeling right (in a good way)

Have no fear though that shyness will easily thaw

It’ll give way to thing’s that’ll make you laugh or go “awww”

 

So what’s this letter about you ask, as do I in all honesty

Well keep reading and then you’ll see

It’s about me as the next paragraph will show

It’s also about you, I just wanted you to know

 

I don’t know what you’ll know about me at this stage

Probably some good things, hopefully nothing that’ll put you in a rage

I’m very open about myself though, I have nothing to hide

There’s no “I’ll tell you another time” or any story I’ll push aside

I wonder if you’ll know my favorite color is orange but I love to wear black

Or that I love my Lakers, basketball, and miss hearing “T-Mac to the rack!”

Maybe you’ll know I actually have a decent fashion sense (#HighFashion)

Or that I never shy away from giving my $.02

 

What about you? There are so many questions I can sit here and ask

Writing them all down though………dam that’d be quite a task

Have we been friends? Best friends? Or total strangers who just met

If we were total strangers let me say..”Finally a fish in the net!”

(Referring to that “plenty fish in the sea saying. Okay, not funny? Okay..)

Ah so many questions I could ask but it’s 1am and I’d love to sleep tonight

Instead of having my brain work in overdrive, blasting through all the red lights

 

Well whoever you were to me and whenever you do read this, let me just say

I’m happy you’re with me and not some other guy

I obviously like you, enjoying hanging out, and talking as well

I can’t say where this will go or how it’ll work

All I can say is to just kick back and let life run it’s course

 

Good night,

Justin

Categories
criminals Entertainment Payday 2

What I’ve Been Playing: Payday 2

I’ve been waiting for this game for quite a long time and two days into playing, I am in love.

Payday 2 is a team based game where you are a squad of criminals who embark on various missions. Doing so, you receive cash which can be used to buy new weapons, new masks, and can be also used to customize all your gear.

What I love:
-The first Payday was also team based but just wasn’t very good at it. The HUD was too limited, the missions could be done without a team, the classes showed no major difference, and you really never needed help. In Payday2 the HUD now shows your entire team, their health, armor, ammo, and equipment. Each mission requires you to work with them and use their special skills to accomplish each heist.
-Every time you level up, you gain a skill point that can be used to level up certain classes. Now thankfully each class is significantly different from one another and each has a special ability
-The first Payday had..uh maybe 5 or so missions? Now we have upwards of 12 missions (probably more) and certain missions has various parts to them.
-I love being the bad guy in a game, it’s something you rarely are in video games. There’s a certain essence of “badass” about it.
-The guns! Oh how I love the choices of them all! The first Payday was limited to just a hand few, Payday 2 has over 9 standard weapons and just as many secondary weapons.
-The graphics! Oh this game looks beautiful compared to the last game. Then again a video in 360p would look better than the first Payday.
-The options to do each Heist are endless. You can stealth it or go in guns blazing. A door can be opened in four different ways, cameras can be taken down in numerous ways, locks can be broken or picked; Oh the choices are wonderful!

What I dislike:
-Nothing honestly.

Bonus section! What I hate:
-The leveling system is just stupid. Each skill costs 1 skill point and a large amount of cash. To “Ace” a skill requires three points and an even larger amount of cash. Tier 3 level skills cost three points and a six figure cash amount….
-The guns are so expensive that I want to cry. A G36 rifle costs $200k and each upgrade can vary from $10k to even more. Thankfully we don’t have to pay for ammo, otherwise I’d quit.
-Grinding every level. I’ve put five hours into the game and hit have hit level 24. Once I hit 24 I spent the next hour playing a serious heist, earned a ton of cash, but gained next to nothing in experience. The grind begins.
-Crime.net. I don’t even know where to start with this. In the first Payday, you simply went to the multiplayer menu, selected a map and difficulty, and you were shown the available games. For Payday 2 they introduced Crime.net. A large, constantly updating map which shows all the available heists, their difficulty, pay, experience, lobby leader, and the open slots available. As nice as it sounds, having all that info shown to you, the map is glitchy move around, it updates too slow, and new missions aren’t able to be set up by yourself so you must play what the game says you must.

