As I explained in my last post I'm attempting to pursue a path through Redshirt where advancement comes from merit alone rather than schmoozing with the right people. Inevitably this will lead to social pariah status and eventual death but hey, you've got to stick by your principles right?
I booted the game and went through the limited character creation process selecting a male Human character wearing the reddest of shirts. However, 'Edgar Friday' as I named him, has a friendly smile and a slightly stylish hair do so I'm not entirely resigning myself to the predicted lack of social life yet.
As for the 'About Me' section. 'I HATE corruption!' seemed to fit the bill.
The first part of the game played pretty much as usual. As a lowly 'Transporter Accident Cleanup Technician' you are generally too busy finding those initial friends and working out where the cafeteria is to engage in too many career machinations.
The first aspiration I was given after making friends with Astra was to become the 'Transporter Accident Supervisor' which nicely meshed with my own plans. All went relatively smoothly - I had to throw somebody who had rejected my friend request to the slavering aliens on an away mission to save my own skin and had one minor cock up at work but I soon purchased the 'Venlithian Beach Resort poster' that raised my Assertiveness enough for promotion.
A beneficial side effect was a relationship request from a 'Hull Painter' named Jennifer Jepson who I had played a few games of chess/tennis with in a futile effort to raise Assertiveness cheaply. All in all a pretty promising start although it is early days yet!
Saturday 10 May 2014
Friday 9 May 2014
Redshirt Runthrough Rejecting Preferential Treatment (RRRPT Part 1)
So it's a while since I've posted anything about computer games and I know that too many posts about history and politics can get a bit tedious (with the sole and major exception of anything with 'World War 2' in the title according to the site's viewing statistics).
So I tried Redshirt when it came out. Frankly it is mediocre at best. Some of the jokes are pretty funny the first time you see them and the grind is alleviated by your initial uncertainty about what the hell you are meant to be doing and the constant carrot of future promotions and relationships to work towards.
Recently I've got back into it and it has hit something of a sweet spot. I've played through twice and won both times through careerism and buying my way out respectively. Rather than seek one of the three other ways of winning, however, I plan to pursue a far more straight laced method.
Anybody who has played the game will know that the best way to get promoted is to be friends with (or even better to be sleeping with) one of the many tentacled aliens or gelatinous cubes who occupies a high ranking recruitment position. Instead of wasting valuable time meeting all requirements you can then merely focus on one aspect and trust to nepotism for the rest.
I'm rejecting this path for my next attempt. Instead I'll see how far I can get on merit alone (and whether this leads my social life to enter a catastrophic free fall). First chapter should be up shortly!
So I tried Redshirt when it came out. Frankly it is mediocre at best. Some of the jokes are pretty funny the first time you see them and the grind is alleviated by your initial uncertainty about what the hell you are meant to be doing and the constant carrot of future promotions and relationships to work towards.
Recently I've got back into it and it has hit something of a sweet spot. I've played through twice and won both times through careerism and buying my way out respectively. Rather than seek one of the three other ways of winning, however, I plan to pursue a far more straight laced method.
Anybody who has played the game will know that the best way to get promoted is to be friends with (or even better to be sleeping with) one of the many tentacled aliens or gelatinous cubes who occupies a high ranking recruitment position. Instead of wasting valuable time meeting all requirements you can then merely focus on one aspect and trust to nepotism for the rest.
I'm rejecting this path for my next attempt. Instead I'll see how far I can get on merit alone (and whether this leads my social life to enter a catastrophic free fall). First chapter should be up shortly!
Thursday 1 May 2014
Labour take on the landlords
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27225421
Positive noises from Labour on controlling the unfair renting market in Britain which helps ensure that the young and poor are increasingly edged out.
As for the Conservative response it is frankly unbelievable. "The only way to raise people's living standards is to grow the economy, cut people's taxes and create more jobs." says Grant Shapps. Can he really be so obtuse as to believe that every tax rise in history has had negative effects on the quality of life of the general population?
If so I assume he would also have opposed the formation of the NHS, taxation funded as it was, along with the inevitable tax rise that came with each of those patriotic British wars against foreign (and/or fascist) intervention that the Conservatives usually praise so much.
I guess he only really opposes tax rises when they are for the wrong reasons - such as reducing inequality or controlling market forces.
Positive noises from Labour on controlling the unfair renting market in Britain which helps ensure that the young and poor are increasingly edged out.
As for the Conservative response it is frankly unbelievable. "The only way to raise people's living standards is to grow the economy, cut people's taxes and create more jobs." says Grant Shapps. Can he really be so obtuse as to believe that every tax rise in history has had negative effects on the quality of life of the general population?
If so I assume he would also have opposed the formation of the NHS, taxation funded as it was, along with the inevitable tax rise that came with each of those patriotic British wars against foreign (and/or fascist) intervention that the Conservatives usually praise so much.
I guess he only really opposes tax rises when they are for the wrong reasons - such as reducing inequality or controlling market forces.
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