Friday, October 24, 2008

Dogfighting


Playing old games is always a good way to spend free time. Especially when said old game used to be nearly unplayable on my old PC configuration when it first came out a few years ago.

I'm talking about Il-2 1946. It's a WW2 flight sim. Actually, it's THE best WW2 flight sim available up to this point.

If you are a flight sim fan and/or a military history buff Il2 will make your mouth water.

Among other things it has over 300 flyable aircraft each with it's own exhaustively researched flight model. Different planes fly differently. Feel the need for speed in your ME262, the world's first operational jet fighter. Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee in your Zero as you fight for the Emperor! Fly the concrete bomber and find out why German troops call you The Black Death. Watched Baa Baa Black Sheep when you were a kid? Fly a Corsair and be a part of the famous VMF-214 Black Sheep. Fight the Japanese air force over Singapore in your Hurricane.

You can fly many countries. USA, UK, Japan, Germany, Soviet Union, even smaller forces like Finland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

Obviously I enjoy the game quite a bit. Especially now that I can play it will full graphic detail. The game used to lag like a sonofabitch on my old PC. Therefore I didn't play it all that much. Now, it flows silky smooth and looks absolutely gorgeous.

Also worthy of mention is the fact that the war in the Eastern Front is covered. Not a lot of people know much about what happened there.

Another thing, the game has a active community and there are all sorts of mods to download from maps to missions to campaigns to markings for your planes.

So that's what I've been doing. Flying. It's fun. Sometimes I fire up the game, set up a quick mission with no enemies and fly around for fun to try out all the different planes from tiny biplanes to twin engined bombers.

If you like flight sims, you must get Il2. Really. Oh and make sure you have a good joystick.

In other news, my brother is back and after talking to him about work it seems that I'm going to have to wait for awhile before I get a call. It's ok though. I was prepared for this. I can survive for a few months the cash I saved up.

I have a cut off date though and if nothing happens by then I'll be looking for work on land again.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

FM2009!!





...coming out November 14th! Oh yeah!

New features galore:-

-press conferences and expanded media interaction! Journalists remember what you say to them.
-3D match engine.
-new transfer system.
-improved financial modeling.
-350,000 players and staff.
-female players can now play as female managers.
-assistant manager now not useless! He will now give you feedback and suggestions about your tactics. Even during a match.
-advanced training! You can now order your players to learn special moves.
-tons more. Watch the videos.

FM2009. Seriously, there ain't no management sim that comes even remotely close in terms of depth and realism.

I'm ordering this as soon as it comes out. Oh yeah, there is also the PSP version too.

Goodbye social life...

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Anxious

My damn GOC cert still hasn't arrived. I've tried calling the academy but I haven't managed to get through yet. I did talk to them last week and they said they should receive it in "the next few days".

I can't look for work without that cert! Damn.

Everything else is ready. Last week I went to Muara Tebas to do my seaman book at the Marine Department. All I need now is to get my GOC cert and fax that and the seaman book to this company I'm applying at.

Hopefully I won't have to wait much longer. This waiting is making me think bad thoughts about not cutting it at sea.

I've been talking to my friend who is on his break from offshore work. He's assured me that the job is easy and there is no reason why I shouldn't do well. Yet I'm still quite nervous. Maybe I'm worried about not being accepted onboard a vessel. Or maybe I'm worried about not fitting in.

I worry about breaking and failing.

This is just me being my usual irrational self. I don't do changes very well. Especially big changes. When I do think rationally about it, there is absolutely no good reason why I won't do well.

And yet, there it is. The nagging anxiety is still there.

This is all very stupid. I suppose I would know for sure once I actually get on board whatever barge I'm supposed to be on.

Whatever my feelings and whatever happens, I've commited myself to this. Hopefully a few months down the line I would be laughing at myself for being so worried.

To keep myself busy, I entertain myself in various ways. Like looking at pretty pictures..

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Gentleman of Leisure

...a nicer way of saying "unemployed person".

I haven't done anything worthy of note this few days so nothing to update. The only things I've done this week was go out or stay at home and either watch movies or play games. Been playing Mercenaries 2 lately. Fun game.

It's one of those games where you get to run around and do whatever you like. A bit like GTA. The game is set in Venezuela and you can blow random things up. Sometimes, people will pay you to blow things up.

I went to Nomad BnB aka Ruai with Will and some other people. Second time I've been there. Nice cosy place.

On Tuesday, I helped set up a wireless router/modem for a friend. There are now currently enjoying wifi connectivity in their house.

My GOC cert is not ready yet so there is no update on the job front.

I might go for a drive tomorrow with some people.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Nothing Yet

Well, I did say I was going to update but I spent the last few days basically sleeping and doing nothing other than gaming.

I haven't updated anything on face book yet

It's quite strange to be unemployed.

I was in Holiday Inn Damai on Wednesday and Thursday. Spent most of that time drinking and sleeping. I went home Thursday night.

Last night I hung out with Will and Simon and their missusses at Garden Hill. The JD was excellent. I had a lot of things to discuss with Will.

Today? I'm doing nothing again. I may be nervous about going offshore but this boredom will be a strong motivator for me to go.

Well, hopefully anyway.

I'll see when I feel like updating again.