-You’re being shot! In a normal first person shooter, when you’re being shot at a red arrow or something of similar nature pops up in the direction you’re being shot from. It’s a tried a truth method that nearly ever shooting game uses. In Payday2 a half red circle shows up from what part of your is being shot it, in example an enemy can be in front of you but shooting at your left arm, thus it’ll show your left side is being shot. This has completely confused me and led me to be spinning in circles to find a guy who’s probably just right behind me.

Don’t get me wrong, I will max out my level in Payday 2 and continue to play this game till I find something more exciting to play with my friends. It’s a fun fun game and can be replayed till time ends. I love being a criminal, love the new improvements they’ve made, and love the gameplay. It’s not a perfect game, but I’m quite alright with that.

Categories
college Express Yourself job style teenager

My Year In Review

Every time my birthday  rolls around it seems like it was just yesterday I was a year younger; time really does seem to fly. Though going from 18 to 19, it seemed like a lifetime.

It’s amazing that a year ago I was enjoying my summer with my girlfriend of three years. My memory is a little foggy but I’m pretty sure I spent the afternoon with her, as was the norm with me and her. We exchanged gifts, considering our anniversary landed on the same day; I got her a key necklace with a heart as it’s main part, she also got me a necklace in the shape of a heart with our names inscribed in it. I’m not sure where that necklace went to..

I entered college that September at William Paterson University. Man oh man that was quite an experience. In a period of four months I watched my relationship crumble, learned that college isn’t easy, and that it’s a dog eat dog world. I left in late November, partly due to the fact I just wasn’t ready to be in college and because they locked my account since I apparently wasn’t a “legal” US citizen (don’t mind my SSN, bank account, drivers license, etc).

My parents were supportive of me leaving WPU, my dad was too caught up arguing with the school over their actions, but I felt alone in my world. I didn’t want to be the kid sitting around doing nothing with his life but also didn’t want to instantly jump into college again. So, I did what any sensible 18 year old would do, I became a certified bartender.

Being a bartender seemed like a cool idea, of course from a business perspective, paying an 18 year old to handle alcohol is a “no-no”. With that plan failing I just started looking around for whatever was out there. The job hunt had it’s many lows but, every now and then it provided me with a job and timeless memories.

I knew though that I couldn’t survive working as a promoter for clubs or working part time in a retail store. I took a deep deep breath and registered back up to go to college. Brace yourself Bergen County College, I’m coming for you!

One year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, has felt like a lifetime to me. My world has flipped upside down more than once and has undergone a change in every way. I’ve changed my friends, my style, my attitude, my view on life, and much much more. The 18 year old teen who walked cautiously into college a year ago has been replaced by a 19 year old who feels like he’s ready to take on the world.

(random image for laughs)

Categories
Express Yourself teenagers teens

I Could Care Less

If teenagers are amazing at one thing, it’s for us to just not seem to care or at least to put up a facade that we could care less. If you were to look at my Facebook news feed on the normal day you’ll read constant statuses about people ranting on about how they “don’t care anymore about so and so” or how they wish they just didn’t care about anyone, these of course are followed by some stupid hash tags.

It’s an understandable phase we all seem to go through, as people seem to go through so many short romances when we’re teens. Teenagers are an emotional wreck from the start and we understand that if we show that we care about someone, we’re just opening ourselves to be hurt or the chance to be hurt. One minute we can be so in love with someone and all can be right in the world, fast forward to next week and we’re sitting on the couch crying our eyes out with a gallon of ice cream. I’ve been there, minus the ice cream part, and have seen many others go through the same trouble; it’s not fun to watch it all happen and even less fun getting back on your feet.

The goal seems to be then that we want to reach the point where we just don’t give a sh*t (sorry I’m lacking better words here). Life is a journey in itself and through it everyone has to go through many obstacles, this being one of them. Going from being in love to being heart broken isn’t something anyone wants to sign up for right away but it’s something that will happen to everyone at least once. If you are the type of person who just doesn’t seem to care or doesn’t want to get hurt, you’ll never have to face this challenge because you will sit there and convince yourself you don’t need to. You’ll convince yourself you’re fine on your own, doing you, but you’re not alright.

