Smart Cars, and You. But mostly Me.

I don't drive a smart car. I don't think I ever will.

Please do not confuse this with "hybrid" or "energy efficient" or anything like that. The cars I'm specifically talking about are those tiny little one-person cars. Yes, I know they have two seats in them, so maybe one person and a small kitten.

Still don't know what I'm talking about?

THIS. This is what I'm talking about.

"So," I hear you asking me, "Why won't you ever drive one?"

Allow me to explain: Drive one for a while? Yes. Purchase one to own? No. It's not the fact that it's a tiny car, and it isn't the fact that it would be inconvenient to try to fit things into or transport items. Okay, so that last one IS really inconvenient... Quite honestly though, I would be afraid to be in this thing for any extended period of time! Sure it's fantastic for the environment, but it looks like it will tip over if you so much as LOOK at it too intently.



Needless to say I am curious as to how it drives. I expect any individual that sees this car on the road would feel the same way. Whether they were speaking from experience or just assumptions, I have heard many people equate the experience of driving one of these cars to the experience of driving a go-kart. Everyone knows how much fun that is, and it's nothing more than just driving!

However, the thrill and excitement experienced when driving a go-kart isn't derived so much from the vehicle itself, but from the track you race on. When was the last time you drove a go-kart on a track that was nothing but 4 lanes heading in one direction for an hour? Did you ever drive a go-kart to a 4-way-stop intersection that for some reason NO ONE THERE BUT YOU KNOWS WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?! It's not that hard people! The first person to the stop sign is the first person to go! If two people get there at the same time, it's the person to the RIGHT that goes! I really shouldn't have to sit there waving my hand like a jackass, hoping you understand what the sight of me having an aneurysm in my car is supposed to mean.

...but yeah, I wouldn't buy one.

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SUGGESTION TIME!

Have a topic you want me to talk about? Feel free to let me know in the comments! Free Topic Friday begins this week!

What Video Game Do You Remember Most?

A quick note before we get started: I'm going to do my absolute best to post something new every day. And if not, then at least 5 days out of the week. Let's commit to this, and keep my brain working around something more creative, and less educational-based.

If you grew up playing any video games at all, then this post is for you. I challenge you to think back to your childhood and answer a question for me. What game is most vivid in your memory?

Now, this may not necessarily mean the game you played most often, or even a game you beat. It could be anything. The graphics, the colors, the music, the gameplay. Anything.

For me, nothing screams "childhood" like Mike Tyson's Punch Out for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

I can recall countless hours pummeling each contender that stood in my path. Sadly though, the image pictured below was never part of my experience.


There are numerous people who play this game, knowing every subtle nuance in timing their moves just perfectly to defeat each challenger in a matter of seconds. This was not my experience with the game, and it never will be. Dedicating the amount of time required to memorize every subtlety such as that would ruin the experience of the game for me.

Or maybe it's just that I know I can't do it.

What I remember most in this game is the music. I suppose that is why when presented with the spontaneous opportunity to record a parody of one of the game's most memorable scenes, I couldn't refuse.


No, I don't normally run like that, but thanks for your concern.

Why Am I Playing Pokemon Again?

Let me start this post by saying this: I loved Pokemon when I was a kid. I played Pokemon blue when it was released like if I kept playing I was going to win something. Of course, there was absolutely nothing to win aside from the gratification of beating the Elite Four. I knew I would never catch all 150 (or 151) creatures. I knew this when I realized pretty much everyone I knew played the same version that I did (blue.)

If I were to go back and play Pokemon Blue again, I would have absolutely no problem making my way through the world. I would know every major mission, every side quest, where to get every HM, and just be awesome in every way.

So when I recently uncovered my GameBoy Color from the massive treasure trove that is my closet, I decided to dive back into the world.

HOWEVER

Playing through the same world again just didn't seem appealing to me. Sure it would have been fun, but I held in my hand three different games to choose from: Pokemon Blue, Yellow, and Silver.

Now, the only one of these three games I remember ever completing is Blue. Yellow I could play through, but it is still very familiar territory. Silver, however, is a completely different experience.

I remember the months leading to the game's release, hearing all the information about the changes from day to night, the different monsters to catch in each period of time, and I remember being absolutely amazed.

I bought it.

I didn't play it.

Now let me clarify this statement. I DID play it, a little. But I lost interest so quickly that I moved onto something else. This is what made me decide to start a new game of Pokemon Silver.

Jumping back into the world of Pokemon after being away for so long is a thrilling experience. I was ready to dust off my brain and jump start my old knowledge... But it didn't take me long to realize that I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON.

My Pokemon knowledge stopped at 151. I don't know all these new Pokemon! I don't know who is weak against what, or which Pokemon is which type! It's all so very confusing.

This is what it must have felt like to be a parent at the time.

However, I am struggling through and learning whatever my mind will let me retain while I finish my last year of college. Which is to say: not much at all.

So what are my main issues?

The concept of trying to catch all of the Pokemon in this game is causing me some anguish. Having the schedule I have only allows me to play the game in the evening. And no matter what time I seem to turn it on, it's always night time in the game. This means there are some Pokemon that I will just NEVER encounter. I guess I'll just have to assume the role of my younger self and just live with the fact that a portion of this game will never be completed.

I suppose though that my main grievance with the game is that it just seems like all of the new Pokemon are throwaways. That is to say, it seems that there was just no effort on the part of the designers in creating these new monsters. It must have been just to create a new game, and to create new hype, and to make more money. Obviously it worked, I mean, I do own it after all.

Like what is this?

THIS IS JUST A COW.

I suppose I can't make judgement like this though. I mean... this is just a rat.

The Creative Process

The creative process? Is there really a process?

I always find it difficult to be creative when I'm trying to be creative. Every time I have sit down to create a new video (or any other project for that matter) I always have the hardest time thinking of anything. I have tried a few different "creative exercises" including the one where you just make a list of 100 things. I liked making the list, and it had some unique ideas, but I didn't get to 100 because quite honestly I got bored of it.

That's another problem of mine. I get bored quite easily.

So what is one to do when creativity is unattainable?

Obviously, it should come as no surprise to anyone that I have pushed several ideas into fruition. Most recently, ideas that make little to no sense. Flying into the mouth of the sun? A heavy metal song about steak? Along with a acid-trip style music video? Yeah, I'm not entirely sure anyone would call this "creative" or "artistic," or perhaps those would be the best ways to describe it.

I have come to terms with my "creatively challenged" nature and have decided to do the best thing I can for myself: make whatever comes to mind. It's pretty simple. If I have an idea, no matter how absolutely ridiculous it may seem, I'll make it. While before I may have written it off because I knew it would come off as being abstract or obscure (or just plain weird) I will now be making anything that comes to mind.

I hope you all enjoy the absolute train wrecks that my mind creates.

Buff Gamer Reviews: Home Alone 1 and 2

Next Video Progress.

Production has started on the review of Home Alone 1 and 2.

The video will be out within the next week, hopefully no later than Saturday (4/11) night or Sunday(4/12) during the day... hopefully.

This video promises to blow your expectations out of the water. I've raised the stakes on my own production value, so this is the start of something great.

Going for gold,

-Buff Gamer