July 20, 2013

Today I played video games and went to Hobby Lobby. I played more Trials HD and the PC version isn't as good as the Xbox version. There are a lot of framerate issues. It could be due to me having a ridiculous number of browser windows and tabs open, along with Spotify, Windows Media Player, and SnapPea, all while playing the game. But I didn't want to close all that stuff so I adjusted some of the settings and it got better but it still wasn't as smooth as it is on the Xbox. I'll have to close some stuff and try the game again before I make a final judgment. It is still a fun game, when it's working.

I also played Euro Truck Simulator 2. I know that title sounds magical and that is a perfectly accurate description of the game. You drive big rigs across Europe, making money and leveling up your character so you can carry different stuff and earn more money. When you have enough money or if you get a loan from the bank, you can buy your own truck, earning even more money, and growing your business, eventually hiring other drivers. And apparently when you own your own truck you can go drive around town, free-roam style. I haven't decided if I want to get a loan for the truck yet so I've just been taking random missions. It is surprisingly a lot of fun. I started out using the keyboard to steer but that wasn't very smooth so I switched to the Xbox controller. This makes steering easier but I have to take a hand off to use the keyboard to turn on my blinkers or lights or windshield wipers, and to use the mouse to look left and right. Using the mouse to look left and right is quite easy when using the keyboard to steer but when using the controller it makes turning onto a new street very difficult. I need to see if I can switch the looking to the second controller joystick. There is also an option to steer with the mouse which I want to try

The hardest part of the game by far is parking when your reach your destination. You can pull into the spot and call it good or you can get bonus points if you back into the spot like a truck really would. I go with the backing in option because I want the points. And it is hard as hell. I know the basic idea of how to back up with a trailer but my only real-life experience with backing up a trailer is a small one attached to a riding lawnmower. There is a big difference between that and a giant trailer on a big rig, even if it is a virtual one. I cheat a little and use an external camera angle but even with that it is hard to see my wheels and when I try to make tiny corrections they turn into big corrections and then I have to pull forward and start all over. If I keep at it maybe I can get to the point where I can park while sitting in the cab but that is a long way off.

I went to Hobby Lobby because I am on my last skein of string for my cross stitch. I was worried they wouldn't have the color I needed because they have a history of not restocking yarn so I thought maybe that carried over to their string too. Thankfully it did not and I got four skeins just in case. I also got more yarn for my blanket. I didn't want to unroll the blanket and do the math to figure out how much more I needed so I winged it. I got three skeins of the gold yarn because they haven't had that in stock for months. I also got the last maroon they had and two of the light blue. They had a couple different colors of dark blue but not the one I needed. Unless they have renamed it. I need to take a sample next time.

I thought about going over to Hastings to rent some stuff but I told myself I wasn't going to do that if it was raining when I left Hobby Lobby. It wasn't necessarily raining but there was a decent sprinkle happening and I decided that was close enough so I just went home.

Tonight I watched YouTube videos, mostly old Rhett & Link videos, and played a little Cube World. I am finally a high enough level that I can hold my own against some of the bosses. I have come so far. I liked the three games I played today because I could turn the sound pretty much all the way down and still watch YouTube videos. The multitasking makes me feel like I'm not totally wasting my time playing video games. It makes no sense but whatever. I need to bite the bullet and start playing some of the games I have that I need to actually hear. Those far outweigh the silent ones.

Tomorrow I kind of want to go to Target. I need a couple things but I also have a craving for cereal, in particular, golden grahams. A cereal I haven't had since I was a kid and I don't even know if they still make it. But hopefully Target has it. And almond milk.