To love someone is just being human. Last I checked I am a human and whoever is reading this is just as much a human as I am. To convince yourself you don’t need someone to care for you is just..well is convincing yourself you’re not human. We all need someone by our side, a good friend, a significant other, or even a family member; we all need somebody who will be there for us. When you act like you don’t give a dam about anyone or anything, people will start to believe you and treat you as such. I’d rather love and be hurt than be treated like I really could care less about you and myself.  Nothing should stop you from showing how much you care about someone. As far as I know there is no such thing as “loving someone too much”, if there is well it doesn’t exist in my books.

A message to all teenagers of the world: Go out there into the world and show that you care about yourself and others. Go out there and fall in love. Go out there and let your heart break. It’ll all be okay and so will you.

Categories
New Jersey Devils Sports veteran

Jaromir Jagr Enters New Jersey

Well I’m a die hard fan of my home state New Jersey Devils and am truly devastated by the departure of our star Ilya Kovalchuck and now I can’t say I’m too excited for the 2013-2014 hockey season. We are a team without a star, an aging star goalie, and seriously depleted of any offensive talent. Of course Devils fans have expressed any displeasure and over the off season we’ve acquired some nice pieces such as goalie Cory Schneider. Now the latest news is that we have signed Jaroimir Jagr…

Jagr spent his last season with the Boston Bruins

Jaromir Jagr is 41 years old, has played with 7 NHL teams over the course of his career, and we just gave him a one year contract where he can earn $2-4 million. I’m not a Jagr fan as he seems to play for the money over the love of the game, but this signing makes complete sense for the Devils. While Jaromir Jagr may not be on the same level as Ilya Kovalchuck at this stage of his career, he is a savy and experienced veteran winger with the occasional sparks of his brilliant play. I’m not expecting Jagr to make a huge impact on the Devils as we are a team in serious transition this year. All I can do is brace myself for a rough season ahead.

Categories
basketball Carmelo Anthony NBA Sports

Lakers Aim To Make A Big Signing…

…next year that is. Yes, the 2013-2014 NBA season for the Los Angeles Lakers seems more like a throw away season. The Lakers have lost their “next in line” player in Dwight Howard, have an aging Gasol, Kobe, and Nash, and have no cap space to sign any big name player this free agency. Heck, looking at the Lakers roster right now any person would laugh at it. This of course is all part of the Lakers plan for the 2014 free agency period.

Probably the Lakers biggest free agent signing, Center Chris Kaman

After this coming season, the Lakers will have around $40 million in cap space and only two players under contract, Steve Nash ($9.7 million) and Robert Sacre ($915,243). The Lakers can even waive Nash since he’ll be in his final season and stretch his money owed and only take a $3.2 million dollar salary cap hit in 2014-2015. Kobe Bryant will be the only big question mark considering he seems to want to play another three to four seasons, so let’s just pencil him in for around $10-15 million.

Lebron can become a free agent after 2014 and the Lakers are gearing up for a run at him

Let me read off some big names who will be free agents in 2014: Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Danny Granger, Loul Deng, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwayne Wade. The list continues if you want to add in the Restricted Free Agents which focus around up and coming stars like Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Eric Beldsoe, and Paul George; all of them though aren’t leaving their respected teams no matter what. The 2014 free agent class is massive in terms of star power to say the least and a team like the Lakers plan to take full advantage of it.

Teammates? It’s not as far fetched as you’d think

Let’s get this out of the way, Lebron James will not be taking his talents to L.A, that’s a total pipe dream. The same can be said for any of the young restricted free agents, especially Kyrie and Paul George. The only possible star the Lakers can land would be Carmelo Anthony. In his current tenure in New York, Melo hasn’t had incredible playoff success and coming to a town like L.A where he will be the man and be paired up with another super star is an intriguing offer to say the least. Plus, the Lakers can offer Melo a huge contract of four years and around $100 million dollars. It shall be a very interesting off season to say the least and the 2015 free agent class promises to be the same with players like Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo, and LeMarcus Aldridge becoming free agents. God I love the NBA.

Categories
basketball NBA Sports

Rolling The Dice With Andrew Bynum

Bynum was pursued by the Mavericks and Cavaliers this free agency

The Cleveland Cavaliers have officially signed Center Andrew Bynum to a two-year deal worth a total of $24.5 million. While this sounds like a risky deal for Cleveland, it’s actually a brilliant pick up.

A new team requires a new hair style

The details of the contract only guarantee Bynum $6 million dollars and one single year; Cleveland has given him an incentive heavy contract and holds the option for a second year. This ensures that Cleveland will have plenty of cap space come the 2014 free agency period to lure a big name free agent, Lebron James, and bring him back home. On top of ensuring plenty of cap space Cleveland now has, when healthy and engaged, easily one of the top five big men in the league.

Cleveland is clearly hoping for the Bynum who played in L.A to show up

Bynum, who didn’t play all of last season with the 76ers, was an up and coming All Star back in Los Angeles. In his final year in L.A he averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and made his first NBA All Star appearance. On top of all that he was also part of two NBA Championship teams during his tenure as a Laker. Andrew Bynum is a very good, if not nearly complete basketball package; he has a good post game on offense and is a big body to deal with on defense.

The Eastern Conference is becoming much more interesting…

Categories
album Entertainment Music

Magna Carta Holy Grail Review

I’m not much of a fan of Jay Z so I didn’t start listening to his newest album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, with some sky-high expectations but, I know what he’s capable with his music so I expected something that I’d love to put on my iPod. I was quickly reminded why I’m not much of a fan.

The first song Holy Grail pretty much sets the bar for this album, songs with sick beats, good intros, and good/decent hooks. Jay Z’s lyrics are another story; his lyrics seem uninspired, his flow seems off, and no matter who he has with him in his songs (Justin Timberlake, Rick Ross, Beyonce, or Frank Ocean) the songs just fail to want me hit replay. The entire album seems less of a big money album and more like a quickly done mixtape.

It seems as if Jay Z, who can surround him with the best in the music industry, just sat down and said “this is good enough”. Perhaps Jay Z should really retire from music and focus fully on his business ventures, those seem like something he won’t be happy just at “good enough”

Categories
basketball NBA Sports

The Rockets Aim For Three

The NBA free agency period has only been open for two days now and while no serious star has moved yet, there is plenty of word of the stars realigning very soon. A report coming from Sam Amick of USA Today says that if Dwight Howard were to sign with the Houston Rockets, the team would then pursue adding Atlanta Hawks free agent Josh Smith as well.

The Houston Rockets want their own “Big 3” now

Let’s keep this paragraph based all upon “If ‘s“. If Dwight Howard were to sign with the Houston Rockets, he would be locked down for four years and earn around $88 million dollars. This in turn would create a very dynamic duo of up and coming superstar James Harden and All Star Dwight Howard. If that wasn’t enough, let’s say they land Josh Smith via a sign and trade, that’s the only way Smith can come over due to Houston’s financial situation. If this happens their starting line up would be James Harden, Patrick Beverley (Jeremy Lin will start if he’s not traded), Chandler Parsons, Josh Smith, and Dwight Howard; that right there is a line up you wouldn’t want to mess with. Or is it…?

Josh Smith loves to have the ball

Josh Smith loves his touches, loves to rack up a nice score sheet, and loves to shoot. James Harden loves to control the ball, loves to rack up a nice score card, and loves to shoot. Dwight Howard loves his touches, loves being the “go to guy”, and loves to be the number 1 option. See the problem yet? There aren’t enough basketballs in all of the NBA to satisfy all their selfish desires to be the number 1 guy. On top of their needs for more balls comes their immediate lack of depth at every position. Houston has already sent Carlos Delfino and Aaron Brooks packing and currently are offering Jeremy Lin and Omar Asik to any team for something in return. Why would Houston want to stack a heavy starting unit like that and leave a depleted bench, haven’t the 2012-2013 Los Angeles Lakers taught you anything?

Houston has it’s leader in James Harden. Why complicate it?

I am no Houston Rockets fan by any means but this idea of a Big 3 constructed with Dwight Howard, James Harden, and Josh Smith sounds horrible. Sure their talent level will be off the charts but I just cannot see them all meshing together. On top of that Houston shouldn’t rely on their starting core so heavily, we’ve seen that fail countless times before. If I were a Rockets fan, I’d be hoping Josh Smith takes his talents to Detroit rather than Houston.

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